Next day.
Saturday
Mrs Jenkins residence.
A sleek black car rolled to a slow stop.
Engine humming softly.
The driver stepped out first, opening the door with practiced precision.
And then she stepped out.
Esmeralda.
Crop top.
Fitted jeans.
Clean white sneakers.
A small side bag resting against her hip.
"This place seems empty."
"I just hope he didn't give me a wrong address."
She looked up.
Paused.
Brows knitting slightly.
"… I'm I sure about this?"
She took a few steps forward, uncertainty creeping in.
Then
Her eyes caught something.
Clothes.
Hung out to dry.
A familiar black shirt.
Andre's.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Yep confirmed."
"He lives here."
She walked up to the door.
Knocked once.
"Anybody home."
Knocked again.
No response.
A small frown formed.
"…Did he forget?"
She hesitated.
Then
Slowly pushed the door open.
"It's open."
"Creepy."
She stepped in carefully.
"Hello…?"
Silence.
The house was calm.
Too calm.
Quiet.
Then from behind her.
"Boommmm!!"
Her heart skipped.
As she jerked back.
"I'm sorry I just came to look for a friend. Please don't hurt me."
"Please."
Then laughter.
She opened her eyes.
"You are really funny. You know that right?"
Andre.
Shirtless.
Esmeralda froze.
Completely.
Her brain stopped functioning.
Words?
Gone.
Thoughts?
Scattered.
Her eyes
Traitorous.
Locked.
On him.
Broad shoulders.
Defined lines.
Andre stopped mid-step.
Confused.
"…Esmeralda?"
No response.
She was still staring.
Processing absolutely nothing.
"…You didn't get a hypertension right?"
Still nothing.
Her mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
"…I— you— this— I mean— your house— the door— I knocked— you didn't— I wasn't— I mean—"
She blinked rapidly.
"…why will you play such a prank on me?!"
Andre frowned.
"…it's not bad, was it?"
She pointed at him.
Then immediately looked away.
Then looked back.
Then away again.
"…You scared the shit out of me!"
"…Really?"
"Yes!"
"Why did you do that!"
Andre blinked.
"…I wanted to see how you looked like when you are scared."
"I missed the look."
"You and your crazy talks!"
A beat.
Silence.
Then
She snapped.
"GO AND PUT ON A SHIRT!"
The house echoed with her voice.
Andre stared at her.
Then
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Small.
Subtle.
"…You came all this way to yell at me?"
Her face went red instantly.
"I DID NOT COME HERE FOR THIS!"
"Then what did you come for?"
"I—"
She froze again.
Resetting.
"…That's not the point!"
Andre turned calmly.
Walking back upstairs.
"Give me a second."
Esmeralda exhaled heavily the moment he disappeared.
Hand on her chest.
"…What is wrong with me…"
She paced once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
Looked around again.
The house.
Simple furniture.
Clean… but not luxurious.
Warm in a way she wasn't used to.
Her voice softened.
"…hmmm, decent I would say…"
Footsteps.
Andre came back down.
Now wearing a shirt.
"…Better?"
She turned.
Crossed her arms quickly.
"Yes."
A pause.
"…Much better."
Another pause.
"…Don't ever do the "boom" thing again."
"Please."
Andre raised a brow.
"You're the one who walked into my house uninvited."
She pointed at him again.
"The door was OPEN!"
"You pushed it."
"…Yes because you won't respond!"
Andre looked at her properly now.
The way she dressed.
The way she showed up.
"I must say, you look beautiful today."
Esmeralda looked away slightly.
"…Duhh, I'm beautiful everyday."
A beat.
"…And even without your compliment."
Andre nodded once.
"…You my dear are as stubborn as a donkey."
Esmeralda's eyes widened
"What did you say?!"
"Nothing."
"You said something, what did you say?"
"Nothing."
Then
Marco's voice suddenly echoed from somewhere inside the house:
"ANDRE! IF THAT'S A GIRL YOU BETTER NOT BE HIDING HER FROM US"
Esmeralda's eyes twitched with a smile.
Andre closed his eyes briefly.
"…Ignore him."
Marco appeared halfway
Then froze.
"…Oh."
A slow grin spread across his face.
"…OH."
He leaned back dramatically.
"Ladies and gentlemen"
"There is development."
Esmeralda covered her face instantly.
"…I'm leaving."
Andre sighed.
"…Byeee."
Esmeralda nearly choked
"You won't stop me."
"No I won't."
"You are so mean."
Marco clapped once.
"This is already my favourite day."
In just minutes the house wasn't quiet anymore.
It was alive.
Voices overlapping.
Laughter bouncing off walls that made it echo.
Marco had already made himself at home, literally laying flat on the couch like he owned it.
"Andre… where's the way to your kitchen."
Misheal threw a pillow at him.
"Stand up, you beggar."
" I'm not begging, I just want to say hi to the spoons and plates."
Esmeralda stood slightly aside at first.
Watching.
Listening.
Taking everything in.
Then Maria walked up to her and handed her a drink.
"Relax, you're not used to this kind of rowdy environment are you?"
Esmeralda blinked… then smiled slightly.
"Not that…I just don't know what to do here."
Maria grinned.
"Its simple."
A pause
"Blend in."
Andre got up
"Ok guys let's step outside."
Maria jumped on Andre's back
"Yayyyy."
Outside.
The sun dipped lower, casting golden light through the streets.
The environment felt cooler now like something invisible had settled in.
Misheal walked slightly apart from the others.
Quiet.
Watching.
She wasn't laughing like Marco.
Wasn't teasing like Maria.
She was… just quiet.
Observing.
Esmeralda noticed.
She walked over slowly.
"…You don't talk much, do you?"
Misheal didn't look at her.
"I talk when it's necessary."
Esmeralda nodded slightly.
"…And right now?"
A pause.
Misheal finally glanced at her.
"…I'm deciding if you're worth talking to."
That should've started a fight.
But instead.
Esmeralda smiled.
"…Fair."
She walked beside her.
No permission asked.
No distance kept.
Close enough to be real.
"You know I'm just trying to blend in," Esmeralda said quietly.
Misheal didn't respond.
But she listened.
"I don't really have a fun life despite being rich and all that."
A small breath escaped her.
"…I really want this."
"The laughter."
"The chaos."
I really want all of it, I want your friendship."
A faint smile.
"…And I also want."
Misheal raised a brow.
"You want him."
"Andre."
A pause.
Then
Esmeralda's voice dropped slightly.
The she gave out a dry laugh
"… Where did that come from. I just want to be his friend that's all "
Misheal's fingers tightened slightly.
"…He's a cool guy."
A beat.
"Despite the fact he acts all cold and badass."
Esmeralda looked at her.
Really looked this time.
"…Just like you."
Misheal exhaled slowly.
"…Nahh, no way."
"Andre has some emotional issues he doesn't want to share but me, I'm just not the social type."
A pause.
"…Unlike my other two siblings."
Silence.
The kind that hurts.
Esmeralda laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"…Exactly."
Misheal shook her head slightly.
"…So, you have a boyfriend."
Esmeralda shook her head
"Nope."
"And Carlos."
Esmeralda leaned back slightly.
Looking at the sky.
"Carlos was a mistake I made. I liked him because he was carefree and he made me feel safe."
Misheal sighed.
"That's why Maria seems to be into Andre."
Esmeralda eyes widened
"She likes him."
"I think she does but she won't admit it."
"He's hot cake she might loose him to another girl."
The both burst into laughter
Esmeralda exhaled.
"…By the way, I play hockey."
Misheal blinked.
"…What?"
"I'm on the team."
A small shrug.
"…The school team."
Misheal studied her.
"…You don't look like someone who gets hit with sticks for fun."
Esmeralda smirked.
"And you look like someone who will do it for fun."
A beat.
Then
Esmeralda turned fully to her.
Eyes steady.
Serious now.
"…Join."
Misheal frowned.
"…Join what?"
"The team."
Silence.
Misheal blinked.
Once.
"… I'm not sure it's a good idea."
"
Esmeralda leaned closer.
Voice lower.
"…It is, besides I need a badass like you by my side."
They laughed again.
Misheal's expression shifted slightly.
Just slightly.
"…Ok let's see how it goes."
Esmeralda didn't push harder.
Didn't force it.
Just said
"…Come try once."
A faint smile.
"…If you hate it, you can walk away."
Misheal looked at her for a long moment.
Searching.
Testing.
"…But why are you so bent on getting me?"
Esmeralda's answer came instantly.
"…Because you are badass."
A beat.
"…And I like people who are badass."
That did it.
Misheal burst out into laughter as Esmeralda joined in.
Hiding the slight shift in her expression.
"…I'll think about it."
Esmeralda smiled.
Victory.
Not loud.
Not proud.
Just… quiet.
"…That's enough."
Marco suddenly shouted
"Hugo is here!"
" Misheal's baby doll is here."
Misheal gasped.
"I thought you wouldn't come."