ROSES AND THORNS-BEING REAL

CHAPTER ELEVEN-REALITY & MILAN

REALITY'S P. O. V.

My phone's screen lights up as it beeps, it's a text from Lan. I open the text and it reads;

Milan

Can you come over?

I smile at that; Today's Sunday, so I woke up early to go to church and praise God for what he's been doing for me and to pray for my mom's spirit to rest paradise and for of course for God to strengthen my friendship with Lan. He's literary the first friend I've made in this unknown city. I see God is finally answering my prayers. The joy of seeing a text from Lan is unmatched. I decide to reply.

Real

Not sure, lemme think about it first.

I send and wait for a reply. It shows that he's typing and my ribs are already hitting up. I had plans to go basking again today. My phone beeps again and I immediately look up to see.

Milan

After thinking about it, also think of 3pm today.

Reality

Okie dookie.

I feel like Milan is kind of bossy, I mean his family thinks we go to the same school and what if they find out. But since he says I'm his only friend, then I'm definitely going and plus, Sundays here are boring, especially with no job. These days I'm more conscious about performing on the streets coz I'm scared of the worst that could happen.

MILAN'S P. O. V.

It's morning and I'm sitting on the couch with blanket wrapped around me and mom and dad is just standing at a distance and looks really pissed off and Daryn as is just staring at me pitifully. About last night, after the argument I had with dad, I attempted to spend the night practicing on the rain and got a cold instead. The doctor came and already checked up on me.

 Mom can't stop blaming dad about it and kind of feel the guilt he's feeling. He always thinks he's right. Due to all the blame, dad apologizes and plus, I'm sick. Mom has already given me some strong meds. Daryn made me a get well soon card and I think she's so sweet. Mom asks how I'm feeling I tell her I got a headache.

"Oh, my poor baby." She says putting her palm on my cheek. "The doctor said the medication will take some time to show its effect, so I suggest you should take some rest." Mom says making me lay on her lap.

Yeah right, I'm sick, but mom's pushing it too hard, she's acting as if I got some kind of deadly disease. The best thing about being sick is I can get whatever I ask for. I just want Real to show up though her response didn't seem like she's coming at all. I just want someone to truly talk to, someone who won't make me feel like a patient. I wait for three pm and when the clock strikes 3, Real doesn't show up. I'm kind of disappointed and just lay on the couch.

The doorbell rings and I quickly seat up. Dad goes to the door and I see him smiling and talking to someone on the door. As soon as I hear that it's Real, my health changes from forty to a hundred percent. I jump out of the chair, throwing the blanket aside and rush to the door. there I see real, looking pretty as always.

"Hi." I say to Real as I lean on the door.

"Hello." She says smiling at me, showing her well-shaped pure white teeth.

"You okay?" She asks.

"Well- "Mom begins, but I cut her as I'm feeling much better right now.

"Yes, I'm fine." I reply and we stand there just looking at each other and Real looks kind of shy and looks down.

"Won't you at least invite her inside?" Dad asks.

"Sure, come on in." I say making a way for her.

Mom, dad and Daryn start talking to Real and I feel kind of left out, until Daryn includes me in the conversation.

"I'm okay, but Milan isn't." Daryn says.

"Daryn!" I exclaim. "Don't listen to her." I tell Real."

"It's true though, how about you ask him where he was last night." Mom adds.

My family can be annoying at times.

"Mom, seriously?" I ask.

"Fine, we won't disturb you. In fact, we're going out." Mom says getting up and raising her hands in the air to show surrender.

I watch the three getting up; mom, dad and Daryn. Mom kisses me on the forehead as goodbye and I feel kind of embarrassed because Real is right here. Mom then pulls Real to the side and whispers something in her; pfff! Girls.

Mom puts two chocolate milkshakes on the table, that's to say one for Real and the other for me.

"Whenever you feel hungry, just order something and don't have too much; I'm preparing dinner tonight. How does that sound?" Mom asks smiling.

"Normal." I respond.

"Awesome." Dad and Dary reply.

"Bye, take care, mommy loves you." Mom says walking out the door and Real bursts out laughing.

"I know, right, my parents are nuts."

"No, silly, they're so cute and the way they care about you; it's just so-"

"Like a damn baby, right?" I cut her sentence.

"No, they're just cute you really should stop ignoring them." She replies and just shrug. "Are you sick?" she asks.

"No."

"Come on."

"Fine, it was just a little cold and fever which came with a headache. But I'm good." I explain.

"Where were you last night?"

"Why do you care?" I ask.

"I'm your friend. Fine, I'll tell you where I was last night. I was home; in my trailer. Where were you?"

"I'm not a fuckin' baby Real."

"Fine, topic change. Any stories?" Real says.

"Nah." I say shaking my head.

"Fine, I'll tell you one. Don't judge it, just listen. There was a boy….wait, a girl." Real says trying to look at the ceiling to think about it.

"Which is which, a girl or a boy?" I ask.

"Both. There was a girl and a boy, so one rainy day, the boy went out late at night."

Oh no, it's not what I'm thinking.

"Seriously?"

"Don't worry, it's not about you. I wasn't here last night."

"Well, stop saying that."

"What?"

"That it's not about me coz that's making it sound like it's definitely about me."

Real laughs. She literary laughs about everything.

"Fine, so after the boy went out that night, he got beaten up very badly, but when he went home, the parents thought he was only sick. Little did they know that their son had been stabbed. So when the girl visited on the next day, he told the girl everything, but it was too late since he died after explaining the story. End of story."

"Psychopath."

"I know, right." Real says in between laughs.

I explain to her of where I was last night; practicing in the rain and that I didn't get stabbed. She thinks I'm a rebel, but because it's her, I just blush it off. I ask her to play video games with me, she tells me that she doesn't know how to, I teach her, but she ends up losing each and every game.

"That's not fair, I'm not playing again." she says throwing the controller lightly to me and turns the other side, her hands crisscrossed to her chest.

"A'ight, so you hate video games."

"No, I hate games I lose. I hate losing."

"What a character. Hey, let's play one more." I suggest.

"You just gonna win, no, thank you." Real replies.

"Come on, we'll have fruit rolls." I say looking over at her and she looks at me wide eyed with her mouth wide open.

"Uh-huh."

"Oh no." Real groans. "How did you know sugar is my weakness?"

"Casually." I reply with a smirk.

We get back to playing games and I let Real win the last one. Seeing her smile just makes me feel good about myself. Making a girl like Real smile, seems to be some kind of achievement to me. it makes me feel that I'm worth something. I and Real switch to music and Real takes the mic and imitates a stage performance, lip syncing her lungs out which just makes me laugh; for the first time in so long. Real's vibe and personality is just so iconic. Discovering her talent; her lyrical voice which just gives me chills. One thing is certain, I don't want Real to leave.

Time goes by and we start watching some talk show. An hour later, my parents and Daryn arrive all dressed up as cowboys. These guys could be so embarrassing.

"Guess what day this is." My mom says holding out a cowboy hat.

"Cowboy day!" dad and Dary back her up.

"Need any help Mrs. Valencia?" Real asks getting up.

"Misha is okay dear, and it's okay, I've got this." She says carrying the shopping bag.

"How's it going?" Misha asks casually.

"Good, we watched some talk show." Real replies.

"Which one?" mom asks.

Real and mom starts talking about the show and Daryn joins. Even joins.

"Real, want one?" Mom asks holding out a cowboy hat. Real looks over at me and I shake my head in disagreement.

"Please." Mom says.

"Don't please." I tell her.

"Sure." Real says getting it. "Thanks." She tells mom.

"I'll be right back." Real says and leaves with the others.

"Screw it." I say.

Real comes back a few moments later, looking so happy and almost breathless with all the dancing.

"Your parents are so fun." Real says smiling.

"My parents go nuts about everything. Did your parents also do all this?" I ask.

"Nah…but I wish they did we never really cerebrated anything." Real says looking down and I understand her.

"That's so sick."

"I know, right."

Moments later, Daryn joins us, whilst mom and dad help each other make dinner. Around five, Real says she wants to leave and I try to stop her, but she doesn't listen, so Daryn tells mom and dada and they somehow persuade her to stay for dinner. I don't want her to leave just yet, nobody does. Daryn suggested I tell Real to stay the night and Real refused. So I think of something.

At seven, the table is all set and we all seat together at the table. We all hold hands and mom blesses the food. It's a big dinner and they're a lot of dishes.

"How's the food?" Mom asks Real.

"It's amazing." Real replies smiling as he holds on to her folk.

"I know, right. I'm a great chef." Mom says smiling.

"Of course you are is." I hold Real's hand for a split second. I don't want my parents to take note of her hood style.

"-are." Real corrects her sentence. "I'd skip a million meals to have this." She gladly says.

"And of course not forgetting me." Dad says.

"Of course, Mr. Valencia." Real says smiling.

"Alejandro is okay, dear."

"Fine, Alejandro." Real replies.

"Sure dear."

I take a glass and hit it using a fork to get everybody's attention and everybody's attention shifts to me.

"Is it okay if Real spends the night here?" I ask and Real looks at me wide eyed and shakes her head to try and stop me. Daryn agrees with me.

"Sweetie?" Mom says siding to Real to ask for her say in the matter.

"No." Real says and I swear I almost lose it.

"It's totally possible if she's okay with it, right sweetie?" Dad says.

"Totally." Mom replies.

"Come on, Real, tomorrow's Ellen's day." Daryn says.

"Yes dear." Dad says.

"Please stay, if you want, I can call your mom. Give me her phone number. I'll give her a call." Mom says.

"No!" Real says and everyone's attention shifts to her.