Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

That night, Bryan went to see Richard on his room. The younger cousin seems so tired as he lies on his bed.

"Why do you look so exhausted?" Bryan asked.

"I helped Kim on their final practicum in PE."

Bryan frowned. "Kim?"

"Yes, Kim."

"As in Kimberly Agustin?"

"Yup! No other than Ms. BS."

"You helped them with their practicum in PE..."

"You just repeated what I said, Cuz."

"Why does it have to be you?" Bryan asked.

"Why not? You know that when it comes to dance, or anything that involves rhythmic exercises, I immediately go for it. I love dancing, you know that."

Yes, Bryan knows it very well. He knows that dancing brings a different kind of happiness to Richard, much like when he plays basketball.

"Actually, I will also be her dance instructor for her dance number with Nick for Mr. and Ms. CPRU."

"You'll train them? How about Kuya Andrew?"

"He has a new job, so..." Richard answered.

"But why you?"

Richard frowned. "Why do you talk weirdly today, Bry?"

"They can get another dance instructor," Bryans said instead.

"It's okay," Richard said. "I'm the one who volunteered."

"You volunteered?" Bryan got more confused.

"I just don't want to waste the chance. I already have a concept in mind. For sure they will win Best in Talent." Richard smiled victoriously.

"How about Alex? What if you lose your time for her?" Angel talked to him earlier about his cousin's relationship with her sister Alex.

"I don't think that will happen. And, it's not yet final. Kim needs to talk first to the officer in charge to allow me to teach her and Nick the dance. If ever they agreed, that won't be a problem. The pageant is in December, so we can spread the practice sessions until then. Besides, Alex will understand."

She doesn't understand. If she does, then Bryan should not be there talking to him and deciphering what might be the problem.

"You know, Chard, however understanding a girl is, sometimes she also reaches her limit. That's why you have to balance your time and make her feel that you're not neglecting her."

"Noted, Mr. Love Expert."

"I'm serious, Chard. Last Thursday, Alex was expecting you on their dinner at our house. She was so sad when she found out you're not coming."

"Really?" Richard looked alarmed.

"You didn't even tell me where you were going that night, so I wasn't able to answer her when she asked me."

"It was quite sudden. I was on my last subject that afternoon when Mom told me about it. I don't even want to come."

"Well, now you know. At least you can do something about it now. Talk to Alex tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is family day, right?" Richard said. "Also, I will meet with Kim's group tomorrow. They have a practice again."

Bryan sighed. "I don't know. It's up to you how you can solve that."

"Don't worry, Cuz. I will not neglect Alex and our relationship. I won't let all the effort that I made in courting her go to waste. I just need to do this now."

Bryan can do nothing but just wait and observe. Richard is the only one who can solve his problem with Alex. Whatever he and Angel do to help them, it will still not matter if the two of them won't do anything to solve their problem themselves.

:***************************

Alex is on beast mode again as she went to class on Monday morning. During the weekend, she did not receive even a single message from Richard. She also found out from Bryan, through her sister, that the reason why Richard does not talk to her lately is because he's busy helping Kim with her PE practicum.

That Kim again. She doesn't know why, but she's really jealous of her. She knows her feelings has no basis, so she should not feel as such. Or, is there really no basis to it?

As she entered the classroom, she immediately saw Richard. He even waved upon seeing her, so she has no choice but to sit on the chair he reserved for her. His smile is so wide as he looked at her.

"Hi!" He looks so happy. "I missed you."

Which did not affect her whatsoever. Beast mode on. "Well, you're too busy."

"I'm sorry. My schedule is just tight right now. But I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Alex did not comment on that. She just remained quiet because she might just say some nasty things to him, especially because she knows Kim is the reason why he's busy.

"I'm helping Kim and her group on their PE practicum. They can't find someone who'll help them, so she asked me to. What kind of friend will I be if I refused, right? And, she and her group mates are easy to teach. Last weekend, we easily conceptualized their dance because everyone is very participative and they have a lot of ideas. So we easily finished the concept, and what I just need to do is finish the steps."

And Richard continued talking about Kim. How easily she learned the dance. How thoughtful she is for preparing snacks for them. How kind she is, and how they can talk about a lot of topics. And now Alex is now totally pissed off.

She wants to shout at him to make him stop talking. Good thing that their professor arrived. At least, Richard stopped talking and started listening to their professor like everyone in class.

But Alex could not concentrate on the subject being taught. She can't think of anything else right now but how highly Richard thinks of Kim and how happy they were when they were together.

For their last subject that day, Richard and Alex are classmates again. They usually hang out at The Coffee Club after the class, with Angel and Bryan. That started when Angel discovered her friendship with Richard.

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But it was different that afternoon. After their last subject, Alex said goodbye to Richard.

"I need to finish a school project."

"Is that so? What a pity, because I was actually thinking of bringing Kim to The Coffee Club. You know, to keep her from Terrence Mendoza."

And it's about Kim again. "So you'll be meeting Kim. I guess it's fine then, even if I won't be there. At least you're with someone," she said sarcastically. "Then, just see you around." Richard smiled. "Okay."

She smiled and immediately turned around, so that Richard could not see it when she rolled her eyes on him.

"Bye!" Richard said.

"Bye!" she responded; again, sarcastically.

She immediately went to the Business School. That time, Angel and Bryan just finished their class and are going out of the classroom. "Ate!"

Angel looked at her. "Alex!" She smiled.

"Let's go home, Ate."

Angel was surprised at what she said. "Aren't you meeting Richard?"

"He said he's meeting up with Kim. So it's okay for me to go."

Bryan and Angel looked at each other. Alex suddenly felt guilty upon realizing that the two lovers might want to spend more time with each other. "Sorry, Ate. If you want, I'll go ahead and you just go home with Bryan later. I'll just explain it to Dad."

"No, its okay," Angel said.

"I also have a basketball practice, so for sure I will go home late," Bryan said. "Your dad might get mad if your sister would go home late."

"So Bry, we'll go ahead," Angel said.

"Okay."

"Let's go, Alex."

The two sisters proceeded to the parking lot together.

**********

Angel wanted to ask Alex about what happened the moment they entered her car earlier, but she thought her younger sister might end up crying, and that would make her cry as well and she won't be able to drive them home. And so, she waited for them to get home first and rest a bit before asking what happened.

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She went to Alex's room that night to ask her. When she peeked through the door, she saw him lying on the bed with her back turned on her.

"Alex?" She came in, knowing that her sister is not yet sleeping.

She went to the bed and tried to look at her sister's face. "Alex?"

She did not answer. Angel went to the bed and lied down, hugging her. "You're not yet sleeping, I know."

"How did you know?"

Angel smiled. "You answered."

Alex turned to face her.

"Are you okay?"

"I guess so..."

"What's wrong?"

Alex sighed. "I'm so bad, Ate."

"Hmn?" Angel frowned.

"I've turned into a green-eyed monster."

"Why did you say that?"

"Richard... Kim..."

Now she understands. "Just don't think like that. I don't think Richard would do that. He really likes you."

"I know. That's why I feel so bad."

"Hey! You're not that bad. Stop thinking like that."

"Why can't I stop being jealous?"

"That's normal," Angel said. "You love him that's why you're jealous."

"I can't talk to Richard like this. I might just nag at him. Good thing he's busy being Kim's protector."

"Are you sure you don't want to fix this? The only way to do that is for you to talk to him."

Alex shook her head. "I still can't, Ate. The situation might just get worse."

"Okay." Angel moved to hug her again.

"Thanks, Ate. Thank you for being there all the time."

"It's a pleasure."

That night, the two sisters slept together. Angel did not leave her sister and made sure she slept soundly in her arms.