8

Ashley walked into her brother's half-open room and shut the door as quietly as she could. Alejandro was lying there, eating a pack of meat sandwiches and reading a book. He glanced at her and took a bite, saying nothing.

And then, there was a moment of silence.

Soon, Ashley was talking quietly.

"Alejandro, I really would have loved it if you'd come down. You still want to come?"

"No, not really."

"Come on." Ashley drawled, sad. "She's our friend, kinda like your kid sister, too. I'm not asking you to even talk to her. Just come down and join us at the dining table...."

"I'm not eating...."

"Jan...." Ashley whined again.

"Don't call me that, Ashley. I'm Alejandro by name. I don't fucking want to say any hi. Go, Ashley. Later."

"That's not good at all."

"Sorry, Ashley. I just can't come. Y'all should enjoy yourselves. Maybe some other time."

Ashley sighed and turned around for the door and gave a frail, little wave.

"Stay alright, Alejandro."

"Yes. Thank you." He said and watched Ashley go outside.

★★★

★★★

"I fucking told him my secrets, and he threw shit all over my face!" She growled in a low voice, tears drying on her pinkened face. She kept wiping her eyes and looking at nothing, and her friend seemed to be brooding from where she sat on the bed, drinking from a big bottle.

"You really should have prepared for that...."

"Don't you dare say that!" Karliana snapped. "At least, we've had a lot together."

"Yet, he doesn't fucking treat you right!"

"Shut the hell up, Simone. You jealous bitch, can't you just support me for once?"

Simone shrugged and resumed scrolling through her phone.

Meanwhile, Karliana buried her face in her hands and started crying again.

"I love him. Just all of a sudden. The wrong person! He doesn't even value the little times we had…."

"Well, there are other guys. Just chill."

"I don't want anybody else! It's him."

Simone sighed and sank deeper into the soft bed she lay on.

"Yet, he wants to end us. I need to think straight. I think I'll have to beg him."

There was silence.

"Karl, you're better than that, trust me...."

And Karliana burst out again.

"Just shut up, Simone. You're not helping! At all. You're not helping."

"Come on, what the fuck do you want me to do for you? Write an apology letter? We're far beyond that, bitch." Simone replied sharply this time. She was greatly annoyed now.

But what could she do?

★★★

★★★

Bree was laughing now, and the people around her were so warm, so kind, that it felt like she was in paradise.

"It's so relatable, y'know...." Rolando was saying.

They were at the dining table, and Bree couldn't count everything that was on the table to be eaten. And being who she was, she was slowly devouring and talking and listening.

"You all are in what year?" Bree asked.

"Maverick, you go first." Rolando said and stuck chicken in his mouth.

Maverick cleared his throat and smiled.

"Well, Miss Bree.... I am in no year."

Bree giggled, and the others smiled.

"Sorry, grammatical error. I only live here. Rolando is the one in school. Ashley is in her second year. Alejandro isn't an alumnus. Or.… he was. Don't tell him I said that."

Bree quickly nodded. And Maverick continued.

"Erwina is in her third year, and.... who else is left?"

"I guess that's all." Ashley said, her voice laughing.

"Yeah. And also, I just wanted to also let you know that you shouldn't let anyone do you any bullying." Maverick continued.

"Bullying?" Bree blurted, shocked to hear that.

"Yes. Bullying. You might see someone trying to make you angry, sad, or just cause a fight."

"Oh."

"Yes. You know you can reach me."

"Especially me." Rolando put in, and Bree smiled at him.

Meanwhile, Ashley was laughing. It caught their eyes, and everyone looked at her.

"What's that, Ashley?" Erwina asked.

"I mean, y'all just talking about what Alejandro wouldn't like. He already said all this in his own way."

"Ashley, forget that kid." Rolando burst in. "He's not serious about showing some love at all. How do you even imagine he can be man enough to care for a beautiful girl like Bree...?"

But Rolando didn't know that Alejandro was walking over from behind him. His and Ashley's backs were to the living room.

At the table, Bree was sitting opposite Rolando and Ashley. By Ashley and Rolando's right, Maverick sat there. To their left sat Erwina. And then, a seat was left empty beside Bree.

She saw him, but no word could come out of her mouth, and she was gradually beginning to freeze the more he approached. She looked down.

"Jesus .... Get a hold of yourself! What do you think they'll think is the reason for your fidgeting? Get a hold of yourself!" Bree's head, yapped, disappointed.

She licked her lips and grabbed her fork.

Rolando noticed Alejandro and whined.

"Hey, man. What you doing sneaking up on me like that?"

The others were giggling. Except Bree.

She couldn't bear to watch him walk closer and come to sit right beside her. She was freezing. She was losing her mind.

Well, after an eerily long amount of time, Bree managed to glance up and saw that Alejandro must have diverted into the kitchen or something. But then, immediately she looked, he started walking out of the kitchen, a glass of orange and coconut juice with a basket of porridge in his hands.

He was coming for her.

She had stopped breathing.

Everyone was looking at Alejandro....

And then, he sat down. Beside Bree.

★★★

★★★

Bree's heart was beginning to slam against her chest, and she was beginning to heat up. What would she do so no one would notice how affected she suddenly was?

Oh heavens! Was this real....?

"Hey, pass me the jug, Erwina."

"Sure." Erwina said and pushed the jug of hot water to Alejandro.

Somehow, Bree felt Alejandro glance at her briefly.

"Alejandro, we'd like to introduce Bree to you...." Maverick said, mischievously.

"Cut it off, Rick. I friggin' know her." Alejandro growled lowly. He paused and then said. "Didn't you get the news?"

Ashley gave a guilty laugh.

"Alejandro, I couldn't help it, okay? I mean it was all.... pretty new."

Alejandro shrugged.

"I'm not complaining."

Erwina smiled, watching Alejandro spoon food into his mouth.

"Alejandro, how do you not get fat?"

Alejandro didn't give a reply.

Instead, he glanced at Bree.

Bree hadn't gotten over the light fever that she was feeling. Dearly, she was trying to stay put.

Ashley, Rowland, and Erwina were talking, but along the way, Maverick was able to notice Bree's quietness and discomfort. And so he asked.

"Bree, are you ok?"

Ashamed of her stupid reaction, she only glanced at Alejandro's dish, increasingly getting creeped out. She needed to speak.

"Uh…. Yy…. No." She managed a whisper one way or the other. Her chest was aching softly now. Her hands were sweating.

"What's wrong?" Ashley asked, deeply concerned.

Alejandro had stopped eating now. And yes, he was staring down inquisitively at the girl beside him.