To Girls You've Ever Loved | ✔️

Chapter 4

Dallas Everett

I still think of that girl.
Dahlia Meadows, you say. I let out a soft laugh. I finally saw that girl who ugly sobbed at the campus today. I wonder if she'd survive in that type of environment she's in.

I hated the crowd that surrounded me earlier, it was suffocating. I cannot even look them in the eye, they were annoying. They followed me for hours and hours as I shifted places. None of my privacy were simply respected, whether I was in school or not.
Among the crowd, I only saw her. But with my sister? Now that's what you call ridiculous, because I didn't know what possible intention could she have for my sister.

Once January got home, I questioned her. "It seems to me that you have a new friend, little girl."
"Right, she even insulted you. She talked as if she knew you for so long." as her eyes roll. "She said you were a jerk. I mean. She's not completely wrong." Jerk? She called me a jerk. She did? It sounded like she was totally insulting me but I found it funny. That made it clear to me that it was her first impression of me. To her, I was a jerk. I walked out and headed to my room, I closed it as I made a phone call with Alex.

"Alex, how's the debt collecting?"
Behind a "garage", it was a part where we lend money and collect them as debts. It was previously ran by my father, now it is currently ran by me now. January has no idea about it, and I don't have the intention to let her know anytime soon. I wouldn't want to continue this anyways, since we were better off without it. I plan to stop collecting debts soon.

"It's alright. There's a problem though Dallas." he replied in a dim voice. "The couple that had borrowed money from us, ran away. I just checked that they ran off to the Philippines."

"What's their name again?" I asked in a serious manner. "I don't know their first names, but I do know their last names end with. I think it was Meadows? I'm sure."

My eyes started to lit up and asked Alex to dig more. There could be a possibility that Dahlia is their daughter. I'm not sure yet, then if it was confirmed the only way to protect my sister from her was keep an eye on both of them. I didn't trust anyone when it came to January, I don't even trust myself with her.

A knock was heard from my door. "Dallas?"
"Come in, January." as I commanded. "What's up?"
She showed the chicken box and beer that she hid from her back. "I figured out that you might be craving something." as she smiled, lifting both hands that were filled with the things she was carrying.

January was the only family I could ever trust. Someone I could really rely on. Someone I must protect.
Our dad died in a car accident as they were on their way to the house as we celebrated January's birthday. My sister was so young at that time she had no idea what "death" surely meant. My mom continued his debt collection agency, even if her family didn't agree to it because it was too dangerous for my mom. My mom didn't take in debt collecting as she was persuaded to take in her family side's apartment business. My mom's family didn't actually agree to her marrying my father because he was a threat. Now, what they hated was the only thing that was left for us by the remembrance of our parents.

Then it happened that my mom couldn't handle all the pain she had to take in since my dad was gone. She was endlessly having sleepless nights because of work until the time when I entered her room, she was in the bed, gone. I always loved my mom, she was the first woman I have loved and would always love all my life.

I had to live with Alex as he had been dedicating himself to my parents and I for a long time now. He considers it as him paying his debt to my father whom he helped when he was about to be killed from the money he had borrowed for his mother. My father treated Alex none other than a son, except I didn't agree with them interacting before.

Now, it's just me, Alex and January against this world. I swore to myself that I couldn't afford to see January hurt. I couldn't also see Alex die from the job he'd dedicate his life for. Both of them were really precious to me, and had worthy value in my heart. Though, January had liked Alex ever since he became like a "family" because of my brother. Till now, my sister likes him. Who could've known?

I was lost in thoughts until January stuffed a chicken to my mouth. "Eat up."

"Did you do something bad to Dahlia that she cursed you out?" January muffles as she eats. "She looks like she doesn't like your guts."
"I guess I gave off a bad aura to your friend." I replied coldly. "You should be careful with her."
"I will, by the way isn't she the girl you showed me last time? The one crying?" She laughed as she fed herself with some chicken. "It is her." I replied. "No wonder why when I saw her, she looked too familiar." As we looked at each other, January started laughing as she found it funny that she met the girl I also showed her. "Maybe, she likes me." I jokingly said.
She gave me a disgusted look, or a disapproving one I must say. "Must be your ego. I'm off, finish eating." she said as I shook my head as I joked around. I was only this comfortable with my sister.
I looked at the window, darkness filled the city as the streetlights below were completely shadowed by yellowish, dim lights. Far away, you could see the cars coming in and out of the tunnel.
I liked observing such things, they weren't something to be my interest.

Being alone was rather an option than a choice.
I liked being alone, it felt more peaceful.