AGNES

I sleep in even though it's a school day, and my aunt doesn't mind me staying home.

Leaving the bed after several hours of stressing and overthinking, I rummage the fridge looking for something to eat. Out of boredom, I end up making tacos, mac and cheese, and would have whipped up some milkshakes, but we're out of strawberries. Not till after school hours before I hear a loud knock coming through the door.

Ugh. I don't wish to see anyone, but I just might need the company. From the sofa encircled by empty cans of Pringles, I slowly get up to open the door. Right there, Yvonne stares steadily at me, anger mixed homogenously with concern.

"Hey Yvonne."

"Don't hey me! Why didn't you come to school today?"

I let my misery play anonymously on my entire demeanour so she spares me her lecture. After a moment, she finally comes to understand the depressing feeling I'm having here.

"Are you feeling okay?"

Before answering that, I allow us some time to sit across on the sofa first. "Of course, why?"

She sighs. Distress oozes all over me, like as not she knew I'm only pretending to be fine. Before she says the next word, another knock comes.

We swivel our heads towards the door. I'm not sure I'm expecting anyone now – maybe Tessa, but Tessa wouldn't knock and still stay outside. Come to think of it, if she wanted to visit, she'd be with Yvonne.

"Who's there?" I call out.

The person deliberately refuses to respond, I'm sure on that. Nevertheless, I bear the liberty to answer the door and my countenance worsens when I see that the person is Felix.

"Agnes, please, let me explain," he says as soon as he sees me.

Yvonne rushes to the door and sees him too. It doesn't take her any effort to drag me back and face him herself. "You've got the nerve to show your filthy face here after what you did."

"Yvonne, I've got to talk to Agnes. She needs to hear me out."

"Get lost!" Yvonne scolds viciously, "and don't you ever show your face here again." She slams the door to his face and pulls me back with her.

That was kind of harsh, no lie – but he deserves it and worse. I don't think I'm ready to hear any of the lies and excuses he has prepared before coming to my house.

"He's never going to bother you from now on."

I do not even realize when my eyes start to tear up, crying like a baby all over again.

"You can't stop coming to class because of one guy! In fact, you need to be in school and show them that you're unaffected by this nonsense, especially that scummy snake. Make them see that they were wrong about you."

"How?" I sniffle, "how is that possible when we both know she's right?"

"She's not!"

I look away, avoiding her eyes. She's bearing so much watching me cry like this, but I can't stop myself from feeling this way. It's pissing me off, too. I look so pathetic crying over a boy. "I can't go back to school yet. I will just be reminded of everything."

She narrows her eyes at me while I fall back on the sofa and hold a pillow to resume sulking.

"Don't tell me you intend to be a depressed girl at home, hoping to get over a betrayal from the person you used to hate while everyone is busy studying for the exams?"

"You make me sound like a hopeless case."

"Seriously, you're starting to act like one. Don't put your education at stake because of an idiot you mistook for a friend."

I sigh. "Listen, Yvonne, I want to go back to bed. You shouldn't have come here."

"And let you fall into depression? No way!"

I sink into the sofa. "I wish you would just allow me to sleep."

"Don't be such a slouch!" She pulls me by hand. "We're going to the workshop right this instant since you want to be lazy."

I withdraw my hand sharply. "To do what there exactly?!"

"Oh no! Hell no! I put sweat and effort into that garage to make it what it is. You're not going to give that to Felix as well."

"I don't want to..." I whine. "The workshop was a gift from him so I don't want to go."

"Correction! A gift from all of us, as in, we came together to make that garage beautiful, except Felix played a major role since he still owns the garage and all. You certainly won't let my effort go to waste."

She drags my arm again and I reluctantly sit up. I really do not want to, but it seems Yvonne will not stop convincing me until I leave the house. Can't I just stay home for a day and do nothing? Is it a crime to feel despondent once in a while? I know by tomorrow I'll be okay, but I just want to sulk and feel miserable today. "Please, leave me be." I droop on the sofa again. "I don't want to go anywhere."

She sits beside me. "Alright, let's go elsewhere then. I'll call Tessa."

"Why won't you give up? Let me be on my own for today," I grumble.

"Agnes?" She gives me an instigating look.

"Okay, okay! Wake me up when Tessa arrives." I stretch my body on the length of the sofa with my head on her thighs, and I close my eyes with hopes to sleep and never wake up again to this pitiful feeling.

FELIX

I walk home alone after Yvonne justly shuts the door at my face, and all along, I keep pondering over my mistake. But I also remember the good times we shared together.

Gone are the days as they're now memories I'll carry with me from here on, I guess. And today can't get worse even when I catch sight of Joey coming towards me.

"Hey Felix." I twist the side of my lips for a smile to give her the least of attention. She joins me. "You don't look too bright."

"Hm." I roll my eyes. "Why are you here?"

"You've gotten your revenge, right? You should be celebrating."

"Joey, can you go straight to the point?"

"Why do you let her affect you this much? And I thought you and emotions don't go together. You said you don't believe in such fantasies, am I right?"

I get my mind off my headspace to give her my full attention. "Ever since I met Agnes, my view towards that has changed."

"So she means that much to you?"

I sense her fear as she anticipates my response. I wouldn't want to shock her though. "Perhaps, I've been lying to myself for years. What if love really does exist?"

Despite herself, she laughs tensely, "aren't you the joker of the year?"

"Tell me, since our break-up, have you noticed anything different about me?"

"Nothing different. In fact, you became better, most especially after I saw your determination to have your revenge."

Understanding dawns on me. If Rex did not tell Agnes about the deal, definitely Xian would not betray me. The only person who knew about it is Joey. And clearly, they aren't the best of pals. "Hold on!" I stop. "Did you tell Agnes about the bet?"

She exhales. "I did what I had to do to save you from falling in love with the wrong girl."

In an arousing instant, my indifference turns to indignation, and I could've acted out of it. She's lucky I'm a gentleman that respects a lady, but at this moment, I'm tempted to throw out that principle. "Are you crazy?" Really, who is she to tell me how to live my life or fall in love with?

She raises her voice too, "you can call me crazy for caring about you, Felix!"

"Do you realize what you have done? You have ruined everything!"

"Don't say that! She surely is not everything to you! Can't you see that I'm right here?!"

"For heaven's sake, Joey!" I raise my voice even higher. "I don't want you to care about me! Let me repeat myself, I don't love—"

"There's no need to break up with me a second time! I know you never did. Damn! This hurts a lot more than the first." Her eyes start to water as she looks afar off in mortification. "Can't you see that I'm still by your side? Even though you ignore me and push me away, I'm still here and always will be."

After that intense moment, she comes closer. I perceive her feminine aura almost begging me to give into her. But I've had enough drama for one day and I need closure to this chapter once and for all. "Do you want the truth? I do believe in love. I believe that love does exist, and guess who helped me, Agnes did. I love Agnes and I'm never taking that back."

Finally! I open my heart that was so full I felt as if it was going to burst. The relief in me... it feels so light after admitting for the first time even if it is to the wrong person. No more pretending, or shying away from the truth that has plagued me for so long.

To the goddess of love, whatever you're doing, you've won me over, okay?

"You..." Her eyes search mine, disbelief playing across her face. "You are in love now? And you are telling me y-you love... Agnes? Since when? How...? Why...?"

"Before I got to know her, before the bet, while I kept having flings. I knew this love I ostracized will one day get back at me." And it does.

Joey slaps me hard on my cheek. "How can you tell me this?!"

I hold my face, absorbing the pain before I turn to her again. "Joey, help yourself while you still can, because you and I will never work."

"Do you know how bad it hurts hearing you say this? Or are you only saying it to get back at me for revealing your secret?"

"I'm just telling you this so you won't be caught unaware and blame me for being unfair to you. Do yourself a favour and forget me, forget us."

She forces back tears in her eyes. "What do you even think of yourself, huh? Tell me! You think you're God's gift to the girls everywhere?" She snorts, "both of you will never be happy. What she's going through is nothing compared to the suffering I will inflict on her. She better prepare herself for what's coming next because I'm not backing down."

"Don't you dare hurt Agnes, you hear me!"

"Let me see you try to stop me," she warns and infuriatingly moves along.

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