Chapter 1 : Break Up

"Good morning, class," I greeted the whole class of Section-A as I enter the room.

All of the students stand up and bow down in 30 degrees before greeting back. They sit back on their chairs with a good posture. Of course, what do you expect? This is the cream of all cream sections in this school. It is normal and they are really supposed to act that way.

"Last Friday, I told you to read advance and study the Arithmetic Sequence for that is our lesson for today. Did you do that?" I asked them while looking for my marker that I'm going to us duting the discussion.

"Yes, Ms. Fryxell," they answered in choir.

" Good. Ms. Masamayor, what is arithmetic sequence?" I asked.

The small girl with the braided hair and glasses stands up. Before answering my question, she pushed her glasses towards her eyes in order for her to she a better vision.

"In mathematics, an arithmetic progression or arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the difference between the consecutive terms is constant. Difference here means the second minus the first. For instance, the sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15.. . is an arithmetic progression with common difference of 2."

The whole class remained quiet but I can see the admiration in their eyes. Miss Masamayor bow down before going back on her sit. 

"Very good. You really studied the lesson," I acknowledged her good answer. 

Well, I shouldn't be amaze by her, or anyone in this classroom. These students are all intelligent that's way they are in this kind of section. 

I continue discussing our lesson for today. The students are just sitting still and listening to what I am saying to them. They really need to pay attention to the lesson. The first quarter exam is on next week and after that week will be the release of their report cards. 

After an hour of discussion, my time inisde this classroom is already finished. I look at my schedule and I feel relieved when I notice that I am vacant for the next two hours. Maybe I'll just spend the time to make the visual aids and lesson plan for tomorrow. And also, I can spend those hours to decide what project will I give to my students.

"Good morning, Miss Fryxell," the two  students in the corridor greeted me after bow down.

"Good morning. Lana right?" I said while pointing the girl who's holding a bumch of paper. "And you're Franzel? Both of you are from Section- C, right?"

"Yes, Miss. Good thing you know our names," they answered while smiling at me.

"Of course. You're my students. I must know your name."

"Oh, why are you here? Should both of you be in your class?" I asked them.

"Mr. Estraña told us to put this papers in his office," Lana answered.

"He also told us to put some cold water in his tumbler," Franzel added.

"Okay, okay. I gotta go. Make sure to came back to your classroom in time," I reminded them before I continue to walk to reach my office.

When my feet finally reached my office, I feel the cold breeze coming from the air conditioner of the room. I locked the door before putting down the book and papers on my table. 

I feel so exhausted, and I'm very thankful that I have my own office. The other teachers are staying in an office with two or three other teachers. 

"Maybe I should take a nap, for some minutes," I said to myself before I let out a loud yawn. 

My eyes become heavy and I just found myself sleeping in the darkness.

-

The noise coming from my cellphone makes me wake up. The ringtone is too loud for the genre is kinda like a metal one. Maybe making the "Skyreach" song a ringtone is a bad idea.

"Hello?" I said after I answered the call. I didn't even look at the screen of my phone to know who is the caller. My phone has the feature where I just need to click the power button to answer a call. I find that thing useful, especially during this times.

"Babe? Did I disturb you?" 

My eyes widened not because it is my boyfriend Zac who's calling, but because he is not really into these stuffs. He is not calling me if there are no occassion or important events to happen. 

"Oh, no. No, you didn't disturb me. Actually, I'm just taking a rest," I answered. 

I tried not to yawn but my mouth is a traitor. I cover my mouth and moved the cellphone away from so that my boyfriend wouldn't hear me yawning.

"Are you okay with that?" That is the only thing that I heard when I put the cellphone back near to my ear again.

"Uhm, can you repeat it? I didn't hear it. The signal is too weak," I lied to him. 

"What I was saying is that, if you are not going to do anything tonight, I'm going to fetch you so that we can have a date," he explained to me.

Oh no. A date? Again? We just have a date last week, and now he wants to date me again.

Well, I am not the kind of a girl who wants to be dated everyday by their boyfriends. It's just like, I am more comfortable whenever I am alone. 

I don't know why but I don't like it when he asks me to have a date. But what can I do? He is my boyfriend. He might get gloomy again. 

I remember the last time I rejected his offer, he didn't eat for two days. That was what her mother said. I feel pity for him so after that, we have our date. 

I'm so annoyed with him being so overacting and sensitive. It is just a date for pete's sake! He doesn't need to starve himself. Duh, do I look like his food that he couldn't eat anymore without me?

"Uhm, okay. I'll wait for you," I answered him. I tried to sound sweet even if I don't want it. 

"Okay, babe. Bye. I love you."

"Ah, I," I stopped for a short while before I continue what I am going to say. "Love you."

Before, it is very easy for me to say "I love you" to him, but that was when we are still new. Days, weeks, months, and years passed and I realized that it is getting harder to say the three letter word. 

I don't know but it feels like the spark I saw when we first met is slowly fading. And I know that spark fades completely.

I ended the call before he could say another word. I know that he going to ask more questions, which will lead me to more annoyance. I also can't finished what I am supposed to do if he keeps on talking to me.

I open my lesson plan and started doing my job. I think it is better if I forgot about it for now. 

-

"Hi babe!" Zac, my boyfriend, shouted while waving his hand. 

He is on the gate and I am walking towards him. I am still several steps away from him but he is so excited that he runs towards me. He held my arm and both of us started walking faster. 

"It looks like you're in a hurry. Why?" I asked him before he opens the car's door for me.

"Nothing. I'm just excited. Besides, we only have approximately two hours for our date. I know that you need to be at home before eight," he answered.

I am just sitting quietly while he is driving the our way to the restaurant. His face is full of happiness and he is smiling throughout the whole ride. He is also telling me about what happened to his whole day like what he is usually doing. I am pretending listening to him for I am not interested on it 

"We're here," he said while parking the car. 

I left the car and waited for him outside.

"Come on. I reserved a table for us,", he said as he held my hand. 

"Uhm, Zac?" I get his attention.

"Why Zac? It should be babe," he said while pouting. 

"I'm sorry. Babe, why did you choose a romantice restaurant? I thought you don't like this kind of stuffs."

"Well, I decided to try it."

I guess Zac has several money for today. Our date is in the Wagyu Bistro Romantic Restaurant. I know that the prices of the dishes here ranges from $50 to $150.

The crew of the restaurant greeted us and then lead us to our table. 

I can say that the position of the table is very good. It is not near but not far from the entrance door. It is near the glass window and one light is directly above the table. Also, the air conditioner is moderately far from the place so the temperature is just mild for me.

Zac ordered our food while I am sitting and admiring the beauty of this place. At first I though that the Romantic Restaurants are too 'lame' but it looks like I am wrong. 

"Just wait for your order, Sir and Ma'am," I heard the waiter told us.

While I am looking around, Zac suddenly hold my hands. I look at him, surprised.

"Babe, how's your day? You're quiet during the whole ride," he said. I can sense that he is worry about me.

"It's nothing. Well, like usual, I gave summative test to my students and also trying to finish all of the lesson. There's only one lesson left and I am going to discuss it tomorrow. The first quarter exam is coming so I need to work fast," I explained to him. I don't have several things to tell him. My day has its own routine that keeps on repeating everyday.

"Oh, I must say you have several things to do," he said. "But don't stress youself out. You know, it's not good for you," he added.

"Yeah. Don't worry about me. I can handle myself," I answered.

We just stared at each other for some moments. I don't know how long we've been doing that but it stopped when our order finally arrived.

The waiter served our food and left after saying "Enjoy your date".

We eat our food quietly. Unlike the other couples, Zac and I choose to remained quiet while having our food. The drinks are left since those are reserved after eating. 

While I am chewing my food, I can sense that Zac is looking at me from time to time. I just ignored it and continue on what I am doing.

After some minutes, we finally finished our food. I looked at the screen of my phone to know what time it is. It is already 7:15 in the evening. 

"Babe?" Zac called me. 

I put my phone back to my bag before I look at him.

"Why?" I asked.

"Uhm, we are already in a relationship for almost four years and," he stopped in talking.

"And what?" I asked him. Instead of answering my questions, he stands up and walks to my side. I move to face him. My face is full of confusion.

"What is he doing?" I asked myself.

"And I decided to put ourselves into s higher level," he said while kneeling on the ground. 

The other costumers inside the Wagyu Bistro is looking at us. I feel uncomfortable with the stares of the people. I am not saying that I am shy, but the fact the Zac is kneeling on the ground, they know what is going to happen next, and I don't like it.

"Will you marry me?" he asked while showing the ring on his hands.

I don't know how to react. The people around us are smiling, so as him. I can see in their eyes that they are saying to me to answer 'yes' to him. 

I am sweating. I didn't expect that he will propose to me today.

What should I do? What should I do?

I close my eyes and started thinking. If I am going to say 'yes', it means that I love him. But, do I really love him? Or am I just staying in this relationship just to make him happy?

If I will say 'no', I'm that he will be depressed. By thinking how happy he is when he fetch me from school, and hoe excited he is while heading me to this place, I am sure that he planned this very well.

What should I answer?

When I open my eyes, the first thing that I saw is Zac. He is smilling at me. I look in his eyes and I'm hoping that I can get the answer. Luckily, I get it, but I know it will not make him happy.

As I look at his eyes, I wish that I can still feel the emotion I felt when we were still new, but I failed. The love is missing, and I know that it already faded away.

"I'm sorry, Zac," I answered. I tried not to cry but it feels like my eyes are full of tears that they can't hold it anymore.

"Is that a no?" he asked, his voice cracked as he said the word 'no'.

"I'm really sorry," I said before I ran out  the restaurant. I can't look at him. I know that I hurt his feelings. I feel so guilty, but I can't say 'yes' to him knowing that I don't love him anymore.

I waited for a taxi outside the restaurant. I was about to call for one when suddenly, a hand pulls me to another direction.

"Zac," I said his name.

"Why babe? Why are you walking away?" he asked me. 

"I'm sorry, Zac. We can't continue this relationship anymore."

He held my hand and my face. He even wipe my tears even though he must dry his tears first.

"I know that you are just shock. We can talk about the engagement the other time. Come on, I'll take you home," he said while pulling me to his car.

I remove his hand from holding mine. "Zac, I don't love you anymore."

"Babe, don't joke on me like that. You're tired, right? We'll go home."

"Stop it, Zac!" I exclaimed.

"Damn it!" his face is now turning red with tears flowing down to his face.

"Babe, why? All of a sudden you want to end our relationship. What's the problem? Is it me? Are you annoyed? Did I do something wrong?" he keeps on asking me several questions.

"No, Zac. It's not you, it's me," I answered.

"I am a lesbain, Zac," those are the words that I want to tell him. But I knoe that telling him the real reason will put myself in danger.

"Zac, I'm breaking up with you. Thank you for the 3 years and 10 months," I said before I run to stop a taxi. I know that he run after me. 

"Driver, please drive immediately. Take me to the Tensana Street," I commanded thr driver.

The taxi moves but I can still hear Zac shouting my name. I can't helo but to look at the rear mirror of the taxi. I saw him running after the car. His voice are getting soft as his image in the mirror is slowly losing.

I'm sorry, Zac. I know I hurt you, but it will be better if we cut this relationship.