Chapter - 10

Mr Martinez's pov;

I hailed a cab and arrived at my place. Today was an unusual day. Isabella is the most lively girl I've ever seen. My mind was racing with questions after spending half a day with her. Why does she take on so many jobs? First and foremost, why does she require employment? Isn't she a little too young to work? Why is she so eager to make money at such a young age? Is there anything she requires? Wait a minute, Mr Johnson was talking about her mother's debt. So Isabella was attempting to repay her mother's debt?

When I stepped into the premises, The house was surrounded by many bodyguards while I was thinking about Isabella. Why are there so many security guards here?

"Sir, where have you been?" Mr Johnson inquired of me. "We were all attempting to contact you but were unable to do so. So we broke into the house believing you were in danger, but you weren't there either, so I assumed someone had kidnapped you and filed a report, and police were looking for you outside. And now you're here..."

I strolled to the house, ignoring him.

"Did you get kidnapped, Sir?"

I shook my head and resumed my trip to the house.

"All well, Sir, I'll leave two security guards outside the house for your protection."

The guards stood vigil at the main door and the entrance. Idiots.

When I attempted to take a step up the steps, I heard, "Alexander! The seeker of attention!"

I moved my head towards the direction of the voice. Olivia Rodriguez, the mistress of my father's, was seated in the middle of the house.

"What are you doing here?"

"What exactly am I doing here? Right? What exactly am I doing here? Why would I come here and spend my time if the so-called prince hadn't vanished from the house? Every time I come here, I loathe everything about it, from the brick to the ceiling. It feels like a cage to me, and I feel compelled to break it down. But, dear, I let it go because my spouse resided here. Don't run off like a stray puppy and bring trouble back home."

I attempted to ignore her and move away.

"That's it. That's what you're best at. Walking away. Go and cover yourself under a blanket and hope that you die soon so that you can be freed from me."

I entered my room and shut the door behind me. I genuinely want to die and be free, like she said but that was years ago. Since my mother died, the world has never been a bed of roses for me. My father's death hit me hard and pushed me further into this abyss. I'm sick of attempting. I had given all hope of ever surviving in this world. I gave up long ago when I attempted suicide by cutting my wrist. Unfortunately, I was saved because of my inheritance. Otherwise, I would have been six feet below right now.

Isabella's p.o.v;

"What took you so long? We started drinking after waiting for you." Gina asked us while we're taking our seats at the table in the club.

"If it hadn't been for Sophia, I would have gotten here sooner," I told Gina, glancing at Sophia.

Sophia, "Stop saying that. I've already heard that a lot. I agree that I was childish, but why did you do it? Are you insane?"

Gina, "What are you two talking about? Nothing makes sense to us."

"I'm going to say it." Sophia stepped forward.

I interrupted, "No. I'm going to say it. She'll constantly embellish her stories."

"No! I don't!"

"You do, really." Gina, Darren, Mitch, and I all agreed.

"All right, then, let's hear it from Isabella Garcia, the only girl who speaks the truth."

"That's what I meant by 'exaggerating' Okay. The thing is... I got a call from Sophia while I was outside... um... strolling down Ghar street alone. She merely said that there was an emergency and that she needed me to come to her house, and the phone stopped abruptly. What should I do if one of my friends says anything like that? I dashed to her house as soon as I heard that, and when I arrived, the door was wide open, as if someone had barged in. I assumed someone broke into the house and yelled Sophia's name in terror. She was taking her time descending the stairs. I believed she was being threatened, when she's acting normal in front of me..."

"You can stop right there," Sophia remarked.

"Don't pay attention to her. Go right ahead." Mitch remarked, taunting her.

I went on, "I hurried up to her and asked what was wrong and if somebody was home and threatening her and anything like that, but she seemed far too calm. I noted that she tends to exaggerate little details, so I asked her what happened when she made the call. She claimed that a rat damaged the clothes she had planned to wear. And she made the call while chasing the rat outside her room with her darling brother. Oh my goodness! Do you have any idea how I felt after hearing that?"

At the end of the narrative, everyone laughed, ridiculing her for still being afraid of rats.

"It completely wrecked my dress. Do you have any idea how much it costs? I paid for it with my last two months' savings."

"Then you've got to keep it safe, not feeding the rats," I patted her on the back.

Her lips were pursed.

"We'll buy another one shortly," I said. "Don't be alarmed. And your garments will not be harmed as a result of this."

"How come you say that?"

"After being chased out by your brother, I believe I will be the sole rat to enter your room again." After saying that, I laughed.

Sophia and I both chuckled.

"I'm not sure why. Bella is the only one here that constantly teases you, but you still laugh along with her in the end. What is causing this? Please tell me the truth. Are you trying to keep something from us?" Darren inquired.

"Hey, we're absolutely straight," I said to Darren. "And, to answer your question, we're the closest buddies among us. She is the only one who understands me better than the rest of you. Am I correct, Sophia?"

"Yeah, You're correct."

"See! Sophia is my favourite girl. You're all after her. She's the first and finest choice for me."

Sophia's point of view;

Yes, I've always been a friend in your eyes, and we've always been friends since we met, but Belle, I've never considered you a friend.

It was after the summer holidays in middle school that I was transferred to a new class with new students, and a new semester began. My pals were sent to another class, so I felt like an outcast among my new classmates.

Snatching the bench, bringing in new pals, and other things were going on around me, but I sat still in my spot. Students were fighting for the same seat, and others were cursing at one another.

Why is this class so full of miscreants? I had my fill of them in middle school. They behave strangely around the weak and strangely towards the strong. They are the ones who disturb the class, ask unpleasant questions, and crack jokes. If you are detected, they will severely damage your school experience.

When a boy forcefully tapped on my bench and asked for my name on the first day, I became stiff and sat still. I should have gone to a different school. While I was shivering in my spot, a girl appeared out of nowhere and squeezed his ear, asking him to apologise to me, which made me laugh. My grasp loosened slightly as a result of my chuckle.

When everyone was seated, they all sat with close friends, leaving me alone. The girl who had previously made me chuckle took the seat beside me and smiled at me, making me feel warm towards her.

The little warmth I felt from her put me at rest.

That was my initial impression of Belle.

We got close a few days later. I made new acquaintances, and she made new ones as well. She introduced me to her friends, and I did the same. But, unlike others, we became close friends. I'm not sure why, but she gives me every secret she has, which has brought us closer than any of her other pals. When she's down, she'll run to me, as if I'm a safe haven for her and I was there for her when she needed me.

As we grew older, I began to distrust our friendship. I began to have doubts about our connection. When you were with me, my thoughts went crazy. I was perplexed by our friendship, and so many questions arose within me whenever you were around me.

When I tried to avoid you in the hopes of distracting myself from what I was thinking about you, it backfired. I started missing you even more.

While I was perplexed about our friendship, we played truth or dare on the night we went out to celebrate entering high school. When bottle indicated Noah and you. He dares you to kiss anyone in here. Surprisingly, you chose me to kiss when I was thinking about who you would kiss.

What made you do that? There are a lot of people here. Why did you pick me out of all of them? Is it because we're so close?

When you moved closer to me for a kiss, I felt my blood rush throughout my body, causing my heart to race.

You suddenly drew me into a kiss. Belle, you kissed me. Although the kiss was brief, I can still feel it on my lips. After the kiss, I realised what I'd been feeling for you all these years. Belle, I... I like you. Not as a buddy, but as something more.

You don't recall the kiss because you were drunk that day.

Returning to reality,

Bella shook me as I was reflexively caressing my lips, saying, "What are you thinking so deeply about? What possessed you? You've been acting strangely since the morning."

"N-Nothing. I'm just apprehensive about going to a club." I deceived her.

"Then grow accustomed to it." She then laughed.

One of Belle's jobs is working in nightclubs. She appeared to be a regular in a club, holding a container of club soda. I'm curious how she can drink only soda after working in so many nightclubs.

"Shall I order a drink for you?" Mitch suggested.

"Club soda is enough for me," she shook her head.

"Don't act like you haven't been drinking, you were very inebriated when we last saw you. Why are you acting as if you're all innocent?" Benny inquired.

Belle walked away from the scene, claiming, "I'm not a drinker. Why not start with you if you want me to drink that badly? You'll drink first, and then I'll join you."

Belle fixed her drink and ordered a stronger cocktail for Benny. Benny was done after three shots.

"That was a nice move." After seeing what Belle had done, I commended her.

"That was how the brave one was treated. People believe they are brave and capable of doing anything, but deep down, everyone is a scaredy-cat who is afraid to even take a step." And then she laughed.

That is correct. We all appear brave on the outside, but deep down, everyone is hiding something and is frightened to admit it.

"Why did you invite me to this stupid party?" Belle continued. "It's so boring, and the music makes us feel like we're at a funeral."

While she was speaking, I laughed and replied, "Are you complaining about me inviting you? You are free to leave if you do not like it. Nobody is interested in you."

"Even if this area appears like a funeral party in the centre of the cemetery, I'll choose to stay here for you," she wrapped her hands around my shoulder. "How can I abandon my best buddy in this situation? What if a body emerges from here and goes after you? Isn't it my responsibility to protect you? And I would never abandon my friend for anything or anyone. Did you forget?"

Friend?

"The reason I invited you isn't just because I wanted you to accompany me," I sighed, "but there's another reason as well. Did you notice the boy over there? His name is Troy," he said, pointing to Troy. "He has a crush on you."

"So? What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Go chat to him. He requested for my assistance in getting you to talk to him, and I promised to do so. So go have a conversation with him."

"When you invited me, I got a hint, and now it's proven. That is why I decline your invitations to parties. Why are you directing my attention to guys who are too afraid to approach me in person?"

"I'm not pressuring you. I'm merely giving two folks an introduction. What's the problem with that? And you want that guy to look down on your friend because she broke the promise?"

"Okay! Okay! I'll do it, but this will be my last. You should not repeat this action."

I nodded, and she walked away to talk to the boy I mentioned.

Do you think it'll be easy for me? Do you know how I feel every time a guy appears and requests you? Do you have any idea how I feel when I try to make you talk to them? It's excruciatingly painful, Belle.