Michelle slowed her pace as she watched Gabriela's car pull up in front of the grand mansion. She was still wearing her hoodie from her evening run, and the shadows cast by the fading sunlight concealed her presence. Gabriela stepped out of the car and walked towards the mansion's entrance. Michelle's curiosity was piqued as she watched Gabriela disappear behind the large doors.
She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Miguel's number.
"Hey, I just saw Gabriela entering this mansion, but I have no idea whose it is," Michelle said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not her dad's place or any of our friends' houses."
Miguel's calm voice reassured her. "I'm at basketball practice right now, but I'll swing by that mansion in a couple of hours to check on her. Don't worry, I'll make sure she's safe."
Michelle nodded, even though Miguel couldn't see her. "Yeah, that would be great. Something feels off."
After they hung up, Michelle's phone beeped again. She answered, and Isabella's cheerful voice filled the line. "Hey, want to come over to Carissa's for dinner?"
Michelle declined, fabricating a story. "Can't make it tonight. I'm busy."
Isabella's voice remained upbeat. "No biggie! By the way, Gabriela's heading to Leonardo's mansion tonight. You know, he was our high school friend."
Michelle's eyes widened slightly. Leonardo's mansion – that must be the one she saw. "Okay, cool. Thanks for telling me."
After a quick goodbye, Michelle hung up and stood there for a moment, her instincts screaming that something was amiss. She considered following Gabriela into the mansion but decided against it, choosing instead to wait for Miguel's reassurance. With a shrug, she turned and walked away, trying to shake off the feeling of unease.
~~~~
"Where's your mom?" Leonardo was showing Gabriela around the house and she wondered where his mom is.
"Mom isn't home yet. We should go wait for her upstairs in my room."
"In your room? Why...why can't we just wait here in the living room and watch a movie?"
"No. My room is a better choice. There, we can play video games and eat chocolates."
Gabriela's eyes widened.
"That's cool. Let's go." They walked upstairs and Gabriela felt uncomfortable with his random touching.
She admired the royal balustrade.
They got to his room.
Leonardo's room was a haven for gamers and snack enthusiasts alike. The walls were adorned with posters of his favorite video game characters, and the shelves were lined with rows of gleaming consoles and games. A large, plush gaming chair sat in the center of the room, surrounded by scattered snack wrappers and empty energy drink cans.
The air was thick with the scent of pizza and nacho cheese, and the sound system's speakers pulsed with the thumping beats of an energetic soundtrack. Leonardo's desk was cluttered with controllers, gaming headsets, and half-eaten bags of chips.
A giant screen dominated one wall, displaying a paused game scene as Leonardo leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the action-packed landscape. The room's lighting was dimmed, with colorful string lights casting a festive glow over the space.
Despite the chaos, there was a sense of comfort and familiarity in the room, a feeling that Leonardo was in his element, surrounded by his passions and indulgences. The room seemed to embody his personality – fun-loving, energetic, and always ready for the next gaming marathon.
"I like what I see." Gabriela was amazed. She sat on the bed gently, still looking around.
"I'm glad. Let me get you a glass." Gabriela nodded.
He went to his table and poured a glass of wine.
Inside the drink, the powder wrapped in paper dissolved quickly as Leonardo poured it in, but that wasn't his plan after all. He had another trick up his sleeve.
Gabriela turned around, and he quickly hid the paper in his fist, trying to look as innocent as possible. "Hey, where's the restroom?" Gabriela asked, her voice polite but laced with a hint of urgency.
Leonardo pointed her in the right direction, a smirk spreading across his face as she slammed the door behind her.As soon as the lock clicked, Leonardo moved swiftly to a cupboard, pulling out a small tablet. He dropped it into Gabriela's wineglass, watching as it started to fizz and dissolve. He swirled the liquid, ensuring the tablet was fully incorporated. The sound of the restroom door opening signaled Gabriela's return. She plopped back onto the bed, looking bored.
"When will your mom be back?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of disinterest.Leonardo handed her the spiked wine, taking his own glass in hand. "She'll be a while," he said, launching into a story about his mother's accomplishments abroad. Gabriela's eyes lit up with excitement as she took a sip of her drink.
At first, she seemed fine, but as the minutes ticked by, her words began to slur slightly, and her laughter grew louder. Leonardo watched with a calculating gaze, his smirk growing wider as Gabriela's reactions became more exaggerated.
As they drank, Gabriela's questions about his mother became more sporadic, her responses slower. Leonardo's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, knowing his plan was unfolding perfectly.
His lustful stare didn't leave her and as she got weaker, his want for her grew.
She was so hot.
Her eyesight was dimming.
He had waited so long for this moment. He knew telling her what he really wanted would be a bad idea because it didn't seem like she was crushing on him like...those days.
All he had always wanted was a taste, since they were in high school.
But he wasn't too confident about it.
The spike wasn't to make her unconscious, but to keep her awake and moan his name all night.
"Gabriela, are you okay?" He asked, with a concerned voice.
"No, Miguel, I think I'm...."
"MIGUEL?!" Leonardo exclaimed. His heart jumped.
He took the wine glass from her and placed it on the table.
He faced her and pushed her on the bed, pinning her arm.
He noticed she still had strength.
"Leonardo....its you..I'm...Sorry I called you Miguel...I...I got lost for a second, but...I'm okay.." Her voice was draggy, sluggish and weak.
"But Leonardo, I know Isabella must have said...lots and lots but..but I - I don't like you the way I used to anymore." Leonardo was shocked.
"Nah, don't give me that look." She laughed hysterically.
"I outgrew those feelings and its normal, right? Breaking news, I have someone else on my mind."
"Who's the jerk?" Leonardo's heart cried out.
He felt humiliated, even if it was just them.
How could he fly from Germany to America and the girl he stole glances in high school - the one girl that crushed on him suddenly 'outgrew' her feelings?
He wanted to hear more. He let go of her arm and Gabriela was happy she could express herself.
Her grin was crazy.
Leonardo could compare her to some lovesick lead actress.
"And?? Who's the lucky guy?" He questioned, his heart heavy.
"M-Miguel." Hearing that, Leonardo thought a kiss from him could quench the fire. He leaned in but Gabriela accurately covered her lips with both palms.
"Are you insane? What are you trying to do?"
Gabriela's actions were unfathomable.
"Miguel would never force me to kiss him..." She smiled.
Her expression switched into a deep emotion.
"But if he does, it'd be the best day of my life."
"You know, he plays basketball, and he's really good at it. I bet you can't. Because you're just too short. I don't like short guys." She smirked and giggled.
Leonardo wanted to burst.
"I don't know...I don't know...maybe the old Gabriela was just stupid...let me call her that. I mean, how did I even dream...uhh imagine, to end up with someone like you? Well, you're good but not as...Miguel. He's just perfect."
She paused.
Leonardo was really interested in how much Gabriela was into this guy.
"I like his smile, there's a way he laughs, its really attractive. But you, you laugh like a snake man, yeah, something like that. A snake man I see in my dreams, he laughs like....I can't even comprehend. I haven't seen you for a long time and it haven't changed. Your grin. Like a wild horse." She mocked.
"And his sister, she's really nice. When I saw her, I wanted to be her friend no matter what. And I succeeded. The Jacksons. They both have this charm...whenever I see them, I just...I just wish I can be closer to them. Much - closer." Leonardo watched her eyes sparkle as she spoke.
"I'm not talking about Michelle anymore. The topic is - Miguel."
"Just his name makes my heart race. And his body, as tempting as fuck. I once saw his back and fainted. Really a work of art. His abs? I'm not ready for it because who knows if I'll die this time? I'm not ready to die, just yet. I've still got a lot to do."
"I keep resisting that crazy thought of blurting out my feelings."
"He's really sweet too. He took me out one evening and I had so much fun eating ice cream, popcorn and we even watched a movie. I grabbed a prize from the claw machine too. Then, we sat on the rooftop. And he presented this pearl belly chain."
"Oops. I forgot to wear it."
Leonardo could swear he had never seen Gabriela smile so warmly, playfully and cutely.
"My future boyfriend. I know someday he's gonna ask me out. I believe it will happen."
"And me? What will happen to me?"
"You and your ass should return to Germany, for all I care. Something's wrong with me..." He thought she was becoming powerless.
"Do you think I should tell him?" Leonardo shook his head.
This substance seemed to Leonardo - like it was giving her an ability to run her mouth.
"Do you think I should tell him how I feel? No, I don't think I should....sometimes, I feel I should but, I...I just can't. Or maybe I don't know the right words."
"I wanna say more about him...there's a lot more I need to talk about but right now, I feel my brain shutting down...when I wake up, I'll say more."
"Leo, do whatever you want but don't you dare kiss me. I want him..I want him to kiss me first. I wonder how his lips will taste. Maybe remind me of a childhood sweet strawberry tart, an apple pie or a chocolate bar." Leonardo smirked a little. Her speech was incoherent.
"I think I'm just scared. I'm scared for our friendship. What if he doesn't like me back? What if...what if...what if..." Her eyes closed, her mouth still moving.
Her struggle to speak wasn't enough. She was moving her feet and hands.
Seconds later, she stopped.
Looking lifeless.
Before he could take his next step, his phone rang loudly.
He scoffed at the caller ID.
"Mom, what do you..."
"I'm at the door! What happened to the maids? I've been ringing the doorbell for long enough." He hung up and threw his phone aside.
Rubbing his palms, he went out of the room and locked the door from the outside.
When he opened for his mom, she was exhausted.
"Oh, Leo. It was tiring for all of us. But, it was worth it."
"Where are the maids?"
"I don't know. The house was empty when I came in."
~~~~~~
"She's not picking." Michelle and Miguel were tensed. Michelle tried calling Gabriela but it rang without answer.
They were in the car and Michelle yelled at the driver.
"Faster!! Faster!!" She panicked.
"Calm down, Michelle. I'm not sure Gabriela is fine at that mansion but...you shouldn't.."
"Something tells me she's in danger. Gabriela is with her phone always. Why isn't she picking now? Do you have an idea who that Leonardo guy is? Do you know what he must have planned?"
"I had a bad feeling about Gabriela going to his house for dinner. But I couldn't stop her."
"That's the mansion." Michelle pointed and the car stopped.
They weren't alone.
Leo's mom had entered her room and he was heading to his too, a smirk on his face.
Michelle had took on this crazy idea with the guard to take the outdoor lift up to the first floor where Leonardo's room was.
The guard told Michelle and Miguel that there was no dinner planned and Leonardo's mom Mrs. Fischer had already had dinner with her friends and never even invited Gabriela to her house.
Leo - just had other plans.
He helped them get to the first floor and they broke open a door which took them straight to Leo's closet.
A long maze of clothes and accessories.
Michelle and Miguel ran until they found themselves in Leonardo's room.
The entry was bizarre.
"What are you doing here?!" Leonardo roared, his eyes flashing with anger. Before he could take action, Miguel's bodyguards who had come from the elevator boldly walked towards him and seized him.
"How dare you? How did you get here?"
"If you dare act funny, we'll throw you down this floor!" They threatened with harsh voices and Leonardo felt guilty and embarrassed as they took the outdoor lift.
He tried hard to free himself from their grip but they kept threatening to kill him.
Michelle went out, speed dialed a police officer who was Mr. Jackson's elder brother and in minutes, Leonardo was arrested right under his mother's nose.
"Gabriela!" He tried to lift her, but she was heavier than usual.
Michelle returned to the room.
"He was taken away by the police just now. He could get bailed tomorrow but for tonight, he gets punished for messing with Gabriela."
"She moved!" They exclaimed in unison when her feet responded to his touch.
He lifted her in bridal style.
"Miguel..." She called with a faint smile.
"I knew you'd come to save me." Her speech was still unclear.
"Its okay. I'm here now, and you're safe." Her eyes closed again, this time, with a content expression.
"Aw." Michelle laughed cheekily.
"Michelle, please. Her handbag." Michelle took Gabriela's handbag and they left the room.
~~~~~~~
Michelle and Miguel were at the hospital's waiting room.
"Stop pacing around like you're a man anticipating your wife's safe delivery," Michelle chuckled.
He sat.
"She'll be okay."
"I hope so. I wonder what that son of a bitch made her drink. I won't spare him. Just pray we never meet - again. He'll regret it." His fist was clenched.
Michelle's smile didn't waver.
"She likes you as much as you do."
"What?"
"She likes you."