CHAPTER 4: RECOLLECTION PART 2

THE HIROTO FAMILY

FIONA: Happy twenty-fifth birthday, my beloved twins.

BOTH: Thank you, Mother.

HAVIOR: Before you cut the cake, smile for the camera.

(He snaps a photo.)

HAVIOR: Perfect. Now let's eat before your mother starts crying again.

FIONA: I do not cry that much.

FABIOLA: Mom, you cried watching a cooking show.

FIONA: The onions had a dream, Fabiola.

EZRA: That's not how onions work.

FIONA: Just cut the cake.

(The twins laugh and begin cutting the cake.)

A familiar voice interrupted the celebration.

GABBY: Hey, Ezra.

She stepped forward holding a gift bag.

GABBY: I brought you this.

EZRA: Oh.

(He takes it.)

EZRA: Nice.

A brief silence followed.

EZRA: Weren't you still upset with me after what happened?

You disappeared for years.

You literally ghosted me.

FLASHBACK

Gabby stood frozen in the doorway.

In front of her...

Ezra was kissing her sister.

GABBY: (grabs Vicky's arm)

What the hell is wrong with you?!

SLAP!

VICKY: Ow!

GABBY: Have you lost your mind?!

VICKY: Relax.

It was just a little fun.

GABBY: Fun?!

VICKY: We were playing Truth or Dare.

GABBY: You know he's my boyfriend!

VICKY rolled her eyes.

VICKY: Come on.

We both know he doesn't love you.

You're the one who's obsessed with him.

GABBY: To hell with you.

She turned toward Ezra.

GABBY: And you?

Why aren't you saying anything?

EZRA: I was giving you space.

GABBY: Space?

EZRA: Yes.

You and your sister appeared to be having a family conflict.

Who am I to interfere in a trauma bond?

gabby stared at him.

GABBY: You're unbelievable.

You won't even apologize?

EZRA: If you want one.

I'm sorry.

Can I leave now?

Gabby laughed.

Then cried.

Then laughed again.

GABBY: People warned me about you.

I just didn't listen.

I thought maybe you'd be different with me.

Maybe you'd actually care.

But you don't.

You never did.

You feel nothing.

You are exactly who everyone says you are.

And after today...

You'll never hear from me again.

PRESENT

GABBY: Honestly...

I'm shocked you even remembered that.

Considering your heart is made of stone, I assumed you'd erased me from your memory years ago.

EZRA: Vicky told me you cried a lot afterward.

GABBY: Do you still talk to her?

EZRA: Not anymore.

GABBY: Good.

EZRA: Thanks for the gift.

GABBY: Wow.

You can show gratitude.

Miracles really do happen.

EZRA: Did you come here to gloat or celebrate my birthday?

GABBY: Neither.

I came to see whether the rumors were true.

EZRA: Which rumors?

GABBY: That you've finally developed a conscience.

He sighed.

EZRA: Gabby.

I apologized years ago.

GABBY: Yes.

You said the words.

But you never meant them.

Actions speak louder than words.

And I didn't feel any sincerity.

EZRA: You forced me into that relationship.

I never confessed to you.

I never asked you out.

I never even implied I wanted one.

GABBY: Wow.

Still blaming me.

EZRA: I'm stating facts.

GABBY: You know what?

Forget it.

I genuinely hope you find someone who understands you someday.

EZRA: Amen.

And while we're giving advice.

Stop seeking validation from other people.

There's this wonderful thing called self-love.

You should try it.

My sister.

GABBY: I am NOT your sister.

EZRA: That's unfortunate.

Because you're behaving exactly like one.

Gabby's eye twitched.

Fabiola nearly choked trying not to laugh.

GABBY: I wish you well, Ezra.

Truly.

EZRA: Stop pretending to be a victim.

I know exactly why you dated me.

Gabby's expression changed.

FLASHBACK

Unknown to Gabby...

Ezra had overheard a conversation.

GABBY: Just give me more time.

After he gives me the five billion dollars, we'll tell him everything.

SEAN: He's going to be devastated.

The money is one thing.

But finding out you're cheating on him with his best friend?

That'll destroy him.

GABBY: Relax.

You know I love you.

Once we get the money, we'll disappear.

He's just a puppet.

PRESENT

SEAN: Hello, darling.

Gabby spun around.

GABBY: You psycho!

How could you tell him?!

SEAN: Eventually, secrets expire.

GABBY: For how long have you known?!

EZRA: Long enough.

Long enough to know exactly what kind of person you are.

SEAN: We investigated you.

Honestly, we found it suspicious.

Most women avoided Ezra because of his condition.

You clung to him.

Which raised questions.

gabby looked horrified.

SEAN: Turns out we were right.

You wanted his money.

Nothing more.

EZRA: Leave.

GABBY: Ezra...

EZRA: Take your gift with you.

I don't want it.

For the first time all day...

His voice sounded genuinely cold.

Gabby stood silently.

Then turned and left.

THE HUNTER FAMILY

The party was finally over.

MELODY: Yoranda...

I'm really sorry.

Yoranda suddenly burst out laughing.

MELODY: Why are you laughing?

YORANDA: Because I deserve this.

MELODY: That's concerning.

YORANDA: I brought Freddy on purpose.

MELODY: ...

YORANDA: ...

MELODY: You WHAT?!

YORANDA: I wanted chaos.

MELODY: Why would you want chaos?!

YORANDA: Because you've been suspiciously normal lately.

MELODY: Excuse me?

YORANDA: No disasters.

No family scandals.

No accidental crimes.

Nothing.

I got worried.

MELODY: I'm a quiet person.

YORANDA: Melody.

MELODY: What?

YORANDA: You once fed party meat to stray animals.

MELODY: We agreed never to discuss that again.

YORANDA: Exactly.

MELODY: You're a terrible person.

YORANDA: And you're still paying me back for the pool.

MELODY: THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

YORANDA: Gravity disagrees.

Katalina entered.

KATALINA: Melody.

MELODY: Yes, Mother?

KATALINA: Your behavior today was unacceptable.

MELODY: Which part?

KATALINA: The fact that you need clarification concerns me.

Yoranda started laughing again.

MELODY: Traitor.

KATALINA: Freddy refuses to leave.

YORANDA: How much humiliation can one man survive?

KATALINA: Honestly, I'm starting to admire his commitment.

MELODY: Let him in.

(Freddy enters.)

FREDDY: Mel...

I'm sorry.

A genuine silence followed.

FREDDY: I know I hurt you.

I know I don't deserve forgiveness.

But I'm sorry.

MELODY: Don't tell me what I should do.

You lost that privilege a long time ago.

Freddy lowered his head.

MELODY: Besides...

I forgave you years ago.

You're still an idiot.

But I forgave you.

FREDDY: Then why are you still angry?

MELODY: Because forgiveness and stupidity are two different conversations.

Yoranda nearly fell off her chair laughing.

FREDDY: Fair enough.

MELODY: Out of all the girls in existence...

Why my best friend?

Freddy hesitated.

FREDDY: My friends kept mocking me.

They said I wasn't a real man because I'd never kissed you.

Never slept with you.

They made me feel weak.

YORANDA: Congratulations.

You listened to fools and became one.

FREDDY: I know.

MELODY: So you threw away a relationship because a bunch of horny idiots hurt your feelings?

FREDDY: When you say it like that

MELODY: Because that's exactly what happened.

She stood.

MELODY: If I were you, I would've sought advice from wiser people.

Instead, you let fools lead you.

And now look at you.

Standing here.

Begging.

Your loss.

Not mine.

A painful silence filled the room.

MELODY: I have better friends now.

Better people.

Better standards.

So stop chasing me.

And keep your little snake under control.

YORANDA: Translation,

Leave.

Now.

Freddy sighed.

FREDDY: I deserve that.

MELODY: Correct.

Freddy left.

The room became quiet.

YORANDA: You know...

That was actually mature.

MELODY: Really?

YORANDA: For you.

MELODY: Wow.

YORANDA: Growth.

MELODY: Insult.

YORANDA: Same thing.

("Again" by Noah Cyrus ft. XXXTentacion plays.)

And for the first time that night...

Melody smiled.

Maybe some chapters of her life were finally ending.

Even if she had no idea a much stranger one was about to begin.

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