A House With Heartthrobs (English version)
Chapter 50: Deal or Deal

Melissa couldn't stop smiling as she stared at her clearance paper. I didn't anticipate that we would have something like this till college.

I yawned lazily as I looked at the students who were waiting to have their last signature signed by the registrar so they could go on holiday.

My ears were filled with the sound of their laughter. I was simply eating peacefully while my back rested against the grills of the high-rise building where I was waiting.

"Would you believe it? We made it through the semester." Melissa stated once again. Countless times did she say that while her eyes were twinkling from joy.

Sasha's group has just arrived. They were catching their breath after walking up a lengthy flight of stairs.

I simply smiled and waved to Marcus, who was standing behind them. Finally, he learned how to get along with others and socialize with them. At least, it wasn't only Latrelle who he was hanging out with all the time.

Jez was on the other side of the way with her classmates. That witch isn't paying attention to me because she's preoccupied with the attractive man who was also waiting on the line.

Jaztine, on the other hand, was just standing there gazing. I have no idea what she was thinking when she became so smitten with my friend. There were a lot of straight guys in this place, and she would be completely interested by a gay. After the line moved, I found myself a little off balance due to the Senior High School students behind us who were really hyper.

"I'm sorry, Miss." The student, who was holding a pair of fish crackers, spoke out. Her other companions laughed and muttered something to her.

"Okay." I stated it without much excitement. I discovered during the last few weeks that I had been acting in this manner all along. I even went so far as to miss meals on occasion. T. H. is completely unable to communicate with me. I didn't get any texts or chats, not even through Messenger. If he didn't want to talk to me, he should have ask the help of his friends.

"Just imagine...." she stopped off, unsure of what to say next, "that we were on vacation!" she said enthusiastically.

"I'm free of stress!" she exclaimed with a pout. "Wait, do you want to come with us?"

I raised my eyes to her before snatching a piece of her bread. "Our semester break would be over in a heartbeat, and then it would be time for another holiday. I had to go see my parents."

"You know what, when you join us, you'll be free from all of your worries, at least for a while," she said, scratching her chin.

Our place in line has been shifted since the line has been moved. The entire procedure was relatively swift because we have the complete list of what we need. Everything had been paid, the registrar had already gave us our grade.

My attention was drawn to my grades in each subject as my eyes wandered over the page. Melissa took it from my grasp.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, completely taken aback.

"Wow, a perfectly flat one! That was amazing!" Marcus, who had arrived in front of us out of nowhere, reacted.

"Get back in your line." Melissa told him firmly.

I'm not sure if they were close with each other, but based on Melissa's tone of voice while she was speaking with him, it came as a surprise that she wasn't blushing. I kept my gaze fixed on them as they moved closer to each other. When their arms come into contact, they simply laugh.

"You don't have a failing grade on your record. Congrats!"

"Thank you very much! Congratulations, as well. I am confident that you do not have a failing grade."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I sincerely hope so. Okay, I'll just go back to my line." He remarked this as he waved his hand goodbye We bumped with Wanwan and Bruno just as we were ready to descend the stairs.

"Hi! Congrats! You've both the clearance." Bruno exclaimed gleefully. Perhaps he was unaware of something, or he simply dismissed it. "Duh! You only have a few minutes left, and then you're finished." Melissa answered.

I gave Wanwan a fleeting glance, but she was too preoccupied with her phone. Melissa's brows were furrowed while also looking at her.

Melissa can't stop talking about Wanwan even after we've already gotten down "That girl, she's the worst! She was simply pretending to be on the phone! She won't even look at us."

It had only been a few weeks since we had learned everything. After that, Wanwan returned to her previous seat. We didn't even get a basic "sorry" or any apology from her. There is nothing at all.

"Don't wait for her to say sorry." I recall Sasha's words to me as we crouched behind the door.

We were waiting for Wanwan to go out that day, and Melissa and I pretended to be doing something else, which is why we didn't get home early.

However, the truth was that we were simply waiting for her to express regret. She happened to be in the same place at the same time as Sasha's group.

"If you truly have a place in her heart and she has treated you as a friend in the first place, she would never do something like that." Sasha made a remark before she left us.

Vanna and Drianne, who was carrying a book, trailed after her.

"If she sincerely appreciates your friendship, she will not replace it difficult to swallow her pride." Just before she winked, Drianne added a postscript.

Melissa drew her palm in front of my face and smiled. "Just send me a message or text if you want to come along with us, okay?"

"Where would you go on vacation?" I asked as I glanced at her.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she couldn't believe what I was saying.

"We're still undecided whether we should go to Cebu, Pampanga or Manila."

If they decided to travel to Manila, it would cause me a great deal of anxiety. I was looking forward to seeing something different and calm. I wished to gaze at some lush greenery or mountains. "Okay, I'll just inform you."

The day flew by in a blur. I wasn't able to communicate with the four on those days. Only when I feel the need for it. Jez was out of town, so we didn't have much time to talk or phone each other, but she was checking in to make sure I was okay.

Just like today, we're currently on a video call because she's in the Ilocos region.

"What are you planning to wear?" She asked in reference to T. H.'s upcoming birthday. I forgot that there was only one week left until his birthday, and that I would be seeing Rosella again.

"I'm not sure, Jez. I only have a limited amount of money to spend on clothing. Please, just assist me with it." I had done a great deal of preparation for it. I don't want to appear as if I'm beggar when I arrive at that party. Sure, it'd be extravagant.

The door opened without a knock, and Latrelle's topless body greeted me as he walked in. "Where is my brief, Kaoree?!" His cheeks became flushed.

Jez, on the other end of the phone, burst out laughing. "Gosh! You were also the one who did his underwear laundry?" I nodded, but couldn't help but laugh as well.

Latrelle stole my phone from me. Although I tried my best to grab it back, he was far more powerful than I am.

"What's the point of having her as a maid, Jez?" His jaw clenched as he threw my phone into the bed with incredible force.

He's a jerk, to be honest. Suppose he dropped it on the floor, I wouldn't hesitate to slap him in the face. To top it all off, he was so bold as to close the door so loudly that it hurt my ears!

I heard a giggle under my bed. When I realized what or who it was, my blood began to boil up to my head.

"Marcus!!!"

Her two feet were clearly visible, although I had failed to notice them earlier

He went out from his hiding place, "Don't make a noise!"

"Huh! Jez, I'm confident to say that Marcus was the one who hid his underwear."

"Hey, don't make any noise! You're so loud!" He hid behind the closed door.

"Anyway, girl. Just simply go with Melissa so that you can relax and spend quality time with yourself."

I smiled.

"What is it that you are smiling about? Just go with her! Don't worry, Latrelle and I have you covered!"

"Latrelle?" I said, my eyes widening.

"Yes. She would cover the cost of your trip." She shook her head, her face flushed with disappointment. "I'm so noisy! I shouldn't have said that because he said that it should be kept a secret. But, please, come with Melissa, okay? Deal or deal." The corners of my mouth curled into a grin. However, I would reimburse him after I returned from vacation.

Chapter 51:

It never would have occurred to me that I could last in a house with five guys.

I couldn't keep a smile off my face when I looked at their picture hanging on the wall.

The day T. H. treated me rudely and the day I saw Latrelle in a cafeteria seemed like it happened just yesterday.

"Let's go, Kaoree!" Marcus yelled with a grin on his face as he held his luggage.

I'm not sure what is going on between him and Melissa right now. It's perplexing that he's here today when Melissa told me that I was the only one she had invited.

Wel, I have no ill will against Marcus for being here with us, but it just felt different.

"Did you say goodbye to Latrelle? he asked as I was slinging my bag over my shoulder.

He tucked his polo collar into his shirt and smoothed his hair with his fingertips.

"I'm sure he's still asleep. And don't worry about him, he'd be surprised to learn that I'm with you."

Wyn was already waiting for us when we arrived outside. He was cleaning the dust off the hood of his car. He was dressed casually in a green tee and basketball shorts. Even though he was only wearing flipflops, he managed to seem really attractive despite his simple attire.

"Let's go." Wyn helped me into the backseat by opening the door.

Marcus took a seat next to me and sat down comfortably. My brows wrinkled when I looked up and saw T. H. standing on the terrace. He was staring at Wyn's car.

"Are you two not going to talk to each other?" I remembered Jez asking me that question when he came to my room last night.

I attempted to speak with him a couple of times, but he remained in his room. Maybe he merely went outside to get some water one time, but he never even gave me a glance. He completely ignored me.

My eyebrows sprang up when a woman in a spaghetti strap top and tattered shorts walked towards us. She was fiddling with her bucket hat while keeping her eyes on me. "Hi! Kaoree. Isn't this a beautiful day?" Before getting out of the car, she cast a sidelong glance at Wyn.

The way she stared at my friend made me laugh out loud.

"Did that come as a surprise?" she asked, giggling.

"He's coming with us, oh, by the way... what's your name again?" She turned to face Marcus, who was walking towards Melissa.

"Marcus," he answered, extending his hands.

I wasn't surprised to see Vanna and Drinna struggling to catch their breath. Bullets of sweat were visible on their foreheads while they were clutching their luggage.

It was only a three-day trip. Why do these girls appear to have carried their entire home with them?

"Let's get going. Mama and Papa have already arrived at the vehicle." Melissa led the way to where the van was parked.

But before we followed her, I hugged Wyn and kissed him on the cheek before saying goodbye.

"Take care," he murmured softly.

Everything went smoothly, and we ultimately arrived at the airport, where we boarded a plane to the destination. Melissa was walking back and forth indicated that she was feeling anxious. "Mama isn't here, Kaoree. I'm at a loss as to what to do." She can't maintain her position in her chair.

It was my first time taking part in this type of trip. Every time I return home to our province, I travel by ship rather than by plane.

"Everything will be fine. Take it easy, Kaoree." Sasha remarked while reading a magazine in a relaxed manner.

I had the feeling that I was in a hammock when the plane began to lift off. I've been feeling sleepy, yet I can't sleep. I'm obsessively worrying about what might happen on our flight. Melissa leapt up and down with excitement as soon as we stepped off the plane. We were curious as to why she had done that.

"Guys, I can't believe it! Who would have thought that we'd be the only ones living in the house for three days?"

Her parents are only accompanying us to the airport because they have a business to run and can't be away for days at a time. I'd heard it was doing well, so they really need to be hands on if they want to keep it that way. There is a good chance Melissa would study in the United States for her Master's Degree, she told me once.

Wow! I'm the only guy in this group of females." Following his realization, Marcus started playing his favorite simulation game.

"Why didn't you invite Latrelle? Or maybe the cute and softie guy you were with earlier?" Sasha mumbled as she applied bb cream on her face.

Vanna, who is sitting next to her squealed with delight.

"I'm intrigued, as well! Why didn't you bring him along with us?" Vanna's chocolate brown eyes glowed with joy. As if girls like her are Wyn's cup of tea.

"He's going on a trip of his own, he's actually inviting me to accompany him, but I've already said yes to Melissa's invitation," he added as he looked at someone. We followed his line of sight, only to be met by Melissa's bemused expression. She swallowed to alleviate the uneasiness.

"Anyway, let's get going!" She took my hand in hers as she proceeded towards a taxi that was waiting close.

She burst out laughing while she is reading her mother's SMS message. I took a glance at the phone to see what was funny.

Melissa, please take care. Always keep in mind what I told you earlier.

But I was well aware that my friend had other ideas. Her out-of-the-ordinary smile, which is carved on her face, confirms this. "Welcome to our humble home!" she exclaimed ecstatically after a half-hour-long car excursion.

Thank God, we've finally arrived at their residence.

Even just looking at the front gate of their house reveals that it was a long-established residence. It was constructed of a thick and broad piece of wood. I could see a couple of mango trees in their back yard from where I was standing. Everything was pitch black when we walked into the house.

"I'm sorry, guys! It was our family's ancestral home, so it's a little dark and creepy. Don't worry, there is no ghost in this house." Melissa apologized as she turned on the lights one by one.

My mouth dropped open when I saw the entire house. No matter how dimly the lights are turned on, this house still has an inviting feel about it. I took a good look at the vintage photo frames that adorned the walls of the room. These were exact replicas of the works of well-known artists.

"You can either share a room with another person or each have your own room. You have the last say. There's plenty of room here, so you can pick and choose anything you want."

I didn't pay much attention to what she was saying, and instead, I was scanning the house. It was just so beautiful. Even the stunning chandelier fit the overall mood of the property. I couldn't help but also notice the lacquer on the wood products utilized, which was clear to see as clean and well-thought-out.

"I'm sorry, I just realized. Our pantry is empty, so we'll need to head to the store for supplies."

She scratched her head in disbelief when she noticed the refrigerator was completely empty.

"That's alright with me. Vanna and I will be the ones to make the purchase." Drianne offered to help when she went to the room she had selected.

"Are you sure? Will you be able to replace your way back home?"

"Ofcourse! I've lived here before, and I finished my senior year of high school here!" Drianne exclaimed with pride.

The sound of someone knocking on the front door almost caused us to jump from where we were standing. We exchanged glances.

Being the only one who didn't get shocked, Marcus was the one who went up to open it.

"Could be Melissa's aunt. Don't be - "When he saw who was standing at the front door, he almost lost his grip on the phone he was holding. "Yuan? What are you doing here?"

He is still the same Yuan that I remember. Something, particularly his hair, remained unchanged.

"That is a question that I should be asking. What are you doing here?"

The three girls behind me murmured and giggled.

"God! He's quite attractive! He seemed to have walked out of an anime straight away." Vanna let out a quiet squeal.

"I completely agree! Take a look at his skin tone. It appears to be as soft as a cloud and as white as snow. He's really handsome." Drianne giggled and flirtatiously covered his mouth with his hand. "Shh! He's mine, ladies. Don't stare at him any longer." Sasha interrupted.

I didn't say anything, just grimaced.