Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Amelia's p.o.v;

I saw Andrew and his girlfriend as I was leaving the college. I made an effort to get away from them by entering another way, but Andrew saw me and called my name. Damn!

I approached him and gave him a phoney smile as I did so.

"Hi!"

Andrew inquired me, "Hey! I've heard you left the music club. Why did you do it? What happened?"

"I joined the club to study the guitar, but now that I've learnt it better than before, I can't see any reason to continue, therefore I've left the club."

"Senior Jacob also said exactly that to me. Why don't you give joining the club another thought?"

His girlfriend spoke to him in his ears as he was asking me.

Andrew pointed at his girlfriend and stated, "I forgot to introduce you both. She's Cathy. Catherine. My girlfriend."

I answered, "Yeah, I heard that from the club," as I nodded.

I gave her a handshake and introduced myself "Oh, and I'm Amelia. I'm glad to have met you."

She stated, "Greetings to you as well. You appear lovely. I like your dress."

"Thank you, It was a birthday present from my mother last year."

Andrew, "Yes, I did also notice it earlier. You should dress colourfully more often since you look gorgeous when you do."

He added to his girlfriend, who was staring at him, "She wears monochromatic clothing at all times. She appears gorgeous in colour because of this, in my opinion."

Cathy asked me all of a sudden, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Andrew, "She doesn't." And asked me, "Do you?"

I blinked at him, then slowly shook my head and said, “No.”

Cathy said to Andrew, "Don't pretend like you know her well. Girls are so much better at hiding things than a guy. Maybe she was dating someone in secret." And she winked at me.

"Um, actually, no."

She smiled at me and said, “You should try then.”

My eyes went wide as I looked up at her and asked, “Why?”

"So that I'll have my boyfriend all to myself." And she laughed.

I tried to leave but couldn't since they were talking to me without an end.

Andrew to Cathy, "Have you checked the KY cafe? I heard that their parfait tasted delicious. Wanna try?"

Cathy nodded to him.

I replied, "I'll leave then, bye."

Cathy asked me, "Why don't you join us?"

"It's fine. I don't wanna be a bother to you guys."

"Hey, I was just kidding back then. Did you take it seriously?"

"Nah, I was kidding as well. I have somewhere to be too. So, enjoy the parfait. Inform me after checking out that place. I'll go and try it by myself if I have spare time."

I said my farewell to them and then left the college to go to the bus stop.

Hannah, "You're still here. I assumed you had already left."

"I was speaking with Andrew's girlfriend at the time so I lost my bus."

"Ah, I see. Are you going to the nearby club with me?"

"No, I'm not interested."

"Join me, it'll be great," she said.

I thought for a while and joined her, "Okay, let's leave."

When I decided to go with Hannah, she gave me a hug. I need some sort of diversion so that I won't be thinking about unimportant things right now.

At the club,

The music was energetic and fit the vibes as soon as we entered the club. It was noisy and loud as students mocked the band by dancing or swaying in unison with one another. But not simultaneously, as it was all in good fun and they weren't being harsh like the other people on the floor. A group of people spin the bottle or play pool in a circle. On the tables, there were people having sex as the band performed an instrumental, to the support of the audience. When it does, it's a place where you feel alive and free. From one side of the room to the other, people were rushing about in a whirlwind, laughing and singing along to whatever music was being played repeatedly from the speakers. It wasn't unusual for someone to become caught up in their own dancing routine and forget about anything else. That is what transpired when folks became inebriated.

The bass resonates through the flooring as the beat thumps into your chest.

“Yo!”

I suddenly awaken from my reverie and look around to see some pals coming straight at me. They belong to one of the neighbourhood gangs that I can identify in my class. One of them I recognized—Jack. it's

As soon as everyone had seated themselves, drinks were being poured for all of us.

"I thought we were hanging out alone," I muttered.

"With only us, it won't be enjoyable." She carried on drinking as well.

Even if the music wasn't all that well-known—at least not yet—it was plenty for any gathering. With only one or two exceptions, it would take some getting used to after spending two weeks in a small area. The bass made the floor vibrate in sync with the rhythm in a club this small and small enough to be labelled a "club." The beat was steady. It was a great location for nighttime dancing and a few beers. The DJ finished his playlist and went over his set list when he announced that everyone could enter the dance floor and the lights went down.

Everyone was joking around and talking to one another.While they danced, some of them would focus on a couple who had just joined them on the dance floor, but perhaps not in that way. The two had hair that was a similar colour, but significantly different from one another since one had a lighter tone and the other a darker tone.

As the time went on, the mood became laid-back and individuals began to dance individually or in groups with their friends. All it needed to make sense was that. I was really inebriated at that point.

Hannah asked when she left the club, "Shall I drop you at your house?"

"I can go by myself," I said.

I stumbled as I made my way to the bus stop and fell on the ground before I got there. Someone helped me to stand by myself.

Looking at the outfits, I found that it was a guy. He made me walk to the nearest bus stop I was walking to before.

I looked at his face. "I've seen you somewhere. What's your name?"

"Mike."

"Ahhh. Mike. The guy who had a crush on me."

"What?"

"My brother told me about you. I felt so bad after hearing your story. It's really a sad one. I can relate to that very easily, tell me how you overcame your feelings for me?"

"You're drunk."

"Yeah, I am. Can't you see that? Wait, I'll blow on your face."

When I tried to get closer to his face, he stopped me by holding my cheeks together and looked at me.

"What are you doing?"

"Who said I overcame those feelings?"

"Huh?"

I noticed my brother walking alongside a girl as I was held by Mike. Is the person with him his girlfriend? I got out of my seat and turned to face them. She appeared to be familiar, but I wasn't able to identify her because the drink I had earlier in the night had made everything seem foggy to me.

They abruptly got into a cab and departed. What place are they going?

When I tried to leave, Mike grabbed my hand and asked, "Where are you leaving?"

I snapped his hand and hopped into a cab and requested the driver to pursue the other vehicle.

"Yes, ma'am."

I was riding in the cab that my brother and his girlfriend were riding in as they passed another cab.

"Hurry up. Never let them go out of your sight."

"Yes, ma'am."

The driver eventually stopped after a while of driving.

I asked him, "Why are you coming to a stop? Suppose he misplaces them. Should we risk losing them? Start the car, then drive after them. I must visit them."

"The vehicle was also stopped. Look for yourself."

When I turned to look, I could see my brother and his girlfriend entering a restaurant as the cab was departing.

When I attempted to pursue them after getting out of the car, the driver questioned, "What about the money?"

I paid him with cash.

"I don't have any change", he declared.

"I'd rather not. Wait here for me. In a couple of minutes, I'll return."

"Yes, ma'am."

I asked the driver to take me into the restaurant because I was unable to walk and tripped along the way.

The driver was forced to sit across from me, and I peered at my brother from the table I was at.

Because the girl was sitting facing at my brother, I couldn't see her face. Now what should I do? I asked the driver for assistance as I tried to come up with a solution.

After some time, the driver crossed in front of them and ran into the serving staff member who was carrying beverages. Because the beverages were spilled on Andrew's girlfriend, she had to use the restroom.

I gave the driver a thumbs up and went to the restroom to see who it was.

I walked along the wall and entered one of the private facilities because I was wearing a splint. The girl's reflection in the mirror caught my attention as I slightly opened the door. Anna???

Upon seeing her face, I was astounded and sank to the ground.

"Is everything all right?" Anna questioned from the outside.

"Yes, I'm OK. I appreciate you asking."

I strolled over to the table and said to the driver, "Let's go," after making sure she had left the restroom.

I descended outside my home and went inside. I immediately walked to my room and wondered, "How could this happen? My brother and Anna have been dating. Why didn't I know about this earlier?"

In order to see if Andrew was in his room, I peered through the window. In his chamber he was.

I approached his window and knocked on it. He let me in by opening the window.

"The fact that you are in my room surprises me. How did you end up here? Should I bring a beverage with me?"

"Wait, I came to speak with you."

"Exactly what? Did you alter your mind? Did you make the decision to re-join the club?"

"No, pay attention to me first."

"You seem intent. What is it?"

"Keep your cool after I say this, please."

"Go on."

"I discovered the person my brother dates,"

"Did you actually? How?"

"I accompanied him to the eatery. I was astounded when I saw the girl's face. Anna. Anna and my brother are dating. Your sibling! Your sister and my brother are dating."

Andrew did not appear astonished when I uttered the name.

"Why aren't you getting shocked?" I questioned him. "I'm talking about your sister here. My brother and your sister have been dating for a while. Their relationship has lasted six years. Even I found it hard to believe. Now that I know why my brother disliked competing with your family because he loved a member of it, I can relate. Since middle school, he claimed to have loved her. I'm in disbelief now that I know Anna and my brother are dating. Why do you appear that way? Why aren't you as startled as I am about this? Why do you look like you already know something?"

"Yes," he said with a nod. "not only recently. From the beginning, I knew it."

"Did you know?"

"Yes."

"You were aware of it right away, but despite that, you made me appear foolish in front of you. Did you enjoy watching me act so crazy? Why did you not inform me? Why did you withhold it from me?"

"Are you inebriated?"

"Don't switch the subject! Why didn't you tell me when you knew it beforehand? Please respond."

"I didn't want to hide anything from you, but I decided to let it go since I felt that your brother would be a greater source of information than I was. How could I tell you that we weren't this close before, considering that?"

"You believe we're getting close now?"

"Are we not?"

"No. no longer."

I hit my hand on the glass when I attempted to exit through his window.

In an effort to hold back my screams, I bit my hand.

"Are you crazy?", he questioned as he removed the hand from my mouth.

"Do you want your parents to be aware of our covert rendezvous then?"

I got to my feet and went to my room.

I thought I understood about the people around me, but as I am repeatedly exposed to truth like this, It feels like I don't know anyone.

I sobbed as I fell to the bed and kept sobbing. What on earth did I do all this time? I was surrounded by activity, but I was in the dark.

I didn't want to open the door when I heard a knock. Ash opened the door and then locked it after entering my room.

I swung around to face him.

"I noticed you today in the restaurant. So you were aware of our relationship, yes?

"Get out of my room."

"I came to have a talk with you."

"But I'm not interested. Leave my room."

"Why are you turning your head away from me? Do you despise your sibling merely because he cherished his rival? Do you realise how painful it is for me to keep this a secret from everyone at all times? Along with harming myself, I was constantly hurting Anna as well. Our parents forbade us from leaving the house unaccompanied. We were unable to communicate or see each other as other couples can. Unlike others, we were unable to spend time together. Even though I could support her, she continues to love me unconditionally."

"Is it the reason you exhort me to love Andrew?"

"No. That was totally different. How could you think like that? I never do that to you. I was only supporting you because you like him. I was only happy that my sister liked someone she wanted. I figured we could tell our parents if you two liked each other. But I was unaware that he had a girlfriend, so this is how it happened."

"Do you like her that much?", I asked him as I turned to face him.

He gave me a nod.

"More than me?"

"You are prioritised over everyone else. She is aware of this."

"Will you still love me like this after you marry her?" I asked as I hugged him.

He gave me a hug in return and laughed.

"What did you say?" he demanded after breaking off the hug?

I brushed away my tears and added, "I'll be there for you, brother. I'll facilitate your meeting."

"Really? Are you going to assist me?"

I gave him another embrace while nodding.

I wiped my face, stepped outside, and tapped on Andrew's window once again after my brother had left the room. He let me in by opening the window.

"I arrived to chat with you."

"You and I have already spoken. Did you come back to talk to me once more after forgetting?"

"Stop making me laugh. I recall it."

"I wasn't serious. How is your hand doing?"

"It's alright."

"What did you wish to discuss with me?"

"I chose to assist them."

"Whom will you assist?"

"My brother's love, of course. I want to make my brother happy. He shouldn't grow up to be like me, please."

"What?"

"Together, we must complete this. You have to help me with this. My brother and your sister will have to get married somehow in the end. And, we're helping them. The end."

"But they're still in college. They're studying."

"Not now. It's after they graduate. We have to help them no matter what. Understand?"

"What are we going to do?" he asked while giving a nod.

"We must devise a strategy otherwise it won't work. I'll give it some thought, and I'll think about it for you as well. No matter what, We have to ensure that they reconcile in the end. That is the goal we have to achieve here."

He said, "Wait, you were furious when you found out that it's my sister, but now you're scheming to get them together. I don't get you," as I was leaving my room.

"I was upset with him for not telling me; I wasn't upset that it was your sister. I'm not at odds with your sister in any way. I have seen her sometimes, it's a green light from me. If she is my sister-in-law, I'm delighted."

"You finally grinned."

"What?"

"You've been so depressed recently. I considered asking you, but I didn't because I wasn't sure whether you would answer. Does your brother's love make you happier now that you're looking happy?"

"I believe so. After receiving a hug from my brother, I always feel better when I'm depressed."

"Every time I see you two, I get envious."

"Why is that? Don't you and your sister get along well? Even if your sister told you about her love life, why are you acting like you don't talk to her?"

"We share everything, but we're not as close as you are with your brother." he replied with a smile.

"You share everything, at least. When it comes to love, my brother is secretive. Okay, I'm tired now. Bye. Good luck tonight."

"Wait, why has your window recently been locked?"

"My mother requested that I lock it because I have resumed sleepwalking."

"If I wanted to talk to you, how would I do it?"

"We can chat in college," I said.

"Okay "

I went to my room, lay on the bed, and considered my chat with Andrew. I couldn't believe I still spoke in that manner. Why, even after getting drunk to forget about him, did I not experience any pain when I spoke to him? Weird. His cello playing was audible. In order to fall asleep, I closed my eyes.

He is, after all, my neighbour next door.

My phone rang. Who's calling me now?

I took my phone and saw the display. It was from an unknown number.

I answered, "Hello?"

"Did you get home safe?"

"Who's this?"

"Mike. Your brother's friend. Did you get home?"

"Yeah, I'm in my room right now."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"How did you get my number?"

"I asked your brother."

"Okay."

The awkwardness.

He said, "Good night." And he ended the call.

After the call, I thought, 'Did he really make a call to know my whereabouts? Carzy.'