Chapter 13: "Stepping Stones"

Kristina Valdez

I wasn't able to say anything so I changed the topic, "Why isn't Ashley with you?"

He blushes, "Ah... she doesn't know."

"Why didn't you invite her?"

Kevin didn't say anything but he just looked at me and that made me blush... did he intentionally not invite her so we can spend time together... Oh, get it together. Kevin's a friend, god, I'm losing my mind.

My mom bought out her dish, she cooked her famous shrimp in garlic and butter. It's my favorite, ah the smell itself is appetizing enought to get me drooling. I grabbed a plate for Kevin and myself.

Kevin says to my mom, "Thank you for inviting me to dinner."

"It's nothing compared to what you did for Kristina, don't hesitate to tell me if Kristina causes you any trouble, okay?"

I protested, "I don't cause troubles!"

"Shut up, I'm taking to the cute guy." My mom says

Kevin simply laughs and remarked, "You two seems so close, that's great."

My mom blurted out of the blue, "You make a good pair, I like you for Kristina, Kevin."

I spit out the water that I just drank and I was coughing so Kevin gave me the nearest tissue roll he found and laughs playfully, he said, "I like her too."

That surprised me even more, I immediately changed the topic as I shove shrimps on Kevin and my mom's mouth, "Okay, that's enough! Great, right? The shrimp taste good, right? Right! Let's just eat in peace."

They both laughed as we continued to eat under the dim and flickering light that my mom hasn't changed in a long time. We were surrounded by the peeling light green paint that we never noticed before.

It felt... like a home.

It was once again filled with laughters and eating dinners together aside from mom and I. I remembered how my dad would always fix and change the lightbulbs and repaint the walls over and over again despite his uneven strokes because he was that type of person.

When I was younger, I've always thought about it. Why dad married mom? He was always neat and my mom was the exact opposite, he would always clean up after her mess. But he said it was because he love her.

I guess he grew tired.

I grabbed some more rice and shrimp. It was a good thing that Kevin's here. It makes me feel safe and just... happy.

After we ate, I washed our dishes and cleaned the table. My mom reminded me, "It's getting late, Kristina, you should walk Kevin to the station!"

"No, I'm fine." Kevin continued, "Besides, it's too dark if Kristina walks back on her own."

I insisted, "Don't worry about me! I'll protect you."

I showed him the taser I found earlier in my mail and my mom laughs, "Where's you get that?"

"Kevin gave it to me." I replied but Kevin shakes his head to disagree, "Oh, you didn't? That's weird... I wonder who it came from."

"Whoever gave it, you should be thankful. At least, you're safe now." My mom remarks

I saw Kevin face gloomed, I wonder if he knew who gave it to me or maybe he has an idea.

I explained, "Plus, you don't have to worry much, we know everyone in this neighborhood and everyone knows us too."

My mom backed me up, "We've been living here since Kristina was born."

As Kevin and I got ready to leave, my mom's phone rang and she answered it.

I said, "We'll be leaving now mom."

My mom suddenly stopped us and said, "Ah wait! My friend said the train station was down, they're fixing it right now so travels are delayed."

I asked, "But how is he supposed to go home?"

Kevin answered, "I can ask our driver to pick me up. Ah, but Ashley took the car. Maybe I can take the Uber?"

"Ah, no Uber reach here since trains and buses are quite near." My mom snapped her fingers as she thought of a bright idea and continued, "You can stay here for the night! We have a spare bedroom and some of her old dad's clothes."

Kevin and I looked at each other then looks away.

Kevin hides his blushing face and stuttered, "A-are you sure?"

"Of course!" My mom replied as she went upstairs and quickly grabbed some clothes, she continued, "Here, you can take a shower there near the kitchen."

Mom then shifts her gaze at me and said, "Show him to the guest room and you take the rest. I have job tomorrow morning. Okay?"

I nodded, also trying to hide my embarrassing face.

My mom proceeded to her room as I waited for Kevin to go out. Ah, why do I feel so nervous?

I noticed the flickering lights again. I turned off the light switch and I stepped up the dining table to reach the lightbulb. I slowly rotates it and takes it out.

When I was about to replace it with a new one, I fell off balance and I closed my eyes as I braced myself for the impact but it didn't come.

As I opened my eyes, I saw Kevin's messy and slightly dripping hair. His eyes fixed on me and I can see his worried face. I guess I never noticed it before but Kevin's arm are quite strong. His slender arms are strong enough to carry me.

Kevin worriedly asked, "Are you okay?"

I was dumbfounded for a while, he really looks cute. I stuttered, "I... You look really cute, Kevin."

His face turned red and laughs, "You're really straighforward."

You are too.

Ah... Kevin's here right now but it reminded me of Angelo.

He puts me down gently and continued to dry his hair with a towel. I said, "Thank you."

"I really can't take my eyes off of you. Like a little kid." He laughs

Kevin was wearing my dad's clothes. It was a loose gray sweater and checkered pajamas. It somehow felt nostalgic. 

Kevin grabbed the bulb from my hands and changed the light himself. He then turns it on and says, "That's better."

I says in agreement, "Yeah, it is."

Kevin pinches my cheeks, "Well, anything else you need help with?"

My eyes trail down the wall's painting and Kevin followed, he says, "Should we repaint the bottom part as well?"

I was surprised and I nodded.

"Well, do you have some paint?"

I laughed, "Are we seriously going to paint it now?"

"I won't be able to sleep either way and there's no classes tomorrow, just self-study." Kevin smiles, "I might as well leave you with something to remember me by for a long time. Well, at least until the paint fades again."

We both laughed as I grabbed a darker green paint from the attic and a couple of paint rollers. I gave him an apron and I wore one as well.

Kevin started painting with beautiful strokes that resembled grass, he was only using one color but he was able to provide texture and shadings to it but adding more coats to other portion. I tried copying what he was doing but I failed miserably.

I praised him, "Kevin, I didn't know you could paint well."

He replied, "Ah, it was a hobby from a long time."

Come to think of it, I don't know anything about Kevin. We've been online friends for month and all I knew about him was his initial, his love for gaming and all that I've recently discovered.

I realized that he never share anything about himself. Kevin was always just there to listen to her.

Kevin looked at peace while he was painting, he stated, "You know, it's been a while since I had a proper dinner together. Back home it was always just Ashley and I or sometimes just me."

I was curious but at the same time I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. So I fought the urge to ask but he noticed and continued, "You know, you don't have to worry about me, you can ask."

I hesitated but I asked, "Why's that?"

"Our mom and dad died when we're were just  kids. It was a robbery. Ever since then, the company was entrusted to us with our grandparent's supervision."

Ah... that was why he didn't say anything about his company and all. He must've been so scared and tired carrying all that responsibilities alone. He's always saving everyone but who saves him?

Ashley and Kevin are twins, they were at the same age when their parents died but Kevin quickly grew up to take care of her.

It must've been so hard and painful for him.

I couldn't contain my tears and I started crying. I hugged Kevin tightly while I was crying. I sobbed, "You must've had a hard time handling it all on your own. You can always rest, you know?"

I felt his tears fall on my shoulders as he hugs me back. I tried to sit back up to wipe his tears but he didn't let me. Kevin said with his shaky voice, "Please stay like this for a little more while."

So I did as I patted his back.

Kevin Langdon POV

Ah... I wanted to look cool in front of her but instead she got to see my vulnerable side. I wonder why she's also crying with me.

I feel like I'm sharing my pain with her, it feels like Kristina's bearing my burden with me. Ah, it feels light.

I was so used carrying everyone's burden, I didn't have the time to remind myself of my own burdens.

I was so scared that Ashley might be feeling th same way and I can't comfort her because I'm even more broken.

I whispers even though she can't hear me anymore because she's already asleep, "The more I get to know you, the more I just fall in love with you." 

I hugged her for a little more while and we fell asleep resting on each other's head at the floor. We even had paint on our hands that dried up.

Time... please get a little slower for me.

I woke up with a blanket over us and Kristina's still sleeping. I guess her mother found us here and left early for her job.

I gently poked Kristina's forehead to wake her up. Her eyes are all swollen and I laughed, "Wake up sleepyhead."

She protested, "5 more minutes..."

"Okay, 5 more minutes." 

After a while, Kristina stands up wobbly and sends me off. I insisted, "You don't have to walk me all the way to the station, my sister will  pick me up somewhere around here."

"Are you sure? I have my taser!" She jokes around

I faked a smile. I know that taser was from Angelo. I know he cares about Kristina more than he admits to himself.

As I was about to walk away, I saw Angelo just behind Kristina. He dropped the trash he was carrying. He was surprised to see me spend the night at her place.

I patted Kristina's head gently and smirked as I looked at Angelo intentionally. 

then I left after seeing Kristina walks inside her house.

Angelo Cruz POV

That a**hole! He intentionally did that .to show me. I suddenly received a message, it's from him. 

Damn it, he probably got my number from the records.

He texted, "I told you I was serious. -Kevin."

I clenches my phone tightly and I picked up the trash with my injured hands and threw it in the dumpster.

Ah this is so annoying! He is so annoying! What was he doing there? Did he spend the night there? Why?

Ah these questions are making me crazy.

I called her and said, "Can you find a way to get me back to school?"

"But your suspension is almost over, it's only two more days."

I replied, "I know but can you find a way? I'm getting bored at house."

"Sure."

I hanged up. 

Just you wait Kevin, I'll come back and take what's mine.