Chapter 2: Moved On

Yannie Ace Ruiz

"I'm Yannie Ace. But you can just call me Yannie," I politely responded to the girl. Her appearance shows that she's not a student like Veron and me. She looks a bit older, a few years ahead of us.

Ate Rica smiled and shook hands with me. Later on, other girls with her approached us.

"Hi! I'm Renalyn."

"I'm Becca."

"Hello, I'm Christine!"

"I'm Jan."

Ate Rica's companions introduced themselves to us. I shook hands with each of them and introduced myself in return. Before Veron and I headed home, we joined their group for dinner.

"So, how old are you, Yannie? Are you already working?" Becca asked me.

"I'm 20 years old. I'm in my second year of college. Veron and I are classmates," I replied.

"Really? What's your course?" Rica asked.

"I'm taking BSOA, Bachelor of Science in Office Administration."

"Oh, which school? Where are you from again?" Rica asked while twirling pasta on her fork.

"I go to PUP Biñan. We're from Biñan, Laguna."

Our cheerful conversation continued as we all ate together. I felt comfortable with them, perhaps because we shared similar interests and were all fans of 4SBLUE.

"Let's meet again at the 4SBLUE concert," Ate Rica said with a smile.

"Oh, I'm afraid that might not happen," I replied with a hint of sadness.

There's a public press conference today for 4SBLUE because their upcoming concert is scheduled in the next two days here in the country.

"Huh? Why? Aren't you attending their concert?"

"No, I won't be able to. I don't have the budget to buy a ticket for their concert. So, I just really tried to make it to their public press conference today. So even if I won't be able to see them at their concert, at least I saw them today."

Ate Rica smiled sweetly at me.

"You're so honest, Yannie," she said.

"Huh?"

"What's your social media account? We'll add you," Jan said with a smile. I learned earlier that we're in the same age. That's why I quickly warmed up to her.

All of them are kind—especially Ate Rica, who was the first to befriend me.

I shared my social media account with them, and they did the same with me. We also exchanged numbers.

"Thank you for the enjoyable conversation. I had a great time today. Aside from seeing 4SBLUE, I also got to know all of you," I happily told them.

"Thank you too, Yannie. You're so sweet and nice. Take care on your way home," Ate Rica said to me, and Veron and I bid them farewell.

When I got home, I checked my social media account and saw the tagged pictures of me that we had taken earlier with Ate Rica.

The days quickly passed until the 4SBLUE concert arrived. Even though I couldn't watch them live at the big dome, I settled for watching the live stream. In that simple act, I couldn't contain the joy I felt.

I continued communicating with the new friends I met through 4SBLUE, especially with Ate Rica. We've been exchanging chats on social media and text messages for several days.

"You have new friends, huh," Jenny remarked as we walked out of the campus.

"True! She talks to them more often than us," Veron agreed with what Jenny said.

"Yes, I have new friends, but that doesn't mean I'll replace you guys," I said with a laugh.

"No, Yannie. It's okay," Ivory, who was brushing her long, curly hair while walking, replied.

While I happily bantered with my three friends, I accidentally bumped into someone as we exited the school gate.

"Oh, sorry!" I quickly apologized to the person I bumped into while walking.

"Sorry too, Miss." I raised my head, and my eyes widened when I saw who I bumped into. I didn't expect to see the guy who hurt me the most. Kris.

"Y-Yannie..." His voice revealed surprise at seeing me again. "H-How are you?"

"Do you know him?" Jenny asked me softly, looking at Kris.

"L-Let's go," I quickly stammered to my friends. I started to walk away, but Kris called out to me.

"Yannie, can we talk?"

"Hey, Yannie, he's calling you," Veron intervened.

"Go talk to him," Ivory whispered to me.

I took a deep breath and faced Kris again. I saw a hint of sadness in his eyes, but I ignored it. It might just be my imagination.a

"Go ahead, Yannie. We'll wait for you here," Jenny said.

Kris and I went to the nearby park at the school. I didn't even know why I agreed to talk to him.

"Yannie..."

"Do you have something to say?" I asked him directly.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay. Is that all?"

"Yannie... I know you're angry with me—"

"Kris, if you just want to talk to me to revisit the past, please don't." I turned away, but I quickly stopped when he spoke again.

"I loved you, Yannie," he said seriously. "I loved you for real."

I faced him again and let out a slow laugh.

"Are you trying to make me laugh?"

"Yannie—"

"You loved me? Then you ended up with my friend?" I asked bitterly.

"Yannie, I didn't mean to fall for Belle—"

"Okay," I cut him off. "If you have nothing else to say, I'm leaving."

"Yannie, please forgive me."

"I have forgiven you a long time ago, Kris. Even when you didn't explain things properly, I already forgave both of you. Because who am I, right? I was not even your girlfriend at that time. So, I have no right to resent both of you. But at least you did it early. So I woke up to the truth about what kind of people you are."

"Yannie..."

"The next time we meet, I hope you won't mention my name again." After saying that, I completely turned away and left.

I admit it. I was deeply hurt when I found out that he and Belle were already a couple. I liked him back then. I was ready to say yes and be his girlfriend. But that's all he did. He replaced me quickly because he got my snake-like friend to say yes to him.

But I already forget all of that. So, instead of sulking, I focused my attention on other things. There are many reasons to be happy, so I always choose to be happy because it wastes time to spend on sorrow.