18. Figure

A Chapter by alison13

CHAPTER 18

Figure

It’s been exactly five days since I talked to Paulo. I’m not paranoid about it; just concerned. He haven’t texted, nor call me that much for the past few days. He called the day after we hang out, and the next day, but after that, no more connection. I had a concert yesterday and became fully booked up so I didn’t have time to call him. But today, I spent most of my time calling him, but not a single answer.

Right now, I’m holding my phone on one hand, and a tootsies roll on the other. I’m still waiting for him to call, while watching a comedy flick. I didn’t go to school today, since the thing is still bothering me. I can’t keep watching my phone if I’m in school and Troy is there.

7:15 pm. It’s seven-fifteen pm, I’m done with the all kind of flicks; romance, comedy, romantic comedy, action and suspense. That’s it. Maybe I should just visit Paulo. He might not be feeling well or something.

I walked to the stairs, my footsteps tapping too loud. Everyone is gone today. Harry gone fishing, yah I don’t know how long even if it’s night already; Sarah on practice, Troy on school, I think; and Zoey went out, I don’t know where. I opened my closet, moving my eyes from one cardigan to another.

I closed my eyes and took one cardigan without knowing what color it is. I put it on and opened my eyes to see the pink-peach cardigan on me. I took my denim jeans and white flip-flops. I took my bag with me and rushed down the stairs to see Troy coming in. Please no argument, please no argument, please no argument...

“Let me guess, you’re going to visit Paulo,” he said in a silky voice.

“Right,” I walked pass him as he caught my arm. Please no argument, please no argument, please no argument... I hoped again.

“If you’re going to breakup with him, then you can go, if not, stay.”

“I am not breaking up with him,” I said as calmly as possible as I shook my arm, though he held it tighter.

“Can’t you figure it out by yourself? Paulo is only using you!”

“Shut up!” okay, so much for a calm conversation. But he started it. And he’s got a point too. The voice said in my head. Wow, it’s been a long time since I last heard from it, and now I regret missing it.

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re Taylor McKenzie... the naive, easily falling for the wrong guy, and one of the richest young popstars in the decade. It’s only a few flirting to take you down and be brainwashed.”

“He is not using me. He doesn’t even want to borrow the money from me if I didn’t insist. His sister is pregnant, his dad is unemployed. How can you think of him like that! You know him longer that I do...”

“And I know him more than you do... and it finally came from your own mouth. I know him more than you do to know that he’s lying!” he said shouting.

I breathed first, trying to compose myself better. “Just, just let me go... I can make my own decisions... if I get hurt, you have nothing to do with it. I’m not your responsibility anymore unlike in the cruise.” I said and shook my arm and rushed out the door.

I walked on the middle of the street, hugging myself. It began to be frigid again, but nothing change. The streetlights dimmed as I reach the sidewalk toward Paulo’s house.

You know, Troy can really, possibly be right. The voice repeated over and over in my head. He can’t be right. He shouldn’t be right. Fine, wait, aren’t you going to call him first? Remember, he told you to always call first when you want to visit. The voice reminded me. My conscience is getting the hang of having a voice itself, like the voice that would fit Lauren.

I’m already his girlfriend; I don’t need to call him. And I should have a point. Do I really need to call him when I just want to know if he’s fine? And besides, if I call him, he won’t answer it. And that’s why I’m visiting in the first place. Besides, Carla is not obsessed of me or something like he first described it. And the truth is, she’s not even the one who could put ‘I’m your number one fan in the world’ on her forehead, or even close. Paulo obviously lied on that one. I mean, sure she took a picture of us, but just one time, and for the next few days, she would actually just smile, wave or even ignore me. Not that I want attention, but of course, I want to know my boyfriend’s sister a little more.

I rubbed my hands altogether as I stepped on their front porch. The lights were on; from the second floor to the first. I looked around for a second before I rang the doorbell. The lawn was not taken cared of for a few days or weeks. I can tell by the untrimmed grass, disorganized lawn gnomes, and flowerbeds that are now withered.

I pressed the doorbell twice before Carla could answer it. She smiled for a second before it faded. I guess she’s not expecting me to drop by.

“Hey Taylor,” she mumbled.

“Hey,” I smiled.

“Err, what are you doing here? Paulo’s not home,”

“Oh, well, I just thought...” I looked straight ahead, since I’m much taller than her.

“Maybe you should come some other time,” she waved her hand to call my attention.

“Are you busy?” and again, such a stupid question. Would she shoo me away if she weren’t busy?

“Yes, very...”

“Oh, I guess I need to go now...” I stopped when I heard someone screamed from the other room. “Um, can I at least have a glass of water? I’m really, really thirsty right now, and a bundle of tissue paper please? I forgot my hankie.” I smiled my angelic smile, as they described it, that would actually make everyone say yes; except for Troy.

“Okay,” she murmured. “Just um, wait for me here, alright?” she said anxiously.

“Sure thing,” I flashed another smile as she raced to their kitchen. I took a few steps in as I kept looking around. I have a strange feeling that my curiosity would drag me to something outrageous. But would a curiosity of a sixteen year old girl do any harm? I just want to know whom the scream belongs to. Besides, it’s not some kind of scream of despair, pain, or something that shouts ‘just kill me now’. It’s a some kind of elated scream; the kind of scream that says ‘give me more,’ or ‘do it again’, like a kid wanting to ride the pony again.

I walked cautiously, striving not to make a single sound, sneaking on the wall, struggling not to step on the papers dreadfully scattered on the floor and trying to make sure that Carla wouldn’t be rushing out the kitchen any time soon.

I put my hand on the white wooden door, trying to figure out what’s on the other side. I heard another sound, this time it’s almost like a murmur: we might be too disturbing for Carla. A female voice said, with a low chuckle. The voice is familiar... very familiar; Sasha. I may only hear her talk twice or thrice, but her voice is so unique that you couldn’t mistake it from any other.

Open it! The voice in my head was back and too domineering. But I shouldn’t open it. I am nowhere in concern if she got back together with the father of her child or with someone else and is currently making out. I was about to go back to the place where Carla left me when I heard another familiar voice.

“Give me a sec,” the familiar voice said.

I closed my eyes and counted to three. It’s not possible... it shouldn’t be possible. I opened the door to find out that my worst nightmare was right.

Troy was right. I should have never doubted him. Then I shouldn’t be standing in this very place feeling like the biggest insensate in the world.

Paulo, the guy I thought who loved me the same way I did to him, is making out, half naked with Sasha. Troy was right, of course. Sasha isn’t his sister, she’s his girlfriend...

“Taylor,” Paulo murmured.

I smiled a little and shook my head. I don’t need to say anything; he already got it. His heartless plan failed. I turned around to see Carla holding the glass of water that I asked as I stepped out of his house.

I walked down the lacklustre street, which seemed to be a lot quieter than it had been a few minutes ago. No one seemed to be out on the sidewalk except for me. There’s not even a car driving by.

There’s no way Paulo could even show his face to me. He’s probably, or should be, mortified on what stupid lie he made me believe. It’s unimaginable, and yet it pulled he off and made me believe to everything that he had said. Troy was right; I should’ve figured it by myself. But they’re just all such great actors; all of them. Especially Sasha; she played the hardest part, seeing us getting cozy every time I’m with them. But of course she’ll pull it off since she’ll have the best benefits.

What was Paulo planning anyway? Use me to help on his financial problems? He could’ve just asked for it. I could’ve just helped him without being fooled and left with a broken heart.

As I got near to the Anderson’s house, the tears abruptly started to roll down itself. I stood in front of the door, not ready to come in, as I wiped the tears. The last thing I want is to be asked what happened. The room was silent, except for the loud speaker from the TV. Zoey hasn’t gone home yet, but Sarah and Harry are probably upstairs.

Troy came out from the kitchen and then stood in front of me. “You found it, did you...” he said as a rhetorical question.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice nearly audible. I tried to look at him, but I can’t. I moved out of his way as I headed to my room.

I changed to my PJs and climbed onto bed. I never cried to my past relationships for more than one night; except for my dad and Troy. And that’ll still be constant. I won’t cry for him anymore starting tomorrow. Because tomorrow, I’ll forget him... tomorrow, I’ll be out of town with the others, and I would just let my mind fly off somewhere else. I repeated to my mind as I put my iPod on and closed my eyes as the last tear drifted from my right eye.

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