Chapter 2: Chapter 2 ( The encounter )
"To Drew, Congratulations!" Kat turned around to check if she knows anyone from the other table.
"Did you hear that?" Stacy asked Kat,
"Yes, you too? He might be here."
"Who?" I asked the two of them.
"Nothing… no one. Let's dance?"
The music is great and the night's young. The dance floor is too crowded but everyone's enjoying and danced to each beat.
"I'll be back" I whispered and Kat nodded. I stepped out the crowd, then someone pulled me from the back.
"Drew?" I said, shocked.
"Why are you here? Who's with you?" Drew asked me looking at me from head to toe.
"Just Kat and Stacy. And I'm here for the same reason as yours." I smiled and stepped aside.
"What are you wearing, is that a shorts or panty?" Drew shook his head.
"Hahaha! Stop that Drew. Am I not sexy?" I answered back and led Drew to our table.
Andrew Aldana, my guy best friend. We've known each other for three years and Drew's open about his admiration for me but I don't want to take the risk of losing him in case we go any further other than being friends. He's not courting me though, but everybody knows what he feels for me is special. He's always been there for me, protecting me like a brother and of course, he loves me no matter what. Drew cares so much for me, he wanted me to be happy that's why he supports me in everything I do, and any man who wishes to be with me, he must know them too. I adored him for that. And I also knew how Drew hates to see me in shorts pants, tipsy and broken hearted.
"Drew, c'mon! I just wanna unwind, and promise, tonight's the last. It's too early to leave."
"You promise? Okay, but- I'll sit here with you."
"But Drew, it's our girls' night out! And how about your friends?" I complained.
"They're enjoying themselves. Let's go home then."
I shrugged my shoulder and looked at Drew. Drew smiled at me.
"You win!"
Minutes later Kat and Stacy went to our table and surprised to see Drew seated beside me, I stared at them and the two smiled like they understood what I'm trying to say, besides they said they heard his name earlier and expected him to come over.
"Hi girls! Looking good at those "shorts" huh?" Drew looked at them, winked and bit his lips. The two took their sit and laughed.
"Vodka or tequila?" Drew offered us a drink.
"Thanks for the ride Drew! Good night!" Kat and Stacy jumped off his car and went inside their apartment.
"So, keep your promise. Be a good girl!" Drew pinched my cheeks. I just smiled.
It's already 5 AM.
"Have some sleep, we have class at 12 PM."
"Yes! I know!" I responded and turned my back. Drew pulled me and gave me a warm hug.
"I want to see the Alex I admired." He whispered then left.
I stared at him as he walk out the door. I played a song, a song I listened for the last two months, somehow it helped me to move on, to let go of all the feelings I kept inside, the song that drained my tears, the loneliness and left nothing but a sweet realization. I sighed, and fell asleep.
"Hi!" I received a text message from an unknown number. I deleted it after reading, I'm on my way to school.
"Hello!" another text message after few seconds.
"Who the hell are you?" I key in and later changed it to "Who's this?"
All the people were chattering, the noise were buzzing around our classroom. Kat and Stacy were sleepy so they invited me at their apartment, they were awaken when my phone rang.
"What the! Alex! Can you put your phone on silent mode?" Kat demanded. I laughed and get my phone.
"I bet that's Aries!" Stacy interfered.
"Aries who?" Kat and I asked her.
"Oh. Sorry Alex, Aries- the tall guy dancing behind us last night, he asked for your phone number before we left. And I gave it to him 'cause he's cute and… and… so I can't say no." Stacy giggled.
I threw a pillow at her.
"I can't believe you!" I threw another one.
Kat was laughing at us, she get my phone and opened the text message.
"This is Aries Alcantara." Kat read the message aloud.
"You're amazing! But…you should've given my number!"
"He doesn't' like you! Alex, the crown is yours!" Kat teased me, and we all laughed.
I grabbed my phone from Kat and put it aside. I lie down on bed and hugged one of the pillows. Then a phone rang again,
"That's mine!" Stacy exclaimed. She's smiling as she reads the text message.
"Let me guess? That's Jay!" Kat said, Stacy gave her a look.
Stacy and Jay were together for almost two years, the two had a strong relationship though they've been a lot of trials and struggles, at the end of the day, the two still chose to be together. On the other hand, Kat does have a boyfriend too that is older than her, but she loves that man so much. Sometimes I envy them, but of course, I'm glad to see them happy.
"Back to you, what are you waiting for? Go reply at his message!" Kat threw a pillow to me too.
"No! I don't even know him! It's your fault Stacy! You're selling my phone number!" I laughed.
"So you better text him back and know him well, one day you might be thanking me."
I smiled, I'm thinking if maybe my friends were right, maybe it's not that wrong if I'll text him back, and know him better.
"Aries, how are you?" I texted back and smiled, the two were still teasing me.
After a month of being friends and constant exchanging of text messages, Aries and I go out on our first, official date. Aries brought me in a coffee shop. We had a good conversation, I felt great cause I never go on a date for the past months, and besides, Aries is good choice too. In the middle of our conversation, my phone rang, I took a glance at it and smiled at Aries.
"Read it, it's fine."
"No, it's okay, that message can wait. Maybe it's Kat, or Stacy or my mom."
"No. Go it read, that might be important." Aries insisted, so I picked my phone, and smiled.
"Can I hold your hand?" the message was from Aries, he is looking at me and waiting for an approval. I put back my phone on the table and smiled at him, then he held my hand for the rest of the night.
Monday morning, I woke up with a smile, I get my phone and the smile in my face brighten up.
"Good morning girls!" I greeted Kat and Stacy cheerfully.
"And beautiful morning to you!" I smiled at Drew and hugged him.
"Are you sick?" Kat asked me and held my neck like she's checking my temperature.
"Or…are you in love?" Stacy said.
"Yes, and thank you!" I responded and looked at Stacy.
"Again. That man must be…" Drew paused,
"I must meet him," he said.
"Yes Drew! He'll be here later, you'll all meet him." I'm still smiling.
I know Drew felt a bit jealous because I already have a new boyfriend, but he's maybe happy too, at least he's seeing a smile on my face again. He maybe hopes that we'll last, and mostly, he must be hoping my new guy won't hurt me or make me cry.
"Nice to meet you Aries." Drew shook his hands as Aries' leave after a few hours of hanging out with us.
"So, what can you say?" I asked Drew while we're heading home, I'm at the passenger seat.
"Honestly? He's nice, but be careful." Drew answered looking straightly at the road.
"What do you mean?" I asked again, Drew's not responding, I kept on repeating my question, and rocking Drew on his seat. He didn't say a word, and so I remained silent along the way.
"Just be a good girl." He stressed on the words and dropped me in front of my house.
"I am a good girl." I said to myself.
"If I lay here, if I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"
I'm singing along with the song I played on my phone, then the song stopped, I checked my phone. My mom's calling.
"Hello mom! What's the matter" I said blankly.
"I just want to check if you're okay. When are you planning to visit us here?"
"Not this month, but I will try on the next."
"Okay, it's been three months since you last visited. Your uncles wants to see you."
"Mom, I'm not pregnant and never will." I sighed.
"Why, I don't say that." my mom laughs.
"I know you! But I will make plans on the weekend. Goodnight!"
"I miss you! Take care Alex. Good night." Then I ended the call.
I smiled shortly, I can't believe it's been quite long since I last saw my family. My dad died when I was just 2 years old, and I and my mom was really close up until now, besides, we only have each other. As much as I wanted to stay with her, I need to be away from her cause my school is a two hour trip from home so I needed to rent a room and be on my own. Before, I can go home every Friday but now, I can only go home once every two weeks or sometimes once a month and it's quite hard to be alone though I love the idea of being independent.
I checked at the calendar, I wanted to go home and visit my family, but my schedule's already full and hectic. I sighed and pain touched my heart. "Next time mom." I said to myself.
"Happy monthsary! I'll pick you up later." I smiled with my eyes half open, it's 6AM.
Aries has been so sweet all these time, he never failed to make me smile. He is studying at the other university yet he is consistent in picking me up every afternoon, maybe his motorcycle's a big help. He's a not-so tall guy, he has a cute face, a sweet voice and a joker. Since Aries and I were together, I don't wear much of skirts and dresses because I always need to jump into his motorcycle at ease and comfortable.
There are times when he'll text me and pick me up at 1AM to watch his friends join a race, it's illegal though, so when we hear a police siren, we all need to escape and ran away from the police, so he'll need to drive as fast as he could as I close my eyes and feel the moment with my hair flying freely, my hands around his waist, my head at his shoulder and him telling me to stay cool and enjoy the ride. That's one of the best times of us being together.
"Happy monthsary. Thanks for disturbing my good sleep though." I replied.
After few hours, a sound of an engine came in so I take my steps fast and sure. My favorite pair of red shoes were in, a blue stripes shirt and my faded jeans completed my get up. I welcomed him with a hug as he gave me red bunch of roses. Aries was wearing a black plain shirt, jeans and a nice pair of shoes. It's Sunday. I'm thinking if we'll have a mass at the church or a lunch at our favorite place, or a tea or coffee can do. But the road we're taking wasn't familiar. I deeply inhaled and ignored the feeling that's starts me fill up my chest. Why am I so nervous, I tried to calm myself as we enter the place, I can't remember the exact name of the building but I know it's an "inn."
He parked his motorcycle and held my hand, I let go of his'.
"What are we doing here?" I asked him.
"Umm. It's not what you think, we'll just relax." Aries said as he touched my face.
"No Aries, I'm not what you think. Let's get out of here or I'll make a scene." I stood away from him.
Aries was silent for a moment then he put his helmet on and starts the engine. We went to the nearest restaurant to eat our lunch but I had no appetite- for him too. It feels like I can't stay any minute with him anymore, he's not the Aries I thought he was.
"I'm sorry." He said, maybe he's thinking I'm over reacting, but come to think of it, it's never right to bring your girl at a hotel on your third month.
"Okay, I want to go home."
"So what's wrong?" Drew asked me after I called him to come over.
"Nothing, I just want to watch a movie with you." I don't want to tell him what happened, surely he'll get mad, and I know exactly what he's capable of doing.
"I cooked something for our lunch, fried rice, scrambled egg and hotdogs."
"I thought it's already lunch." He looked at his wristwatch.
"Shut up! This is the best I can do." I laughed and put the plates on the table.
Drew and I was really close, a combination of a brother and sister, best friends and enemies, and lovers too. But we know our limitations, I can hug him, kiss him on cheeks or even sleep in bed with him but I know how he respects me, he's the best man I've ever known and will ever have.
"You sure you won't stay here tonight? I asked him as he stepped in at his car, it's 7PM.
"No sweetie. Next time! Lock your doors. Take care!" then Drew left.
We had a good day, and having him with me that day made me feel relieved. I almost forgot about Aries and what he did. I checked my phone, 10 new messages, 5 missed calls, it's all from Aries, and I just send him a text message saying that it's okay. He replied sorry with a sad emoticon, I laughed softly, and maybe he's really sorry. So before I went to sleep, I called him to say I'm sorry too. Next morning, we pretended we didn't had a fight last night.
The semester is nearly ending, I looked around, Kat, Stacy, Drew and all others were busy talking to each other, laughing, they all seemed happy, of course who isn't? It's been a tough semester for all of us, and finally we will have a week or two to rest and forget about home works, projects and deadlines.
"Drew, any plans for today?" Kat asked him, Drew shook his head and looked my way.
"What? For today, I cant. I already had plans with Aries."
"Okay, ever since you and Aries were together, you don't have time to hang out with us." Said Stacy. Drew looked at me again, but as much as I want to go with them, I can't cancel my plans with Aries.
"Oh Stacy, I'm sorry, I'll make it up, and besides we still have a month before vacation." I looked at Drew and he shrugged his shoulders. I know he's expecting me to choose them, but really I don't have to, my relationship with them and Aries is far different. I know they understand, but I can't blame them for feeling jealous too, I felt a bit sad as my friends walk away while I stood still waiting for Aries to come pick me up.
"So, have you think about that?" Aries' first words as we take our seat in our favorite café.
"What "that"?" I looked at him, I don't know what he's talking about. Then a realization came in when he responded.
"That… you know." He's smiling, I felt offended.
"Aries, I thought we've already settled this down. No."
"C'mon Alex, we're both adults here. And besides, our relationship's been three months." Said Aries holding my hands and slowly caresses my face, I don't know what to feel, or what to say.
"Aries, stop it!" I held his hand to stop him.
"That's exactly my point, it's just three months. I don't believe you. The first time we went out on date, you even asked permission to hold my hands, and now you're asking me to…" I don't know if can say the words, I inhaled and continued,
"To have sex with you. Aries no." I said to him and stood up. He held my hands and stopped me, I sat down again, I can't looked at him, and I felt like I don't know him anymore.
"Sorry. Sorry." He keeps on repeating the words. I don't know if I can believe his apology now. He looked at me and smiled blankly. I'm trying to read his mind but I can't, I raised my eyebrows then he pinched my cheeks.
"Do you love me?"
"Y-yes…" but I was doubting myself.
"Then prove it." He said, looked at me firmly from head to toe, and smiled. A wicked smile. I can't look at him so I looked down and I felt violated, I don't know what's running through his mind.
I can't believe Aries can act such a way, I don't expect him to be that kind of man. But who knows what kind of man he really was, I just met him at a bar, and to be precise, he just saw me, get my phone number, exchanged messages for a month and then boom! We're in a relationship. I can't expect a good one from how we started. So in my mind, I getting ready to be single again, I'd rather be than keep him with me, he don't deserve to be kept after all.
"This is a bribe!" Kat exclaimed as she handed Stacy and Drew boxes of cookies I baked myself.
"No, but okay, sort of."
"Okay. This must be really good or else," said Stacy as she took a bite. Drew and Kat did too.
"And?" I asked them, waiting for their words about my homemade cookies, they looked at each, came closer to me and gave me a hug, we all laughed afterwards then let go of each other.
"Mm…I felt that Drew enjoyed our group hug so much." Kat's starting to tease him again.
"Yes of course, who wouldn't enjoy hugging three beautiful ladies at a time?" he chuckled.
"That's my boy!" I said and pinched Drew on his side.
We are on our way to our school canteen since our professor was absent, then Kat was grabbing my shirt and whispered at me. I saw Aries standing in our canteen's entrance.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him,
"Visiting my girlfriend, or are you still?" The way he talked was different. I sighed, I can still see Kat, Stacy and Drew at the edge, I looked at their direction and nodded, they proceeded and take a sit on the last table on the right while I and Aries were still standing at the left side of the canteen.
"Aries, are you drunk? You better go home, I can't talk to you now." I said as I turned my back, he grabbed my arms, he held me tight and firm, he came closer and his grip became tighter that it starts to hurt me.
"Aries… please?" I looked at him, breathing deeply, I felt a nervous and my heart is beating fast and hard.
"Come with me, let's talk." I don't want to, but other students were starting to notice us and I don't want to make a scene, I nodded at him, I looked back, Drew stood up and he was looking at me shaking his head, I know he don't want me to go with him but I just smiled at him as we leave.
He drove me to my boarding house, it's the first time a man came in my room, except for Drew of course. Aries smells like beer and his breath's smells cigarette smoke. I'm starting to be afraid of him as he came closer and closer to me.
"A-ries. You're drunk, you can sleep here for a while." I'm trying to cut the tension as I was stepping backwards while keeps on coming closer to me.
"You're my girlfriend Alex, but you didn't responded at my messages at you for a week. What? Are we done without me knowing?"
"It's just that, I…" I don't want what to say, I can talk straight, I am stuttering,
"Aries please?" the words just came in, I can't breathe, it's like I'm choked.
I stopped to step back when I bumped into my bed, I looked back, and I had no way to run,
"Aries, let's talk about this some other time, when you're not drunk. Please?"
He pushed hard and I am lying in bed uncomfortably. I tried to stand up but he pushed me back and his face lowered to meet mine then he kissed my neck. He's whispering my name, and I keep on saying the words "no" and "please"
"Aries, let's make it the right way, you're hurting me." I said, but I had other plan. He helped me sat down while he's standing in front of me. I stood up and held his face, then I slapped him twice, punched his chest and pushed him, though I know that wasn't that hard, I know that hurts, he fell on the floor.
"Go home you bastard!" I said as I ran upstairs on my friend's room and threw a vase at him still lying on floor. Then called Drew afterwards. Minutes later, I peeked on the window and I saw him leave.
I felt abused, violated, it hurts so much knowing that the guy you thought loved you can do such thing to you. I couldn't imagine I trusted him. I couldn't believe I invested my feelings for man like him. I just wasted three months of my life for a crap.
Drew arrived and ran to my room in a hurry, I looked at him with tears on my eyes then I hugged him,
"That's why I told you to be careful." he brushed his hands at my back.
"I'm sorry Drew." I let myself cry, but not hard enough.
"Ssshhh. It's okay now." Said Drew and kissed my head lightly.
"Sorry to hear that Alex." Said Stacy. I chuckled,
"No Stacy. Don't be." Then I told them what I did that day. Drew is smiling on his seat looking at me while I'm telling Kat and Stacy what happened last week.
Drew later left to meet his friends, so the three of us went to my house. We bought soda, popcorn and fries. This is how we spent our free times, either watching movie or just talking about random stuffs, we don't care what time it is as long there's a lot of food in the fridge.
"I really can't believe that Aries guy. You know, we've been for three months and he's asking for too much. Unlike Nate," the two looked at me,
"What? What I'm just trying to say is that, he never asked me for that."
"Neither did Drew." Kat said, then she looked at Stacy like the have something to tell me.
"What's that? Tell me." I demanded,
"Nate, he's… he'll have a baby soon, he's going to be dad!" Stacy broke the silence. I was shocked and stunned,
"Okay. So who's the girl?" I asked, I was curious, and I care, but I'm not hurt actually.
"We don't know, but according to humors, he met that girl during his competition, that's months ago, right?" Kat added.
"Maybe they played real good that's why!" said Stacy, trying to make it cool.
"Girls, stop that look in your eyes like your pitying me, c'mon. I'm so over him, but I'm just surprised, of course what should I'm supposed to feel right?" I smiled.
"See you next semester!" I waved them goodbye at 8PM.
It's been a tough semester, not just in school, but in my life too. In just a short period of time, I've been through a lot, like really a lot and those experiences changed me, I learned a lot from those painful heartbreaks, I laughed remembering how I trusted such a man like Aries, now I know not to trust anyone whom you don't really know- especially if you met them at bars. As for Nate, I'm over him, honestly, I'm happy he's about to start a new chapter in his life, and so do I.
"God." I lie myself in bed and breathe. It's good to feel light, free, like I don't have any burdens and worries.
"Thank God!" I said once more.
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