I stood up from the front porch while waiting for my sister to arrive. "Rosy, its nap time" mother said then carries me in her arms. "What time will be Alicia home?" I ask while still looking at the front of our house. "Soon sweety but for now sleep okay?" mother coed while guiding my head to the crook of her neck. 

Few hours later, I woke up because of the loud noises coming from downstairs. "Alicia!" I excitedly said and carefully got off from my bed. I tiptoed a little high so that I can reach the doorknob, after twisting it; I excitedly ran my way towards the stairs but seems like something is wrong. I can't reach the end of the hallway. "Mommy?" I called while halting midway. I looked around and the furniture looks the same but the stairs was too far unlike it usual length. I'm about to run again when something started pouring out from the ceiling. "Mommy!" I started to panic and looked around.  The place suddenly changed. I was transferred into a small room. "M-mommy?" I called her out again, hoping she'll save me but to my dismay, something horrible flashes in front of me. 

"Alicia!" I screamed in terror once I saw her lifeless body in a fatal position, she was laying on the bed, bathing with her own blood and her body are covered with cuts and bruises. I cried my eyeballs out and again I was transferred into another place. 

"Rosa! Here!" A familiar voice said while holding few plastic bags full of sweets in her hand. "A-Alicia" I whispered while bursting into tears. She suddenly coughs blood in front of me. Then I felt a fang in the heart, I realized something. This was just another torture, another nightmare.

---

"Oy, Rockey! Wake up! Rockey!" I opened my eyes quickly and saw Vicky with a worried expression. "You okay?" she ask while caressing my hand gently, then I felt a thumb, wiping something on my face at the same time. "You were crying in your sleep, dude. We're scared. You didn't wake up the first time we tried to" Katy said in a worried tone. For the first time in a while, I feel someone genuinely concern about me. "Excuse me for a while" I excused myself and went to the bathroom. I bit my bottom lip and hide the tears that are about to stream down my eyes. I look myself in front of the mirror and a dark past mentally flashing through my reflection. "Why are you doing this to me, Alicia?" I muttered to myself while letting the first set of tears to stream down my eyes. This kind of nightmare always occuring when I think too much before I go to sleep. "J-just tell me who did t-this to you--" I bit my bottom lip to prevent myself from making any noise.

[KNOCK (2X)]

"Rockey? You okay there?" Vicky knocked to the door twice. I intentionally opened the faucet to make my voice sound like muffled. "Y-yeah" I said and starts rinsing my face with water.

FAST FORWARD: [Somewhere with Ruby Siblings]

"Oy, Vicky. That's your ex right?" Katy identified a certain girl while pointing her index finger towards the direction of a circle of friends,  standing few centimeters away from the burger stand. "Which of them is your ex?" I ask which Vicky choked on her Milktea. Katy laugh at her first before giving her sister a tissue. "Geez Rockey! You’re too straightforward!" Vicky rolled her eyes while wiping the remaining Milktea on the side of her mouth. I mentally smirk as I started scanning the unfamiliar faces, one by one. I'm not judging them okay? I'm just reading them. "That girl with a short hair was her ex" Katy answered for her sister then I plastered a smirk while still looking to their direction. "Katherine!" Vicky groans while glaring at Katy but hey! I'm curious~ So I'm going to push this subject even further. I need answers. "That girl with dimples?" I ask while scanning her EX from head to toe. "Yeah. Eugene Grae, the captain of the cheerlea--" Katy tried to free herself from Vicky but older already covered the younger’s mouth but with difficulty. "Why did you two broke up? I find the both of you cute" I commented while putting back my gaze to her ex.

"Someone is curious~" Vicky teases but I saw her grin for a split seconds. Don't me, sweety, I have sharp eyes. Then lets play for a bit. "So what if I Am?" I stated then out of a sudden, Katy bit Vicky's hand to free herself up, now hiding behind my back. "Try me, Sis!" Katy challenge her but Vicky stayed calm while looking at her ex bitterly. "That dummy cheated on me" she said in a cold tone while looking back at me. "After our brake up, I found out that she isn't really gay and everything that happened between us was just part of a dare" she continued and Katy side hug her in comfort. I nodded my head and a bright idea pops out my head. Cheater and a dare always complimented each other. Coralita was the one who enlightened me about that thing they called "LOVE" but in a different way. Great timing then. Why not use it now right?

"Did she love you in the first place?" I ask out of the box which Katy look at me confuse. Few seconds passed none of them speak yet. I let out a sigh, pulling Vicky off the bench. "Let's pretend" I said, but look like none of them get what I'm trying to say so I just intertwines our fingers together while flashing Vicky an assuring smile. "Wait, wait. As in PRETEND like lov--" sorry Katy but you're talking too much. "Yes dude. Pretend like a couple in front of that Eugene girl" I smirk and peck Vicky on the cheek since I saw a glimpse of that cheater looking at our direction. "You're no fun Sis!" Katy teased while pulling me beside her and clings her arms to. She started dragging me towards the burger stand. "Yah!" Vicky whines behind us but her sister just ignored her. Once we're already behind those friends, Vicky pushes Katy to the side, holding my hand. "Look what we have here" one of the guys smirk while looking at Vicky. "That's the boyfriend" Katy whispered but enough for me to hear the I feel Vicky tensed up. The show haven't started yet ladies and gentleman. "Oh, look what we have here, BABE" I mocked the guy, but emphasized the sudden call sign while staring Vicky lovingly. "Guys, Vicky Ruby finally got herself a so called GIRLFRIEND". Another member of the group said and some laughter from them can be heard. "Girls, looks like the SNAKES freed themselves from their cages" I said in an insulting tone and felt Vicky's hold, tightening on mine. "What did you just say?!" the EX said. Maybe offended by the word I used to described her. "I think Vy forgot to tell me you're deaf. Aw~ I pity you. Hmm, let me repeat what I've ju--"

[PAK!]

My face turned to the side and suddenly felt warm. "Rockey!" Katy and Vicky said in unison. Wait, did this snake just slapped me on purpose? "That's what you get for talking back at me" the ex said with confidence which made me chuckle as I wipe the blood on the side of my lip. "Acting superior, aren't we?" I said with a hint of evilness. "BABE, are you okay?" Vicky approaches me then check the cut on my lips. Oh wow. She also look very worried. "Stay with Katy" I whispered behind her ear while passing by her figure then I walk closer towards her EX’s direction. "Stop her!" the EX ordered her minions but those words won't work with. One of the guys were about to attack me but I look at him straight in the eye. "Punch the guy behind you" I mouthed in front of him before I dodged his attack. "What's freaking wrong with you!" the guy behind him fell to the ground after he punched a punch. "Rockey!" Katy and Vicky shouted when a surprising punch successfully landed to my stomach. Ugh. It was freaking painful but of course, no pain no gain. "You look terrified" I smirk at the EX while I'm caressing my stomach to lessen the pain. "Go get her!" The boyfriend pushes the nearest girl towards me but unlucky her, she accidentally LOCKED EYES with me. "Pretend to protect Eugene and secretly hit her boyfriend with the rock behind him" I mouthed as I pushed her back towards the couple. 

I'm kneeling one of my knees to the ground while panting. "Babe!" Vicky yelled while approaching me. Katy ran somewhere else which a little concerning. "I'm f-fine" I pretended to be in pain and secretly watches the girl earlier with a huge smirk plastered on my face. "Close your eyes" I suddenly said which made Vicky confused. She's about to ask but I have no time to explain so I pulled her for hug to prevent her from seeing the next scenario. "STEFAN!" Eugene shouted in horror once her boyfriend loses his consciousness, falling to the ground flat with a bleeding head. "What the hell did you do th--" and even before she could finish her sermon, the girl already collapses to the ground unconscious which startled some of the passerby. "W-what happened?" Vicky ask and I almost forgot that I was hugging her. "As much as I don't want to disturb your lovey dovey moment but we needed to put ice to your abdomen now before it swells" Katy stood in front of us with an ice pack. Vicky helps me to get up so does her sister. The youngest Ruby haven't noticed the re-- "Why did they hit each other? Are they high? So weird of them" Katy said on our way back towards the parking lot.

---

"Rockey, time to change your bandage" Vicky softly said while carrying a medical kit. I saw Katy rolling her eyes while helping me to cook our dinner. "Sis, you're overreacting. Treat her with an iced pack not with the bandage, idiot" Katy said a fact as she hands me the chopped vegetables. "Girls, stop arguing. I'm okay now" I re-assured them again for the 7th time. "But Roc--" I shushed Vicky off by placing my index finger to her lip. "Trust me. I'm already good" I said as I playfully wink at her. "Oh! My eyes--gayness overload!" Katy said in grimace while chopping the chicken loudly. "And pretending time is over" I declared which Vicky instantly placed back the medical kit in the cabinet. "You're not going to treat my bruise anymore?" I asked her in confusion but a smirk were already plastered on her face while playfully rolling her eyes at me. "Pretending time is over remember?" she mocked me before sitting on my couch and turning on the television. "Damn your push and pull system!" Katy said in between admiration and sarcasm. I only chuckled in return.\

[KNOCK (2X)]

"I'll get it" Vicky offered and made her way towards the door. "I thought pretending time is over?" Katy raises her voice with a hint of teasing. "What are you doing here?" We heard Vicky asksin annoyance. Katy and I exchanges glances as we secretly peeking who was at the door. "I'm just here to give this to Rockey" Jackal said while showing the flowers to Vicky. "She's allergic to flowers" Vicky obviously lied and about to shut the door in front of him when Katy suddenly pushes me forward which I literally bumps onto Vicky's back. "Ouch!" I winced. "Are you okay!" Jackal and Vicky ask in sync. "Oh~ A love triangle! Sounds fun!" Katy commented before going back to the kitchen. "Look! It’s your fault!" Jackal said to Vicky. "Why it is my fault!" Of course, Vicky countered and the fight started. "Want some help there, Rock?" Katy said while peeking her head through the kitchen and I just wink at her. "You two, that's enough" I said in cold tone that made them froze at their spots. "Oh, scary!" Katy commented before continuing her cooking. "Give me the flowers then leave" I told and reaches for the bouquet. "Fine, I guess see you tomorrow?" Jackal said and I just nodded my head to make him leave. Once he did, Vicky shut the door loudly.

"See you tomorrow my butt" I heard Vicky mumbles something. "What did you say?" I asked which startled her but just roll her eyes at me. Woah. "Done arguing? Let's eat" Katy butt into the conversation and motion us to seat. Vicky goes there ahead of me and I was behind her but I saw a letter between the stems of the flowers so I picked it up first out of curiosity It reads:

Hi Rockey,

In case I don't have the nerves to ask you this in person. I still hope you will say "Yes". Ahm, would you like to go grab some lunch with me tomorrow?

XOXO,

Jackal Harrison 

"Nice timing" I mentally smirk as I got another achievement before the day ENDS. I place the bouquet on my bed and made way towards the dining area. "Looks like you have a competition sis" Katy teases Vicky who once again choked on her drink.

Poor Vicky.

- TO BE CONTINUED -