Alissa tried her best not to rattle the knob when she touched it and turned it open. She opened the door and saw her father turn around to face her.
"Dad?"
Bobby looked at her with a faint smile, "Hon,"
Alissa furrowed her eyebrows, confused about her father's sudden visit.
"May I come in?" that same faint smile stayed on his face.
Alissa leaned against the chair opposite to where Bobby was sitting. She expressed herself to him, telling him how she did not expect him to come this late and unexpected. Her father told her that he came from a conference near her college and decided to drop by,
She nodded and bought the story, not knowing that this man was not her father, but just another puppet.
"Did you enjoy the party the other night?" Alissa asked, already brushed off the strange feeling she felt when she saw her father earlier, thinking that he's just like that to her. She's probably just nervous, she thought, because she's been going away from school and that she even skipped school,
Her father agreed. They both had a little bit of small talk until Bobby mentioned something that caught her attention, "Have you been hanging with that Paul guy?" he asked as he revolved the mug in his hands on the table,
Alissa sighed, "Oh, yeah."
"Is there something wrong?"
She shook her head, "Nothing, Dad."
"I know you well, Alissa." He stopped and gripped the mug's handle,
She wondered in herself if she should tell him,
"What's wrong?" he repeated,
She shrugged, "I kinda had a misunderstanding with him."
He leaned back, "Can you tell me?"
Perhaps she should, she thought. She couldn't really tell this to her only friend, whom she was mad at.
"Just didn't like how he acted, Dad. That's all."
"Are you mad at him?"
She nodded,
"Does he like you?"
Alissa shrugged,
"Oh he must really like you to bug you like that."
"Dad!" she rolled her eyes and Bobby denied her, "It's true, Alissa. Why else would he keep following you around?"
She paused to think,
"I think you shouldn't worry."
She shot her father a look,
"I met the kid the other night and felt like he's trustworthy. Give him a chance." He smiled faintly at Alissa who looked away and crossed her arms,
"I'll think about it."
Bobby stood from his seat and slowly approached where Alissa was standing. He laid his hands on her arms gently making her look at him, "Don't stress too much, Alissa."
"I'm not."
He stepped away and paced the floor, looking around, "I remember me and your mother, before we even got together. It was such a lovely memory..." he trailed off, walking into the kitchen and out to the other side,
Alissa followed him around with her eyes, listening closely, "...she and I fought. But she forgave me. It was difficult, but in the end, she forgave me."
"Well, that's how mom is."
"How about you, then?"
"Dad, you know how I am. I'm not like the other kids. Hell, not even the other girls. I'm weird and that's why I'm having trouble over a simple thing." It got out of her mouth like a bomb, making Pennywise realize what she really was. Indeed, she was unique.
"What does it take to make you forgive the boy?"
She shrugged, "He should know. He's like any other boy. Flirty and..." she groaned stopping herself from speaking knowing that she might be profane, and she could not handle it even more if her father scolded her for such a vulgar language.
"But you said you're not like other girls? if he's just like the other boys, then..."
Alissa shrugged, "Then he should find out. It took me weeks to find out the little details about him, then he should make an effort figuring me out."
Bobby turned to her, "I see."
"I really don't wanna talk about it anymore, Dad." She groaned again,
Bobby nodded, "Sorry." he grabbed his coat, "I must be off now. Your mother will miss me." He joked and she tried to laugh but instead, she sighed. Alissa stood there, expecting that her father would hug her even or stay and talk to her about school but he didn't. She saw him walk over to the door and open it. She shrugged and followed him there.
"Well, I'm glad I dropped by. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how you are." Her father said with a smirk,
"I'm glad to see you too, Dad." He turned around and went off. She closed the door and started walking away when suddenly she mumbled to herself, "What the hell am I doing?" she ran to grab her keys and head out of her apartment but realized that her father already went down the elevator.
Alissa heads back inside her apartment and locked the door, blaming herself for not walking her dad to his car.
My literature class ended a little late than before but I didn't mind. It would mean that it gives me more time to confuse Paul if he ever tried to look for me again. I was walking back to my car and felt both relieved and regretful that I haven't seem him. Then I remind myself that it's probably better off this way so it won't be awkward for me.
I'm bad at awkward situations like these. I suddenly have flashbacks of walking down the cafeteria in highschool when I felt like everyone was mad at me. Paul probably is, too. I guess this marks the first day of our failed friendship.
I looked up where my car should be, and instead of seeing just my car, I saw a group of red balloons covering whoever the hell this tall man is standing next to my car. I started walking slowly, approaching him, and tried to look around if anyone's seeing this.
Unfortunately, a few heads turned. But I look straight at the balloons and tried to ignore the fact that I'm being watched by strangers.
"What...the fuck?" I mumbled as I finally stopped walking,
Paul raised his hand that's holding the strands of the balloons and showed me a bright, warm smile that was almost contagious but I managed to stay mad because I really didn't know if I were angry or what,
"My apology." He stated and grinned, then held out the balloons to me,
I didn't know whether to take it or not,
"Take it." He said, "Go on. It's all yours."
Fuck it. I want the balloons.
I slowly reached for it and held it all in one hand, making him chuckle,
"You like 'em?" he asked me,
I kept a 'pissed off face' on, "Is this supposed to be a reference to-"
"Yes." He said, "I didn't really know what else could get your attention."
"Calling me by name is one."
"I know, but look at you with those balloons!" He said and laughed,
I wanted to laugh so bad but I held it in and turned around, then turned to glare at him again, "Paul."
"I apologize about the way I acted. I solemnly swear that I will be your friend. That's all there is." He said, raised his hand as if making a promise, while the other on his heart.
I couldn't help it anymore. I felt my lips twitch and finally form into a smile. He caught this and smirked. There's no point of being mad, anyway.
"Fine. I forgive you." I said,
He chuckled, "Great!" he said and held out his hand, "Friend?" he asked as if he was teasing me,
I rolled my eyes and shook his hand, "Is this really necessary?"
"Come on, Alissa. Be fun!"
I shot him a glare and shook his hand once then pulled away, "Don't start with me."
He laughed at me, "Now let's go and hang out."
"What?"
He ignored me and entered the car, leaving me alone holding the balloons, "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?"
He shrugged and I shook my head in exasperation.
"I don't even know why I'm keeping this friendship." I mumbled as I opened the backdoor and shoved in all the balloons inside.