CHAPTER 6


It was already six in the morning when the alarm clock in my table rang. 

I woke up and took a shower. 

I changed and fixed myself and went down to have my breakfast. 

“Where is Ann?” I asked. “She went to school early sir.”

The maid said. “Okay.” Was all I was all to say. After eating, 

I went to the garage and took my car. I drove myself to the school. 

When I arrived in school, I so Ericka with Fretzie. 

I hurriedly went to them and explained to Ericka. 

“Babe please forgive me.” I said as I blocked her way.

“I promise. I’ll make it up to you now.” I said. 

“Okay fine. But promise me it will never happen.” 

She said. I just nodded and hugged her. 

“I guess I have to find Bret now.” Fretzie said and left. 

I was making it up to Ericka when someone came to us.

“How could you marry that girl?” 

the girl asked which made me confused.

I saw Ericka’s eyes sparkled.

“You’re planning to marry me babe?” she asked. 

“Oh yeah.” I lied. “But they said it’s not you Ericka.

They said it was the new girl.” The girl said.

“Damn you. You’re putting me into trouble girl.”

I thought to myself. “What is she talking 

about James?” Ericka asked. 

“Can you please the two of us alone?” 

I asked the girl. The girl left us.

Now I had to explain to Ericka again. 

“Babe..” I said. “What?” she asked. 

“Last night.” I started. “Last night, my parents told me that

I’m marrying Ann.” I said. 

“What? How about me? Are 

you playing games with me?”

she asked madly. “No Ericka. It's not what you think. 

I don’t even love her.” I said. “Really”

she said and walked out. “Ericka!!” I called but she never came back.

The bell rang and the flag ceremony started.

I wanted to talk to her but she would never listen. 

I looked around and saw Ann.

After the flag ceremony, I dragged Ann 

at the corner. “Why the hell did you tell anyone about this?” I

asked madly while squeezing her arm. 

“Aww. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to.” 

Was all she was able to say while she

struggled to remove my hands from her.

“I will never ever forgive you.” I 

said and walked out. I heard her sniffing. 

When we were already in our first class, 

she asked Mrs. Peralta to transfer her. 

Mrs. Peralta transferred her and to her luck,

it was beside Ericka. I saw Ericka glaring at her. 

I didn’t care at all. She was the reason why

me and Ericka are quarreling right now.

“Dude! I heard you’re getting married. 

You must be enjoying your few days as 

a bachelor.” Bret said with made me irritated.

The checking of attendance ended and we

headed to Mr. Cordero’s room. He was

lecturing about micro and macro economics to us. Ann

that was beside me was quiet the whole time. 

I notice Ericka’s eyes were into me and Ann.

“Should I take this as a good sign or not?” 

I asked myself. Me and Ann were not talking 

to each other in all classes. When we were dismissed for

the last class, I headed to the parking lot and took my car.

When I went out the parking lot, I saw Ann

waiting for a cab. I didn’t bother to ask her a ride. 

Instead, I drove home alone. When I arrived there,

food was already prepared. I ate my lunch without waiting

for Ann. I went up to my room and took a rest for awhile. 

When I went down to go back to school, I noticed that Ann’s 

food wasn’t moved. “Is she still not here?”

I asked the maid. “Yes sir. But she called me

that she’ll just eat outside.” The maid said. 

“Okay.” I said and left. I was driving my car 

to the school when I noticed Ann in Ruchard’s car. 

“Why are they together?” I asked myself.

“Who cares?” I said to myself again and shrugged. 

I continued driving until I reached school. 

The whole afternoon was mess. Ericka

was not talking to me and girls would come to 

me and ask me about the marriage thing which 

pissed me off. After the class, I went home

directly and waited for Ann. “You spread those rumors didn’t you?” 

I asked her while smiling sarcastically. “No I didn’t” she said. 

“Then why does everyone asking me about it? 

How could they possibly know?” I asked as I raised my voice. 

I could see tears falling from her eyes but still,

I continued hurting her. “I told Jenny

and the others, maybe someone heard.” She said. 

“What the? Now do you like it? 

My reputation’s ruined because of you!” I

said. “I’m sorry.” Was all she said. 

“You know what; you’re making me hate 

you even more.”I said as I walked out. 

Since then, I never talked to her. In the 

house, I would usually eat first and she will

just eat after. We would try not to block 

each other’s way. In school, we would

pretend not to know each other. Ericka

on the other hand, started understanding me. 

This continued on until Ericka

talked to me. “What are you going to say to me babe?”

I asked. “I … remember the first day of classes. 

That time when I was absent? I was in the immigration 

to process my passport.” She said. “Why are saying this to me?” 

I asked. “Someone offered me a contract in the States. James,

I’ll be leaving.” She said. I was dumbfounded of

what she said that it was even hard for me to

utter words. “You’re leaving me?” I asked. 

She just nodded and gave me a hug. 

“But you will be back right?” I asked. 

“I still do not know. ”She answered. 

“Are we still..” was all I was able to 

say when she interrupted,

“I’m sorry. I can’t have a long distance

relationship. It is hard James.

We might just get hurt.” She said. 

It was like a dejavu. It happened before.

It happened with me and Devon, the first girl I 

fell into before Ericka. 

“But I promise I’ll be back. Just promise me 

you’ll be waiting.” She said. I didn’t reply.

I broke the hug and left with tears falling 

from my eyes. I went to the bar and drank.

I drove to Ericka’s house 

even though I was drunk. “Ericka! Talk to me!” I

yelled. The weather that night wasn’t good.

The rain suddenly poured down. “Ericka!!” I called

again but she did not come out, instead,

their maid went out to talk to me. 

“Sir. Ma’am Ericka’s not here anymore.

She just flew to the States earlier.” She said.

“What?” was all I was able to say.

I drove to my house wet. I rang 

the doorbell and Ann came out. 

“Why are you wet?” she asked. All 

I could remember is that I went in 

the house then I collapsed.

When I woke up, Ann

was already beside me. She 

fell asleep beside my bed.

I tried to stand up but my

head was still aching and so 

I just went back to bed. She 

probably felt I was moving so she woke up.

“Oh. You need anything? Just tell me.” 

she said. “I need water.” I said. “Okay.”

She replied as she went out my room to 

get me water.

She came back bringing a glass of water with her. 

“Your temperature’s too high. You should take this.” 

She said as she handed me the medicine and the glass 

of water. She helped me lean towards my bed. 

After I took my medicine, she helped me lay on my bed. 

“You didn’t go to school?” I asked.

“No I didn’t. I can’t leave you here like this.

And besides no one can take care of you. 

Our maid needs to be home early last night

because her daughter was sick. Until now, 

she’s still not here.” She said. “Is that so?” 

was all I was able to say. “Just call me if you

need anything. I’ll just call Sophia

about the lessons today.” she said 

as she left my room. Moments later I

fell asleep. When I woke up, it was already late 

in the afternoon. I touched my forehead and 

decided to go out my room after I was already

feeling well. I saw Ann

in the Kitchen cooking. “What are you doing?” 

I asked. “Cooking.” She said. “Why are you putting pepper in that soup?” 

I asked. “Shouldn’t I?” she asked. 

“So you don’t know how to cook?” I

asked and she just lowered her head.

“Let me do it.” I said. “No. let’s just order instead.” 

She said as she turned the stove off. “I’ll just call for delivery.” 

She said as she headed toward the table to

get the phone. I sat on the chair and grabbed an 

apple. I stared at her while she was mentioning our 

orders. “Okay. They’ll be here in 30 minutes.”

She said as she smiled. She left the kitchen and 

headed to the garden, and I followed her.

“You need something?” she asked after seeing me 

behind her. “No. I, I would just like to thank you.” 

I said. “It’s okay.” She said as she sat on the swing. 

I sat beside her as well. “By the way, I called your

mom and I told her about this. And she said she 

was sorry she can’t be here with you.” She said.

“It’s fine.”I said as I looked at her. I was waiting

for her to look at me back but she didn’t. “I’m sorry.”

I said. “For what?” she asked. “For everything for

everything I did to you.” I said. “You shouldn’t be.”

She said which made me confused even more. 

“What do you mean?” I asked. “If I didn’t come 

back here, this marriage wouldn’t be possible.”

She said. “Well, I don’t think it’s your fault. 

This marriage thing was done before we have

been born and so both of us have nothing to 

do with this.” I said. And I looked at her intently.

She looked back at me and gave me a smile.

“I missed that.” I said. “You missed what?”

she asked. “That smile. I haven’t seen that in awhile.”

I said as I pinched her cheeks. “Aww. That hurts.” 

She said. “I’m sorry.” I said as I removed my hand from her

face. “You now what?” I started. “Huh?” she reacted.

“I tried to forget about you. When you left me, I

promised never to remember you.” I said as I looked 

at her once again. She did the same as well. 

“It is because you promised me you’ll never leave,

but you did” I said changing our moods.

“I’m sorry she said. If only you know how badly

I protested.” She said. “But, seems like I could

never keep a promise as well. I told myself not

to recognize you anymore but look at me now, 

talking to you.” I said as I smiled. She hugged 

me then suddenly, the doorbell rang. We broke

the hug and she came running to the gate to get

what we ordered. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat now.” 

she said as she raised the plastic bags with our orders.

“Okay.” I agreed. We ate dinner together while

we chitchatted. The night was over and we decided to go to bed.