Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Anastashia arrived at their meeting place early for Michel. Even though she was impatient with her long arrival, she just put up with it because she was also her best friend. Just now she was constantly looking at her watch because she was going somewhere after their talk.

Anastashia ordered coffee for the two of them because she didn't want them to drink anything while they were talking. She is also addicted to drinking coffee.

A few moments later, her eyes did not stop at the opening of the door of the coffee shop where she was now. She was just as happy when Michel was confirmed now that she had been waiting for her.

"Thank you and my best friend has arrived," she said to herself as she slowly stood up to meet Michel. Michel finally got in. She saw her immediately so when their eyes met, they both immediately smiled.

Even before Michel got close to her, her arms were already wide enough for Michel to hug her. Anastashia couldn't help but secretly smile. This is one of the things they always do especially when they don't see each other for a few days.

When she got really close to her, she hugged her very tightly.

"I miss you," she promised.

"I miss you, too." Michel hugged her tightly.

After their embrace, she asked her to sit in the seat she occupied. As soon as they sat down, she immediately called the waiter for her second order for her and Michel. The waiter got his signal.

"So, how are you?" she asked her.

Michel adjusted her seat before answering. "I'm fine."

She nodded in response.

"Are you really going to continue what you are planning, Anastashia? Are you really not going to change your decision?" she asked worriedly when she stopped speaking. That was also what she waited for her to ask her right away. And after Michel asked her, she sipped the coffee she was staring at just now. Then she turned her gaze to Michel again. It looks reassuring.

Anastasia was secretly pleased with herself.

"Yes! I'm really sure about it. I will not change my decision. I have no doubt, Michel. I like it." Her voice reflects her great desire for her decision. Anastashia took her eyes off the friend she was talking to and looked in another direction. A simple smile crossed her lips.

She knew that she would be stopped from her decision. There is nothing she can't do. That was already planned in her mind. No one else can change that.

She knew Michel couldn't stop her. That was what was in her mind then. Anastasia wants Michel to support her. But if she was stopped, Michel couldn't make it anymore. It was all in her mind and she didn't need to change it. And from what Anastashia could see in her facial expression, she really didn't like the decision she made. But she must act normal, she didn't make it obvious that she was happy that she was struggling with her decision. And she doesn't have to worry about that because that's really her goal.

"You have to make sure of your decision, Ana," Michel continued, sipping her glass again.

Michel has always been a protective kind of a friend to her. It's considerate when it comes to her so that's just how she behaves. Whatever things she needs to decide; Michel should also know all of that. She had always been with Michel in all the problems she was involved in. But this time, it's not a problem that she needs to solve. She will create the problem herself because that is really her plan.

She felt anger in his heart that had been hidden for a long time. She kept it for a long time. This time, she knew it had a destination.

They are best friends and have no secrets from each other. That's what's not really happening to the two of them. Anastashia won't deny that she has a secret that she didn't tell Michel, but it was superficial, unlike Michel. She found that out. And that is also the reason why her treatment here is not the same as before. When she found out, it was as if she was no longer her old friend. They treated each other like sisters before. Maybe it's only recently that Michel has noticed how she treats her differently. That's exactly what she did. She makes Michel feel that so that she won't be surprised.

Whenever she has a boyfriend, Michel is only there to support her. She has defended her many times from those who oppressed her. Michel doesn't have a friend like her so until now, it's been like this.

But what she couldn't accept now was that she felt Michel wouldn't accept her decision. Anastashia can feel that because she just looks at her really secretly with disgust. Anastashia said it a long time ago, although she was not satisfied that she only knew about it from her phone. So here inside the coffee shop she will actually say that.

In fact, she had noticed for a long time that something seemed different in her treatment of her. At first she thought she was just making a mistake but as time went on it got weirder and weirder. That's the reason why she doesn't want to be true friends with Michel anymore.

"Do I have to say it again, Anastasia? Do we have to fight again?” Michel speaks again. She didn't know how to deal with it now.

Anastashia knew that her voice was no longer a good blend. She just smiled secretly. She is not afraid of Michel.

She had to say something to Michel. But she could see the worry and concern in her facial expression. She wondered if it was a fake or not. From then on, Anastashia knew that Michel was good at hiding her feelings. She can look pathetic even though she doesn't really feel that emotion.

"I have said that to you already," she said. She just wanted to confirm it from Michel.

She wanted from her own mouth, in person, to say that she allowed her even though she could have done it on her own without Michel's permission. This is happening to both of them, it's just an effort and a show.

"But you must think it twice, Anastashia," she said weakly. Checked the coffee to see if the glass was empty or full. Then she looked at her inquisitively.

She met her gaze. She did not make it obvious that there was a conflict in their gaze. Anastasia smiled. Anastashia wanted to laugh out loud but she just held it back. This was not the right time to do so.

"You seem to have changed, Michel." She was the one who broke their gaze.

Michel didn't answer her but she just smiled at her like nothing happened. She just smiled at her.

Here at the Downtown Café, just near her house is where they are now. A nature-friendly coffee shop became their meeting point to discuss the matter that she had always mentioned last month. And even though Michel came from far away, she did not hesitate to bring her here in Mindanao. Michel came from the Visayas—in Samar, for her business trip but when she called her, she didn't hesitate to go see her. He could have told him that she can't come back here to Mindanao just to talk about this matter but Michel actually did. She didn't really know what she was thinking right now. She was not found guilty for what she did. She didn't feel pity either. Maybe it was right that she did this to Michel because she also owes her a lot.

"I hope you understand me," she spoke again when Michel stopped speaking. She took the glass from the table and took a sip. Her coffee is not finished yet. She spoke again after finishing the coffee. "That's all I want from you now."

Michel shook her head. She couldn't believe what she was expecting.

"I really thought we had been enlightened on this before, eh," she said in disbelief as she just stared at the glass.

"I told you. I will not stare at you until you agree," she said, rubbing the handle of the glass.

It was as if the hair in Michel's armpit was pulled out because of what she said. The expression on her face changed.

By seeing the expression in his eyes, Anastashia could really tell that he was angry. Just holding back because there is also a public figure that should not be wasted.

She was happy with this incident.

"My God, Anastasia! Do you hear what you are saying? Don't you know what kind of person Arthuro Gatciano is?" Anatashia couldn't paint the expression on her face. She had long wanted to surprise Michel with what she was planning.

"I know it, Michel," she said. She wanted to roll her eyes. But this is not the right time for her to do that.

"That's it, eh. He's a dangerous man, Anastasia. Didn't you think about that?” she said in an annoying voice.

She tried to calm her own feelings. She never thought it would happen to her to be this angry with Michel. She never thought that it would reach this situation. Well, if Michel hadn't really started her, this wouldn't be happening now.

"I will not allow you to apply to Arthuro's company, Anastashia. It cannot and cannot happen!” It seems to be freezing. The glass almost broke from the tightness of Michel's grip.

Because of Michel’s anger towards her, she was secretly happy. This was not what she expected and it was not in her plan. But in her mind, she had to do the right thing.

"I know that, Michel. But I didn't feel afraid of him. And I have a reason why I do it. You let me do this.” She brought the glass closer to her lips before she once again caught Michel's eyes to stare. She laughed at what she did because hrt glass was empty. “Why won't you let me? You weren't like that before, huh? What happened to you, Michel? Where have you been?" she asked one after the other. She stared at her now empty glass before looking at Michel again.

Her forehead was furrowed and there was a trace of anger on her face. If only they weren't in a public place, she thinks she would slap her.

Anastasia made a tricky smile. "I know why you don't want me to be Arthuro Gatciano's secretary, Michel. Is it because she is dangerous?”

She asked calmly, she was waiting to see if Michel would take any steps to oppose her.

She didn't care about Michel's expression when she said that. She couldn't understand the expression on her face. She saw the mixed emotion on Michel's face. She remained calm but she was planning something.

She spoke again, "or maybe you just don't want me to get close to the person you love?"

"Anastasia!" She quickly responded. Michel couldn't stand it anymore and stood up.

He smiled at her reaction. Now, he's really showing that to Michel.

She stared into her eyes again. She didn't care what she felt for her now. She will not pay attention to the emotions she feels. What Anastashia wants now is to follow what she wants.

Anastasia continued to speak. "Am I right, Michel? Are you really worried about me? Or do you just really don't want me to get close to your Arthur?"

“I'm not stopping you, Anastasia! I'm just concerned!” Michel quickly responded. Her gaze became elusive as if something was hidden from her. "Y-yeah, just that. No other means. Be considerate, oh!”

She couldn't stop her laughter. In front of it, she let out a loud laugh. She could see the aggressiveness in her eyes.

"Concern, or what?" She knew Michel had other reasons. She knows that. She couldn't just tell her what she wanted to hear right from her mouth. And she knew that those secrets were not for that time to reveal. Or did she really know that for a long time?

“W-what do you want to release?!” her lips twitched as she spoke. "Say it now!"

“I should have asked that, Michel. What do you want to release?” she said here with a mischievous smile on her lips.

She could feel now the tension between her and Michel. All they had to do was stare at each other. Anastashia could see with her own two eyes how Michel's brow furrowed at that moment. It only suppresses true feelings. She didn't just feel annoyed, she was angry and only knew how to calm down.

Michel has taken care of herself. “I have to go back to Samar. It's better that we don't talk about it anymore!” Michel hurriedly stood up.

Anastashia said that her friend was getting full of annoyance. She adjusted the expensive bag before slung over her shoulder.

“Oh, go ahead!” There was excitement in her voice. And she managed a fake smile to Michel. If it's going to leave she won't stop her. That was not in her mind.

She didn't care to stop her anymore. That's better.

But she cannot fail in her true purpose, her plan. If she was going to leave, she would say the right thing to surprise her. "I got hired by the company I work for, Michel. In Arthuro's company."

It was more of an authoritative voice of hers. Even though she was nervous, she did it.

Michel stopped that and slowly turned to her. "What?" Michel couldn't believe what she said.

She also stood up. Composed herself before facing her surprised friend again. She smiled at her with a fake, big smile. "Don't worry. I will not attract your Arthur. I would never do that.”

But that is not true. One of her plans to attract Arthuro is already in that plan.

After she said that, she passed the stationary Michel. She couldn't even speak but her mouth was twitching as if she wanted to say something more.

If Michel waved it off, that was still not enough. Anastasia was prepared. So she stopped before she got far from Michel's location. She faced her. "You can't blame someone — me, because I already know everything. Get enough of the pretending, Michel. I'm tired of what you're doing. I endured for a long time and now… you have to pay!” And she continued walking. She didn't hesitate to turn her back on her speechless friend.

At the same time as her rejection, she rejected her as her best friend in her life. She didn't need a friend like Michel anymore. And as a matter of fact, the shock she gave to Michel was not enough when compared to what she experienced when Michel cheated on her with Arthuro. That was nothing compared to what Michel had done to her before.

Michel has been a fake for a long time. It was painful for her because she had been a fool for two years. Or really not just two years?

Two years of believing in it. She thought Michel was a true friend, but it turned out to be fake. What's even more painful is that she stole her boyfriend. Because of Michel's stupidity, she was hurt a lot. It was as if she had been shot repeatedly in the chest and stabbed many times.

Anastashia loves Clifton, her ex-boyfriend very much. She didn't give her ex-boyfriend a headache and she didn't even lay a hand on him. She never made her boyfriend feel that she didn't love him. She was in love with Clifton. But Clifton was like bubbles, he faded fast. Her boyfriend who suddenly disappeared by her side, turned out to be resting on Michel's body. It turned out that it was someone else's bedmate.