Chapter 17

[Flashbacks]

"Rooftop right! You could have told me that we should talk here so I would never shout you passing our fellow students, staring at us, gossiping that they'd think! We argued because I was jealous of Keisha!"

I didn't mind shouting him here in this rooftop, no one will ever hear it anyway. He didn't even face me while I was shouting at him. He just keeps staring at the cities.

"Now what Nico?! After all, I've been following you-"

"Zoe, I love you"

What...

"Wha-what?"

"Let me get this straight thing up, you know how I love going straight to the point."

"Go on," I said as I crossed my arms

"You can't be together with that guy, Zoe."

I chuckled "I'm sorry, Nico. I love him"

"Tell your mom I'm sorry after you heard this."

Now, what's going on?

"What?"

"Your Father is alive Zoe and your Father

Is Santino's Father."

Wait for what...

"You're confusing me!"

"He is your Brother"

"I didn't know I have a brother"

"Now you know-"

"Look! This is not the right time to prank me. I'm sorry we're not senior high anymore Nico, we're college graduating already"

"You think I'm pranking you?"

"If you're telling me this because you want me to break up with him then fuck you!"

"Wait for what?"

I hit him from his arms, chest and back to his arms and chest again as I was fighting him my words back

"You're selfish Nico! What happened to you?! What did you learn from Keisha?! To be selfish?! To be a brat like her?! Are you trying to cheat her? With me?!"

And for the first time and last time

"I won't be fooled" I hit him from the face

Did I really hit him on the face?

[End of Flashback]

[End of Nicholas Collins's Smith]

[Zoe Gomez's Point of View]

I wiped back my tears. I'm not gonna cry in front of them.

"No honey, I'm sorry. I was selfish. Blame me and not your Father." My Mother said as she tries to explain nervously

"Father? Did you mean Santino's Father?"

"Aww, honey" She comes near me and hugs me like it's alright, everything will be fine.

But it isn't

I was so happy

I was so happy with him.

She tapped my back

"I know I know it's hard--"

But I break apart from hug quickly

"IT IS HARD MOM!" I screamed while forcing myself not to cry.

"Zoe..." Santino

The fellow students are already staring at us. This is embarrassing. Really embarrassing.

So I decided to run out in this trap school!

They called my name to come back. But I never look back.

I ran through the cafeteria, passing out Nico and Keisha arguing, passing Niño and Kelly in an argue too.

Looks like everyone I know is in trouble.

But mine was the worst.

As the clouds started to thunder, heavy and scary as it seems. I scream with all my heart bursting my tears. Disgusting myself for Loving him, so much. Why is this happening to me? Why not someone else? Why is it that it has to be me?

Am I being punished for love?

From what? What did I do?

I screamed again and the thunder too. Until I got split from the mud and it hurts my butt and then it rains.

"Zoe!"

I look back from the voice where it came from.

Santino

I never thought I was being followed.

I guess he didn't see me. So I tried to stand up to run.

But it was too late.

"Zoe, you okay?" His eyes were like in tears. He helps me to get up but in seconds I didn't let him touch me.

"Get away from me!"

"I'm sorry, Zoe."

I sobbed "This is so wrong"

"It's just so sad Santino. It's just so sad. Knowing we can't be together. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall too." The rain keeps pouring heavily. I don't care if I go home wet. As long as I can say these words, the pain that I'm feeling right now.

"Let's make our heart free"

"Zoe please"

"Santino, please! We are not meant to be together and were not suppose to! We're already crossing the line"

"But we didn't know-"

"But we can still change the feeling we have right now!"

"I know! I know!" He screamed as he holds my arms "In our eyes Zoe. We know we love each other. Let's leave this town. I'll take care of you. So no one can break us apart"

"Do you think it's a good idea? Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm doing this for us"

"We can't be together," I pause as I have to let him know that he's my,

"brother"

I started to walk away but I stopped when he called my name.

"Zoe"

I turned around waiting for him to say something.

"Before I let you go, let's forget that I'm your brother for now. I have to say something before I could act as your Brother."

I nodded crying.

"You're not easy to let go from my heart. Because I love you, more than you know.

I'm sorry if I can't love you like forever, but maybe Nico can, or someone else."

"Leaving you, it hurts me a lot, Zoe."

"We've met for a reason but we didn't know we already crossed the line. I'm sorry, we fell in love. It was almost a beautiful story, but it was a lie."

"I love you, Zoe"

He turned around and started walking but I hugged him but he's trying to break the hug as I cried like a child.

Loving you a little more time is like years to me. You make me mad, you make me stressed, and so annoying yet you make me happy.

Suddenly, I heard about Santino that he stopped studying, that's why I didn't see him around anymore.

"Honey, he's in another town. He'll come back whenever he wants to. Don't worry he's doing it for the both of you. It's for the best" My mom explained and she kissed me on the cheeks and leaves.

I smiled.

[Bell rings]

Nico and I are back together, as friends.

We already talked about what happened when the time he confessed his feelings for me. But he told me that it was just,

"I'm sorry, Zoe. I-i said that because I missed you"

Crazy right?

I miss him too. I'm so glad that our friendship is back. And Nico is single for months already. But Keisha keeps trying to bully me whenever he's away. I fear nothing about her which I fought back and some boo-boo's from fellow students to her.

"Nico doesn't like someone who is cheater and attitude, is that why he left you?"

Phew, I was like a badass girl there.

Well, I hope she liked it.

[End of Zoe's Point of View]

"And now for the farewell statement, let's hear for the Valedictorian's speech, Kelly Sherman"

And everyone from graduating students applauded as the valedictorian walks her way proudly.

"Welcome, President Engr. Robert Mclevin, Administrators, faculty members, family, special guests and to the graduating students of 2021. Welcome to our 2021 University of M's College."

As her valedictorian best friend continues with her speech, something was distracting her of a familiar face from afar.

He was wearing a unique black tuxedo, it was very neat and clean looked from her eyes. Holding a bouquet of red roses, which is her favorite.

She keeps an eye to that man thought it was so blurry, she didn't want to wear her glasses for just a good look for graduation today.

"Zoe? Are you okay?"

"No, Nicolas I'm fine." She said as she keeps an eye to that man.

Nicolas was observing Zoe that made him found out that she was trying to clarify to the man in a unique black tuxedo.

Nicolas felt sad, he thought he could confess to Zoe right after their graduation, but the man she loves arrived suddenly.

"Zoe"

"Zoe"

He didn't think to confess her this time, so she wouldn't have to worry about him. Nicolas believes in right time.

"Zoelite, It's him." He said it gently.

He really loves to call her name by Zoelite, because to him was special.

Zoe looks into Nicolas's eyes in no time, she then asks a question using her eyes if it is was just a joke look.

"Nope, I'm not" Nicolas smiled.

Everyone applauded the valedictorian's speech, It was beautiful that made them cry until they threw their graduation cap and everyone is cheering!

But except for Nicolas and Zoe.

Nicolas joined to their group of friends first and they took so much happy picture.

"We made it guys!" Shouted by the Valedictorian Kelly

They all cheered!

Until Valedictorian Kelly realized that there's something lacking from the group of friends

"Hey, where's Zoe?"

In a few steps away in the red carpet from between of the two, Zoe and Santino.

They look at each other's eyes that they really missed.

Look at Zoe's eyes, It screams thousands of words, breathtakingly.

Santino smiled in a beautiful way.

It's him... It is actually him.

It's the man I love so much...

Savior of the world, I know you have a reason for this to happen.

Santino, I can't waste my time like this!

Zoe runs away beautifully,

her hair waves in the air,

her misty beautiful eyes,

and her heart that's beating fast.

And because she missed him so much,

She jumps to hug him, closer and tighter.

She didn't let her hug last for more than a few seconds.

Because she loves to put more moments inside in every chance she sees.

She cried in every moment of them.

Santino felt her pain and looking hurt inside and outside.

She keeps telling him that she missed him and that she didn't expect him to come on her graduation day.

Their family and friends saw on that moment, but they didn't come to bother, because they know how much Zoe missed Santino every day. Their friends are happy for both of them while their parents are worried.