A Story Come True

#15 Who was John?

"Hey, you wanted to meet?" Alex asked from behind Cerah who was sitting on a swing in the kids' park.

"Hi!" Cerah said turning her torso to look at her.

"Hey!" Alex said walking over to stand in front of Cerah.

"Sit down," Cerah said gesturing to the swing beside hers. Alex did so, quite hesitantly.

"What's wrong?" Asked Cerah.

"Nothing, why?"

"I don't know, you seem uncomfortable."

"Oh that," Alex chuckled, "it happens when I'm with new people."

"Oh, so you're like George," Cerah laughed.

"George?"

"Yeah George. My beloved elder brother," Cerah grinned.

"I thought your brother's name was Samuel?"

"Well, I have two brothers, Sam and George. George is the eldest and Sam's the second eldest. How do you know Sam though?"

"People in here talk about him," Alex shrugged.

"Oh that they do," Cerah chuckled, "he was in this school until last year. Don't tell him this though. His ego's already too big."

"Sure," Alex chuckled.

There was a pause when Cerah just kicked the sand underneath her feet.

"I couldn't thank you properly the other day..."

"For?" Cerah looked up blankly.

"You know, for what happened with Helen and-"

"Oh yeah right! I totally forgot about why I called you. I wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah... I'm going to report the incident to the principal. I hope that's okay with you?"

"Is that necessary?" Alex asked tentatively.

"Absolutely," Cerah nodded.

Alex looked down, fiddling with her fingers.

"Listen, Alex, Helen is quite vindictive. She might try to take out her anger towards me on you. Besides, if she stays she's gonna keep doing this. If not to you then to someone else. Are you okay with that?"

Alex sighed and gave in, "I guess you have a point."

"I'll try and see if I can keep your name from getting out," Cerah reassured her.

"You're different from what I heard," Alex said after a pause.

"And what did you hear?" Cerah said pushing her swing forward.

"Nothing good."

"Then it's good that I'm different I guess," laughed Cerah.

"No wonder Simon likes you," Alex said with a small smile.

"Does he now?" Cerah arched her brow.

Alex nodded.

"Now that's news to me. You seem close to him. I thought Ashton was the only friend he had."

Alex shrugged.

"C'mon don't just respond in gestures," Cerah whined.

Alex laughed and said, "why are you such a complex person, Cerah?"

"I am complex?"

"Yeah, you're scary when you're angry, childish when you're friendly, overall you seem to be hiding a lot."

"OK, I feel like you're scrutinizing me."

"I tend to make people feel that way," Alex chuckled.

"But why am I scary when I'm angry? You seemed unbothered by Simon's anger. He's the one that's infamous for anger."

"I don't know, to me you seem scarier."

"Geez thanks," Cerah said rolling her eyes.

"You're most welcome," Alex chuckled.

"You seem nice Alex," Cerah said grinning.

"Uh, thanks?" Alex said awkwardly.

"I want you to meet George," Cerah laughed.

"Hopefully, I will one day," Alex smiled. "But now I gotta go," Alex said getting off the swing, "Got some stuff to do."

"Yeah sure, you're free to leave."

"It was nice meeting you Alex," said Cerah extending her hand. Alex raised a brow but shook it anyway.

That's when Cerah saw it. Alex's full hand sleeve rolled up a bit to reveal a blue band, like the one on Cerah's left wrist. Cerah's mind went blank as she stared at it for a second.

"Cerah?" Alex called, snapping Cerah out of her daze.

"Y-yeah?"

Alex looked pointedly at their still-joined hands. Cerah let go of Alex's hand quickly with a sheepish smile. Alex gave Cerah a weird look and chuckled, shaking her head.

Alex was almost out of the park when an idea hit Cerah. Cerah quickly grabbed her phone out of her pocket and placed it on her ear and called, "Angel?"

Alex stopped abruptly and turned to look at Cerah.

"It's been so long, how have you been?" Cerah said, pretending to speak into the phone, raising a brow at Alex.

Alex's eyes slid to Cerah's phone and her brows relaxed in realization. Alex shook her head with a smile and left with a final wave.

Cerah slid her phone back into her pocket once Alex was gone.

So, Angel was none other than Alex Sierra.

Did that mean John too was lurking somewhere around here?

If that's the case, who was John?

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A/N:

Hey there! Wishing you the happiest New Year! Hope you have a blast and spread a lot of smiles this year!

Happy 2022!