JAMES’ POV:

I was stuck with Ann with Ivan. The two really got along well with each other.

They even looked like love birds.  They kept on exchanging glances to each

other which irritated me big time. When Ann threw up the words, “How sweet!”,

I felt devastated and hurt. “Damn what is this feeling?” I thought to myself. What

hurt me most was when she said, “Tricia must be so lucky to have you. I wonder

if she would realize this, she might regret leaving you.” seems like my heart was stabbed a

million times after hearing it. The two even stared at each other for a long period of time.

If it wasn’t for Manang Linda, they would have been melting. “Ms. Ann, your mom called.

She would want the two of you to have dinner together. Mang Dino, fetch you before 7.”

She said. “Okay. Thank you Manang.” Ann said. “Oh, I must be going now.” Ivan said.

“Okay, drive safe Ivan. Bye.” Ann said. “I gotta go ahead dude.” Ivan said to me.

I raised my hand as a sign of saying OK. “Bye Ann.” He said again as he left. “Bye Ivan.”

Ann mumbled. “Does she feel something for Ivan? No, she can’t. Wait, what am I saying?”

I thought to myself. Just then I realized I have to leave as well. I’ve been with Ann the whole day.

I have to see my father in the hospital. “Oh Ann, I have to leave as well. I have to go to the hospital,

I have to visit my dad.” I said. “Your dad? what happened to him? why is he in the hospital?”

she asked. “Oh, uhm, remember the time I went here to meet you but I left thereafter without even talking to you?”

I asked. “Uhuh.” She mumbled. “My dad was rushed to the hospital that day

and so I headed off to the hospital right away.” I explained. “Oh. I see. How is he now? Is he fine?”

she asked. “She’s really caring.” I thought to myself. “Oh yeah. He’s already recovering.”

I said. “Oh please tell him get well soon.” She said. “I will.” I replied. “Oh, I gotta go.” I said.

“Okay. Bye Mr. Reid!” she said as she gave me a quick hug. “Bye.” I said once again as I left.

When I reached in my car, I smiled on the thought that Ann actually hugged me.

“Wait, what are you thinking James?” I asked myself. “I gotta go Ms. Li.” I whispered as

I drove out the Li’s residence. I drove to the hospital where my dad was confined.

Flashbacks of this day kept on entering my mind which made me smile and frown as well.

FLASHBACK..

“Oh. So you mean she’s not eating with me? Then for whom are these except for me”

“I bet it’s for me!”

[James started smiling at this thought]

“What is that for?”

“You look so hungry

“Oh. I’m just in a hurry.”

“Why such in a hurry?”

“You might run away without telling me and I wouldn’t be able to interrogate you.”

[James’ smile suddenly disappeared “I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you Ann..”]

 “What the hell is this?”

“So are you trying to seduce me?”

“What? You jerk! What the hell are you thinking?”

“Easy, easy, I was just kidding!”

“Okay, seriously, what do you want to know?”

 “Why did you run off from the marriage?”

“Ann..”

 “Well, if you don’t want to talk about it then, let’s just skip to the next question. Okay. How did the two of us became close friends?”

 “We’ve been friends since we were infants.”

“Are you kidding?”

“No I’m not! It’s true. Your mom and my mom were close friends since they were in high school. I was born first then you followed. Every time the two would meet up, they would bring us two. We would play anywhere we wanted. Since then we became best friends even before we started going to school.”

 “Is that so?”

[James frowned once again after he remembered this]

 “Who’s Devon then?”

“Hey! You okay?”

“Can we just not talk about her?”

“I’m sorry.”

[“Aish! Why are so stupid James?” he said to himself as took a deep sigh.]

 “Did you ever know that I.. I had feelings for you?”

“I didn’t. I just learned it when you told me.”

“Well, I think I was a good secret keeper! See you didn’t even know it

“Ann.”

[James stopped the car in the corner. He bowed down hi steering wheel.

“How could I be so stupid? Why am I so naive? How could I not feel that Ann loved me?

Stupid James.” he said to himself.]

 “James, let’s just forget about everything. I wouldn’t ask nor talk about it anymore.

Let’s just start anew. And if ever my memory would come back, I would just think that

it was just a nightmare. Let’s forget about those things that have hurt us before. Let’s

move on now. If I have done something to you, please forgive me James. And you are also forgiven.”

“Ann.”

“Everything happened so fast. It was just as if yesterday when I woke up and realized I

can’t remember anything. And now we are here in my room talking about the past.

James, I don’t understand all those things you were talking about. And I guess

I don’t feel anything about it. I don’t feel pain, anger, or whatever. Maybe I have

moved on. My heart wasn’t affected with the accident so it means it didn’t forget anything.

Only my mind forgets the past but my heart didn’t for sure. I don’t feel anything anymore

James so it would mean, we are okay. I don’t feel hatred or betrayal. All I know is that when

I woke up, everything was fine. I don’t think I should go back to the past where everything was

all messed up. Let’s start anew. Let’s start as new friends. Let’s erase all things that happened

in the past. Let’s be strangers once again. Hi. My name is Ann Li, and you are?”

[“I wished I have chosen you than Devon.” He said as he started driving again.]

 “Oh I guess you’re the one who was stinking?”

 “Shut up!”

“I was just kidding

“Hey stop it!”

“What if I wouldn’t

“Stop it! Please stop it!”

[He stopped his car once again and thought of a thought.]

 “I guess you’re not a good police man Mr. Reid! I just escaped from your hands that easily!”

“I was just giving you a chance Ms. Li! The next time I would catch you, I’ll never let you go.”

[“What am I thinking? Could it be? No, no, this can’t be. I’m not falling for her..or am I?” he asked himself confusingly. He started the car again by the way.]

“Is this about Ann pretending to be my girl?”

“Uhuh.”

“I’m sorry James; I just don’t know what to do.”

 “Ivan, I trust you. But can you just plan for something else where you can’t drag Ann into a trouble?”

“I’m sorry James. I swear I never planned this. It’s just that, I ran out of words to say when

I saw Tricia. Me and Ann talked about her when suddenly she showed up. I really do not know

what to say. I was dumfounded. I don’t want to look so stupid. I’m so sorry James.”

“Well, if you promise me you would take care of Ann, then..”

“I will. I will take care of her just like you take care of her.”

“Well you should. Cause if not, you know what I can do.”

 “You guys look so serious.”

“Oh by the way, Ivan, what brought you here?”

“Oh, I just want to ask you for a date tomorrow?”

“A date? Hey kid! You’re asking my new friend for a date?”

 “Hey, we even had a date earlier even though we just met!”

“Well, I would just explain to you everything.”

“Wait, were will the two of you be dating huh?”

“Well uhm, an invitation was sent to my house earlier. It was from Tricia. Their company’s

holding a party. My dad was invited but he can’t go, instead he asked me to be our company’s

representative. Well I guess I need to have a date right?”

“Oh, just make sure you won’t be too touchy.”

“So how long will the two of you be pretending?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe as soon as Tricia realizes everything.”

“Hey, do you think she fall on this trap?”

“I don’t know. I should try.”

“How sweet! Tricia must be so lucky to have you. I wonder if she would realize this, she

might regret leaving you.”

END OF ALL FLASH BACKS

I then arrived at the hospital. I went in his dad’s room and saw Lauren with our parents.

“Mom, dad, Lauren.” I said as I hugged them. “So how was Ann?” Lauren asked. “Well, she’s

getting fine now, but still she doesn’t remember anything.” I said. “Can you come with me tomorrow?”

Lauren asked. “Huh? Where?” I asked. “I want to see Ann.” She said. “Yeah sure.”

I said. “Hey dad, when are you going to be discharge?” I asked. “Probably the day after

tomorrow.” He answered. “Oh by the way, before I forget, Ann said, get well soon.” I said.

“Oh, that little kid is so sweet.” My dad said. “She never changed though. Still the sweet little

girl we knew.” Mom said. After our family had a short get together, I drove home with Lauren.

While we were heading home, Lauren kept on bugging me on things. “So, you’ve opened your eyes?”

she said which confused me. “Huh?” I mumbled. “Devon… She’s up to something right?” she said.

“Can we just stop talking about her?” I asked. “James, how long are you going to run away from this?

James let’s face the fact that Devon was once in your life.” Lauren protested. I continued driving

without bothering to answer her. “Look James. I know it’s hard. Knowing you were fixed to a

marriage with your best friend is hard. Let’s face the fact that you can be blamed of what had happen to Ann.”

I cut her off as I stopped the car. “What do you want me to do? Look for a time machine and marry Ann?”

I yelled. “I wished you could do that, but you can’t. What I want you to do

is to open up again, to open you heart.” She said. There was a moment of silence.

“I know you James, once you’re hurt, you never try to open up. You never try again.” she

said softly. “So you want me to fall for Ann?” I asked coldly. “James, don’t wait until it’s

too late.” She said mysteriously. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Ann’s a beautiful girl. Don’t

you think guys would run after her? Summer’s almost over and you guys still have college.”

She said. “ Remember, no guys dared coming in her way because she was famous and she

has you. But everything’s different from now on James, she can’t remember who

she was. She doesn’t have you. Remember the last time you’ve talked to her?”

she continued. “Huh?” I mumbled. “She called me after that. She told everything what happened.

You yelled at her in front of many students just to defend Devon.”

FLASH BACK..

“Why did you tell her that we’re engage when in fact we’re not?”

“It’s true James we’re engaged!”

“You’re crazy Ann! What’s gotten in your mind?”

“My mom told me about the marriage thing!”

“So what’s your purpose in telling that to Devon?”

“Because..”

“Tell me!”

“James I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!”

“Stop it liar!”

“But I wasn’t lying!”

“Stop! Stop it please?”

“But you won’t..”

“Leave me alone! I don’t need a liar like you!”

“I love you James!”

“Stop this Ann. You’re making me hate you even more.”
“I did this because I love you. I love you James Reid!”

END OF FLASH BACK…

I closed my eyes after remembering what happened. I feel so devastated with myself.

“Do you think she still have the power over your schoolmates? Do you think they would still

treat her as the queen bee after what you did? I think not. No one ever dared to come near her

because they think she’s picky and mean but the truth is, she just loved somebody else. But

now, after they knew everything, after they learned that Ann was rejected, don’t you think they

will have guts to confess to her?” she asked randomly which made me think deeper. “Ann.”

I thought to myself. “James, don’t think that I’m pushing Ann to you. The marriage was already

off so you could have any woman you like. But I’m just giving you a thought James. You might not

know, she’s the one for you but you let her go.” She said. I started the car once again. The ride

going home became quiet after we have talked. But the whole trip I was thinking of what my sister

said about Ann. The thought she sank in my mind.