Stephanie & Xander

Chapter 26

XANDER.

"You are Alex, right?" Emily pops out from the corner. I can't believe she'll find us here.

I didn't leave last night. I went out the gate but when Coco cajoles me on coming back and is blabbering about how we're a trio and we shouldn't leave each others, I went back. I'm too scared to get in through the gate so we jump in the fence like robbers and stayed on the yard the whole night.

From here, we can hear almost everything. The window connecting us to the kitchen is pretty large and I've got pretty good hearing so... I get to hear that Stephan didn't even bother mentioning me throughout the whole night.

Well, I was a drama queen, running off like that. It's just that... I wanted to find Emily. That was this journey's finish line. But at some point, I only loved the trip. I kind of wished it will never end, just us, getting into trouble, meeting people and stuffs.

I was selfish. Everything was like a sweet dream and then the worst thing that can happen to a daydreamer is waking up to reality. Damn...

Staying here, I also heard what they talked about. I know they're still kneeling inside at this moment, apologizing for the things Jun-nii has done to me. I can finally see my assailant grovelling on the ground, begging for my forgiveness... but for some reason I'm not happy.

Jun-nii just fell in love. He didn't jump in, he fell. Resistance is futile. I know that too well. Too damn well.

I don't deserve that apology. I was the one who's tied to the past and refused to change and I was like a kid, sticking to my stereotype idea of a superhero and now I'm this stark and rigid bastard looking for Jun-nii like a thirsty bloodhound. I'm nothing but an awful ghost.

Emily hugs me. It's weird. He pats my back as if she knows the hotchpotch of all emotions inside me. She's so warm and she smells like vanilla.

This is the girl Stephan likes. She's sincere and very mother-like. She's small but she tries to envelop me with her slender arms. Damn. I was so dumb to think of even falling in love to Stephan. This is the kind of girl who's in his radar. Perfect like a living Disney princess, kind-hearted, warm and pretty. I feel guilty to even be thinking awful things about her.

"Stephan has grown up a lot." She whispers to my ear. Her breathe is warm, "It must be because of you."

She pulls her body from me and she stares at my face. I got the urge to look down. I'm not even pretty. My hair is short and my face is not smooth. I've got bandages and my lip and eyebrow have permanent scars. I can't establish a rapport to this angel.

"Gawd, you're so pretty!" she says so I look up in surprise. No one has ever called me beautiful before and she doesn't even look like she's lying. She beams, "And kind-hearted too! Strong and tall! I'm so envious!"

I blush. I can't believe I'm really questioning my sexuality right now. I'm not sure I'm straight anymore. She peers at Coco, "You are...?"

"Coco." He answers. He blushes a little too. I guess it's impossible not to blush with this personified Ariel: red hair and large blue eyes.

"Oh, Stephan told me about this classmate back in elementary. To think you guys are really close that you accompany him here. Thank you, guys."

He called us guys. Like, no prejudice. It's that familiarity that isn't annoying. God, she's like crab. It's honest-to-goodness the tastiest food I've ever eaten but too much of it, I'll grow rashes and then eventually die. No way, this woman is too much for me to handle. She's blinding.