Chapter 36:

ODETTE'S POINT OF VIEW

As we were about to enter, I saw a girl walking through our way, looking at Kiel. I looked at him as he gulped. Feel, thirsty?

"Hi, Kiel." She said, tiptoeing and kissing his cheeks, "Hey, bitch, watch what you're doing. I'm here, the girlfriend. I saw her look at me as I rolled my eyes.

"A-ah, Hi Sandra. What are you doing here?" You better have an explanation for this, Mr. Lopez.

"Waiting for you." I let go of Kiel's hands, and this bitch winked at him. What the hell is she flirting with my boyfriend for?

"So you're the girlfriend?" She walked my way and curled my hair while looking into my eyes. I want to bury her alive.

"Pretty enough, oh, and by the way, Kiel, director, said be ready for the kissing and bed scene we will have on the first day of taping. Bye." She waved at Kiel and said, "Mr. Lopez, explain everything to me. My mind is blown by what just happened in front of me. She had the guts to flirt with him in front of me.

"Sandra huh?" I could feel his nervousness, but my anger was flaming.

"Love, she's Sloan's sister; she's my new screen partner. I forgot to tell you because we've been busy these past few days."

"Oh, that's why you never bring up that again. You better have a better idea to explain everything." I look at my watch.

"Now," I said this while trying to smile in front of him. Shit, I don't know why I was feeling so much anger at that girl. Can't she see that Kiel was my boyfriend?

"Love, she's nothing okay, just a partner in my movie and drama, nothing more about it."

"Look who's sleeping in his condo." Aria is teasing Kiel, who looks nervous.

"Love, promise he's just a partner." I just ignore him and grab the cart. I was pushing the cart when he suddenly hugged me from the back.

"Love, listen to me; she's nothing; trust me, I won't do that again. I love you too much to hurt you."

"Fine, stop hugging me; everyone is looking at us." Aria taps Kiel's shoe and moves him away.

"Girl, after that, we should watch the new movie, titled 'Everlasting Love." I heard it's Duke's new movie."

"You mean Duke Reyes of Hit Entertainment?" They nodded at me. Duke was my childhood best friend; it's been a while since the last time I saw him.

"Sure."

"Wait, love, are you a fan of his?".

"Of course, he's my best friend; I'm his number one fan." He suddenly turned around and walked away. Look who's jealous now.

"Love, promise he's just a partner." I just ignore him and grab the cart. I was pushing the cart when he suddenly hugged me from the back.

"Love, listen to me; she's nothing; trust me, I won't do that again. I love you too much to hurt you."

"Fine, stop hugging me; everyone is looking at us." Aria taps Kiel's shoe and moves him away.

"Girl, after that, we should watch the new movie, titled 'Everlasting Love." I heard it's Duke's new movie."

"You mean Duke Reyes of Hit Entertainment?" They nodded at me. Duke was my childhood best friend; it's been a while since the last time I saw him.

"Sure."

"Wait, love, are you a fan of his?".

"Of course, he's my best friend; I'm his number one fan." He suddenly turned around and walked away. Look who's jealous now.

"Since when you guys became friends," Clay's question out of the blue I know I've already told it to them before.

"When we were four, we first met at the park when someone bullied me when I stumbled in front of kids playing. They start teasing me, then Duke jumps like a hulk while groaning."

"Tsk, just like that, you became friends with him."

I look at him while walking; he's pissed. Am I the one who should be pissed after what that girl did? I got bumped into a wall. I turn my head and see that it's not a wall, but

"Look where you're walking. --- Odette?"

"Duke?" He looked at me and hugged me tight.

"Oh my gosh, Ice, I miss you so much. I think you're busy with the company, which is why you can't accompany me."

"Yeah, I've been busy the past few months. How are you, Cream?"

"Ice? Cream?" Clay confused.

"Yeah, we both like ice cream, but he was most likely as cold as ice cream when we were kids. That's why we just decided to call it another ice cream," because I even liked cream puffs at that time." He even pushed a girl who confessed to him because he said he liked someone else. Did you remember that?" Duke put his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, until now I liked that girl; if you guys want after grocery, we can watch my movie and eat in my restaurant. Is that okay with you, Cream?" A clear throat makes us turn our heads. Kiel removed Duke's hands from my shoulder and put his hand on mine.

"Kiel Odette's boyfriend." He offered his hand with a smile. Why do I feel tense when they shake their hands?

"Oh my gosh, Duke, can you tell us who's the girl you like?" All of a sudden, Morisette said something to Duke and wrapped her hand around him.

"Someone I just know who's intelligent, pretty, but childish inside." While looking at me.

"If you want Ice, when we're done with the groceries, I'll just call you if it's fine with you."

"No need, I'm still looking for some things; I can join you guys." He leveled himself at me and messed with my hair just like he always did to me when we were kids, smiling at me.

"Iceeeee!" He just laughed at me and held my hand while his other hand was in his basket.

"Let's go." He pulled me over and ran all over the grocery store while picking up everything we bought. I miss this guy. I look around and see Kiel flaming in anger. Get jealous more. He suddenly went to us and held my hand.

"Love, let's go."

"Okay." We went to the cashier and put everything in.

"$979.90." I was about to go pay when their two black credit cards popped up in front of me.

"Get this love."

"No, get mine instead, Cream."

"Why would she get that? I'm his boyfriend; she should get mine instead."

"I'm her best friend, and I always do everything for her." I facepalm when these two fight in front of me. I show my QR code to the cashier and pay for everything. I walk out while the two are busy arguing and me and the girls are drinking coconut juice.

"Do you think who will win in that argument?" Clay said.

"Of course, my brother; he's the boyfriend," Aria answered Clay, but Morisette shook her head.

"It's the best friend; Duke will win against Kiel. He has known Odette since they were kids. While Kiel has known her for a few months,"

"It's Kiel," Aria said.

"No, it's Duke." And they start arguing. Clay and I look at each other and shake our heads. We just left them arguing and went to a restaurant.

"What should we eat?" I was looking at the menu when two hands touched my shoulder. I just rolled my eyes; I know it was them.

"King crab tempura—that's your favorite, Odette, right?" Duke said, and he went closer to mine and smiled.

"How about lobster with Uni butter, love?" Kiel went closer to mine. Here they are.

"I also like that, lobster with Uni butter," Aria said at the back.

"I prefer king crab tempura instead of lobster." And now Morisette, who's on Duke's side,

"I prefer Yaki Udon and Nobu. ---"

"Cheesecake, I knew it."

I leave them and sit beside Clay.

"Feel exhausted?" I nodded at her and put my head on her shoulder.

"You know what? Kiel is trying to do his best to get to know you. But Duke's got his advantage since he's your best friend since you guys are four. But try to think about it: Kiel is trying to temper himself, even though he knows in his heart that he doesn't know anything about his girlfriend." I look at Kiel, who's looking at Duke. He doesn't need to prove anything.

"I heard from Trisha that he even asks her everything you like. Just for that surprise, and now seeing Duke makes him think he had a tight competitor since he knows every small detail about you. Don't you know who's the girl he liked when your kids were kids until now?"

I find it hard to remember who the girl is except for me, whom he talks a lot about. But I don't know any girl with whom he is close and talks a lot except me. Duke looked at us and waved at me. No way, that guy. I laugh hard thinking about it.

"Sorry, but I don't have any clue since we were kids; he's just close to me and avoids other girls since he said he was allergic to those flirty girls." Clay gave me a shaken head and a deep look.

"You better know him." They finally went to our table and waited for the order to come.

"Cream, I just remember that Daddy Richard asked me last time to go on his birthday, but since I had a project, I didn't make it. How is he now?"

"He's having a good time with Mom; they are in France for a week; Dad mentioned he will be home tomorrow; if you want, you can come tomorrow with me to the airport."

"Sure, I miss having a fun time together with Mommy and Daddy."

"Love, if you want, I can drive you to the airport."

"No need, love; I will bring my car; if you want, you can come too, since Oliver was busy."

"Sure, love; oh, by the way, love, we go to the arcade later since we still have time."

"Oh, I remember Cream, when we cut class way back in high school. I got stuffed toys for you, and you even named them 'Snow." It was after my name, right?"

"Yeah, it was, but Duke."

"So it's still with you, that white dog stuff toy." Kiel, look at me; it was the stuffy I always hugged when I slept.

"Yes, it's still on me."

"That's good to hear; you said you hug it when you feel stressed or something bad happens." The order finally arrived.

"Itadakimasu." We start eating our food.

-Thank you for the meal.

Time passed...

While we were rubbing our bellies, Duke stood up.

"Do you guys still have enough room in your tummies for some desserts? Or let's play arcade?" He winked at them. Morisette stood up and wrapped her hand around Duke.

"Let's go." They walk away, and we just follow them.

At the arcade.

"Love, is Duke just a friend of yours?" Out of the blue, Kiel said.

"Of course, love. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am just a little unhappy with him. He seems to know everything about you, while I did." I stopped him from kissing his lips.

"You are my boyfriend, and that's enough assurance for you to hold. I love you, love." I saw his smile suddenly appear. He held my hand and gained more energy.

"You're now okay, huh?" He just looked at me and smiled. This guy looked down earlier like he had all the problems in the world. He seemed happy after I assured him.

"Let's play basketball, love; if you lose, I'll give you everything you want. If I lose, I'll do whatever you want, love."

"Deal love!"

We play basketball, and he's good at shooting. While I was struggling to shoot the ball to the basket.

Someone shot fast on my back; it was Duke.

"Need help, Cream?"