My phone rings, it's Julia calling.

"Hey, are you ready to work out?"

"Yeah, I just finished preparing my yoga mat and equipment."

"Cool. Let's start!" Julia exclaims.

We played the abs workout of Chloe Ting on YouTube together, while being in our own houses. We love to exercise, not just to have a healthy body but also to have a healthy mind.

"You know, I miss the gym. It's such a bummer that we have to give it up."

"Yeah, I miss looking at the hot trainers." Julia giggles.

"It's very frustrating, just when I have a degree and can help mom, this pandemic happened. I really wish we had our own house, because most of our money goes to rent."

"Don't worry, Rox. We'll find a way, we always do. We're the baddest bitches in Baltimore."

I used to work as a saleslady/cashier in a fashion store, a job that I had been doing since I started college, but it closed down during the pandemic.

I don't have any savings either. I used my money in paying my college loan, in buying my groceries and vitamins for granny, paying half of our house rent, paying electricity, internet and food. Too bad that mom has to shoulder all expenses now.

After an hour, the workout video ended, along with our call. A new video recommendation suddenly pops up coming from Grayson's YouTube channel. A video three days ago, entitled 'Get To Know Me Better.'

"This is interesting."

I sit on my bed then touch the Play arrow on my iPad.

I know he has a YouTube channel for several months already but is not active on it. He doesn't need to be when he has a good-paying job in New York.

I remove my wet workout clothes, taking my time as I listen to Gray, talking about himself.

"Hi. My name's Grayson. Or you can call me Gray. I'm 26 years old and I live here in a small house in Maryland..."

I know the things he mentioned already; I got most of the information from Julia. His experience of being so thin despite eating too much, the terrible bullying he had to bear in high school, how he met his two best friends, Chance and Riggs and other things. He also talked about his sisters, Julia and Brooke, and his parents' divorce.

I put on a loose sweater, then drink some water from the water bottle. I fixed my eyes at Grayson, studying his profile as he speaks.

Suddenly, I remember something that makes me smile. I had a little crush on him, a bit of a crush that lasted only for 10 seconds.

It happened when I first laid eyes on him. It was Julia's 14th birthday, and I waited at their front yard with a balloon and a banner, to surprise her. The door opened, and I saw Gray. We held eyes and continued for about 10 seconds.

That moment was magical. I felt like I was Bella Swan, staring at Edward Cullen piercing golden eyes. Ray of sunlight hit him strongly, making his face glittered like diamonds.

Realization sinks in. I was hallucinating. My brain froze from waiting outside for too long in the snowy weather making me see crazy things.

"Hi, Rox. Sorry for taking so long. Thank you for that banner, you're so sweet." Julia ran towards me, giving me a hug.

"I'm... glad... you... like it." My teeth rattled from the cold.

"By the way, this is my sister Brooke, and my brother, Grayson."

"Hi. How are you? Are you okay?" Grayson took my hand and shook it firmly.

"Yeah... yeah." I nodded.

The smell of his cologne was so strong, it made me feel nauseated. The trip to school was horrible. I gagged many times inside the car, holding myself not to vomit. What happened to mom was terrible. She collapsed the moment she arrived home.

My crush on him immediately vanished, like a passing air. Not because of the awful-smelling cologne, but he's Julia's brother. I did not entertain such feelings because I knew it would not lead to anything.

As I grew up, I have seen many friendships ruined because of a best friend hooking up with a best friend's brother. Things could be pretty awkward if a relationship wouldn't work.

Treating Gray like an older brother is more appropriate. I often go to their house to hang out with Julia, and sometimes with him and their youngest sibling, Brooke. I became close with their mom too, who treats me like her own daughter.

I continue watching Grayson's video as I make a cup of coffee in the kitchen.

"I received many dms on Instagram asking if I'm single." Grayson's face turns red, then he chuckles.

"No, you're not. You have Sasha. You're happy together..." I'm talking to him, like he's just in front of me.

I met Sasha once, when Gray brought her here in Baltimore, to meet his family. She's very nice. They suited each other, like a match made in heaven. They are both smart, sophisticated and good-looking.

"I don't have a girlfriend. Not anymore." He says, as if replying to my chatter, then lets out a nasty chuckle.

My mouth drops open.

"Seriously? You broke up with Sasha? What the hell happened?"

"I'm not seeing anyone right now, and I don't imagine myself dating in the next couple of months, since it's pandemic, we're under lockdown.... I resigned from my job in New York, because I believe I can have a better future if I work for myself. So I'm going to create more content for this channel and devote myself to making you guys happy."

"You resigned? What the hell, Grayson. That's a high-paying job." My eyebrows furrow, then I shrug my shoulders, "well, you're a smart guy, I'm sure you'll succeed in anything."

So that's why he's making YouTube videos again, just like his sister, Brooke. Brooke is successful on it, having millions of subscribers and earning good money. Pretty sure, they'll work together and make themselves big.

I take a sip of my hot coffee and hear someone yell my name.

"Roxanne!"

I jerk up, spilling the coffee on my sweater. Oh fudge.

Granny Mary's loud voice always makes me jump. She's deaf and refuses to admit it. She thinks people can't hear her well, so she shouts.

"Hi, granny. How's your sleep?"

"What?" She asks, so I say it again, louder.

"Not so good." She answers, heaving a long sigh, "I'm tired of being trapped here inside the house. I want to go out."

"I saw the news this morning, that supermarkets don't allow senior citizens anymore."

"Who says I want to go to the supermarket? I want to go to the park."

Yeah... yeah, and check out the men jogging. She loves watching gorgeous men and is not ashamed to stare at them.

"You can't go to the park either. We'll go there as soon as we get vaccinated."

"No way! I don't want to get a vaccine. I watched a video on Facebook last night that world leaders created this virus, in a laboratory to get more money from people."

There she goes again, believing the fake news.

"That is not true granny. The virus started from Wuhan City in China, from bats or another closely related mammal. It's not a man-made thing."

"It is! The US, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and other countries, connived to create a vaccine for this virus so they can inject chips on people and control them. We will all turn into zombies!"

"You're so cute, granny, believing all that nonsense." I laugh, but granny gets very upset and leaves me.

I finished watching Grayson's video and subscribed to his YouTube channel. It's amazing that his channel has grown easily to a hundred thousand views.

Well, he's a good-looking guy with a lean athletic body, so it's easier for him to get many subscribers on YouTube.

I clicked his latest video, a Q&A from his subscribers. Many of them are thirsty comments. I roll my eyes and am about to stop watching when he describes his ideal girl.

"I like tall girls," he shrugs his shoulders, "probably not less than 5' 6, because I'm tall, I'm a six footer. Loud and annoying girls are a turnoff. She has to be smart and independent. Of course, loyal and honest."

He's just describing Sasha. If it's true that they already broke up, then it's pretty obvious that he's not over her.

Later, I'm taking a bath when I remember Grayson's description of his ideal girl.

"So, he wants someone tall, not less than 5' 6. I'm 5'3" so that's an X. I'm also loud and annoying, can't spell complicated words... sadly, a double X. Independent, working on it. Loyal and honest, that's a big CHECK!"

I'm laughing at myself, comparing myself to his ideal girl. What's gotten into me? He's Julia's brother. There's no chance.