Chapter 56
"Aish..." I said as I slowly walked towards the door.
Who in their right mind would ring the doorbell in the middle of the night?!! I'm already asleep!
"Who are you DRAKE?!"
He smiled at me then raised the paper bag he was holding. "Good evening."
I yawned and stretched. I rubbed my eyes even harder!! What time is it? I looked at wait, I don't have a wall clock. I can't read it either! "Why are you here?? And what time is it??"
He pushed the door open and then walked in. "I'm here because I'm sneaking out with you, and it's quarter to 12."
I followed him to sit on the couch. Wait, what? Sneaking out?! Was he serious about what he said before??
-flashback-
"Date me again, Alys. Secretly date me this time."
I'm still a little confused. Are they serious about Drake or maybe he's already caught a cold?! I mean, is he still topless!! Maybe he's just catching a cold later so what is he saying!
"Y-year?"
"If you don't want to hurt anybody, which I doubt would happen, sneak out with me. It would kill me to see you in broad daylight with Tripp but I'll manage... so long as i'll get to be with you when no one's looking."
He pulled me and started walking. I stopped but he was still holding my hand.
"Drake, why are you doing this? You know Tripp is flirting with me, right?" I said even though honestly, I didn't really feel like Tripp was flirting with me. It's like... we're just friends. Maybe he just did that because he felt sorry for me for what Drake was doing but Tripp really didn't like me. "Are you mad at him that's why you're doing this?"
He shrugged. Seriously, even though we're talking about this, Drake is still so cool. How does he do that? He seems unaffected.
"He's a family so I kind of love him but when I see you with him, I kind of hate him." After he said that, he pulled me again. When we were near the pool area, he stopped, "Walk in first. I'll follow after a few minutes."
I turned to him. "Huh? Why?"
"Because we're secret lovers, you noob."
SECRET LOVERS?!!
He gently pushed me back to the pool area. I felt like I was walking on drugs. What the fudge did just happen?!! From Drake and I being exes and him saying hurtful words to me, now WE'RE SECRET LOVERS?!!!
"Hey, Zy," Tripp said to me. He was holding a bottle of water and handed it to me. "Water? You're blushing, oh. Drink some, you might get heatstroke..."
I reluctantly took the water from Tripp's hand and opened it with shaking hands. Jusko, my chest was still pounding.
I drank the water, even spilled a little, but it was okay because I was already wet, so what's the point?
I went to one of the wooden benches there and sat down. I saw Drake coming back, well, he's still cool. You thought nothing happened, you thought he didn't mess with my brain, and you thought... nothing, he's really handsome, it's annoying!!
"Zy, my dad texted me, I need to do something at home. Is it okay if we go home?"
"H-ha? Ah, oo say..."
Tripp took something and put it on me. "You might be cold," he said, then he put the towel on his shoulder. He stood up and signaled to Shaira that we were leaving.
"We're first, there's still work to be done."
"Annoying! We just met again so you're gonna go early."
"Psh. Our school is next door, Shaira. Don't be too pretentious."
Then Shaira answered but Tripp didn't answer her, instead, we walked back to where I got dressed. I put my shirt back on, it's okay that my lower body is wet, maybe it'll dry out a bit.
"Why did you and Drake disappear earlier?"
I stopped. Did he see us earlier?! Did he see me... kissed by Palma?!!
"Uhh... I got lost..." huhuhu. Sorry, Tripp. I'm really sorry!
He nodded slightly then opened the car door. He got inside but didn't start the car right away.
"Do you like to lie, Alys?"
"H-ha?"
Now, I'm sure. I'm about to have a heart attack.
He put his hand on the steering wheel. He seemed frustrated too, is this how Palmas get frustrated, banging on the steering wheel?!
"All the girls like Drake. Do I have to be rude so you guys like me?" he said suddenly.
I was surprised so i grabbed his arm. "Tripp, are you in trouble?"
She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. After that, she rolled down the window and looked at me. "You're not a bad girl, are you?"
"H-ha?"
"If you want something, just go there. It's a pity for the one who gets left behind. It hurts to be left behind, Alys..." he said. "Aish. What am I talking about? Let's go," he said and started the car.
Even though Tripp said it so vaguely, I know. He probably knew, he probably heard
We were silent the whole trip. I didn't know how to speak either....
From: The Drake Palma Way
I'm behaving here even though Shaira's practically all over my body. Behave there.
OH LORD!! WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO MOVE ON WITH DRAKE?!!
"Here we are," Tripp said. I was surprised, we had been here for a while. Wow, did he see me smiling like an idiot? Tripp is my friend... Haaay.
I opened the car door and got out but didn't close the door.
"Tripp..."
"Oh?"
"You know we're friends, right?"
He adjusted his seatbelt, but he didn't speak.
I continued, "because we're friends----"
"If you think of me as a friend, I don't think of you as a friend, Alys. Are you numb or what? I love you too, don't you notice?!"
Suddenly he came closer and reached for the car door and then he left. Me? Left behind, stunned. The two Palmas love me.
-present-
Drake was fixing what he brought. It turned out he brought takeout from Lim's Chinese Restaurant.
"Drake, I don't like this set up."
He stopped. "What?"
"You, me, hiding. Shaira, Tripp, being fooled. Are you really okay with this?"
He put down the chopsticks he was holding and looked at me straight in the eye. "Alys, Tripp's my cousin, Shaira's my childhood friend, do you think I'm fine with all these deceptions? Heck, I'm not. But why am I still doing this? The answer's very simple, Alys. I love you, that's why."
He stood up and put on his shoes. "I've lost my appetite. I'll see you tomorrow."