Chapter 41: Chapter 41

I am in the Philippines now. I can feel my heart was as heavy as a statue. I don’t know why until now, I’m still bothered about what happened. It's been days since James and I talked but those words he said lingered inside my head.

As soon as I get back home, I have locked myself for a whole day. They will just bring some food here. It was hard to accept it that I rejected my 'friend' when he confessed to me. It was hard to tell him that I like someone else. And it was hard to accept that he will still wait eventhough he is not sure if he have a chance.

I don’t know what James did to confuse me. It was hard for me to reject him eventhough I knew that I like someone else. I seem to be confused now because of his confession. I don't know why I am like this. It is clear to me that Zaine is the one I like but something is telling me to look back at James again and give him a chance.

I'm now decided that I will marry Zaine at the right time. It was my way to help my family. It was also for me to have a chance to be with Zaine, just like what aunt Zandra said. It is my chance for Zaine to like me back. Or does it still infatuation?

Do I still like him or is it more than that now? Could it be that I didn’t give James a chance was because it was more than what I feels towards Zaine even though I knew that I’m not sure if he’ll like me too?

I can't seem to know the answer. It was just an infatuation but now, it was something different that I can't determine. I can't understand this feeling.

I was interrupted by a sudden knock on my door. It was my sister wearing her office attire while walking towards me. She was carrying a tray that I think was breakfast. I didn't go downstairs last night as I lost my appetite.

"Good morning, Jane," she greeted with a smile plastered on her lips.

"Good morning Jace, why did you bring food?" I asked after she laid that tray on the bedside table. She looked at me with concern. I couldn't help but looked down because she already knew that I will just avoid her from asking questions.

"Aren't you going to enroll yet?"

That’s where I turned to her. " I would go to another school." I uttered.

This is mommy's reminder to me the last time we talked. Even if I don't want to, I need to do what they will tell me to do. I haven't told Chelsea yet. I think they don't need to know that much. It's good that maybe I won't show up to them until after school enrollment.

"Hasn't mommy told you yet?"

"What?"

"You can still study here but you will live with the Madrigals from now on."

"What?!"

My sister was surprised when I shouted. She walked almost too far away because of that.

"Where are mommy and daddy?" I asked.

“They are back in Manila. In our old house.”

“When did they leave?”

"Yesterday." my sister replied. "Eat already. I will accompany you to enroll.”

“Why didn't you even tell me?”

"You have locked yourself for almost two days, Jane." She heaved a sigh. "They don't want to bother you anymore."

I suddenly calmed down at her answer. I remained silent and the only thing I heard was my sister's last reminder that I need to eat and get ready because she would be accompanying me to school.

I still can't process the things my sister just told me. Are they really serious? I will live in my fiancé's house. To think that Zaine and I were not that close and we're too young. Even though I told my parents that I would not reject their plan, it was still not enough for them to make a decision for me right away. Also, why do I have to live in their house if I can just stay here? What will they do in this house?

After half an hour of preparing, I went downstairs to see my sister talking to someone that was facing his back at me. I was almost stunned to recognize this man in front of me.

“Mr. Madrigal, Jane's here. ” My sister said as she looked at me. Zaine also looked at me and smiled sparingly. He was wearing a simple faded jeans dyed with a gray shirt. He looks fine compare the last time we talked.

"What are you doing here, Zaine?"

"I'll take you to school." He gave me a small smile after he said that.

"Why?" I wondered.

“Ah, yes. Zaine will come with you because he said he will enroll now as well.” Sabi ni ate. "I'll go to office Jane." She left without even saying goodbye.

“Huh? Jace! Wait! ” She could no longer hear me because she had already gotten into the car. It looks like Paul has been waiting for her for a while.

I looked awkwardly at Zaine and smiled sparingly at him. He just nodded and seemed to hold back a laugh at the expression I showed.

"You seem to be scared of me, don't you think?" He asked with a bit of smile. I quickly refused and waved my hand as disapproval. He laughed.

" No." I refused.

" Let's go."

I just followed him and went in and fastened my seatbelt. He went to the drivers seat and sat there and fastened his seatbelt.

He is very different now than when I last saw him. He really looks okay now.

“Wait, do you have a license? Why are you sitting there?”

"Seriously, Jane?" He asked, laughing at my question. “Of course. I'm already eighteen.” he replied. I just shrugged.

He started the car. I still wonder why he seems so happy now. It was as if he was back to normal and the all-smile Zaine I had met. But he seems mysterious now that it wasn’t very noticeable then.

When Cheska left, he became quiet and distant to people. When Ethan and Luke forced him to come along, he always refuse. He was the one that was most affected by Cheska’s departure.

He's fine now and he seems to be fine.

"How's the U.S., Jane?" He opened a topic.

"It's fun." i simply said.

“Hmm, I see. Good." We felt the silence after a few minutes. I wanted to ask him but I was overwhelmed and embarrassed.

“Ah, Zaine. I have a question." He looked at my direction before looking back to the front.

" What's that?"

"Did you agree for us to get married?"

He didn't say a word right away, as if he was thinking of an answer. I can't decide if he will answer or not so I didn't say anything. I was about to speak again when he suddenly preceded me.

"Yes, I agreed."

I looked at him, unable to believe his answer. He didn’t look at me so I had a chance to observe the side view of his face and based on his expression he was serious. When the car stopped because of the stop light he just looked at me.

"Oh, why do you look so shocked?" He asked.

" Are you serious?" Because that was also my decision. "I thought you didn't want to."

He sighed before facing in front again. "At first, I don't want to but after a few realizations, I got tired."

" Tired?"

"I got tired of waiting for someone I'm not sure if she'll ever come back."