There's A Past

MARIANA BARTLETT

WE spent two weeks in Cem's (Cindy Ella Mae) small but cute house. It was really fun! We experience different things and learn new things that we didn't know existed. I will miss that place. It's simple but beautiful. No wonder why my cousin, Cem, choose that kind of life than her past life.

Although, that cousin of mine is already engaged now. It's her time to say goodbye to that peaceful life of her and face the reality. That she is an heiress and not just some commoner living in that small but cute house. Anyway, I saw her fiancé. The guy is tall and have an angelic face. Maybe, he's also kind and most of all his body... You can say it's yummy! Wow, what luck do my cousin have that she caught a rare fish in the ocean?

Now, my twin sister and I are going back to school. Our vacation that we asked Dad is now over. Just like Cem, we also need to face the reality that after our vacation, Dad asked us to have a high grades in every subject that we have. That's the payment he asked in exchange for our two weeks vacation.

So that's it, I'm in the hallway now walking to my classroom. Then suddenly, I saw Grace, my best friend. Grace is the only one besides Marina who I am close. We've been hanging out for three years now,, and we even celebrate our anniversary as best friend.

"Grace!" I call out while running towards her. "How are you? Did you miss me?"

Instead of answering my question, she hugged me tightly.

What the...

"Do you have a problem?" I asked while she is hugging me. At first, she didn't say anything,, so I just let her feel the warmth of my hug. Then when her suddenly shook, I knew then that she is crying.

She broke our hugs. "B-Bestie ... I'm not a virgin, anymore!" she said while crying.

"W-What happened? Who?"

Instead of answering, she continued crying.

"Don't tell me that your pregnant?!"

She shook her head, that's why I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I took the test but nothing, nothing was formed but..." she trailed off.

"But what? Because he got your virginity? Bestie, we are now in modern day era. I know that is still important,, but that's nothing new now. Unless if you want to make him take responsibility. We can—"

In the middle of what I am saying, she burst into tears again. Then she directly looked into my eyes.

"He has a video of our night together!"

W-W-What the hell!!!

"And I don't know what he intends to do with,, but I'm scared. If that went out, I am the one who'll be judged by the people around us."

"Who? Who was it, Grace?"

Now, I'm pissed off. No one touches my best friend! Let alone, ruin her future!

"Gabriel Elymando," she answered weakly.

Well, Gabriel Elymando ?! Gabriel ?! Elymando ?!

"Who the hell is that guy?"

My friend let out a shock expression. It is as if I'm some kind of Martian, lost her in the earth. Well, it's not my fault that I didn't know that scumbag.

"You don't know him?" she asked,, and I shook my head in response.

Not a clue.

"It's the first time I heard such a lame name," I said.

I thought she would get angry, but instead, she laughed at me.

"He's one of the most popular guy here in our school, and you don't know him? Cut the crap, Mariana." Then she just kept laughing.

I just watched her laugh, I'm pissed but at least she lost her sadness and fear about that video.

She stopped when she noticed that I'm not laughing at all.

"Gabriel Elymando, the most popular playboy in our University. Many women ended up fighting because of him," suddenly, she explained.

"So, you already know that he is a playboy,, but you still give him your first time?" I raised an eyebrow at her. I know that that's a bit harsh,, but she's my best friend! She had known better.

"I know,, but what should I do, Mariana? He has the video in his cellphone and he can spread it, anytime." She cried again.

Aish, be thankful Grace you are my friend.

"Okay, I'll try, no, I will do my best to find solution to your problem. I promise you that, Grace. No one should oppress my best friend."

Then she finally stopped crying.

"Really? Will you use your connections? Will you really go that far for me?"

Though I'm hesitant, I just nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Best. You really are the best!"

FOR three days I found out who that Gabriel Elymando was. Yes, for three days I did not use the 'connection' Grace was referring to. Why? Because I want to avoid using something that only my father should use. I also don't want to look like an influential person,, so I have done it manually. That's why, it took me three days and also because I'm not that good at knowing a person's whereabouts.

I've got very little information. I didn't expect that that person is private. Furthermore, I thought that since he's a playboy, he'll open his life to everyone. But I was wrong because aside from the little information I gathered, he keeps the other information confidential.

The little information that I got from my independent investigation are the following:

1.favorites that most likely from his admirers and past girlfriends

2. Hobbies that his fans observed.

Yup, he had fans. I thought he was some kind of actor that just attending his studies in our school,, but I find out that he is just a simple schoolmate. It's just that many people really like him. No doubt, he is indeed the ultimate playboy.

3. His face.

Yes, I will admit that he is handsome and aside from being handsome, he also has that sexy aura and I really understand why Grace gave 'it' to him. He is a hell of a playboy.

And lastly, I found out that he was one of my cousin's future husband's friend. Tch, what a small round world indeed.

Because I finally found out who he was, I stalked his social media's that didn't tell that much. I monitored if he posted something about their scandal and so far, there's none. That's why, I decided that before he posted that video, I'll confront him. So, I toured the University one day to find him.

And I tell you, it's already almost dawn, but I didn't even reach the half of the University. This University is huge, it even has a college and elementary school, but the campuses are separated. Now, I only went around in high school campus, but I didn't even reach the half of the place, damn! That's why, it's really not shocking that Cem's are that rich.

That day I was about to give up and go home when I found what I was looking for in an old classroom. He was flirting with a flirtatious woman.

Tsk! What a shameless fool. They actually did it inside a school premises.

I was about to enter the classroom to confront the guy, busy or not, but my feet froze when I heard the girl spoke.

“Baby, I received your video scandal with Grace Hernandez,” said the woman in a flirtatious voice.

“Well, that's great. I bet it's already all over the school.” Now, it's Gabriel's voice.

“Yeah, you're so sexy and hot in there.” Then your girl laughed. “I bet that Grace already plan leaving the V. E University because of so much embarrassment."

“That's precisely what I do to women who are obsessed with me,” Gabriel.

“You're not going to do that to me, are you? Anyway, I saw Grace at the Gym, crying. She might commit suicide, won't you go?”

W-What the …

“Nah, let her do it. I don't give a fuck at all. Anyway, do you want me to introduce you to my brother? “

I choose not to hear the rest of the useless things he is saying because I have to go to a much important place. I need to stop Grace before she commits suicide,, or I have to be beside her to protect her.

I saw her crying in the bleachers. She's hugging her legs and her face is hidden in it. Even though she's in that posture, I can already guess that she was bullied by her mess up school uniform and the dirt that is on her hair. She's also missing one shoe on one of her feet.

“Grace!” I call out. I approached her. “A-Are you okay?”

I was about to touch her, but she suddenly moved away from me. Then she looked at me, her eyes full of anger.

“Okay? Are you fucking joking, Mariana? In my state, you think I'm okay, huh?! “

I shook my head. No, you're obviously not okay.

“I'm sorry,” I said.

“Don't be sorry, Mariana because you're already late!” She stood up. “Tomorrow I'm leaving for America, it's good that Dad forgave me for what happened.”

America? She'll go abroad? She's going to leave me?

"No, Grace. I will fix it, I will remove all the videos, just don't leave. “

I know that being selfish,, but I don’t want to lose a best friend. Beside Marina, I don't have anybody else.

She suddenly pushed me so hard I ended up sitting on the floor.

“Don't joke around, Mariana, you're just the principal's niece, and you have nothing against the spoiled students here,” she says.

“B-But—”

“And I don't want a spoiled brat best friend anymore. Oh! Wait, you're not my best friend because you can't even use a 'simple' things for your 'dear' best friend. Tsk! You're just pretending that I'm important, but in fact, I'm just your slave! Spoiled brat!” After she said that, she left.

I was left there, down and alone.

My best friend left me because of embarrassment.

She left me because of him!

What she said is not true. I know, she never really meant that. She just said that because …

She wants to escape. Escape from me, the school, the University and him!

Yeah, he's the culprit.

He hurt my best friend.

He made her suffer.

He … will regret everything! He will pay for it all.

Gabriel Elymando, you will see …

“TSK! You fool! You are my boyfriend and boyfriends should treat her girlfriend a meal. Hence, when she is with her circle of friend, a boyfriend should also treat them along with his girlfriend. Are you really this dumb?” I said even though it wasn't true. He looked is surprised.

“I'm not your boyfriend, girl.” There was a mixture of rudeness in his voice. It's as if I just pressed the red button and to tell you the truth, I don't give a damn! After he hurt my best friend?

“I am and to remind you, boy, we are together for one year now,” I lied again.

“One year? I don't even know you, and I don't mess with low-class girls like you.”

And he has the nerve to insult me?!

I pulled his collar.

“Will you give me the money,, or I still have to beat you?” My eyes blaze because of so much anger.

“As if you can,” he dared.

He stood, that's why I grabbed the opportunity to kicked his left foot so damn hard. He even complained of the pain.

“Will you give or l'll stump repeatedly on your feet?”

Because he was twisting because of pain and bent down. I saw his wallet fell, so I took it.

“Hey, you wicked! Give me back my wallet!

I ignored him. Then I opened his wallet. Wow! What a rich damn kid. I took five bucks. And threw the wallet back at him and bullseye! It exactly hit his face.

Hahaha ….

This is just the beginning, playboy.

*****