The Last Dance

Chapter 13 - I tried so hard

There is a kind of trust that is given only with time. My parents used to be the most strict people I know, but we already reached the point when they allow me to live alone. On weekend, I transferred my things to the condo unit that they gave me for my 18th birthday.

It was a long day for me. After we arranged my things, my parents asked to go in the grocery with me. Marco stayed in the condo unit with my friends because mom was expecting a set of sofa to be delivered in the afernoon.

She taught me how to choose fresh vegetables and fruits, but surely she would be the one to the groceries for me in the future. Dad keeps putting junkfoods and chocolates in the cart, and mom did not seem to notice that. She was shocked to see those items when we were about to pay in the counter.

They look cute like a new couple.

"She can't eat those. Make sure to take that home." She warned dad.

"You are so strict when it comes to our daughter. She should have these in her house, so when visitors come over, she has something to offer." If they leave that in my house, I will be the one to eat those and not the so called 'visitos'.

"She must practice how to cook. I will ask Marco to teach her. Why would she give chips for visitors? I didn't teach her to do such low class acts." I took a deep sigh and helped dad in putting the items in the cashier.

"She won't be young forever. And when time comes when she can no longer eat these foods, there will be nothing but regrets." Dad is always on my side. Mom took a deep sigh and just let dad give a lecture.

We ate in a fastfood chain in the mall where we had a grocery. Dad sked her if there is a specific place where she wants to eat, but mom answered that anywhere will be fine. She did not order anything aside from that shake. She was watching us eat and giving commens to dad's mustache when someone caught my attention.

"Symond! You're here!" He took a seat beside mom.

"Hello , hijo." Dad said.

"How are you? Order anything you want. For sure, you are already hungry." Dad looked at mom's reaction towards Symond. She acts that way towards Marco, Symond and my other male cousins because she loves to have a son.

"I already placed my order, Auntie. Is there no problem in the new house? Can I go to you, so I can see it too?" Mom and Symond talk about the things that still need fixing.

"Boyfriend is not allowed in your place, Alisha." Dad said jokingly, but I know that he meant that.

"I don't have one, dad. You know how strict mom and Marco are. But I promise, once I found the right man, I will introduce him first to... Marco and then you." I remember telling Marco that I will introduce my man to him before anyone else. I rolled my eyes with that thought. As if I would find anyone soon.

"Why Marco? I'm jealous! I don't want any man to come before me in your life." He said sounding pissed. Mom glared at him because his voice is loud.

"Is there anything you want, hon? You might have acid reflux again. You ate a lot this morning, and then you starved yourself the whole day."

"I'm fine. Just follow up Symond's order." Dad raised his hand as if calling for a waiter, but he realized that we are in a fastfood. I chuckled, and Symond shook his head.

"It's fine, uncle. I'll be the one to do that." Dad did not allow Symond to stand from hsi seat. He talked to one of the waiters with a smile in his face. Mom and dad are total opposite. Mom is always calm and composed while dad is a happy-go-lucky person. They were both born in a rich family, and that gave them so much responsibilit since they were young.

Dad is mom's first and last boyfriend. They always tell their happy days in college when I was young, and I can't help but get jealous with them. Life was easy because things during their time was so different from the present. Sincerity is expressed through handwritten letters. I have always thought that people in their generation are the luckiest. They witnessed the transition of the world from manual to being dependent to technology.

Mom decided to buy pizza for my friends who are waiting at home. Symond drove dad's car. He and dad are conversing about business. Symond will be having his internship next semester, and dad offered a great deal with him. His colleagues are also welcome, but Symond plans to render his OJT in the US.

Marco opened the door, and his eyes twinkled when he saw the boxes of pizza that mom is carrying. I went in, and the first thing that caught my attention is the new set of sofa in the sitting room.

"Did you like it?" Mom asked when I sat beside my friends in the longest sofa. Since a while ago, my friends looked intimidated with mom. They always tell me that she looks strict. They sugarcoated it with that word, but they actually mean that she has a resting b***h face. Even the employees in our company are more afraid of her than dad. It is just a misunderstanding. She is understanding and kind.

"Were you able to buy everything you nee,d, auntie?" Marco asked when he came out from the kitchen holding a bottle of wine and corkscrew. Symond sat in one of the sofas as his eyes roamed around the place. Meanwhile, Faye and Bleian are watching him closely. They gasped when Symond looked at them with a smile.

"Thanks for helping my cousin with the arrangement in her new place. Have you eaten?" I rolled my eyes when Bleian acted unnatural with that question.

"No, we haven't. Actually we are waiting for Alisha. She promised to buy food for us. Anyway, it's fun to help in the arrangement here." They are excited to sleepover here. I am the first to have my own place, so I will be glad if they hang around here all the time.

"We bought pizza for you. Enjoy eating. Don't mind us because we already had snacks." Symond pulled a box of pizza from the side of Marco, and the latter did not even glimpse at my cousin.

We are all aware with the cold war between them, but I can't believe that it's annoying me now. They look immature when they treat each other that way. They used to be so close.

Dad and mom went to the veranda to have coffee and to talk about something while we play a movie in Netflix. The internet was installed when we were in the mall. I hope the Internet Service pROVIDED is consistently fast.

"This is so great. I have a new hangout place." Marco claimed when he put his head on my lap. His position looks uncomfortable because the sofa is not long enough for his legs.

Symond went to me while holding a broom. I am starting to think that he has an obsessive compulsive disorder. We are all resting from the long day, but here he is still cleaning around. He hates dust, dirt and anything imperfect.

"Help me in cleaning, Alisha. You can watch later." His voice was so serious. My friends looked at him as if obseriving what he was doing.

"You have the whole day tomorrow to clean." Marco murmured as he snorted. I can smell the wine that he was drinking a while ago. Now, even my friend are having a shot. I opened some chips that dad bought.

"It's okay, Symond. Don't stress yourself too much. Everything is already in place, and all I have to do tomorrow is clean. Join us here. I will be the one to clean tomorrow.

He looked at Marco as if he was ready to hit him. He cleared his throat before he spoke again.

"If you don't need my help then I will go ahead. I still have something to finish. Where are your prents?" I can tell that he's upset when he told me that. I quite felt guilty, so I stand and cling to his arm.

"You haven't seen my room and the guest room. Let me show you first before you go." Before he could answer, I already pulled his arm, so he will walk with me. He left the broom he was holding in the corner before we entered in my room.

I saw how his brow raised from scanning the whole room. I requested for a big bed in case my friends stay foor the night. I can't wait for sleepovers with them! We can always find a right excuse to see each other.

"How many locks does your room have?" He checked the back of the door. I used to attend judo training when I was in first year high school. They seriously should not worry about me because I can protect myself.

"The building has strong security, Symond. You don't have to worry about me." He took a deep sigh and sat on the bed.

"You can just stay in your mansion. Your parents will be bored without you there." I need to learn to be alone too. And perhaps, I plan to visit them from time to time.

"It's never too late for a baby brother, Symond. You know just in case they get bored, and..." I gave him a dirty look, but he looks flustered with that. He is not used to me talking dirty.

"Noted. I will mention about the baby boy to your parents." I gave him a thumbs up. Mom always wanted a son!

We went to the guest room after that. To my surprise, Marco was lying on the bed there. His eyes went from the screen of his phone to us. I cleared my throat before I faced Symond who is looking intently at him.

"This just looks like my room. Do you want anything to drink? Why don't you stay for dinner and go home with mom and dad instead of taking a taxi." I told him.

"I don't think I can stay here any longer. Inbox me or cal me if you need any help here." I frowned as I nodded to him. He tapped my head like I am still a little child. He is not just a few inches taller than me.

He talked to my parents before he left. He promised to go with me when I go for grocery next time. For dinner, we ordered chicken and lasagna for mom. They left after that. Dad was so confident with the scurity of this tower while mom kept onreminding me to never forget to check the locks once I get in.

My friends left after my parents. It is weekend afterall, and they want to spend the rest of the night with their families too. Marco stayed in the sitting room. He was quietly watching a cartoon while eating the popcorns that mom made a while ago.

"Don't you have any intention of going home?" He did not even look at me. There is a few strands of hair on his forehead. I want to fix it for him, but that will put us in awkward situation.

"For a while. Let me stay here for some more minutes." His husky voice was enough to keep me quiet while watching him. He can just lay on the sofa and still look devilishly handsome in my eyes. Can't you be mine, Marco? I slightly slapped my face when I found myself in that thought.

I saw the corner of his lips went up for a smirk.

"Quit staring at me then slapping yourself. You are creeping me out." My jaw dropped. He knew that I have been watching him. Damn! I thought his focus was on the cartoon that he's watching.

"Dream on, Marco. Who would want to stare at you?" I chuckled.

"You. You love staring at me, Alisha." His deep husky voice was not implying any joke in that sentence. My heart raced with the way he looks at me right now. He knew? He knew all along that I am always staring at him?

He sat on the sofa and stared at me. Are we not over yet with this staring game? My heart was still overwhelmed from the last thing he said, but I guess he is not yet over.

"I know how you love to stare at me, Alisha, because I am watching you too. And I hate more how you pout all the time. You love denying things when you're all caught up. Just like now." My face felt so hot when he walked closer to me. He arrogantly sat beside me in the sofa for one person. I felt electrified when our skin touched.

"Go away, Marco." Instead of following me, he displayed a big smirk on his face and he trapped me between his arms and the headrest. My jaw dropped when his eyes went down to my nose and downwards.

"I hate that you are so perfect, Alisha." He murmured. I almost can't hear that. This is the closest we have been, and my heart cannot seem to calm.

"W-what do you mean...?"

"From your hair to toe, Alisha, you are flawless. I see no imperfection at all. I hate that even I don't deserve you." He kissed my forehead, and my eyes automatically closed.

The throbbing of my stupid heart went wild. As his bestfriend, I can't do anything but believe everything the he says. If this is a dream, I don't ever want to go back to reality.

"I tried so hard to keep the distance between us because I respect you, but why are you always pouting when looking at me? You are so damn sexy despite the innocence in your eyes. I hate that even more." The next thing he did was unexpected. He harshly kissed my lips.

My mind was struck that it cannot think straight. Am I supposed to push him away? But I can't because I love the feeling that he's awakening. The strange feeling was more than overwhelming. I cling my right hand into his neck, and he deepened the kiss. He kissed me like he owned me when I am actually just his friend.

He pulled me in the waist when I tried to push him. We were both in awe of being in each other's arm and tasting each other when the doorbell rang. He stopped, and for a while I saw a hint of shock in his eyes. While me, I don't know what to do or how to react.

"Damn whoever that person is." He kept cursing as he walked to the door. What did just happen?

Author's Note:

Hello everyone! Starting tomorrow, the episodes will be locked. This is my fourth story in Dreame, and I want to say that writing is really my passion. Please continue supporting me and my story by unlocking the next episodes. To be able to read further, you need coins.

Let's see if they will stay as friends after what happened tonight or will they cross the line of friendzone?! And who's the person who ruined the momentum by ringing the doorbell? Who weighs more in Marco's heart? Camille or Alisha?

Your insights, review and rants are welcome. If you want your name to be featured in the next chapters, please don't hesitate to comment down your request. I am much very willing to interact with my wonderful readers. If you have anything you want to tell me in private, please don't hesitate to inbox me. Here's my email angelynjoy.manalo@gmail.com

Til the next chapter. :)