Chapter 3

3rd Person POV

Suzy closed her eyes tightly as tears slowly slipped down her cheeks.

She regretted not listening to Bryan, Bryan told her several times but in the end she still didn't listen.

If only she had listened…

Maybe things would have been different.

Maybe the person most important to her would still be alive.

Her fingers slowly tightened as the painful memory filled her chest.

Regret came too late.

Because now, everything had already been taken from her.

And the moment she thought about it…

Her mind drifted back to the time when everything was still normal.

Back to the days when she was still carefree.

Back to the days when the most important person was always beside her.

The next day at school was no different. She was with Bryan as usual.

“Suzy?” She jumped when someone touched her shoulder. It was Bryan.

“It’s you, Bryan. You scared me,” she said.

“I’ve been calling you for a while. Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.

“I’m fine. Just thinking about something. Do we have something to write already?” she asked, referring to the assignment they were supposed to do in pairs since their teacher had sent instructions through another student.

Bryan handed her his phone so she could copy the answers onto paper. “How’s it at home? Are your parents still rarely there?” he asked.

She wrote the header before answering. “I’m fine. As usual, Mom and Dad are rarely home.”

“I really don’t understand your parents. How can they leave their only daughter alone in the house? What if something happens to you?” he said, his thick brows furrowing in frustration.

She stopped writing and gently held his arm. “Don’t worry. It’s safe at our house.”

“I just thought about something. You have a male neighbor. What if he goes inside?” he said anxiously.

She suddenly thought of Alexander and remembered their coffee date. Her heart began racing again. “W-what are you talking about? He’s Lola Esme’s grandson. He’s kind.”

His brows met. “Still, he’s a man. You should be careful,” Bryan insisted seriously.

She just smiled and continued writing. “I will walk you home later,” he added.

Bryan wasn’t just a friend; he was someone she trusted deeply, so she agreed, knowing his concern was genuine.

Before going home, they passed by street food vendors so they stopped to eat before the young man took her home.

“Are you going for takeout?” Bryan asked.

“Yes, maybe Grandma Esme would like it,” she said even though Alexander was on her mind, Grandma Esme was just a second thought.

“You and the old woman are really close, right?” Bryan said.

“Yes, Alexander wasn’t around then so Grandma Esme became my friend.” She took a bite of kwek-kwek, that’s quail wrapped in orange flour. Usually the sauce is vinegar and sweet sauce.

It was one of her favorite things to buy when she passed by those stores like today, but she was with Bryan.

“So, do you still go to them often?

Grandma Esme is with her grandson already, so raise your hand to her already,” Bryan said.

She faced the young man and caught him taking a bite of a hotdog. “Bryan, it's hard to do what you want me to do, especially since I've grown closer to Grandma Esme and don't worry, they're kind.”

The young man sighed. "Do we know that the man likes you Suzy, he's older than us so remember that you shouldn't give him anything, he knows how to get girls like you, I know those kinds of men, they're handsome yes but they're womenizer."

She was hooked on what Bryan said to her, the young man was so worried about her. Was what he said was right?

They walked home since jeepneys didn’t pass through their assigned route. As they got closer, they saw Alexander leaning against the wooden gate, holding a cup of coffee.

“See that, Suzy? He’s waiting, is he always like that?” Bryan asked seriously.

He placed his arm protectively around her shoulders. She held his arm lightly. “Not really. And what if he’s just hanging out there?” she replied.

“I really think he likes you. Don’t give in so easily. You might just get hurt in the end,” Bryan warned.

Her cheeks flushed. The mere thought that Alexander might like her made her heart race. “W-why are you like that? He’s just being nice.”

“Tss. He’s already fooled you. Just be careful,” Bryan muttered.

“Stop it.”

She glanced at Alexander again. This time, he was already looking at them, standing straight with a serious expression.

They slowly approached him. “Good afternoon, Alexander. Is Lola Esme awake?” Suzy asked.

His expression softened when he looked at her. “Yes, she’s inside preparing some snacks.”

“Tss,” Bryan muttered under his breath.

She looked at Bryan’s direction, but he was already looking to the other side. “I brought some street food. Maybe she’d like it,” Suzy said, handing over the bag.

“Thank you, Suzy. You didn’t have to,” he said huskily.

Her heart skipped again. “You are welcome, enjoy. We should go now,” she said.

Alexander frowned and looked back and forth between the two of them. "Wait, just the two of you?” Alexander asked.

Bryan simply nodded, not even greeting him. “Okay. Thank you again.”Alexander said with a smile

Before she could speak, Alexander turned around already, leaving them.

“You see that, Suzy? He really likes you. Do not deny it anymore, the evidence is here already.” Bryan said.

“It's not like that Bryan, You're the one who said he's older than us, so how can he be like me? He probably prefers women his own age.

“You're not getting it Suzy, I think we'll just talk tomorrow.”

She just shook her head at her friend’s insistence. All that mattered to her was that no one would get hurt in the end—because no one should expect anything.