2. Dear Best Friend, THE NEWS

Ciara's POV

I'm inside my room while searching on the internet for our Case Study for Management Science subject. Our house isn't that huge, it's just okay for the three of us and with a nanny.

Even though our home is modest, it is nonetheless extremely quiet. My parents don't have time for me because they are preoccupied with work. They just go about their business and can't even say hello to me. In other words, zero.

There's a knock on my bedroom door as I'm typing something. I leaped to my feet and dashed over, expecting to see mom or dad, but when I opened the door, it was just my nanny.

"It's you, nanny. I thought it was my parents," I said and was disappointed because I thought they cared about me now.

"Oh, no. Shan is downstairs now and he's looking for you. He's just going to say something to you," that's all she said before she came downstairs so I followed. I was just on the stairs when I could see Shan sitting on the sofa.

When I got downstairs I grabbed a throw pillow without him noticing and threw it at him, "Oww! You're serious, you startled me!"

I laughed out loud, "I'm sorry, best friend! What are you doing here? You just didn't come into my room."

I could see he was so happy now, "You know Julie and I dated earlier, don't you?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked and I seemed to know where this conversation was going.

"We're official! She is now my girlfriend!" And my heart shanked as I heard those. It was as if my heart had been stabbed with so many knives, so much pain.

What do I expect? She's famous, she's good at everything. While me? I'm just an ordinary student who loves reading books and who loves to study more.

"Hey, what happened to you? Why are you crying?" he asked but I just shook my head and wiped my tears away.

"Nothing, I'm just happy for both of you."

"Are you sure? Maybe you're in pain? Tell me, what's that?"

I would love to tell him what the problem is, what I'm feeling but I can't. I don't want to say and I'm afraid something will change in our relationship. It's better to keep things for the good of all.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay. You can go home and I'm so busy right now. I'm finishing my case study report."

"Seriously? You want me to go and leave despite I just got here?"

"It's not like that but I'm just not in the mood and I'm really busy," I said and he nodded.

He hugged me tightly, my heart skipped a beat. I don't like how I feel about it. I want to stop this feeling away, for the sake of our friendship, "If you have a problem, you know that I'm always here by your side. All right, I'll go," he kissed my forehead which is usually what he does all the time.

As he left, I quickly went to my room and let my tears flow. I wanted to give up, but I know there is a purpose for everything.

 

 

x x x x x 

Today is Saturday and I'm heading to Shan's house, not to meet him, but to meet Faith. I don't have a class today because we have an on-leave instructor at NSTP 1 and Faith is only attending an event for which she is not required.

 

Faith and I haven't spent much time together in a long time, so we're going to spend the day shopping and relaxing.

 

Mr. Anderson unlocked the gate for me after I rang the doorbell, "Ciara, it's good to see you. Please come in, but Shan is not here."

 

"I know Mr. Anderson. Faith and I are heading to the mall." I said, "How about you, where are you going?" he was dressed as if he was leaving and going somewhere, which I observed.

 

"I'll drop Julia off at her office, then I'll have to do something at Agusan High because the Regional Meet is coming up soon, so it'll all be practice for the Team."

 

I smiled and nodded, "Take care. Okay, I'll go inside now."

 

"Sure, Faith is still in her room. Just go there and find her," I noticed Mrs. Anderson come out as well after he said something.

 

"Good morning, Mrs. Anderson!" I smiled and greeted her with a hug.

 

"Ciara, hello there. You're very stunning! We're leaving now, sadly. I wish we could hang out."

 

"Won't we have dinner at Derek's restaurant later tonight? If you like, you may come have supper with us at seven o'clock," Mr. Anderson offered.

 

"It's like you're having a family meal. It looks like I would ruin that night."

 

"It's not like that," Mrs. Anderson said, nodding. "What are you thinking?" she added with a giggle, "It's just a meal, and you're welcome anytime. We're all family, right?"

 

"After all, Derek is also a member of your family," he simply added.

 

My uncle Derek is my father's younger brother, which is why we share the Jones surname. Back in high school, he was also Mr. John Anderson's best friend.

 

My parents used to be assigned to Surigao City for their work, but when I was four years old, they were reassigned to Butuan City. They were busy after that, and I'm grateful that Uncle Derek is there, along with one of his friends, John Anderson, who continues to guide me.

 

They're like my second parents since my parents were often gone when I was a kid, so I used to hang out at Shan's house, which is right next door to us. They claimed that the house we bought was once the home of Mrs. Julia Anderson and her family.

 

"Yeah, I miss Uncle Derek as well." They grinned as I said it.

 

Faith soon followed out the front door, "Hello, Ciara! Oh John, you're still here," she explained, "Ciara and I are simply going around. You know, bonding."

 

He smiled and said, "That's not a problem. Take care, you two." That was the last thing he said before we departed.

 

To get to SM Mall, we rode an eco-bus. We didn't lose track of time while on the road; Faith is still a fantastic talker.

 

"It's just the first time I've seen Shan go on Saturday," Faith explained, "and it's really lovely because my mom is at home and Jane has been looked after."

 

"It's fantastic," I answered. "Do you have any idea where he is?"

 

"It's really strange," she commented as she looked at her phone. "On Saturdays, he doesn't normally leave or go around, especially if you're not with him."

 

"Most likely, he's with his girlfriend," I said and I could see her stunning countenance, "Don't tell me you don't know?"

 

"He said nothing about that," she murmured as if she couldn't believe it, "I mean, since when?" she wondered.

 

"I believe it was last Thursday because that's when he stated they were dating," I responded, hurt at the thought that he will never be mine. I suppose my role will always be his best friend forever.

 

"What?!" People on the bus began to gaze at our sight as they heard her practically scream. "I'm sorry," she apologized and turned back to face me, "Is this for real? I had no idea he was courting or flirting with someone."

 

"I believe he was courting her just last week. He had only recently met her or been friends with her."

 

"I had been under the assumption he liked you, but it turns out he already had a girlfriend."

 

This time I looked at her and wished a little that what she was saying was real, but I knew it was ridiculous.

 

"Me? Isn't that impossibly impossible?"

 

She gave me a teasing smile, "Ciara, you may have forgotten that I am already familiar with Shan. Even though he can't accept it to himself but you can. Is it good with you that they are dating? I know you've loved him since we were kids."

 

When I heard her speak, I bowed, "But, Faith, I don't have any rights, thus I lose the fight. Maybe I was supposed to be his best friend."

 

She patted my shoulders and murmured, "I'd be thrilled to have you as my niece. Do I know who his girlfriend is?"

 

"I think so," I shrugged, "she's quite well-known at school because she's on the cheerleading squad and she's only a senior high student."

 

"Shan didn't say he's into teenagers," she teased, and I chuckled, "What about you? How well did you know about her?"

 

"I'm still getting to know her. She also recently relocated from Davao City," I said and I observed that we were getting close to our destination, so I took our fare payment and paid it.

 

When we arrived, we dismounted from the eco-bus and crossed the street to enter the Mall. We simply entered to see what we were shopping for inside the Mall, as it is typical.

 

I had lost track of how long we had been shopping for stuff when I became hungry, so I took out my phone and checked the clock, "Faith, hurry up. That's why I'm hungry, it's already noon."

 

"Oh my my, we're going to be out shopping for three hours? Seriously, we deserve a break!" she muttered something as my eyes caught sight of Shan and his girlfriend Julie in the other store.

 

"Look, there's Shan and Julie," I said, pointing to Shan's whereabouts.

 

"Who is Julie?" she asked yet shocked. "Is she Shan's girlfriend?" she wondered.

 

When I nodded, she dragged me over to where they were, and he quickly recognized us, which startled him as well, "Hey, Faith, my best friend! You're here as well."

"Yeah, we're having a girl's day out, and I noticed you," Faith remarked, looking at Julie in secret.

 

"This is Julianna Garcia or Julie, my girlfriend," Shan stated abruptly as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. "Baby, meet my Aunt Faith, she's my father's sister. And, of course, you've already met Ciara, my best friend."

"Nice to meet you two," she said with a smile.

 

Faith's sole response was a smile, "Have you two eaten yet?"

 

"No, we're simply heading to Shakey's for lunch. Do you want to join us? Is it alright that they're coming with us, baby?" he inquired.

Julie smiled, but I could see it was a fake smile, "Yeah, sure. They are welcome to join us."

 

"Great! Let's go, and I'm starving," I mumbled something and pulled Faith instantly and we proceeded to Shakey's.

 

"Gosh, I just saw her but like I don't like her attitude," Faith said as we ordered dinner while the two lovebirds were sitting at our table.

 

"We have no choice, she's Shan's girlfriend," I shrugged.

 

She merely rolled her eyes, and when we placed our order and we returned to our table to wait for our food.

 

We were just chatting while we waited, and I saw Julie was silent on one side, just checking her phone. I'm sure she's pissed that we went on a date with the two of them, but that doesn't bother me.

"What's taking so long?" I grumbled as I stared at my phone. Those who serve food had also arrived at the same time.

Shan chuckled, "And then there's the food. They're ashamed by your complaints."

"I've been hungry for a while," I remarked as I turned to face him.

"You'll undoubtedly be hungry there, even if Faith buys the whole shop."

 

I didn't say anything and we waited for our lunch because I was starving. I've felt quite hungry in the past time, especially given the length of the food. I hope we merely went to Jollibee to make it faster.

 

I hope we merely went to Jollibee to make it faster. It's here, Ma'am and Sir," We praised the crew and workers who arrived unexpectedly. Last but not least, I am a good eater.

 

I prayed before I eat, "You might choke if you don't take it easy on the food. Here's a glass of water," Shan expressed his concern by taking a glass of water and handing it to me.

"Thank you," I said as I drank some water.

 

I can feel my heart racing, yet I know I should calm down. Shan and I are unable to do so because he already has Julie in his life. I'm not the right person for him; I'm just his best friend.

 

But who am I to blame if I didn't fall for my best friend? He's such a gentleman, and he's always taken such good care of me, even when we were kids.

 

He is like my knight in shining armor, but he'll never be mine.