One Roof With My Step-Brother.

UNREQUITED LOVE.

I want him. And this is how it started and how I fell in love with him, falling in love with my father’s best friend.

I couldn’t take my eyes away from him for a second.

He was the most handsome man I’ve ever met in my entire life and I did something stupid, went up to him and deep kissed him like I saw in the anime movies.

My father gasped in shock and pulled me away from him and seriously warned me never to do that again.

Well, I did it out of innocence.

I thought it was just something normal to do but Gérard secretly kept doing it to me whenever I cried or I was sad.

To lighten me up and it worked every time and while growing up, he became my everything.

Until I realized my father had really abandoned me.

And Gérard said he didn’t know where he was or what his plans were and it’s been nearly ten years and I still don’t know the reason he left.

The only thing I knew about him was that he was a very young man and his intentions were horrible.

That’s why he left.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Gerard. He was constantly on my mind, what was wrong with me, and there was no way I could be in love with him.

“Tell me what’s on your mind.” She inquired, concernedly.

“Me?’

“Yes, who else will I be speaking with? Lucia, we’re the only ones here,’ she explained. “So, you look worried, as if you’re thinking about something so serious.” She winked. “Is it about a man?” She nudged my shoulders with a smirk.

I burst out laughing. “‘Can you please stop, Belle?’

Belle was a childhood friend of mine before I met Scarlet and we’ve been best friends for what seems like an eternity.

She has red hair, a pointed nose, a white complexion, black eyes, and pink lips, and she is slim and attractive.

To be honest, I’m envious of her at times, although she’s only five feet tall and the way she dresses makes her look so cute.

We were in our final year in middle school and will graduate soon.

“I’m not kidding, Lucia. I’d like to hear about this guy you’re having such powerful feelings for,’ she whispered.

‘Who said anything about powerful feelings?’ I inquired.

“Don’t bother me with unnecessary questions; just tell me everything.’ She explained.

I sighed. If I don’t tell her anything, she’ll nag me all day, and the worst part is, we’re both living in a hostel.

“When I went to see my father, I ran into his best friend...’ I hesitated.

“His best friend. What about him?’ Belle inquired.

“He...my father said he was going to be my lesson teacher, and...’ I was still unsure. I don’t want to say anything to her because I’m afraid she’ll laugh at me.

“So, what happened?’ She persisted, interested in my story.

“He agreed, and my father said I could start lessons with him right away.’ I happily explained.

“So, what’s the problem?’ She shrugged her shoulders.

“Quit asking what the problem is.’’ I almost snapped.

Well, she was trying to get what was on my mind and she should just get what I’m saying and let it slide.

“Are you ashamed?’’ She asked.

“Of what?’ I asked.

“Do you have feelings for your father’s best friend?’ She grinned.

“What!! I didn’t say that,’ I denied.

“Well, your face said it, getting red and all. So I could tell what you were trying to say, and I know you didn’t want to tell me?’ She smirked.

I am still a child; I thought.

“You’re right, but he’s way older than me and he looks so young. I was startled when my father said, “He’s twenty years old" I mimicked my father's voice and sighed. "I got scared for a second there.'

“He’s really way older than you. That’s true, for sure. So, what do you know about him?’ Belle asked.

“I only know that he lives in a mansion and my father said he is a womanizer. Well, he didn't tell me that though, I heard him telling some lady downstairs yesterday.’ Leaving out the part that I kissed him on the first day I met him.

“Wow!" Belle exclaimed.

“Yeah, and …’ I shook my head. “I think I should just forget about him.’ I sighed.

“Well, it’s not bad to be in love, but I think you should find someone else. You know someone your age and brains too, not an adult.’’ As soon as she said that, I started laughing.

“What do you mean by your age and brains?’’

“But that’s the truth. Someone like that is going to break your heart into a thousand pieces and I don’t think a piece of your heart is going to remain inside you.’

I was still laughing, and she laughed as well.

She was one funny girl.

She is right. I should probably just forget about him. Rather than do more harm than good. We talked all day and immediately we got to the hostel. What we saw made our mouths gape open.

Sofia smashed a bottle of wine on the floor. She was so angry with whomever she was angry with.

Belle and I went to sit down on the chair in the living room and stared at her with our jaws dropped.

We were both curious.

Why was she so angry and who had broken her heart this time?

Though she was our senior, aren’t the older ones supposed to lead by example.

“Que se joda. no debería dejarme verla en este albergue ni volver a llamar a mi número.’ She spoke in Spanish, frowned and took another bottle of beer and gulped almost half a bottle.

God, how does she do that?

“Well, I thought she was important to you,’ Angelica smirked.

“Yes, me too. Because you suddenly stopped drinking and you said you were watching your diet. At least those flabby stomachs of yours will go inside,’ Eric mocked.

Everyone burst out giggling. Belle fell out of her chair and went to the floor, laughing.

“It’s not funny.’ Sofia pouted.

“Then, tell us dearly. What happened?’ the hotelkeeper, Mrs Rose, calmly asked. She is a kind woman, and she acts like a mother to us.

“My friend, who was going out with this elite guy said.' she mimicked. “I will set up a mixer with my boyfriend’s friends!” She sighed. “To me, in a vaguely stuck-up tone, she said, “You should lose some weight. Hehe!” As Sofia continued to mimic her friend, I was trying my best not to laugh.

“Like she was giving me advice…’ she screamed.

“Well, she seems like a wonderful friend,’ Eric teased and started laughing.

“But she just told me she broke up with her boyfriend and the f*****g mixer’s off. I did all that diet for nothing.”

We all echoed in laughter, and my stomach was hurting so badly. Sofia never ceases to amaze me. All her friends are just motherfuckers.

I don’t know why, most of their friends are liars, cunning and deceivers, and neither of them has any friends who were sincere with them.

This hostel is fantastic; it’s a lively place that feels like a home away from home.

My father suggested I stay in a hostel because he won’t be around all the time.

And didn't want me to feel lonely, and my mother was working too, but I was concerned because the money was so expensive and I didn’t want to stress him out any further.

Until he said, “Don’t worry about the money,” implying that he was going to pay and make sure I got everything I wanted.

I sobbed, but I was overjoyed, and I promised to do the same for him.

To compensate him for all the sacrifices he had made for me.

When I arrived at the hostel, I was a little nervous because everyone was so quiet and staring at me, as if they’d never seen a human being before.

And, in just a day, I felt like I’d been there forever, and Belle arrived at the hostel before me, because her parents were abroad and it was easier to associate with them without feeling awkward being the youngest among the students.