photograph // darren espanto

chapter nine - hello again

~JK's POV~

That's Lei?

I remember her from a really long time ago.
I think I gave something back to her one time, but I don't exactly remember everything.

The girl squints her eyes a little then tilt her head.

"Hey...I think I know you" She says. She stares at me a bit longer, then her face brightens, as if she just figured something out. She snaps her fingers then smile. "You're that kid! That—That weird kid that lived on my block"

I plaster a smile on my face and chuckle a bit.

That weird kid.

Pretty legit.

"That weird kid?" I laughed then looked down. "Not the first time actually"

Lei laughed along. "Jake was it? Or was it Karlos. I don't know i'm not great with names"

"It's Juan Karlos, or JK since it's shorter" I say as I hold out my hand. I give her a weak handshake and she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "And you're the girl that always got in trouble with her parents huh?"

I glanced at Darren, and I could sense the awkwardness from him face.

"Yeaaah, how'd you know?"

"Trust me. Everyone knew. You got in trouble by almost everyone there"

It was silent for a second.

Three of us together? Awkward.

"I could leave you guys alone if you wanna write your song or something" Lei offered as she took her stuff.

"No you could stay longer if you want" Darren spoke as he went up to Lei.

Lei tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then smirked at Darren. "You really want me to stay here and distract you guys?"

"We're not gonna get distracted" I laughed.

"Trust me, you'll get distracted" She replied as she lifted an eyebrow.

"Well okay, i'll text you" Darren said as he waved her goodbye.

"Nice seeing you again Lei" I say. I lean in for a small side hug, which surprises both Darren and Lei.

Lei was a small, short person. In a cute way.

I teasingly smirk at Darren then Lei waves us both bye.

Darren and I both watched her walk away until she was out of sight.

"What was that?" Darren laughed.

"Something you should've done"

"Hold on. Please don't tell me you guys fell in love when you were little, then got split apart. And then in the future you magically meet and fall in love all over again" Darren said all in one breath.

I lifted an eyebrow then chuckled a bit.

"What the heck? Course not. I barely knew here. And you've read those stories too?" I laughed.

"Broo I thought i was the only one!" Darren said surprised. "Anyways, so about you two?"

"Oh, right. I knew her when I was little, my family moved house to house, as you already know. And I always saw her, she would always try to do...everything. She got in trouble for most of it, but it didn't stop her"

Darren started staring at me for a little bit.

"...Soo you were her stalker?" Darren laughed.

"Bro!" I laugh. Then he laughs along.

I see her as a friend. Hopefully she does too. I don't wanna see Darren watch as the girl he likes slowly slips away. Not even to me, to anyone.

For a while we start working on the song, but lyrics don't really seem to flow through us today.

~Lei's POV~

   After catching a ride on a tricycle to get home from the forest, I open the door to my house then go directly to the fridge. I grab some junk, then sit down on the couch, kicked my feet on top of the table. 

My mom comes over to me, taps my legs to get it off the table, then sits down next to me. I turn on the tv then start flipping through the channels.

"So, I got a call from your school," My mom says.

"Yeah...?" I say as I pop a chip in my mouth and keep my eyes glued to the tv.

"Some of your teachers called about your grades," She said. I hear what she says then slowly stop chewing. I put down the remote then got up from the couch, pretending nothing happened. I start walking away, but then get stopped by the sound of my mom's voice.

"Hoy! Balik ka dito" My mom demanded.

I walk back then try to innocently smile at her.

"They said you haven't been doing good at school," My mom says as she stands up and crosses her arm in front of her chest. "Not turning in your homework, failing your tests-"

"Yeah i'm not doing that great in some classes, but my art teacher loves me" I interrupt.

"Okay, but what about your other classes? Is this about someone? Is that Angel girl being a bother?"

"Haha, I already took care of that chick weeks ago," I grin at the thought of Angel and her friends now.

"Yeah, when you threatened to cut her and her friends' hair then fight them" Nick says as he walks into the room. I grin then softly say 'shh' to him.

"Chill out, you're being such a mom" I complain and sit back down.

"Because I am a mom. This is like the third time I got a call. One was for too many tardies, for dress code, and now your grades. When's it gonna stop?" My mom sighed and ran her fingers through her straight blonde hair.

I was confused.

My mom would never act like this. Nick and I exchanged 'what the hell' looks. She'd encourage us to have fun and do what makes us happy, but the discipline part was never in her. I think traveling made us all happier than we are now.

"Mom, you're acting like you didn't do way worse in high school"

"I did do way worse in high school. And I don't want you to go through the same path I did!" My mom yelled.

"Fine whatever" I sigh as I get up then leave the room.

Ugh. School. If only we were graded on intelligence instead of obedience to do work.

* * *

chapters lowkey take me like almost a week to complete lol

aaannyywaayys, i'm trying to improve my writing skills a bit, so sorry if i'm not too descriptive on stuff.