Girls called Alessandra

CHAPTER 14 - MYSTERIES

Oliver!

Oliver!

Oliver!

She blinked. It was really Oliver!

He was in her neighborhood!

He was in front of her right now!

He was Oliver!

Alie barely contained her shriek. But she found she could not speak at all. Starstruck. She had seen him many times but not like this.

Gladly, her Dad spoke for her. "Are you her classmate?"

Oliver just said, "Good evening, Sir."

The passenger door opened and Jude stepped out. "I'm her classmate. Nice to meet you, Sir." He paid his respect and smiled at Alie who was completely discombobulated.

"C'mon," he offered a hand.

Alie moved but she felt like she was in a dream.

Her Dad said firmly, fixing Jude a threatening gaze. "Bring her back before eleven. I'll call you, Alie."

She nodded, her mouth still dry.

Jude plopped down beside her on the passenger seat. "I couldn't drive so I brought my brother."

Oliver said as he revved up the engine, snickering, "Technically, I brought you."

Brother.

They were brothers.

How did she not guess that?

Jude asked, "Have you had dinner yet? They cooked adobo."

Alie gave a simple nod. Her eyes focused on Oliver's back.

Then Jude pressed closer to her and teased in almost a whisper, "So you wanna spend the night yet?"

Her ears burned. She regained her senses and whispered back, "You were brothers yet you did not even tell me?"

"If I told you beforehand, then I wouldn't get to see that look on your face," he sniggered. "Alie, relax a bit. You're so stiff."

How could she relax? The man of her dreams was right in front of her, serving her, driving her. She sneered at Jude, "You're liking this, aren't you?"

"Of course," he grinned even wider. "But I think, you're liking this even more."

"How come he's your brother?"

"What's so wrong with that?"

"I mean, he's so handsome and talented and you're you." Alie realized her rudeness too late. "I-I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

Jude's face darkened. But with playfulness he said, touching his heart, "You just crushed my self-confidence."

"It was so insensitive of me."

"Yeah, you owe me one lunch then."

"Wait, where did that come from?"

"Hey, Oliver," Jude called, "Alie is treating us lunch tomorrow. You coming?"

Alie's face could not have been any redder. She wanted to melt in her seat.

"Really?" Oliver peeked at them through the rearview mirror. "Did you just extort her?"

"No, I won't ever do that. Alie, you're treating us to lunch, right?"

Alie was not very well off. Sometimes, she chose to bring her own lunch. Yet now, why would she let go of such an opportunity?