Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

The following morning, Angel went to school with Alex as usual. They had been quiet all throughout the trip. Then when they arrived at the parking lot, they stayed inside the car for a while. They are not talking, though. They just sat there beside each other looking in front.

"He said, he'll be waiting for me. Friday next week, at the SMS."

"Are you coming?"

"I've hurt him. I was too jealous it was too wrong already. I caused him so much pain, and I don't think he still deserves me."

"Do you think he's not hurting right now? And why do you say he doesn't deserve you? As if you're not worthy of his love. Because you were jealous? It's normal to feel jealous."

"But I gave up on him. Because I gave up on him." Her eyes started to well up again.

"You gave up, but now you're given a chance to make things right. You're given the chance to make yourself worthy."

Alex looked at Angel. "Ate..."

"Not everyone is given a second chance, Alex. That's why those who are given should cherish it and never let it go to waste."

Alex looked down. "What should I do? We both know what I've hurt Richard so much. He doesn't deserve that. He doesn't deserve to get hurt because of me. I don't have the right to hurt him. But..." "But?"

"But my heart is saying that I should not give up. That I should not give him up."

Angel smiled. "I won't tell you what I want you to do. You should be the one to decide. But all I can say is, follow what you think and feel is right. Don't just use your heart, and also, don't just rely on your mind. They should go together. You have plenty of time, Alex. Think about it very carefully."

Angel wiped out the tears from Alex's face. When she was calmer, she accompanied her to her class, and she did not leave her until her class started.

****

Alice has been noticing for a few days now that Alex was unusually sad. She first noticed that she had lost her appetite for food. Then she started noticing the listlessness of her actions. If she's feeling sick, she will definitely know it because Alex is a brat when she is sick. She would like to stay all day long in bed and to be comforted by her even though her sickness is just a slight fever.

She once asked Angel if she knows something that might be causing that unusual behavior of her sister. Angel said she's not noticing anything unusual on her. She said maybe Alex is just stressed out with the coming finals week. Alice just accepted that reason, though she is still doubtful. Of all people, Alex is the one who does not worry about such things. Her outlook is very positive even though she's having difficulty with a subject. That is the reason why she was able to become the salutatorian during high school even though she's bad in Science and Math.

She also asked Alex about her observation. But like Angel, the finals week is the reason she gave her. Maybe that really is the reason why, but the mother in her doesn't want to believe. Mother's instinct, they say. So she decided to 'investigate' to know the truth about the matter.

One afternoon, she suddenly went home from the office. She told her husband that she's not feeling well, so she's taking a half day off. Benjie even teased her that it might be because she's undergoing menopausal stage already.

But the real reason is she wants to search Alex's room for clues why she had been looking sad recently. She doesn't care if she might be accused of invasion of privacy, but she's a mother. She just can't stay still and she needs to find some explanation for the unusual feeling she's having.

Everything on Alex's room seems normal when Alice went inside. It's clean and organized. Even though they have housekeepers, they still taught their daughters to be well kept when it comes to their belongings. That's why it's not surprising that Alex's room is well organized.

The only unorganized spot in the room is the study table. Well, it's not really unorganized. There's just a lot of things on it. It's obvious that school is what's keeping Alex busy. Maybe it really is the finals week that is making Alex stressed out. She suddenly saw a letter. It's under the picture frame of Alex's photo. Alice became curious, so she took the letter and read it. Maybe she can learn something from that letter.

The letter does not have an opening salutation, so she is not sure if that is really for Alex. Then upon reading the body of the letter, it's about someone talking about the person he loves. She concluded he is a guy because he mentioned the person being loved is a 'girl.'

Alice was suddenly taken aback. 'Girl? What if...' Her heart suddenly pounded. Did Alex make this letter? And the girl she is talking about... is someone that she likes?

"Alex is..." Alice can't believe the idea that is slowly forming in her mind. Her mind does not want to believe it. Alex is in love with a girl? That can only mean two things. It's either Alex is a lesbian, or she's in love with a lesbian. Though, those two seem to mean the same thing.

Is identity crisis what's happening with Alex? Alice suddenly felt weak, so she sat down in her daughter's bed. She looked at the letter again. She still could not believe it. He never imagined Alex being a lesbian.

She suddenly noticed the penmanship of the letter. Yes, that's not Alex's. It looks quite masculine and it's not very pleasing to look at. It's quite messy verging on a doctor's prescription type of penmanship. She was quite relived that Alex was not the one who made the letter. But if that's the case, is the letter intended for Alex? She continued reading the letter to look for some clues.

'Does everything that happened to us does not matter to you anymore? All the good memories that we had? I know it was just for a few months, but all that happened between us is very precious to me. I did not regret any moment that we shared together. So, why, Alex? Why did you give?'

Alice was stunned. So, Alex has a boyfriend, and they don't know about it? Is it like what happened to Angel? Both of them had a relationship without her or Benjie knowing about it? She suddenly felt bad. And who might be Alex's boyfriend? She continued reading the letter to know the answer to that question.

'Alex, from the start we know what we're doing will not be easy. You're a Martinez and I'm a Quinto. Our families hate each other. But can we stop our hearts from falling in love with each other? That's why I'm hoping you won't force to stop yourself from loving me. Give me another chance to fix whatever wrong I have done to you.'

The salutation said it's from a certain 'Richard'. So it means it's from Richard Quinto. Alice stiffened. She knows very well who this Richard Quinto is. A wave of emotions suddenly took over her. Mostly negative. Mostly disappointment. For the second time, she is disappointed with her daughter. Angel's case was still forgivable. Yes, she's also angry with the de Veras, but it's nothing compared to the wrath that she feels for the Quinto, particularly to Ricardo Quinto, the father of Richard Quinto.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Why, Alex? Why?"

She suddenly felt breathless. She started crying because of dismay.

"Why? Alex..."

She wants to know the answer to that question. She wants to know why Alex disobeyed her orders. Then suddenly, she remembered what Angel told them before. 'I just love him...'

"Bullsh*t!"

She cannot accept that reason anymore. Yes, she believed it when Angel told them that reason. But that was because she saw that her love for Bryan was true, and that he loves her as much. And besides, that's Bryan de Vera. He's not a Quinto. He's not the son of Ricardo Quinto.

After disappointment, anger slowly took over her. Anger not only for Alex who disobeyed her, but also for the man that she hates the most. And now, even Richard Quinto.

'Next Friday, after your last exam, I will be waiting for you at the student lounge of the SMS.'

So that's what he is planning. Well, unfortunately, she found out about it. And unfortunately, she's planning to prevent that from happening.

"What you want will never happen, Richard Quinto. It will never, ever happen."

She went out of the room with the letter on her pocket. A plan was conceived in her mind as she walked towards her own room.