The Bad Boy I Met On Christmas Eve - S01 E20

2 months ago

The Bad Boy I Met On Christmas Eve - S01 E20

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 20

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BACK TO DALANIE'S POV

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After that great night with Alex and his family, I felt really refreshed and comfortable around them. They're really great people. Kinda made me forget my worries, too. But just for a while.

It was a Sunday, and I've finished all my homework. Since I was free - and... still really needed to take a breather from what happened yesterday, I decided to go to the beach to take a walk.

"Dad, I'm going out for a while," I said, leaving the house.

"Okay. Be back for dinner," came the reply.

"Defo."

The car was parked in the garage. Grabbing the keys off the kitchen counter, I ran out and took a drive to the beach.

When I reached the beach, I parked the car and started walking the boardwalk. The boardwalk was such an aesthetic place and it had an amazing view of sunsets. Perfect for photography, if you asked me.

I strolled down casually and happened to see a notice stuck on the outside of Seaside Ice Cream. Walking over, I saw that note was for help wanted.

It read:

Help wanted!

• Walk-in interviews accepted •

- At least 15 years of age?

- Need to refresh your mind?

- Would like to earn some extra pocket money?

- Want to experience a real job?

Look no more! Seaside Ice Cream is now hiring, so feel free to step right up if you are interested!

Wow. That seems enticing. I'd love a summer job. Okay. Technically, it wasn't summer yet, but I could use a part-time job. Ya know, just for the fun of it?

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the shop, only to be greeted by someone unexpected.

"Zachary?! What... what are you doing here?!" I stumbled backwards.

He caught me by the arm and helped me up, sniggering. "You're clumsy."

I sighed. "Answer me directly."

"Hey hey hey. You don't tell me how to live my life."

"Sorry, Mr Huxley. I had to gather some things. Anyway, I was going to say - you're hired!" a lady who looked about 30 or so, decked out in casual work clothes came out of a room at the back of the shop and shook Zachary's hand. "Congrats! You may start work as soon as possible!"

"Thank you, Ms Mindy!" Zachary bowed as he shook her hand. Then he turned and walked past me, leaving the shop.

Alright? I was kinda surprised he didn't seem too bothered by my presence, though. But what really surprised me was something that the lady had said. Something about... being hired?

"Hello, miss! How can I help you?" the lady broke my train of thought.

I came back to reality in no time and immediately asked about the job available.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"Ah, that. Yes, we are in need of manpower. Are you here for an interview?" she asked.

"Yes, I am," I replied earnestly.

"Great, follow me!"

The interview went really fast and to me, it went well. After being sent to wait outside for a while, the lady, who's name I learnt was Ms Mindy, finally came out. "You're hired, Miss McNeill! Congrats! You may start as soon as possible!"

"Thank you," I smiled happily and shook hands with her. But then I remembered about Zachary. "Oh yeah, about that boy from earlier..."

"Oh, that boy. He just got hired, too! You can make friends with him!" Ms Mindy squealed. "He's such a dear."

What?? Why does everyone think that Zachary is a dear? He's a jerk! And he's hired, seriously?! I have to work with him? Ugh!!! It's the end of the world!!

"Uh, okay? Well, thank you for hiring me. I'll start work next weekend, then!" I said, then bade Ms Mindy goodbye.

Arghhhhh crap!! I'm in for such a big time. I really want to quit now, but who quits their job 5 minutes after being hired?!

Damn. Life is giving me cactuses.

No, not cactuses because that's what Alex calls me. Let's try that again.

Damn. Life is giving me venus flytraps.

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SPECIAL: KORA'S POV

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Last afternoon, after Alexander, Dalanie, and Zachary left the café, I slumped back in my chair and sighed.

Somehow, ever since I came along, things just got more complicated. But really, I wish to help them all.

The meeting with Zachary was to talk about how he could get Dal back, and also about how to help Dal with her life. But maybe it's too late to even return to how it used to be, judging by the situation of things.

Furthermore, what is Kristen going to do in order to leave Francesca's side?

I sighed again, as I picked up my things, left the café and went home. Maybe I should just let them settle their own personal matter.

But even until today, I'm still thinking of Dalanie and her messy situation. Could I actually meet up with her next week? She might not give me a chance to help, but at least, I could clear some air.

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BACK TO DALANIE'S POV

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Text from Unknown Number

Hi Dalanie. It's me, Kora. I got your number from Zachary.

The main purpose of my text is to clear some things up. I know you think that I'm probably a hypocrite or something, but my conscience is clear. I only truly wish to help resolve all your conflicts. Also, I have lots to tell you that I think you ought to know.

Can we meet some time soon if you accept my wanting to help?

Um... what's this text all about? It just appeared out of nowhere. This whole meet up thing might just be some Francesca-set trap.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Do you think it would be safer to meet with her but invite her here into my house? So that that way, Francesca can't do anything funny if she was behind this.

But what did she mean when she said there was lots I ought to know?

Dalanie: We should talk first. My place, tomorrow evening at 5.30pm.

I sent the message and kept staring at my phone, biting my lip while waiting for the reply.

After about 2 minutes, it finally came! I unlocked my phone and read her text.

Kora: No problem. But I need to find a way to get off Francesca's watch. 'Cuz we have a party tomorrow night. Fret not, I'll try.

I nodded, but suddenly realised how stupid I was being since she couldn't see me nod.

Dalanie: K.

Ehh. I'm too lazy to reply her properly. And I don't trust her just yet.

Kora: See you! :)

A smiley face, really? I just blue-ticked her.

•~•

I paced around the living room nervously. It was already 5.30pm.

Ding dong!

It's the doorbell! I hurriedly ran over to the door and through the peephole, I saw Kora standing outside. I hope she's alone.

Paranoid, I yanked the door open and dragged her in.

"Hey Dalanie. Um, what's the hurry?" she asked.

I eyed her suspiciously. She was too nice. "Nothing. You're alone right? Damn right you'd better be."

"Woah, chill. And yup, I'm alone. You can trust me, Dalanie," she said.

The sparkle in her eyes seemed to show that she was really genuine. I decided to let my guard down just a little.

Bringing her up to my room and closing the door behind us, I said, "So what do you have to tell me?"

She asked if we could take a seat as it would be a long talk. I nodded and as when we sat, she started telling me so many things I never even knew.

"Dalanie... I really don't wanna say this to hurt you but really, I think you should know. The reason Kristen left you for Francesca was not because she wanted to, but she had to."

I stared at her, puzzled. Why was she talking about that traitor?

"You didn't notice anything different about Kristen? Just in general?" Kora asked, shifting uneasily.

"Well..." I tried recollecting the times spent with Kris. Ah, those were good times. "I guess there was that time, recently when she snapped at me. Either that's all I can remember or I'm just not observant if she underwent any changes at all. Why?"

Kora ran her fingers through her soft hair. She stayed silent for a while, staring at the floor as if she was phrasing sentences in her head before saying them out.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

I bit my lip in anxiety.

"Kristen needs cash. Urgently," Kora finally spoke. "Her mum needs a liver transplant ASAP. Quite a serious issue. But her dad just got fired. And you know he's the sole breadwinner of their family."

W-what? I felt so terrible. There I was talking silly things about me when Kristen was suffering in silence.

All Kris ever did was be the perfect best friend I had in my whole life. She always checked up on me and knew so many things about me. Couldn't I have done the same and actually cared more for her?

Within two minutes, my whole world felt like it came crashing down into nothing but a pile of dirt and dust. I guess I never really realised, but the way it was, I acted like the world revolved around me.

But not anymore.

And it never will be.

"Dalanie... are you okay?" Kora touched my shoulder lightly.

"I'm fine," I said, trying to hide the fact that I felt very faint. "Continue."

She lifted her hand off my shoulder slowly and continued, "Francesca found out - she always finds things out - and so she decided to offer her cash in exchange for Zachary and her sex time."

"But what exactly did Kristen do?" I muttered.

"She... sent texts to Zachary encouraging him to sleep with Francesca. Francesca offered Kristen a huge sum of $10000. I'm guessing you can tell what happened next."

Before Kora finished her sentences, tears had already streamed down my face.

It wasn't because of anger, it was because of pity. Kristen was so selfless, so noble. She never told me anything so I wouldn't worry. Yet now that I knew, I'd found out how desperately she needed help.

I nearly collapsed, but Kora held me. "Stay strong," she urged.

"I don't know if I can take it anymore," I stuttered.

"Alright, we can take a break. Tell me when you want to continue, yeah?" she helped me up onto my bed.

Kora pulled a chair over and sat by me in silence, staring out the window.

I gulped. "K-Kora?"

She turned to look at me, the concern in her eyes reflected into mine.

"Are you okay?"

"This is a q-quite a lot to ask of you, but c-could I hug you for a b-bit?" I managed to murmur.

Instead of verbally replying, Kora immediately brought me in for a hug. "I know you need it, Dalanie. And I'll be here to take care of you. It's kinda what I promised Kris. To take care of you."

I nodded, breathing in her scent - cherries. "How long will she be away?"

"Until you fight for her to come back," came the reply.

"But she needs the cash."

Kora pulled away but still held me by the shoulders. "I'll take care of that."

I shook my head vigorously. "I can't let you."

"Don't argue with me on that. It's a form of apologising to you guys for the bad deeds Francesca, Verity and I did."

"You didn't do anything, actually." The memories all came back to me. Kora was never a mean one. Never.

"Why don't you come over to my side? It's safer. And I'm hoping that you have a valid reason for meeting Zachary?"

She smiled a little. "I'll try, yeah? And as for Zachary, we were planning as to how to get you both back together, hehe."

I stared at her incredulously for 5 seconds before bursting into laughter. Kora too started to laugh. "We were discussing pretty well till you screamed."

"Sorry," I blushed. "Felt really messy that day."

"It's okay, I understand."

After a few minutes in awkward silence, I mumbled a small 'thank you' to Kora.

None of us were looking at each other, but I could sense that she was smiling and thinking 'no problem, Dalanie' inside her head.

Perhaps some things, you just need to feel with your heart.

•••••