Riel was waiting for me outside the bathroom when I opened the door.
She immediately grabbed my hands and pulled me. "Let's go to your bedroom to talk."
I can hear a lively noise in the living room. I turned to Riel and asked her to wait for me in my bedroom.
Riel gave me a disagreeing look.
"Neighbor, it would be awfully rude for me to disappear when we have guests. I won't hear the end of it from Mom, and you know how much I hate that."
Riel finally let go of my hand and headed to my room.
As I approached the living room, I noticed Alec holding a cup of coffee and slowly walking towards me.
"Feeling better?" Alec placed his arm around my shoulder and kept it there.
I looked at him with a smile and nodded. "Indigestion maybe."
The next thing I know, Josh is in front of me, stroking my head like a little kid which normally would irritate me.
"You alright, G?"
"Yeah, might be indigestion." I quickly answered.
Mom overheard us talking as she brought out the pie.
"What is wrong? Are you sick? Let me get a couple of Tums for you."Mom gets frantic at any sign of any of us being sick.
"Mom, it's alright. I am good. It'll go away soon." Forcing myself to smile to help persuade her.
Josh lovingly placed his hands around Mom's waist and moved her away from me.
She gave in and reminded me to eat later when my stomach calmed down since I didn't eat much during lunch, then told everyone to enjoy the dessert and coffee. She then disappeared into the kitchen to help Nana Ying.
I can't stand all this attention and concern. I am not used to this. Normally, I can avoid this or minimize but I am so disoriented today that I feel I lost total control. Too many things happening all at once that I am unable to catch up.
I realize Alec's arm is still around my shoulder as he sips his coffee. It feels nice like it is supposed to be there. It makes my heart beat faster but at the same time, it feels right. It doesn't make sense.
Riel came from my bedroom talking loud enough for the entire house to hear.
"Neighbor, Mom needs you to go over to our house for a minute. She said it'll be quick."
She then faced me, looking directly at me as she grabbed my hand.
"Oh...now?" I confusedly asked.
"Yeah, now. She said it won't take long." I suddenly felt her pulling me away from Alec's side.
"I can go help Aunt Vena, Riel. Gian isn't feeling too good right now." Josh suggested.
Riel didn't stop walking but turned her head around to answer Josh.
"It's alright. We won't take long."
Riel didn't let go of my hand until we got to her backyard.
"Phew! That's hard work to get you out of there."
"Where is Auntie Vena?" I asked as my eyes roamed around the backyard.
"There is something wrong with you today for you not to realize that was just an excuse to get you out of that place." Riel huffed. "I already had a hunch something was up by the time we ended playing basketball, but I wasn't sure."
Riel knows me so well. I started wondering why the person in front of me was not my girlfriend. It feels amazing how she made so much effort to supposedly save me from the chaos at my house because I am not myself.
My heart goes haywire around Alec. I need my heart to go haywire for Riel.
I lifted my head and looked at Riel.
"Riel...." I muttered.
"What is it?" Riel asked as he looked at me curiously.
I slowly leaned closer to her face and stopped as I started to feel her breath.
Giving Riel my first kiss and taking hers just to test my heart doesn't seem right especially since this person in front of me just proved how much she cared for me.
My heart is calm. It isn't going haywire.
Riel didn't move and was looking at my eyes without blinking.
I pulled back and sighed.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Nothing. Just checking if you have bad breath from eating all those pickled onions earlier."
Riel punched my arm and then hugged me.
"Yay! You are back!" Riel blurted excitedly.
"Hey, do you want me to spend the night at your place and we can talk? I can tell Mom we will watch a movie."
I shook my head as I patted her cheeks.
"I highly doubt Aunt Vena will believe a movie excuse. We have school tomorrow, and for as long as I can remember, we both don't like scheduling movies on a Sunday night because we both hate having a hard time waking up for school."
"True..." Riel acknowledged. "I can stay a bit then, to make sure you are okay." She suggested.
I laughed at Riel's persistence. I know she is worrying about me but I truly don't know if anyone can help sort out my thoughts right now.
I got up and held my hand to Riel.
"Let's go back, my precious."
Riel happily took my hand and we walked towards my house. She wrapped both her arms around my arm as we walked making me feel a bit better.
I thought of how lucky I am to have a friend like her.