*Andrea*
I didn’t want the night to end. I wanted to be wrapped around Alejandro’s arms all night. “I’ll get a cab; you don’t need to drive me home,” I said to Alejandro when he offered to drive me home.
“I insist, Anna.” He said. I wanted to refuse but couldn’t anymore. “Or you don’t want me to come?” He asked. “No.” I said immediately, “That’s not what I meant by that. I didn’t want you to go through any stress.” He said.
“Let me be the judge of that.” He said. I nod. “Alright. I’ll cancel the ride I booked already.” I said.
“Good girl,” Alejandro said. We began walking out. “How about we have dinner before we go?” He asked. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. Alison would be home by now, but I didn’t tell her I was going out. “I’m not hungry. And I just ate,” I said and regretted immediately.
Alejandro understood what I meant, and a sly smile appeared on his lips, “I didn’t know I was enough to satisfy you,” he said. I tried to hide my smile. “You know that’s not what I meant,” I said in defense. Alejandro paused and turned. “What do you mean then?” He asked.
I blushed, “let’s not talk about it.” I said. He removed a few hairs off my face and resumed walking. I walked by his side. It was different from how I walked beside him yesterday. Now, it wasn’t an employee walking with her boss. I don’t know how to define what we have now, but it wasn’t just any relationship.
He opened his car door for me, and I stepped inside. He walked around and entered the driver’s seat. He wrapped the seat beat around himself.
I didn’t have to give him directions to my house. He drove as if he had been here before, “how do you know?” I couldn’t help but ask when he finally pulled the car in front of my car, “Know what?” He asked.
“That this is where I live?” I asked while unlocking the seat belt. A smile tugged one side of his lips, “I have my ways.” He said. I drew my brows together and crossed my arms over my chest, “you aren’t stepping out?” he asked.
I wanted to ask him how he knew, but then I remembered he had sent his driver to pick me up the day we had dinner at the restaurant. I uncrossed my arms. “Nothing, I just wanted to say…” I paused
He raised a brow, “what?” He asked.
“Thank you,” I said. “For what?” He asked. I didn’t know what I was thanking him for or what I was thanking him for in particular. Maybe I was thanking him for taking me home or treating me with so much tenderness. “For the drive.” I settled for that.
“You want to come in for a moment? Maybe to meet Alison?” I asked. I know Alison had always wanted to meet him. And this was the best opportunity.
I knew she would ask many questions about how I left the show, but I wasn’t ready to answer. Alejandro stepped out first and walked around to open the door for me. I muttered a thank you as I stepped out.
I walked in front, holding my bag with both hands in front of me. I placed my hands on the doorknob, paused, and turned to him. “It may not be big or anything,” I said.
Alejandro was rich, and I suspect he had not been to such a small place before. “Welcome to my abode,” I said, pushing the door open. He stepped in. His face didn’t have much emotion, so I didn’t know what was going on in his head.
“I thought you weren’t going to come back. Where have you been?” Alison’s voice rang out from the kitchen. ” Well, ” I said and paused, then I turned to look at Alejandro.
Soft footsteps were heard, and soon, Alison appeared in the sitting room. “So you decided to…” she paused when she noticed Alejandro in the room. She studied him, looking at him from head to toe with her mouth left hanging.
She had known it was Alejandro. I cleared my throat, but I still had to do a formal introduction, “Alison, meet Alejandro Costa, my boss.” I said.
I turned to Alejandro, “This is my roommate and best friend, Alison,” he gave off a calm smile. He then extended his hand. Alison’s hands are a bit watery, so she wipes her hands on the apron she wore around her neck.
“I finally met the infamous Alison,” he said.
They let go of each other’s hand, “I’ve heard a lot about you from Anna,” he said. “I hope they are good things,” Alison said.
“Of course,” I said before Alejandro could answer. “Why do you sound guilty?” Alison asked, squinting her eyes at me. “It’s all good things. She said you’ve been a great friend,” Alejandro replied.
“See.” I mouthed to her.
I smelled something delicious. Alison was making dinner already. I had lied earlier about not being hungry. “Give me a moment,” Alison said, returning to the kitchen.
“You should have a seat. What should I offer you? Tea or soft drink?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” Alejandro replied. “I should get going.” He said. Alison must have heard what he said because she immediately rushed to the sitting room. “Have dinner with us, please. Food is ready.” She said.
Alejandro looked skeptical. I guess it was because of the earnestness in Alison’s invitation, but he didn’t refuse her. He thought for a while before agreeing.
Alison went back to the kitchen. She had to serve the food. I excused myself to go freshen up. I returned wearing shorts and an oversized shirt that stopped on my thighs.
Alejandro and I are seated on the same side, Alison on the other. She made steak with mashed potato and had a bottle of red wine on the table. I wondered where she got the wine cause the last time I checked, we had none.
“You are such a good cook, Alison,” Alejandro praised. I smiled. Alison was the best cook between us, and I’d rather stay far from the kitchen; she enjoys cooking.
“It’s all thanks to my mom,” Alison said. “Andrea, please pass me a water bottle,” she said. I reached for the water bottle, which was closer to me, then stopped. “Who is Andrea?” Alejandro asked curiously, and I eyed Alison.
How did she forget? No. How did I forget that I was Anna to Alejandro and not Andrea? I shouldn’t have reached it. I blamed myself, not Alison. I racked my brain for an answer. Before I could come up with any excuse, Alison explained, “Did I call you Andrea again? I’m sorry I keep forgetting.” She said.
I passed her a bottle of water. “I had a friend named Andrea when I was younger.” She paused and continued, “Sometimes I still get confused because they are a bit similar, and Anna is now as close as I was with Andrea.” She said.
At that moment, I almost gave her a thumbs-up for coming up with such a perfect lie. “I see,” Alejandro said. “You must be close with Anna so much.” He said. He placed a slice of steak in his mouth and chewed gently. “Yes, we are so close that even the neighbors think we are sisters,” Alison said.
“And we are sisters now. So it’s easy to act like it. It’s natural. We don’t need to force,” I said.
“It must be so nice.” Alejandro said, “Guess we all have that one friend we clicked with from the get-go.” Alejandro said.
Alison and I both stared at each other, and they burst into laughter. We laughed so hard that I choked on my food. Alejandro quickly gave me a cup of water. “There there, be careful.’ he said. He pats my back.
After we settled, Alejandro asked, “What happened? What’s so funny?” He asked. I took a sip from my wine and looked at Alison, “do you want to go first, or should I go first?” I asked. “I’ll go first.” She said.
She was almost done with her food. She gulped water from the bottle I passed to her. She wiped her lips gently with a disposable napkin, “Honestly,” she said and paused to hold Alejandro’s eyes.
“We were not friends from the beginning. We were enemies.” She said she looked at me as if wanting me to contribute, “We met in high school.” I said, and Alison nodded.
“She was the new student. I topped every exam, and it wasn’t hard because I was naturally very smart and the best.” She said.
“But things changed when I arrived,” I said. Alejandro kept moving his eyes from Alison to me and then to Alison again as we talked. “Topping every exam became hard. Anna was as smart as I was, so I had to work harder, and it wasn’t easy.”
“We battled for who would be first each semester,” I said. My mind reverted to those times. They were the best times of my life. I was the only child of my parents, who gave their all to my education.
“It wasn’t long before Anna became the most popular in school, and I hated it because that was my spot.” Alison lets out a small laugh, “how childish that sounds now.”
“So, how did you become close?” Alejandro asked. His interest had been piqued since the beginning of the story.
“We had to represent our school together in a competition. So we studied together and prepared for the competition. That was how we found out we had more in common than we thought.” I said.
“And we’ve been inseparable since then,” I said. “Alison has been with me through all I’ve experienced. When my parents died in a car accident, she held me and comforted me and cried with me.” I said. Alison was more than a friend. After my parent’s death, their family fought over who would take their property. None had time for me, and my parents had no will.
That was how we left LA, where we had grown up, and we’re here now. I didn’t tell Alejandro this. Maybe we’ll get to talk about this later.
“I’m glad you’ve been by her side.” he turns to me, “I’m sorry for your loss,” Alejandro said. “It’s fine. It’s been ages.”
He had a good time. After dinner, he stayed for a while. He told us a bit about himself. He had a friend who died. She was his only friend. They grew up together, and everyone thought they’d get married; they had no intention of doing so.
“We didn’t find ourselves attractive,” Alejandro said.
I liked how he and Alison got along as if they’d known for years.
Before leaving, he told me about a business trip. I raised my brow; this wasn’t planned nor on his schedule, “you should get used to last-minute trips.” He said.
I nod. So I’ll have to get ready for a trip tomorrow by 9 am. Honestly, I looked forward to it.
Alejandro stood. “Thanks for welcoming me and for the dinner, Alison.” He said.
“You are always welcome,” Alison said.
Before he left, he kissed me on my lips in front of Alison, “See you later.” He pulled away and said. My eyes were wide open. It was unexpected.
“What did I just witness?” Alison asked when the door closed.
I had no answer for her.