Busted For Real, The Sequel

Chapter Twenty Six

May's POV

Hi Witch, I just met with my mom here in LaRousse. Everything is going fine now. I'll be back to school after the Christmas break. Thank you, and also thank Drew for me. My mother says hi to you and Drew. Sorry again for everything. I'll get back at you I promise.

And yeah you can have him all to yourself. Knowing your mental state, you would never know how obvious that is.

I sighed and put down my phone.

For once in my life, I woke up early.

All thanks to this one text..

Fun fact about my life, I would never ever sacrifice anything for sleep and for more sleep. Never. Not a single thing.

But to think that Brianna would text me this early in the morning, it immediately chased away all the drowsiness that were all over me.

I thought it would be another anime review from Dawn and her nightly anime binge watching.

I took up my phone and read it again. It was unreal. She really did text me this early.

Weird jittery feelings were all over my stomach.

A weird jittery good feeling. Just a week ago she stated how much she hated me and now she's thanking me. In such a little time, we both already had gone a long way.

I smiled and placed the phone on my chest, letting it's warmness creep all over me protecting me against the frigidness of December.

I was about to tap my reply when I heard a knock on the door of my bedroom.

"May?" Drew called out. "Can I come in?"

"No, you may not." I jested.

"Okay.." He replied from the other side. "Can I-"

I jumped off of my bed and quickly opened then door. "I was kidding Drew." My chuckling stopped when I saw him in his winter uniform already. "What's up with you?"

"Aren't you a bit too early for school?" I asked immediately.

"Yes." He scratched his chin. "I'm going to see nurse Joy, for my daily examination."

"Oh.." I nodded. My eyes trailed off to his shoulder.

"And to have my new arm sling, since, uh, I accidentally tore off its fabric yesterday."

"And also I organized a meeting today with the soccer club." He sighed and darted his look away from me. "I also need to talk to you after school. Is it okay?" He asked.

I started chuckling again.

"Why do you look so serious moss head?" I slowed down my laughter and nodded at him. "Sure. But why?"

He breathed in a sigh of relief and composed himself. "You'll know later." He winked as he closed the door behind him.

"Hey!" I called out. "What was that about?"

But he was already out of the apartment room.

"What was that about?" I asked myself.

Sometimes he's a straight up jerk and a pervert, then suddenly he becomes serious. I don't get him.

It must really be something serious considering how he looked so anxious trying to bring it up.

I pondered for a couple of minutes but came up with nothing. I decided to put it aside for now and replied to Brianna.

I hit up the keys and started pressing on the keypad.

Good morning Brianna. Just take your time, a couple of days for christmas break should be more than enough. Say hi to your mother for me too. And also Dre-

I paused as a thought passed me by. I should tell Drew about Brianna and her mother later.

Good morning Brianna. Just take your time, a couple of days for christmas break should be more than enough. Say hi to your mother for me too. And also Drew, he says hi to you and your mother.

And yeah, Drew has always been mine :P

I chuckled to myself before pressing the send button.

And before I could even get off of bed, I received another text from her.

Oh really? Have you ever said you loved him? Bet you haven't yet. That's why you're always lame.

I sat up of bed and quickly replied.

I am not lame!

As frustrating as it is, I couldn't think of anything else to reply.

I sighed a deep breath.

Kiss me then.

I really can't believe you actually wanted this.

"I really am lame, aren't I?" I whispered to myself. "Asking for a kiss because I hadn't kiss him back then."

I let out a frustrated sigh. And my face turned red without my consent, like always.

I was waiting for her to reply but I didn't got any after that. So I just proceeded to prepare myself to school. If everything goes according to plan, this will be the very first time I'd get to school early. Nice job Maybelle, nice job.

I will surely reward myself with hazelnut brownies later this afternoon.

Anyway, I prepped myself to school as fast as I could.

And since the Christmas party is already coming tomorrow and I already sent my gift to Brianna yesterday, I just laid my back against my chair and witnessed how hyped everyone was in the classroom. They kept on talking about the gift and about trying to confess and whatsoever.

I inwardly irked and cringed.

"May!!"

Dawn screamed running in to our room.

"What?" I was so surprised that I almost fell out of my chair

She horridly looked at me like I was her unwanted child.

"What the hell are you doing so chill in here?!" She screeched.

"What?" I asked for the second time. "Am I not supposed to sit here and chill?"

"Ugh!" She quickly grabbed my hand causing me to stumble on the floor.

"Daw- hey! Watch it! Ouch!"

"No time to talk! Your gift! Quick!" She replied without looking back at me and continued dragging me like a ragdoll. "Leaf and Misty are already waiting for us outside."

I tried voicing out about the gift issue that I already gave my gift but it was hard with my face kissing the floor with her dragging. For a non-morning person, she sure had too much energy.

I would have never thought.

We both panted out air right beside the gate of the school.

"What the hell were you doing just chilling inside our room May? The party is already tomorrow and you haven't got your gift yet!" Dawn screeched for the second time.

"Yeah what the hell May." Misty deadpanned, clearly not thrilled by the fact that we might have to walk for another four hours straight looking for a gift.

"You're not worried about your gift May?" Leaf asked worriedly. "Or have you bought one already?"

I let out a nervous chuckle.

"I know that laugh of yours too well." Misty sharpened her eyes at me. She then grabbed all of our hands and dragged us all back to school. "There's something May wanna tell us."

"Isn't that right Maybelle Hayden?" She looked back at me with a sly smile.

As much as I hated it, yeah Misty knows me so well.

"Ugh."

I sat back on my seat and they surrounded me like a suspect under investigation.

Why does it always feel like I'm some sort of protagonist of a lame and unpopular sitcom?

"Since you were just chilling here, that must mean that you've already bought something." Leaf asked, she inched her chair closer. "Right?"

"Uh huh." I answered, wiping a sweat that trickled down my cheek.

"What did you buy?!" Dawn asked with an out-of-this-world enthusiasm.

"A puppy." Another nervous laughter escaped from me.

"A puppy?" They all asked. "Why would you want to give him a puppy?"

"Yes I picked a puppy." I replied. "And I already gave the said puppy." I followed, my laughter slowly dying to fits of anxiety. It roared inside me like wild fire.

"A puppy? And you already gave it to him? What? When? Why?" They all asked again.

"It's a 'her', not 'him'."

"What? I don't understand."

It was funny looking at them answering at the same time. They were all looking so baffled and confused. And weird as it may be, it felt satisfying somehow.

My life would seriously make an awesome sitcom with all the crazy plot twist and cliffhangers. If it would be made possible to earn money from it, I wouldn't have to find a job.

Then I finally dropped the bomb, the truth that is.

"Brianna. I gave Brianna a puppy." I replied.

"WHAAAAAAT?!?!" They all screeched inside the room that stopped everyone from doing whatever the hell they were doing.

"YOU GAVE BRIANNA A PUPP-" I instantly cupped Dawn's mouth.

"Sssshhh..." I shut her up.

I swear to god Dawn's mouth is an involuntary organ.

And another story telling happened. It was déjà vu-ish telling them everything that has happened to me. I wasn't at all surprised at their reactions to it. Their jaws dropped, heads were scratched, sweats dropped and eyebrows were scrunched. Nothing new really.

But comparing it at that time when I told them my undercover married life, now they're just as baffled as they were interested. Because of course who wouldn't be confused, I just gave someone a puppy. The very same someone who almost boxed me to death.

Misty thought I was some kind of next level masochist.

And so I told them my reason, the same reason Drew told me the other night about Brianna.

I really demanded the truth from him. And with very much reluctance from Drew, he finally told me everything. The very reason why he stayed in LaRousse for a year.

I was reluctant in telling them everything since it was very personal, but I eventually did. They were my dearest friends and I trust them the most. And also because they wouldn't stop pestering me about it and just so I could make it clear that I'm not some next level masochist Misty thought of me.

They were all stunned about the life Brianna left in LaRousse, how it had been difficult for her and how much she tried to hide it here.

In a way, we're similar - we're both trying to avoid everyone from picking up anything from the life we're trying to hide. Hers is just more painful and depressing.

But now that I think about it, I was just hearing Drew's side of the story and not Brianna's side. There should be more to this painful misunderstanding.

Maybe I could go ask Brianna about it when she comes back, if it's okay for her though.

After everything I told them, miraculously they understood. I know it might be too much to give someone a puppy but after that incident in the pet store, I knew I had to give her Oreo.

"But why can't you just give another gift for Drew this party?" Leaf asked as we made our way to the canteen. "Since he's your special one."

It was already lunch time, no classes were held this morning and it felt more than gratifying.

"Well I wanted to, but I already used my money for buying the gift for her. And I don't wanna ask money from my parents. The money I used was my own savings this year."

Leaf nodded in agreement.

Dawn grunted beside me. "Well you don't need the charm of the hotel anyway since you're already married to the very person you like." She then rolled her eyes.

I pouted at her.

"But are you okay now?" Misty asked as we took our seat in our usual lunch table.

It took me a couple of seconds to understand what she meant.

"Oh. Yeah. I'm fine now. My cheeks still hurt a bit but I'm fine now." I tried tapping my cheek. The bruise was barely visible now.

"Damn she must have hated you that much." Misty followed.

I sat down and laughed.

"What are you laughing at doofus? She can take advantage of that kindness of yours." Misty chastised.

"Well, I don't think she would be the kind of person that would take advantage of others." I replied. "I just thought that maybe the reason she was so hateful is because she has always been vulnerable. That maybe what she needs is someone to be as vulnerable as she was." I smiled to myself. "So I let myself be."

You don't know what it feels like to be avoided!

You don't know what it feels like to be unwanted!

You don't know what it feels like to be unloved! To have no friends! To be always surrounded with nothing but rumors and judgemental eyes!

You don't know what it feels like to be like me! So don't go on telling me what to do!

"I'm betting on it a lot, and it's true that she could take advantage of me, but I just wanna show her that not everyone in our lives leaves us. That there are really people out there who only want the best for us."

Misty suddenly hugged me.

"That's why you're my bestfriend May." She broke the hug and looked at me. "You might be the friend she's looking for." She smiled. "But I'm still not gonna be making friends with someone who judo chop'ed you without my consent."

I laughed. "I just wish her family issue would get fix."

"It will." Leaf tapped my shoulder and placed a couple of sandwiches and a few juice box on the table. "Now that's out of the way! Lunch is all on me!" She grinned.

"Wow!!!" Our mouths all gaped open.

So we had our usual lunch, just the four of us chatting and laughing non-stop.

After lunch, we just stayed inside the room and examined how everyone panicked. Oops, I mean 'I', not 'we'.

Dawn was anxious about tomorrow. I understood her. Paul is just someone who would be looking forward to the end of the world rather than Christmas parties. We talked about it during lunch, she said confessing to Paul would totally be up to how confident she would be tomorrow.

I praised her for that. Not everyone could talk to Paul. Girls just ogle and stalk him on social media as if there were too much of him online. I don't even know if he has one. For Dawn, she's just too helplessly in love with him. Too helplessly that I don't understood how and why.

It's totally beyond me.

Misty joked that Dawn would need to get herself drunk for tomorrow. So I totally bonked her on the head for coming up such an idea.

Misty on the other hand, felt a little to no anxiety. It would be another casual Christmas party for her and Ash. Surely Ash would be receiving gifts from a lot of girls so she just planned to give hers after the party, which we all agreed is a good idea.

But for confessing, she decided to put it off. She have tried it before but confession never works with Ash. Misty told us that she's torn between being contented of having whatever she and Ash currently have and trying to be something more than friends.

Leaf advised that she should just wait it out and be patient about it.

And lastly, Leaf. She's the only one who was casual about the party apart from me.

She also said nothing about confessing and was more than willing to wait for everything else and go with the flow. It was weird how Leaf was very chill about the confession despite being the only one among us who truly believed about the rumor, magic or whatever this hotel has on lovers. And just like she advised Misty to do, she also planned to give her gift to Gary right after the party.

As for me, there was really nothing to do but just to prepare for tomorrow. Contrary to earlier claim of being a protagonist of a sitcom, it looked like I'm the one with the least of worries.

I don't know how to feel about it, but something just doesn't feel right when I feel okay.

Me? Chilling? That certainly is odd. I know life is just somewhere out there patiently waiting for me to trip over on its trap.

Anyway, deep inside, my stupid and head-over-heels-for-Mr. Pervert self, is expecting something from Drew. As much as I wanted not to expect anything from him, I just couldn't.

As Brianna texted, I'm lame.

And the day finally ended. With all the prepping going on for the Christmas party I don't know why didn't they just put this day off. But I am certainly not complaining.

Misty bid farewell and met Ash who was waiting for her by the school gate. Dawn and Leaf went home together and I waited for Drew right by the stairs outside our room.

For some reason I somehow felt anxious waiting for him. Maybe because this is the first time we're hanging out inside the campus.

He finally got out.

My toes curled and my heartbeat raced when I saw him. He is just one of those things you see that you just couldn't get yourself used to seeing.

He smiled at me for a bit before rearranging his new arm sling.

I immediately went beside him and helped.

"Thanks." He muttered beside me.

"Sure." I darted my eyes from him. Because god knows what might happen if I keep on looking at him.

"Oh right. Right." I composed myself quickly before getting lost at the tranquility of his sea green eyes. "I actually wanted you to know that Brianna and her mother says hi to you."

"Really?!" He lighten up. "It looks like they're finally getting back together." He heaved himself a comforted smile.

"I gue-" He suddenly grabbed my hand as I was about to answer him.

"I'm treating you today." He cut me off. My body temperature suddenly erupted a million degrees Celsius the moment his hands touched mine. I stuttered. My thoughts juggled up and down.

"B-bu-but why?" I managed to let out a few words.

"I want to thank you for everything May." He smiled softly at me. "This is the least I can do for what you've done to me and Brianna, as well as to her mother."

He clasped both of my hands into his. He stared deep into my eyes. He had been sincere and serious, but not this much before.

"I owe you a lot." He said.

"Ooh.." Was all I could mutter. I could feel my face heating up by every second he spent holding my hand. My heart felt like a ticking time bomb only a few seconds away from exploding to bits.

"Lets go!" He shouted. He dragged me all the way downstairs, out of the hallways and into the streets.

The bell chimed in as we both got inside a cafe.

Even though it wasn't snowing, it was cold enough that I wish I hadn't left my scarf back at the apartment.

I watched Drew from my seat as he ordered for the two of us.

Our orders came to our table, a pair of brownie pie alamode and two hot choco.

Perfect! Now I don't have to reward myself.

My face suddenly beamed with glee that Drew laughed.

"Go ahead." He said between chuckles.

"Thanks Drew!" I replied as I started taking a spoonful of the sweet and stuffing it inside my mouth.

"Oh my gooood!" I mumbled as the sweet sent electricity over my jaws. "I'm so happy!" I took my time enjoying the delicacy.

Drew just sat there from his seat and watched me.

As I tried swallowing the brownie, Drew said something that almost suffocated me.

I started coughing so bad. I blindly looked for my glass of water. He helped me up and I soon started calming down.

"Was it really that shocking?" He sat back and asked.

I covered my mouth with my hand, though it didn't really help hiding my reddening face.

"I said 'I love you'." He said it again in a voice so straight it felt like it wasn't coming from him.

I was still unable to say anything. I doubt if I was even breathing or if a single organ inside of my body was working. For a solid moment, time seemed to have stop. My reality froze.

"This is the real reason why I asked you here. To tell you this." Drew looked away. "Of course thanking you for what you did to Brianna is also part of the reason.." He trailed off, he breathed in deeply and stared back at me.

"But this is it. It's not because we're married why I'm telling you this. It's despite that being married, I still love you."

"I love you May." He repeated the phrase again. "I really do."

And the sound of a glassware breaking on the floor caught our attention. The sound came from a table right behind us.

We wouldn't be as shock as they were if only we hadn't recognize who they were. Sadly I did, and I could never forget those faces I met during that time in the pharmacy.

I slowly felt the frozen reality gradually melting to a horrendous nightmare.

"You two are already married?" The blonde one asked right away. "So that's why the Mistress is absent today."

"I knew I was right in tailing you two."A peach-headed girl with swirling locks at both sides of her head pointed to us. "Wait till the school knows about this tomorrow!" Then they all stormed off the store.

I looked at Drew and he had the same face I just made. And suddenly the brownie didn't look as appealing as it did.

I knew something bad was gonna happen.

I called it, I freaking called it!