Ashton’s POV

“We should leave now, Ashton. I think Megan will never come out again, and you know she was trying her best to avoid you. She didn’t even say a single word to you. And I can tell you hurt her, and there’s no way you can stop her from hurting because what you did was terrible.” Zach declared after Dexter pulled Megan’s wrist to get inside their house. I was hoping I could talk with my girl, but she didn’t respond when l asked her to speak with me, and it hurts me that she only shook her head, and she turned away from me without having a second glance.

“Yes, Zachary is right; we need to go home and have dinner with our parents, and I can tell they are now waiting for us, Ashton, especially now that Isabelle is in the house. I am sure mom and dad are excited to eat dinner with all of us, now that our family is complete.” Lennon said, and I know my brother has a point, and even if I want to skip dinner, I can’t do it because I don’t want to upset my mom. I want to avoid Isabelle, and it was because of my sister; I tried to know Megan Corteza, and I never expected that I would fall in love with her along the way.

 I turned around and got inside the car without saying anything, and no one among my brothers’ talks as we moved away from Megan’s driveway. It was only last month Isabelle talked about Dexter; during her last visit, I can tell something is bothering her, and because I care about my sister, and we are close with each other, I made her talked to me, and I felt so angry with Megan’s brother that time.

“Hey, are you alright, Isabelle?” I asked my sister when I found her sitting alone on the double lounge chair at the side of our swimming that night, and I can see that she was crying, and she immediately wiped her tears away.

“Yeah, I am fine, Ashton.” My sister said as she tried to give me her sweetest smile, but I can tell Isabelle was trying to cover up the pain she felt by smiling at me, and I can tell she had a hard tim.

“I know you are not fine, Isabelle, and you can’t lie to me. I can tell that you are far from okay, and you will not cry if you don’t feel so hurt and alone. I can feel that something is bothering you. I know I am not a girl, but maybe I can help in some ways. I don’t want to see you this way, Isabelle.” I declared, and she looked at me sideways before she released a heavy sigh.

“Yeah, how I wish you are a girl, Ashton, so I can tell you about it, and thank you for your concern.” She replied, and I laughed.

“I don’t need to be a girl to understand what you feel, Isabelle. I know you are hurting, and I don’t think only girls are capable of giving advice; besides, I want to help you in any way I can.” I said, and my sister smiled at me.

“I think there is a way you can help me, my dear brother.” She said.

“How am I going to help you when I don’t even know what made you cry?” I asked, and my sister narrated everything to me, and I felt so angry with Dexter for breaking my sister’s innocent heart. 

“I am sorry that you are hurting, Isabelle, don’t worry. I am going to teach him a lesson.” I said as I curled my fists on my sides.

“Don’t hurt him physically, Ashton, because no matter how much Dexter hurt me, I still care about him even if it was almost two years ago. I tried my best to forget him, but I can’t. And I hate myself that I can’t stop loving him, and I am still hoping to see him, but he changed his number, and he blocked me on his social media accounts. Besides, I don’t want you to get into trouble.” Isabelle said, and I can feel my sister’s pain.

“How can I help you, Isabelle? Just tell me, and I will do it for you.” I said.

“I believed Dexter’s sister is also a senior student in your school, and her name is Megan Corteza. I think you knew her because my ex was so proud of his sister. After all, she was always number one in class.” She said, and I was shocked when I learned the name of Dexter’s sister, and I smiled because my sister was right. I know I had always been curious about the brightest student in our batch, but I know she always avoids our kind because Megan is very allergic to rich kids. That is why I am

so fascinated by her.

“Of course I know her, Isabelle. She is the brightest among all the senior students.” I replied.

“I want you to know her and court her, make her fall in love with you, and then break her heart, Ashton. Dexter loves his younger sisters, and I think he will realize how much he hurt me the moment one of his sisters will feel the pain that I felt.” She said, and I looked at my sister for a long time, and I was speechless because I can’t hurt an innocent girl because I know from the very start Megan is different from all the girls I dated.

“Don’t worry, I will make friends with her,” I said, but I didn’t promise Isabelle on that night that I will break Megan’s heart. I want to know her and find different ways to hurt Dexter.

I am back to the present when we reach our driveway, and I felt so glad everyone kept quiet the entire ride. We all climbed out of the car, and we proceed to the dining room; and I felt delighted our parents are not yet in the dining hall. 

“Where have you been, boys?” Isabelle asked us, but she was looking at me and suddenly got up from her seat.

“What happened to your face, Ashton? Who beat you up?” Isabelle asked, and I can see the worries on her face, and I almost forget the physical pain because all I can feel at the moment is the pain in my heart.

“You better stand up now and come with me before mom and dad see that black eye, and you have a cut on your lower lip that needs to be treated right away. I can’t believe you guys. I hope you are not in big trouble.” She said while she looked at my brothers and Zach.

“Please, tell mom and dad that Ashton is not feeling well, and tell him I am giving our brother his medicine and food.” Isabelle said no one in particular, and I don’t have a choice but to follow my sister. She walked faster on the stairs, and I can tell she was afraid our parents would meet us on the staircase, and she directly went inside my room.

“Are you in trouble, Ashton? Our brothers looked fine, and also your best friend. I know you left together, but how come you are the only one who got bruises on your handsome face?” She asked as she took out the first aid kit from the cabinet.

“Yes, and I am not okay, Isabelle, my heart is in big trouble.” My words caught her off guard that the first aid kit fell on the floor, and I helped her picked up its contents, and I can see the horrified looked on her face.

“Oh, no, Ashton, don’t tell me you fall in love with Megan.” She said as her deep blues eyes staring at me with worries.

“Yes, I did, and I messed up,” I said, and I can tell that my sister is stunned as she walked closer to me. She cleaned the cut on my mouth and applied disinfectant, and my sister became speechless for a long time.

“I know this is bad, and I am sorry, Ashton, I should have never ask you to court her. I never thought you would fall in love for the first time, and I hate to think why it has to be with Dexter’s sister. I know that you are the heartthrob of the academy, and girls chased you around, but how come you chose to fall for her, Ashton?” Isabelle asked, and I shook my head.

“I never intend to fall for her, Isabelle. It just happens naturally. You were right, this is the first time I felt this way towards a girl, and it is killing me. I hate Lauren for humiliating Megan in front of our friends. And Lauren told her in front of everyone that I courted her because you asked me to break Megan’s heart. But it wasn’t true Isabelle, on the first day I approached Megan, I can tell right away she captured my heart.” I said.

“Did Dexter did this to you?” My sister asked me in more than a whisper.

“Yeah, but don’t worry, I also did the same to him, and I am sure he also has a black eye right now,” I replied, and I can tell that she is worried about our current situation as of now.

“You better stay away from Megan, Ashton, while it is still early and before dad will find out about your relationship with Dexter’s sister. I don’t want you to be like me, it is not easy to become broken-hearted, and I am sorry if I drag you into this mess.” Isabelle said, and I looked at her intently before I speak.

“I think it is now too late for your warning, Isabelle. I am already in love with Megan.” I declared, and my sister’s face fell.

“Oh, Ashton!” My sister exclaimed as she took me into her arms, and I came to understand that loving Megan Corteza is complicated than I thought, and I need to double my effort to win back her heart.