CHAPTER 15: SETTLING DOWN

After seeing the city or part of it, Irene drove Juanita to her apartment. Juan as someone new in the city, did her best to look at everything and memorize everything she could.

She didn’t want to keep on having someone as a guide forever, she was a big girl and she wasn’t here to drag her friend down. Looking at the beautiful apartment in her sight, she felt very happy for her friend.

Even though the two were best friends, she had seen the place only in photos and this was the first time being here.

“This place looks beautiful,” Juan sincerely complimented as she felt happy for her friend.

Irene was elated seeing that her friend was genuinely happy for her after all Juan meant a great deal to her. Even though her original intentions were not so good but as time went on, she began to like the other.

“I am glad that you like it. I have prepared the guest room for you and you can stay there as long as you want,” Irene spoke excitedly as she dragged Juanita inside the apartment.

Juan didn’t want to spoil her friend’s mood so she simply let her run wild. Juan had no intentions of staying with Irene for a long time as that wasn’t how she was raised.

She didn’t want to be fed with dog food every day and some relationships were better maintained while people were apart.

Juan looked around the three-bedroom apartment and fell deeply in love with it but unfortunately, it wasn’t her place and this will always be something that will keep on nagging her every second.

“Thank you, a lot, but Irene we need to talk,” Juan said as she looked at the guestroom that was beautifully decorated but with a glance, she could tell that this room had another scent and this didn’t sit well with her.

There was a high probability that someone else had been living in here but where the person was, she had no idea.

“Okay, let’s talk,” Irene sighed as she had already sensed that something was weird and Juan wasn’t being truthful with her than she anticipated.

The two friends sat down on the bed and Juan held Irene’s smooth hands in her rough ones.

“I came here because I wanted to have a fresh start and see something new but I won’t be getting an accounting job anymore. I have some money so I will rent a place of my own and see what will suit me at the moment. As much as I love you, I don’t want to impose on you. We can visit each other and have meals together but I really can’t stay with you for long, so please help me find a one-bedroom apartment,” Juanita spoke swiftly but she could see the ever-changing emotions in Irene’s eyes.

Irene was surely not in a good mood; she had been looking forward to being with Juanita but never expected that her friend will suddenly drop a bomb like that on her.

She knew that she was being selfish especially when she was fully aware that Juan didn’t do well among people even though there were friends. Whenever Irene was with her husband at that time, they were just boyfriend and girlfriend, Irene could see the envy in Juan’s eyes and she let it be as Juan wasn’t a threat and she didn’t have any lustful feelings for her boyfriend.

“Juan, this……you don’t know anyone here and if you live by yourself, won't that constrain you? The room is empty and I can take care of you,” Irene tried to convince Juan but she wasn’t having it.

“If you truly care for me like a friend then just let me have my way. I know that you mean well for me Irene but I can also take care of myself.”

Irene knew at this stage that she was not capable of changing Juanita’s mind anymore and since the other had spoken then all she needs to do was be there for her friend otherwise she will push the other away.

“If that is what you want then I will oblige. I know someone who can help with the apartments, just leave everything to me,” Irene said with a forced smile but seeing that carefree smile on Juan’s face, she sighed with regret.

“Thank you, friend, I really appreciate everything you have done for me.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

After getting this issue out in the open, Juan felt free like ever. She knew that she went a bit overboard by speaking out her mind as soon as she arrived but she didn’t want to cause any trouble for anyone and that included herself.

If Irene didn’t have a child, maybe she would have stayed a bit longer but she knew just how much kids are scared of her and she didn’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

The day went on beautifully and Juan helped with the house chores but she was a bit sad as she failed to see Irene’s child. She had forgotten for a bit that the child had been sent to her grandma and this meant that she got to see Irene’s husband Mark.

Since they knew each other from school, they reunited harmoniously even though Irene complained a bit to Mark at night. Seeing his wife sad made Mark who loves his wife dearly to dislike Juan a bit.

Even though he had an inkling as to why Juan did it but did, she has to do it that early?

This is how Mark who didn’t know how to hide his emotions well began to act a bit cold to Juan and Juan who saw this ignored the other and acted as if she wasn’t aware of anything.

She also did her best to search for nearby real estate agencies when she was home alone and managed to find one with good reviews after two days. Irene was a bit busy so she didn’t have time to call her friend.

What Juan didn’t know was that Irene decided to delay the process and keep Juan with her for long.

On the third day, Juan went out to the agency and was welcomed coldly and weirdly but luckily there was one Samaritan there who treated her nice and showed her apartments she could afford and were nearby to stations and malls.

Since she had money on her, she didn’t hesitate to sign the contract and pay the deposit as well as the rent needed for that month. All that was left for her was to move in and buy some furniture that was not really necessary to her.