I yawned tiredly, rolling to the side as my hands touched something - or someone! I got up swiftly.
"Mm, look who's up,"
"Philip!" My sleepy eyes stood active. Philp, what are you...?"
"Rise and shine, sleepy head! Breakfast is ready." He announced and added with a grin, "Thought you might be hungry."
I pulled the mattress down to my legs and looked down at my bosom, realizing I still had his oversized shirt on. "God, my head."
"Does it hurt?" He asked, placing the tray on my legs. "Let me see."
"It's only a headache, you know? I'm not dying." I smiled as he went on examining me.
I loved his kind gestures towards me; the way he cared and didn't mind if I was a bother in any way.
Last night when he asked me to put on his shirt having a pineapple design on it, I had thought he was joking,not until he insisted that I put it on, since there was no way I could sleep with a party dress on.
We talked in the process as I ate the slices of bread laced with jam, and the cup of cocoa he had served me with.
I had breakfast with him and we talked. I wondered why he didn't want to eat alongside, and I asked him, "Why don't you want to eat?"
He moistened his lips and answered. "I'm not yet hungry."
I frowned and shrugged the feelings off. "Well, if you say so."
I arched forward, getting a hold of the teacup as my hair came lose. "Oh, not again!"
"Here. Let me." He said, and took the ribbon from me.
He pulled behind me a little, taking my hair in his hand, as he got it all fixed up.
"Had a little sister once,"He said, and I looked at him.
"Had?"
"Yep! She had pretty brown hair like yours," He went on.
"W-well what happened?"
"Well, months after my parents died in that car crash, and my brother, Lionel, was no where to be found - my little sister, Rachael grew ill of pneumonia, and after few days of battling with it, died." He narrated, the sadness in his voice clearly made out.
I couldn't believe his parents weren't the only people he had lost. Poor guy, tears dropped from my eyes as I listened, and I quickly wiped them off. "I'm so sorry, Philip. I can't believe you went through all that."
"Heh. My life's really complicated," He chuckled and got up. "You should rest a little before you go shower. You know, cause of gas."
Not being able to say a word or anything, not after all that I'd heard, I just gave a nod as I watched him leave.
My conscience pricked, knowing I was keeping something from him - something only I knew. I felt really sorry knowing how wrong it was doing so. And, also how bad it was keeping him in the dark. I have to make things right. I really have to.
DEREK'S P.O.V
"What have I done? How am I going to tell my friends that Márcia and I broke up?" I talked to myself, having no idea when my roommate walked in.
"Dude, what's for lunch?"
I chuckled and shook my head. "You' asking me?"
"Come on, bruh. Man's down." He walked sluggishly to the cupboard.
I scoffed and ignored him, taking out a cosmopolitan magazine from the drawer beside, putting on my headset.
He took out a cereal pack and showed it to me, uttering something I didn't quite figure out. Man, what' you saying? I can't hear you from here." I groaned and took off my head set.
"Maybe, you shouldn't wear that." He said.
"I've got no time for your jokes. I'm busy now."
"Yeah, busy staring at my ass," He slapped his right butt cheek and laughed.
"You're crazy, you know that?"
"Not now I'm knowing," He shook his head and focused his eyes on the cereal. "Want some?"
I shrugged. "Nah. I'm good."
I fixed my eyes back on the magazine, my mind totally not on it as Tricia ran in it. Wait a minute. What if I could bring Tricia instead?
My face grew pale, remembering how terribly she hates me. But I could try my luck. Yes! That's what I'd do. I smiled in delight and eased my mind at the thought.
Later in the day, I went to pay her a visit at Marionette - not like she was aware.
I waited for her at the place I had seen her humming, and I hoped and prayed for her to come.
After an hour of waiting, I saw her walking towards the bench I was seated on, and then I knew she had sighted me from afar.
"Derek, now what do you think you're doing here?" She questioned harshly, rolling her eyes at me.
I breathed and thought of an answer to give, as she said, "I mean, what brings you here?" The anger in voice disappeared.
Is she really being nice to me? I looked in astonishment, trying to make sure I wasn't talking to someone else. "Are you okay, Trish?"
She smiled and placed her right hand at an angle. "Well, why wouldn't I be?"
I swallowed hard, thinking of what to say.
"Well, why are you here?" She made funny movements with her eyelashes.
"Well, um," I made to talk, placing my hand on the bench. "Sit, please -" I motioned to my side, and she sat.
I was actually liking this side of her - the side that actually portrayed her meekness.
I cleared my throat and began talking. "So, Trish. There's something I need to ask you -" I examined the look on her face for a second. Finding not a hint of anger, I continued. "Something I know you wouldn't agree to,"
"Why did you bring it up, then?" She sprang up to her feet.
"Just listen!" I rolled my eyes at her, and she breathed and sat back down.
"What do you want?"
"I just..."
"Yes?"
"Um... I was only thinking if you could..."
"Tricia!!" An angry black girl made towards. "How dare you try to kiss my girlfriend?!" She spat furiously.
Tricia got up instantly. "Karen? Karen, when did you get back?"
"It doesn't matter." She snapped at her. "Now tell me why you tried to make out with Lilian when clearly you turned me down?"
I stood stunned by the scene. What is she talking about? How could Tricia have done that when she's not even gay?
"Karen, I can explain," Tricia looked at me and back at her. "I never tried to kiss anyone, Karen. Lilian was the one that came at me and..."
"You big lying brat!" She landed a slap on Tricia's face before she could finish her sentence
"Hey, hey! Just who do you think you are?" I pulled Tricia behind me, boiling hard.
"Derek..."
"No, Tricia! I won't allow this!"
"You won't? Well, why don't you ask your good-for-nothing girlfriend what she did?!" She gritted and said to Trish, "You should count yourself lucky that your boyfriend was here to defend you. Bitch!"
I turned to Tricia the minute she left and I could tell how shaken she looked. "Is what she said really true?"
"Derek, please don't make things worse." She sighed and threw her face away.
"Then your answer says it all!"
"Derek, please!" Her lashes shot up. "And what was that about you defending me back there?"
"Huh?"
"Yes! You shouldn't have done that. I mean, why can't you just leave me alone?!
"Well, that's the problem, Tricia. I can't!"
"And why is that?"
"Because I love you!"
~~~TBC~~~