AGNES

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I open the door and standing before me are my friends; Yvonne, Tessa and Xian. "Hey guys, it's awesome to see you all visiting me at this really unexpected time of the day. Today must be an auspicious day."

"Quit kidding around," Yvonne says.

"As if you were not expecting us to visit," Tessa adds.

They are subtly telling me that they are here at my house for something serious. At first, I can't tell what the visitation is for by their stout faces and uncompromising looks. Though I may have a few speculations, but let me not get ahead of myself. "Well... yes and no. Why don't you guys come in first?"

I readily allow them in even though it's obvious they'd barge inside nonetheless.

"Aunty Cherry isn't around so please, feel free. And by that, I mean, tell me why you guys came visiting with such serious faces." For no reason, I begin to get unnecessarily apprehensive. Why does it seem as though they are set to chop my head off? "What's wrong with three of you?"

"You tell us. Are we safe?" Yvonne starts off.

I knit my eyebrows together. "Safe?! Safe from what exactly?"

"You and Felix are friends? Really?" Tessa asks. "Is there something you'd like to tell us before we completely lose your minds?"

I knew it. This flinty tenacity they carry can only be caused by something connected to Felix and I. "How did you know about it?" If truth be told, I'm questioning how something that happened just yesterday has speedily spread out this wild that my friends are putting me in a hot seat. So what happened can actually spur this assembly I'm in, then it means some exaggerations were added to the story.

Besides, Yvonne and Tessa were at the market when Felix helped me, unless Felix handled the spreading of this ambiguous news himself?

"Don't forget, both of you are like a castle on a hill. Everyone virtually keeps tabs on you two," Xian answers.

Not necessarily the answer I was hoping for but fair enough. I mean, I am not deaf to rumours I hear about me in class, or along the hallway, or even outside school regarding the relationship I shared with Felix formerly. That brief walk we had before I brought him over is enough to stir up questions and doubts.

"Last I checked you guys wanted me to become friends with him, right?"

They exchange glances, which makes me more worried. Now, I'm not even sure what I did was the best thing. They're all exchanging looks like I made the worst decision to give Felix a chance and the benefit of a doubt to be my friend.

It's that scary because I know what it took from me to settle our differences.

"Are you sure about this? Does that mean your hatred towards him is gone?" Xian asks.

"Why these interrogations?" Like, why are they asking me about this? First off, I didn't actually hate Felix... alright I may have had a bit of an ill resolve towards him, but it's not like there was no reason to. He's a playboy! No disagreement there, but these past days, he has not depicted that nasty character of his, which I think is good transformation. The manner he communicates his question makes me feel like I've been a bad person to Felix.

"Can you blame us? One moment you don't get along, the next you're best of friends," Yvonne says. "Anyone with a brain can tell that is some serious unusual stuff happening here."

"Plus, we just want to be sure," Xian weighs in. "Think of it as us looking out for you."

"We're friends. We settled our differences and we're cool. No big deal about that," I tell them.

Tessa giggles, "no big deal! Is she for real?"

"I'm just as amazed as you are, Tessa," Yvonne replies.

And here I thought aunty Cherry was being the overly dramatic one until now.

"Okay, hold on. You don't have any feelings for Felix, right?" Xian asks again.

All eyes turn towards Xian, possibly with similar thoughts too. I sense he's taking this discussion somewhere oblivious to any one of us, because I don't see where in the arithmetic equation my feelings for Felix come in.

"What?" He shrugs in defence, "I need to clear that up to be sure."

I peek at Yvonne and Tessa. It'll be nice to mess with them a little as payback for the times they shipped me with Felix when I never asked them to. I need to give the answer to Xian's question to see if they really took this matchmaking role seriously. "Having feelings for Felix isn't such a bad idea. He is cute and quite easy to get along with. He'd be fortunate if we become a couple, don't you think?"

"Huh!!!" Three of them chorus at once.

I spilt my sides laughing terribly hard. That was epic! Who said I can't lie? I wish I could capture their faces. I totally enjoyed that.

"Are you serious? You think you'd be fortunate if you date Felix?!" Xian rephrases.

"Okay, that was a joke. I don't have anything of that sort for Felix, not even the slightest. Guys, come on! I'm not that ridiculous." I gauge their faces before I continue. "We are only getting to know each other."

"But that's how it starts," Yvonne says.

Tessa looks at the others. "Is that a good thing? I need to know ASAP."

"That is surely not a good thing!" Xian cries out suddenly. "You mustn't fall in love with Felix no matter what happens."

"Alright, Xian, what do you know? Why are you behaving like this?" I finally ask him. I'm not the only person looking at him suspiciously. It's like he's trying to advise me to stay away from Felix at all cost but I'm not sure why it's coming from him of all people. He's the one who knows Felix all too well, his exes included.

"Yes. Is there something you're not telling us?" Yvonne asks, equally doubtful.

If he's worried I'll turn out to be like them, then he shouldn't.

"It's only a friendly advice, nothing more," Xian replies defensively. "Y'all should chill out."

"Actually, I agree with Xian," Tessa contributes. "I mean, things are happening too fast. Just last week, she and Felix were at each other's necks, now, they're good friends?" She shivers from a goosebump attack. "It's weird if you ask me."

"See!" Xian adds. "And this is all happening just after he saved you."

I stare at my friends totally awestruck. "You are all so full of surprises. Before now, y'all wanted me to open up to Felix and give him a chance. I have done just that and y'all are bothered? Am I still speaking to my friends? Because this is so random."

And with that said, I leave them all speechless. They peek at one another once again, not with a puzzled or questioning expression, more like a defeated one.

"Well, what can I say?" Yvonne speaks up.

"She kind of has a point there," Tessa adds.

"I don't know what is happening here between you two, but we are always here for you, that's for sure. But I'm so happy there is no bad blood anymore, unlike before."

"Aw... you guys. That's so nice." My heart melts like marshmallow under a warm flame.

"Whatever. Do you have any cookies for us, me especially?" Yvonne soon makes herself feel at home, along with the others.

FELIX

As if I knew it all too well that ten minutes from now, I'd run into Miss Cherry on my way to pay a visit to Agnes's. She seems to be coming from an order delivery.

I meet with her before she opens the first gate. "Good evening, uh..." I think of what to address her with.

She sees the enigmatic look on my face. "Aunty is fine."

"Right, of course. Aunty Cherry." I was thinking something more official, but aunty works, too. She seems friendly and all. I assume it won't be difficult to build a relationship with her. "I have a request to make."

She arches her brow. "What's your request?"

Over the night, I was busy thinking about doing something for Agnes this Christmas, something that would make her like me for real, and then a brilliant idea hits me. If there is anything that will make Agnes feel obligated, or maybe fall in love, this plan of mine has the potential. "I plan to do something truly special for Agnes for this Christmas, and I need your help," I tell her.

She stares with curiosity. "How do you mean?"

"I want to make Agnes paint again."

She hangs her mouth open, utterly surprised.

"I have a garage that I don't use any longer. It's a simple structure a little distant from here, but pretty accessible. I intend to help Agnes exhibit her works there."

"How...! How did you come up with this plan of yours, and why?"

"The how, I don't know, but the why, probably because it's our first Christmas together. I want our friendship to change for the better. She has hated me far too long. I want her to completely forget that feeling."

"That is nice of you. Listen, Agnes is a good girl, she really doesn't hold grudges against people. Truth be told, I was shocked when she brought you home the other day. You are practically the first person she reviled that much ever since..." she trails off on that note. "Felix, thank you for understanding her. I truly do hope you guys can become good friends."

"Me too."

She smiles pleasantly at me and ruffles my hair. I return the smile but in my mind, I'm simpering at how my plans are coming together fluently.

"Do you want to come inside? Agnes is with the rest of her friends."

"Well, I..." I contemplate it internally. After this little chat with aunty Cherry, I don't think it's a good idea to see Agnes. I've already gotten the green light I need. "Never mind. I guess I'll visit some other time."

"Alright, see you later." She opens the gate and enters inside.

Hold on a minute! Was it a sensible decision to notify aunty Cherry about this malevolent plan of mine? I will simply remind myself that this is purely for revenge, nothing else – no big deal.

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Hey, spoiler alert! The next chapter will contain the POVs from other characters. Excited?