Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

Angel could not take the conversation she had with Richard earlier off her mind. She's worried about him and her sister Alex. She's hoping nothing bad happened to them.

Bryan noticed her lethargy. Even he is getting worried about what is happening.

"Are you still thinking about those two?"

Angel looked at Bryan. Their last class for the day had just finished and they are now getting out of their classroom.

"Sorry." That's all she can say, because what Bryan said was true.

"It's okay. I'm also worried. "

"How did it come to this? They were okay before, right?"

"I also don't know."

The all-knowing Bryan de Vera doesn't have an idea what's happening. It's a first. Maybe that's how complicated things have become that even the smart Bryan de Vera could not think of a reason why everything is happening. "Are you going home?" Bryan asked.

Angel nodded. "You?"

Bryan also nodded. "We don't have a basketball practice until after finals week."

She took her cellphone and texted.

'My classes are done. How about you?'

"You think Alex and Richard are together?"

Bryan shrugged. "Maybe. They might be talking right now."

Alex's reply arrived.

'I'm at home already, Ate. Since lunchtime.'

Angel can't help but feel alarmed at Alex's message. If she went home early, that means something happened.

"Is there a problem?" Bryan noticed her anxiety.

"Alex came home already. Bryan, do you think something happened?"

"Hey!" Bryan held her left arm. "Don't think like that. Maybe, Alex's class were suspended that's why she went home early."

"I have to go home now."

Angel proceeded to the parking lot. Bryan had no choice but to follow her. She immediately went to her car and drove out of CPRU.

Bryan followed her to make sure she went home safe. He knows her mind is in a mess right now. He actually wanted to take her home himself, but her parents might notice, and they might find out about the problem they are having.

*******

Angel can do nothing but watch Alex as she tearfully recounted what happened earlier in CPRU. She feels sorry for her, but what is she supposed to do? What should she tell her? Just like her, she is also a beginner in that field. This is the first time she has experienced how to love and to be loved. She can't think of any advice she could give her sister whose tears seems unending.

Truth is, she's regretting what happened. She knows Alex and Richard love each other. But even though two people love each other, they still can break apart because of jealousy.

She wants to tell Alex to try to fix what she had with Richard. That they should think about it carefully to not let everything go to waste. But how can she make her sister understand what she thinks when she already closed her mind? In the end, she decided to just keep quiet and listen to her sister. She quietly grieved with her. At the back of her mind, she's secretly thinking of way for her to help solve the problem, to make her sister happy again.

But if Alex already gave up, how about Richard? Maybe he is the one that Angel should talk to. Maybe his mind is not yet closed, unlike Alex. Also, since he is the man, Richard should be the one to stand up for their relationship. All she can do as of the moment is to help Alex hide everything from their parents. Especially since Alex did not join dinner because she doesn't have the appetite. Also, her eyes are swollen due to extensive crying. "Where's your sister?" Alice asked as Angel entered the dining room.

"She's not feeling well, Mom," Angel answered. "She's sleeping already. Her head was aching earlier."

"She didn't get enough sleep for the last two days, that's why," Benjie said. "Imagine having a two-day slumber party. For sure they didn't really sleep."

Benjie is not mad. He's just saying what happened last Friday and Saturday night. Alex's friends even stayed late yesterday night like they don't want to be separated anymore.

"Let the kids be," Alice said to her husband. "You know they just missed each other."

"I know," said Benjie. "And that's fine with me. I'm just saying that might be the reason why your child is not feeling well. She didn't stop socializing."

Angel smiled. It's a good thing her parents blame the slumber party about Alex's condition. And good thing they believed what she said about how Alex is feeling.

"But isn't she really going to have dinner?" Alice asked Angel. "She might get hungry later tonight."

"She'll eat when she gets hungry," Angel said.

"I guess so," Alice said.

"Oh well. Let's start eating so that we can rest early for the night," Benjie said to the two.

The three started eating. Angel tried to forget Alex's problem for the moment so that her parents will not notice something not good is happening.

******

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"Anything that I could do, I'll do it. Just to help Alex and Richard fix their problem."

Angel said that full of conviction. She and Bryan are now at the student lounge discussing Alex and Richard's problem.

"But you see, that's between the two of them," Bryan said.

"I know. I know that. But, if we can do something, we will do it. Right?"

"Of course we will."

"That's what I'm saying. Let's help them fix this."

"But how?"

"I'll talk to Richard," Angel answered. She's positive that she can convince Richard to talk to her sister.

"And what will you tell him?"

"That he should talk to Alex," Angel answered. "That they should fix their problem."

"Why do you need to talk to Richard? Can't you talk to Alex?"

"Alex gave up already. I'm pretty sure Richard still wants to fix this. I know he loves Alex so much. Also, Richard is the reason why they have this relationship."

"You talk as if only Richard wanted to have this relationship, when in fact this would not be possible if Alex did not agree."

"But the point is, if Richard did not court her, this would not have started."

"But Alex could just have ignored Richard if she doesn't want to. She agreed to be courted that's why this happened."

"Are you saying that Alex is the one at fault why their relationship happened?"

"What I'm saying is that you keep on pointing out that Richard was the one to blame. I'm just trying to explain that this could not have happened if Alex did not consent to the courtship." "That's not what I meant! I'm not blaming Richard. I didn't say anything wrong. I just said that if he did not approach my sister and courted her, then everything might not have happened!" Angel's voice rose, and Bryan wasn't able to control himself as well.

"Just listen to what you just said!"

Bryan suddenly realized he has shouted. He breathed deeply to calm himself.

"Okay, look... Are we having a lovers' quarrel right now?"

Angel was taken aback. It seems she has overreacted a little. She tried to calm herself.

"I'm sorry," she said.

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"I'm sorry, too. I wasn't able to control myself."

Angel looked down. She's feeling guilty about shouting at Bryan. He didn't do anything wrong for her to do that.

"I understand. We want to help them. I also want everything between them to be resolved," Bryan said. "But, come to think of it. They already talked. This is happening because they talked, and they are both angry. They were both hurt. If you talk to Richard now, I don't think his mind will be opened to whatever you will tell him."

Alex looked at Bryan. He really has a point.

"All that matters to Richard right now is that he was hurt. He also felt bad at what happened. You saw how much he loves Alex. Then this happened. Everything is also not easy for him. And whatever they've talked about, it's just between the two of them. Whatever your sister tells you, it will not suffice, because that's just one side of the story. I'm not saying that you are subjective, but you only heard Alex's side. And based on what you've heard you already made up your mind. She's your sister, it's just normal."

Bryan held her hand. "And like those two, you also can't help but be ruled by your emotions. It's normal, especially because you saw your sister crying. But it doesn't mean you should be reckless with your actions. Like those two, give it some time. You're not thinking objectively right now."

Angel felt more sad. "I feel so stupid."

"You're not," ani Bryan. "You're not wise, either. But it's expected. Alex is your sister."

"How about you? Richard is your cousin."

"Well, maybe because I'm a man?" Bryan is quite unsure.

Angel looked at Bryan. She's not sure is he's joking, but the uncertainty in his facial expression made her smile.

"What happened to gender equality?"

"My point is, women are more emotional than men. And sometimes, emotions tend to make us quite irrational."

"You're right." Angel sighed. "I'm glad you're here. Otherwise, I would have rushed to Richard and got into a fight because he probably doesn't want to do what I want him to do."

"We haven't talked yet. It's quite unusual because when something bad happened to him, he immediately confides to me."

"Maybe he doesn't want you to get involved."

"Because we should not get involved. Yes, we should support them, but that's just what we should do. They should be the one to solve their problem."

"But shouldn't we support them now by helping them solve this?"

Bryan did not answer. Angel has a point. Instead of answering, he just embraced his sad girlfriend.

"I guess, there are some things that I could not do for Alex. I just have to accept it."

Bryan just nodded. But on his mind, a plan was created, which is contradictory to what he said earlier.

'I'll just talk to him. Just to check on him. I won't say anything else. I'll just find out how he is right now.'

Truth is, he's also worried about Richard. When he heard about what Angel told her, Richard's condition is what he immediately thought. That's why he decided to check on her cousin later that night to know how he is doing.