CARL

I scoured my room, tossing my books, stuffed animals, beddings and everything else on the floor. I looked through the drawers, hidden corners on the walls, under the bed and every part of my room that I suspected Melissa had planted a micro camera.

After finding out that she has been spying on me, I decided to do a thorough search of my room. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that Melissa was capable of all the distrurbing things I had found out about her.

And what scared me even more were her threats about harming my boyfriend. A shiver slithered along my spine when the image of Gavin's body lying on the ground, choking in his own blood and his limbs dismembered, suddenly ambushed my mental realm.

No. I won't let her harm him. I wasn't there to protect fluffles but I sure as hell will protect Gavin from her.

Mrs. Cassidy's advice about me reporting Melissa to the police suddenly echoed in my mind. She was right, the only way to end her madness is to file a police complaint.

Yes, that's what I'll do.

I resumed searching the room. Going through my books and shaking them hoping that the micro camera would fall off. While searching through the books, I came across my diary.

A smile kissed my lips as I reached for the stationery. The diary held so many memories. Mostly fond ones. I used to pour all of my happiness, anger, pain in these pages.

When I didn't have anyone to talk to, my diary was the only place I could spill my deepest darkest thoughts. It was my safe space.

That is until Gavin stole it and discovered my immense and twisted crush on him.

Him stealing my diary unfolded a chain of events which led to the begining of our love story. In a way, I am glad that he stole my diary. Even if I wanted to kill him at the time for invading my privacy.

I placed the diary on the study table and resumed searching the room for the spyware. I shuffled through the box of stuffed animals and old toys, hoping to find something.

After hours of looking, I sat on the edge of my messy bed, disappointment and fatigue washing over me.

My eyes scanned the shambolic room, witnessing the clutter that my search had birthed. Looked like a hurricane Katrina had blown through my room. If mom were to walk in now, she would yell at the top of her lungs.

I made a mental note to arrange and tidy the place up later.

Suddenly, my phone alarm went off. I got up from bed and strolled towards the nightstand where the phone was charging.

I unplugged it from the charger and started scrolling through it. The words 'Movie date with Gavin at 7' appeared on my screen.

Shit. I had completely forgotten about the date, with everything that had transpired today. It was 10 minutes to 7 and if I didn't hurry, I would be late.

I dashed to the closet and started sifting through the clothes. I settled for a black pull neck sweater shirt and a pair of blue skinny jeans.

I was about to start stripping in my room when I remembered that some creepy bitch who had installed a camera in my room, was probably watching me so I went to change in the bathroom.

Minutes later, I was fully dressed. I groomed my hair, combing it back, and applying gel on the sides. I applied colourless lip gloss, making sure my lips were glossy and wet.

Butterflies crowded my stomach, flapping their wings in excitement as the thought of Gavin's lips dominating mine, took over my mind.

Even the thought of getting kissed by him, was a turn on.

Gosh! He makes me want him all the time. It's abnormal to crave someone as much as I do him.

Every second away from him feels like an eternity. He has become my life force and without him, I feel dead.

I never thought a day would come when I'll be stupidly and insanely in love with someone the way I am with Gavin.

He cares for me and makes me feel like the only boy in the world. Last night when he visited I expected that he would hate me for ending things with him.

But I was wrong.

He handled the conversation so maturely. He understood my reasons and forgave me. Embraced me. Made me feel loved and desired.

Gavin is my strength, my source of joy, and someone that I'll love for as long as my heart is beating in my chest.

***

Making sure that I looked and smelled great, I scuttled out of the bathroom, slipped on my shoes, grabbed my phone and then exited the room.

Since I didn't wanna be late than I already was, I decided that I would borrow mom's car. I would have called an uber but that would take 40 minutes or more to get here and I didn't want to wait that long. Didn't wanna keep my boyfriend waiting.

Mom was in the kitchen cooking dinner while talking to tia, when I walked in. They seemed to be having a light hearted conversation based on the way mom kept smiling at whatever tia was telling her.

It's rare to see my mom this happy. As much as we have our differences, I admit, it's a nice change to see her genuinely happy.

The two were lost in their sisterly universe that they didn't notice my presence. I cleared my voice, drawing their attention.

"Damn Sobrino, looking good." Tia acclaimed as soon as her gaze rested on me. An amused smile settling on her lips.

"Thanks." I replied with a smile, a blush heating up my face. The expression on my mom's face when she was looking at me, caused a wave of nervousness to engulf my senses.

I started twiddling with my fingers which were oozing with sweat. She makes me nervous, my mom. I have been scared of her for as long as I can remember. When I was much younger, I was free and happy around her. But since I asked her the question about liking boys, that's when everything changed between us.

Suddenly, I became something that needed fixing. Not her son, who she would always hug and comfort whenever there was a thunder storm because I was terrified of thunderstorms.

I was ashamed to let her see the real me. Because I knew she would judge me.

"Sobrino, what's the matter?" Tia's question yanked me from the jungle of thoughts that I was lost in.

"Umm..nothing tia." My voice came out raspier than I had intended.

"Mom..I..umm..wanted to ask if you could lend me your car for the night."
I gathered the balls and made my request. Silently hoping that she doesn't decapitate me.

"Are you going out in those tight pants?"She fired the question, her scrutinous gaze roaming my outfit.

"There is nothing wrong with the pants in my opinion." Tia remarked with a shrug.

"They are indecent and I don't want you going out in those. Also who are you going to meet?" Her questions caused my heart to skip multiple beats. I can't tell her that I'm going on a date with my boyfriend. She'll ground me or worse.

I'll have to come up with a full proof lie.

"I am going to meet up with my friends from school." I spoke, swallowing the nervousness that had clogged my throat.

"Who are these friends of yours?What are their names?" She pried, grabbing a butcher knife from the cutlery basket. Without warning, she started chopping the beef all the while, her eyes were locked with mine.

I couldn't stop imagining that I was gonna end up on that very same chopping board if she found out I was lying to her.

I swallowed nervously at the thought.

"Come on Luciana. Stop with the interrogation already. It's a Saturday night, let my sobrino go out partying with his amigos. He should be out, fucking and getting high. It's what kids his age are doing." Tia spoke up then winked at me, prompting me to send a smile her way.

Have I said how much I love this woman? Well I fucking do.

"Paloma stay out of this." Mom demanded, sounding irritated with tia's suggestions.

"Not when it has to do with defending my sobrino's happiness." Tia replied, defiantly.

"You call going to parties and drinking God knows what, his happiness? Paloma he is just a child!"Mom spat, placing the bloody butcher knife on top of the chopped up beef.

"Luciana, have you forgotten what we used to do at his age? All the sneaking to parties, fucking around, having tattoos and snorting cocaína? I remember one time, I chugged a can of alcohol using my asshole. Those were the good old wild times." Tia revealed causing me to laugh at the last part. She's crazy I swear. My eyes shifted to mom who looked like she would pass out from ignominy.

"Really? You guys did cocaine in your teens?" I inquired, failing to believe that my self righteous goody two shoes of a mother was capable of doing drugs. I remember her constantly, warning me to abstain from drugs and alcohol. Then now I find out that she used to do hard drugs as a teen. I wonder what else mommy dearest did in her past.

"Yes. It's how I met my Armando. He used to be our dealer back in the day." She recalled, a nostalgic smile lingering on her lips.

"Your mamá was a wild horse back in the day. Do you know how many boys she dated in her teens?"

"Do tell." I urged, invested in the story of my mom's past.

"That's enough story telling for the night." Mom interrupted, grabbing my wrist and hurriedly walking me out of the kitchen. She scooped her key from the table and shoved it in my palm. "Be home before 10 and don't damage my car." She instructed then walked back to the kitchen.

"Okay." I muttered then exited the house.

I was heading to the car when I heard my aunt yell, "Make sure to use protection sobrino!" Pretty sure the whole neighborhood heard her.

"Crazy tia." I mumbled, a smile embracing my lips as I slid to the driver's seat.

***

I pulled up in front of the cinema building, then parked the automobile in the crowded parking lot. I got out of the car minutes later and scanned the area for my boyfriend.

There he was. Leaning on a wall a few meters from the entrance. Breath was snatched out of my lungs when I set my eyes on him.

He looked ravishing that night. In his torso hugging shirt and slacks that did little to mask his strong, muscular thighs. His hair was styled in waves, augmenting his handsome face. I could never get tired of checking him out. And I can't believe that this fine specimen of a boy is mine.

As though sensing my presence, his gaze found me. A smile and of course a blush paid a visit to my face when our eyes met. He started walking towards me, causing my heart to leap with each stride he took.

I wanted to jump on him and straddle him as we kissed but we were in a very public place. We had agreed to keep our relationship a secret...for the sake of my family.

"Hi. Was begining to think that you won't show up" He greeted after halting in front of me. I breathed him in, loving his pineapple cologne.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting. Something came up." I replied.

"It's fine. You look gorgeous." He retorted, then reached out for my hand and gave it a peck. My heart fluttered at the gesture.

"Thank you. I mean you look hot yourself." I delivered a compliment, wishing so badly to kiss him.

He released a small smile at my compliment. "Thank you. Now let's go in before I change my mind about the date." He seductively stated causing blood to shoot straight to my groin.

"Good idea." I replied. My hand interlaced with his, we strolled to the entrance of the cinema.

"Can I get you anything?" He inquired when we got to the reception area. Popcorns, crisps, soft drinks and other snacks; mostly freshly baked pastries were on display.

"Yes. Popcorns." I retorted excitedly. He walked to the counter and got the biggest packet of popcorns and two bottles of soft drinks. I helped him carry the drinks as we made our way to the cinema hall.

It was dark. The only light was from the projector which displayed the movie on a large wall. Most of the seats were filled up. Only a few ones at the back were vacant.

I plopped on the leather and Gavin sat on the one next to me. Gavin handed me the 3D glasses and I slid them on.

The movie was emotional, I ended up crying a few times. Gavin comforted me by planting pecks on the side of my head and letting me rest my head on his wide shoulder. And when things got funny in the movie, I laughed so loud that I felt my ribs literally shattering.

At some point, Gavin and I started touching then it led to a make out session.

Some older woman seated directly in front of us, shot us an annoyed glare and asked us to keep it down. She threatened to have us thrown out of the cinema if we didn't stop what we were doing.

I returned my attention back to the movie, hoping to catch up with whatever I had missed.

I dipped my hand in the popcorn tin, scooped a handful and was about to shove it in my mouth when my hand halted its movement.

My eyes suddenly widened and I blinked several times to confirm that I wasn't seeing things. The pace of my heartbeats picked up at what I saw. I took off my 3D glasses and rubbed my eyes severally to make sure that what was playing in front of me was not real.

Instead of the wakanda movie, a video of a boy having sex with a girl was playing on the screen.

Judging by the gasps and noisy murmurs in the room, everyone else was seeing it too. "Someone turn this off! What the fuck is this?" An angry guy in the audience yelled, adding fuel to the commotion. Most people started leaving the movie hall but I remained seated with my eyes locked on the screen in front of me.

My heart dropped to my stomach and my throat suddenly went dry when I discerned the identity of the people in the video.

It was Gavin, my boyfriend. He was the guy in the video. And he was having sex with Natasha yen in a bathroom stall.

Suddenly, my whole body became limp and the popcorns that we're initially in my hand, spilled on the ground. Tears stung my lachrymal glands and my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.

No. Gavin would never cheat on me. This must be some sort of prank. Someone is fucking with us. Gavin loves me, he wouldn't dare fuck Natasha of all people.

The thoughts suffocated my mind as I turned to face him. I swiftly wiped away the tears that were cascading my cheeks. A smile caressed my lips, "Gav. Someone is playing a prank on us. That's not you in the video right? I mean you would never cheat on me. Right?" I addressed him, hope shimmering in my voice.

"Carlito...can we talk outside?" His voice came out shakier. The light from the screen shone on his face, exposing the guilt in his eyes.

The guilt confirmed that the video was real.

Gavin had cheated on me with Natasha.

"Why did you do it?" The question slid past my trembling lips as hot tears flow from my eyes like a creek.

***

A/N

So, that happened. Phew. This chapter took me three days to write and complete. I'm satisfied with how it turned out. What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter? Stick around to find out. Otherwise have a wonderful day my lovelies and thank you for your support on my work.