Chapter 33.5 - how we got together (Part 4)

— Natalie Side —

School ended

I’m still upset. No amount of sunshine, birds chirping, or Luna’s glittery attitude can change that. My face says it all — Do Not Approach unless you want to be verbally dropkicked.

Luna, ever the ray of chaotic light, skips beside me like nothing happened.

“Heyyy~ Dino!” she is calling her boyfriend. I know them both for a while since last year…kinda feel weird about this.

A tall, lean guy with tanned skin, a fade haircut, and a gold chain hanging lazily around his neck winks at me with too much confidence.

“Hola, Nat!” he says, flashing a grin that could probably talk its way out of prison.

I eye him up and down. And I’m instantly on edge.

Dino.
Dad literally warned me about him. Latino gang affiliations, rumored connections to human trafficking rings — and that’s just the surface.

He’s got that aura. The kind that screams: Don’t dig too deep unless you want a shovel to the head.

I plaster on a tight-lipped smile. “Hey, Dino… where to?”

Dino shrugs, pulling Luna close by the waist as he speaks in Spanish — fast, low, and too affectionate for my liking.

"Hola Luna, tengo curro hoy así que... ¿por qué no te vienes a casa andando, eh, nena? Puedes quedar con Nat…"
(“Hey Luna, I’ve got work today, so why don’t you walk home, babe? You can hang out with Nat…”)

Work, huh?

Yeah, I’d rather not know what kind. Probably not flipping burgers.

Luna beams like he just offered her the moon. “Vale, nena… Te quiero…”
(“Okay, babe… love you…”)

Then.
They.
Kiss.

Correction — they start a full-on French film reel in the middle of the street. No warning. No shame. Just mouths and tongues moving like they’ve got choreography.

I look away, face scrunching like I just bit into a lemon soaked in vinegar. “I didn’t sign up to witness a live telenovela smut scene, okay…”

Dino breaks the kiss to laugh, wiping his lip smugly.

“Hey~ Nat, she’s my love, you know?”

I cross my arms. “I’m just saying. There’s PDA, and then there’s... whatever that was. At least give the street kids some innocence.”

Luna sticks her tongue out. “Aw, come on! Don’t be so uptight!”

I sigh, half-joking, half-concerned.

Not that I care….is just that I don’t want Luna going through dangers….like I went to the D.A.R.E course which I have learn.

She scoffs playfully. “Dino is cool…..at least my parents know him well…”

Yeah…
Because I know how this story ends when good girls think they can fix bad boys.

I glance at Dino again. He’s already walking off with a swagger in his step, but his eyes?
They linger. Cold. Calculating. And I don’t like it.

(Present-day Natalie: That was the first day I realized Luna wasn’t the only one walking a dangerous line… and maybe, deep down, I already sensed that I’d have to protect Alex from that world too… one day.)

The low thrum of a bassline rumbles through the air, making the pavement under my shoes vibrate like some underground rave.

Brrrrm—brrm—chk!

A chrome-plated lowrider car—jet black with gold rims and neon underglow—bounces its way down the street, its hydraulics hissing like some mechanical beast showing off. The crowd of kids stops what they’re doing, turning toward the spectacle.

Leather jacket. Toothpick in mouth. One arm out the window like he owns the block. His ride dips low, then raises dramatically before he peels off with a screech and a swirl of dust.

Luna is only ten. Just ten. But with her hair tied in a messy bun, glossy cherry lips, and shades too big for her face, she looks like she’s trying to be fifteen. Trying too hard.

“Vale, nena... Te quiero~,” Dino purrs before dropping a goodbye kiss—no, not a kiss—a deep French one that has no business being this public.

I gag. “Okay. This is not a telenovela. I didn’t wake up this morning to watch an R-rated indie film on the sidewalk.”

Luna pulls away, unfazed, then flashes me a wink. “Hehe~ C’mon, Nat. We live in the same block. Let’s stick together, yeah?”

But I’m not listening.

My eyes flick to the glint—a knife tucked subtly on her waist. Just barely hidden under her skirt. Dino… you gave her that?

My chest tightens. Not just worry—fear. This isn’t cosplay. This is real.

As we walk back under the orange autumn sun, our boots crunching leaves along the cracked sidewalk, Luna tugs my sleeve.

“Girl… is that Alex?”

I look.

It is.

There he is. Alex, walking like a lost pup in a lost world. Hands in his pockets, kicking a rock like he’s solving world peace with each step.

He’s coming this way.

No. No no no. Of all people to cross paths with.

Ekkkkkkk!! 😖

I immediately frown, turning my face the other direction like he’s invisible.

Luna leans in. “He walks like a dork…”

Then suddenly—he turns down the road and walks into a different apartment block.

“Wait, he’s not from your place?” I blink.

Luna peeks past the bushes. “Wait… isn’t that Wan’s neighborhood?”

I squint too. And yeah—there’s a woman by the stairs. A baby girl on her hip, clapping her tiny hands.

And Alex? He’s right there… being smacked on the back of the head.

Me & Luna: 😨

“OI!!! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?”
His voice echoes clear as day, making the birds scatter from a nearby tree.

His mom says something I can’t hear, but the way she scolds him—it’s like thunder wrapped in love. It’s kind of… funny. And familiar.

Luna giggles nervously. “Yeesh. No wonder he acts like that. His mama's got hands.”

Then something else freezes us.

A growl.

Low.

Deep.

Right behind us.

“…Ai, Nat… please tell me that’s not what I think it is,” Luna whispers.

I turn, and my blood turns to ice.

A massive Rottweiler—muscles rippling, eyes locked on us like it’s scanning dinner options.

Oh.
No.
No.
NOPE.

“Don’t move…” I whisper.

The beast lowers its head, growling louder… then it lunges.

Luna’s hand shoots to her waist, fingers grazing that knife. I yank her arm back.

“NO!” I shout.

Suddenly—

“OI, KOBY!! KOBY!! COME’RE!!!”

The dog freezes.

Just stops mid-charge, ears twitching.

It turns—tail wagging like a missile launcher set to ‘happy’—and runs toward…

“ALEX!?”

He pets the damn beast like it’s a Golden Retriever.

“You out here again, boy? Who let you wander off, huh?”

Koby wags its tail. Hard. One paw nearly flattens a nearby trash bin.

Alex’s mom rushes out. “Girls! Are you okay!?”

He sees us.

“Yo, uh… aren’t you… familiar?”

He stares.

Eyes squinting.

“Ah, whatever,” he shrugs. “Koby! Let’s go!”

Excuse me!?
Did he seriously just walk away like that!?

Luna stares, blinking. “...Does he have the memory of an 80-year-old man!?”

The dog barks joyfully as Alex jogs off down the street, disappearing into the golden Arizona sun.

And me?

I just stand there.

Flustered. Confused. Annoyed.

…But smiling.

Just a little.

Alex's mom lets out a deep sigh as she rests her hands on her hips, watching her son disappear down the path with Koby.

“That dumb kid… always had a way with animals,” she mutters, facepalming hard enough that I feel it in mysoul.

Me and Luna exchange a look and say in sync, “We can relate…”

She turns to us with an unexpectedly curious gaze.

“So… you girls from the same school as Alex?”

“Uh… yeah, we are,” I reply, trying to keep my voice neutral, but I already feel the corner of my lips twitching from the chaos earlier.

Then suddenly, her eyes sparkle—dangerously.

🥰 “Sooo~ did my son do anything stupid today~?”

Huh?

What is this? A reverse interrogation?

I panic. I hesitate. I make a face that says abort mission, and glance at Luna desperately, mentally shouting: “Luna! BACK ME UP! SOS!”

Luna gives a stiff smile.

“Uh… yeah, he's good. A bit... lively. But good. Totally good. Yep.”

“Really~?” she smirks. “Huh. Okay then...”

Suddenly she turns around toward the direction Alex ran.

“OI! ALEX! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING NOW!?”

The shout makes both me and Luna jump a foot into the air.

“A-Alex!?”
“What now!?”

We exchange worried glances. Something definitely isn't right.

– Alex Side –

I know something's wrong the moment Koby slows down.

He's not barking. Not wagging. His head is low, tail limp, eyes misty—like he's begging me for help. The way his paw touches my hand…

I run.

We reach Ms. Jackie's front door—unlocked.

The moment I step in, I feel it.

Something’s off.

“Ms. Jackie!?” I call out, my voice cutting through the heavy silence.

Nothing.

Then—I see her. Collapsed. Motionless.

“MS. JACKIE!!”

I rush to her side and fall to my knees. My mind’s a mess, but I remember what Mom taught me from her first aid class. Hands shaking, I check her pulse.

Steady—but faint.

“Come on… come on…”

I don’t remember the emergency number. Panic creeps in.

That’s when Koby nudges me, carrying something in his mouth—a water-stained utility bill with a number written in red: “911”.

Smart dog.

I grab the landline.

Beep... beep... beep...

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Uh—Ms. Jackie! She fainted. She’s not waking up!”

“Stay calm. What’s your location?”

Koby drops another paper—a bill with the address.

“Uh… 241 Land Street, Phoenix, Arizona…”

“Is she breathing?”

“Yes—yes. Weak but breathing.”

“Good. Stay on the line. Help is on the way. Keep her stable.”

I grip the phone tightly, looking at Ms. Jackie’s pale face.

“Please hang in there…”

Koby whines, resting his snout on her chest protectively.

This dog… he’s not just loyal. He’s family.

– Natalie Side –

Back outside, the wind shifts.

The usual heat in the Arizona air feels… colder.

Alex’s mom stares into the distance. Her brows knit. She’s tense.

“Something’s wrong,” she murmurs.

Suddenly—sirens.

An ambulance tears down the road, its red lights painting the buildings in emergency shades. It’s headed right toward the direction Alex ran.

Alex’s mom goes pale.

“Girls—watch Hana for me!!” she says sharply.

Before I can respond, she places the baby into my arms like she’s handing over her heart.

“Wait—W-Wait!!”

But she’s already sprinting.

Hana squirms in my arms, clearly sensing the tension. I try to calm her.

“There, there... It's okay. Your mom’s going to help your big brother…”

Hana sniffles but stares at me with big, watery eyes.

(Natalie inner monologue)
Alex… what happened…? Please be okay…

– Alex Side –

Finally—I hear it.

The sound I’ve been hoping for.

The ambulance siren wails in the distance, cutting through the silence like a blade of hope. The red lights flash through the dusky air, and within seconds, the vehicle screeches to a halt just outside the apartment complex.

But Koby—he’s not relieved.

“WOOF!! WOOF!! WOOF!!!”

He’s barking mad, tail stiff, pacing anxiously in circles around Ms. Jackie’s unconscious body.

“Hey! Koby! Chill, boy! They’re here to help!” I try to calm him, kneeling to hold his snout. “They’re the good guys, alright?”

He stops, just barely, his ears twitching. His breathing is rough. I can feel his anxiety.

The paramedics jump out, swift and trained, rolling in a stretcher and dragging a case of medical gear.

“Kid! You the one who called 911?” one asks, already snapping on gloves.

“Y-Yeah! I checked—she has a pulse, but she’s not waking up!”

They rush in, kneeling over her.

“She’s still breathing. Good call. Check vitals. Get that ECG lead on—stat!”

Everything around me is spinning. Their voices, the clicking of medical tools, Koby’s low growls—it all feels like a storm of chaos, but I stay locked in place, watching it all like I’m glued to the moment.

“We’re bringing her in now.”

They lift Ms. Jackie onto the stretcher.

But Koby?

The second she’s wheeled out the door, he lunges.

“WOOF!!” He tries to follow—tail high, barking wildly.

“Wait!!” I shout, grabbing his collar just in time. “He wants to go with her!”

One of the paramedics glances back. “It’s not a good idea, kid. Can’t have a dog in the back during transport.”

Koby whines, pulling at the leash, his nails scraping the floor. It’s like he’s begging.

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“...What?”

“I said I’ll go. I’ll ride with her. Someone has to keep Koby calm.”

Just then—Mom bursts through the crowd, panting

“ALEX!! What the hell is going on?!”

I turn around, voice sharp with urgency.

“Mom! Ms. Jackie collapsed! She’s not waking up—and Koby was the one who found her!”

Mom scans the scene—the paramedics, the stretcher, the chaos.

Her expression hardens into something serious, something protective.

“...You wanna go with them?”

“Yeah! Please! Just—just look after Hana, okay?!”

She bites her lip, looks at me—and finally nods.

“Alright. But the second something happens—you call me, got it?”

“Got it!”

I turn to the paramedics, still holding Koby’s leash.

“Let’s go!”

They nod and wave me into the ambulance. Koby hops up behind me, still tense but silent now that I’m with him.

As the ambulance doors slam shut, I glance out the small rear window.

Outside, the neighborhood has gathered—dozens of curious faces watching from balconies and sidewalks.

Koby lies beside Ms. Jackie, resting his head gently on her shoulder.

And me?

I grip the metal bar beside me, heart pounding in sync with the siren as we race into the night.

– Nat Side –

I trail behind the commotion, my heart pounding. From afar, I spot it—the flashing red and blue of the ambulance lights, and there, in the middle of it all…

Alex.

He’s gripping the leash of that giant dog—Koby—like his life depends on it. A stretcher rolls past with a woman on it. Pale. Unmoving.

His eyes are sharp. Focused. Not the clueless dork I saw earlier—but something different.

Someone dependable.

Why… do I feel this way?

Alex’s mom notices me and Luna.

“Thanks for looking after Hana,” she says quickly. “It’s okay, I’m heading to the hospital—”

“Wait!” I blurt out before I can think. “Let me come with you. I… I want to help.”

She pauses, surprised. “Your parents—?”

I glance at Luna. She grins, throwing a casual salute.

“I got it, Nat! I’ll handle the grown-up diplomacy,” she winks and bolts off in the other direction. “Tell your mom I said hi!”

I turn back to Alex’s mom, breath slightly unsteady. “Please. I want to go.”

She nods after a pause. “Alright… let’s find a taxi.”

We flag one down, and as we pile inside, Hana squirms in her mother’s arms. Her tiny hands reach out toward me.

“Oh?” I blink.

“She likes you,” Alex’s mom says, offering her over.

Hana giggles as I cradle her gently. She’s light. Warm. A little sunbeam wrapped in a baby blanket.

So… this is his sister.

I stroke her curly hair, and she lets out a coo that melts something in my chest.

Inside the cab, the engine hums, the city lights flashing outside like fleeting memories. The driver peers at us through the rear-view mirror.

“What happened?”

“One of our neighbors collapsed,” Alex’s mom replies softly. “My son went with her to the hospital.”

“Your son, huh? How old?”

“Ten.”

The driver lets out a low whistle. “Ten, and he already knows how to act in an emergency? Wish my boys had half that sense…”

She chuckles. “He’s just… stubborn. But not a bad kid.”

I glance at her. She’s hiding it, but her hand clenches tight around her bag. She’s worried. Scared.

She’s just like Mom when Dad was late from work that night...

“He’s not just ‘like everyone else,’” I whisper to myself. “He’s kind. Brave…”

“What was that, dear?” she asks.

“N-Nothing! Just talking to Hana.” I blush and hide behind the baby who is happily patting my cheek.

The taxi pulls up to the hospital. Before we can dig for change, the driver raises a hand.

“On the house. Compliment to the kid, alright?”

Alex’s mom’s eyes widen. “Thank you… We’ll pay it back someday.”

“Just take care of that brave son of yours,” he says, tipping his cap before driving off.

We rush into the hospital lobby, fluorescent lights casting a cold glow over the sterile floors. Nurses bustle about, paging through clipboards and answering calls.

At the far end of the corridor—

There he is.

Alex. Sitting cross-legged with Koby at his side, right outside the red-lit door marked EMERGENCY OPERATING ROOM. His face is calm, but I can see it. That tightness in his jaw. The way his fingers dig slightly into Koby’s fur.

He’s worried. Just like the rest of us.

Alex’s mom rushes toward him, but I hang back, holding Hana.

I don't say anything. I just watch him.

Alex… you’re more than just a crazy loudmouth or some dork from Malaysia.

You’re… kind of incredible, you know that?

I sit quietly near the hospital hallway, cradling Hana in my arms.

Her tiny hand clutches my blouse, warm and steady—completely unaware of the storm unraveling around her.

My eyes fix on Alex, and for the first time… he doesn’t look like the loud, annoying goofball I’ve known from school.

There’s something… different in him now.

The way he stares at the operating room door… so still. So cold. It’s like watching a page out of a comic book—like he’s a boy wearing the weight of the world on his shoulders.
A young Superman without the cape.
A Bruce Wayne before the cowl.

Stoic. Silent. But breaking inside.

Alex’s mom gently places a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey… you alright?”

He doesn’t look up. Just gives a slow nod.

“Don’t worry about a thing,” she whispers. “It’s not your fault…”

Still no answer. Only his hand moves—to pet Koby’s head.

But then…

Without looking at anyone—his voice cracks the silence.

“Mom… when she… when she had that accident… she made it, right…?”

I blink.

He’s not talking about Ms. Jackie.

There’s someone else. Someone much deeper in his story. Someone I’ve never heard him mention.

His mother hesitates.

Her hand trembles.

“Son… she…”

“She’s not dead yet, right!?” Alex snaps suddenly. His voice trembles, his fists shake. Tears well in his eyes. “She’s still alive… still jumping around in Long Pasia… right?! Right!?”

He grits his teeth.

And then—he breaks.

He drops to his knees beside Koby, clenching the leash tight. His shoulders shudder.

“She promised… she promised she’d come back…”

His mother kneels beside him, pulling him close, wrapping her arms tightly around her son.

“No… please, Alex. Just accept it… you have to let go…”

I freeze.

The emotion in his cry.

The way his mother’s holding back her own grief.

Who is this “she”…? His friend? A sibling? Someone… he loved?

There’s a weight in this family. Something buried. Something bleeding. Something he’s been hiding all this time behind that rough, noisy act in school.

His mother turns to me, voice soft but firm.

“Natalie… can you look after Hana for a while? This… this will take some time.”

I nod without a word, holding Hana a little tighter.

I watch as Alex stays hunched forward, whispering something into Koby’s ear. The dog whines quietly, curling around him like a shield.

Minutes crawl by like hours.

Then—

The doors to the ER slide open.

A doctor steps out, clipboard in hand, mask pulled down beneath his chin. His expression is calm—but tired.

“Are you the one who called 911?” he asks.

Alex’s mom stands up, wiping her face. “Yes. My son did.”

The doctor turns to Alex.

“Son… what you did today was nothing short of heroic. You called quickly, you followed instructions, and thanks to you—”

He pauses.

“She’s okay. She’s stable. She’ll make it.”

Alex blinks.

Then he slumps, as if someone turned gravity up just for him.

“...Ya Allah… Alhamdulillah…” he breathes, eyes closed. His voice trembles with relief.

I feel my heart pull.

He’s… Muslim. I didn’t even know that until now.

But what strikes me more than that is the soft, raw honesty in his voice. The way he clutches the sleeves of his jacket like he’s holding in the last of his pain.

In that moment, Alex… isn't just the wild Malaysian kid in my class.

He's someone far more complex.

A boy who’s lost someone.

A boy trying to be strong.

A boy I… might want to understand more.

We finally arrive at the hospital ward.

Ms. Jackie lies resting peacefully on the bed, a light oxygen tube resting under her nose. The beeping of machines is the only sound that hums softly in the background.

Alex doesn’t say a word.

He walks straight in—silent, focused—and sits down beside her bed like a soldier returning to his post.

His eyes never once leave her face.

I stand just behind him, still holding Hana close. She squirms in my arms, her little hands reaching out.

“Hey… she’s calling you,” I whisper gently.

Alex glances over, then smiles faintly. His arms open, and Hana immediately giggles and falls into his chest.

He holds her close—quietly. Tenderly. Almost protectively.

That side of him again…
Soft. Gentle. Mature. Like the older brother I never had.

His mom, Puan Mas, sits next to me with a grateful sigh.

“Thank you, Natalie… for helping us tonight.”

I give her a small nod, still hugging Hana.

“It’s alright… I just… felt like I had to.”

Then—suddenly—heavy footsteps echo down the corridor.

A tall man bursts into the room, panic etched into every line of his face.

“Jackie!”

He rushes to her bedside. When he sees she’s alive, his knees nearly give out. His eyes, once wild, soften with tears.

He turns to Alex’s mom.

“What… what happened!?”

Puan Mas explains everything—how Alex called 911, stayed with Ms. Jackie, and even calmed the dog.

The man turns to Alex with wide eyes, then places a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you, son… really. Damien’s still away at school. And Darrel’s on overseas duty. If you weren’t here…”

Alex shrugs, trying to act tough. “No big deal…”

Koby nudges the man’s leg affectionately, tail wagging.

“Haha, hey Koby, you good boy… good boy.”

Then the doctor enters.

“She’s stable now. It was a mild cardiac incident—likely stress-induced. But she’s conscious, and we’ve cleared the critical risk. She just needs to rest.”

Relief washes over the room like a warm tide.

And then—more footsteps.

“NATALIE!”

My head snaps toward the entrance—Mom, Dad, Luna, and Phylis all rush in like a parade of overreaction.

“Oh, honey!” Mom pulls me into a hug.

“We came as soon as we heard,” Dad says. “Luna told us everything. You alright?”

I nod, slightly embarrassed but kind of proud too.

Suddenly, Alex’s mom lights up.

“Professor Hawk! Mrs. Claire!”

Wait… huh!?

They know each other!?

Mom laughs. “Mas! Wow, what are the odds? So this is the little hurricane you mentioned?”

“Ugh, yes, and this here is my son Alex, and our baby girl Hana.”

Mom steps forward. “This here is Phylis—our eldest. And that’s Natalie.”

Puan Mas’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Hold on… Natalie? The Natalie?”

“Yup…” I reply, suspicious. “Why?”

Alex finally looks at me—and squints.

His mouth drops.

“HAAAA!? It’s you!!! The crazy girl! Or wait—Victorian girl!?”

💢💢💢

I snap.

THUD!

My foot lands clean on his shin.

“OWWW!! What was that for!?” he howls, hopping in pain.

Before I can fire back—

WHAM!!

His mom punches him straight on the head.

“YOU DUMB KID!! APOLOGIZE!”

“OWWWWW!!! WHAT’D I DOOO!? WOMAN!?”

“Woman!?” she repeats in disbelief, handing Hana to me before suddenly wrapping her arms around his neck.

“CHOKEHOLD STYLE!!!”

“GIVE—GIVE—GIVE!!!” Alex taps out dramatically, eyes bulging.

Koby barks in panic. The entire room erupts in laughter.

Suddenly, a soft, weary voice cuts through the tension in the ward.

“Son… that’s not… the way… to talk… to girls… okay…?”

We all freeze.

Everyone turns toward the bed.

Ms. Jackie is awake—smiling faintly despite the oxygen tube and the obvious fatigue on her face. Her eyes, warm and clear, flicker toward Alex as if she’s watching her own son grow up before her.

A collective sigh of relief fills the air. I feel my chest loosen.

“Thank Allah…” Alex whispers, placing a hand over his heart.

His voice trembles slightly—like someone who just walked away from the edge of something terrifying.

“Thanks, son…” Ms. Jackie says softly. “You’ve been… an angel.”

Alex rubs the back of his neck and looks down. “Heh… it’s not a big deal…”

Everyone in the room lets out a relieved breath, some clapping softly, others simply smiling.

My dad leans down beside me and whispers with a teasing smile,

“So… this is Alex, What do you think?”

I glance at him.

Alex, sitting beside the bed with Koby resting his head on his lap, still clinging to his goofy dork energy despite the weight of everything tonight.

What do I think?

That he’s brave? Kind? Reliable?

No.

I cross my arms with a pout and look away.

“Hmph!! Dumb!!”

Dad chuckles.

“Hey, that’s not very nice.”

Mom sighs, shaking her head with a small smile.

Phylis nudges me with an annoyingly smug grin.

“Ooooh~ finally met your match, huh?”

“Sh-shut up, Phylis!” I hiss, my cheeks burning.

Luna isn’t helping either. She slides in with a dreamy smirk.

“Girl~ Alex is kinda something, isn’t he?”

“NOT. YOU. TOO!!!”

I feel like exploding.

And then—

“Ahem.”

The doctor clears his throat, looking around the room of chuckling adults, two flustered kids, a slightly crushed dog in Alex’s lap, and a patient who technically just woke up from a heart episode.

“You all realize this is still a hospital, right?”

Silence.

Awkward cough.

We all bow our heads apologetically.

“Sorry, Doc…” we say in sync like scolded anime kids.

Natalie’s Internal Monologue (Present Day):

That moment…
That chaotic, stupid, heartwarming moment…
The one where his mom chokeheld him, his dog barked like a sidekick, and he almost cried over an old lady he just met…
That’s when I knew…

Alex wasn’t just some crazy jungle boy.

He was something more.
He is something more.

And maybe—
Just maybe—
I wanted to know what that something really was.

To be continued