Chapter Thirteen

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Seth said as soon as we were out of the way. I leaned on the wall, my eyes on the students leaving the premises.

"Yes," I replied. There was no point denying it.

He looked at me, perplexed. "Why, Angelo?"

"Why?" I reiterated, a little annoyed. I narrowed my eyes at him. "So she wouldn't cry again."

He cleared his throat and averted his gaze, his jaw clenched. "You do know..."

"How much she was hurt? Yes. I do," I answered. "And it hasn't been a day, Seth."

Seth looked back at me. "I just told her the truth, Angelo. I didn't want to hurt her at all. I didn't want her to like me."

"Yes, of course. I'm not blaming you. But again, it hasn't been a day, Seth. So let her be," I answered.

He did not reply.

"I can't blame you for acting the way you did, Seth. That's the way you are. That's the way we are. But I told you that CJ is important to me, right?"

Seth stared down his feet.

"I swear I didn't want to hurt her..."

I nodded. "I know. I just wish that you stayed away the moment you felt that she was falling for you."

He swallowed.

"You felt it, right? That she was falling for you. And you liked it."

He clenched his fists. "I'm sorry."

I just shook my head. "Just... Just let her move on from you."

"You never cared, Angelo," he mumbled. "Do you still like CJ?"

"Just... Go home, Seth."

"Angelo--"

"Good night."

I turned around and walked away. I didn't need to say it. He already knew.

CJ'S POV:

Despite feeling a little nauseous, I enjoyed the night. I was able to be with Angelo. I also had fun with Sofia during our preparation.

I sat down on the floor, still in my dress. I felt confident in it. I wonder if it was really just the dress. Or the makeup. Or the nail polish.

I grazed my hand on the fabric and stared at myself in the mirror.

"And now it's over."

I heaved a sigh. I had the chance to look... Pretty tonight. That was enough.

My heart throbbed as I recalled my stand-off with Myka and Jessa.

"What did I just do..."

I got up from the floor and stripped of my clothes. I took a quick shower, dried my hair, and put some band-aids on my blisters.

I lay on the bed, picked up my phone, and dialed Angelo's number. It was a little late, but I really wanted to make sure that he was home.

It rang for several times, then on the sixth ring, he finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Angelo..."

"Oh hey, CJ. Are you home?"

"Mmm."

Silence ensued. Words couldn't roll out of my tongue. I lost my voice while my heart pounded all of a sudden.

What's wrong with me?

"What is it?" he asked.

"Uh... Did you get home safely?

"I dropped by 24-hour tapsilogan, but I'm almost home."

"O-Okay..."

Silence again. I didn't know why I couldn't find anything to say to him. The memory of him calling me beautiful kept entering my mind.

"CJ?"

I took a deep breath. I need to think of something.

"Well... What did you and Seth talk about?"

"How did you know?"

"I saw him approaching you as soon as the car left..."

Angelo cleared his throat. "It was nothing."

"Okay..."

"You should go to sleep."

"Wait."

"What is it?"

I bit my lower lip and said, "Mmm... Thank you."

"Hm? For what?"

For what? I also didn't know. But I just felt like I owed him something.

"For everything. Especially today... Even though you've tried to avoid me, you were there for me when I needed you."

Although I couldn't see his face, I was aware that Angelo smiled. A smile crossed my face as well.

"That was nothing. It was the least I could do for you..." he murmured. "Anyway, go to sleep."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

Angelo was still on the line.

"Angelo?"

"CJ?"

I giggled. "This is the first time we actually talked on the phone."

"Yes."

"Okay. Good night."

"Good night."

I heard the sound of their front gate opening in the background.

"Are you home?"

"Mm."

I wanted to see Angelo again. I didn't know why, but I desired to spend time with him. To take back the years that we spent apart.

I wanted to know him more. The new him.

"Angelo, let's meet tomorrow. At the park near the school."

"What?"

"I'll be there at 3 PM. I'll wait for you."

In the morning, Tita Maya and I visited an ophthalmologist to get a check up and evaluation for my contact lenses. It would take a couple of months to actually get them. I was anxious. It seemed scary to use them. However, Ate Jenny said that it would suit me better.

After lunch, we returned home. I took another shower.

I was combing my hair in front of the mirror. I adjusted my glasses as it sank into me that I looked normal again.

Maybe Angelo just said that to make me feel better.

I stared at my clothes. Do I look fine?

Okay, it's not a date. It's not a big deal. Why am I being self-conscious?

"It's Angelo."

My phone started ringing. It was a call from Seth. I hesitated answering it. We weren't able to talk last night, and honestly, I was uncertain which topics to bring up.

But he was the one calling so...

"Hello?" I said, my voice barely audible.

"Hey, CJ."

"Hi..."

"Well... Uh... Are you free today?"

My pulse raced. "W-What?"

"Ah, maybe you want to hangout or something. I just want to clear the air between us... Angelo said he's going somewhere so..."

"Oh. I am meeting Angelo."

I considered asking him to go with us. But I didn't think it would be okay to do that.

Don't be a masochist, CJ.

"Oh, I see," he uttered.

"Sorry, Seth. Maybe next time."

"Yeah, next time," he sighed over the phone. "Enjoy."

We both hung up. I squirmed in guilt. Seth must be feeling awful about rejecting me. I know because even though he doesn't like me back, he treated me well.

I shook my head. Stop it, CJ. Don't overthink. Put yourself first. Do not let your feelings for him cloud your judgment.

My phone rang again.

"Hello?"

"Finally. I was trying to call you but the line was busy."

"Oh, sorry. I was talking to--" I paused.

"Who?"

"S-Sofia," I lied, squeezing my eyes shut. "Anyway, I'll see you in an hour."

"Yes. In an hour."

"Okay, see you."

ANGELO'S POV:

In an hour?

I heaved a sigh. I was already at the park, sitting on the swing.

I couldn't relax at home, so I decided to leave early. CJ asked me out today. This will be the first time that we'll hang out. How am I supposed to chill?

I looked up at the sky, a flash of memories consuming me. I reminisced about the day CJ came to my life.

My Mama left the city as soon as she learned that she was pregnant with me. I was an only child, and she raised me all by myself in the province. CJ moved there at the age of five, and our first encounter was at the beach.

I was heading there in the morning, a plastic robot in my arms.

I noticed a girl crouching on the sand, crying. Her hair was long and she had chubby cheeks. I approached her out of pity.

"Hey... "

She continued sobbing.

"Why are you crying?"

She raised her head at me, her eyes puffy, and her nose snotty. She cried even harder as she stood up and hugged me.

"W-Who are you?"

"My Papa is gone!"

"What?"

"Mama said that Papa is only working... But he's dead... He's not coming back."

Then the girl began wailing again. I didn't know what to do, although I could understand. My Papa wasn't with us. My Mama said that he had a different family.

At first I didn't understand why he didn't choose us, but I found soon enough that my mother was actually the mistress.

"Don't cry. I'm here."

She slowly pulled away from me, sniffling.

"What's your name?"

"Angelo."

"I'm Celine Joan."

I smiled at him and patted her head.

"It's okay. I'll be your friend."

After that day, we spent every single day together. I always visited her house, and she also came by my place sometimes. We were like that for four years. There were a lot of kids in our community, and the two of us played with them from to time. However, CJ and I would mostly play alone together.

And yes, I've been liking her ever since. I was young, yet I knew that CJ was the one I would want to be with. Every day.

I glimpsed at my watch. 30 minutes left.

"Angelo?"

My head spun. She was there.

"CJ..."

"Have you been waiting long?" she asked, checking her watch.

"N-No," I lied.

CJ smiled timidly and sat on the swing next to me.

"I'm sorry I asked you out today. I just want us to talk..."

"About what?"

"Just... Whatever. We haven't really spent time together," she answered.

"Did you miss me?" I teased.

She didn't answer, her gaze landing on my wrist.

"You're wearing the bracelet..." she mumbled, her tone rising. "You kept it?"

I grinned sheepishly, touching the friendship bracelet she gave me the day I told her that I was leaving.

"Yes. Of course," I said.

CJ's eyes glistened, her cheeks turning pink, then she started to use the swing. She pumped her legs every now and then, increasing her speed.

"Be careful CJ, the swing's old and rusty."

She didn't listen to me and continued putting on more weight.

"CJ, come on. This is not safe--"

Like what I feared, the swing broke and CJ soared high into air, landing on her knees.

"CJ!"

I immediately rushed to the pharmacy to buy band-aids while CJ went to the nearest public washroom to clean her wounds. Luckily, her injuries on her knees and elbows were mere scratches.

I sat on the bench as I waited for CJ.

"Are you waiting for your girlfriend?"

A little girl around the age of ten sat next to me. I smiled at her.

"No. Unfortunately."

"Your crush?"

I chuckled. "Yes. I like her. I've liked her for a while. I don't think I ever stopped."

"What's her name?"

"Can't say."

"Angelo?"

I froze. I gulped as I slowly turned my head to look at her. CJ tilted her head.

"Angelo... You like someone?"