Love Unfolding

KAILEEN ANDY LEWIS

"Alex…"

My chest suddenly felt tight and my heart raced.

As far as I know, she"s Mei"s older sister and has been away for seven years; cutting all means of communication in the family ever since the day she was cast out.

Yeah, cast out — for coming out "gay" .

My eyes landed on Mei whose silent tears flowed like a river and she was covering her mouth as it gaped in shock and disbelief.

And it"s as if everyone in the shop noticed them, no one made a sound but only gazing with curious eyes — to and fro at the girls.

Then Mei"s knees buckled, her strength fail her, where Erika automatically caught her.

By then, I saw Alex conversed with her manager then not long, she signaled to Erika to follow her. My guess was, maybe they"re headed to the staff room.

Then the two followed without giving me a glance.

Did they just forgotten about me?

Now, should I be happy for the reunion or should be sad that I"d been neglected?

"Hahaha"

I"m not a child to be disheartened.

"goodness"

So I turned back to Sam, she gave me a questioning look but I only shrugged then we proceeded to my business.

I waited on the couch for about twenty minutes and still no sign of them coming out.

Customers were getting thick and I could tell the stress on both the manager and Sam: they need a hand.

So I approached the manager, well, I"m good with people so she granted my plea— to excuse Alex for the day.

I went back to the couch and not long, a tall girl entered the shop and she smiled blindingly at Sam then greeted the manager right after.

I followed her with my gaze, she disappear for a moment and was back already in her uniform just like with Sam"s.

Then I think I have activated my telescopic eyes to get her name from a distance, pinned on her chest: the name tag.

"Judy"

"Hmmmm"

Judy was the name.

I think my gay self was on hype that day. So many beautiful women around.

"Hehehe"

For about over an hour, the three emerged looking a mess.

"gosh"

Did they just brawled inside?

Looking at Alex, she"s no longer in her uniform. Then she smiled at me, I think Erika did tell her about me or not. I don"t know.

She bid goodbye to everyone in the shop and we hopped inside my car headed to my apartment.

[**********]

I locked myself in my room while the three of them talked in the living room.

But my evil self did the best of me, I intentionally partly opened the door to eavesdrop but no luck anyway.

I can"t hear them, only indistinctive chatter.

So I lay in my bed antic.i.p.ating what would come out of their conversation.

Then I heard cries, shout, then sob.

Then again, shout, whimpers, cries and sob.

The process just repeats itself really until I drifted to sleep.

But before that, I called for a pizza delivery and some cans of beers to accompany them in their drama.

"So thoughtful of me"

"Hahaha"

[************]

I woke up with Erika in the kitchen cooking.

"gosh"

Time for dinner already.

I glanced at Mei and Alex on the couch, they nodded and smiled as I pa.s.sed them.

And looking at their expression, I think everything went well.

Not long, we gathered around the dining table to eat.

"So… you and Erika?"

I stopped chewing. I was not able to answer her immediately.

My eyes searched for Erika"s: questioning if I should answer Alex honestly or just as the usual— "friends".

And it"s as if Alex understood, she just smiled and shook her head.

"When are you going to tell them Erika?" Alex asked.

She meant— Erika"s parents.

Mei and I just silently watched and listened while we ate.

"You know them." Erika answered, sadness lingered in her tone.

Alex threw me an apologetic smile and a pitying look.

I just smiled wryly in response.

As I was doing the dishes, Alex joined me.

"You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah."

A moment of silence pa.s.sed then she broke it.

"I know it"s hard on your part…"

"Just give her time."

I just timidly smiled.

"Time"

There it was again, time.

I"m giving her that from the beginning—

Aren"t I?

"Tsk"