Let's Just Fall In Love Again (ch. 2)

(Saturday)

Daniel was in his bedroom packing his things up. He ended up with two big trunks and a bag pack; he will definitely arrive in London with a backache.

He dialed Rico’s number and it ringed.

"Hello", the voice of said.

"Hey it’s me, Daniel.”

“Oh. Hi. Wait a sec.” Rico said and suddenly there was a shuffling and a loud thudding and then he heard Rico cursing before answering the telephone, “Okay. What’s up?”

“I should be the one who’s asking that. Are you okay” Daniel said.

“Well, you just called while I’m pulling my jeans on and I crashed. Are you satisfied on that kind information?” Daniel chuckled. He knew Rico was pissed but the news he was going to tell will not wait for Rico to calm down.

“What do want?” Rico’s question brought him out of his thoughts.

“Are you free tomorrow noon?”

“Yeah, I’m going to school tomorrow.” Daniel chuckled through the phone. That was Rico being sarcastic.

“Well, pick me up at the airport in exactly 12 noon.” There was a silence at the other end of the phone.

“Hello?” Daniel asked. He heard a loud gulp and a clearing of throat on the other side of the phone call.

“Who am I picking tomorrow again?” Rico asked nonchalantly. He blanked out. The reason? It was just the bloody sight of Vanessa sitting in her bed with her left foot on the bed, tying her sneakers. The Martins lived in the house exactly across of the Summers’ house so can easily see Emma and Vanessa in their room. Vanessa’s parents died in a car accident when she was only 13, leaving her alone. Since the Summers’ volunteered as her foster family, she lived there too and that’s how Rico knew her. He quickly moved away from the window, away from Vanessa’s line of sight.

“Never mind about what I said. Just be there at the airport at exactly 12 noon.” It was Daniel’s turn to get pissed. He was so excited when he said the surprise and all he had heard from Rico was a question inquiring him who he will be picking up tomorrow?!!! Daniel ended the call after saying his goodbye and snapped flung his cell phone across his bed.

~~~~~~~~~

Rico listened to the instructions Daniel had given him because he knew from the voice of Daniel that he was pissed. After saying goodbye, he made a memo on his phone telling him to fetch someone in the airport tomorrow. He set the time and snapped his phone shut. He turned his eyes back to the window to call Vanessa but she was gone so he decided to go down for breakfast. He put on a shirt on the way and bounded down the stairs and seated himself on a chair in the left side of his father in their dining table. With his first spoonful of food half-way to his mouth, there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it.” He volunteered knowing his father hated being disturbed when eating. He stood and stomped his way to the front door. Thinking it was just Matt who knocked; he scowled and opened the door.

“What do you want?” He snapped.

He snapped his mouth shut and cursed inwardly. His scowl was gone right away when he saw who the person was. It wasn’t Matt. It was certainly not a male. It was Vanessa.

“Did I come on a bad time?” Vanessa inquired. Seeing the scowl, she knew that she chose a bad time.

“Actually, I was eating but it’s okay. I’m sorry I snapped at you. I thought you were Matt playing tricks on me again.” He grinned apologetically and scratching the back of his neck. Vanessa’s heart missed a beat. He was very CUTE! She will definitely forgive him for just anything if he will smile at her like that.

She smiled and it was Rico’s heart turn to stop. He never knew why it always happens but whenever he willed it not do it, it always happens.

Vanessa saw Rico’s grin faltered and a frown replaced it. She wanted to reach out and kiss that frown. But that was not what she did. She smiled even bigger and snapped her fingers in his face. He seemed to remember who he was. His eyes focused back to Vanessa and smiled.

“Well, what do you want from your knight in shining armor?” What?!! Where did that come from? Oh no.

Vanessa giggled and said, “Well, my knight in shining armor, can I get Emma’s book so she can’t bury me alive?” She played along. She loved it when Rico tease her.

“Don’t worry, my princess, for I will get it from my castle. But if I can’t find it, you will have to be buried with me.” With that he bowed and ran up the stairs to retrieve the book. After two minutes or three, he was back with the book in his hand.

“Here you go. Thanks.” He handed her the book and Vanessa took it. Accidentally, their fingers touched and Vanessa quickly pulled the book out from his fingers.

“Your welcome.” There was silence between them. Vanessa stared at the floor. This was the first time they had an awkward silence between them, Rico realized.

“Hey—“

“So—“

Silence again.

“I have to go now. I have to wake Emma up.” Vanessa took three steps backward, smiled and waved at Rico then ran to the Summers’ house.

He watched her go and then closed the door. His father was already done and had gone upstairs to his room. Rico’s mom died when he was five, starting then his father raised him alone and they got closer to each other. His father balanced his strictness around Rico.

The food was waiting for him not his father. The food. Rico’s stomach rumbled about thinking about it and he quickly polished the food like there was not tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~

Daniel sat himself at his bed beside his phone and sighed. Guessing it was Vanessa that caused Rico’s not paying attention a while ago, he sighed again and shrugged. Rico always gets himself befuddled when he sees Vanessa out at the distance. Daniel always noticed that. He confronted that to Rico before but all he gets from him is that scoff and a snort. He continues to observe Rico after that and lo and behold, the befuddlement of Rico happened. And still happens, he thought. After that, he concluded that Rico fancied their bubbly Vanessa but doesn’t know have a clue that he does. He then shared this thought to Emma knowing Emma is the closest friend of Vanessa. Emma then let slipped that Vanessa acted the same way with Rico and she and only Nicole knows.

His thoughts halted, speaking of Emma. A certain brown haired, brown eyed girl appeared in his mind’s eye.

Emma……

The Emma who was the first one to welcomed him in the neighborhood. The Emma who took pictures with him secretly during their biology class. He still treasures those pictures in his biology notebooks.