The lecture room buzzed with students chatting and laughing. Suddenly, Carissa stood up, commanding attention. "Hey everyone, I'm turning another year older, and I'm hosting a birthday party this Saturday night! It's a pool party, starting at 8 pm sharp. Don't forget to wear your swimsuits!"
The room erupted in excitement, with students discussing what they'd wear. Michelle seemed less enthused, looking uncomfortable. Gabriela and Diana noticed and tried to persuade her. "Come on, Michelle, it'll be boring without you! We'll miss you so much," Diana said, and Gabriela chimed in, "Yeah, it'll be fun, I promise!"
Just as the excitement was building, Professor Eva, their math professor, walked in, and the room fell silent. "Alright, alright, before we get too excited about Saturday's pool party," she said with a hint of humor, "let's talk about something more pressing – the math test on Friday."
The room groaned, but Professor Eva reassured them, "Don't worry, it'll be easy peasy."
"Carissa Connor, is it fine by you to take a test?"
Carissa nodded.
Claudia spoke up, her voice laced with frustration. "Why are you asking Carissa if she's okay with the test? I have a big problem with it because I don't want to do it!"
Professor Eva's expression turned stern. "Claudia, keep quiet. And if you have a problem with math, perhaps Carissa can help you." Carissa smirked, and when her eyes met Claudia's, Claudia rolled hers in embarrassment, prompting giggles from the other students.
Meanwhile, Miguel discreetly passed a note to Gabriela through other students. When she opened it, it read, "Will you come over to tutor me tonight?" Gabriela smiled and wrote a reply, aiming the note at Miguel's seat. "I can't wait," it read.
As the lecture continued, Miguel and Gabriela didn't bother taking notes. Instead, they exchanged papers and smiles, their secret communication making Michelle notice and smile too.
~~~~~
"Are we attending Carissa's birthday party?" Damien asked Rafael lazily as they waited for the movie to begin, their eyes fixed on the TV.
"Yeah. I haven't attended a pool party in ages."
"Michelle isn't attending." Damien sounded sad.
"What's your problem with Michelle not attending? Oh. I forgot. You can't live without her."
"C'mon..."
"Look Damien, I'd suggest you keep your head off Miguel's sister. Does he know you're in love with her?" Damien shook his head.
"I don't think so....."
"I almost forgot! I have to meet her for the math tutoring. I'm leaving..." Damien stood up and left.
"Man! Aren't you gonna watch this movie with me?" Rafael grumbled.
His phone beeped.
Isabella sent a selfie of herself in the bathroom.
"Fuck, what is this girl doing?"
"Hi, Isabella." They were on a video call.
"Hi!!"
"Um, what did you just send me?"
"A selfie. Isn't it cute?"
"No!" He snapped. "It's wrong to send photos of yourself in the bathroom."
"Oh really, it was a nice picture and I thought to share. Plus, I was wearing a bathrobe. Anyway, I'm sorry for..."
"Looking at it makes my heart beat faster than normal and I might lose control.." Isabella blushed at his low and husky voice.
She laughed.
"You're so funny, I thought you were angry."
"Angry? How can I be angry with such a beautiful girl like you?"
"Stop flattering me, Rafael. I know what you're doing, okay." Her expression suddenly changed.
"What am I doing?"
"You're sweet talking now and then you'll change later. Type of boys that make girls cry."
"Really? Isabella, I've been crying all day."
"Why?"
"Because I've been thinking about how hot you are and it's so difficult to have you. You're so hard to get, baby." Isabella rolled her eyes.
"I can't date anyone yet - for a reason."
"What's the reason?"
"Well....I want to get money first after graduation. Focus on other things, meeting new friends before thinking about dating and finally getting married to anyone."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"What if I said I don't want all that but I want to date you right now?"
"You can't. I'm hanging up."
"Don't hang up, Isabella! Send a wilder picture next. In the bathtub." He whispered and she blushed again.
"Are you insane?!"
"I was only kidding. Don't send a picture of you in the bathroom anymore."
"I won't."
~~~~
"Who were you talking to with that big smile on your face?" Gabriela asked Isabella, full of curiosity.
"Um...None of your business..." She mumbled.
"What did you just say?! Isabella, tell me who you're talking to right now!" Gabriela pounced on her, holding her like a child.
"Fine. It was Rafael."
"What did he say?"
"Why are you so interested?"
"Are you guys official? Why haven't you announced it in school?"
"I can't - date him."
"I know you can't, Isabella. You just can't! Will you let go of all those dreams and plans all for a college heartthrob? I'm not gonna let you, girl."
They both plopped on the bed.
"I know, Gabriela. I know you're also madly in love with Miguel but you're holding on, trying to let go of your feelings..." Gabriela's eyes widened in embarrassment and a gasp escaped her lips. She pounced on Isabella again and they were having a pillow fight, laughing and screaming.
"I'm not madly in love....it's just a harmless crush. No, it's not a crush, just a...just like. I like him."
"I think you should tell him."
"I can't. First, it might ruin our friendship. He might not like me the way I do. And secondly, I'm too young to know what these things are. I have a lot ahead and I don't want these feelings to ruin it." Gabriela's voice dripped with sadness.
She suddenly remembered something.
"I have to be at Miguel's house."
"Really? What's the issue?"
"I wanna tutor him for the math test." Isabella frowned.
"What about me?"
"Ask Rafael." Gabriela ran out of the room with her handbag.
~~~~~
Gabriela stood outside Miguel's house, nervously fidgeting with her bag. She had agreed to tutor him, and she was determined to help him understand. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. She knocked again, louder this time, but still, there was silence.
Feeling a growing sense of unease, Gabriela rang the doorbell. The sound echoed through the house, but still, no one answered.
Was everyone okay?
The moans, yells and pants from the living room grew louder and louder until Gabriela could hear it.
"What's going on?" She tried not to believe what she was hearing.
She rang the door bell in anger and the sounds stopped. Few minutes later, Miguel opened the door, sweating and looking tensed.
"What took you so long? Where's everyone else? Michelle, Damien, Rafael?"
"Michelle and Damien are upstairs reading together. We should, too. Right."
"I can't read when you're looking like this. Did you just have a run? What's going on? Talk about the moans I was hearing." Gabriela pushed him slightly and entered the house.
It was a mess.
A blue panty was lying on the table and a handbag.
"What's happening here?"
"Um...well...uh, it.. it's Michelle's...."
"Why didn't Michelle keep this in her room?" A glass cup broke from the dining and Gabriela rushed there.
Miguel followed her with embarrassment etched on his face.
A girl was there, trembling.
"Gabriela, it's you. I thought it was your parents, Miguel. What's poppin'?"
"And who are you?"
"I'm...." Gabriela ran towards her and sat on her, punching and slapping her. The girl cried out as she was being rough handled.
Miguel tried to pull Gabriela off but it was difficult.
She eventually stood up when she noticed the girl wasn't yelling anymore.
She was groping for her necklace.
Gabriela had given her a black eye and her face was swollen.
"Get your ass out of this house and don't you dare come back." The girl slowly getting up and fidgeting made Gabriela even more pissed. She drew a knife from the fruit basket on the dining table and nearly stabbed her but the girl missed and ran out of the house. Gabriela threw her panty and handbag at her.
"Get away you useless slvt!" Gabriela slammed the door and turned to Miguel.
Her eyes flashed with rage.
"Arrrrghhhhh!!!!" She growled.
She ran towards him and grabbed the knife. Miguel held her wrist as hard as he could and the knife fell. Gabriela got angrier and tried to push him to the wall with all her might.
"You're strong...." Miguel was grunting.
"How could you? I told you not to do this again with these disgusting girls!" Gabriela shouted.
Miguel finally pushed her and she fell on her butt.
"Ah!" She groaned.
"Gabriela, calm down. I can explain it." He knelt in front of her and their faces were close.
Gabriela's cheeks flushed but she hid it with her anger.
"What do you wanna explain?"
"She seduced me."
"She seduced you? And you couldn't resist."
"I really couldn't, Gabriela. I'm so sorry." They stood up and sat on the couch.
"And plus, why does it bother you? We're just friends, right?" Miguel stared at her and noticed that she blushed a little.
"Right. We're just friends. But I still don't like it. It irritates me and I get angry when you do it. I've warned you about this, Miguel. If you want us to continue being friends, you have to stop." Gabriela replied.
"Okay. I will. Shall we? The tutoring?" Gabriela rolled her eyes.
"I don't feel like..." Gabriela's voice came out dry and uninterested.
"Wanna sleep for a bit?" Gabriela looked into his eyes with a smile. She nodded. Miguel's eyes fell closed.
She snuggled and closed her eyes too.
"Cuddle me." Miguel's eyes popped open. Her hand found his and squeezed it funnily.
His heart was pounding and he was a little nervous.
"Cuddle me, Miguel!" She was impatient.
Miguel moved closer and wrapped his arms around her.
Gabriela could feel his heart hard in his chest and a smile played on her lips.
For the first time with a girl, he found peace.
~~~~
Michelle and Damien were done with their math and were discussing a movie and laughing loud.
"I'm not really a fan of romcoms, but after watching that one, I had a good laugh."
"Watch movies that make you laugh always. It suits you."
"It's all Gabriela. Since she came to our school and became my friend, she gave me a reason to smile in life. She's amazing."
"I agree." They both grinned.
"I never knew you'd learn the math that fast. I'm impressed."
"Yup. I just needed a little help, and with you, I think I'll pass the test."
"I hope so."
"Isn't Gabriela supposed to be here to teach Miguel?" Damien asked.
"Well yeah. I heard the door opening earlier and a little....chaos. I just ignored because I realized what was going on."
"Their childish fights." They chuckled.
"Speaking of them, let's go check. Is Gabriela still tutoring him or they fell asleep?" Michelle suggested but Damien was tired.
"No, Michelle. Check and I'll be here waiting." Michelle quickly went to check and she gasped in surprise.
They were sleeping, cuddling each other sweetly and protectively.
"This is so cute."
Gabriela woke up in the morning astonished and bewildered.
For the first time, she didn't remember having a dream.
The thought shook her.
"How...why didn't I dream overnight?"
"Good morning, Gabriela. How do you feel?" Michelle spoke. She was tuning the TV channel to her favorite reality show.
"I'm good. Something's not right..." Michelle saw the confusion on her face.
"He left the house really early. He had to get to Dad's mansion."
"Okay....but..." Gabriela tried to hide her perplexed look and ran out of the house with her handbag.
"Bye!"
~~~~~~~~
The girls sat in Carissa's living room, brainstorming ideas for her upcoming pool birthday party. Diana, Isabella, and Gabriela were all excited to contribute to the planning process.
"Let's add a water splash zone!" Diana suggested, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "And disco lights to make it a real party!"
"I love it!" Carissa exclaimed. "And we need water slides and water guns! It'll be so much fun!"
Gabriela nodded in agreement. "And let's change the party time to Saturday evening. That way, everyone can take daytime selfies with the pool and sunset pictures."
The girls discussed the details, debating the ideal water temperature and whether to provide floaties for the guests. "We'll need to hire a guard to watch over everyone," Isabella said practically.
Carissa nodded, her mind already moving on to the next idea. "One more thing," she said, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Let's do something to humiliate Claudia, the bully, in a way she'll never forget."
The girls exchanged smug looks, their eyes lighting up with excitement. "What did you have in mind?" Diana asked, leaning in curiously.
Carissa's grin grew wider. "I'm not sure yet, but something that'll leave her stained forever."
The girls began brainstorming, throwing out ideas and giggling at the thought of Claudia's embarrassment.
"But Carissa, can you please tell us the story of your sister's death?"
"Yes, please. What do you know about the incident?"
Carissa hesitated.
"Please..."
"Okay."