"Oh my God!. This is bad, right?!." Geena gasped out, so did the others.
Alora slumped down on a seat close to Andres. Andres quickly held her arms as she was almost about to fall from the seat.
"How..how am I supposed to take this?." Alora murmured to herself slowly.
"Should we leave?." Geena whispered to Ava.
"No." Ava said with a frown.
"Alora, am really really sorry. I did not mean for you to find out about it this way." Andres said quickly. A feeling of guilt overwhelming him.
"Am I a bad sister...or...am a bad friend?." Alora asked slowly as it talking to herself.
"Alora, you know you are not." Daniel stated.
"So, why did they both choose to keep their relationship hidden from me?"
"How do you feel about them now?" Ava inquired gently.
"Well, I...I'm not sure. It's...a lot to take in. Am..um...I'm just going to leave. I am really sorry. I can't right now." Alora said as she stood up quickly.
They were all staring at her as she walked away.
"Should we go after her or something?" Chad inquired.
Ava made a shaky motion with her head. "I think it is best for her to deal with this on her own. She'll be fine." Ava stated.
" I am off to class." As she stood up, Ava added.
Geena rose to her feet as well.
"See you guys later." Geena said, waving as she and Ava walked away.
"Well, I'm off as well." As he stood up, Chad said. He waved a little. Daniel moved impulsively fast and grabbed Chad's arm.
"What is this?" Daniel inquired, having noticed the bruises on Chad's wrist.
"Bro, what's up with the bruises on your wrist?" Andres inquired as well, having noticed it.
Chad tried and failed to free his arm from Daniel's tight grip.
"What happened, Chad?." Daniel inquired hoarsely.
Chad let out a weak sigh. " It's nothing. I fell." Chad said, finally freeing his arm from Daniel's clutches.
"See you guys later." He said quickly as he walked away.
"What kind of fall results in such a bruise around the wrist?" Do you think he's lying?" Andres inquired.
"I hope not." Daniel responded, his gaze fixed on the direction Chad took.
"And what about Alora?" Daniel inquired.
"Well, I kind of agree with Ava. I think it is best for her to deal with it on her own." Andres responded.
Daniel gave a nod.
"Me too.. We just need to be there when she needs us." He stated.
Andres chuckled, "Look at you being the caring one now."
"I guess it rubbed off on me. It may be more difficult for her than I anticipated." Daniel stated.
Andres gave a nod.
_^
Alora was out in the school field,pacing to and fro with her phone glued to her ear.
"Hey..hey Dad." She stopped pacing as her Dad finally picked the phone.
"Hey Darling. How are you?."
"Um..am..am fine. What about you?."
"Oh am good. Is something wrong?. You don't sound very good?."
"Am fine. I think. Right now am not so sure."
"Aww...what's wrong. Did you and David argue again."
"Not yet. But we might."
"Oh. Honey, what's this about?."
"Dad, Do you know if Jeffery is in any relationship... with anybody."
Alora heard her Dad sigh through the phone.
"Why don't you call your brother and ask him yourself."
"I will. I will. I just need to know from you if he is in any relationship with anybody."
"Well he is."
"With who?."
"Ah, I can't say."
"Why?."
"I made a promise,Alora."
" He is in a relationship with my best friend. Right?." Alora asked, her eyes blurry.
"Oh honey. Don't be too mad at him or David. They both had their reasons."
"Yea...um..bye Dad." Alora said amidst slow sob. She quickly hung up.
She slumped down on her knees, sobbing quietly.
"There you are!." A voice called from behind her.
It's was David.
"Alora?. Are you crying." David asked as he quickly knelt down beside her.
Alora sobs got louder now.
"What's wrong. Talk to me." David asked worriedly amidst Alora's loud crying.
"It's Jeffery."
"Huh..what..what happened to Jeffery."
"He is dating my best friend and I didn't even know about it. Am so saaaaaaaaad." Alora cried out.
David froze, in utter shock.
_^
"Are you okay?." David asked. He was now seated with Alora on a bench in the field.
" I think so. My heart is not going to stop hurting so easily.." Alora replied.
David sighed out loudly.
"I still don't get why you guys decided to keep it a secret from me." Alora stated sadly.
"Am really sorry. Jeffery was overwhelmed with this idea that you might be disappointed in him. I tried to talk him out of it, your Dad tried too but he said he wasn't ready. He promised he would tell you in his own time."
"What?." Alora asked almost quietly.
"Why would I be disappointed in him. Because he is gay?. That doesn't even make sense".
"For a while, I kind of jumped into that same boat Jeffery was in too. What will Alora think of me?. Will she look at me differently if she finds out that am gay?. Will she let me still be her best friend?. Those thoughts go through my head everyday with no answer." Daniel said.
Alora sighed out loud.
She turned to David.
She cubbed his face with her hands.
" Well, let me give you an answer. I will never condemn you for being who you are. You're a great guy, and I'm thrilled to have you as my best friend, and even more thrilled that you're with my brother."
David laughed.
"So you're not mad anymore?"
" I'm enraged. You even lied to when I asked about him yesterday. You said that he went back to Italy."
David let out a weak chuckle.
"Uh...that was...."
"Where is he?." Alora spoke up.
"At my place."
"How long will he be there?"
" A month "
Alora gave a nod.
"Are you coming over to my place tonight?" David asked.
"Definitely."
They both burst out laughing.
_^
Daniel's curiosity was getting the best of him. He secretly followed and observed Chad wherever he went on campus. He felt bad about it, but it was the only way to find out what was really going on with Chad, and knowing was the only way to stop worrying about Chad after seeing the bruises on his wrist.
"Do I have to go in there as well?" As Chad entered the restroom, Daniel murmured to himself.
Daniel nodded and entered as well.
He entered the toilet room next to the one Chad was in.
"What am I doing?" Daniel muttered to himself.
"Hey there, baby." Daniel was about to leave when he heard a female voice from the toilet room Chad was in.
Daniel froze, unsure if he had heard correctly.
Chad replied, "Hey."
"Are you coming over to my place tonight?" The girl inquired.
"I...I can't do it any longer, Jessi?" Chad said, his voice trembling.
"What do you mean?"
"These BDSM things you're making me do. I want it to end!"
"I thought you liked it as well. Chad, you agreed to be my slave."
"I dislike it. And I'd like it to stop. I made you do those stupid things to me because I love you and...you threatened to break up with me if I didn't let you. And I'm sick of everything. Jessi, it's over between us. Never, ever call me!" Chad spoke up.
And as he walked out of the restroom, Daniel stood there staring at him.
"Daniel?!."