❤️ THE SPACE IN BETWEEN❤️
?Age is just a number?
✍️ Written By Precious Pinky✍️
?Chapter Twenty-Three (23)?
#NOT EDITED.
Theme: Friends or not!
?Xander’s Pov?
“You have to go for your exams. Don’t worry about Malby, I will look for her.” Mona rea-ssured me.
“Are you sure?” I asked not sure if that was a good idea. Malby needs me and the least I could do as a great boyfriend is to be there for her.
Right?
“Yeah. I shouldn’t have even bother you with it in the first place. Malby is a big girl and can take care of herself and besides she was the one who punched Tricky on the face so we should be worried about Tricky and not her.” She smiled. “Not like I’m even worried about that bi-tch .” She added.
I smiled and nod my head. “Thanks.”
“Hmm. Now go kick some a-ss!” She fist bump the air. I gave her a weird look, she got the hint and started laughing. “I mean, kick the exam questions a-sses.” She winked.
“Alright. Text me when you find her, okay?”
“Sure. And good luck.” With that, she left.
I just stood there, staring at Mona’s retreating back until she disappeared throu-gha corner.
I shouldn’t be worried, right?
Nothing is wrong with Malby. Maybe she’s still having a word with Tricky. But why will Malby punch Tricky?
I know Tricky have been so mean towards Malby and Malby always seem to put her in her place but she has never for once thought of picking a fight with Tricky.
Okay, maybe she did thought about it but she has never put it into action.
what have Tricky done again? And how serious is it this time around that made Malby punch her?
“Come on, man. Let’s go to cla-ss.” Sam said, urging me to come forward, Zayn was by his side.
I hesitate a little before shrugging and walking towards them.
“Hope you both are prepared for this exam this time around because I won’t answer anyone call.” I said to them as we headed for cla-ss.
“Thanks man for the pep talk.” Zayn said, sarcastically.
“And don’t you worry we are so prepared for this exam!” Sam said.
Zayn and I turned to look at him, surprise.
I wasn’t bragging but I was the smartest out of the three of us. After me is Zayn and I know you guys will be expecting me to mention Sam name as the third in line but trust me, that guy su-ck when it comes to school activity.
He seem to remind me of my princess.
“When did you start getting prepared for exams, Sam?” Zayn questioned.
Sam rolled his eyes, stuffing his hands into his pocket. “I was just kidding, okay? And stop giving me that look.”
Zayn and I burst out laughing while Sam just glared at us.
??????????
?Tricky’s Pov?
“That bi-tch . How could she do something like this to you? I think we should report her to the school authority.” Ricky said as she stared at my plastered nose.
We were at the school sickbay. Ricky and Nicky haven’t left my side since I got here.
I was seated on the bed, I was hugging my knees against my ch-est as I stared at the open window. The window led out to the school football field.
It’s not like I enjoy watching the school football field or neither is it the most beautiful view of the school but something or rather someone caught my attention.
I could see Manuel sitting down on one of breachers. He was just staring at nothing in particular.
It’s quite obvious that he was in de-ep thought.
*He likes you and that’s why he chose to work with me just to destroy your relationship with Xander.*
I shut my eyes close and took in a de-ep breath as I felt my eyes sting.
I was at the verge of crying.
I shouldn’t have said that. Hell, I shouldn’t have tell her anything about Manuel working with me.
I’d hurt Manuel by going to Ruby but it seems like I was going to hurt him again.
And it’s all because of my selfishness.
“Tricky?” Nicky called out softly as she sat down beside me. I didn’t say anything. “You are crying.”
Was I?
I raised my hand to my face and ran my fingers over my cheek, indeed I was crying.
Ricky sat down at my other side. I was practically trapped in between them but I didn’t complain because it seems like I really need them now.
“Don’t you guys hate me?” I ask, softly.
“Hate you? And why should we hate you?” Nicky asked.
“I’m mean. A sly bi-tch who hurt other people to get what she wants. I’m…”
“You are an amazing person, Tricky.” Ricky said, cutting me off. “You are one of the most self centered person I’d ever since. You are mean, jealous of every person,” I scrunched up my face in confusion as I stare at her. Was that suppose to make me feel any better. She suddenly started laughing, wrapping her arms around my shoulder and resting her head against my shoulder. “You might treat Malby that way but you don’t treat us that way… which shows that you can be someone different if you want to be. And that what makes you amazing.” She winked.
I couldn’t stop the tears that kept running down my face as I listened to my two best friends talk.
“I love you and I’m willing to stay by your side. No matter what.” Nicky added, placing her head on the other side of my shoulder as well.
They held my hand and we stare out of the window.
My gaze were mainly on the dark haired guy, seated at the front row breachers.
“If you have feelings for him then I think you should let him know.” Nicky suddenly spoke out of the blue.
They noticed.
“I don’t deserve him.”
“He doesn’t deserve you. You are too bad for him.”
“Thanks bi-tch .” We all started laughing.
I knew she said that playfully and doesn’t mean it but she was right.
I was bad for him.
Being with him will only cause him pain just like how he is right now.
But she was wrong somewhere…I was the one who doesn’t deserve him and not the other way round.
I was still watching him when my eyes caught someone from behind Manuel.
It was Malby.
“And what’s that bi-tch doing there again?” Nicky and Ricky growled in anger, shooting daggers at her.
This is one reason why I love my friends. They love me so much and my enemy was their enemy and my friend was their friend.
They love me that much.
But I don’t think Malby deserve their hate.
Besides she did nothing wrong to me to begin with. I’ve been the problem from the very beginning.
And that’s why I don’t hate her for punching my pretty nose.
“she’s there to confront him.” I said in a very low voice. And i think my friends didn’t hear me because they didn’t say anything afterwards.
“Let’s go.” I stood up to my feet. They both gave me a sad look before getting up to their feet as well and we all walked out of the room.
I’m a little bit save from getting heartbroken. Again.
Damn, I wasn’t even dating Manuel yet and I’m already getting heartbreak.
??????????
?Malby’s Pov?
“Thanks for taking me home last night.” I said in a soft voice.
Manuel looks over to me and smiled. “You snore, you know that right?”
“I snore?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yup.” He answered, popping the ‘p.’
“No. i do not snore, Mr.” I said, eyeing from head to toe.
Manuel started laughing. “I was only joking.”
“Well, that was a very annoying joke.” I adjusted my self and my dignity.
“You sleep beautifully.” He said, looking de-eply into my eyes.
*Don’t even try to pretend not to know about Manuel feelings for you!*
Tricky words echoed in my head. I quickly look away, breaking the eye contact as I cleared my throat.
Manuel did the same.
“My mother left this morning.” He said, breaking the silent that had fallen between us earlier. I remained silent, not looking over at him. “She left me a letter telling me how sorry she was about everything she did. She said it’s best she leaves and maybe that’s the only way I could be happy.” He sniffed.
Was he crying?
I was curious to know but I didn’t still look over at him.
“I’m going to miss her. But I think it’s best she leaves actually.” He added. “And I also intend to leave my father…I mean, Mr Smith’s house. He isn’t my father after all.”
“And what about your real father?” I finally asked, looking over at him.
He shrugged as a tear rolled down his face. “I wasn’t fortunate to see him in person.” He whispered.
Oh my God. His father is dead. A man he didn’t even get to meet in person.
I felt so sorry for him.
“I’m sorry about that.” I said, slowly.
He smiled. “It wasn’t your fault. And besides I don’t feel anything about his death… it’s not like I had any connection or memory with him or something. I don’t even know what he looks like in person.” He huffed.
I smiled.
He’s just trying to act tough because de-ep down I see a young child who wants his father’s love so badly.
He might not have met his father in person before but he wish he did.
It’s written in his eyes.
*Manuel likes you even before you started dating Xander and that’s one reason why he decided to work with me to destroy your relationship with Xander!*
That word echoed in my head and another feelings grew inside me; Anger.
I narrowed my eyes at him, shooting daggers at him.
“Are… you okay?” He asked.
“I confronted her.” I said in a whisper.
“You confronted who?” He questioned.
I shrugged. “Tricky. And she told me everything.”
Manuel didn’t say anything as he looked down at his feet. He was fiddling with his fingers as he refused to make eye contact with me.
Why was he acting this way?
Could it be….No way. Nah, Manuel wouldn’t work with Tricky to hurt me. He wouldn’t want to destroy my relationship with Xander when he knows fully well that I’m in love with him (Xander).
Right?
“I’m sorry.” He breaths out.
“What are you sorry for, Manuel? Tricky should be the one apologizing not you.” I said. I still don’t want to believe the fact that Manuel was Tricky ally against my happiness.
“No. I should be apologizing. In fact I’m the bigger problem here,” He looks up at me, he was putting on a sad and sorry expression on his face. My heart were beating very fast. I was afraid to hear the truth from him. I was afraid of what he was going to say. And mostly afraid of my reaction and decision. I’m just having this feelings of fear in me. “I…It was Tricky and i who..”
I raised my hand up to his face, indicating him to stop talking, he took the hint and shut up.
I clenched my raised hand into a fist and dropped it down to my side as i slowly got up to my feet.
Tricky was right. Manuel was in it with her.
All because of his selfishness, he chose to work with my enemy!
After all I did to him this was how he was going to repay me?
He caused me pain.
He made me get into a fight with my mother.
He placed me in a position where i have to choose between my mother and the love of my life.
And yet, I still don’t want to lose him as a fu-cking friend!
And hell, that’s what hurt the most.
The tears were at the verge of running down but I choose not to cry. I don’t have to cry especially not in front of him.
I got up to my feet and dusted an imaginary dirt from my skirt. I turned from him and was about to walk out but he caught my wrist, stopping me from taking a step from him.
“She told you, didn’t she?” He said in a whisper.
“Were you deaf when I said she told me everything?” I questioned, yanking my wrist from his grip, forcefully and turning to face him. “How could you?”
“I’m sorry_”
“STOP APOLOGIZING!” I yelled. We were still in the school’s property and this was definitely against the school law but I cared less. It’s not like I always care about anything that has to do with rule or law. “You were suppose to be my friend! Friends stick together. Friends protects each other and any friend who goes against a friend shouldn’t be considered as a friend but as an…”
“… Enemy.” He completed my statement. I was shooting daggers at him. If looks could kill, Manuel would be six feet under the ground. He let out a sigh as he shut his eyes close. After a while, he opened his eyes. Shit, I could see his hurt, the pain, the regret, and remorse. He was truly sorry for what he did. But can I still trust him? “I deserve every mean word, Malby. I hurt you and apologizing won’t do anything to ease the pain I’ve caused you, Xander and your mom. And I’m truly sorry. I’m nit asking you to still be my friend or to forgive me but I’m rather asking you to not hate your mother.”
I shook my head, taking a step back. “Hate my mother? No. i don’t hate her. I can never hate her.” I knew the word that was about to leave my li-p would hurt him so much because it’s already hurting me. “I hate you instead. In fact I hate you more than I hate Tricky!” And that was the truth. I hate Manuel for what he did.
It’s okay for Tricky to want to hurt me. But it’s not okay for Manuel to do the same.
He was my friend but Tricky wasn’t.
I like him but I hate Tricky.
I expected this from her but I don’t expect him from him.
And that’s the reason I hate him than I hate Tricky right now.
Or maybe I don’t hate him. I was rather disappointed at him.
Manuel tightened his balled fist as a single tear rolled down to his face.
I was hurting him but I was hurt first by him.
Good thing we were on the same page now.
“Stay away from me, Manuel.” With that, I turned from him and walked out.
I left the field without even glancing back. Not even once.
And that was for the best. I don’t want to go back to my word and turning back to look at him would means going back to my word.
I will miss Manuel but the good news here is, we’ve done the list together and there’s no promise binding us together.
I’ve fulfilled my promise to him and I wish him happiness for the rest of his life but the bad news is, I was his only friend and would he be okay without me?
God, I’m still getting worried about him.
*Mom left.*
His words echoed in my head.
The tears have been holding, slowly flow down to my cheek.
His mom left and now I’ve left him as well.
I was no different from those people who left him.
We were all the same.
But would Manuel hate me now?
Was this decision the right one?
Surely, even though Tricky didn’t tell mom about Xander and I, one way or the other, mom would still find out.
We would still tell her one day but it still didn’t change anything with what Manuel did.
He betrayed me.
He betrayed my trust for him.
No wonder Xander never liked him.
*Do you trust Manuel?* Xander question echoed in my head and I suddenly stopped right in my track as i stared into space.
Could Xander have found out something about Manuel that I didn’t know?
And if he did, why didn’t he tell me?
“There you are.” I turned around to find Mona and Greta, walking towards me with a smile on their faces.
After I stormed out of the restaurant when Mona told me her plans of getting transferred after this term, we haven’t spoken to each other.
Well, after day was when my problems began.
I watched them and finally they got to where I was standing. Before I knew it, they pulled me into a threesome hug.
And that was all I need to burst into tears.
I started crying in their arms. Their arms tightened around me as they try to console me.
I was thankful to them for their friendship and love towards me.
I was thankful for meeting this two people with a golden hearts and having them as friends.
??????????
“You look like shit.” Greta said to me and we all started laughing. She suddenly stop laughing and scrunched up her face. “That’s weird.” She points out.
“What’s weird?” I questioned.
“You. I mean, you didn’t attack me back after I said that.”
I shrugged. “I’m left speechless, I guess.”
“Oh my God, where’s my Malby. What have you done to my Malby?” Greta held my face in between her palms. This girl is always dramatic.
I swatted her hand from my face. “Get your filthy hands off my face.”
She laughs. “Now that’s the Malby I know.”
“You are so dramatic.”
“Hey, there’s a reason why I want to study theatre art.” She huffed.
“It suit you well, girl.” I gave her a thumbs up. She dramatically bowed her head and we all started laughing.
This is why I love my two best friends. Yeah, i know I said Greta wasn’t really my best friend but I take that back because right now, I can confidently call her my best friend.
And I love them both.
Speaking about two…, why am I only hearing one person’s voice?
I glance over at Mona and she was also staring at me with a smile on her face.
“You are smiling.” I said.
“I know. She replied.
“Why?” I questioned.
she shrugged. “Don’t know.”
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
We burst out laughing. Again. One minute i was crying and the next minute i was laughing like someone who was given a laughing gas to inhale.
“I’m sorry.” I apologized as soon as we stopped laughing.
She knew exactly what I was apologizing for.
She shook her head, extending her arms towards me and engulfed me into a warm hug.
I shut my eyes close, inhaling her familiar wonderful scent.
“you had every right to be mad at me for wanting to leave. So no, I don’t blame you or hate you. I’m rather happy for the fact that you love me so much to want to lose me.” She smiled.
“I love you.” I mumbled.
“And I love you too.”
“And I love you three!” Greta bu-tt in, coming to hug me as well. I was practically trapped in between the both of them. And no, I wasn’t complaining because I really needed this.
“I love you three? Is there any word like that?” Mona questions.
Greta rolled her eyes. “You might be the smartest of us all but that doesn’t mean you have to rub it off on our faces.”
If Mona wants to leave them I’m fine by it.
She wants to find her happiness and as a good friend, i have to support her decision.
Maybe if Manuel was a little bit like Mona, then everything that happened now wouldn’t have happen.
“Right Malby?” Greta asked me.
“Speak for yourself, girl.” I responded, jokingly.
“Ouch! That burns.” Mona started laughing.
“Really, Malby? You just betrayed me. Ouch.”
We started laughing again. It was more louder this time around.
Other students were in clas-sand here we were laughing our as-sout.
“Shouldn’t you three be in cla-ss?” A voice asked from behind.
Shoot.
“Run.” Greta whispered. We all got up to our feet and sprinted away while the teacher ran after us.
But hey, three heads are better than one, right?
??????????
?Manuel’s Pov?
~Hours Later After School~
I sat down and stare up to the sky. My hands were hugging my knees to my ch-est.
I love coming to the cliff whenever I was sad, angry or needed a moment to myself.
And right now, I was feeling something different.
I was empty from the inside.
A huge rock have been rolled out.
And now I’m left empty.
*I hate you.* Her words kept echoing in my dumb head.
She hates me.
I can’t blame her for hating me.
Like i mean, who wouldn’t hate me for what i did? Because in all honesty, I hated myself as well.
A water dropped down to my head. I slowly look up to the sky and noticed that the water was coming from you there.
A normal person would have gotten out of here to find shelter but I didn’t.
It’s not like I’m even normal.
Another drop came down to my head and it started dropping more than it was earlier.
My mind suddenly drifted to the day when Malby and i were dancing in the rain.
That was the best moment of my life.
*Wow, that was amazing.* She had said as we stopped dancing in the rain and started shivering.
I took out my phone and clic-ked on the gallery app.
I started staring at the pictures Malby and i took during our times at the amusement park.
*It’s going to be Manuel’s day and I’m going to be at your service. Bills on me.*
She has such an angelic voice.
She’s just so perfect.
*Mind if you share your meal with me?*
*Don’t worry, friends share meals together.*
*I promise to do those things with you that you haven’t done before. Let’s be friends.*
Her can’t seem to forget her smile.
Her perfectly white teeth.
Her wonderfully made shape.
I can’t seem to get her off my mind.
*I will show you a reason to live, Manuel.*
And she truly did.
But there is a problem… *Stay away from me.*
She was my reason to live and now she’s gone. So what else is there for me to live for?
My mom is gone.
My dad is dead.
And the one man that I grew up with doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.
And the one girl that i so much love and want asked me to stay away from her.
I was alone.
I’m left alone with my feelings and emotions.
The rain was damn heavy but I didn’t care to leave.
I opened my bag and took out a bottle of pills.
I uncapped the bottle and dropped six pills on my open palm and shoved it into my mouth.
I chew on it before swallowing it without water.
I needed a drink.
A strong one, to be precise.
I turned to look at my side and I saw Malby staring at me with a sad look on her face.
Her hair was we-t. Her body were all we-t. She was also crying.
“Malby?”
She didn’t say anything. She just kept staring at me.
“I’m sorry.”
Silence.
“Those pills were nothing. I just took it to ease myself. I might have lost you but I know de-ep down you wouldn’t want me to hurt or better yet kill myself. And i promise never to self harm myself no matter what.” I said in better sobs.
She looks down at my hand that held the bottle then suddenly her gaze moved up to my face.
She shook her head once again.
*Why?* She finally questioned.
“I’m sorry.”
*You hurt me and now you want to hurt yourself?*
I’ve betrayed her again.
“I’m sorry.”
She stretched out her hand to collect the bottle of pills from me and just when I placed the bottle on her hand, it pa-ssed throu-ghher palm and fell to the ground.
What just happened?
I look up at Malby but she wasn’t there. It’s like she disappeared.
Nah, she was never there to begin with. My head was placing trick with me.
I slowly lay down on the cold we-t ground and started crying.
The rain did nothing to ease my pain. At all.
I was broken.
Broken beyond repair.
??????????
?Malby’s Pov?
“Was I too mean?” I asked Xander as we both stare out of the window, watching as the rain watered the ground.
We were in Xander’s car. I don’t want to go home for some reason you all know and Xander is willing to stay with me.
I told him everything that has been happening and is still happening.
I told him about Manuel plotting with Tricky against my happiness and my words to him.
I literally told him about everything leaving no part out.
Trust is important in a relationship and keeping secrets from on another won’t build up the trust.
My head were over his shoulder. Xander kept twirling my hair around his finger.
“Can I be honest?”
“Well, you better be.”
He chuckles at my reply while my li-ps stretched into a smile. I love it when he chuckles.
“You went overboard. Yeah, what he did was wrong. Very wrong but saying those mean words to him is wrong. And besides, he only did what he did because of his feelings for you. And when you confronted him, he was sorry. He felt remorseful for what he did. And that’s what I give him credit for.” He paused. “Manuel looks unto you, Malby. You are like his hope. And turning away from him will only shatter him and make him feel like all hope is lost. And who knows, he might go into self harming himself again. And I know for a fact that you do not want that. You love him so much as a friend and seeing him hurt will only make you hurt.”
He was right.
I don’t want Manuel to go into self harming himself again. I will blame myself if anything happens to him.
Damn, I should have thought about it before saying those meanful words towards him.
“Should I apologize to him?” I asked. I don’t even know the right thing to do.
“What do you want to do, Malby? Do you want to lose Manuel as a friend or not? The ball is in your court.” That was his response.
There was a very long but comfortable silence between us after that word of wisdom from my boyfriend until he spoke up again.
“I’m not surprise about your mom’s objection in our relationship.” He said.
“Neither am I.” I mumbled.
“What should we do? if your mom doesn’t like the idea about _”
“That’s her problem. I love you and you love me. It’s either she accepts that fact or she gets the hell out if my life.”
“Are you choosing your mom over me?”
Am I?
fu-ck, I just did.
“I love you, Xander and I also love mom but..”
“You don’t want to choose between the both of us. And that’s fine. We are both in your heart after all. I love you too, Malby. So much.” He ki-ssed the top of my head.
“Does mom Cherry knows about us?”
“Nah. But i don’t think mom would be against it.” He rea-ssured me.
“Then I think we just need to change mom’s mind about us then. Mom is the only obstacle.”
“She’s the space in between.” He added.
I have two mission to fulfil. First, is changing mom’s mind and secondly, it’s forgiving Manuel.
Besides no one is above mistake.
We humans are bound to make mistake. And it’s not like I’ve never made a mistake before.
Pushing away Manuel was a mistake and it needs to be corrected.
But my first aim is to change mom’s mind first after then will i talk to Manuel.
He just have to wait a little longer.
*
*
*
#To Be Continued…