Chapter 21: Chapter 21

I stared at the ring on my ring finger while laying down on my bed. I can't help but smile as I remember our kiss last night. It was so magical and very romantic; I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from shouting.

"He gave you a ring? A diamond ring?! Are you even in a relationship? Or you are getting married?!" Cristel was hysterical.

I rolled my eyes. "This is just a gift."

This time, she rolled her eyes at me. "Who's the man who will give a ring to a lady as just a simple gift? Obviously, the handsome soldier wants to marry you. Be prepared, Aliyah." She laughed.

I sighed and sat on the bed. "I can't marry him. We can't be together." Suddenly, I came back to reality.

The playful smile on her face disappeared. "Why? Have you married already? Or you have any commitment to another man?"

I shook my head. "No, it's not like that. I really like Henry; I want to be with him. If the circumstances were just normal, I could marry him right now. But I can't."

Her forehead creased. "I don't understand, Aliyah. Make me understand why you can't be together."

I let out a deep breath. "I will tell you one day."

She smiled and then hugged me tightly. "Okay, I'll wait until you are ready."

After that drama, we helped Mrs. Dela Fuente to prepare our lunch. Mr. Dela Fuente was not home and very busy these past days.

"Mama, I have something to stay. I am scared to tell Papa about this, so, I am going to say this to you first," Cristel said after we finished eating.

"What is it? You looked very serious, Cristel. I am not used to it." Her mother even laughed.

Cristel looked at me first and I nodded. She must tell her parents about her relationship with Alfredo. I should get between them, right? Because, if Alfredo didn't marry my grandmother, we will disappear. But I can't do that, grandfather and grandfather are meant to be, I believe that Cristel and Alfredo's relationship is not permanent. They will break up soon for some reason.

"I have already a boyfriend, Mama," Cristel bravely answered.

There's a deafening silence between us before we both see her mother's smile. I was very nervous but when I saw Mrs. Dela Fuentes' smile, it disappeared.

"Who's the lucky man, my dear?" she asked her daughter, softly, not wanting to scare her.

"Mama, you are not angry?" Cristel just can't believe it.

"Of course not, you are not that young anymore. I was waiting for this, also your father. He is worried about you, that you might not find a man who will care for you until you are old but now, we are happy, Criselda. Who is the man?"

Cristel smiled and I saw some tears at the edge of her eyes. "Thank you, Mama. He is Alfredo Arandia."

Mrs. Dela Fuentes' smile grew wider. "Oh, your childhood love. Congratulations, my dear. Dream comes true."

Then, after we helped her mother to clean the dishes, we decided to go to the market to buy some supplies.

"I feel like I became free after I revealed my relationship to my mother." Cristel giggled.

"I am very happy for you," I said.

We stopped when we saw Sonia walking towards us, even from the distance, I can see her swollen eyes and tears coming from it. I became confused.

"I can't believe that a girl like you exists. You are a whore," she whispered.

I creased my forehead. "What are you saying, Sonia? Why are you calling me a whore?"

"Because you are! You flirted with Henry while he was courting me. Now, he said he will stop courting me to court you because you are really whom he likes. How dare you?!" She started crying again.

I sighed; I can't believe that Henry will be this harsh.

"I cannot control Henry's feeling. I never flirted with him, I stayed away from him while he was with you, I even pushed him to court you even if he doesn’t really want it. I pushed him because I believe that you for each other. You don't have any right to call me a whore, you don't know the whole story." My emotion burst.

She smirked. "Really?! Then, what is the whole story? Care to tell me so I don't look stupid here?"

I bit my lips; I am not really sure if I should tell her this but... "You rejected him, right? He was hurt, you hurt him. He moved on while he was in the training for years. Then, he found me, he said he likes me and wanted to court me, but I said he should court you if he wants us to be friends, he did. He courted you because I said so, happy now?"

She looked shocked, even Cristel. I just maintained my straight face but deep inside, I am scared, scared of what will happen next. Cristel's warned me about this before but Henry and Sonia left me with no other choice.

"Henry doesn't like me anymore, huh? You just told him to court me, and I believed, you made me stupid! So, what's the price? He courted me already, he gave me too much false hope! Did you know why I rejected him years ago?" She wiped her tears.

"B-Because you don't like him," I answered.

She shook her head. "No! Because his parents told me to not entertain his feelings until he came back from the training. I really like him, I thought it will be fine to reject him so he can focus on the training, but you said, he moved on from me. He doesn't like me anymore while I am here, stuck on the idea that he likes me, and this the right time to make my feelings come out. This is all your fault! You seduced him! You flirted with him!" She is already shouting and, the hell, we are in the middle of the market. She's making a scene!

"Calm down, Sonia. People are now looking at us. Let's talk about this, privately." Cristel held her hand but she just pushed her.

"No, let the people that this girl is a flirt. Let them know that you are helping and feeding a whore!"

I slapped her hard. Cristel gasped and all the people who are watching were shocked at what just I did.

Cristel pulled me closer to her. "What did you do?"

I straighten my back. "She deserves it. She kept calling me a whore and a flirt even she doesn't have any proof. I even gave her a favor to make her fantasies about Henry came true. She didn't even thank me for that." I faced Sonia who is now holding her cheek I just slapped moments ago. "Now, I can't force Henry more to be with you, I tried so many times, but she keeps on coming back. Don't worry, I will leave any time soon, he's all yours again."

"Aliyah." That baritone voice made the crowd silent.

I looked at that person, it was Henry. His eyes are fixed on me, pain is evident. I looked away. He walked towards us, and Sonia cried even more. She holds Henry's arms.

"Henry, please, don't leave me. I will do everything, I will not hurt you again, please. Let get back together," she pleaded.

I can still feel Henry's eyes are drifted on me. He never said anything. He held back Sonia's hands and walked away.