It's been several months since M mentioned he had a girlfriend. I tried to keep things normal because, at the end of the day, he was just a friend. Sure, we'd gotten closer, but not close enough for it to be strange. Thinking about it, it made sense—if a guy doesn't say he's got a girlfriend, anyone could assume he's single. Better late than never, I guess. After that, everything continued as calmly as before. Though over time, M started spending more time with her and responded less to my messages. I accepted it. I was also spending more time with my best friend, Camila.
Then, I remembered, my 16 birthday was coming up, as it did every year, right in the middle of the holiday season. I was born on December 13, and because I don't have a lot of friends, I never throw big parties. It's not just that crowds stress me out; I get overwhelmed easily. Even though I lived with my dad, he decided to go on a trip and leave me with my older sister. My mom, who was always absent, offered to pay for the party, no matter how I wanted to organize it.
The next day, in class, I asked my closest friends when they'd be available. Unfortunately, we couldn't agree on a single day; everyone was busy on different days. So, I made a decision: I'd throw two small parties. M offered to host one of them at his place since it was bigger, and he didn't mind which day, as long as it was the weekend. So, I planned it: Friday with Camila, and Saturday with M and his group. That was enough for me.
Friday, December 14, 2018.
I was home with my older sister when the doorbell rang. It was Camila, my best friend. The evening felt like a cozy sleepover: pizza, a small cake, and a horror movie, our favorite genre. In the middle of the movie, Camila broke the silence.
—Hey, what's up with you? You seem... lost in thought.
—Since when is that a surprise? I joked.
—Since always. She smiled, and we both laughed
.—Have I ever told you about M?
Camila raised an eyebrow.
—You mentioned him once. The guy you met on that group trip, right? The one who wrote to you afterward?
—That's the one. We've been talking a lot these past few months. He's become a good friend, though I don't tell him everything like I do with you.
—Of course, I get it. Camila grinned. —And of course, I knew. I've seen you!
—Really?" I laughed nervously. —I thought you'd be mad or something.
—No! she laughed along with me. —But, has he done something?I quickly shook my head.
—No, not at all. It's just that tomorrow we're having a party at his place for my birthday, and it feels... weird that he offered to host it.
Camila looked at me curiously.
—I'd love to come, but tomorrow I'm visiting my grandma. You know, she lives out of town. I'm sorry. But you *have* to send me updates, I want all the gossip!
—Of course! I replied, smiling. We finished the movie, ate cake until we couldn't anymore, and eventually fell asleep.
The next day.
A phone call from Camila's parents woke us up at around 8 AM. We were still groggy, but they needed to leave early for their trip. I walked her out to say goodbye and then went back inside to sleep a little longer, knowing the party at M's would be in the afternoon. We planned a barbecue because I love meat, and M knew that about me. It seemed thoughtful of him, and well... that's all.
When the afternoon came, I threw on a pair of jeans, tied my hair back, and slipped on my favorite blue striped shirt. I packed my bag with a charger because I knew my phone battery wouldn't last—it never does. I arrived at a gated community, complete with guards at the entrance. This feels like a scene from a movie, I thought.
M's house was even bigger than I had imagined. Oh my God, this is huge, I thought. It was a three-story house with balconies on each floor and a pool in the backyard. There was a massive barbecue area where everyone would gather. We'd enjoy it as long as the evening lasted, though I knew the cold would creep in before too long. I couldn't stop wondering what M's parents did for a living... they must make a lot of money. But, of course, I didn't say anything.
M spotted me from a distance and shouted, —Over here! I walked over quickly, feeling oddly empty for not bringing anything with me. It was my birthday, yes, but not bringing something made me feel... incomplete. I shook my head, trying to push that feeling away. M's group was already there: Erick, Michael, Brian, Derek, and Ruth. M's younger sister, Valentina, was there too.
Valentina was... demanding...
She constantly interrupted M, asking for things—breaking up conversations, pausing the laughter. With M's group, I felt more at ease now, maybe because of the alcohol. But every time M disappeared or wandered off without a word, I knew it was because Valentina had asked for something. Again. A glass of water. A napkin. Something.
As much as I tried not to, I couldn't help it—Valentina rubbed me the wrong way. But in the end, she was just a kid.By evening, we all made our way inside. The living room wasn't as big as the dining area, but it had those oversized bean bag chairs—the kind you just throw yourself into, and somehow, they swallow you up in comfort. I'd always wanted one of those. I noticed M caught me staring at the bean bag, and with a knowing smile, he said
—If you want, you can lie down on it. No one's going to mind.
He chuckled lightly, and I, feeling a bit shy, said,
—Yeah, sure. I sank into it. It was as comfortable as I'd imagined, maybe more. M watched me with amusement.
—Looks like you've never sat in one of those before.
Because I haven't, I thought, though I didn't say it out loud. I just laughed with him. Soon, the conversation flowed again, full of laughter and a heated Mario Kart competition. Time passed without us noticing, until suddenly, night had completely fallen.
It was late—too late. My eyes flicked to the clock, and my chest tightened. I knew my parents would be furious if I didn't get home soon, but a quick glance at my phone confirmed my fear: the buses had stopped running. The idea of walking home alone at this hour made my stomach churn. I didn't know what to do. I glanced at M, thinking of asking for help, but before I could say anything, something shifted in the air.
A sound, faint, coming from the back of the house. Barely noticeable, but enough to make my eyes dart to the patio door, which suddenly seemed darker than it should be. The group continued laughing, oblivious. But me... I felt a shiver crawl up my spine. M noticed and set his controller aside, and just as he was about to ask me what was wrong, the lights flickered, and for a brief moment, the whole house seemed to hold its breath.Something wasn't right.—Are you okay? M asked, frowning.
I nodded slowly, though I wasn't sure. The silence returned, but that noise in the darkness echoed in my mind. And then, the patio door creaked open.
YOU ARE READING
Dear M
RomanceM is that guy who always has a smile on his face, even when life's throwing major family drama his way. One day, he crosses paths with a shy girl and pulls her into his friend group, helping her break out of her shell. Over time, their friendship gr...
