Chapter 13

"What happened?" Zoe asked him gently.

He didn't utter any word. But he just stared blankly. She gave her extra food and Santino quickly grabbed the food and eats it. Zoe and Kenneth was shocked. He eats like a hungry animal. She covered her mouth as she burst out her tears and says

"Kenneth, can you give him your lunchbox? I'll pay you."

"It's okay, Zoe. This is for Santino anyway."

Kenneth opened his lunchbox and gave it to Santino.

"How many weeks you didn't eat?"

"How thirsty are you?"

"What is your problem, Santino?!"

Zoe got mad but at the same, she cried while hitting him and Santino was trying to eat.

"Zoe, Stop it!" Kenneth tried to stop her from hitting Santino.

"Why?! Was it because of Keisha?"

"Was it her?!"

He slowly looking at her why she was still crying. His mouth was full of food but he tried to say,

"I'm hung-gr-y, please. Let m-me e-eat."

Zoe sighed as she groans again.

"Do we still need a Doctor?" Zoe said as she touches Santino's forehead and neck.

She clicked her tongue once and says

"He's got a fever, Kenneth do me a favor"

[Kenneth's Point of View]

As I was walking back to Santino's house from the pharmacy. I started to wonder why Santino's suddenly being like that. He won't die for a girl though. But suddenly,

I thought of Santino's family problem. Of course, I know everything about him, including Niño but then suddenly, about the survey.

[Flashback]

After I texted Zoe's phone number to Santino. I checked all her information first.

Name: Zoe F. Gomez

Age: 19 yrs.old

Gender: Female

Phone number: +639XX-XXX-XXXX

After I read it through, there's something familiar. It's like I've heard this before.

[End of Flashback]

I gasped.

"Could it be..."

[Flashback]

"I don't know where she is now but--"

"I still want to find her, bro."

"I know she threw me out, I don't remember why but I just cried"

[End of Flashback]

[End of Kenneth's Point of View]

[Niño Smith's Point of View]

After we bought the food from Ala carte's best, we saw Kenneth running as we're in the car with Kelly. I shouted,

"Hey, Kenneth!"

As he entered immediately,

"Thanks! But we need to go faster"

"No problem," Kelly said as she drives fast

"Oh, sh-shit! Not this faaaaaaassst!"

Kenneth and Niño both screamed.

[End of Niño Smith's Point of View]

[Zoe Gomez's Point of View]

After he drank his medicine. We let him sleep after 30 minutes.

"It's a little scary," Kelly said as she sats down.

"What?" I asked

"Cause-days after, he will experience such mood swings into his strange level of clarity in thought. I don't know when did he stopped eating but it looks like 3 weeks though. Less energy, less physical activities. He also needs to adjust eating."

Everyday after class, we visit for him.

We're making it sure that he eats 3 times a day. Kenneth and Niño decided to live with him. Their parents sent regards to Santino. Almost 2 weeks after, he became so fine, energetic and happy. He thanked us as he plays his guitar on us. He looked me into my eyes and says,

"Wanna dance with me?"

I don't want to because I needed to go home and it's already 10:30 PM but-- they cheered me up.

"Okay"

He put his guitar on the desk, as he looks at me.

We dance like in a cinderella's story. He smiled with his white teeth, his eyes were shining on me as the music plays.

But, until this beating heart of mine.

I want to dance with him like this, with the stars above twinkling. After the dance, we walk as we talk. Sharing each other's favorite movies, hobbies, and our weaknesses. I didn't bother to ask his problems, it's much better to just step aside for that now.

"Oh one minute, let me go back to-- uh, just stay here."

He's still thin though.

It was almost one minute before he came back. He smiled, as he was holding his guitar.

"Mademoiselle, forgive me for the missing string. But don't worry, I'll buy a new tomorrow"

I chuckled as I say, "It's fine."

We take a squat on the green grass as we look above to the sky, the stars and the moon are a beauty into our eyes.

He strummed his guitar and sings my favorite song, I'll be by Edwin McCain.

This is my first time, that someone could sing for me. I love it, I love it.

I swung as I look at him playing his guitar and singing the lyrics. Closing his eyes, and feel the beat of my heart.

Now, this is I called a beautiful night.

Monday class, more activities, lessons, and assignments as expected. After Santino is all feeling better now, we stopped visiting. But we're eating together with them. They are already my Friends.

I'm so much happy! But I wish Nico was here. I made myself busy for Santino for weeks that Nico and I didn't have much time to go out. Now, he's absent and didn't even text me for weeks too.

I miss him.

But hey, I was thinking, to visit Santino again, it's a surprise.

[End of Zoe Gomez's Point of View]

[Santino Auburn's Point of View]

So many pages to study.

So many assignments and 1 project.

I almost got drop all of my subjects but I'm glad they didn't. They believed my valid reasons for 3 weeks absences and gave me another chance to pass all the school works for 1 week.

So I better work it overnight.

Later on, I heard someone knocking while I was doing things for schoolwork.

"The door's unlocked, come in."

"Did I bother you?"

Oh, It's my friend, Niño.

"No, but you gotta help me here"

"No problem."

While we're doing things, I was thinking about Zoe. It flashbacks me to the time where Zoe and I made beautiful moments and that's the reason why I smiled.

"Are you okay?"

Oh just came back from the reality.

"Yes" I said as I pretend to cough.

"Santino, about your M-"

Niño didn't finish his words when Zoe came all of sudden.

"Hey--"

Well, maybe she didn't think Niño will be here.

"Oh Hi Niño, Santino" She waves

"What a surprise" I stood up as I get my guitar

"Well, you should be." She chuckles as she follows me.

She's really cute, I swear.

"Niño let's take a music break" Zoe invited him

"Oh sure."

And by that, we sing our favorite music,

and Zoe starts to write her poems. She didn't want me to read it. She's not shy but she said it's not the time.

Zoe cooked our favorite meal.

She even read the book for us

and we listened like we love the story.

It was all about the 20 yrs. old guy who's inlove with a high school student.

Hours passed and it's almost 10:30 PM Zoe and Niño decided to go home.

"Thank you, Santino" She kissed me on my cheeks.

"I need to tell you something, but I'll tell you tomorrow"

"Wait, why not now?"

"What? No. It's embarrassing" She whispered

"Okay" I smiled "Take care"

"We will."

"See you tomorrow buddy and take care of yourself" Niño hugs me

"Merci Niño"

I love speaking French

[End of Santino Auburn's Point of View]

[Zoe Gomez's Point of View]

I got bored as we were waiting for a taxi.

Niño was busy texting. It must be Kelly he's texting.

"Zoe"

"Oh, yes Niño?" I chuckled "How's Kelly? Send me regards to her"

"Yeah, she's good."

"Hmm, good."

"Anyway, I'll help you to make Nico fall inlove with you" Niño said as he smiled

What a surprise! Oh it bounces back but I love it!

"Why all of sudden?"

"Because-- I just want to help you, as a friend of yours"

"Thank you, Niño. But I already chose Nico's happiness"

"But you'll never know what will happen if you at least try."

"What are you gonna do? Love potion?"

"It's not a spell, but It is how you make Nico loves you back"

"That is so impossible. He only sees me as a friend."

"Maybe because, you never showed your love" Niño said and he called the taxi and opens the door.

"Ladies first. Take care bye."

"Bye." I entered immediately. I'm so dead to my mom.

As I was on my way home, I can't stop thinking about it. It keeps being repeated.

[Flashback]

"But you'll never know what will happen if you at least try."

"What are you gonna do? Love potion?"

"It's not a spell, but It is how you make Nico loves you back"

"That is so impossible. He only sees me as a friend."

"Maybe because, you never showed your love"

[End of Flashback]

[End of Zoe Gomez's Point of View]