Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

Alex and Richard met again on Monday during their Philippine History class. She cannot hide the sadness she's feeling because of what happened to their family. She didn't even smile when she saw Richard. 'How are you?" Richard asked the moment he saw her.

'Not good..." Alex sighed.

'Was it true? What you texted me last night."

"Unfortunately, it was true. And that will be my last message to you for the meantime."

'So, you don't have a cellphone now?"

Alex nodded. 'Also, the driver takes us to school each morning. He will also pick me up when my classes end, then he'll go back to pick up my ate."

'Your dad is extremely strict."

'Daddy is kind. It's just that he's very disappointed with what he discovered. And what's worse is Ate is the one who took all the blame. I should be the one suffering instead of her."

'You didn't like this to happen."

'But we're the reason why this happened, Richard. Ate and Bryan were just included in this mess we created."

'But we never wanted this to happen!" Richard's voice went up a notch. Some of their classmates turned to look at him, making him calm himself down. 'We didn't want others to get hurt. We also didn't plan on falling for each other. I didn't choose to like you, I was just... gotten..."

If this is an ordinary conversation between them, Alex will definitely swoon over Richard's confession. But she can't make herself feel happy because of the situation they're having.

"I actually told Ate that I will stop seeing you..."

Richard was stunned.

"It's hard, but I thought if there is someone who should suffer, it should be me. Not Ate Angel."

"You're giving up?" Richard feels like crying.

"Ate told me not to... And I also can't give up."

Richard felt relieved. 'Thank you."

Alex held his hand and smiled, though the smile never reached her sad eyes. 'We need to fix this, Richard. We need to end our families' animosity. For Ate Angel."

Richard nodded. 'For your sister, and for us."

Alex smiled again. She felt a lot better after talking to Richard. She can feel his desire to fix their problem. She was glad to know that she's not alone on this fight in which not only their love was at stake, but also the happiness of her beloved sister.

Angel just kept staring at her tuna and chili pasta. She's in the cafeteria now having lunch alone. She loves pasta, but it seems like no pasta dish can make her want to eat.

Suddenly, a box of Ferrero Roche chocolates appeared on the table. She then saw Bryan sit down in front of her and smile.

'Chocolate. My comfort food when I'm feeling down or depressed."

Angel looked at the chocolates again. She doesn't know what made her feel better - the chocolates on the table, or Bryan's presence who's sitting in front of her. 'Richard told me everything," Bryan said. 'He said Alex told him what happened."

'Thanks." She tried to smile at him.

'Those two immediately want to fulfill our mission with our parents."

'It's not that easy," Angel said as she tried to eat again. "We do not even know what happened. We need to find the reason behind all these before we think of a way to fix the problem."

"You're right," Bryan said. 'But let's not worry about that for now. Let's wait for the situation to calm down. Also, I think you're not in the mood to brainstorm. I might even beat you again as the highest scorer in our exams." Angel smiled again.

'Let's eat," Bryan said. 'Do you want to try my seafood Kare-Kare with brown rich?"

"No, I'm fine," Angel said. She started eating again, and her appetite seems to find its way back to her.

'It's good that you can eat now. Alex told Richard that you can't even eat even if she asked you to."

'I just can't ignore it. I think it was better to be spanked by Mom than to be ignored like this. They were not talking to me. They did not even say 'Peace be with you' to me yesterday in the church."

'They really are mad at you. And I feel guilty, you know," Bryan said. 'If I didn't stop you from following Alex, then Ma'am Elvie's perception should not have been like that."

'She said she saw us one time at the parking lot. I think that was when we discovered about Alex and Richard's affair... She also sees us eating lunch together."

Bryan looked around. "I didn't know Ma'am Elvie is a gossip."

'She's not, but she's a good friend of my mom. She is actually Aunt Elvie's daughter's godmother. That's how close they are."

'Gossip really keeps the friendship alive," Bryan joked.

Angel smiled. Since that confrontation last Saturday, this is the first time she had smiled again.

'There... I'm glad I was able to make you smile. You now, you look better when you smile."

Angel stared at Bryan. Bryan smiled again, and again, she felt that warmth that his smile gives her heart. That warmth that makes her feel like he's always there for her doing everything to make her feel better. She felt good with that look. She felt safe.

Angel looked away, pretending to look at the food in front of her. But the truth is, she suddenly felt awkward. After some time of being with Bryan, she finally knows what she's feeling right now. And it's not right. It will never be right. Maybe she deserves what is happening to her right now. She can't have that feeling towards Bryan. But she can't stop herself from feeling like that, which is why she's being punished by destiny. Maybe it's not Alex who needs to sacrifice for this to stop. Maybe it should be her.

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Angel sighed. 'I think, we should stop eating lunch together."

They fell silent for a while. When Angel looked up, she saw Bryan looking earnestly at her.

"Is that what you want?"

Angel wasn't able to answer. She can't tell him that no, that's not what she wants. She likes eating lunch with him. She likes talking to him and hanging out with him at The Coffee Club. She likes being with him.

That thought made her look down again.

'I think I should spend more time with you," Bryan countered. 'Especially now. You're depressed because of what happened. You need to be with someone all the time. Also, your parents think that I'm your boyfriend. So it's just right for me to be with you."

'That's why we need to stay away from each other, so that my dad would think we broke up. Maybe they won't get mad at me anymore."

'I don't think so," Bryan said. 'They're already mad at you. And even if we break up, that won't change the fact that you lied to them."

Angel contemplated at what Bryan said, and realized he has a point. More than anything, the fact that she hid everything from them was the real reason they are mad at her. That's exactly what their father told her.

'But, maybe you're right. Maybe we really need to stay away from each other." Bryan suddenly stood up and took his food tray.

Angel was surprised at what he did. She felt like standing up and asking him to not leave. But she stopped herself instead.

"I hope you'll be better soon."

And with that, Bryan left her. He went to his friends who were quite surprised on his comeback. The group gave Angel their curious stares.

Angel just looked away, and in the process catching a glimpse of the Ferrero Roche that Bryan gave her. She suddenly regret what happened. What was she thinking that she suddenly said those words? Right then when she's starting to get used to having someone beside her, eating lunch with her, sharing worthwhile conversations with her even though she's boring to talk to sometimes... most of the time.

She closed her eyes. 'What stupidity have you done, Angel?' She looked at the chocolates again. She can't help but feel sad now that she's alone again.

'Goodbye, Bryan de Vera. It was nice having you for quite some time in my life... If only I wasn't that dumb.'