I [don't] Play God (Chapter 6)

Chapter 6 – The Jeopardy

“The third party is not always the suspect, most of the times they are the victim.”

—Never go onto something with a second thought, that’s dangerous.—

It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Karlos was lying down on a nearby shady tree beside the Serrano’s home. He was just thinking – thinking of something about his past, about all that he had done. Suddenly, Dorothy was walking inside the Serrano’s to fetch Agatha. She was silently walking, not making any noise, she noticed Karlos. She tried to surprise him, but it was the other way around. She looked closely to the guy, Karlos’ eyes were closed, his lips were also tight closed, and when she moved a little bit closer, boo! Karlos’ eyes opened and Dorothy was shocked with what she saw, his eyeballs were rolled up, leaving only the white portion of his eyes. Dorothy was terrified with what she saw. She almost cried out loud without uttering any single word. She thought she might die at any moment, she was that panicky to react that much. Before she caught her relief, Karlos laughed so hard after seeing the poor lass’ reaction. He picked her thick eyeglass, which fell down after she was thrown away with shock. Dorothy became angry with the trick Karlos did.

“You’re not funny, aren’t you?” said Dorothy while fixing herself as she stood up from the lawn.

“But your reaction is,” he suavely answered. “You are a lot prettier if you are under terror,” he continued.

“You know what, I thought we will be in really good terms, but you know what, cut yourself because we are ENEMIES. E-N-E-M-I-E-S,” spelled Dorothy with putting much pressure whenever she’s saying and/or spelling the word enemies.

“Hey, that’s just a joke.”

“But it isn’t funny.”

“I’m sorry!”

“Well, you’re not. You’re rude.”

“I’m not.”

“Then die.”

Dorothy walked out of the Serrano’s, but she was slow enough to catch by Karlos. He grabbed her shoulders and she was instantly caught by Karlos’ strong muscular arms.

“You’re not going anywhere, alright?” Karlos said as he again flashed his killer smile.

“Let me out. You’re out of your mind.” Dorothy still tried to shrug the guy off, but her prowess was insufficient to match the guy’s. She was now regretting that she did not take up her karate lessons that her dad insisted.

“No. You are just freaked out.”

“I did. It’s all because of you, so thank you!” she sarcastically said. She was still wrapped around him, face to face. She didn’t know what to do. She also didn’t want to make a scene, but what she felt was really disturbing. As they continued the same position, her heart was mumbling something she couldn’t anticipate. It also started to pond so fast that The Flash would be ashamed of himself.

“I-I’m s-sorry, okay?” He slowly detached his arms from the poor girl’s body. His face blushed because Dorothy was about to cry. He didn’t know that she was that weak with things like that. She was continuously gawked with Karlos and she didn’t know why, but she really was. They stood up looking at each other, tight-lipped.

“I’m really sorry. I-I just recalled my ex-girlfriend. Ah, I just like her reaction whenever I do that. I’m really sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you or what… I-I really don’t know. I hope you can still forgive me. Another chance, I mean. Will you?” Karlos humbly explained; he was so guilty.

“You don’t have to explain. It’s already done. You don’t know my traumatic experience, that’s alright. Just don’t do it again,” Dorothy, now calmed, unconsciously uttered. She again tried to get out of Agatha’s home.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving,” she said shortly. She walked demurely and glanced once again to Karlos whom she left alone. She was surprised to see tears falling from his eyes. It’s her first time to see a real man cry. She felt culpable for that, so she went back to where the guy is.

“Don’t be so gay. Why are you crying?” She tried to cool down the aura around them. She felt doomed on that wild afternoon.

“Nothing. I just missed Bettina.”

“Is she your ex?”

“Yeah. The one I loved most.”

“Why did you break up?”

“It is because she’s leaving.”

As Karlos continued telling his story, they sat on the floor, trying to relax them. Dorothy tried to cool down the intense emotions of Karlos.

“She and I were together for two years. She’s been a constant honor student while I’m a surfing champion way back. She’s the breadwinner of their family. And the bacon is always on hers,” he continued. Dorothy, on the other hand, was just looking at Karlos while absorbing his story. “When we were fourth year, we promised that we will be together in college. But that promise was broken into pieces. Our plans shattered when her greatest dream came in – a scholarship in Stateford University.”

“What’s the problem with that?” she butted in.

“I’m happy for her. It’s an achievement. The problem is our connection with each other. And yes, after graduation, she flew there and I was left in our town with my surfboard. Few months later, our relationship went on the rocks. Problems that we found hard to handle arouse. And few months ago, I have received a note from her. It was an official letter of her breaking up with me. She had another guy then on. It really torn my heart into pieces. I was so desolated with what I have learned. That’s one of the main reasons why I move here,” Karlos declared. “That’s why I really felt guilty when I hurt you, twice. I don’t want to see anybody sad, anybody hurt, because I already felt it. I want this world to have a hate-free country,” he added.

His sad story made Dorothy cried. She hugged him so tight that made Karlos blush again. In return, he also hugged her.

“I promise you, I will never hurt you. Not any time of the day,” she clearly said.

Dorothy’s day ended without knowing that Agatha was already out of the house waiting for her – for several hours.

Dorothy’s bed.

She’s thinking what had happened that afternoon. She knew that she already love Karlos the first time he spoke. In any way it is, all she knew is in the phrase I Love You, “you” is Karlos, but something in her heart said that there is a hesitating factor about loving him. Yes, technically, Karlos and Bettina were over, but in the guy’s heart, Bettina’s caress still lingers. She didn’t know what to do. One thing’s for sure, at a very short period of time, Agatha’s right; she fell in love with Karlos.

ͼѦͽ

The Serrano’s were eating their dinner happily.

“Karl, you didn’t tell me D was just here in the house, I’ve been calling and waiting for her for hours,” Agatha started the talk.

“I don’t know she’s looking for you, we had a talk here and she didn’t mention it. She forgot maybe because of me,” Karlos defended Dorothy.

“Well, maybe you had a great time. It’s a blessing in disguise. What happened?” Agatha smiled at him.

“Nothing much.”

“Hmmmmm. Jillian, did you saw Dorothy and Karlos together?” Agatha asked her sister Jillian.

“Nope. Haven’t caught them. Maybe in time I will,” Jillian facetiously answered.

They were having a good time talking together, when a phone call came in.

**Ring! Ring!**

“I will answer that. Excuse me.” Karlos stood up and walked to answer the call. “Serrano’s residence, who’s this?” he said.

“Can I talk to Karlos Monreal? Is he there?” the girl on the other line answered.

“Speaking. Who’s this?”

“It’s Bettina. Bettina Dantes, still remember?”

He was shocked with what he heard. Bettina’s back.


“R-really?” he answered obnoxiously.