".... That would sound like you matter one bit."
That killed Bree and instantly, the others intervened. Unapologetically, Alejandro retreated in silence.
★★★
★★★
Alejandro swallowed the last content from his glass and placed it on the counter.
Maverick was behind him at the door and was quietly waiting for him to give a bit of attention. Alejandro gave in.
"Say it."
Maverick folded his arms.
"What was that, Alejandro? Do you realize what you've done to that girl? You wanted compliance and I promise you won't get it. You shouldn't torture a girl like. Worse, a girl like Bree. You should have already known by now that she's pretty tearful and.... just not the type to deal with your kind."
"She needs to learn. Don't talk like one big occasion's gonna happen and I have to take her shit."
"I promise you'll start taking her shit real soon."
Alejandro's shoulders squared tight and he turned around to look at his friend.
Maverick stared him down through the silence. Then, he continued with his face contorted with confusion.
"Alejandro, I think you're in denial or something but I promise that won't change anything...."
"End it." Alejandro intercepted, completely irritated. "I'm not falling into any goddamn trance or whatnot."
"No. Your whole emotions is tied to her existence and you can't change that. But then, what I'm tryna say is 'Man, you're fucking yourself in the ass by the way you're treating her right now'. You'll regret it."
With that, Maverick left and Alejandro could only stare at his back.
Something seemed to sound behind his head but he shook it off.
★★★
★★★
Brielle wrapped herself up on the sofa in the apartment and wrote stuff in her book, looking from a tablet before her.
She was deep in it and she didn't notice when she fell into a trance.
‡‡‡
She was kissing him back. She didn't know when it started, but her hands were already in his hair.
She was falling. Again. And she hated it. Hated how good it felt to be ruined like this. She was supposed to be stronger than this.
His hands gripped her too tight at first, then it eased up — like he was afraid he'd break her.
Alejandro pulled her in like it was the last time he ever would.
He whispered something against her lips. Softly.
"I shouldn't want you like this.... Fuck...."
Her body betrayed her. She melted, she shook, she kissed him back. Harder. But her mind was racing. She was tearing apart. She was feeling trapped, but not in fear — in her own desire.
Alejandro didn't force the kiss. The moment just exploded and they both were falling into it.
Bree didn't know who had moved first.
Maybe it was him.
Maybe it was her.
All she knew was the world went black when their lips crashed.
Her thoughts shattered. His hands were buried in her hair.
She should have stopped this. Pushed him away. Cursed his name.
But instead, she kissed him like she needed air — and he was the last breath on Earth.
And it scared her.
Because it felt like love.
The kind that ruined people.
★★★
★★★
"Bree?"
She heard her name and immediately snapped out of the daydream she was in.
But to her ultimate surprise, tears had filled her eyes and was running down her face now.
She sat up and dumbly straightened her hair.
Ashley looked hesitant but soon, she walked towards her crying roommate and sat with her for sometime.
Soon, Bree managed to speak in a shaky voice.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. But I.... I'm going to be fine."
She sniffed and Ashley smiled and looked at her.
"Bree, I'm super sorry about what my brother did...."
"No, Ashley. It's ok. It's not you."
"Yes. But.... That's my brother. The unapologetic bastard everybody knows."
Bree looked down and held her breath. Ashley continued.
"I just wanted to let you know that we're in this thing together. We shouldn't mind him. He's not worth all this stress."
Bree nodded.
"Whatever you feel, Bree. Let the anger strife. You need it right now. No forgiving. I know why though. Don't fight anything. Everything he said? Let them come back to your ears."
Yes, not like she could ever forget that.