Chapter 14 Her boyfriend

Chapter 14 Find me in your heart It s not what I think. I am hearing these words hundreds of times. Every time I see him with another woman, he immediately says that. There s nothing new about it. In fact, he s been like this—over and over again. "The woman, she s just a friend of mine, it s been a long time since we saw each other, and eventually, we ve met here, so I found out that she s also studying here." As if I didn t hear anything, I walked faster. He chased me and shouted, hoping I might hear him. But it s too late. No matter how loud he shouts, I don t want to hear it anymore. I shouldn t. I don t know, but every time something like this happens, instead of being hurt, I just ignore it. Maybe I m getting used to it too. Maybe. "Alessia, wait! Let me explain! I m telling the truth." I didn t pay attention to him again or even look at him. Before I finally finished the way out of campus, I even hit a pile of uniformed criminology students looking at the scandal caused by Joaquin. Well, and after I got out, I could easily ride the tricycle. But instead of going straight to my apartment, I just went through the mall. I know Jo will just follow me home, so this might be better. Life is more peaceful without him. Whenever I don t hear his pleas and reasons. He always apologizes, but he also always repeats the things he does. Maybe it was that he was complacent, and that was my fault. Because he knew I couldn t leave him because that s what his parents wanted. It s also hard. I m stuck in a situation where I ve been spit on for a long time. It is clear to me that I don t want to anymore. I shouldn t waste my life here. I still have a lot to do and prove. If I spend my whole life caring for Joaquin, my life might be shorter. After I bought the groceries for the apartment, I went straight to the food court first to eat. It s better that I m alone like this. I am more able to think viscerally. It s hard when it seems like my whole life, and I feel like I m just manipulating the people around me. I know I m sick of it! But my only problem is how. . . How can I get away? * * * * * "I ll be waiting for your works at my office until four pm. Those who can t pass on due time. . . you don t come to my class anymore. I don t need lazy students like you." After hearing those words, it was as if I had been poured out very cold water. I was less than half done, and it was three o clock in the afternoon. I stared at my design on an unfinished conveyor system. I was sweating ice when it came to three-thirty. This is another episode of my bad luck now and Engr. Rodney — my major subject professor, is here. I looked at Zoe, who was sitting pretty because she was done with what she was doing. Earlier, she tried to help me, but I stopped her immediately. I can do this! I wanted this course, so I had to stand up for myself. I almost laugh at my thoughts. Maybe, the world took pity on me, so I was able to pass it five mins before four pm. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief. "I know you. I know that you can do that in an hour. I don t know what s wrong with you. Is there any problem?" the friend said bluntly as he took his baby wipes from his bag. He complained that the things in the room were dirty there, so he had to clean his hands immediately while the germs still cling. "I m just tired, Zoe. Plus, I was a little confused by the measurements earlier, so I repeated my output," I explained, remembering the measurements I put on the plate. In fact, I was really struggling with the loss of focus. 1 new message From: Asher Eh, why did you seem to be in a hurry yesterday? Sometimes, I get weird with the guy too, but sometimes I think it s better to share the problem with people we don t know, and I know he won t judge me. To: Asher I m fine. I thought I just couldn t get on a tricycle right away. How are you? "Eh, why can t you meet him? He looks nice," Zoe whispered again. Hah! How can she say that a guy is kind when she can t see him? Plus, they didn t have a chance to talk to each other. "Zoe, I don t know him," I said, disagreeing with what she said. "Then, you should know him better." She has a point, but still, I don t want to lead his actions. What if the person really wants you to talk to someone? From: Asher I m fine. I am more worried about you. I hope you re fine. To: Asher I am. I invited Zoe to eat at our favorite place, and the witch was very happy, saying it was my first time to treat her. The truth is, we ve only really been together once. Even though we were in the same class, She was often on the go, and I went straight home, or Joaquin would pick me up. We are just lucky because we have been vacant for a long time now. "Sis, have you ever tried Tinder?" she asked as we ate. Confused, I picked up her phone, which she showed me. "I swear, that s where you can prove that Joaquin isn t the only man in the world! There are more handsome and kind." He showed me the one she was chatting with there. I doubt that he is a pure Filipino. The man is tall and masculine in his icon, which is why my friend is so excited. "Here. . . you see, we ve been chatting for two weeks. And guess what? He s inviting me out!" Seriously, two weeks? "Two weeks? shit, what if the man is just picking girls and then taking their internal organs! Don t do that!" The woman in front put her palm on her face. "Wow, kidnappers doing tinder is such as OA as you are? After all, he s still so handsome!" Oh well, my opinion was a bit nonsense? I guess. I shrugged and continued eating. "Give it a try. How do you still like classic things! Old woman!" My eyes widened when she chose to raise her voice. Loud enough for people to hear here in the cafè. "How dare you?!" My friend burst out laughing. Then it pointed at my dress, so I was automatically touched my body. "That! Who do you think would wear such clothes? T-shirt and pants?" I could do nothing but look down on my friend. "Okay fine. There s nothing wrong with that. But can you at least change that? You are beautiful, and your body is beautiful. That should be exposed." I looked at what I was wearing. "This is what Joaquin wants me to wear," I corrected. "Joaquin wants it. Do you want it?" My thoughts deepened. He told me then that he just wanted to protect me, and I understand that, especially now that it is dangerous. But, I don t really like such clothes at all. I used to wear more beautiful clothes. . . more bright. "Alessia, we have our own mind. This is our body! Our body, our choice!" Zoe continued. "Well, I imagined wearing clothes similar to your clothes but. . ." At the same time, my friend suddenly confessed and smiled, and it only took a few minutes for him to pull me somewhere. "Let s buy some clothes! This time I ll treat you!" We hurried our food then finally went to the shop she was saying. The shop was very pleasing in the eye. Even the clothes are cold to the eye. Why don t I know shops like this? Zoe is like a fool chased by ten horses in a hurry. In fact, she s breathless but just keeps going. I also enjoyed looking around the shop. Next time my budget is no longer tight, I will go here alone and buy for myself. My parents are still sending me money, yet I don t want to burden them that much. I am a student assistant at our school. They didn t even agree when I said I wanted to work part-time because they said that it might seem like a hindrance to studying. True enough, because I m only a year into college, but it s like I m killing myself with the difficulty of this course. Slow suicide strikes. In less than thirty minutes, Zoe had already chosen the clothes she thought would suit me. There are two halter tops and skirts, fitted or loose. I enjoyed that combination. I feel like a child again who is given toys. "Hey, thank you! It s embarrassing, and I m the only one who should be treating you now, eh." I hugged my friend out of excitement and feeling sorry. It s been a long time since I last wore clothes like this. Well, since Joaquin banned me. That is just ironic. He forbade me to wear this, but the women he flirted with wore this. Hah! Don t get me wrong. I won t wear it to make him into me again. I realize that I have my own ways, choices, and decisions. No one should manipulate me. "Don t thank me first. I haven t given it yet!" She laughed once and then handed over me a paper bag. I wondered as I opened it, and I was even more pleased with what was inside. A Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in the shade of 220 Sun Beige, then a Maybelline Matte Lipstick in the shade of Globetrotter, then an eyebrow pencil taupe from Nichido. "Are you serious?!" The woman nodded excitedly at what was happening. "Of course! Let s try it?" I hugged her again after laughing. "Thank you, really! I ll get back to you, I promise." I never lost my smile even though she invited us to go to her condo first to try everything we bought. It s exciting! It s like I m only going to experience it now even though I ve experienced it before. "We" re almost done, Alessia. . . easy," she excitedly giggled while applying your foundation on my face. This is exactly the shade she bought because I m not as white as my friend. In fact, my color is just medium, and it s easier to blend the foundation on my face. I looked at the time and realized it was about six o clock. And since it s late, it s better that we just skip school. Sister goals. Nah. "Wow. . . I can t imagine you ll be this beautiful." I was shocked there, so I quickly beat her. "No! I mean, look. You re already beautiful. . . but today, you re even more beautiful." "Sometimes you just say nice things, huh?" I was the one who bragged now, so she made a face. We were still laughing when my cellphone suddenly rang. I almost jumped when I thought it might be Asher, but I was wrong. Calling Joaquin. . . "Hello, Jo? I am with Zoe–" I couldn t continue what I was saying when someone suddenly sobbed on the other line. It was Joaquin s mom. "Iha. . ." "Mrs. Cervantes, why? Is there any problem?" I quickly felt nervous. Only now was the woman is like this, so I quickly got scared, too. "I-It s about Joaquin, Alessia. . ."