A Night of fun and unspoken Truti

The tension in the house had been thick ever since Felix's encounter with Meiling at work. He was quieter than usual, his face perpetually set in a grim expression. Lisa didn't know what had happened, but she sensed something had pushed him even further into his shell.

Meanwhile, Lisa had been invited to a sleepover at Chelsea's house. It was a much-needed distraction, and Lisa was looking forward to spending time with her friends.

"Mom, Lisa says she's going to her friend's house for a sleepover," Juan said, stirring a pot in the kitchen.

Juan turned to Grace. "Good. Drop her off, then."

Grace groaned, reclining on the sofa. "Why can't Felix do it? He's not working tonight."

Juan's expression hardened, and her voice rose slightly. "Because Felix is just 16! He's already doing more than he should, all because of you. If it weren't for this pregnancy, I wouldn't let you sit here without earning a penny!"

Grace flinched, the weight of her mother's words hitting her like a brick. She murmured an apology under her breath and got up.

"Fine, I'll take her," Grace said, grabbing her keys.

Lisa felt awkward witnessing the exchange but didn't say anything. She simply picked up her overnight bag and followed Grace to the car.

"Sorry we're late," Lisa said as she stepped into Chelsea's home.

Chelsea greeted her with a smile, though her tone was impatient. "What took you so long? Come on, the rest are waiting for you upstairs!"

Lisa hurried up the stairs to Chelsea's room, where the rest of the group—Sakura, Rani, Iris, Ratna, and Pharita—were already gathered. The room was brightly decorated, and the girls were laughing and chatting as they prepared for the night's activities.

The energy in the room was infectious. They played games, shared snacks, and even danced to their favorite songs. Lisa found herself laughing harder than she had in weeks.

At one point during the night, the girls sat in a circle, sharing their thoughts and feelings. When it was Lisa's turn, she hesitated.

"I... I guess I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately," Lisa admitted. "There's just so much going on at home."

The others nodded sympathetically.

"You've got a lot on your plate, Lisa," Sakura said gently.

"But you're handling it well," Rani added. "And we're here for you."

Lisa smiled, grateful for their support. But as the night went on, her thoughts kept drifting back to Felix.

While Lisa was enjoying her sleepover, Felix sat alone in his room, going through his schedule for the week. The incident with Meiling still lingered in his mind, making his mood even darker.

He clenched his fists, recalling her audacity. "As if I'd ever stoop so low," he muttered to himself.

Felix wasn't the type to let things bother him, but Meiling's behavior had struck a nerve. He hated being treated as though he was desperate or weak.

Back at Chelsea's house, the girls stayed up late, sharing stories and secrets.

"You know," Chelsea said, grinning, "we should do this more often. It's nice to just hang out and forget about everything else."

Lisa nodded, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. For a moment, she forgot about the chaos at home, the tension with Felix, and her growing feelings for him.

As the girls eventually drifted off to sleep, Lisa lay awake for a while, staring at the ceiling. Despite everything, she couldn't shake the thought of Felix from her mind.

The night of fun was a brief reprieve for Lisa, but she knew that once she returned home, the challenges would continue. And though Felix's walls seemed impenetrable, a part of her hoped she could one day find a way to reach him.