SEVENTEEN years to Live

4 ●○► THE LAKE AGAIN

CHAPTER FOUR

●○► THE LAKE AGAIN

Kevin carries his son Kirvy with one arm. Kirvy offers his father the gummy dinosaurs but Kevin shakes his head.

"Come on, Dad," I hear Kirvy say. "Eat one. Please?"

Kevin sighs heavily and smiles at his son. "Okay," says Kevin. "Why don't you put one in my mouth?"

"Okay," Kirvy agrees, putting his hand inside the plastic and getting one gummy dinosaur. "Here's a T. rex, Dad." Kirvy's voice is very childish. He looks as if he is just three years old or three and a half. As I recognized, Kirvy has pinkish lips—which I think all toddlers do. He has the same eyes with his father's, just that Kirvy's eyelashes have curls at the end. It's a little cuter. I guess I fall in love with Kirvy rather than his father. His father, I think. I can't accept it that he's already a father.

"Okay," says Kevin, "let's go home."

"Alright," Kirvy agrees.

Then they walk away from the street.

I have never seen Kevin’s girlfriend in person. She wasn’t with them a while in the Market Street. Kevin and Kirvy were the only two there. I don’t know where her girlfriend was. I start to think she might be dead. I hope she is, I think. But isn’t it too fast? I just saw her yesterday at the lake kissing the love of my life.

At exactly 12 pm, Heather and I bring the candy containers into the sidecar. Heather drives it while I ride inside. I cannot get over with the thing I saw earlier. Kevin has a child, I think. This slowly hurts me.

When we arrive in the house, we immediately put the candy containers inside. I find Beth and Kate sitting on the floor/bed. They are chatting in hushed voices. I barely hear a word.

“Hi, Mary,” greets Beth enthusiastically. “How’s the selling?”

“Good,” I say reluctantly.

Beth frowns and raises one eyebrow at me. “Don’t tell me you didn’t succeed in asking your boyfriend.”

“Shut it, Beth,” I scold. “I’m tired. I don’t want to talk to anybody.”

“Is it about Kevin?” asks Kate, and I throw her a leave-me-alone look. “Oh, I see. Sorry.”

The two girls leave me alone. Heather enters the house and puts the candy containers onto the table beside the door.

“Where’s Janine?” she asks, looking around. “Is she out? Is she having sex with someone?”

“Yeah,” answers Beth, “she is.”

I guess the girls are finally surrendering their virginities. Beth keeps talking that it was cool to be completed. Especially if you are completed by someone you really love and by someone who is willing to do for you.

Everyone is in the house till afternoon. Janine has not yet arrived in the house. Heather thinks she must be enjoying her time. In fact, Beth says she has been out for ten hours. What is she trying to say then? Is she saying Janine is having sex for ten hours? She must be exhausted.

At 3 o’clock, Heather invites me to go to the lake.

I answer, “No, thanks.”

She pulls me toward the door and drags me outside. I let go. Maybe Heather knows why I don’t want to come with her.

“Does it still bother you,” she says, putting her hands on her waist. “Why don’t you accept it, girl? Kevin is just one of the large stones deeply rooted on the ground. There are many guys that are hard to get. So let’s go.”

I roll my eyes and shoot Heather a killer look. “When we see Kevin and his girlfriend down there, I’ll cut your clitoris.”

“Well, I always want someone to tickle it,” she says, “but deal.”

Then we walk toward the lake.

I wish Kevin is there without his girlfriend. If he is, I’m not going to think twice to slap him. Kevin is a huge whore. I’m gritting my teeth because I am so angry at him. But I also feel guilty and jealous for what I’ve seen. If you’re wondering why I am, don’t even bother to ask.

“We’re almost there,” says Heather. “I don’t see Kevin around so let’s move faster. I can see hotdogs.”

Oh my, Heather, I think. How I wish you get pregnant.

We continue to walk toward the lake. The sun is already 30 degrees from the horizon. It’s nearing sunset. Kevin should be here to watch it.

“Woah,” interjects Heather. “This is the first time guys filled the place.”

“And?”

“And you have to sit down there so that I could invite one out.”

I look around me. On my right side, there are guys gathered in a circle as if they are having some meeting. On my left, seven guys are playing football while their cheers and yells fill the entire place.

I search for some girls that are nearby. If there is, I would rather go with them and have a talk with them. But the problem is . . . there are no girls. It is just me and Heather.

“Can I?” asks Heather.

If you want to go, then go, I want to answer. But instead, I say, “No,” my voice as if the greatest command.

“Aww,” demands Heather. “Oh, why don’t you join me?”

“What?”

“I go to the boys right there”—she points the boys who are playing football—“and you go ask the boys there. We can ask them all, you know.”

I give Heather an irritated look then pull her hair to me. I whisper, “Can’t you see we’re the only girls here?”

“No, I don’t see.”

“Whatever. If you want to go, then fine. I’ll leave.”

I storm away from the lake. When I am already meters from Heather, I suddenly catch sight of Kevin holding hands with his girlfriend. They are ten feet away from me. My first response is to ignore and move on. But something in Kevin’s eyes makes me want to stay on my place.

“Hi,” I say before even knowing it. “Have a great time. ’Bye.”

I walk on their side. Kevin smiles at me but I consider it fake. I don’t know what’s happening inside me. The jealousy inside my chest is taking me away from this place. Heather never follows me.

And as I pass, his girlfriend calls my name. I stop then sigh. “I need to talk to you,” she then adds.

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Always remember to vote and comment if you like it.

Kevin's girlfriend's name will finally be mentioned on chapter 5. So if you want to know about that and the talk, always remember to vote and comment. lol. I sound weird. hehe

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