1 Chapter 1 At the Basement

I need to see you. Tonight. That line keeps repeating itself in Aileen's mind. She never thought Edgar would say this, not after everything that happened a week ago at the beach.

They have known each other for a decade now, being graduates from the same high school. Back then, Ed was a snob, being a campus crush, MVP and all that, while she… she's just a wimpy, freckled girl, not much of the noticeable lady that she had become over that last years. Though they're in the same class, they haven't talked to each other. But everything changed since Matt came into the picture.

Matt is a transfer student and Ed's bestfriend. They were like twins, playing basketball together, having the same likes and dislikes, sharing each other's personal belongings and secrets, going on hang-outs, those kinds of stuff most teenagers do. Some even joked they're having bromance but they just laughed it off.

She met Matt by accident, a literal one. She heard from her classmates that Ed and the other Juniors were having a heated BB game with the Seniors. She walked down the stairs three steps at a time, wasting no time to reach the school gym. By the time she got there, Ed was about to shoot and for an instant, it felt like they had their first eye-to-eye contact. It felt like she'd grown roots on the place where she's standing. Then there was a loud thud on her head, and the next thing she remembered is waking up to the acrid smell of antiseptic.

She looked around and found Matt talking with the nurse. Matt noticed her movement and turned, walked the short distance between them and stood next to her bed.

"Hi. Are you all right now?" he asked.

"I supposed. What happened? Where am I?" she asked in return.

"You're in our school clinic," he said. "My bestfriend Ed accidentally hit you with the ball and it struck your head so strong you fell to the floor unconscious. We rushed you here about half an hour ago. And it turns out that you didn't get any fractures, just some minor wounds and bruises from falling."

"Well thank God for small favors," she said. "You told me that you and Ed brought me here? Where is he now?"

"Please don't get mad at him, it was an accident. You should have seen how pale he was while we're bringing you here. He's the first to get to you seconds after you hit the ground."

"Really?" Just a perfect way to establish communication with your crush, she murmured to herself.

"What? Are you really alright?"

"Oh nothing! Yes, I'm fine."

"Well then, we haven't formally met. I'm Matt. I just transferred here," he said, extending his hand to her.

"Hi. I'm Aileen. Nice to meet you." she said, reaching his hand and shaking it.

"Nice to meet you too"

That very same time, Ed walked into the room

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, looking quite embarrassed.

"It's ok. Your friend…"

"Oops, oops, oops!...,"Matt cut her off. " Bestfriend" he said, smiling.

"Ok. Your bestfriend here told me what happened. It was just an accident. No need to get mad at yourself." she said, noting the uneasiness in her voice caused by the impromptu talk with her crush.

"Still, I feel guilty. And I wish I could make it up to you." he said.

"Well, we could start with knowing each other's name." she said, sitting up and extending her hands, surprised by her own boldness.

"I'm Ed. Nice to meet you."

From then on, they became friends. Two years later, Ed left for college. That very same time, Matt began to court her. She busted him many times but he continued to court her anyways, and it's not in vain. She tried herself to love him the way she had loved Ed and it paid off. Their relationship is going 5 years and getting strong, or so it was.

#EdLeen

#MattLeen

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