The kiss

"I guess we both have to drink up," Rachel said.

As if that wasn't awkward enough, the background song started playing I love you by billie eilish, her cheeks reddened at how cliche the timing was, she avoided looking at Yandel who just sat beside on the couch staring straight ahead.

"You."

"I," they both said at the same time as their faces went from worry to a wide smile.

"I guess this is where we blame the wine and the song for the moment," Yandel said, licking his lip chuckling, he rose his head to finally stare her in her beautiful brown eyes that until recently started holding alot of fire in them, he felt like a moth in its youth strongly attracted the the ever burning flame that only seemed to blaze more.

"Wow…" Rachel said, it was definitely one of those cliche moments, she could feel her heart starting a gentle race as the cause of the race was sipping in her soul and he kept staring at her giving her the most floaty feeling she has ever felt in her life.

"Keep an open mind, be difficult, remember they hurt you," Rachel said to herself.

"What's the time?" Rachel asked, looking away as the end of the song came about the corner and she could feel the pressure of the stare wearing off, all it took was a harmless question to lift her out of the trance she was still new to.

Yandel on the other hand was far from processing the question, he just watched her fade off as he started imagining a thousand beautiful lifes they could have together but she was gradually sipping on some drink of reality as the fire in her eyes died out and was replaced by another placed in a different direction, quenching the flame he had started between them.

"Wow, it's thirty minutes past nine," Yandel said quickly, standing up and rubbing his hands through his hair.

"Yeah, I guess it's time for me to go," Rachel said as she let Yandel lead him out of his private study. When they reached downstairs, they realized the party was almost dead, just a few passed out people here and there with Ethan and Emily with some of their friends cleaning up.

"Are you heading out already?" Emily asked her, feeling bad that she couldn't spend some time with her and try to bond.

"I'm sorry we didn't get enough bonding time," Emily said.

"It's fine, there's always another time," Rachel said smiling as she gave her a light hug.

"And sorry I didn't get you guys anything," Rachel said as she let her go.

"Well, You could always make it up to us anytime," Emily smiled.

"Yeah, Anytime." Ethan said, after her.

"Alright, see you guys later, make sure you actually finish cleaning up," Yandel said, leading Rachel out of the house.

"Hey wait, where are you going?" Emily asked, looking confused, it was already getting late.

"To give her a ride of course, where else would I be going," Yandel said as if it was clearly obvious.

"You don't have to worry Yandel, I can order an uber, you can stay and watch after the kids and make sure they reach home safely," Rachel said, holding his shoulder.

"The twins can take care of that, besides they have enough guest rooms to accommodate their friends, it's no big deal," Yandel said.

Seeing that she didn't have any arguing points again, she let it go, there was nothing she could do, she needed to just hold on and stay focused through the super awkward ride. They reached the car and she thought about going to the back seat but that would be childish, so she got into the passenger seat and just looked out the window.

She could feel sleep making her lid heavy but the cold of the night still managed to slip into her body, winter was really getting close.

"Please could you turn up the car heater?" Rachel asked as she couldn't battle the cold anymore.

"Are you feeling cold?" Yandel asked.

"No, I just wanted to know how five minutes in hell will feel," Rachel sarcastically.

"A simple yes would have sufficed," Yandel said, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever,"

"Have you planned on showing your parents the video?" Yandel asked out of nowhere, surprising her. To be honest, she had thought about it, there was only one way to go about it, and that was just to plain out tell them about it, or though she knew her Mom will take the hit because she has always liked Xander.

"I don't know,"

"I guess I'll just rip the bandaid off and just give it to them straight," Rachel said.

"That's good," Yandel nodding his head slowly and faced the road back, he gwas debating bringing up the kiss, he knows he wasn't the only one who felt what he felt, but she looked like she had a lot on her plate, bringing up the kiss now might make him seem like he was just self centered.

"If you wanna talk about it, you know we can talk about it, we are adults." Racheal deadpanned, she was tired of seeing him fidgeting and tapping the steering wheel rapidly.

"What are you talking about?" Yandel faked confusion like he hadn't been over thinking his last brain cells to death.

"You are acting restless and fidgeting because something is disturbing you, I don't want to get into another car accident," Rachel said, straight up.

"Wait a sec, you have been in a car accident before?!" Yandel exclaimed.

"Not the point Baldwin, get what is disturbing off your chest or forever hold it in," Rachel said with finality. There wasn't any element of joke in her tone as she stared at him dead in the eye. He stared at her for a little bit before fixing his eyes on the road.

"You want me to talk about the kiss?" Yandel said.

"If that's what's disturbing you bro, just say it."

He doesn't know if he was just exaggerating it but when she called him bro, some part of his heart died or failed, he doesn't know how to put it exactly.

"I'm not your bro," Yandel murmured under his breath.

"What did you say?" Rachel asked.

"Nothing!"

"Look, if the kiss meant nothing to you, it meant nothing to me,"

"There is no need to stress about it, Okay?" Yandel said, looking at her before looking back at the gate of her estate.

"Did it mean something to you, Yandel?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know, did It?"

"Look, I don't know, okay, it is what it is," Yandel said, stopping in front of the gate.

"Yandel look at me," Rachel said.

He just stared straight ahead as his headlights highlighted the bars in front of them, it clearly meant something to him but he didn't want to say it.

"Yandel, I said look at me," Rachel repeated a little louder than the first time while staring at him. This time, he looked at her, but with no light in his eyes, just an empty dark brown orb giving her chills.

They were so opposite from what she saw when they were in his study. Now they were just the eyes of a man in a mask, every emotion hidden behind.

"What do you see?" Yandel asked her.

"Nothing," Rachel muttered.

"You are not giving off any emotion and that seems to look like a personal choice," Rachel observed.

"What do you want me to show you?!"

"Pain,"

"Disappointment,"

"Agony,"

"Helpless,"

"Loneliness,"

"Because you won't see shit Araceli," Yandel spat, turning away.

"You won't see me crying on a monday,"

Yandel muttered with his voice breaking at the end, she had already heard weakness in his voice, she had won. "Yandel…"

"NO!" Yandel yelled, moving away from her touch of sympathy.

"No…" He trailed off, more calmly with resign written all over his features.

"You have won alright, you have seen me broken, you have seen my tears, that's enough." Yandel sniffed, holding back tears. He felt so stupid.

"This was never a game," Rachel spoke genuinely, trying to hold him but later decided not to.

"Yes it was, it always was."

"God, I used to always tease you and insult you to your face because of how humble and meek you were, I was angry, you would let people walk all over you and you will still act nice to everyone,"

"Now, you changed, and I feel you, but now I see it's a huge mistake on my path,"

"We have a good friendship going on, I don't want to ruin it," Yandel said, looking at her smiling. She thought he was crying but he wasn't, even though she could swear she heard his voice break which meant worse, she was crying inside like men do.

"I guess this is goodbye and goodluck," Yandel said, starting up the car again.

"Yeah, goodbye." Rachel said

She came down from the car and waved him a last goodbye before heading through the gate into the estate. She would think about Yandel later but for now, she was occupied with telling her parents about Xander cheating on her.

On reaching her house, as God will have it, their personal cars were home showing they were both around, she opened the door and greeted some maids before heading straight for their room, only to hear their voice coming from the living room, with Ace.

"Wow Rachel, way to ruin a family night," Rachel thought to herself.

"Hey baby, how are you?" Mrs. Garcia asked her as she entered the living room.

"Yeah, How are you, I heard you left the office early," Mr. Garcia pitched in.

"Yeah Uh, something came up, do I have something to tell you guys," Rachel spoke, her nerves racking up watching both their faces turn a slight shade of worry.

"Ace, can you wait for me in the game room, I feel like battling you today," Rachel said, smiling at him.

"Yes, you are so lost," Ace yelled, excitedly while running to the Game room forgetting that he was watching a movie with his parents.

"Mom, Dad, I think Xander has been cheating on me and I have the video to prove it,"