Torn

Present time. 

“Not that long, but I can still remember how long he stayed under the rain.” Stacy rested her hands upon her lap, thinking of how the conversation should be. Sam didn’t even retaliate in every detail she said. Stacy has completely said anything, and she hadn’t left out any single thing. Sam wanted to listen further… 

“It’s hard to say how we got connected with each other after that scene, but it happened. He was inside my life before I can even stop,” Stacy added. Sam hadn’t been that clueless upon Zach’s willingness to break up with her. Zach showed a different side of him after 10 years, and look where it got them. 

He’s a two-sided man who wanted two women in her life. Two women she can use. 

It’s better to start a new life without him. 

“I’ve been keeping an eye to Zach for a very long time. I never wanted to be near him, but as soon as I hear the two of you argued again, I know I will never step on the brake.” 

…

A year ago. 

He screamed louder. Stacy was far away from the side of the plateau mountain view, but his presence called out to her. Stacy couldn’t approach him that fast, knowing it’ll be hard for him to recognize who she was. Zach held onto the railings. He’s alone on that side, and Stacy kept on looking at him.  

Zach leaned forward, huffed a huge amount of air. He doesn’t want to come home, and eventually, Zach would think of a place to cuddle in for the night. Judging by the clouds on the sky, the stars hid behind the humid. They kept on showing back and forth, signifying it will rain. 

Stacy swallowed. She gripped the railings, resisting herself to run towards him, whispering under her breath, “You need to control yourself, Stacy. Control yourself.” 

Zach turned his heel around, went to the benches, and hitched his bag. Stacy wondered if he’s going to ride in his car and drive away far from the city so that no one can find him. Sam must be clueless about his whereabouts. He kept on looking at his cell phone, but nothing changed. 

He hissed. 

Stacy needed to follow him. Something unpleasant might happen to them. Stacy walked slowly, careful not to get noticed, and went out of the plateau mountain view. As soon as Zach reached his car, he climbed inside, not even daring to look back. Stacy rushed to her car, too, propping her cell phone in the rack, swallowing. 

Stacy checked the time. It’s already midnight. 

She kept on being torn around Zach since then. Stacy didn’t want to like somebody else. It was always Zach rummaging inside his mind, only him and him alone. Stacy stepped on the gas pedal, rushing to follow Zach out of the capital, knowing she’ll never know the direction back. 

They reached the darker streets, no streetlights present, and Stacy kept on checking the radar. Zach must be lost, but he didn’t seem to care. He’s driving recklessly, too. Stacy kept her speed limit, following him even though it’s dangerous. It is 45 minutes after 12. 

Zach halted, screeching the tires right in the middle of the street, and Stacy knew she had to slow down, too. When she did, Stacy kept a distance between them. She couldn’t scrape off the fact she’s the only car left.  

“D*mn, Stacy, you’re so bewitched.” Zach drove his car on the side street. Little did he know, he’s breaking down after staring at the screen. It has been 4 hours after he left Sam hanging in their house after their argument. No calls from her and no message to comfort him after a very exhausting day. 

Zach couldn’t see it coming. He should have stayed, let her anger dwindle, thinking it through. Zach looked at the side mirrors, and wiped the tears away from his cheeks, wondering if she had seen that car earlier. He swallowed, staring at his eyes, and blinked several times. 

Someone must have been following him?

A woman climbed down the car, still wearing a coat, as if she hadn’t gone home. Zach stared at her, wondering who she was, and he got surprised to see it was… 

Stacy knocked on the window of his car, making him startled. Zach feared something might happen if he rolled down the window, but he knew it wouldn’t. That woman was the same woman who shed umbrella the other day. He met her quite recently. 

Stacy tapped her feet impatiently. She had to push in to make sure he’s okay. 

Zach rolled down the window, meeting her eyes, and blinked several times. Stacy stood there, peeking, and asked, “Zach’s the name right? We met the other night.” 

Zach kept on racking his brain upon the reason why her name sounded familiar. No answer came up. This woman must have known what and who he was, but she doesn’t want to say it all at once. Stacy doesn’t want to intrude in their relationship, but what she’s doing now had been the same. 

“What can I do for you?” 

“Open the car,” Stacy commanded. Zach got surprised by her strong presence. 

“What?” 

“Open the car, Mr. Zachary Gonzales,” Stacy repeated. Zach didn’t know what would happen if he did, but he pressed the unlock button, and Stacy climbed inside. Zach turned to the other side as she took a seat down beside her car, looking at him innocently. 

“Why are you…” 

“Can’t you remember me even just this time?” Coincidences were that scary, but Stacy wouldn’t let it get away from him. Zach sighed, turning to her. Both of them stared into each other’s eyes for the longer time possible. Stacy gritted her teeth, staring at the darkness. The headlights couldn’t even shine down the road. 

“Look at you, and where your car has gotten you. We’re in the middle of nowhere, and I followed you from here.” 

“Why would you?” 

“You’re at the risk, Zach, that’s why I followed you.” 

“Where were you earlier?” 

“At the plateau,” she said simply. So she followed him from there? He nodded. 

The silence stretched in between them. 

“So why would you follow me?” Zach asked the same question again. A woman like her shouldn’t waste some time to a man like him. Plus, he has a girlfriend. He had no interest on hooking up with someone for now. 

“Tell me the reason why you’re screaming at the plateau,” Stacy spoke up after a few seconds. Zach widened his eyes. So she’s there? Waiting for him to dwindle so she can follow and be here, inside his car, unknowingly talking to him like he have known her for the longest time possible? 

Zach thought of it. It’s impossible to get away from this woman who has been observing you for a while. Stacy turned, tilting her head to one side, asking, “Aren’t you going to answer me why?” 

Her voice laced with authority. He got frightened as soon as he heard it. Her eager eyes wouldn’t let you climb down the car without saying what happened. Is this what she has been doing lately? Zach sighed, asking, “What’s it in you?” 

Stacy got bewildered. 

“I mean, why do I have to say it to you? Are you someone I know for a long time?” 

It made her flinch in her seat. Zach was refusing any help from her. Stacy had never been this turned down by a guy, and it stepped on her dignity. Zach raised his eyebrows, observing how Stacy crumpled up in the corner and huddle like an animal in danger. Stacy didn’t know what else to say after that. 

She’s giving him the benefit of the doubt. 

Zach continued, “I know you’re the one who lend me an umbrella that time. I was lost that second, too. I don’t know where to go, as if every time I look somewhere, I couldn’t make my way back.” 

“That’s why I’m here to help you get back on your feet,” Stacy answered. 

“What’s it in for you? Once again, I’m asking you, Ms. Stacy Lazaro or whatever your name is. I don’t want my girlfriend to be here seeing you on my car.” 

Stacy should have said it. That night, she controlled herself to even utter those words. Those three words she badly wanted to say even though Sam and Zach has never been that happier together. Stacy wondered what it would go. 

“I just wanted to say you’ve lost your direction. I followed you over here, and I didn’t know the way back.” Stacy changed the course of the conversation right away. Zach turned to her with confusion, and wondered what kind of woman she was. Why do she kept on giving out those mixed signals even though she shouldn’t? 

“Right? So you can climb down the car and let me navigate the directions, will you? I’m not a child anymore, you see, Ms. Lazaro.” The kind of conversation Stacy didn’t like at all. It made her the smaller one. Zach turned to the window, uninterested by her presence, and let Stacy climbed down the car without gaining anything at all. She’s too frustrated after sniffing in the cold, sweet air. Stacy hissed, gave one last look at his car, and stomped away to her automobiles.