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Roier hums, tapping his pen on the kitchen table. He's trying to write a grocery list, and he knows there's one more thing to add, but he can't quite put his finger on it.
He already put down milk, toilet paper, ice cream, cereal, more crayons (Seriously, Bobby will not stop breaking them,), he even put down chicken - which he usually forgets!
So, what the hell is missing?
He's snapped out of his thoughts when the front door opens, and he looks up to see Jaiden.
Jaiden has Bobby tucked under her arm, the 8 year old scrambling to get out of her hold when he sees Roier. Jaiden laughs and puts him down, looking over to greet Roier.
“Hi, Roier.” Jaiden says, a smile appearing on her face.
“Hola Jaiden. [Hello Jaiden.]” Roier says, standing up to try and grab Bobby. Bobby giggles, sticking out his tongue and running up the stairs swiftly.
“Are you gonna go catch him?” Jaiden asks, taking off her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.
Roier nods, backing up a bit, before running up the stairs. “¡Vuelve aquí, Bobby! [Come back here, Bobby!]” He yells.
Bobby's bedroom door slams shut. Roier does not wince at the noise. (He does.)
The Mexican runs up to the door, his hand on the door knob, before he pauses. He slowly opens the door, peaking in.
“Hm, me pregunto por qué esta manta está en una posición tan extraña. [I wonder why this blanket is in such a strange position..]” He says, walking closer to Bobby's bed.
A muffled giggle comes from underneath the blanket, and Roier immediately knows what he must do. He pulls off the blanket, “¡Ahí es donde te escondías, pequeño Bobby! [That's where you were hiding, little Bobby!].”
The boy's eyes widen, going to jump off the bed, before Roier grabs him from under the armpits and spins him around. Bobby giggles, trying to kick Roier away.
Roier holds him close to his chest, tickling him. Bobby laughs out something that sounds like “¡Para, papá Roier! [Stop, dad Roier!]”
Roier exits the room, carrying Bobby down the stairs. He puts Bobby down once they're downstairs, eyes trailing over to where Jaiden is sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the shopping list.
“Oh, Jaiden,” Roier hums, going to sit next to his best friend. Jaiden looks up, “Hey, are you done with this?” She asks.
Roier shakes his head, “Almost. I feel like I'm forgetting something.” He says.
“CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!” Bobby calls out, running up to the two. Jaiden picks him up, putting the boy on her lap.
Roier snaps his fingers, “ That ! Gracias [Thank you], Bobby.” He says, grabbing the pen and writing ‘LIGHTS’ down.
Bobby leans forward to look at the list, “I wanna beat our neighbor. Last year they won.” He grumbled.
Jaiden laughed, “You're still salty about that?”
Bobby nods at her question, crossing his arms, “Yes, mamá! [mom!]”
Roier sighs, “Well, we certainly have the budget. Since I got my new- ah, mierda [shit], ¿Cuál es la palabra para "trabajo" en inglés? [What is the word for “job" in English?]”
“Job.” Jaiden replies, running her hand through Bobby's hair. Roier nods, “Since I got my new job.”
Roier stands up, putting the list up to the fridge and putting a pin through the top.
Jaiden looks over at Roier, “What's for dinner?” He asks.
“Uhm..” Roier pauses, getting interrupted by Bobby shouting ‘PIZZA!’
“.. No, Bobby, we had that yester–” Roier says, snapping his mouth shut when Jaiden glares at him.
“Of course, Bobby.” She says to the 8 year old boy.
Bobby grins and sticks his tongue out at Roier, who shoots his middle finger at Bobby.
—
Roier walks outside, planning to set up the new Christmas lights and decorations that Jaiden and Bobby bought at the store. (Apparently, Charlie and Mariana were there too, and Juanaflippa kept running off to go see Bobby.)
He stops in his tracks when he hears yelling from the house next door. He looks over, and sees two people.
A brunette who has a white streak in his hair is standing up on a ladder, yelling at a guy with long blonde hair tied into a braid, who is shaking the ladder.
So that's the people Bobby and Jaiden are competing with. Huh. The brunette is, dare Roier even thinks this, quite pretty to him.
Whatever.
-
“AY, FOREVER-” Cellbit screams, hands clinging onto the roof, as if the ladder he is standing on will fall at any moment.
Forever laughs, and stops shaking the ladder. Cellbit sighs at his friends behavior, “VAI FALAR COM SEU NAMORADO ESTÚPIDO, ME DEIXE EM PAZ. [GO TALK TO YOUR DUMB BOYFRIEND, LEAVE ME ALONE.]”
Forever pauses, “O BRUNIM NÃO É ESTÚPIDO. [BRUNIM IS NOT DUMB.]”
Cellbit rolls his eyes, not even bothering to respond. He knows it'll just end up in Forever pushing the ladder so Cellbit falls. (And if that happens, Cellbit is blaming Forever in court if he breaks a bone. Or multiple.)
The Brazilian goes to hang up the last light, but he just so happens to look over at his neighbor's house. A brunette is down there, struggling to hang up lights.
Cellbit hasn't seen him before. He knows about the girl with blue hair, and the little boy with the overalls who constantly threatens him, but-
Not this guy with the blue bandana and brown hair.
Cellbit shakes his head to ignore the thought to go help him. It's almost hilarious watching him struggle, (wait, are they even a him?) but he knows not to go help. Richarlyson would sob if he found out his dad went to help the person they compete with every year.
He grumbles, rubbing his eyes. He hangs up the last Christmas light, carefully climbing down the ladder. Once he is fully down, he sprints inside.
He takes off his boots, yelping when Richarlyson jumps up to hug him.
“Richas!” Cellbit says, laughing.
“Pai! Pai! [Dad! Dad!]” Richarlyson says, getting down, “pai Pac e o pai Mike estão tentando fazer macarrão. Papa Felps está comendo o macarrão seco e Papa Forever está ligando para o Sr. Brunim. (Dad Pac and dad Mike are trying to make pasta. Papa Felps is eating the dry pasta and Papa Forever is calling Mr. Brunim.)” He rambles.
Shit.
Cellbit sighs, “Ok, Richas, você pode subir e.. talvez ligar para um de seus amigos? como Chayanne ou Ramón? [Ok, Richas, can you go upstairs and.. maybe call one of your friends? like Chayanne or Ramón?]”
The 7 year old nods, going upstairs. Once Cellbit knows he's in his room, he runs to the kitchen and screams “ SEUS IDIOTAS! [YOU IDIOTS!]”
-
Cellbit is eating the cooked pasta (that is burnt , Cellbit must add, he's never letting Pac and Mike make food EVER again.)
There's a thump outside, followed by a loud ‘MIERDA! [SHIT!]’, so of course Cellbit’s first reaction is to go outside.
The man from earlier is hanging from a Christmas light that is messily hung up, a knocked over ladder on the ground.
He can't just let this guy stay like that, even if there is snow underneath. He’ll probably fall and break a bone or some shit. He's too used to things like this, even from a neighbor.
Cellbit walks over, “Oi! You!’ He says, holding out his arms. Surely he's strong enough to catch someone..
The brunette looks down, looks back up the lights, before letting go. It's a hard catch, but Cellbit ends up catching the guy in bridal style.
Okay, fuck, this is kind of TOO close.
The man blushes, and Cellbit drops him. Cellbit does hold out a hand once he does though, holy shit, he just did that.
His neighbor grabs his hand (it's a hesitant take, though.).
“I'm Cellbit, you?” Cellbit says, helping the guy up.
-
This is the prettiest man Roier has EVER seen. Seriously. Roier has never wanted to be in a relationship, but this man might change that.
Oh, he just asked his name- Roier stutters out a ‘Me llamo Roier. [I am Roier].’
Cellbit smiles (his smile is weirdly pretty. It makes Roier feel like melting.), “Nice to meet you. Ah, are you okay, though?”
Roiers eyes widen, and he nods quickly. “Sí! [Yes!]”
“Okay. I-I'll see you later, Roi- Roier!” Cellbit says, sounding suddenly very choked up. Cellbit runs off, and Roier slowly blinks.
He said his name. He said his name. Is this what people call fangirling? Roier isn't a girl though ( What about dressing up as Melissa? His mind whispers) , is it fanboying?
-
“What's got you so red?” Is the first thing Jaiden says when Roier walks inside. She's sat on the couch, and Bobby is asleep on her lap.
“I just met the most handsome guy ever. ” Roier replies, “I- Is this love? Jaiden, what do I do!? He’s one of the guys from the competition!”
Jaiden smirks, “I don't know about love, Roi. Ask Mariana, or maybe Charlie.”
“Charlie me diría que entrara a su casa. [Charlie would tell me to break into his house.]” Roier replies, being dead serious about it too. (Seriously, when Mariana told Roier THAT'S how the two fell in love, Roier was horrified.)
“.. Good point.”
—
12/08/2020, entry #394
Dear Diary, It's Cellbit again. Who else would it be?
Not the point. I met a very cute boy today. His name is Roier. He's on the other side of the competition, with the girl and little boy. I refuse to admit I am in love.
Because I'm NOT!!! Even though he is very pretty, I am not in love. I do want to kiss him though. With consent, of course.
FUCK IT I'M ASKING HIM OUT SOMETIME CAUSE I'M NOT A PUSSY LIKE FOREVER AND PAC.
Plan interrupted. I am indeed too scared to ask him out. My fear of rejection is showing. Kkkkkk? Bye. Cellbit.
–
“Do not ask him out.” Jaiden says, yawning.
Roier blinks, “How did you know I was thinking about that?”
“You have that look on your face. I'm not an idiot.”
“.. Just go pick up Bobby.”
“Bobby didn't have school today.” Jaiden says, face palming.
“Oh!”
“You saw him an HOUR AGO!”
—
Every time the two interact, Cellbit swears his heart misses a beat. It's so cliche and cringey, but he can't help it. It's been almost a week, and he knows it would be weird to ask him out, but fuck it.
-
Roier pauses when Cellbit walks up to him. Cellbit bites his lip, like he's holding back words.
“.. Hola, Cellbit. [Hello, Cellbit].”
Cellbit smiles, “Hi, Roier.”
He leans into whisper into Roier's ear, “I think I like you.”
Roier jumps, face turning bright red. “What!?”
“Sorry, was that too sudden?” Cellbit awkwardly laughs, immediately regretting his words.
“Yes? No? I don't- mierda– [shit–], ¡Yo también te amo! [I like you too!]” Roier chokes out.
Cellbit pauses, “I don't understand Spanish.”
Roier immediately feels stupid. “I, uh, like you too.”
Cellbits eyes widen, and he smiles. “Woo!”
“Why is that your r-reaction?”
“Can I kiss you? Cellbit blurts out.
What. The fuck. This is like some sort of romance movie shit.
Roier just nods.
-
“I hate him.” Bobby says, staring at Roier and this weird guy from the window.
“Me too. Don't tell him I said that.” Jaiden says.
-
“FUCKING ASSHOLE!” Richarlyson yells.
Pac stares at Richarlyson. Mike bursts out laughing.