Thirty-Nine

The grocery store is still open so the both of us grabbed our chance.

Throughout the store, I've checked every aisle and every shelf of it to find good stuffs. There might be some good supplies or whatever that can make our plan even more better. I don't have any list so whatever comes up into my mind will be a part of this basket that I am holding.

My is almost full so I've decided to go on and find Alexander.

Just right after four aisles, I found him at the snacks section. I ran straight to him and greeted him. "Hey," I slightly shouted. "You done?"

"Nah, still checking on these chips." he immediately responded while observing every dock of the shelf. My eyes noticed a nostalgic object on his basket. I leaned forward to his basket to have a better look.

"Is that the Dear Santa scarf?" I pointed out in his basket. He glanced at me before looking at the object that I am pointing at.

"Oh, uh, yes." he bubbly said. "You still remember it?" he then asked with a grin on his face while looking at me.

"Well, yeah. I remember you wrapping that in your face and acting like a ninja."

We both shared a laugh and then left the aisle to go to the counter. What we bought mostly are food and drinks. After that, we then went home.

Since it's just 9:00 in the morning, it's only the three of us that are in the house. Well, I hope Alexis is here. We entered the house aggressively and ran straight to the bedroom.

I arranged the snacks while Alexander is getting the blankets and pillows.

When we were kids, we always make this kind of tent that is made out of blankets. Or a fort, as you call it. We usually spend time in there by playing board games, talking and laughing for like an hour, then watch movies on our dad's laptop. Then Alexis will come and crash to that little tent and destroy everything.

It was the good old days.

"Hey, why don't you invite Irish and the others?" Alexander blurted while fixing the fort.

"That's actually good idea." I shortly responded and went immediately to go grab my phone and contact them. Surprisingly, they responded quickly and agreed to go in here.

"Alright, all set." I heard him say after I got off my phone.

It took a minute for me to stay in my position while glancing at the fully-made fort. A smile slowly draws on my face as I remember everything.

It looked the same as before. But, it has a nicer structure.

"There you go again with your admiration at me." Alexander then suddenly teased.

I exclaimed and looked at him, "I admire the fort. Not you." I said while grinning.

"Whatever." he rolled his eyes and went inside the fort.

"Don't you wanna wait for them?"

"Meh, I'll just take a quick nap. Just wake me up when they arrive."

"You're gonna take a nap? It's literally 9:00 in the morning."

"Just shut up and mind your own business."

I let out a chuckle and went to the living room. I sat on the couch, and patiently waited. Minutes of silence, I thought of someone that I also wanted to invite. So, I picked up my phone that is sitting on the arm of the couch and called someone.

That person quickly picked up and answered. "Hello?" she asked.

"Hey, Candice. Am I bothering?" I hesitantly asked while walking around the living room.

"Nope, all clear. Everything all right?"

"Yes. I just wanted to...er...ask you if you have free time. Alexander and I came up with this plan to spend the rest of the day. It's-It's just a normal hang out so, I was wondering maybe if you have free time, you could come over here and join us? Or I-I could pick you up if you want to?"

I heard a chuckle on the other line. "Okay. I'll be there in 15 minutes."

A smile quickly drew on my face. "Alright. I'll be waiting for you." The call ended and I jumped out of happiness like a kid. I also noticed that Alexander is watching me from the other side of the room so I immediately stopped, embarrassed.

My right side drove pain when I stopped jumping, so I immediately held a hand and put it on my side.

"Months ago, you kept on denying that you like Candice and now you're here hopping like a kid on a trampoline." he teased while leaning at the wall with his arms crossed.

I scratched the back of my head, "Okay, maybe I like her." I said and can't help but grin.

"Maybe?" he squinted his eyes as he kept on looking at me. Indicating a tease.

"Screw you, Benj." I rolled my eyes and walked away from the living room to go back to the bedroom.

"Wha-I told you not to call me that!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep that noted, BENJ!"

"Damn you, bastard!"

I didn't respond but just laughed and paved my way to the bedroom.

Minutes later, they all arrived and greeted us. Candice is also there. We went to the bedroom and started our little party. Alexis is still not home, I'm assuming he's with his friends.

We all went did some board games, did chitchat, ate all the snacks we bought, and laughed so hard to the point that my neighbor could come to the house anytime and scold us.

It was all fun and games until Maddie suggested a ridiculous game.

"Alrighty, bitches! Let's play a game." she cheerfully told us. "Each of us would spin a bottle and wherever the bottle points, the person pointed by that bottle would confess the name of someone they like."

"Alright, that is fucking ridiculous. I'm not playing this game." Justin immediately blurted.

"Ah, come on don't be such a fuss, Justin!" Agatha exclaimed while others are also complaining.

In the end, Justin agreed and had no choice but to play the game. We then formed a circle and Maddie placed the bottle at the center. She spun the bottle and it first pointed on Agatha.

All of us cheered and teased her.

"Oh my god." Agatha muttered. We all cracked a laugh and waited for her to speak.

"Come on now!" Alexander insisted while tapping Agatha.

"Okay, okay, fine!" she blurted. "Geez, it's not like you guys don't know who the person is."

"Yeah, I could definitely tell even though I have my eyes closed." I said and laughed.

Agatha then proceeded, "It's, uh, Mr. Cole. Obviously." she firmly said. She stared at us for a moment while we also stare at her.

"That's it?" Cristina complained. "No, how, why, when?"

"That's not what Maddie said earlier!" by Agatha countered.

"Well, then it's now included." Maddie then chimed in. Agatha exclaimed and roller her eyes.

"Well, he is very optimistic and pretty easy to get along with. Handsome and kind. Also stern but when he smiles, it always get me." Agatha explained with her eyes fluttering and shining while speaking every word.

At the middle of the game, Candice had to go home because her mother needed her help at their house. And that is also when the bottle pointed at me, perfect timing, I guess.

"Bitch, I think we already know who is it." Maddie suddenly blurted.

"Yeah right, but let's still hear him out." Agatha added. Silence occurred before I started speaking.

"Erm...I can't really explain how-" I was interrupted by Justin.

"Oh! come on, man. Can't you just explain what things did you like about her?" he complained.

"Well, she's-" I was interrupted again.

"Or maybe how did you like her? It's just simple!"

"Maybe if you shut the fuck up then he could've told us by now." Alexander chimed in. I blurted a chuckle then they all went silent.

"When I was in my freshman year, I didn't thought of liking someone. You guys might have not know this but I was actually just thinking about how can I pass this part of my life. High school life, specifically speaking. Then I met this lovely, badass, not-kind-of-student-you-wanna-mess-with girl and all of a sudden, my emotional feelings suddenly woke up. She literally is unexpected for me." I explained.

"Candice is a nice girl. If I could have the chance to choose whom can I spend the rest of my life with, I would choose her. And I'm sure that I'm not going to regret it." I ended my statement with a smile. Then, suddenly, the door opened from behind me and there my eyes widened completely.

"I forgot my bag. Sorry." she said in a rush and grabbed her bag. "Bye!" she greeted and walked away. I was still in a complete shock.

"I hope she didn't hear what I just said." I said with my eyes locked in the door where she left, dumbfounded.

We finished off the little get together and my friends decided to go home. We bid our goodbyes as we separate from each other.

"Happy Holidays guys!" I said while waving my hand to them. I closed the door behind me and suddenly, within just a second, I couldn't feel the air around me. I fell on my knees as I grab Alexander's sleeve. I couldn't hear anything but him mumbling.

My chest started to tight and I couldn't breathe. Along with my shortness of breath, I also felt my right side hovering in pain. They both triggered at the same time. I couldn't handle it anymore.

Weakening, my body decided to shut down and I fell completely to the floor. Then everything went black.