♫ Kevz ♫
Drew was just done cooking when the rest of the crew arrived. They look prepared as they have three bottles of vodka and chips with them.
“Wow, is that Sisig?” Kellen exclaimed. "I suddenly remember Lemon," she pouted. I looked at Drew and he was already looking at me. It seems like he already noticed what I was up to so I just gave him a peace sign.
Before he can react violently, I invited everyone to eat. They all followed and each one of them starts finding a spot as they dig in.
When we were done, Kale and Kellen volunteered to clean up and wash the dishes. Roj and Kip prepared for the session, while Homme set up the sound system.
“Are we using our glasses?” Roj asked.
“Cans too!” Kale chimed in from the kitchen.
Drew, on the other hand, went upstairs. I saw pick take out a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket, took out a stick, and light it up.
“Partner!” I yelled from behind him and I roared into laughter after seeing what he did.
He’s only had two puffs but when he heard me, he quickly drop and stepped on the cigarette. “Shit!” he muttered when he realized I fooled him again.
Again, I gave him a peace sign but I still can’t stop laughing. Even Kip rushed upstairs and asked what happened, and Drew pointed at me.
They both shook their heads while I’m already having stomach cramps but still can’t stop laughing. “Asshole!” he hissed before heading downstairs.
“Kevz got you again?” Homme asked and Drew nodded as he slump on the couch.
“Game!” Kale popped out of the kitchen followed by Kellen. But before they can both sit, Kellen’s tablet started ringing so she grabbed it from the dining table to check who was calling.
She mouth ‘Lemon’ and all our eyes turned to Drew. Not sure though what he was thinking, he quickly moved from the couch to the stairs and sat there. Even Kellen creased her forehead at our friend.
“Lemmmmmm!” Kellen greeted.
“Kelllllll! I’m coming home!” she announced then I and the rest of our friends showed up on the camera aside from Drew. “Wow! You’re complete! Are you having a session?”
I looked at our friends and they were all looking at Drew. They’re probably thinking too how she found out or how she guessed we’re all there when she’s not seeing Drew.
“We’re just preparing for the comeback of our beautiful vocalist!” Kellen responded. “But where are you? In a car?”
“Ah, yeah! Boss picked me up. He said he’s treating me, sort of farewell dinner,” then she turned the camera and it showed a guy in a suit, sitting on the driver’s seat.
The guy looks like he’s in our age range. Moreso, his look isn’t that far from us too. But of course, he looks more respectable than any one of us.
Kellen waved at the guy and even Kale butted in to greet him. Both know him so he probably plays an important role in Lemon’s life.
“When is your flight?” Kellen asked.
"Secrettttt!" she giglged. “I want to surprise you guys so make sure you’re at the studio every day!”
Their conversation went on for several minutes more. Until Lemon had to end the video call as they already reached the restaurant where they will be eating.
“Lemon looked good!” Roj commented.
Everyone went back to their original positions, even Drew. He even creased his forehead at Roj’s comment.
“You have no idea!” Kale responded in place of Kellen. “I think Paris suits her, she’s gorgeous. And! She’s become sexier! I’d even let her stay there forever if she’d bloom more there than here,” he continued.
“Exactly! Well, one reason is that nothing stresses her there, aside from her suitors, of course,” Kellen added and they both squealed.
I glanced at Drew. Not sure what he’s thinking as he’s been quiet since after the video call. I can see him sighing from time to time but he’s not talking.
“Who’s with her? You know the guy?” Kip asked his twin.
“That’s the CEO of the company where she had her OJT. Then he courted her. He’ll pick her up to work or drive her home that’s why we knew him,” she explained.
“She rejected him?” Kip asked again and Kellen shakes her head as she drinks from her beer can.
“Yes, because she said they’ll be LDR if ever. And you know she doesn’t like that,” Kale responded.
“But did she like him?” Homme pried.
“Yes! Lemon was hesitant to reject him at first, but after weighing the what-ifs, she decided to just turn him down. They’d even spend hours on the phone!” Kellen narrated.
“Besides, Pete helped her a lot, especially while trying to move on from--” but Kale was unable to continue what he was about to say as Kip glared at him.
Drew’s shoulder slumped. “Sorry,” Kellen whispered to him and he just smiled faintly.
“That’s fine, no worries…” he said in a low voice before emptying his glass.
“How about you dude?” Kip then turned to him. “How was your life in the States?”
“It’s fine. Usually just school and house. At times I go out with my cousins but that’s it,” he said with a lack of enthusiasm.
“You didn’t have any girlfriend there?” Kale asked. It seems like it’s just now that he’s accepting the fact that they did assume things and it was wrong for Drew and Lemon.
“I didn’t…” he replied hesitantly. It’s as if he wanted to say more but chose not to.
“What’s your plan when you meet her again?” Kellen asked frankly.
He then looked at Kellen with his mouth opening, only to close it again. After that, he just bowed his head and let out a sigh.
“To be honest? I have no idea. As you said, she’s already moved on and I don’t want to cause her trouble again,” he said lazily as tears start to well in his eyes.
♫ Drew ♫
I only told Kevz that I’m coming back. I know he’s a human PSA so I’m sure he’d inform the rest of the guys about it.
I was ecstatic when the plane landed. Again, I’ll be with my friends and it’s something I did miss a lot back in the States.
I was supposed to fly back next week. But when Kevz told me that Leslie was coming home too, I rescheduled my flight a week earlier.
I want to be the first to arrive. I want to know what’s up with her, what she’s been up to in France and all that.
Our family driver picked me up at the airport but I just sent my luggage with him. From there, I hailed a cab to take me to Costas.
Since I know Leslie’s not there yet, I wanted to spend a night there and come up with a plan for her arrival. But I was surprised to see Kip and everyone else there.
As I wasn’t expecting to see them, I had a hard time hiding my reaction. Fortunately, I came up with a good excuse and I used Lyra.
I wanted to fix things between us. Even if I know it’s impossible, I still want to give it a try. But since the unexpected happen, I decided to just ask them over to the studio the next day.
After eating, we started drinking right away. We had just gotten started when Leslie called and after that, we resumed our session while talking about her and the man with her.
As we converse, the thought of the man keeps playing in my head. Especially when Kale said that he was a huge help for Leslie in moving in from me.
‘She already moved on from me while I’m still tied to my love for her?’
“I think the best thing to do is to talk to her first,” Kip advised. “Talk to her, maybe not about your relationship first, but about rebuilding the friendship.” And I nodded in agreement.
“Why did you decide to go to the States by the way?” Kale asked.
I paused to recall what triggered my decision, then I remembered. “I heard what she said at the hospital, she was talking to them. She was hoping she didn’t meet me so she’s not hurting,” I narrated.
The boys glance at each other as if thinking about what I said. “You mean when you left to follow her parents out?” Kip asked and I nodded in confirmation.
“You didn’t hear what she said after?” it’s Homme this time and I shook my head at him.
“You’re out of your mind then!” Kevz exclaimed and my forehead wrinkled automatically. “She said something else after that. Yes, she said that it would be better if she didn’t meet you or you didn’t grow close to each other, but then she said that it’s all a lie because you made her happy and she enjoyed her moments with you,” then he clicked his tongue as he points at me like I’m the biggest moron he knows.
“She said that?” and the quadruplet nodded in unison. “I left right after what I heard her say. I went home then my parents talked to me. I don’t have the face to talk to her parents at that time but then I forced myself to do it. After that, I decided to leave to fix myself. Because I want her to see something new in me when we face each other again,” I explained.
“Actually, she’s not mad at you,” Kip informed me. “She said she’s hoping you won’t blame yourself after what happened. According to her, both of you are just victims, even with what happened with your cousins.”
Something heavy inside me was lifted after hearing that. It’s like a thorn was removed from my throat after knowing she’s not mad at me. And after hearing that, my motivation to win her back only became stronger.
This time, I'll prove to her that I'm worth it. That she doesn't have to move on from me cause I'm planning to stay and I'm planning to make her stay.