Summer barely paced towards the gate where Tristan was waiting for her. She was foggy and hesitating to face him right now.
She wasn't ready yet, she was still at the phase of finding a solution to resolve the crisis of her unusual feelings.
Summer took a deep breath then gently opened the gate of her house. Tristan turned around as he heard the gate screeched, worry was written all over his face.
"Summer. Are y—"
"Trish... Please... Not now... I... I want to be alone for now." Summer told, cutting off Tristan.
Tristan was stunned at what she said. Summer didn't even bother to look at him, her eyes were averted since she came out.
Tristan felt a bit upset, he had no idea what he did wrong. He wasn't sure if she was mad at him or not. What's the reason? What did he do? Was it the gift that he gave to her? Didn't she like it?
He doesn't know. It was so hard for him to think whether he needs to apologize or not. But despite all that, Tristan chose to respect Summer's request. She wanted to be alone. So be it.
"A-Alright... I'm sorry... I-I will leave now." Tristan gloomily replied.
He went to his car and got in. He glanced at Summer once again but she wasn't looking in his direction.
Again, Tristan's sadness piled up. He was too bothered. He couldn't do anything but start the engine and drove away. Although he was confused at the same time hurt, he didn't want to cause any annoyance.
Summer let out a loud sigh as she saw Tristan's car gradually out of sight. Her rapid heartbeat while talking to him was also pacified.
She formed a worried look on her face while reflecting on the attitude she showed him earlier.
'I'm sorry, Trish... Just not today...' She thought, closing the gate.
.
.
.
Heidi drank the last drop of her red wine which Summer prepared for her when she arrived.
She narrowed her eyes, staring at Summer murmuring while gently bumping her forehead onto the table.
"Hey... Did you call me over in the middle of the night just to watch you grumble?" Heidi asked as she refilled her wineglass with red wine, then swirled it slowly.
Summer lifted her head, then formed a frown on her face. "Trish was here earlier"
"Mhm. That's not new. She was here often, wasn't she?"
"Yeah, but... I drove her out"
Heidi paused at Summer's reply.
"Are you two fighting?"
"We're not... I was just... Kinda... Not ready to face her" Summer lowered her gaze and started to feel nervous and shy.
She wanted to ask directly for advice but wouldn't it be weird?
"Not ready?" Heidi's brows furrowed. She put down her wineglass and looked at Summer seriously.
"What do you mean?"
Summer fiddled her fingers while biting her lower lip. She was mustering her courage to ask and trying to calm her nervousness.
Should she tell her or not? Would it be awkward? Embarrassing? Or... Laughable?
What if she will get mock? Heidi won't probably do that, right?
After winning against her tremendous hesitation, she looked straight into Heidi's eyes.
"I... I think... I like her"
Heidi was stunned and blinked in surprise. She knew there is another meaning when saying 'You like someone' but in the way, Summer expressed those words, why was she thinking she romantically liked her? Or it was just her imagination?
"What?" Heidi confusedly asked.
She didn't want to bring it herself because it might offend Summer if she conclude Summer was a late bloomer member of LGBTQ, so she was just waiting for Summer to clarify it herself.
"I like her!"
"Of course! She's your friend, didn't she? Would you befriend someone you don't like?"
"Yes, that's what I thought too when I first felt this... But, no... It's getting weirder each day. And... Stronger each time I saw her... I... Like her, romantically... That's why I called you over because I don't know what to do! I'm so... Lost"
Heidi was stupefied, her gut was true then. She wasn't mistaken. Summer was really a late bloomer.
"Oh, dang. How long have you been single to swing that way?"
Summer narrowed her eyes, unamused.
"What about you? How long have you hadn't a relationship that you ended up liking my step-sister?"
"Girl. I've been into that kind of girls since high school"
"Good to you then" Summer rolled her eyes then dropped her head to the table. Heidi just sighed seeing her best friend miserable.
"When did you start liking her?"
"I'm not sure? Probably... That night? When I saw her crying and... She was holding me tight... I guess that time"
"Mhmm." Heidi hummed then sip her wine.
"What are you gonna do now?"
"I don't know." Summer sluggishly uttered.
"Hays. Where is the Summer I know? That THICK FACED Summer I befriend with?"
"Wow... Was that a motivation?" Summer lifted her head once again, then boredly stared at Heidi.
"Perhaps. But I just want to point out. What do you really wanna do?"
"I don't know either... Maybe I'll avoid her for now."
"Summer... Avoiding her won't solve anything. That might even ruin your friendship... Did you tell her anything or even just an explanation on why you're avoiding her? You didn't, right?"
Heidi's words sank in to Summer pretty quick. Indeed, she didn't tell anything. Didn't even give a proper explanation and a valid reason.
"Damn. I'm so stupid!" Summer banged her head once again onto the table.
"Dang it, Summer! Will you stop knocking your forehead on the table!"
"Heidi... What should I do now?"
Heidi just sighed as she intertwined her fingers. She then placed her knuckles underneath her chin.
"Well... Now that you're asking me... You only have two options..."
Summer snapped her head up, then curiously stared at Heidi. "What are those?"
"Firstly, confess to her regardless of the outcome... And the second one is to keep your feelings to yourself and pretend it doesn't exist. In short. Whether you'll take the risk or just forget about it... That... If you can withstand it"
Summer was taken aback by the choices she had. Both are difficult... But, the second option was less hard than the first one, wasn't it? Or so she thought.
Summer messed her hair and banged her head again onto the table for the last time, befuddled at the same time irritated to her stupidity.
Of all people, why she fell in love with her best friend? And the worst, she was a girl!
"This is frustrating!"
"I'm looking forward to the bruise or bump on that poor forehead of yours."
"Tsk. Shaddap, Heidi!"
.
.
.
The sun shines so brightly and scorching, causing sweats to everyone under it.
Tanya got out of the car carrying an errand. She was approaching the entrance of Fuenta Glamorouza when she halted amid as she noticed a familiar figure standing outside while restlessly peeking through the glass door.
Although she was wearing a shade and mask—which Tanya saw in her reflection to the glass—that covered her face and a cap that completely hid her identity, Tanya still recognized her back features.
'Oh ghad, this girl. What's gotten into her again?'
Tanya continued to walk towards the entrance and stopped. "Summer"
Summer almost tripped as she turned around quickly, startled at Tanya's sudden call.
"Tanya!" Summer awkwardly tee-heed. "You surprised me."
"I'm sorry... What are you doing here outside? You're like an obsessed stalker spying around, not to mention your creepy outfit."
"Ahh... I-uh... I just checked if Trish was already here. Hehe"
"Then why you didn't enter to confirm? It wasn't like your first time coming here." Tanya stepped foot in then looked back at Summer.
"Let's go. She's in a meeting right now, but it will end soon. We can wait for her at the leisure room"
"O-Okay." Summer stammered, then quickly followed Tanya towards the room. She was bowing as a response in every staff that she bumped with, greeting her until they walked into the room.
Meanwhile, Tristan's meeting was just done. He was now heading to the leisure room since Tanya told him Summer was waiting there for him. Aside from that, he also still has spare time before his next appointment.
"Do I look okay?" Whifler was confused at Tristan's unexpected question.
"Uh. Yes. You look great" Whifler answered. Tristan nodded then arranged his curled waist-length hair, making sure he was neat and clean before seeing Summer.
As they arrived in front of the leisure room, Tristan slowly twisted the knob and entered. Summer immediately stood up, then lowered her gaze as she saw Tristan came in.
"H-Hi..." Summer greeted him, her eyes were still looking on the floor. "I-I'm here to tell you something"
"Ahm. I'll be just outside" Whifler excused himself, then gently closed the door.
Tristan and Summer were left alone in the room. Awkwardness wrapped them both. Summer who couldn't utter a word and Tristan who was just waiting for her to speak.
Summer slightly lifted her head to see his expression but she swiftly lowered it again as their gaze locked shortly.
"Did I make you uncomfortable?" Tristan asked that jolted Summer up.
"N-No! You're not... Ahm... I'm sorry"
"It's fine. What will you tell me?"
Summer started to fidget her thumbs. Nervousness and jumbled words were ransacking her thoughts.
Now that they're standing here face to face, she didn't know where to start or what to say. How should she explain her silliness?
She had no idea...
Her thoughts were suddenly blocked. Everything was blank.
"Summer, what's wrong?"
"I... I want to apologize... I've... I've been rude to you last night... I didn't mean t-to do that... I'm just... Not myself that time. I'm sorry..."
Tristan stared at Summer. The way she restlessly jiggling her fingers, Tristan felt her anxiousness. She couldn't even directly look into his eyes.
Tristan slightly smiled as he found it cute. He didn't know why, but she was just so adorable! Summer was like a little kid, peeking and checking him then quickly averting her gaze after.
Oh, dear. Was there a part of her that wasn't adorable? For a rare person that was almost perfect like her, I don't think there was.
"Summer... Look at me" Tristan softly told. "Look at me"
Summer gradually lifted her head and landed her eyes on his. Summer instantly felt her heart skip a beat as Tristan's eyes sparkled. He was so bright, and gotten even brighter the longer she was staring at him.
"I understand... You shouldn't apologize. Actually, it was my fault... I forgot it was your father's death anniversary. I should've been more sensitive and respected your space... I'm sorry"
Summer was too deep in her thoughts that she barely heard Tristan, she was so drifted by her fantasies and immensely drawn to his beauty.
Why she didn't notice this extreme charisma before? Or it just became clear because she had started to build this unexpected affection towards him?
Her pierced stares confused Tristan when he didn't receive any response from her. Tristan waved his hand in front of her face to snap her attention up. But yeah, she literally lost her consciousness.
"Summer!" Tristan tapped her shoulders and finally, she came back to her senses. "Are you okay? Are you sick?"
Summer just dazedly raised her eyebrows. "Huh?"
"I was talking to you but it seemed like your having your head in the cloud."
"A-ah!... I-I was just thinking! Yes! Thinking!" Summer tittered.
Tristan's brows furrowed. "What were you thinking?"
"Uhm... I was thinking... That... That... Uh, Do you want to have coffee with me?"
"Coffee?"
"Yes! Coffee!" Summer faked a smile, embarrassed at her 100th upfront stupidity.
"Ah. Sure."
"Great!... Ahm, let's go?"
"Okay" After Tristan answered, Summer walked ahead then Tristan followed.
Luckily, Tristan believed her made-up reasons... Congrats to her!