Hector helps her to stand well once again and the flush on Regal’s cheek is very visible, he slowly squats and his hands touch her ankles.

“You didn’t sprain your legs, did you?” Hector asks.

Regal has a hard time consuming the feeling of his warm hands on her legs, but she answers anyway.

No, her voice is quiet.

The doorbell rings and Hector runs after it, leaving Regal to her hot cheeks and trembling heart.

He returns after with two boxes of large pizzas and the first thing Regal does is laugh when she sees him approaching.

Hope you got my favorite? She says pointing to one of the pizzas.

“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea….” Hector says while he chuckles setting the pizzas in front the large TV.

“Wait here, I’m about to get you a surprise.” Hector says as he jogs back to the kitchen.

Regal opens one of the pizzas and it’s still steaming hot, she picks the pineapple toppings and places the juicy bite in her mouth.

Hector, how is your mom? She asks while Hector works in the kitchen.

“I stayed with her throughout today, she’s recovering.” He answers.

Thank God. Regal mutters.

“After minutes of waiting for him, Regal brings out her phone to check out any missed calls or so.” She also stands to peep from the window whatever is going on in her house, she sees more people entering into the house and for a second, she wonders if Ryle has no control over the house anymore.

Good thing, she locked up her room before vacating to Hector’s house. If she didn’t do that she would have been more worried, calculating the way the music is becoming bigger, the neighbors would complain soon, police might come, parents would be called.

Ryle was steering a big pot of soup and she’s far away from it, so she won’t get the burn.

“I’m coming in now.” Hector says. I’m gonna need you to close your eyes too.

What is it? Regal says, jumping back to the couch with happiness as she can’t wait for Hector’s surprise.

“Make sure your eyes are sealed, he says and Regal obeys.”

She can hear his footstep and she knows he is now beside the couch.

“You can open.” His voice is deep; she can hear how deep it goes.

Regal opens her eyes and is surprised to see him holding a purple can soda.

She stares at for what seems like eternity before holding the beautifully packaged cold soda in her hands.

Is this it? She asks and chuckles before the word can even be heard.

“Yes, I want you to meet Pluto.” Hector reply as he watches her open it and takes a swing of the soda of which he can’t wait to get a review.

His eyes are on the liquid on her lips as after she tastes the berry flavored drink, he watches how are eyes are resolved into a slimmer, kinder expression that he can take all his life to decipher.

Hector has missed her for so long; he has missed the sound of her voice, cheerfulness in her eyes and the amusement in her character. He misses when they would stare at the night sky and he would watch her talk about the world, and how she wonders if there was anyone who in the same position as them, in that moment—if there was anyone sitting in the evening stars like them too.

“It is eccentric, Hector.” She replies as she looks back at him, he can see the sincerity in her eyes.

Really? He asks, just to hear her voice again.

Have I ever lied to you? Regal asks.

Right. He says.

“Hector, I’m rooting for you.” If this is what you want to do then I totally support you, okay? I know you are going through a lot right now in your life, but listen, you are not alone. I’m here. She whispers and he can perceive the berry flavors that leave her lips.

Thank you. He replies, he means that gratuity; he has needed it ever since he decided to chase this lane of dropping out of school and planning this out.

Now, shall we get into this movie? He says as he rubs his hands together and Regal is staring at him with so much affection that she’s sure that her heart never stopped beating for him.

They both laugh and show their disgust in the feral wars of Van Helsing, from the blood consuming vampires to the chopping off of their heads, not to talk about the climax when it became evening. Hector watches, Regal draw the blanket up to her neck as the series gets deeper-- when a physcopath who just turned feral is on the look for the main characters that are just looking for a way to survive.

He chuckles when he remembers how serious she always took series like she was in it. Hector was astonished when he opened the door to her, it had been long since he’d seen her in a dress, and he realizes that she is a grown lady too, just like him.

Regal isn’t as small as he thought so, she was a lady now, two years apart has a good impact on her cause she is still the same Regal; bubbly, funny, quick with conversations. And as the evening goes, they both enjoy the bloody feuds of Van helsing until a rapid knock comes at the door.

Hector can’t guess who it is, but he stands to check.

Regal on the other hand is keen on the movement going on screen that she doesn’t even see him leave beside her, it is until something that leaves her jaw open happens that she taps the couch. She thought Hector was still beside, where he’s supposed to be that she realizes that Hector is no more sitting beside her.

She jumps off the couch and walks towards the door calling out to Hector as she walks into the dark corridor.

Regal stops when she sees Ryle standing in front of the door, and she has that look of defeat that she imagined.