Chapter nine

****Alberto POV****

Me and Fernando walked into the cafeteria and headed towards our favourite table. I sat down. fernan asked "so what do you want?" I shrugged "anything is fine" "ok hold on.. I'll be right back" Fernan said and headed out to get our lunch. Five minutes later, he came back with two trays of grilled cheese sandwich and bottle of chilled sprite.. He set my own tray in front of me and sat down with his. we digged in our sandwich; neither of us spoke a single word as we ate in silence..

"Can I join you guys?" a familiar voice rang in my ear. I raised my head and saw Carlos carrying his own tray of food, smiling sweetly at me, exposing his left-sided dimple. "sure" I smiled back. He nodded and settled down, right next to me..

Fernando eyes widened ('◉⌓◉') "Alberto, do you know what you're doing?!!" "of course fernan I know what I'm doing.. He's a friend of mine and is allowed to sit next to me" I shrugged and took another bite of my sandwich. Fernan suddenly gritted his teeth in annoyance "Friend?!!.. for realz alberto?!!.. you don't even know who he is!!.. he's a fucking fa.." I didn't allow fernan to complete his sentence because I knew what he was going to say but I didn't want him to say it "that's enough Fernando!.. why are you getting so worked up?!!.. he's just a friend! so stop with the attitude!" I said, already pissed off. Fernando pursed his lips and stared down at his sandwich, not speaking a single word,obviously annoyed. I sighed heavily and faced Carlos "So.. Carlos.. mind telling me about yourself?" Carlos smiled shyly "there's nothing much to know about me.. but I'll tell you anyway" I smiled as Carlos told me about himself.. I've got to admit, although I hate the fact that he's gay, he has a very interesting personality and also great plans for the future..

*******Fernando POV*""""*****

I kept stealing glances at Alberto and Carlos as they chatted happily.. the smiles Alberto gave him, all were genuine, none were fake.. No words could describe how jealous I was.. Alberto's laughter and smile belongs to me and me alone.. The two seemed so engrossed in whatever they're discussing that they forgot I was here.. I gritted my teeth and hit the table in anger. That seemed to have caught their attention as they both faced me "Is something wrong Fernando?" Carlos asked me. I looked up and give him a death glare.. he gulped in fear.. I stood up and left, ignoring Alberto's calls and headed to my favourite place in the school to cool my head..

*******Alberto POV*****

"Why is fernan acting like that all of a sudden?!.. is he still mad that I defended Carlos?!" I thought as I stared at fernan's retrieving figure "I'm sorry" I suddenly heard Carlos say. I faced him and furrowed my brow "sorry?... for what?" I asked. "Sorry for.. causing problems between you and Fernando... Fernando.. he doesn't seem to like me at all.. I don't know why tho" Carlos pursed his lips, feeling sad.

I patted his shoulder gently "Nah don't worry much.. me and fernan will settle our differences later.. so stop feeling sad and blaming yourself ok" Carlos nodded and smiled. Suddenly the school bell rang, lunch time is over. "gotta get to class... don't wanna be late" I said as I stood up and headed straight to class, not sparing Carlos a glance ...

I arrived in class and couldn't find fernan.. I took my sit and waited for him to arrive.. Five minutes later, the door opened. I swiftly faced the door, thinking it was fernan; but got disappointed when I saw our maths teacher walking. "Gööd day class" "Good day mister Johnson" "today we'll be talking about Sequence and series" Mr Johnson said as he began teach but I wasn't listening nor paying attention.. My mind was only clouded with someone, Fernando..

*skip skip skip* *School's over*

School period was finally over. I rushed out of the class and stood in the middle of the hallway; thinking where in the world could fernan be?.. Then I suddenly remembered; Why didn't I think of this before! The Lake! it's fernan's favourite place to stay because it's so calm and peaceful. Fernan goes there every time he's not happy. I turned and headed straight to the lake..

I arrived at the lake and as I expected, I saw Fernando sitting on the ground, just beside the lake. I sighed heavily and walked towards him, taking a sit beside him "Hey buddy" I said but fernan ignored me.. I could sense he's still not happy with me.. I sighed and faced the lake "fernan I know that you're still angry with me... I won't blame you tho... it's my fault.. I'm so sorry" I apologized sincerely but fernan still ignored me "fernan I could bear the fact that you're not happy with me but can you please stop ignoring me?!. it hurts!" I whined but fernan still kept silent..

I sighed sadly and pouted, hugging my knee.. "what's going on between you and Carlos?" Fernan finally spoke up but still didn't look at me "Nothing's going on between me and carlos" I replied. "Are you aware of what he is?" Fernan asked. I kept silent. "Are you aware?" Fernan asked again. "yes" I muttered. "Then how come you're so close to him?.. I know that you're disgusted by gays.. but you're making Carlos an exception.. Could it be that you've finally accepted him?" Fernan asked again. "Accept him?!.. what are you talking about?!" I furrowed my brow, obviously confused by fernan's questions. Fernan sighed "You don't have to hide it anymore... I know about the letter". My eyes widened in shock "how.." "That day.. I was in the hallway.. I saw you bringing out a piece of paper and a red rose out of your locker.. After reading it, your face twisted in annoyance and you squeezed the paper and threw it in the trash bin, along with the rose.. My guess was that that was a love letter.. But I just couldn't figure out who sent it to you... But then we met Carlos in the cafeteria and the way you harshly replied him, I figured out that he was the one who sent it.. But what I just don't understand is.. How did you both become so close?" Fernan asked and finally faced me, giving me a confused look. "We're just friends.. nothing more.. I just don't know why you're thinking too much about this... I've already said that I'm sorry for ignoring you and defending Carlos... What else do you want from me?" I asked, already frustrated. "I want you to end you friendship with Carlos" Fernan said calmly. "what.. why?" I asked. "I don't like him.. I feel like one day, he's gonna take my place..I don't want to be replaced by him" Fernando pouted. I chuckled "you're so funny fernan.. No one can ever replace you, not even Carlos.. we'll be best friend forever". Fernando muttered something under his breath that I can't seem to hear "huh what was that?" Fernan shook his head "nothing nothing". I nodded and stood up, dusting my butt "Come on, let's leave before we get locked in the school". Fernan nodded and stood up.

He took one step and unfortunately lost his balance. In my attempt to catch him, I also lost my balance as he fell ontop of me and his lips crashed on mine as My eyes widened in shock..