Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

And because they are not grounded anymore, Angel once again got her car back. But even if their freedom had been returned to them, she still could not be totally happy because another problem arose just yesterday morning. And that is the threat that Joshua Ignacio, their neighbor, said about Gina Aguilar.

"Alex, you promised," she said to her sister to remind her before she gets out of her car.

"Yes, Ate. I won't tell Richard about it."

"I'll expect that's what you'll do."

And since her class starts at ten AM, Angel decided to stay at the JPIA office for the meantime. She will try to relax even though she can't take her problem out of her head. Fortunately, the entire organization is in celebratory mood because they are the overall champion of the Business Week for this year.

But how can she really forget what happened? In fact, she can't help but look each time the door opens, worried that Gina is the one who's about to come in. That's how worried she is.

Her cellphone is also on a frenzy. Bryan's messages are flooding her notifications, asking her how she is as if sensing something is not right.

Hours passed, and her vacant period moved on safely. She went to her first class and everything was so far peaceful. Bryan was already there when she arrived in their classroom. He smiled at her, but she just nodded at him and proceeded to her seat. She can feel him looking at her, but she just ignored him and pretended to read her textbook.

After the class, Bryan immediately approached her. He made sure she can't pass through him by blocking himself on her way.

"Hi!" he greeted her.

"Hi..." She didn't bother smiling since he's used to his grumpy face anyway.

"How's your Sunday?"

"Just fine." Here it goes. For sure he will not just let her go easily, so she thought of a way to explain herself. "Quite busy because I spent some time with Mom and Dad. It has been a long time since we did that." "Yeah," Bryan agreed. "I wonder what I'll eat for lunch."

"Uhm... I have to go to The Echo. See you later." She immediately went out of the classroom.

Bryan followed her. "You won't eat lunch?"

"Maybe later," she said, still not looking at him. "Bye."

She immediately went to The Echo office. She sensed that Bryan is not following her, so she looked at him and saw him go to the opposite way leading towards the cafeteria.

She was about to enter the office when her fear materialized.

"Well, well, well..." It was Gina, with her two girl minion. "Look who's here."

She knows the reason of Gina's sarcasm. Aside from the fact that she really does not like her, Angel is sure Joshua already told her about what he discovered yesterday.

"Hi, Gina..." is what she managed to say. She was about to open the door to their office when Gina started rebuking her.

"Don't act as if you're an innocent lamb!"

She suddenly felt nervous. Not only because she's really guilty, but also because of humiliation. Some classes have just ended, so some students are passing through the corridor to transfer to their next subject. "You're acting as if you're the kindest person, when in fact you're an opportunist!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Angel said.

But Gina does not want to give in. "You stole my boyfriend!"

Some students started noticing the drama that is happening. Some of them already stopped walking and just watched the confrontation.

"I know since the beginning that you have a thing for Bryan. It's obvious that you are fantasizing about my boyfriend!"

Angel tried her best to keep calm even though deep inside she's already panicking. "That's not true, Gina."

"It's too obvious. You're pretending to be hostile to get his attention. You try to be different from other girls who are very kind to him so that you'll stand out. I know it was just your strategy, Angel. Your name doesn't even suit you." Angel was stunned. Never did she think that that's how people perceived her avoidance of Bryan. She though everyone understands that she doesn't like him that's why she's avoiding him. Or maybe, Gina is the only one thinking as such? That she's just saying this right now to humiliate her, which is what she's slowly feeling now.

"You're quiet. It's because it's true, right?" Gina mocked, adding fuel to the embarrassment she's feeling. "You like Bryan that's why you're always avoiding him. You can't accept the fact that he's ignoring someone as smart as you. Let's face it, Angel. What you have is just brains. That's all. You don't have anything more. You do not even have friends. You don't know how to treat other people properly because you're too proud. You regard very high of yourself because you're intelligent. But not everything is based on high grades, Angel. Look at you. You're smart, yes. But you're nothing more."

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Angel froze. It hurts so much to be slapped by the truth. 'You do not even have friends.' She wants to cry out the reason why she cannot befriend anyone. She wants to tell everyone the fear she has. But if she does that, their family's secret will be revealed.

But more than the pain of being slapped by the truth is the humiliation she's feeling. Everyone is now watching their confrontation, and she knows they are the subject of their murmurs. Maybe everyone thinks that she's a bad girl; that she's a boyfriend grabber; that she tried alluring Bryan; that she's mean that's why she doesn't have friends.

"See?" Gina continued, like she doesn't want to stop. "You can't rebut because it's true! You stole my boyfriend from-"

"Enough!"

Everyone stopped whispering. Even Gina stopped speaking and was stunned. Angel felt someone come near them, particularly to her. And the next things she knew, Bryan was already standing in front of her. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

Angel doesn't know why, but when Bryan said those words, she started crying. She can't understand why, but when she saw Bryan's worried face, she felt relieved. "What took you so long?" she asked him.

Bryan wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks. "Sorry for being late. What's important is that I'm here now. So stop crying, okay?"

Angel felt better with those soothing words. She also stopped crying.

"Bryan, what's this? What's the meaning of this?" Gina asked.

Bryan turned to face Gina. "I'm here to rescue my girlfriend."

Everyone was shocked at what Bryan said, more so when he held Angel's hand. Gina gazed at him dumbfounded.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's true. Ms. Angel Martinez is officially my girlfriend now. Truth is, I struggled to win her heart. She really gave me a hard time, you see.

"Hey!" Angel tried to pull her hand from Bryan's grip.

But Bryan never let it go. He looked at her and said, "She's not doing that to allure me. Her parents are strict, and she's scared to fall in love because her parents might not approve of it. That's why she has built that wall to protect herself from falling for a guy who might not have the guts to fight for her."

Bryan looked at the students around them. "I had a hard time, really. But after all that I've been through pursuing Angel, I can say that it's all worth it." Then, he looked at Angel lovingly.

Angel was absorbed by that mesmerizing look. It feels as if she's inside a movie, but she's not. Everything that is happening right now is real. Bryan is a real person and he's really looking lovingly at her. She almost believed that the love he has for her is true, until she suddenly remembered their real situation. That's what brought her back to reality, and she can't help but wish that Bryan's feelings for her is true.

"Bryan, what are you saying?" Gina asked. "I'm the one that you like, remember?"

Bryan looked at Gina. "Since when?"

It was Gina's turn to be humiliated. "What are you saying? It's too obvious that I'm special to you. You're very sweet to me. You're very kind to me. You're always there by my side. You do everything for me. Yeah, maybe we didn't really talk about it, but we treat each other like a couple. You treat me like I'm your girlfriend."

Bryan pondered for a while. "But that's how I am to everyone, right?"

The people around started whispering again, but this time, it's about what Bryan had just said.

"Maybe, you misunderstood my kindness. And for that, I'm sorry, Gina. But I never felt anything special for you. You're just like any other girl that I'm acquainted with."

Gina wasn't able to take it anymore. Out of too much humiliation, she slapped Bryan.

"Hey!" Angel felt like retaliating, but Bryan stopped her.

"I deserve it," Bryan said. "For leading her on." He then looked at Gina. "Sorry, Gina; and thank you for making me realize that maybe, I'm too kind and too caring that I send mixed signals to people. I promise to correct my mistakes and treat people accordingly, especially the girls."

"You asshole!" Gina said instead before walking out.

After a while, the bystanders have left as well. The hallway became normal once again.

"Let's go." Bryan pulled Angel away.

"Where?"

"Somewhere we can talk privately."

Bryan held her hand tightly. Angel just let him lead her to wherever he's taking her. After all, she doesn't want to go anywhere right now but beside him. She wants to be with her knight in shining armour, her superhero, her Superman.