Right after Alonah’s motionless episode on her front porch, she immediately dashed towards her bedroom after getting inside the house, not caring about whether or not she hit something on her way there.
She made a dive for her bed while getting her phone in the process, not bothering to get up when she missed the bed and landed on the floor instead.
Of course, the throbbing pain she felt was there, but she was too flustered to care. As of right now, she could hardly care about what happened to her. All she could think about was her recent interaction with Ian and how all of that just seemed so surreal.
Do they all work this fast?
She immediately dialed the number of the one person she trusts with all of her heart and practically screamed when she answered on the third ring.
"Hel—"
"Ian freaked me out! Oh gosh, he freaked me out! What the hell do I do? He—"
"Ally, calm down! What did Ian tell you to make you this much of a banshee anyway?"
Distracted by her friend’s insult, a frown appeared on her lips as she replied, “Did I really sound like banshee?”
It took a moment for Lu to reply. Alonah knew she was probably just trying to figure out what to say and what to make out of her sudden question. Finally, she heard a sigh from the other line. “You were close.”
Alonah scrunched up her nose in unpleasantness. “Seriously? That’s such a big yuck.”
“Ally, focus!” Lu snapped. “Who the bloody hell gives a horse’s s**t about your banshee-like screams?” Alonah was about to say a retort but her friend didn’t let her. “What did Ian do?”
At that, Alonah was reminded once again of what happened, the scene still playing so vividly in her mind.
Heaving in a big breath, making her cheeks puff, she said, "He said something about me being his right now. What the f**k does he mean by that? I can’t even think straight, Lu."
"What?" She exclaimed vehemently. "Bloody hell, Al. He said that?"
"Yes! I’m as surprised as you are. If not, even more. I don’t even know where that came from.” Alonah sighed. “Can you come over? I need you to make my tangled thoughts untangled."
Honestly, she could already feel a headache coming on. How did a simple invite to a stroll in the park end up being this complicated by the end of it?
"Be there in a minute."
Lu hung up after that and she was once again left alone with her screaming thoughts. Trying to figure out what’s going on inside Ian’s head would probably just make her head explode but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t the least bit intimidated and scared about what she would find if she did.
As she continued to lie on the floor she accidentally landed on, her mind drifted back to Ian's words.
I wish I was the one Lu sent you a photo of first. That way, you'd be mine right now.
Seriously, does the guy want to make her life more complicated than it already is? She already has enough on her plate, what with her still trying to get used to the friend she found in Xavier and her never-ending feeling of negativity every time she’s reminded that Ian wasn’t the only one who's coming here.
For her, stirring up all these emotions inside her definitely wasn’t good.
Suddenly, her bedroom door opened. As she sat up to see who it was (despite having a clue as to who it is), she saw her best friend standing there, panting and looking absolutely flustered.
Well, that minute surely was fast.
Alonah blinked her eyes in surprise, not expecting to already see Lu there when it’s only barely been a minute before they ended the call. Well, for all she knew, Lu could have probably already been on her way to her when she answered the call.
“You’re here.” Alonah said as matter-of-factly.
Lu rolled her eyes when she saw her best friend’s surprised expression, closing the door behind her in the process. “I did tell you I’ll be here in a minute, didn’t I?”
“But that minute was too fast—even for you.”
Sitting on Alonah’s bed as she sent a pointed glare to the former, who was looking at anywhere but her, she told her, “Would you reckon I arrive here later then? Because I could always come back.”
“No.” Came Alonah’s immediate reply. “I was just asking.”
“Then stop that and tell me everything.”
Alonah looked at her for the longest time as she tried to gauge what’s her reaction, but no matter how hard she looked, she really couldn’t see anything. Despite how long she’s known her, she really can’t decipher Lu’s emotions whenever the latter doesn’t want to.
It’s always been like that. Still, it doesn’t really bother her. She knows that Lu would still tell her what’s on her mind despite the lack of display of emotions on her face.
Heaving in a big breath before releasing it in one go, Alonah replied, "Okay, so, Xavier and I were Skyping, when Ian texted me unexpectedly. He said that he wants to hang out, so I agreed.”
“What did Xavier say?”
That stopped her from whatever she was about to say. She c****d her head to side as she regarded her best friend in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Lu made herself comfortable on Alonah’s bed as she crossed her legs. “Well, if I know Xavier, he definitely would have asked who you’re hanging out with.”
Alonah always knew that because of how long those two have known each other, they would already know how the other would act. But seeing this—experiencing this—now, she was left in awe. The guess Lu made was so spot on, Alonah started to think it’s a bit creepy but amazing nonetheless.
That strong bond they have, she wishes she has that with someone too.
“He was just his usual teasing self. He asked why I would pick Ian over him when apparently, he had me first.” She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, that guy is as smooth as they come.”
As soon as Lu heard that, Alonah noticed the change in her best friend’s expression. It was subtle and small, but she still caught it nonetheless. She was reminded of the change she also caught in Xavier and how similar it was to Lu’s but for the life of her, she absolutely can’t figure out what it was.
“Platonic friendship, huh?” Alonah flushed when she saw the small smirk present in Lu’s lips. “It sure doesn’t sound like that to me.”
“It is! You know how Xavier is.”
“I do. Which is how I know that that guy has a problem.”
Lu’s words were barely audible to her ears but since it was just the two of them in the room and it was so silent you could hear a pin drop, she was able to pick it up.
“What?”
Lu looked at her in alarm. “What?”
“You said something.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.”
Knowing that no matter how she would press the subject Lu still wouldn’t relent, she decided to just give it up and roll her eyes.
Seriously, it falls on her disadvantage when it comes to things like these.
“Fine. Whatever you say.”
A cheeky grin appeared on Lu’s lips. “So what happened after Ian messaged you to hangout?”
Alonah released a sigh as she thought back to what happened earlier that day. She rested her weight on her arms that were resting on the floor and looked up at the ceiling. “We met at the park at the bridge. The guy was so sweet by the way. He even brought me flowers!" She paused as she pointed at the bouquet lying on her study table. "So, we strolled around the park, and he kept putting his arm around me or holding my hand. He was super duper sweet, I swear. Then we decided to call it a day, he brought me home and whispered, 'I wish I was the one Lu sent you photo of so you'd be mine right now'. Well, somewhere along those lines, at least."
Lu was silent in her place as she slowly processed all the things she heard. Alonah could even hear the whirring in her head as she patiently waited for the former’s reply.
"Ian said that?" She asked after a long moment of silence that was beginning to make Alonah deaf.
"He did." She replied and the girl sitting on her bed only blinked her eyes a couple of times.
“Did he do anything else?”
“Well, after he said those words, he kissed me on the cheek and ran away.”
Alonah watched as Lu released a sigh and mumbled a few things under her breath. It was said more silently than what she said before, probably now aware that Alonah could still hear her words despite how quiet she said it.
Still, the last sentence she uttered was heard by the girl eyeing her intently.
"Oh, this is bad." Lu mumbled under her breath while running a hand through her long brown hair.
"What? Why is this bad?" Alonah asked in a panicky voice, her heart beating loudly against her chest.
Lu’s eyes instantly snapped up to meet hers, but it was so sudden that it made Alonah jump up slightly in her place. "You shall not say a word about this to anyone, okay? Not even Lauren. And when you and Ian meet, just act like nothing happened, okay? Don't freak out." She ordered, completely ignoring the question she asked her.
The only thing Alonah could do was nod her head almost robotically, her attention caught by how serious her best friend looked right now.
"Okay." She answered slowly. "But why did you say this is bad?"
Lu only looked at her with an unreadable emotion and only shook her head.
Alonah absolutely hates it when it comes to the point where Lu’s hiding something because she's hard to read. Even if what she's hiding is beyond serious, she would just laugh it off and act like nothing happened. She's a bubbly and happy girl; that's why it's hard to decipher what she feels since she would just laugh and smile, even if what you told her is absolutely hurtful.
She sighed in her place and leaned back on the edge of her bed, knowing that whatever Lu is hiding, she can't know it just yet. She has faith that she would tell her when she's ready.
"So, how are things with Xavier?" Lu asked as she looked at her best friend with a grin on her face, making the latter look at her in disbelief.
This girl has major mood swings, seriously.
Alonah just shook her head and answered, "Everything is fine. Although he is a little flirty, I can manage."
She laughed wholeheartedly. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Well, somehow."
The girl in question laughed and stood up while sitting in front of her in the bed.
"Al, why don't you get some sleep? We'll be going to the airport at four in the morning to fetch my uncle." She said with a smile on her face.
"Will your parents be there?" Alonah asked, but the girl sitting opposite of her just shook her head.
"No, just the two of us." She replied.
Alonah’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What? Why won’t they be there?”
“They're busy.”
Nodding her head while stifling a yawn, she lied back on her bed and said, “Okay."
— ~ — ~ —
The next thing Alonah knew, she’s already waking up to the sound of her phone ringing, making her groan in her place as she covered her ears with a pillow.
"Wake up in the morning with the sunlight in my eyes. No my head don't feel so bright, what the hell happened last night? Oh yeah, last night think we were danci-"
"What?" She answered grudgingly, irritation laced in her tone of voice.
The person on the other line chuckled, making her grunt against her pillow as she silently cursed the happy sound she heard.
"Time to wake up, Ally." She replied.
Alonah pulled her phone away from her ear and saw that it's only 3:15 AM.
Whoever was on the other line, they better prepare themselves for a whole lot of pain because there’s absolutely no way she’s letting that person off.
"Why the hell do you want me to wake up at three f*****g fifteen in the morning?" She asked irritatingly, making her chuckle again.
"To fetch my uncle, silly." The person on the other line replied, totally unperturbed by her best friend’s outburst and tone of voice.
The former groaned in her bed. "Why don't you just be the one to fetch him?" She mumbled, her eyes starting to droop again.
She became quiet for a while and Alonah smiled in satisfaction, thinking that she must have won and the other person gave up. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall asleep again.
"Alonah Marie Charm!" Lu's voice ringed through her ears, making her open her eyes hastily and look around her room.
When she realized that it was just Lu on the phone, she gave the girl a scowl, even though she can't exactly see her. "The f**k, Lu. You don't have to f*****g scream my whole name!" Alonah roared, but Lu just chuckled at her unpleasant reaction.
She silently cursed the girl for ruining her beautiful slumber, making a mental note to clobber her later.
"Just get ready, or else we'll be late. My uncle abhors waiting." She said, not giving the second girl a chance to utter a reply—well, more like a protest in her case.
Alonah lied down on her bed face first and let out a muffled scream of frustration on her pillow. She knows she’s acting like a spoiled brat, but she can’t help it when Lu is trying her absolute best to destroy the one thing she doesn’t want to be disturbed.
"f*****g girl." She mumbled as she stood up to take a shower.
When she finished, she went inside her closet to put some clothes on. And since she was too sleepy and too lazy to pick something more presentable, she just wore a simple white sweater, black jeans, and black TOMS.
Besides, it’s not like the person they’re fetching minds what she wears anyway. She met Lu’s uncle a handful of times and the guy was already like an uncle to her too; almost like family.
She quickly grabbed her phone and keys as she went out of her bedroom and down the stairs, closing the door behind her in the process. When she went out of the house and saw Lu's car waiting in front of her house, a scowl instantly marred her face. Even when she opened the door to her best friend’s car and sat on the passenger’s seat, Alonah’s scowl still didn’t let up.
"I am never going to the airport with you ever again." She remarked, Lu’s laughter echoing around the car—which only managed to annoy Alonah more than she already is.
"Yeah, sure." She replied in amusement as she started the engine and drove to the airport.
Alonah growled. “I’m serious. This is the second time you dragged me out of bed just to go to the stupid airport!”
“And this won’t be the last either.”
“I’m losing sleep because of you.”
A hearty laugh escaped Lu’s lips again. Alonah is really starting to hate that sound because it just reminds her of her own sour mood. “Hardly. All you do is sleep, after all.”
“So what? I would still like to sleep until morning.”
“It is morning.”
“It’s dawn!”
“How is that different from morning?”
“Because it’s dawn!”
Lu rolled her eyes, the smile on her lips never slipping. “Excuses, excuses.”
Alonah only growled in reply, making the former let out yet another laugh.
— ~ — ~ —
When they finally arrived there, they looked around the area to find the familiar face of Lu's uncle. It’s been a long time since Alonah has also seen him so she’s kind of excited to know how he’s been. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that she would much rather prefer sleep right now.
“Hurry up, lazy ass.” Lu said. “We’re already late as it is.”
“The clock just struck four.” Alonah replied, grimly dragging her feet as she walked.
This honestly feels like a complete de ja vu. Her being tired and sleepy, and Lu being full of energy, like the lack of sleep doesn’t bother her at all. The only major difference this time is that it’s not Ian they’re fetching, but her uncle instead.
"I'm exhausted already." She said in a lazy voice, but Lu just flicked her on the forehead.
"Ow!" Alonah winced in pain as she rubbed her forehead.
"You're such a lazy girl." Lu remarked, making the girl following behind her glare at her.
"I'm not. If anyone's lazy between us, it's yo—"
Alonah was suddenly cut off by someone's loud shrieking. She looked to the side, ready to yell at the person who interrupted her, but stopped when what her eyes greeted her was the person she least expected to see.
"Lu! Ally! Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm finally meeting you!" The familiar voice said and she was completely left frozen in her place as she tried to calm her erratically beating heart.
She silently cursed Lu again for being the lying, deceitful girl that she is. Both of them knew that if Alonah found out the people they were meeting was them, the latter would vehemently decline and make up some excuse so she could get out of it—she cursed that too.
"Lauren!" Lu exclaimed as they hugged each other.
When they pulled away, Lauren came in front of her and pulled her in for a hug.
"It's so nice to finally meet you in person, Ally." She said and Alonah, being the currently mute girl that she is, merely patted Lauren’s back awkwardly.
"Yeah…” She trailed off, not knowing what to reply.
Lauren pulled away and offered her a light smile. “Loosen up, Ally. It’s not exactly the first time we’ve talked to each other.”
Alonah let out a weak laugh. “But it is the first time we’re meeting, so it kind of puts me on edge.”
“Not to mention she’s still crazy sleepy too.” Lu added, making both Lauren and Alonah to direct their attention to her, each of them sporting a different look on their faces. Upon seeing it, she let out a loud laugh. “Oh, the absolute joy it brings.”
Judging by the confused expression on Lauren’s face, she has no idea what her friend is talking about but Alonah knows better. Because she knows what happened and what her evil best friend did, her glare on the brunette hardened, telepathically telling her that she’s going to be dead before she could even utter the words ‘I’m sorry’.
“Why? What happened?” Lauren questioned.
Lu laughed again. “Why don’t you tell her what happened, Ally? I’m sure it would bring you pleasure to do so.”
“You’re such a bitch.” Came Alonah’s reply.
Her best friend faked a gasp. “How rude.”
“If anyone’s rude here, it’s you and we both know it.”
Lauren looked at her two friends back and forth, the confusion on her face only fogging her senses more. “Can any of you please tell me what happened?”
With one last glare sent to the smirking and smug-looking brunette, Alonah turned her attention to Lauren. “Lu’s just being the b***h she always is.”
“In what way?”
“She lied to me to get me here.”
“She lied…?” Lauren only looked more confused than ever that Alonah silently pitied the girl. “What kind of lie did she make?”
Alonah let out an exasperated sigh and replied, “She told me it’s her uncle we’re fetching.”
Lauren, being the smart girl that she is and already getting the gist of Alonah’s situation, connected the dots together. It didn’t really take her that long to figure it out since Alonah did put it all out on the table already so she wasn’t surprised when the Irish girl finally let out a loud laugh of her own.
“She’s as evil as they come, isn’t she?” Lauren grinned at Alonah, ignoring the frown that replaced Lu’s smirk.
Alonah vigorously nodded her head. “Absolutely. She’s like the devil incarnate.”
“Hey!” Lu exclaimed. “I’m not that bad.”
Both Lauren and Alonah let out a scoff, which further deepened the frown on Lu’s face. “You haven’t met you.”
“Well for the record, the both of you haven’t met you either.”
Lauren and Alonah shared a look before shrugging and looked at Lu with a teasing expression on their face. Lauren crossed her arms as Alonah went on and said, “I don’t know, I seem alright. Lauren even thinks so too.”
“She is. What problem do you have with that anyway?”
Lu looked at both of her friends back and forth, sending each one of them a glare before she let out a scoff of her own. “Everything is a problem.”
“You’re just upset we don’t worship the very ground you walk on unlike all the people who meet you.” Alonah replied.
“Shut up. You know I hate the attention.”
“Ha! As if.” Lauren immediately said, not missing a beat. “We all know the truth here and that’s definitely not it.”
Pink colored Lu’s cheeks as she crossed her arms against her chest. “Shut up.”
As Alonah and Lauren shared a laugh, the situation seemed to have finally dawned on Alonah. Realizing this, her laugh was cut short as she turned her attention to Lauren, who is looking at her curiously.
“What’s wrong?” Lauren asked.
“Finally, you’re back to being the mess that you are.” Lu chorused.
Ignoring her best friend’s comment, Alonah told Lauren, "If you're here, that means…”
Suddenly, someone hugged her from behind and she completely froze. Even without turning around, she already knew who it was.
"Hey."
And she swears, she was about to die just by hearing his voice and his breath fanning over her ears.
Aksara