Chapter 22: Broken

With emotional hearts, the four were back to their boarding house at midnight. After tidying themselves, everyone lay in their respective beds. The light was off and the room was silent, but no one fell asleep yet. King, Gio, and Leandro were attentively listening to the noise of the ceiling fan, the ticking of the wall clock, and Jovanni's heavy breath. They were worried, especially King since he blamed himself for Jovanni's unlucky encounter with Kirt. Later, those heavy breaths turned to soft sobs. Jovanni was hurt. Leandro stood and turned the light on.

"Jovanni..." Leandro helplessly uttered.

"...I'm sorry. It's really painful....My heart...is painful."

"What can we do for you." Leandro stood and comforted him.

"I will be fine."

"Jovanni, just cry it all tonight, so that you will be fine tomorrow." Gio said, facing Jovanni. "I know break up is not easy for a quiet and reserved person like you because you are genuine lovers, but time can heal. You will be better soon."

King sat up on his bed too. "Jovanni, it might be painful, but you cannot waver. Don't you ever seek that scum again? We are here. You can cry as much as you can, we are here willing to comfort you. Just don't look for him again."

"I won't... Don't worry. I am just caught off guard. I had no idea that it is very painful. I am really ashamed that I troubled you with this mess."

"It's fine. Were brothers here." Leandro replied. "Here, drink these." He said while handing two sleeping pills. "I actually kept these two that I snatched from you before. Drink these so that you can sleep."

"Thank you."

Jovanni was grateful for his friends' concern. He slept until noon on the next day. When he woke up, his head was dizzy and his heart was still heavy. Looking around, his three board mates were all present. A delicious meal was prepared on the table.

"Jovanni, you are awake. Go get a shower so that we can have our lunch." Gio cheerfully said.

Jovanni smiled. His friends' effort in comforting him is heartwarming. He told himself that he cannot fail these people. A night of emotional struggle is enough.

"Okay." Jovanni replied smiling. He grabbed his towel trying to look cheerful until he went out.

"He's trying hard to look fine." Leandro sighed when Jovanni went out.

"I know." King agreed

"When I had my first breakup, I was just pissed off for a day. I wasn't devastated as he did." Gio commented.

"It's because you are just playing around. You don't take your lover seriously." Leandro criticized.

"It's better this way. It won't hurt that much when it ends."

"Well, it is only applicable to a player like you, but to a serious person like Jovanni, it's not."

"Well..."

"That's enough. For now, we will just help him recover. Later I will introduce him to my female friends. We will help him find a girlfriend." King said which Leandro objected.

"King, I don't think that is a good idea. People like Jovanni might take a long time to get over. Don't rush things out. Let him heal completely first."

"No. I believe he will get over it fast if he finds a girlfriend. In this way, that scum won't occupy his thought all day."

"I don't feel good about this idea of yours." Leandro insisted. "What can you say, Gio?"

"I don't know, but I will support King. I want that Kirt to pay for what he did to Jovanni."

Leandro sighed.

King leaned on his headboard. "You can just watch and support us. I don't plan on physical battle anyway. I just want that Kirt Valdez to see that Jovanni is better off without him."

That day, Jovanni busied himself on his sideline jobs so that his mind won't think of Kirt. Thankfully, there were loads of drawing jobs on his table since the final examination was approaching. He kept on drawing, but there were moments that his heart ached too much and he unconsciously paused, staring blankly at the wall. 'It hurts!' His heart was screaming.

Every time he was lost in his thoughts and stared blankly at the wall, his friends came to rescue by distracting him, bringing his wandering thought back.

Monday morning came, Jovanni was reluctant to get up. He didn't want to go to school, but the final exam was coming. He needed to endure few weeks before the summer break come.

"Jovanni, what time is your last subject. I will come and pick you up." King asked.

Jovanni got up. "King, you don't have to trouble yourself. I will be fine. Since Kirt let me go, he won't force me again. He is a prideful man, since I was the one who initiated the breakup, he won't come and force me again."

"No. I insist. Just to make sure. I might bring Leandro and Gio too. Don't worry, my brother gives me his old car since I'm already eighteen. It's not troublesome at all."

"Thank you, King..."

Jovanni skipped his first class. It was a minor subject, so he wasn't worried. He reached his classroom without bumping Kirt, he was relieved. He was probably worrying too much. Kirt won't look for him. With this thought, he slightly relaxed, but it also saddened him.

At lunchtime, he was sitting at the quiet corner in the canteen. He had no appetite, but he needed to eat, so he ordered less. Carlo came and sat opposite him. They eat while talking about random school issues. Later, Earl came to their table and put a pack of food.

"Lord told me to deliver this to you." Earl said, but Jovanni rejected.

"I don't need it. Please bring it back."

"I'm sorry. This is a no-return delivery. Please enjoy your meal." Earl replied and left. Carlo was puzzled.

"Isn't that Kirt Valdez's buddy?"

"He is."

"The Lord who send this is Kirt?"

"He is."

"Why?"

"I offended him before, remember? This food is probably poisoned, so let's throw this." Jovanni said picking the food.

"No. It is takeout from a famous resto and it smells delicious." Carlo snatched and opened it. "Wow, it looks delicious! If you are not eating this, then give it to me. How can you waste delicious food?"

"Fine. Eat at your own risk." Jovanni said. A thrifty person like him didn't want to waste food, so it's better to give it to Carlo rather than throwing it.

"Don't worry, Kirt Valdez won't poison anyone." Carlo assured.

"How did you know?"

"I just know. Though he is quite a brat, he will not kill anyone." Carlo started munching.

Dusk came, Jovanni's classes ended. He walked to the exit, his heart was aching. At this time during school days, Kirt is already waiting outside. He missed him. Though he tried to deny it, he is missing Kirt. He tried to act as usual today, but his day isn't complete. The weather is good, but he felt that the sky is gloomy. It's hard. Falling in love is a beautiful thing, but falling out of love is awful.

'Jovanni you will be fine soon. You will be fine...' Jovanni's thought comforted his broken heart. He went out. Gio waved at him. King's car was parked at the side.

Jovanni turned to the place where Kirt used to park his car, he wasn't there. He was hurt again. Gio was calling, so he walked towards them. Before they could all board the car, Earl came with three boxes of a famous brand pizza.

"Our Lord told me to deliver this to you..." Earl said, but he was not as confident as he did this noon. He was slightly trembling and didn't look at Jovanni's friends.

"Bring it back!" King was furious.

"...This is a no return delivery..." Earl stuffed the boxes to Jovanni then walked away immediately. Kirt snatched it and threw it to the nearest trash can.

"Tell that bastard Lord of yours that no one wanted his food! And tell him not to waste money and effort because Jovanni will never come back to him!" King yelled.