Episode 42--> Rivals Upon Arrival
(1st half)

→ [START]

In the Capital, New Providence, Friday Afternoon 🌝

Well it's hard to believe two weeks have already passed since then. Seventeen year old Leonardo Hugh was stranded, held captive! His freaking parents were determined to take this spontaneous vacation here... it became a literal family reunion even though everyone lived on the same island-- except his Auntie Tamika's family! There was zero need for this truly. The newly weds are not even here to play catch up with, so couldn't they all just have a family reunion home?? It was ridiculous. His parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents were out enjoying city life while he was wasting away in his hotel room.

(At this point I think I got the short end of the stick. Maybe Natalya had the right idea staying at home and enjoying freedom! 😮‍💨 At least I was wise enough to bring my game station cuz this was only supposed to be a few days not bloody weeks... thank the lord for games or I'd die here...)

Luckily he aquired his plane ticket, homebound. The dark side of being underaged is being at the mercies of the parentals and their whims. (It sucks that I need my parents money just to get back to Anais' side...) Briefly the thought of looking for a summer job crosses his mind.

(😩ahhh, I miss An! This is THE longest i've been without seeing her face... even before the trip over here I didn't get to be with her cuz she was so busy, with that sudden influx of commissions and requests and doing art pieces and filling orders...) This vacation his parents trapped him on seriously cut into his An time. He had planned to help Anais with her work like he often does. Usually he'd be her anatomy study model. Or if she needed some visual of how a certain pose would look she would use him. Or even just running delivering to the post office, what ever she needed. Her profession was a little sus but he loved to see her do her artsy thing.

Oh no. Thinking about Anais made him want to see Anais... Then he got to thinking, visualizing how great it would've been if he had brought An as his date to the wedding. If he had her here he wouldn't be so restless... He has his driver's permit so she would've rented a car and he would've driven them around, taken her on a date to Atlantis...! (🥺 Muddoes, that would've been so cuuuute...) Once again Leon considered getting a summer job. Financial freedom, Mr. senior was about to graduate high school soon, so some $ savings now would be great. Before it was a passing thought but now it was a serious consideration. (First paycheck I will take out my tithes and then I'll take Anais on a date 🥰 ...it's all coming together, hehe.)

"Oh shoot! Love on the brain." Leon realised he was only thinking of Anais, every minute, all day...!

Biding his time, bored out of his mind, Leon sipped his tropical smoothie. He is vegging out in the hotel's poolside chair, having zero plans to swim. This was not the face of boredom but alas tis the disatisfaction with reality.

(😮‍💨Ahhn... I miss Anais so bad... I can't stay here any longer...! Imma cry soon! 😩 An~...!) Leon's lips pursed into a pout, whining like a teenage boy would, missing his wifey-not-yet-girlfriend, Anais. He went right back to his lovesickness.

(How was I able to take for granted our time together? Oh my sweet Anais, woman of my dreams~ 😩 tomorrow cannot come quick enough...!) He was coping by releasing all his chakra gates of cringiness.

Day in day out, sharing their lives.
Being at one another's side was a given, natural. He was never left alone long enough to experience this level of loneliness before now. So now that she isn't beside him he realises just how in love with her he really was... Being surrounded by a bunch of happy go lucky lovers for two weeks was leaving a bad taste in Leon's mouth and a twinge of bitter envy in his soul.

Moping, he plays his mobile games to pass the time. He didn't want to call first, knowing she was busy working. She wasn't his girlfriend so he couldn't be too needy. But god, it has been so long since he'd heard from her he didn't know what to do.

"*~fall into me~" his ocean eyes were large, surprised to see a call coming through. With zero hesitation, Leon exited his game and answered the call. Because who cares about random teammates when something this magically was taking place?

As the saying goes, Anais is going to live long. He was just thinking about her and now she is calling... though she was always on his mind-- not that Leon noticed to just what extent she has preoccupied his mind. His face melts looking at his phone with the softest gaze. (Even more reason to know we're soulmates~♡)

"Leonardo." She called his name in her monotonous way, wondering why he was so quiet on the other end of the phone.

"Hi, An!"

He was estatic. Finally!

"You want to play a few rounds later?"
Though they're not dating they basically act like a married couple. She'd even play online with him. Maybe she indulged his hobbies because they are childhood friends. With proximity chat he would get to talk to her for hours in game.

"Oh, wait, sorry, I forgot, you are busy with your work..." trying not to sound like a puppy who kicked himself, Leon got carried away.

But Anais had some good news to share to lift his spirit, "😏 Hmph, have no fear, sir Leonard. I'm proud to announce, I am finished all my projects. I would love to unwind and play with you. I think I earned a break. ☺️" Engaged in a flurry of projects Anais was happy to be finished with all her commisions and every client was satisfied and pleased.

"👏😯 Oooh, congratulations! A job well done indeed."

"How about when you get back home we go out for conch fritters and diaquiris to celebrate?"

"Its a date then!" He didn't want her to hang up. Her words a drizzle in his drought. Yet despite his desire their conversation dwiddled. Preparing for a hang up, the boy quickly searches for something to talk about. It was a little difficult when he's been stuck in a hotel room with nothing new or interesting happening for two weeks. , and as hes brainstorming

Just when he was going to default to talking about games, Anais hit him with a, "Leonardo?"

"Yeah?"

"...I miss you."

His blue eyes opened up so wide then, rivaling the vastness of the blue sky above. (...!)

Distance truly made the heart grow fonder as they say.

(She misses me? What? Did she say that? Did I hear wrong? Ahh...! Did I hear wrong??) Leon's sunkissed cheeks were reddening as her words spin around his head. His heart was palpilating.

"Aw man... that was stinkin' adorable." He was so knocked for six he candidly said what he was thinking outloud which flustered Anais to no end.

"Shut up! It's embarrassing if you don't say it back!" The usually calm and cool Anais was sounding a bit flustered over the line, causing Leon's face to contort into a goofy grin. He didn't know how to contain his happiness.

(So cute, whaaa, so cute, too cute, toocutetoocutetoocute!! Ahmergah!)

"Leonardooooo!" She was fed up with his teasing not realising he wasn't try to tease nor did she realise just how much her feelings meant to him. The happiness of randomly getting a rare UR+ of your fav after resigning yourself to never getting it... She could never fathom...!

Regaining some decorum, Leon nuzzles his cellphone against his cheek, his heart soft, he gives her what she waited for, "I miss you too, An...🥺" Something he has said so readily and easily before made him choke up. He's said these words many times, but being apart for so long his words were more emotionally charged than ever.

"Heh, I'm glad." He could picture her nonchalant yet smug smirk, just from the tone of her voice. She had his heart hammering and cheeks flushing. It was like she knew just how much he missed her this time.

Something was inherently intimate about whispering words to each other through the phone.

Anais' first 'I miss you' was now on display in his mind palace, never to be forgotten.

(I'm so happy... to be blessed to hear Anais misses me like this... 😌🙌) Smiling in true bliss, his blue eyes softening he hung on to every word she spoke. They ended up talking for a little while longer about everything and nothing much at all. It was just what Leon needed to tide him over until he sees her tomorrow. His heart felt lighter, his earlier gloominess untraceable.

"Oh, I forgot why I called...! Leonardo D'Angelo Hugh!" Leon flinched like anyone would if they were called by their government name all of a sudden and he began to sweat. Anais sharp tone, caught him completely off guard, giving him a small jumpscare. He was all blissed out it got him good. Did he do something bad? Confusion left his dark brows knitted.

Despite the mini heart papilations she just gave him, Anais following tone did not come off as severe as her outburst, "Why didn't you let me know Natalya didn't go with you to Nassau? I could have checked up on her if you had told me."

Though she couldn't see his face he still rolled his eyes at her. "Oh that. That little gremlin can survive on her own. It is ME who needs your attention!😚🤳"

He could picture her brown eyes rolling over. He pouted because he was dead serious. He downplays it when they are together but Leon craves her company. She doesn't understand how much she is loved! He had never been so depraved of nor so enamored by someone before. He never missed anyone in his lifetime as much as he missed Anais. 😫

"Meh, what does it matter anyways? I'm coming home tomorrow so she won't even be alone anymore."

"This must have been a hard time for her. And I just had to get so busy--"

"Its not your fault, she's a big girl, she can handle herself."

"Sure, well, you're right... But I'm glad she had her friends at her side, she seemed happy..."

The record scratched. The birds stopped singing. The hungry dogs stopped barking. The police sirens stopped wailing. What?

"She had what??"

"I saw her the other day, y'know with her friends, a big group too. She didn't introduce us but I happened to peek out my window as she left. I'm happy she's branching out more these days. ☺️"

Oh, bless her soul, Anais was genuinely happy about it but Leonardo's mind was racing. Leon knowing his sister's friends were vacationing in Florida did not know who these so called new friends could even possibly be. Like who in the world did his sister pick up in two weeks? (It took her current friends almost two school semesters to get her to open up to them. Then it took a year until she finally caved and claimed them rightfully as her best friends. There just ain't no way... And the antisocial gremlin had no friends I don't already know about...)

Thinking back on his conversation from a few days back renewed his previous suspicions. (Natalya is up to something... 😑 And dad said she called about planes-- 👀 who is my baby sister flying out to The Bahamas?! She don't got money!)

"You seem to be thinking deeply about it?"

"Its just weird, An... were they familiar to you at all?"

"Hmm, I didn't get a good look at them, like I said I saw them in passing, majority were boys--"

"Booooyz??!!" He was absolutely flabbergasted. Leon's black brows stayed crinkled even as Anais tried to soothe his apprehensions. His frown lines were prominent. (Wait... I did hear boy voices over the phone when I called Natalya! I KNEW SOMETHING WAS OFF!! She had some strange boys in our house?! Oh lordy, Imma have to do damage control before our parents go back home-- if they ever end this vacation. What will tomorrow hold for me? 😰 I mean, I know I said I hoped she moved on from her heartbreak but its sooo sus if she's suddenly interested in boys again out of the blue like this... I dunno how to feel.)

"It feels strange to go shopping alone now... usually you're always with me..." In the silence she ends up speaking her thoughts. Anais was feeling the loneliness too it seemed.

Leon mind went blank upon her confession. Putting sister stuff aside, Leon felt heartbroken at the thought of Anais alone doing things without him. They went everywhere together afterall. "I'm sowwy An, 😭 I'll never leave your side again!"

"Don't be so melodramatic, Leonardo. 🙄😮‍💨" She rolled her eyes once more at his antics, but she couldn't deny the warmth and reassurance she felt knowing he was coming home.

"I would spend every moment with you if I could, An!"

"Haha, impossible. You would get tired of me."

"No, I wouldn't." (I would be happy with you even if we were born as two cats and only spent our days meowing on a fence... side by side with you--)

"I'll be waiting for you, Leonardo. I can't wait to see you."

His heart squeezed, his cheeks going pink again. He was gulping down his air, the sweetest goodbye of his life, diabetical🍭, "Y-yes... See you tomorrow, An..."

Their call concluded there. Leon was on cloud nine, in a bit of daze, his phone in his hand.

"Was she your girlfriend, Leo?" A girl suddenly asked him and frankly Leon didn't notice he wasn't alone.

He turned to see her standing there, her blonde head tilted, curiosity behind her unnaturally blue eyes.

(Whoa!) It has been three years since he'd been up close and personal with her. Even at the wedding he never really found himself in close quaters to Marissa. He didn't know how to react, all things considered.

"My girlfriend? I wish she was..." He chuckles wryly, yet he is hopeful of the future bringing changes.

"Oh wow... I can't believe how deep your voice got!"

"Yup. A few things changed for sure. Uh... Sooo... What brought you here?"

Marissa's family lived here so she had to be in this hotel seeking out him or his parents right? Leon was just too purehearted to think of any other reason a teenager could be at a hotel when their parents are out of town.

Marissa sat down by his outstretched feet and talked, "You're going back tomorrow I heard. So am I. My parents are in their honeymoon phase right now and I dunno if I wanna be here for that... And since its my summer break I figured I will go spend time in our hometown... And its boring here without Zavi."

"Huh? Did Xavier go somewhere?"

"Huh? Oh, didn't you hear? Now that my bro, Zavi has graduated high school he's decided to move back to our hometown. He's moved in to our old house, you know. Its kinda amazing..."

Leon's aunt and Marissa's father may have just got married. But the unofficial family of four were already living together for over four years now. And it has been almost three years that the family of four moved to the capital away from their, and Leon's, hometown. Apparently they had rented out their home there in the meantime. Keep in mind it was not far from Leon's house. Leon stifled a sigh caused by his premonition of times to come. (Chaos will descend...Natalya and Marissa? In the same town again? 😓)

Leon did hear Xavier had graduated at the top of his class. Now he's moved into his own place. And he's got that woman of his dreams by his side. They even plan to go into business together. His cousin surely had a good head on his shoulders.

"Why aren't you going back together with Xavier then?" Leon asked, mildly surprised by how easily their conversation flowed, looking at her inquisitively.

"See, Zavi already left. It was right after the wedding to be honest. He had a lot of preparations and unpacking to get started on. I missed the chance, to be honest."

(Bruh... he catches flights when he wants to, Xavier is the superior being between us. 🥲 He won at the game called life.) The sorrowful minor barely getting off an island by the skin of his teeth and his parents' money laments.
(He's so ahead of me... And it is not just in age... Xavier is well put together regardless, mature, brillaint mind, he had those hot guy looks while I'm still in my boy next door phase...)
Because they were so similar and close in age, and the only two male grandchildren, comparison was inevitable.

For self improvements, or a role model, Xavier Hugh was a source of inspiration for Leon.

(I know he's better in all skillsets but the only accomplishment I actually envy about my cousin would be his love life... ) While Leon was pining over Ana a whole island away, his cousin Xavier had the woman of his dream at his side.
(I saw them snatched up during the wedding, it was cute! 😫 My single behind only wishes... 🥹)

He knew no shame, babying his bruised ego and he may be clutching straw, but Anais' first imu was just too sweet and was what kept him strong! (An~ 🥺 be mine...)

Leon sudden mood swinging facial expressions left Marissa confused. His face went through a flurry of emotions so swiftly it was amusing but weird.

"Ahh... um... you good, Leo?"

"Don't worry about it... 🥲 I'm just ready to get home."

Marissa laughed then at the melodrama coming from this boy. Memeing, she placed a hand on his drooping shoulder.

"So any ways... what I really came to ask is for a ride once we land."

"Oh sure, no problem."

"But Marissa, won't you be third wheeling Xavier and Crystal?" He resisted the impulsive to mention her habit of third wheeling couples hasn't changed, snatching the petty back, like whew chile. 🥴 Talk about out of the pot and into the fire. What's the point of giving her parents their newlywed space if she's just gonna end up bothering Xavier and Crystal?

"Naw, I thought ahead. Xavier is hella annoying, I wouldn't dare. I'm actually staying by a friend of his house and not our house. The friend, she lives close to you guys actually. I dunno if you know Ellie, everyone calls her Lori, short for Eleanor."

"Dunno who that is..." Deadpan, boy only had eyes for his true love and wouldn't know any other girls from a can of paint back home.

"Lets trade contacts just incase of an emergency like we lose each other in the airport or sumin'..."

"Sure...😮‍💨🤳" They did just that, concluding their business for today.

(Now I can go back to the room, Anais is waiting on me! Probably get Luciano and Farry to join us... the more the merrier.)

Ready to game, he was about to dismiss himself and part ways from Marissa. Unfrtunately he noticed a few foreign guys gazing at her lustfully. The shady attention for men way to old to be looking her way, Leon began to scowl dedply. Shielding her from their eyeballing, Leon place himself between their lines of sight and Marissa. Protective brother bear mode activated. Even more so for a girl who was just like a sister some years ago...

"Wanna go and play some games on my console?" He asked as a cover to get her away from the situation quickly.

Her eyes widen, surprised by the sudden invite, a tad confused, considering their rocky relationship.

"I do!" Realising she was a bit excited to be treated like how he used to treat her for the first time in three years.

(She hasn't changed its almost scary even.) It was Leon's turn to be a tad confused, considering their rocky relationship. He thought his random invite would make her feel uncomfortable. Did she want to make up with us then?

(Well putting our differences aside--) Leon side eyed the randoms and in disgust spat bible verses, as he took Marissa away from the area, "Wickedness... Mark 7:20-23 ...pluck it out and cast it from you... Matthew 5:27-30... Colossians 3:5... The world and its desires pass away... 1 John 2:16-17...😒"

He took her out of their view with the swiftness shaking his head at the men. Forshame.

"Why are you calling out books of the bible?" Marissa was trying to understand and accept his bizzareness, but decided to just ask bluntly.

"Those foreigners were staring us down earlier, they were checking you out... was gross, so I got you outta there."

"What?! I didn't even notice!" She tried not to laugh at Leon, who had been spitting out scriptures like cuss words on her behalf.

"How are you surviving in Nassau?? You need to be aware of these things."

"I don't go out much." Marissa was forlorn, his kindness far more than she expected. He reminded her so much of Xavier with the all too familiar brotherly protectiveness. Yes, despite Marissa's trespasses, Leon is a brother and does what brothers do.

The two were about to get in the elevator when Marissa caught some sense. "Oh, shoot, Leo, I totally forgot-- my ride is waiting... I only was supposed to run in tell you I need a ride then go back. Sorry I took up so much of your time. I guess I got too excited. Thank you for the invite. Well, next time we will play a game... at your house!"

(Oh no...!)

What has he done? In that moment Leonardo D'Angelo Hugh realised, he done messed up! His one time offer just became an IOU! (😰 Did I just invite the vampire inside... bruh.) It was too late now... once her foot was in the door there was no way for the young Hugh to change what was to come. It's his karma for fraternizing with his sister's enemy.

Like a gentleman he saw her to her car regardless of his overwhelming dread.

"See you tomorrow, Leo! 🙂"

"See you tomorrow..."

(I done goofed 🫠 Natalya is gonna kill me...) Imagining the upcoming battle Leon groans, holding his face in his hands. Meanwhile Marissa cheerfully waves goodbye, unaware of his qualms.

(The time to get out is finally here tho! I shouldn't sweat the details, hahahahh...)

Leon, the poor, pitiful guy, had no idea what was in store for him at home... Unaware of his unlucky fate that awaits...

He scurries back to his hotel room to log on to his game for some fun with Anais... gamer mode activated.

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Meme corner:

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Leon being a cringebucket:

Marissa:

🏖To be continued...