5 Regret 4 (An Afternoon with Neil and Leila)

Reign

They brought me Fried Chicken from Jollibee, one of my favorites. And since they already had taken their lunch before coming here and I have not taken mine yet, they allowed me to take it for a while in the dining area.

They decided to watch "Barcelona: A Love Untold", a Filipino movie starred by Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo.

I know Neil also loves doing movie marathon as much as Leila but by the movie's genre, I can tell that Leila was the one who chose it. She loves watching romance movies or series, one of our similarities. But I much more prefer writing some.

When I came back, they were already in the climax part. I positioned myself behind them, and I now regret deciding so. From here, I can visibly see how sweet they are to each other, especially Neil.

I see it. I see how he leads Leila's head to lean on his arms, because he knows that she needs something to lean on. He loves her that he cares so much. He cares for Leila that he's very observant of her.

He contentedly smiles when she's happy. When she's sad or not in the mood, he does everything to shift her mood. And whenever she's in trouble or has problems, he faces it with her.

I knew about their feelings towards each other so long ago. I knew it even before they concluded it on theirselves. I knew their feelings that I keep on suppressing mine.

It makes me happy seeing Leila happy. But it breaks my heart being reminded that the man behind her sweet smiles is the same man who I wish would be mine.

I smile to myself, a pitiful one.

"What would you like to eat, Reign?" Leila asks.

Neil is now searching Leila's favorite snacks on his phone since Leila mentioned she's craving for it.

"Hmmm..." I think of my favorite snacks. But since I am still full, I don't feel like eating it. "I'll just go for a milktea", I answer.

"Guessed it right", Leila laughs. She then turns to Neil to say,"Wintermelon Milk Tea for her, please."

She knows me too. I am addicted to Milk Tea, specially to a wintermelon flavor.

Leila focuses back on watching, while Neil continues browsing on his phone. Another sweet gesture of Neil is that he's the one who's ordering the snacks through his phone. Obviously, he doesn't want to interrupt Leila from watching the movie she likes. As soon as he's done, he slowly places his phone on the table in front of them, careful that he won't move so much since Leila's head is still leaning on his arms.

A few minutes had passed and the delivery guy is already here. Neil and I stand up at the same time.

"I'll get it", he says without even looking at me.

Neil has always been cold to everyone, most especially to me, and of course except to Leila. That's why I kinda like it when Leila's around. He's somewhat different. He smiles a lot. Like now..

Of course because he's happy with Leila.. I think to myself.

I am about to go back to my seat, but Leila gestures for me to sit beside her. She immediately wraps her arms on my left arm as soon as I have settled myself beside her, opposite to Neil's spot earlier.

I hear Neil thanking the delivery guy with an unfamiliar tone. He really is happy now. Then he returns to the living room with a smile that I'm not used to seeing on his face.

"Yeeey! This is mine!" Leila excitedly grabs her favorite fries and drinks.

Neil laughs as he teasingly grabs one piece of Leila's fries. Then they giggle to each other.

I take a sip of my milk tea. Then, decides to focus on the movie to avoid the pain. But that's also a wrong decision. This movie is reminding me of Neil, being so attached to Leila that he can't see me as I love him. Like Ely in the movie, Neil has a 'Celine' in his life, who surely is Leila. It's just that Celine in the movie is dead. Whereas Leila is here, that makes her more irreplaceable. But don't get me wrong. Never have I wished something bad to happen to Leila. I don't want to lose Leila.

We have finished "Barcelona: A Love Untold". Now, Leila has chosen another Filipino movie which is "Hello, Love, Goodbye", starring Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo. It doesn't help ease the pain I'm feeling. It's another painful love story of a couple who couldn't stay together because of the female lead's dreams in life.

Compared to earlier's atmosphere when we were watching "Barcelona", the atmosphere now is much more serious. And it's giving me a chill now. They are both quiet. I don't know if it's just my own observation, but I feel like they are restraining theirselves to talk to each other.

It's already past 5 in the afternoon, and we're now bidding each other goodbye. Neil is opening the door to the passenger's seat while Leila comes to give me a tight hug for the last time. By that, I know she won't be in the competition this Sunday. Then, she hops in to the passenger's seat. Neil gently closes the door. Then, he turns to me, and gives me a nod before turning to the driver's side.

I smile. I'm happy for them. But I won't deny, I'm not happy for myself.

Dinner time.. I've got so much of a rare sight that I plan not to take dinner with my family.

I am preparing myself to sleep but here comes my elder brother, inviting me for dinner.

"I already told Mom I'm full", I say without even looking at him.

"What's with the long face?" he asks.

He loves teasing me. I know that he knows why I'm not in the mood. I saw him earlier looking at the three of us, bidding goodbye.

"Don't start it", I warn.

"Hmm.. I should have known that you had visitors. I might have joined the fun", he continues to tease me.

He knows that I like Neil. There's nothing that I can keep from him. He can read people's expressions and actions as much as I can.

"I'm going to sleep now", I ignore him.

"Uh-uh!" he disagrees. "You know they won't stop telling me to get you there for dinner until you go there", he reminds me. He's referring to both my parents.

I sigh and walk towards the door.