Chapter 9

Everything was not easy, a month has passed since we went to the resort. We both made the most of that beautiful view. And I found out that it was at their Hotel, which Dweyne ran to. Until now, I still didn't think that, here we are hugging each other. "Coronation night is tomorrow. I'm excited baby." You said. "Yes. I'm nervous." I turned to him. "Why? I know that you will be the one to take home the Crown. You're great by the way." Suddenly we both fell silent. Because I thought about what will happen to him, when I leave this country. I was surprised, suddenly there were fireworks in my eyes. Happy 2nd Monthsarry Baby, I love you "Happy 2nd Monthsarry" and Zach kissed her firmly while the beautiful fireworks were still in front of them. After a few minutes, we decided to go inside and celebrate. We are already legal for both sides. My parents didn't say anything about my dismissal here in the Philippines. That night when I introduced Zach, my Lola talked about me.

"What will happen to him, when you are in the States? Does he know what will happen to you?" Questions that I don't know how to answer. I was thinking about those things, not knowing how Zach would react. If I ever tell him. Maybe, when the day of our Coronation night is over. I guess I'll tell him, or maybe I won't tell him? "Baby, what's wrong?" I just came back to my trance when Zach called me. "Baby, what will you do if I suddenly disappear." "What do you mean?" "Like, I'll just leave the country without telling you." I promised. "Then, if that's what you want. If you can't tell me. Maybe, you only did that because you have a hard time confessing it to me. Maybe if you tell me, you won't leave forever. Why, are you leaving? ?" I didn't move, instead I just hugged him very tightly. I can't tell him yet, what I want if it happens. I don't want the day to come when, he's right, I might not be able to keep my promise to my parents. Although I would prefer to stay, but I already made a promise. I don't want, they will think that I am disobeying them even though they have allowed me to have a boyfriend. My vision is gradually getting darker, a sign that my eyes are really tired. I just realized that I was in a soft bed, while I was hugging Zach. But eventually I fell asleep right away.

As time went on, I was more afraid of what would happen to both of us. I can't deny that Sky's advice to me was right.

" Since you answered him first, what will happen to you? Can you handle LDR? Acqui, you know if you know what will be the end of it. You know that Long Distance Relationship is difficult. We are not against your relationship, but what about you're far from each other. I know you, you might leave Zach here in the Philippines. I know what's going on in your mind, Acqui. I can feel you I know what fear you feel. If you are not ready, you can wait for him until your deal with your Daddy is over. Because I also know that he is the reason for others relationship that led to divorce." I sighed at what he said. Because that's what's really going through my mind. I'm afraid that maybe, as time goes on, he realizes that I'm not a loss. That he can replace me, that he can love someone closer to him. But can you blame me? Myself, I don't know how long I will believe in impossible things. I, myself, am confused. I woke up with someone touching my lips. Gradually I opened my eyes, to see who it was even though I knew. I just smiled at him. I just held his face and kissed him hard.

As time went on, I got to know him better.

Zach is the type of person, who can accompany you in all angles. Either human or alien. They say I'm lucky to have him. Because I will never see someone like him who has respect for me. He never insulted me in front of many people. He prefers that it's just the two of us, so that it's not obvious. He is not the type of person who does a lot of PDA. I once asked him about things that are for adults. "Baby, it's not lost on men that women have needs too. " "Baby, so if you wait when you plan to give yourself to me. Even if we say we're married, so if you wait until we're older. When you're ready, give me your whole being I loved you with my heart, I didn't love you just because of my lust. I will do painful things just to give you that kind of bonus, then go I'm with the flow. I don't want to force you into things you know if you're not ready yet. So make me different from them baby."At least right? He doesn't think about things, he knows I can't give him yet.

That's the reason, why I treasured him so much. Because the way he takes care of me, has already given me how much he appreciates me. Even though it won't be easy, we both know if we can overcome it. I didn't think that in a flash, I would be here facing many people. The day everyone is waiting for, the CORONATION night.

"I'm Acquiesce Briexley Vhaine Chuscada, 20 years old. Representing, Education Course." Screams and applause could be heard in that place. I can feel the nervousness, since earlier. But I didn't think about that, because there was only one thing running for me and that was to win and bring home the Crown.

I didn't think that in an instant I had a chance to enter the top 3. BSBA, POLSCI, and of course EDUC got in

When I stepped my feet on the stage, I could feel their nervousness. I closed my eyes to get rid of the nervousness I had. The mic was handed over to me, to answer the question that was given to the person assigned to me.

"If you were given the chance to go back in time, what would you go back to and why?"

"Thank you very much for your very heart-whelming question. First of all, good evening. If I was given the opportunity to go back in time, I would like to go back to being a child. Because we both know, that the child is what everyone dreams of. Even some ages, they want to be kids. Because the kid doesn't think about anything else, but what he wants to grow up. And who is better, just like the superheroes we see in the shows childhood, where only a wound can make me cry. And only food can make me happy. Because as we get older, it's not a wound that makes us cry anymore what can break us, but people's words. And it's not just food that makes us happy. We depend on others, where we see all the things that make us happy. They say, if you love someone, don't let tears come out of their eyes. Don't ever hurt the person you've been with all the time. And lastly, don't make the world an effective person if you can't stand it. And I thank you. "

To be honest, I was nervous about whether my answer was correct.

Until the three of us were called again, because we were given a few minutes to relax. I was the last one to come out, and I heard the shouting of my batch mates over and over again. If I wasn't really so smart, we might not have a Representative. Thank you very much. I'll miss them anyway. When we were in front of them, the crowd cheered. The three of us were still whispering, as if we were enjoying this time. Soon they announced.

"2nd Runner Up, goes to Ms. PolSci" What we hear from them is applause. Verone, the BSBA Representative, and I stepped forward. We were both smiling, mixed with nervousness. " What I will call will be the 1st Runner Up. " The Host said. " 1st Runner Up goes to Ms. Verone from BSBA. " Verone hugged me very tightly, because everyone had not yet processed me. She kissed me on the cheek and hugged me again. "Congratulations Acqui. I know, you will win." She gave me a big smile.

Until I was left there, and she passed the Crown to me.

"You really won, Acqui." Shine said. "I don't know what to say." We just hugged each other, while he disappeared from my sight. When it was announced that the host who could take pictures was , he was the crowd of my acquaintances. "Acqui, let's take a picture." Derik said to me. Until we all took a group picture, including our professor Ms. Gonzaga When they disappeared from my sight, the Squad approached me. And with the three of them. "You're really good, Acqui." Dweyne said to me. "Didn't you say, you will free me when I win? Where is my free? " I glanced at Dweyne. I was surprised when someone wrapped around my waist, and it was none other than Zach's hand.

"Hmm. Congratulations baby. You did well." He kissed my cheek while whispering. "I wanna kiss you so bad." I lightly elbowed him in the side, causing him to moan. And we decided to eat at a nearby restaurant. Of course Dweyne is free, everything. You can really see how happy everyone is. Sky and Athella teased Dweyne. Until I decided to tell him now.

I left there first and went to the end. That's where you can see the lit Christmas lights. "Congratulations baby." He said as he hugged me. I sighed, then I faced him with dripping tears. He immediately rubbed them, using his soft palms. "Baby, I have something to tell you." I said without even letting my tears escape. "What is that?" He asked innocently. "I'm leaving tomorrow." I looked at him. "What do you mean?" "I have fulfilled their request. But I have to face the consequences of what I did." "I don't understand." He held my face at the same time, so that I could at least look straight into his eyes "When I joined the pageants, he was the one who accepted me in Consequence. Daddy didn't approve of my joining, but he later accepted because I would keep my promise."

"And that's the departure?" He confirmed

"Yes. It's necessary if I accept my fate. It's necessary if I fulfill what I promised them. I don't want to get to the point where I'll regret not obeying them. I'm still dependent on them, you know that, right? I don't want to disobey them, because know if this is also for my future." I said while still looking at him. "Just in case, you find someone else to love, I'll accept it." I averted my eyes so he wouldn't see the bitterness in my eyes. " I will wait for you. " I was really surprised and turned to him completely. "I'll wait for you, when you come home to me. I don't care how many months or even a year it takes, Acqui." He looked me hard in the eyes. "What if I don't come back? Will you still wait for me?" "If they can do it, so can I, Acqui. I don't want to regret not even waiting for you, until you come home. I love you, Acqui."

I just nodded because, finally, I was able to tell him what I wanted to say. That makes me nervous. " When are you leaving? " He asked between several minutes of silence "My flight is tomorrow night." "Be careful there! I thought you'd be here for a few days." "I thought so, but there is nothing. Let's just accept what is destined for us."

We will make the most of the time we have now. Even if it's hard, we can handle it. Knowing if it will not be easy for us. We just hugged each other, until I didn't realize that I fell asleep next to him. I just felt like I was in a soft bed. But even before my eyes were closed, I still heard his words.

"I love you so much, Acqui."