confused life of a fangirl / tvk book series

7- Boys and Their Ways

charlie wants to apologize for making dylan impatient af lol.

* 🐟

I lay down on my bed, listening to a Spotify playlist and staring at the ceiling. It was 9 pm and Caitlyn was already asleep. She's such an early bird.

The doorbell rang. I swung my legs over the matress and opened the door.

"Echarri." I greeted.

He smiled weakly. "Dela Cruz."

"What are you doing here, at this unholy hour?" I asked, rubbing my hands.

He leaned against the doorframe. "So, my mom was pretty mad about the whole elevator thing, and even if it wasn't my fault-" he rolled his eyes, making me laugh. "-she wants me to give you this." He gave me a box of cupcakes from the bakery near the restaurant.

I raised an eyebrow. "This isn't really you. I'm so surprised."

He looked at me and shook his head. "Look, you take it or you leave it. It's your choice."

I crossed my arms. "Well if I leave it, your mom will get mad. Hmm, what should I choose?"

He rolled his eyes, barged inside and left the box on the coffee table. "I say you get it then."

I laughed and sat down on the couch. Weirdly, he sat down beside me.

"Um, I thought you'd go back to your room?" I reminded him, eating a cupcake. He shrugged and got a chocolate one.

Instead of asking why, I just let him stay. It's pretty nice having him as a companion, especially when your best friend is inside the room, sleeping.

But he is still the same jerk, there's no changing that. Even if he's actually got a nice bone inside him. Even if he's really funny sometimes.

Even if he's super handsome.

I shook my head and accidentally got icing on my nose. Kyle noticed this and laughed before getting some tissue and wiping it off.

Our eyes locked. His eyes were dark brown, but they were the ones you could easily fall for. We just stayed in that position for a long time.

"Hey Jesha, I just came to give you-" Quentin- I mean, Benedict, stopped at the door and stared at us like we were patients at a mental hospital. Kyle took this as his cue to leave immediately, so he scrambled out the door and to the elevator.

I stood up and tossed my unfinished cupcake to the trash bin. "Q, uh, Benedict I mean. You're here."

"Uh, yeah?" He said in a 'duh' kind of tone. His right hand was behind his back, as if he was hiding something.

I tried to peek behind him but he hid it even further. "What's that behind your back?"

He smirked. I charged at him, trying to reach for whatever is in his hands. He's taller than me, so this was a real struggle. He held it up further, but I could now make up whatever he was holding.

A box.

I stopped trying to reach for it and pretended to cry. "Aww, you don't want to give it to me, then fine. Just leave." I made sniffling sounds to add effect.

He started to feel bad and patted my back. "Esha..."

"HAH!" I snatched the box from his unsuspecting hands and hid it behind me, sticking my tongue out at him. He held up his hands in defeat and tickled my waist.

"Hahaha, Benedict, stop!" I started become weary from laughing.

Caitlyn grumbled and turned. "No Bailey, not another violation..."

Benedict and I stopped, tiptoeing over to Caitlyn. She smiled and hugged her pillow tighter before snoring loudly.

We could hardly contain our laughter. I brought out my phone and pressed the record button.

*

"So, what's in the box?" I asked, curious. It's been almost an hour since Benedict was here, and I was supposed to sleep in a while.

He smiled. "Open it."

I lifted the lid off the small box and found a silver necklace with a letter J pendant. He placed it around my neck and locked it in place.

"J? For what?" I joked.

He clicked his tongue. "J for Jollibee, duh. Who brought you to the rehearsals anyway?" I laughed and hugged him.

In a friendly way, heh.

"Thanks for hanging out with me again, Q."

"No problemo, Margo." He laughed, got up, and left.

I closed the door and rubbed my eyes, yawning. I better get some sleep so I could join my family for breakfast tomorrow.

*

I turned off the lights and dived right into bed, ready to sleep.

My phone buzzed again, startling me.

Kyle Echarri: Hey, you still up?

Jeshalyn DC: Yeah. How'd you get my number?

Kyle Echarri: Uhhhh...Caitlyn gave it to me during the rehearsal.

Jeshalyn DC: I swear, I will get back at that girl someday. Anyway, what are you doing still up at 11?

Kyle Echarri: Listening to music and enjoying the view. I can't sleep eh.

Jeshalyn DC: Well, I can't sleep because you're messaging me, hah.

Kyle Echarri: Then I'm sorry, sheesh. Get some beauty sleep or whatever.

Jeshalyn DC: K, Mr. Grumpypants. ;)

I laughed and turned to my side where the window was. Buildings and lights scattered the landscape.

This is what Kyle is looking at right now.

This could also be what the unknown number is looking at right now.

My eyes fluttered and I fell asleep.