"Hey, Ally!" Alonah’s brother, Cris, asked as he continued to try and call her attention while she was playing the guitar.
Being used to his brother acting like that, she knew that the most effective way to deal with him is to simply just ignore him. Of course, that’s not entirely reliable since the guy is as unpredictable as they come. It’s even sometimes just purely by luck that Alonah would manage to successfully send his brother away.
Placing her bet on the solution of ignoring him, she rolled her eyes and decided to just continue on playing the instrument she’s currently drawn into.
The sight probably just irritated her brother further because she could literally feel a hole burning through her head because of how intense her brother is glaring at her. Still, she decided not to mind and acted like she observed nothing.
"Ally!" This time, he said it vociferously, actually succeeding in getting her attention—mostly because of how crazy scary he sounded and there is no way she’s dealing with an extremely pissed off Cris.
She sighed and turned to face him. "Yes?" She asked lazily.
He patted the seat next to him and grinned. "Let's talk." He said and she gave him a slightly confused smile, but obliged nonetheless.
Hearing her brother say that, she honestly didn’t know what to expect. Sure, they talk a lot and they’re awfully close, but he never starts their deep conversations with that. He gets down right to the point since he hates bearing around the bush; he finds it tedious and a waste of time—which Alonah agrees with.
She put her guitar down and sat beside him as instructed. He turned to face her and said, "Tell me everything."
She regarded him with a confused look, having no idea what he could possibly mean. As far as she knows, nothing particularly important took place. Did something happen that she should know?
"What do you mean tell you everything?" She asked and he sighed in a way that Alonah could only describe as disappointment.
"You know, like who's your crush and all that other things." He explained.
Those kinds of conversations are what they usually talked about when she was younger. Every time she heard him say that, she would always giddily tell him anything and everything that’s going on in her life. Looking back, she never really knew how precious those conversations were. She only realized at that moment that she merely took those times for granted.
"Oh." She replied simply. "You want to know everything?" She added and he nodded his head. "Okay, so where to start?"
Alonah noticed that his eyes considerably lit up right after she said those words and she really couldn’t help but smile because of how adorable her brother looked. After all, it’s not everyday that he sees that expression.
"I know!" He exclaimed and she raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what he could have possibly thought of to make him that enthusiastic.
"What?" She asked him.
"Who's your crush?"
She only stared at him before bursting into a loud laughter. She then started to tell him everything and anything she could think of just there’s something she could tell him—and yes, most of it is made up. It honestly amazes her how she could be this creative during moments like these but never at school.
"Yes, I love him!" She exclaimed, and he was starting to become so red because of how hard he was trying to suppress a laugh to come out.
For Alonah, she genuinely thinks that her brother is really a lot of fun to talk to, especially when he's in an awfully good mood. One thing she did learn the hard way though is that you really shouldn’t bother him when he's doing something because he will choke the s**t out of you and think of many ways for you to die.
Needless to say, get your grave ready if you ever plan on disturbing him.
She should know; she’s experienced that an awful lot.
"Really?" He replied with the same enthusiasm he showed her earlier.
"Yes! Oh my god, I like him so much! I really, really like him!" She exclaimed, and this time, he really laughed. He suddenly stood up and patted her on the head.
"Thank you for the time, baby sis. I really enjoyed it." He told her in an amused manner and she instantly scowled at him for messing up her hair.
If there’s another thing Alonah hates other than waking up early, it’s when someone messes up her hair especially when she just finished making sure that her hair looks neat and in place.
"Don't mess with the hair!" She reprimanded and he only laughed at her, leaving her alone in the silent and boring living room.
She didn’t really know what her brother’s objective was when he suddenly asked her about what he just asked her but she still enjoyed it nonetheless. If she really knew him like she thought she did, then what he did earlier was mostly to just get rid of the boredom he felt.
Well, that makes two of them.
The only thing she could think about now was: Don't leave me!
Okay, so she’s aware that she’s being completely dramatic but who says people can't be dramatic from time to time, right? After all, there are times when acting dramatic is the best way to go.
She sighed because of the extreme boredom she was feeling and she has absolutely no idea of how to get rid of it. It also doesn’t help that everything she sees is mostly just plain white and nothing else.
Lying upside down on the couch, she scrolled through her contacts to look for someone she could possibly call and ask to hang out with.
This boredom is getting way out of hand (in Alonah’s opinion) and she needs to get this boredom out of her system as soon as possible. She stopped when she got to Hayes's name and she silently pondered if she should call her not. Recalling their conversation earlier that morning, she decided it would probably be best not to. She did say she was doing something, so she's definitely out of the list.
Her thoughts immediately went to Lu. It might as well be her since she's the only person she could ever contact anyway. And besides, she's down with anything as long as what they’re going to do is something fun and not boring—which is definitely what she needed right now.
She immediately hit the call button and pressed the phone against her ear. She waited, and waited, and waited. It struck her as weird when she didn’t answer right away because that’s what she usually does so she wondered what she might possibly be doing right now.
The thought of Lu abducting someone crossed her mind and Alonah instantly let out a laugh because she could really imagine her best friend doing that. She wouldn’t really put it past her to do that too.
When Lu finally picked up on the fifth ring, a deep sigh escaped her lips as she answered, "What now, Ally?”
Alonah pouted. "Can't I just call you because I want to?"
Lu’s scoff was immediate. "We all know that's not the reason why you called. So come on, Al. Just tell me the real reason why you called. My schedule is hectic right now." She said and confusion instantly filled Alonah’s mind when she heard those words.
"You? Hectic schedule? Well that's surely a first." She replied, suppressing a sly smile to appear on her lips.
She growled and said, "Ally, just tell me the f*****g reason why you called."
It was at that moment that she could really tell how serious Lu is when she said she’s busy. It’s honestly the first time she’s heard Lu say that after such a long time that it took her by complete surprise.
"What's up your bum? Anyway, would you like to hang out? I'm bored as hell in this freaking house." Alonah said and she heard Lu sigh on the other line, completely exhausted.
"Ally, I just told you I'm busy, right? I'm sorry, but I'm just not available right now. Maybe some other time? I promise I'll make it up to you though." She replied.
Alonah sighed. She does understand her reasoning and she wouldn’t even think bad about any of her friends rejecting her offer because it’s not really necessary for them to accept every time anyway. It’s just that she’s heard those words a million times. They always say they would make it up to her, but it never comes true. However, she does have faith that her best friend is going to be different. Lu has always been a woman of her words, so no problem there, really.
"Well, okay." She replied grimly, that Lu even released a small giggle.
"Anway, I really have to go. Bye."
And with those words said, she hung up on her, leaving Alonah bored out of her mind again.
It made Alonah wonder again what she should do now that her best friend is obviously busy doing something else. Honestly, does she really not have that many friends?
She scrolled through her contacts again and found a bunch of names that she could call. She contemplated calling Kobe when she came across his name. She instantly decided against it though because he’s probably busy doing something too.
Coming across Ashton, she didn’t even think about whether she should call him or not. She immediately shut the idea down because she’s absolutely sure that he would think she has a crush on him or something.
Yes, her friend is insanely petty like that.
She wondered once more if she should call Dominic once she got to his name but eventually decided against due to the possibility of him being with some girl right now. She definitely didn’t want to disturb that because he would most probably skin her alive if she does.
That just leaves Alonah with one choice.
She sighed and pressed the call button. She doesn’t really have that much of a choice now, does she? He is the only one left too so it would only be reasonable to try. After all, she has no idea what he’s doing right now—not even a single guess.
He finally picked up after the third ring.
"Ally?" He answered, his voice coming out raspy, like he has just woken up.
She removed the phone against her ear and looked at the time. When she saw that it was already fifteen minutes past one in the afternoon, she couldn’t help the grimace that plastered on her lips. After all, it’s already late anyway.
Pressing her phone against her once again, she asked in an astonished manner, "You just woke up?"
He gave her a small chuckle. "Yeah. I was pretty drained from last night." He replied and she pursed my lips in a thin line.
She honestly didn't quite get what he said, but when she was finally able to connect the dots to what he just said, the grimace on her face deepened.
"Oh my god! No! Reese, don't tell me how your night went! Just, ugh! Eww, why did you have to say that? I don't need to know you've done the deed with some girl!" She protested, her feeling of regret and disgust creeping up on her further when he suddenly started laughing.
"Ally, you really are one of a kind." He complimented, leaving her like a blushing maniac. "I didn't do the deed with some girl. My family and I went for a trip, and we just arrived last night, that's why I was tired like hell." He finished
All she could reply to that was a very short and lame, “Oh.”
She should really stop her bad habit of assuming things before asking.
"What made you think that anyway?" He asked and she was suddenly lost for words.
"I, uh, uh, w-well…“ She stuttered and he started laughing again.
"Don't bother, it would probably be some lame excuse anyway."
She immediately felt offended when she heard him say that. She honestly begs to differ because she knows for sure that her excuses are not lame—well, as not lame as it could be anyway. She really hates how the guy knows how to jibe.
"My excuses are not lame, for your information." She retorted and he laughed—again.
What kind of drug did he acquire that he keeps laughing at everything she said?
"Whatever, Alonah." He replied and she scoffed.
"Whatever to you too." She answered.
At that exact moment, the doorbell suddenly rang. And it looks like Reese also heard it because he suddenly chuckled.
"Well, there's someone at the door. Go and get it." He commanded and she rolled my eyes.
"I know what to do, Captain Demanding." She said and started to stand up, when he suddenly said something that scared her shitless and frozen in her place.
"But be careful, Ally. It might be a r****t or a murderer who would sell your insides when they succeeded in killing you. Other than that, have a great day Al!"
With those words said, he hung up, leaving her really baffled by his words.
She cursed him for scaring her like that. That wasn’t really necessary, was it? He could have just told her to go and get the door like a normal human being and leave it at that. Why did he even have to add those scary parts?
Alonah stared at her phone for the longest time, the feeling of dread consuming her body. She put her phone back in her pocket and grabbed the first thing she saw, which—sadly—was her guitar. She stared at it for a while and hugged it tightly. "I'm sorry you had to die this way, guitar. At least you saved my life." I remarked while staring at it and kissed it as if it were a human.
Maybe she really is going crazy.
Holding the guitar tightly in her hands, she cautiously walked towards the door when the doorbell rang again, making her jump slightly in her place.
She immediately took that time to pray that if she’s going to die now, at least give the ones she loves the signs that she’ll miss them and that she really loves them with all her heart.
The bell rang again, but this time, it was matched with a loud knock.
Her thoughts then went back to her stupid friend and cursed him again. If it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t be acting like this at all. Now, she’s really scared shitless because of what he just said. She swore to herself that if she was going to die today, the first person she will ever haunt is Reese.
She heard sounds coming from the door again. There were no more doorbells this time, but it was loud knocks that came repeatedly.
Alonah finally had the courage to open the door and closed her eyes as she hit the person outside with her guitar repeatedly.
"Oh my gosh, go away! You r****t! Murderer! Oh my gosh, leave me alone!" She shouted as she hit that person repeatedly, receiving a bunch of grunt in return.
Then suddenly, she felt herself being pulled backward. She finally had the courage to open her eyes, only to see that the ones outside the door were her brother's friends and girlfriend and the one she hit with the guitar is her brother's best friend.
Oops.
"Ally, what the hell?" Daniel, her brother's best friend, asked as she gave him a sheepish grin.
"And why were you saying profanities like, murderer and r****t?" One of his friends asked as she gave them even a more sheepish grin.
"It was my friend's fault! He scared me!" She defended and they laughed as they walked inside.
She couldn’t help but think that they probably see her as a stupid, weird girl now. Seriously, her image is no doubt now tainted because of that stupid Reese.
Staring at the floor, she looked at her precious guitar, which is currently now broken. She silently lamented her fallen guitar before picking it up and putting it on the side
She immediately whipped her phone out and called the person responsible for all of this mess, ready to bite his ear off.
"And how can I serve you this fine afternoon, Miss Alonah?" He answered and she growled.
"You owe me a guitar." She said, not beating around the bush.
He seemed shocked by her sudden request. "What, why?"
She growled again. "Because you f*****g scared me, and I had to sacrifice my sweet guitar!" She seethed and he laughed in that loud and extremely pleased laugh that he makes as a reply.
"You actually believed that?" He asked, but she only growled at him more. "Wow, I never thought you'd believe it." He remarked, the mirth in his words not wavering even for a bit.
"And it's your fault." She replied, her patience already wearing thin.
"It's not my fault you were born with the power of being so gullible." He retorted and she scoffed.
He thinks he's so witty, huh!
"Whatever, bye." She said and hung up on him.
That Reese really owes her this time. She just had to sacrifice her precious guitar because of him.
She walked towards the kitchen to get something to drink to cool her down, when she suddenly heard something that drained the color from her face.
Do you ever experience one of those days where you just want to crawl into bed and never get out until the next century? Yeah, well, Alonah’s experiencing that right now and it's not a good state. If you're thinking that it's great, well get yourself a reality check because the cold and oh so harsh reality will hit you hard like a block of cement being thrown in your face a thousand times.
And do you remember that great humiliation you felt when your mom gives you 'the talk' in front of your friends and asks for their opinion? Or when you fell in front of your crush and then suddenly, he tells you that your nose is bleeding? Yeah, embarrassing, right?
Well, her situation right now is neither of the two. Her situation, well, let's just say, it's humiliating beyond her imagination. My brother and his friends sat in the kitchen as he showed them a video of all the embarrassing things she’s done all her life.
Honestly, some brother he is.
"I can't believe you really recorded that." Mae, her brother's girlfriend, remarked, fighting off a smile to show.
She stood in front of her brother's grinning face. "Yes, dear sister?" He asked, her face still red from embarrassment.
"Why did you let them see that?" She asked, but he only laughed.
She rolled her eyes at him and turned around to walk out of the kitchen, ditching the drink she was going to get.
"If you need me, I'm over at Lu's." She hollered, not waiting for her brother’s reply, and immediately went out the door to leave her embarrassment inside the house.
Okay, so Alonah knows Lu told her she's busy, but she couldn’t have been that busy.
Right?
She walked all the way to her house and rang the doorbell when I arrived there, silently praying that Lu wouldn’t kill her for disturbing her like that. It was her mother that answered the door.
"Ally! Come inside, dear. Lu is up in her room." She said and Alonah nodded, smiled, then made her way upstairs.
When she arrived, she barged in right away, and saw Lu talking with some unfamiliar guy.
"Uh, Lu? I think you have a visitor." The guy she was talking with said, and Lu turned to look at me.
Alonah instantly noticed the Irish accent the guy had and couldn’t help but find it such a blessing to the ears. Living in America, you don’t exactly hear that much.
"Hey!" She greeted and Lu smiled at her.
Alonah took that as a good sign and relaxed once she saw that her best friend was currently no threat to her life. She’s just glad that Lu’s in a great mood right now because if she wasn’t, she would have been long gone.
"I'm going to let you talk to someone." Lu said and turned the laptop to her.
Her face suddenly flushed. "Hi."
"Hello." He replied with a smile and she smiled back at him.
"This is my older stepbrother, by the way." Lu said as she looked at her and Alonah raised an eyebrow.
Since when did she get a step brother?
"Really?" She asked and Lu nodded her head.
"Well, that's an interesting surprise." She remarked and thought about exactly when Lu got a stepbrother.
Lu was smiling wickedly beside her, but she just decided to ignore it. "I'm Ally by the way." She said with a polite smile, when the boy's eyes widened and he suddenly hung up.
"What the hell?" She heard Lu whisper beside her.
"Okay, that was weird." Lu laughed along with her while nodding her head.
"I know." She agreed.
Lu then walked out of the room to go to the bathroom, leaving Alonah alone in her best friend’s girly room with her laptop facing me.
In that instant, she saw there was someone who wanted to Skype with Lu, but she isn't here right now. She contemplated whether she should pick it up or not but thought that it might be personal if she picks up the call.
After a while, she finally decided to just answer the call. What harm could it do, right?
When she answered, the image of the guy she was talking to earlier appeared. "Hey, you're that guy Lu was talking to earlier, right?" She asked and he nodded his head.
"I’m sorry about earlier. Let me introduce myself." He said.
"Okay, go on." She replied and he smiled sweetly at her, taking her aback by his sudden change of aura.
Smirking at her and looking at her like he knows something that she doesn’t, he said, "I'm Xavier. Xavier Sturgeon. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Alonah Charm."
Aksara