The Space Between

Chapter 2: Here Comes The Rain

She was silent the whole time.

Amy and DenDen were exchanging glances. They have been doing their morning strength conditioning, and Alyssa was giving everyone the silent treatment. Ella signaled them to let her be, give her space. She was pushing herself too hard, as if fighting a silent demon.

"Sh*t!" Alyssa shouted when she dropped the dumbbell she was using. Everyone turned to look at her. She doesn't seem to care. She just went back to her routine, more savage than ever.

Kiefer dropped by the gym, as he has been missing the girls. It has been a long time since they had a chat, and with the basketball season over, he thought the girls might need some support for the volleyball season.

He saw Alyssa right away, sweating it out. She seems tense, as if she is trying to lose herself in the process. He was about to approach her when Ella blocked his way, shaking her head. He raised his brow, as if asking what's the matter. Ella just shook her head and gently shoved Kiefer away, to make him stop from his tracks. He looked at Alyssa, and back at Ella, with confusion written on his face. He looked around and he could sense some kind of tension in the air. Gone was the joyful banter of this group. They seem to be talking in hushed voices. He stopped from his tracks, and was about to retreat when he saw Alyssa straighten up, as if done with the routine.

And all he saw was a ghost of the girl he once knew. Gone was the sparkle in her eyes. The perpetual smile on her face is lost. She seems to just look past through him, unmindful of his presence. Despite Ella's warning, he went forward and was about give her a fist bump, when Alyssa just looked at him and said, "O, Kief." Then she turned around and left him hanging.

He stopped, surprised. He's not used to seeing her like this. He's not used to her being cold, and uncaring. He is not used to this...

Ella dragged him away from her and whispered, "Just let her be, Kief... she'll come to her senses soon." He looked at DenDen, and he saw her smile sadly at him. "What's wrong?" Kiefer whispered to Ella.

"It's not for us to tell you. In time, she'll let you know."

He looked at her for the last time, and said his goodbyes to the other girls.

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Kiefer was waiting outside the door of his next class, and just as he was about to enter it as soon as the class prior to his was adjourned, he heard the words "Alyssa" and "breakup". He turned around, looking for the source, and it seems to be lost in the waves of conversation around him.

As soon as he was seated, he took out his phone and tried to browse through the grapevines in Twitter, but he could not find anything. Until he saw some pieces of the puzzle... Jovee... Alyssa... and some hints of a third party. He scratched his head, knowing that it could not be Alyssa who has a third party involved, as she barely has time for herself and Jovee... he continued to scroll, but then, the class was about to start.

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Alyssa has not been answering his text messages, of him asking about her problem, or if there is anything he could do to help. He tried calling her, but she would not answer her phone.

"'By, what's wrong? You seem to be lost in thought," Mika interrupted. They were on their way home after dinner.

"Sorry, 'By. I'm just... too pooped today," was his lame excuse. Mika half-turned on her seat in the car, and looked at him incredulously, "You're tired because of what? Are you more tired than I am right now? Because honestly, I've been through hell of practices, and school, and the pressure of winning this season."