Chapter 4

BRYAN’S POV

"Are you sure that it's okay with you to let me go?"

"For now. Yes."

The last talked that I had with Alex keeps on replaying in my mind.

Until now, I can’t accept the decision that she made. She wants us not to see each other in the meantime. I am not also allowed to talk to her through text messages and calls.

I find this harder to accept than when her best friend Liz asked me to break her up. Though I admit that I intentionally do things so that Liz will ask me to break up with her.

Liz is a great person. That’s why I like her. I do like her, and I am serious with her when I courted her. But things changed when I met Alex.

At first, I deny it to myself. I tried to deceive myself by making me believe that I only saw her as a sister that I never had. Because our age difference is quite big. I am 5 years older than her.

But no matter how hard I try to make myself believe that I only see her as my little sister, I knew deep inside that I love her romantically. My feelings for Liz are nothing compared to what I am feeling now with Alex.

I tried to stop myself from falling for her when I realize my true feelings towards her.

I avoided her by stoping myself to see her, and I also stop to contact her in any means of communication, but still, I fell for her hard. I feel like I’m going crazy when I deprive myself of talking to her.

And I don't want to be unfair to Liz. She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve me. I know that there is someone perfect for her or more deserving of having her—the person who will love her like how I love Alex now.

I heard the rumors about Alex. That most of her friend’s boyfriend is falling for her or ended up falling for her.

At first, I laugh at that rumor when Liz told me about it. It was my birthday when she introduces Alex to me. She even warned me before the party. I told her that it would never happen because I love her and that I am serious.

But look at me now? I am now falling deeply and madly with Alex. Who wouldn't fall for Alexandria Ramirez?

Besides being beautiful and hot, she is also fun to be with; she has a great sense of humor, simple, and very responsible.

She’s too mature for her age. That is why I am calling her baby girl to remind her that she is still young. But that brat called me grandpa when I call her baby girl!

I am too handsome to be called grandpa.

She is the only person who can treat me like that because other people are either intimidated or trembling with excitement when they are talking to me.

She's always an exemption. Because of her, there are things I am not inclined to do, but I ended up doing. Like text and call, I'm not really into those things.

Not a day goes by that I don't text or call her. It's like I'm back in being a teenager. But even when I was a teenager, I am not doing that kind of thing. Alex is different.

That’s why I am finding it hard to follow her request.

I am already used to text her, “Good morning, baby girl!” And “Good night, baby girl.”

I am already used to call her during lunch break. Sometimes even if it does not break time, I still call her.

"Hey, dude, spacing out again?"

I was in the middle of my thoughts when Josh asked me.

"H-ha?" I said to him absently.

"Let me guess... is it because of your baby girl?" Chase said while grinning.

I gave them a forced smile.

“She let me go,” I told them.

I feel the pain in my heart. This is the first time that I experience heartbreak. I haven’t started courting her yet, but she already dumped me.

Josh, Chase, Drake, and Gian are my college buddies. They knew about my situation. They knew that I fell in love with my girlfriend's best friend.

They are the ones who made me realize that I am falling for her already. Because why would I even entertain those kinds of thoughts when I have a girlfriend, and that is also her best friend.

“What? Are you guys together?” Josh said in a teasing tone.

I glared at him. Look at this guy! He already sees me so down and almost crazy thinking about how I can change Alex’s decision. But this brute still chose to piss me instead of helping me.

"Tsk"

Maybe because they can see how serious the situation is for me, they stop bugging me.

“What, dude, could you tell us what happens?” Chase asks in a serious tone.

I told them what Alex and I talked about when I visited her in her office.

"Well, I don't blame her. Her decision is not surprising because Liz is her best friend.” Chase said.

I thought about what Chase said. Why didn't I think I could lose Alex because of my breakup with Liz.

But what am I going to do? To continue to fool Liz? She doesn't deserve that. She's so important to me, and I don't want to fool her and hurt her.

That's why I wanted to beat myself up when I invited Liz to have sex, to force her to break up with me. I know because Liz is not an easy girl, and she does not deserve to be treated like that. But I really can't think of anything at that time.

“What will I do now?” I said desperately.

“Well, dude, I only thought of one thing to solve it,” Chase said.

“And what is that?” I ask in a serious tone.

“Liz needs to move on completely. Because until Liz is still in love with you, you will find a hard time to win your baby girl.” Chase sounds so confident with what he said.

I raised my brow. “How?”

“It's so simple. Liz needs to open her heart again to someone else.” Chase said, a bit dramatic.

We all laugh at how Chase delivers his answer.

“Your term is such a cheesy dude. But you have a point. It only means that Liz needs to have a new boyfriend so that I can enter again in Alex’s life.”

“My term is cheesy? What about your line ‘so that I can enter again in Alex’s life’?! That’s even more cheesy!” Chase said while laughing.

I just shook my head.

Well, at least I somehow feel at ease. There is still hope for Alex and me.

“But seriously, guys, how are we going to make it happen?”

“We need someone who can open Liz’s heart.” Then Chase laugh.

I can no longer bear the cheesiness of Chase.

“And who can that be?” I ask him.

“You can choose from one from them,” Chase said while pointing at Gian, Drake, and Josh.

I thought of it. Does it mean that I will let one of my friends courts, Liz?

I looked at them. I don't know if that's a good idea, but if that's the only way for Alex and I to be okay, why not?

But which of these three? Josh is a womanizer. I can't trust Liz to him. Drake is worst than him, and he is a workaholic. He will not be able to spend time with Liz.

"Gian?" Possible.

“Why me?” His brow raised.

I smirked. “Why not?” I asked him back.

“Not me; I’m busy.” He hissed.

I grin. “You are busy with what?”

Gian grin. “With girls?”

Aside from Josh and Chase, Gian is also a known playboy in the group, but unlike those two, Gian is more harmless. I also know that I can trust Liz to Gian. He knows his limitations, and he knows that Liz is a decent woman.

“Please do it, dude. Only until Alex and I will be okay, at least if you and Liz become a couple, Alex will allow me to court her. Could you do it for at least three months? It's okay if you want to break up with her. I think my relationship with Alex will not be at risk at that time.” I pleaded to him.

I am desperate now.

“I thought that Liz is important to you? Haven’t you thought that your plan might hurt her?” He said, trying to make me think right.

I thought of it. I don’t want to hurt Liz, but I don’t want to lose Alex.

I massage my temple. I don’t know what to do anymore.

He sighed. "Okay, dude, we will do it like this. I'll help you with Liz, but that doesn't mean I'll court her. I will help her to move on."

My face lights up from what he said. I only have one thing in mind at that time, and that is Alex. I can have a chance with her.

"Thanks, dude. I owe you one."