Sinclair Secrets

Chapter 19: Ketchup Man

I plopped down a chair on the other side of the pool by the fence in exhaustion. And Bessy sat beside me, laughing. We've been dancing for hours now and my feet hurts.

We played pool and cards and shot games and we had so much fun!

Forgetting everything for a moment.

And I felt kinda lightheaded too. Lights are blurring my view for a moment. I closed my eyes and pressed two fingers on the middle of my eyebrows.

Then I heard Bessy cussed a couple of expletives beside me. I popped an eye to see her and she looked rather shocked. "Hey, r'you okay?"

Her head slowly spanned at me and she blinked. "You wouldn't believe what I just saw."

I looked at her questioningly. "Huh? Why?"

She stared at me hesitantly. "Bessy, I think this is a bad idea."

Now I was confused. "Bakit ba?"

"Oy! There you are!"

We both looked up to see Rex coming from behind with a can of beer in one hand and grinning at us with those sweet dimples showing.

"Hey!" I greeted as he stood beside me. I slapped his awaiting hand for a handshake.

"I've been looking for you," he chirped and glanced at Bessy then his brow creased. "Are you alright, Pat?"

She looked pissed. "Rex, did you-," she stole a glance at me before determination flashed in her eyes. "Did you invite Vaughn over?"

I stiffened. Vaughn's here?

"Huh?" Rex said, sounding confused for a bit. "Oh! I think Chelsea did. I heard her invite Tasha this morning. Why? Have you seen him?"

Yeah, Chelsea and Tasha had a history together. She must have visited home from her studies in Australia. She'd been living with her mother since their parents separated.

Bessy looked at me with concern and replied quietly, "Uhm, yeah. Just now. By the veranda."

I looked up at my right. Curiosity taking the best of me. He was leaning by the veranda's banister, smiling at what the guy behind Tasha said. She was sitting with a couple of girls. One of which is Rex's sister, Chelsea.

So, he's really here. With Tasha.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Rex asked, breaking our silence. He was glancing at Vaughn and us, perplexed.

As if sensing our presence, his eyes swiveled our way. His smile gone the instant he saw us as he somehow involuntarily held down the hand that cradles his beer bottle. His gaze caught mine, and held it for a second too long. I felt queasy looking at him. His eyes flickered as it travelled from me to Rex and settled at something between us. His eyes flashing a lot of emotions.

I blinked but when I felt Rex held my hand tighter, I realized. I looked up at Rex. His lips was set in a thin line. His eyes full of determination.

I don't understand.

Vaughn's eyes, however, were hard. As if bordering from pissed to outraged. When it flicked to me though, it held accusations that sent my heart thudding.

What did I do?

"Bessy," pukaw ni Patty.

I looked back at her feeling weak and disoriented.