We continued making the project, I texted my mom and the driver already, and a few hours later, I regretted doing so. I regretted agreeing with him about driving me home.
Everything is silent and I am starting to get used to it, We painted the whole house together and a few minutes later, it looked prettier than expected.
"You don't actually have to do this," I told him. I wanted to say something from time to time to make things a little less awkward. And the presence that I used to be cautious of disappeared and everything felt normal as if I had known him for a long time and that I am used to him by my side.
"It's fine, I don't have work tomorrow," he answered. I looked at the time after putting the finishing touches on my side of the project. It's already 12 am and I am already feeling sleepy. "You look sleepy," he said told me. I looked at him, he was sitting in front of the bed and I am in front of him, he leaned on the bed and put both of his arms on it looking very tired but still managing to look cool.
"Y-yeah, it's twelve already," I said, of course, it is normal to feel sleepy.
"Want to go now? Do you want something to eat?" he asked me, and I immediately shook my head.
I washed my hands to remove the paint and put the project in a safe place, I glanced at Aira before going out of her room. He's already waiting for me in the parking lot holding his car keys. He pressed something on the car button and the car beeped, he then opened the passenger's seat for me.
I suddenly felt embarrassed after what he did but still managed to come inside.
I thought this ride is going to be worst than before but it didn't. "When did you and Aira become friends?" because he suddenly started talking to me.
"Probably 4 years ago," I answered, "Right when they moved here."
"Hmm, I see," he said. I looked at him and he's doing that position again, leaning a little sideways with his arm on the window and the other holding the steering wheel. I don't know why but I feel like I really like looking at him like that. "How is she at school?" he asked about Aira again.
I am not in the position to reveal anything about Aira wanting to be close to his older brother but I still want to help her. "She's good, doesn't she tell you about that?" I asked not knowing if it was too obvious or not.
"We rarely talk," he said. I was about to say something but he sighed and it made me stop myself for no reason.
I looked up ahead but a few minutes later, I went back to looking at him again, "Aren't you sleepy?" I asked him.
"Not really," he answered shortly. "Are those girls the other day your friends too?" he asked again, I am starting to think that he's doing something to not make everything silent.
"N-not really, they were just our classmates," I answered, "T-they like you," I said out of nowhere.
I don't know why I added that, I felt like I am oversharing something.
"Nah, they're too young for me," he answered without looking at me.
"You're right," that was the last thing that I said until we got to our house. I felt like something blocked my throat and kept me silent for the rest of the ride.
I went out of the car myself and faced him but didn't look him in the eyes, "I am very thank you for tonight, for helping me with the project and driving me home, thank you very much, drive safely and have a good night," those words came out as if I practiced them and I immediately closed the door and left. I also didn't look back until I got inside the house.
What is this strange feeling? I felt like what he said hit me too and I am very disappointed about it.
Was it just a crush? maybe, I hope so. I'll pretend that this night never happened and that I never thought I have a crush on that guy.
Like he said, I am very young, I shouldn't be feeling anything like this. And the fact that I felt very disappointed because of what he said is really embarrassing.
I palmed my face and went back to my room.
-----
The next day, our project got the highest mark. Thanks to that guy who helped me and gave me the idea of painting the project to make it look prettier. Aira celebrated it though she contributed less than half of the whole project, I don't blame her since she's really sick.
The next day, I brought something to make Aira give to her brother only to find out that he left. "What do you mean?" I asked her.
"He had already gone back to the US," she said while opening the gift that I was planning to give to him to thank him for helping me the other night, "Didn't I tell you? he was just there for a whole month to train with dad about raising his own company,"
"O-oh is that it," I said. I felt very disappointed. I felt like something inside me was just crushed. He left too soon. he talked to me a lot that night but he never mentioned that he was leaving.
"I'll just eat this okay?" she said and opened the snacks,
"Do what you want with it," I said and went back to my seat.
That was my first time being sad about a crush leaving but since I had labeled it as a crush, I didn't get to mind it in the next few years. I studied hard and even get to have multiple boyfriends in college, forgetting that I had a crush on my best friend's brother who is 6 years older than me when I was in grade 10. I never really thought about him in the next few years even though I made it with Aira. She doesn't remind me of him though she says something that is related to him I don't mind.
I just thought I am very pathetic at that time, having a crush on my best friend's brother, pfft.
I am walking alone through the hallways to come home early after doing some preparations for the graduation at school when someone called me, "XHYRAH JEACE JIMENEZ!" someone just shouted my full name from the other side of the hallways,
"What the hell, Dame?!" I exclaimed to him and looked around to see if someone heard, if a Lec hears him shouting in the hallways, he's going to get sued. Damon is a friend of mine that I met 2 years back. He's a Law student but we became friends because of a common acquaintance.
"How is it? You're graduating tomorrow," he told me. "You're finally going to get your degree,"
"I know, I know, just lower your voice, you're too loud," I told him and pulled him somewhere.
"How are you? You're graduating from the university anytime soon too,"
"Yeah, but I still need to attend Law school," he said bitterly. 'But still, congrats, you did a good job going through college," he said and patted my head.
"Hey," I said and removed his hands from my head, "You're ruining my hair," I glared at him but he just smiled. Damon is almost the same age as me but he still acts like a kid. He likes to play around with me and annoys me every time. But still, he's one of the best friends that I have had in my life. He's loyal and very kind. Some people think that we're already together but the truth is that I am single right now.
I do have suitors that I don't pay attention to but I am just single and they couldn't accept my friendship with Damon,
"Xhy!" I looked back to see who just called me, it was Aira who had already graduated a few days ago. I came to her graduation, she had finally finished with her business degree. "hey, Damon," she greeted Damon too.
"Hey," he greeted her back?
"What's up? Why are you here?" I asked her,
"I've been looking for you everywhere, You already knew about the party right?"
"Yeah, of course," I answered immediately.
"Are you coming?" she asked and looked at me a Damon.
"Yes," I answered. I know Damon is definitely going to come. There's no way he's going to miss a party like this.
"Okay, cool,"
Aira is going to hold a party as a celebration for her graduation, a lot of people will sure to be attending that party. Batch mates and other friends, Aira made a lot of friends when she went to college.
The next night after that talk at school, I went over to Aira's house for the party, you don't even have to be so close to the house to hear the music coming from the party inside.
With my black strap dress, paired with black heels and also a black purse, I went to attend the party full of bachelors, college students and those who just graduated and is going to be graduating soon.
I know a lot of people in the party. The Alfonso family's receiving area became a pool of people. I couldn't even recognize the house' ancient interiors anymore, they were covered with party decorations.
"Hey," I immediately turned my gaze to the person holding my waist, it was Damon, wearing his usual dress code when he comes to a party like this, A white button-down shirt, black slacks paired with black shades.
"Why are you wearing those? It's already dark in here," I told him and kisses him in the cheek. He put the shades on his head and looked at me, revealing his astonishing dark brown eyes.
Beautiful..
"Want to dance?" he asked me.
Before I could even answer, Damon pulled me into the pool of people and held my waist with both hands. He seems to be comfortable resting his hands on my waist. We both danced the night away and drank until we felt sick.
I was dancing with Damon when I suddenly remembered that I haven't seen Aira yet, I stopped dancing and pushed my face closer to his ears "I'mma just go find Aira," I said and he nodded. I left Damon in the dance floor and went to look for Aira and only God knows where she went.
I went looking for 15 minutes but still couldn't find her so I went outside where the pool is located to see if she's there. My foot is already feeling numb because of walking too much. I took my phone from my purse and called her but it never rang. Her phone was turned off.
I went to check the poolside, but the alcohol is slowly blurring my sight. I couldn't see her from a far so I needed to come closer.
She's not here.
I decided to just come back to the dance floor thinking this is their house and I will eventually see her later.
I looked at where I went in earlier and I saw people making out. It grossed me out that I have to turn around and walk to the other side.
If there is a person who will be given the award as the person who knows this house the most, the award would be mine.
I walked to the back, I know the way, I have played here a lot with Aira before. I couldn't even see any other person in the area, the house is so big and no one has ever found themselves in here.
I smirked as I kept on walking in this dark path. I couldn't even see the way. I just continued walking until I get to that entrance to the dancefloor from the back.
I was walking when I suddenly heard something, there's small noises coming from the other side of the path. I continued walking even after realizing that it must be someone making out. But I had already came all the way here and no matter who it is, I will walk in their way and continue walking.
I was dark, I could barely even see those people. The guy seems to be wearing a corporate attire and the girl being pinned on the wall must be someone who came here to party. She's wearing almost the same dress as me.
I looked at the guy and my eyesight zoomed in as if I had never drank alcohol tonight. My sight became clearer than I thought it was.
'Zach.'
My eyes widened and I almost dropped my purse. Zach is making out with someone!
I don't know what to do about what I am seeing right now, I immediately moved to hide myself behind the bush but I suddenly heard a gasp that made me look at them again.
Shoot!
The girl saw me! My eyes widened and hid myself behind the bush again.
"Oh my God," I heard the girl said and I heard footsteps walking farther from me.
I was so afraid to check if Zach is still there. I stayed behind the bush for a minute and now couldn't hear anything so I checked. No one is there anymore.
They must have gone the other way.
"What the hell? What the hell?" I repeated cursing until I got back to the poolside..
He just got back and he's already making out with a girl from here, when did he came back? How long has it been? 5? 6 years?
What the hell did I just witnessed?