broken promises | ✎

01 - f r i e n d s g i v i n g

- P E N E L O P E -

I slightly kick the dorm door, that's decorated with bows and artificial hibiscus flowers.

Sareya's doing.

I hold Melli, my cat, in one hand and a huge bowl of Pinakbet in the other.

Everyone decided to have a Friendsgiving at Sareya's dorm since some of us are going back home for the actual holiday.

We all had to bring a dish from our culture and I brought Pinakbet, which is just a Filipino vegetable stew.

I kick the door again, since I can't knock due to my hands being full. Melli scrambles around in my hand, attempting to get down.

She hates when she's in the same spot for a long time.

I think she might have a hyperactive disorder. Can cats have that? I think so. Maybe.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and realize I zoned out.

I have to stop doing that. It can't be healthy.

I turn around and see a guy standing behind me. He feels familiar, but I don't think I've seen him before. I would've remembered.

"Sorry for touching you, but I was trying to get your attention and you weren't really responding. I was just wondering if you needed help." He says, leaning over a bit to get a peek of what was in the bowl.

"It's fine. That would be great actually, my friend isn't opening the door." I say, handing the bowl to him.

He takes and begins to look through the thin layer of plastic wrap over it.

I turn around and knock on the door, hoping that Sareya or someone else would finally open the door. I don't think me being stuck outside with a hot stranger would do anyone any good.

"It's-"

"Pinakbet. Vegetable stew, right?" He cuts me off. I whip my head around at his quick knowledge of what was in the bowl.

He doesn't look Filipino.

"I was in a relationship with someone who was Filipino. She cooked it all the time." He explained. I slowly nodded and turned around when I heard the click of the lock.

Finally.

The door opened to reveal Sareya, who had her usual huge smile on her face.

"Hi, Beau! I'm sorry it took so long, the music is extremely loud in here. You know how they get." She said, bringing Melli and I into a tight hug.

She pulled away from the hug, taking Melli in her arms. "Come in, come in." She said, ushering me inside.

I turned around to get the bowl from the guy, but he pulled it away from me. I stepped to the side, wondering why he wouldn't give it to me.

"I'll take it in, don't worry about it." I was confused on what he meant, until about two seconds later.

Sareya took his face in her free hand and brought his lips down to hers.

Oh.

That's the boyfriend she mentioned was visiting her. He's not hot anymore, I hate him.

They both pulled away from the kiss and looked at each other for a long time.

It probably wasn't that long, but it felt like it.

I took Melli away from Sareya and stood there, just a bit disgusted. "She doesn't need to see this." I said, walking into the dorm.

I hear Sareya laugh behind me as I walk into the dorm. I greet our other friends as we share hugs and they all pet Melli. I go to Sareya's room and put her in the little area she has for her.

We're over here a lot.

I go back into the kitchen and see everyone is already getting plates out to start eating the stew.

"For fuck's sake, slow down. You're all going to get some." I huff, going to sit down on one of the pink and gold bar stools in Sar's kitchen.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Hayes, come here." Sar ushers the guy over.

It's a common name, Penn.

"Everyone, this is Hayes, the boyfriend that I've been telling you about. Hayes, this is everyone." She smiles at him as he stands with a hand on the counter beside her.

Sar goes around, introducing everyone to him and takes a pause before introducing me.

She walks around the counter to stand behind me and throws her arms around my neck.

"This is my baby and best friend, Beau. You can't call her that though, she says only I can." Sar says, planting a kiss on my cheek.

"I'm Penelope, you can call me Penn if you want." I say and he furrows his eyebrows.

"Why do call her Beau then?" He asks Sar. "That's her middle name. My goddess of a best friend, Penelope Beau Abel." I slap my hand over her mouth.

"How are you already drunk?" I sigh, knowing that's the only way she would say my full government name out of nowhere.

I stand up and walk her to her room, sitting her down on her bed and putting Melli in her arms. "You are confined to your room until you sober up." I say, before closing the door.

I go back into the kitchen and sit down on the stool I was on previously.

"So, what's yours?" Gia, one of our friends ask Hayes.

"What are we talking about?" I ask.

"We all said our full name and now we're waiting on Hayes to say his. In honor of Penelope Beau Abel." She laughs. I roll my eyes at her statement and lay my head down on the counter.

"Penn's name is so aesthetic, I'm jealous." Rei, our other friend, sighs.

I lift my head up and meet eyes with Hayes. It feels like he's staring into my soul.

Ew.

"Hayes Zion Visilios. That's my full name." He says.

What in the actual fuck.

"His name is aesthetic, too. Damn it." Rei says. Hayes and I just sat there, staring at each other. We both realized the same thing.

The asshole that I was is love with and that abandoned me was standing right in front of me and he's my best friend's boyfriend.

Holy shit.

and that's chapter one!! i hope
you guys enjoyed it and i can't wait
for you guys to see what I have in
store for penn and hayes!! tell me
if you see any mistakes!! i love you
all and have a great day/night!!
- kenz !!