Chapter 74
While going out of the Martinez residence, Bryan started calling Richard. But his phone just continued ringing and Richard is not answering his calls. That's why Bryan hurried to CPRU to see what has happened to his cousin.
Angel told him earlier that Alex and Richard should have met in the student lounge of SMS. That's where he went after parking his car. Richard was still there when he arrived. He's sitting alone looking straight ahead. Bryan immediately went to him.
"Chard..." He suddenly doesn't know what to say.
Richard slowly looked at him. He didn't speak, though.
Bryan took a deep breath. "Alex-"
"She didn't come."
"I know. Something happened-"
"She didn't want to come."
"No, it's not that-"
"She hates me."
"Richard, listen to me-"
"She doesn't want me anymore."
"Richard-"
"Or maybe, she never really liked me."
"Will you please listen first!"
"She's never coming, Bry! She doesn't want me anymore!"
Bryan was a bit shocked at what Richard said. He can feel the pain and sorrow that he's having right now.
"She didn't come. She doesn't want it anymore. I should have just listened to her. I shouldn't have hoped." He began to cry.
"Richard, Alex-"
"I don't want to hear anything about her. I also don't want it anymore, Bry. Enough, please?"
He stood up and left. Bryan followed him. Richard went to his car and immediately drove away. Bryan immediately went to his own car and followed his cousin.
Bryan made sure that he's as close as possible to Richard's car, especially because the latter is driving so fast. Good thing he was able to come to Moonville safely. Richard immediately went to their house. Bryan did not follow him there. Most probably he would not listen to him anyway.
Because of what happened, Alex does not want to go out of her room. Two days had passed since that confrontation at the balcony, and since then Alex just stayed in her room. Angel just brings her food and asks her to go out of her room. But even though Angel continuously brings her food, Alex does not have the appetite to eat. Most of the time, whatever Angel brings her remains untouched. If ever she does eat, only the smallest amount. "Alex, try to eat some more," Angel asked her.
Alex didn't even look at the food tray she brought to her room. Kare-kare is her favorite, and before, Alex will not pass having that food anytime. But now, Angel almost feeds her sister, but she still will not eat. "Ate, I don't have an appetite." Alex is lying on her bed with her back turned on Angel. She's looking at the balcony.
"You haven't eaten much yesterday as well. Last night you only had two bites. Alex, if you continue doing that, you'll probably get sick."
"Richard?" Alex asked instead.
"Bryan hasn't talked to him yet. He said he seems to be avoiding him. He's always out of their house whenever Bryan comes there. Richard's parents are in a conference in Manila, so Bryan could not ask their help. They have been away for two days already."
"He's mad at me."
Alex said that with no emotion whatsoever, but Angel felt pity for her sister. Her words are not only emotionless, they are also very weak.
"I'm sure he'll understand once he found out about what really happened."
Alice suddenly went to Alex's room.
"Alex!" She went straight in front of Alex.
"Mom!" Angel was shocked at what Alice did.
Alice ignored Angel and just looked at Alex. "So, you will not eat. You will not go out of your room. Then what do you like?"
Alex looked at Alice weakly. "You know what I want."
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"Who? That guy? Where is he even? He doesn't even have the guts to go here!"
"Mom!" Angel tried to stop her mother again.
"Will you let him go here?" Alex asked her mother.
"All the Quintos are just the same. They think that they're right, that they were treated unfairly, that they were wronged. They don't deserve us, Alex. You don't deserve this kind of treatment." "I love him."
Alice took a deep breath, obviously trying to stop the frustration she's feeling that she could not change her daughter's mind. "If that's what you want, then I have to do everything to prevent that from happening." "What would you do?"
"If I have to lock you in your room, then fine. Now, I don't want a prima donna, Alex. You're just wasting the food, as well as the effort of the cook who prepared it and your sister's for taking it in your room. If you won't go out in the kitchen to eat, then you will not eat!"
"Mom!" That was Angel again. "I think that's too much!"
"Your sister will not change if you continue spoiling her! Let her come to the kitchen to eat!"
Alice took the food tray from Angel and then left the room.
"Mom!" Angel exclaimed. She then looked at Alex. "I will talk to Dad."
Angel left the room to chase after her mother. When she is alone again, Alex let out the tears that she has been trying to hold back, not wanting her mother to see her cry because of what she's going through right now.
****
Bryan has been trying to talk to Richard for some days now. The latter is always away, and Bryan doesn't know where he goes. He doesn't even answer his calls and text messages. Even the maids do not know where their young master goes. Fortunately, he was able to reach him that morning on his room. It's been a week since the confrontation in the Martinez' house has happened. He couldn't come to see Angel for a few days now because he's avoiding her mother. She might get mad at him as well, and that would make the situation worse.
Richard was preparing to leave when he went to him.
"Where are you going?"
Richard didn't even look at him when he answered. "To Kim."
"Kim? Is that where you always go when you're away?"
"I have a lot of friends."
"But Kim? Have you forgotten, Chard? Kim is the reason why Alex is jealous."
"Kim is my friend!" This time, Richard looked at Bryan. "That jealousy is nonsense!"
"It's no nonsense. Richard, do you even wonder what is happening to Alex right now?"
"Why would I bother? Everything between us has ended. She was the one who ended it when she didn't go to our rendezvous."
"She came but her mother was there. Aunt Alice read the letter, that's why she came. She found out everything about you. She was very mad, Richard. Alex can do nothing but cry."
Richard was quite stunned at what he heard. He paused for a while and just looked at Bryan. But it seems like his mind was closed already.
"Why did she let her read it?" He continued preparing to leave.
"What?" was what Bryan managed to say.
"She was careless, that's why her mother read the letter. It was all her fault."
"Are you even hearing yourself, Richard? Why do you talk like that?"
"I told you. It's over."
Bryan gazed at his cousin for a while. He cannot understand how he's acting right now.
"You know what? You might be right. This might really be Alex's fault. But don't worry. She's suffering right now. Whatever sin she has done to you, she's paying for it now. Hope that will appease you."
Bryan went out of the room totally pissed. He wants to understand how his cousin is feeling, but he could not get why he's suddenly so cold and cruel. He acts like he never loved Alex. He talks as if all he feels for her is pure anger. That's what's making Bryan angry.
He wasn't even able to tell him the reason behind everything. He couldn't tell him the story that Benjie told them. But, will it matter? If Richard knew everything, will that change his mind?
He refused to think about it as he got out of the Quinto house and returned to their own home.