Chapter 15 Found Fifteen

'You guys knew each other?" Mike asked, a bit shocked.



Oh no, the gossiper Mike is here.



But wait, he is Lieo?! OMG! I have so many things I plan about him earlier! I even thought that maybe we could be together!!!



'Yes. We met at Tita Celine's boutique. She helps me find a suit." Lieo answered Mike.



Until now, I am not yet over with the fact that he is Lieo, the boss and crush of Anne.



"You know my mom?" I asked him.



He smiled at me and nodded.



'Why didn't you tell me earlier? Are you not shocked when I introduce myself as her daughter?" I asked curiously.



'No, I'm not. I am perfectly aware of your story. I really like you." He said, then smirked.



I blushed. I feel so shy with what he just said.



He chuckled. "You're so cute."



Then he looks at Vince. 'Alli told me that she is your assistant stylist. You are lucky, bro! I offered her to be my stylist, but she rejected my offer. As per her, she is exclusive to you."



My eyes widen. That word didn't come out right. They may think that something is going on between Vince and me.



"Woah! We didn't know that. So you guys are really dating?" Mike butt in.



As expected, the ever gossiper Mike.



'Mike is right, cuz. We didn't know that you guys are already dating." My cousin join forces with Mike.



The two gossipers.



I knew that they would put meaning to that statement.



I glared at Lieo then I rolled my eyes.



'What I mean is I am exclusive to Vince as a stylist. The stylist job is just a part-time job for me, and that is not the career path that I will be taking." I explained to them.



'You guys should stop with your teasing. Andrew is here. He may walk out again if you do not stop. You know this guy is the walkout king of the group." Vince said.



I pinched his side and whispered. "What did I tell you? Could you stop it? It's not funny anymore." I said seriously.



"Okay, peace!" He just said.



I just rolled my eyes.



We started the KTV session. Everyone is having fun singing. Then Lieo went to me.



"Hey!" He said.



I smiled at him. 'Yes?"



"You need company?" He offered.



I frowned. Do I look so lonely here?



'Well, obviously, you are alone here, and you have no one to talk to. So I thought maybe you need a company." He said in a serious and sincere tone.



I just shook my head. 'I'm okay.'



It's not that I chose to be alone today. It just happened that they all got a partner already, and I did not try to join them because I feel out of place.



"You sure your okay?" He asked me again.



I was about to say yes when I saw Anne and Andrew hold the mic and start to sing together. I can't hide what I feel right now. I'm hurting. But I know I shouldn't.



"Let's talk in some more private," Lieo said; he grabs my hand, and we went out of the room.



I don't know what I am thinking. I find myself following him.



He brought me to a coffee shop.



"Here." He put the coffee that he ordered for us on our table.



"Thanks," I said, then I sip on the coffee that he gave me.



'Is that the reason why you cry in the boutique earlier?" He asked me in a cold tone.



I bit my lips. I don't know if. I should tell him. I mean as from what I see, this guy also likes Anne.



"I guess it's a yes?" He concluded.



I just smiled at him. I can't give him an answer.



'Anne told me that she is sure that the person Andrew likes is you." He said, breaking our silence.



"She told me that too. But you? What do you think?" I asked him.



He sighed. "I still don't know. Ever since I arrived, I have never seen you two together or even just talking. Are you avoiding him?"



I already felt my tears welling



I can already feel the tears threatening my eyes.



"I need to do that," I confessed.



"Because you like him." It's not a question because I know from my reaction, the answer is so obvious.



So I don't have a choice but to admit it to him.



'Yes. That is why I am telling myself to guard my heart against him because I don't want to get hurt again." I told him.



I feel so comfortable with him. That's why I find myself telling him what I think and feel.



Maybe I needed someone to share what I am feeling right now to be okay somehow.



He didn't say anything. He just let me open up everything that I am keeping to myself.





"I've been hurt before. I hate myself because it seems like until now, I haven't learned my lesson. No matter how hard I try to stop myself from assuming or hoping, I still do it. I thought that Andrew likes me, like what everybody is saying. That's why I made myself believe in that lie. But from what I see now, everything that happened before is repeating now." I just let my tears flow because I couldn't take the pain anymore.



"What do you mean?" He softly asked.



"College days. I have a guy that I like. I hated him at first, but when I got close to him, I find myself falling for him. All his actions made me think that he likes me. My cousin and I even bought a book to know if he likes me or not. But then we just found out that he is courting someone else. And it broke my heart. From that moment, I told myself that I would never assume nor like a person until that person confesses to me first. But what happens now?!" I said, crying.



Lieo went to me and hugged me to comfort me.



'Why are you guys like that?! Why do you keep doing things that will make us misunderstand you?!" I asked Lieo, a bit frustrated.



'You calm down, please. But to answer your question, there are things that even us can't explain nor understand." He said.



'Like the things between you and Anne?" I asked.



I saw him stunned by what I said.



'Come on! You don't need to hide it from me. I knew why you asked me out of that place. You are also hurting to see them together. Because you now saw it with your own eyes, how close they are with each other. Am I right?"



He looked at me intently and just sighed. 'Guilty."



I chuckled. "So tell me why until now you are still not courting Anne? And the issue about you and your ex-girlfriend Mich, is it true?"



'Nothing is going on between Mich and me. She will be getting married, and the groom is not me. The reason why we were always together is that Mich is asking me for help because his soon-to-be husband is a bit busy. Mich is someone close to me. That's why even though we broke up, we remained friends." He explained.



I chuckled. So my best friend is just overthinking?!



'Why are you letting her think that something is going on between you and Mich?" I curiously asked him.



"It's Mich's idea. I really don't like the idea, but Andrew's timing is asking for it, so I just let it be." He said.



My smile suddenly disappeared upon hearing his name.



"Sorry." He said, a bit worried.



'No, it's okay. So why aren't you courting her?" I asked.



'Because it's too sudden. I don't want to rush things. I want to know her more. We are still young. We don't need to rush things." He said seriously.



I smile at him. 'Because of that, you gain my 100% support."



He frowned. 'For what?"



I rolled my eyes. "Because I always deducted points for you because you were always missing in action. So I don't want to support you. But now is different because I have decided to give you my full support."



He chuckled. 'Really? Do I need that?"



'Of course! I'm her best friend, so my opinion matters."



He raised his brow. 'Really? So did I pass your expectation."



'Yes, you did!" I told him.



My night went well, thanks to my newfound friend Lieo. He is fun to be with. If Anne didn't like him, he might be my prospect as my first boyfriend.



Lieo, send me home. 'Are you sure you don't want to come in first?"



He shakes his head. 'No need. It's already late. I should go."



I nodded. 'Okay, bye! You take care!"



He also nodded, then went to his car and left.



I was about to go inside when I notice someone leaning on a car across from our home.



I suddenly felt nervous. He went to me. My mind is telling me to go inside already, but my feet seem stuck in my place.



My heart beats faster when I saw who the person is.



"You look happy with him." I can hear the sadness in his voice.



"Andrew."