How To Kill Love

Chapter 10- Party Favors and Jealousy

Flashback during Alex's grandfather's party.

As I set foot in Alex's backyard, I ran to find him in his medium sized townhome. "Alex? Alex?" No one answered until I arrived at the kitchen. I then saw washing his hands in the sink. I passed by him and our shoulders touched to get some attention, but he didn't even look at me.

I acted as if I passed by for no reason just to explore the house, not to find him.

The whole dinner party was full of exchanging gossip between our families while the children were quite. Alex then went to his room quickly and did it discretely. I went up the staircase as well to follow him and there he was playing tekken in his playstation. "Alex, can we talk?"

"Yeah, sure." I sensed he replied nervously.

"Remember my friend Mica?"

He nodded. "The girl who annoys Dailan?"

"Yeah." I gulped. "They were once together. He is a dick so he dumped her during sophomore year."

"Dailan never told me that. I guess he's just fed up and whatever. He's a mess actually." Alex replied.

"You and Gerry are seemingly getting along. You know he's the school's literal bad boy with the guns and drugs, right?"

"He is changing. He even joined the young christian servants council to head the young boys in church when they carry stuff and walk on the aisle." He cackled. "People can change actually."

"Yup of course they can." I replied.

I was then speechless for a few minutes as I stared at his game. He then quickly got up from his couch and left me like I wasn't even there or that we didn't even talk. He just left the room. People change Alex, so do you.

***

The next day came and my gay friend Karlos came to visit me in my classroom. I was just staring at Alex in the platform as he drank from his water jug. Creepy but that's what I do.

"Hola amigo hablemos! (Hello friend, let's talk!" Karlos shot right at me ad he embraced me. The rich kid got a flight back here in the Philippines after visiting Spain for a family reunion.

"Right. Let's talk girl!" I whispered and pushed him outside to tell him the whole story me and Alex are having.

"Woah." "Woah." "He's a childhood friend and things are happening. I see."

"Yep." I sighed. "No wonder why he looked at us angrily from the platform when I touched your hand for some girl catch up talk." Karlos cackled. "Men. They just don't know a handsome man like me is after men as well."

"What! Are you serious?" I exclaimed. "Yeah, and guys are only like that when they are jealous. Si el mundo supiera que yo era gay (If only the world knew I was gay." Alex sighed.

"I know right. Just stop being straight so they'll know." I cackled. "To think of it, you can just act as if you like me and all so that we can make Alex burst into a jealous fellow. That way he'll confess and we'll know whether or not he likes you!" Karlos insisted with the plan so I agreed. He's right because jealousy will make things clear for me. I then headed to the women's restroom to wash my hands.

A familiar schoolmate went closer before I entered the restroom. He's part of Dailan's squad and is probably friends with Alex. "Hey, are you Elly?"

I nodded. I didn't say much because this man is up to something. "Do you like Karlos?" The man asked.

"Yes?" I said sarcastically, thinking he knows that Karlos is gay. The man made a step back and left. I then took a peak at the staircase he was heading and there I saw Alex waiting for the man's return. They both ran and acted as if that never happened.

"Shit." I gulped. It was a set-up. What will Alex do next.

As always, I messaged Alex during the evening. He didn't reply while he was online and his replies became shorter and shorter through the weeks. He's trying to ignore me or he is definitely ignoring  me for good. I never thought I'd lose him like this.

End of flashback.

"Woah." Harith added. "Who knew your love story is already in the boom part. Then what happened?"

"I kept on messaging until the day of realization came when I noticed how much I cared while he didn't. I was still crushing on him afterwards for 5 months during 9th grade. Then during the middle of that year, I decided to move on for good. I cut my messaging routines and all, but he keeps coming back randomly to message me while I would take my part of short replies. The tables turned and here I am now, free from love's tormenting trap of giving a part of yourself that I'll never have back. I also did change during those years. I came back to play the flute because I was inspired of him. I also improved on my art and writing skills that's why I published the poetry book, Uneven Love."

"He changed you so much, Elly. You loved him while he didn't truly care. He just escaped that fact and chose to move on and not fight for you."

"I tried telling Alex that what I said about Karlos and how I liked him is all a misunderstanding. I only liked him as a friend, I reasoned, but it seems like Alex wouldn't buy it. I know I was childish, but come on is it really my fault that we broke?"

"No, it wasn't. You and Alex didn't even have a commitment to stay away from other people or not like other people. Alex was just a chicken who chickened out from what was going to be beautiful. You deserve someone better Elly." Harith replied as he gave me a hard embrace that made me feel overwhelmed.