CHAPTER 8

–ALORA EUNICE’S POV–

"Deym... I hope I didn't mess up with my exams." Evan said while holding the strap of his leather dark brown shoulder bag. "Wanna go somewhere? Eat?"

"I need to go home and stu—"

"My treat," Evan grinned at me, but I felt suspicious because he doesn’t usually do this unless…

"Whoa..." I touched his forehead and neck but he seemed normal. "Are you sick?"

"What? No... I just feel like treating you somewhere." He avoided my gaze, put his arm on my shoulder, and pulled me closer to him. "So where?"

“You’re being clingy.”

“I’m not. I’m being sweet, okay?” he said with that playful grin—the signature look of Evan Ferrer.

“Come on. Before I change my mind.”

“I want pizza.”

“Owkey!” He unlocked his Aston Martin and we drove to the nearest mall—DH Mall. “Pizza, here we go!” he declared like a child on a mission.

Evan ordered a 32 cm pizza with extra cheese—exactly how I like it. He knew. He always knew. He also got pasta for himself.

“Dig in,” he said as the food arrived.

“What about you?” I offered him a slice. He smiled and gently shook his head.

“No thanks. I know even this won’t be enough for you.” He was teasing me! I rolled my eyes but could not take the smile off my face.

I'm kind of afraid mom will find out about this. She's strict with my diet, and doesn't want me to eat this kind of food.

My mouth became watery when the aroma of the cheesy pizza reached my nose. I took the first bite and goodness, it’s satisfying. Truth to be told, I can really finish a whole pizza especially when I'm stressed or something's bothering me—I stopped eating, looked at the pizza in my hand, and slowly turned my gaze to Evan. How did he...

"Evan..."

"You can talk to me whenever you feel like talking." Evan gave me a quick glance before looking at his pasta—half finished.

I came back to my senses when my phone suddenly rang. I immediately turned off my phone because I knew it was him. Not yet ready to talk. Oliver has been messaging nonstop these past few days and even called but I ignored everything.

When I muster up the courage to speak up, I spill every bit of the story to Evan. He even ordered another plate of pasta while listening because this is too long of a drama.

"He proposed yet..." I touched the ring in my finger, reminiscing that moment. "I would learn about his cheating issues from Grandpa? He's an *ss." I hid my face behind my hair, looked down, and immediately wiped my tears, afraid that someone we know might see me crying.

“Deym… that sh*thead! He really had the guts to cheat on you? What a jerk.”

I could feel the heat in Evan’s voice, and I didn’t even try to stop him from cursing Oliver. Not this time.

We didn’t head home right away. Instead, we wandered around the mall—just letting time pass us by. Evan even dragged me into the cinema. Only horror films were showing, and that was all we could get. Ironically, instead of being scared, I ended up laughing the entire time. Who wouldn’t?

The one who invited me was the one clinging to the armrest, jumping at every sudden sound, muttering curses at the screen and covering his eyes like a child.

He was hilarious.

When we finally stepped out of the theater, Evan’s face was pale as a corpse. And I… I was smiling for the first time in days.

"Deym... I will never watch that movie again."

After that, we went to the art materials shop. Some of my supplies were running low. I needed to restock the materials for my Interior Design program, the course my mom wanted for me, the same field as my dad.

It’s expensive—no doubt. But I’m fortunate. My parents always manage to provide what I need for school without question.

After our little escape at the mall, Evan dropped me off in front of the house.

Simple moments like this… I’ll probably miss them when college is over.

+++

"Alora!" I heard Heather calling me. "Hey, wanna hangout?"

"Nah. Still have exams tomorrow."

"Oh, okay. Maybe next time? G?"

"Sure."

I was about to call my driver to pick me up when someone suddenly blocked my way.

“Babe…”

Oliver.

He looked like a wreck—disheveled, tired, and desperate. He reached out to touch me, but I quickly stepped back. I noticed a shock on his face, as if I was slipping away from him.

“Why are you ignoring me, huh?” he asked, his voice strained. “Shouldn’t I be the one who's upset? Hurt? But why does it feel like the tables suddenly turned?”

“Like you said,” I replied, keeping my tone as calm as I could, “let’s talk some other time.” I moved to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm.

“No. We talk now. We need to talk—”

“Not now, Oliver. Let me go.” I tried to stay in my composure, but my voice cracked.

His grip tightened.It hurt. And not just physically, every bit of me was wrecked.

"Alora, don't be hardheaded. Let's talk—"

"Oliver, it hurts. Let me go." I tried pulling my arm but I just feel more pain. As much as I don't want to make a scene, I don't have any choice but to do it. "Oliver, please. I will shout—oh my gosh!"

Someone pushed him hard enough to let me go.

“What the f*ck’s wrong with you, man?!” Oliver’s voice thundered, his rage only intensifying when he saw who had pushed him back. “This is none of your business, De Herrera! Leave us the hell alone!”

“You’re harassing a student,” Rome De Herrera replied, voice low and unwavering. I couldn’t tell if he was angry… or just dangerously composed.

“Should I call the school guards? Or the police?” he added calmly, yet firmly.

“We’re not done,” Oliver spat, then shot me one last look before storming off.

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. Shame clung to me because of what Oliver said and did.

When Rome turned to me, his gaze instantly landed on my arm—already red, the skin showing the early bloom of a bruise.

I quickly covered it with my hand, looking away as if that could hide everything. But his silence was louder than anything Oliver had screamed.

"Go to the clinic," Rome said and I noticed his Adam's apple moving up and down.

"T-Thanks." I said but he didn't say anything after.

Nurse Diana looked at me with a worried face. "What happened to you?"

"Got into an argument. Things didn't go well." I said almost whispering. Nurse Diana nodded and put an ice pack on my swollen arm.

After a few minutes, Nurse Diana gently removed the ice pack and applied some ointment to my swelling skin.

“You’ll be fine,” she said softly, offering a kind smile before I left the clinic.

As I stepped out, I froze for a second. Leaning casually against the nearest wall was Rome De Herrera. He looked at me then his eyes drifted to my arm, now slightly swollen beneath the bandage. He said nothing. Just pushed off the wall and walked away.

Okay… what was that?

I shook off the strange feeling and headed in the opposite direction toward the parking lot, where my driver was already waiting. When I got home and entered my room, the weight I’d been holding was cracked wide open.

I broke down… again.

After days of avoiding Oliver, of trying to stay composed, just seeing him like that—like he was the only victim—it made me sick. Like all the pain I buried had clawed its way back up.

I finished my exams and took a break from everything. Silently staring at the empty ceiling of my bedroom, my mind was flooded by the negative thoughts. How will I confront him about that issue? Can we fix this over a single talk? But he... I wiped my tears. He cheated.

I took a deep breath in, then out before picking up my phone. I pressed the call button and held it to my ear.

It rang. And rang. But no one answered.

I tried again. And again.

Still nothing.

Should I just go to his condo?

My driver wasn’t around, so I didn’t have much of a choice. I hailed a taxi. Sure, I knew how to drive—and I had my license— but my mind wasn’t in the right place to be behind the wheel.

When I got to Oliver’s condo, it was easy enough to enter the building. I’d had access for a while now—too long, maybe.

While waiting for the elevator door to open, I stared at my blurry reflection in front. Everything felt strangely familiar. And painfully uncertain.

I was hesitant to ring his doorbell. I pressed the doorbell and minutes had passed but no one's opening the door. Is he home? I pressed it again and again and again and again until I lost patience. I punched the code and opened the door.

"Oliver?"

I looked at him in the living room, kitchen, common bathroom, and finally, his bedroom.

I almost forgot how to breathe when I saw him sleeping with a lady and they were both... naked. Naked under his blanket. My heart sank at the view. Never in my wildest dream had this scenario come to mind. No… This is not the Oliver I know, he is not the Oliver I love.