CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Engagement?" Jeffery said repeatedly, blinking as if he had misheard. His grandfather's words lingered awkwardly between them.

"I wasn’t joking when I said you need to get closer to Anita," Grandpa Lu said, swirling his glass in his hand, his face was still calm.

“You’re not getting younger either.”

Jeffery stood silent for a moment, his hands tucked neatly into his pockets. Calmly, and without raising his voice, he spoke, "Grandpa, I know you want the best for me, just like you wanted the best for Dad. But maybe, just maybe... if you hadn’t interfered so much in his life, he and my mother wouldn’t have lived so miserably."

Grandpa Lu stiffened, but Jeffery’s tone remained respectful, his words calculated.

"Some things," Jeffery continued, "are better left to the people involved. Let me make my own mistakes, my own choices."

There was a heavy silence.

Jeffery exhaled and gave a slight bow of his head. "I’ll be in my room. Call me if you need anything, Grandpa."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed up the stairs, without looking back.

******************

Angelie groaned as the morning sun sliced through her curtains. She sat up, blinking groggily.

"Angelie! We’re late!" Flora’s voice echoed from outside..

Angelie winced, clutching her head. "You go ahead! I’ll catch up!" she called back.

She flopped back onto her pillow, smiling as Jeffrey’s face floated into her mind.

The last three days had been torturous. Dreaming about him, thinking about him, and waking up feeling flushed and aching for more.

He was like chocolate. Sweet, addictive, and bad for her sanity.

Dragging herself out of bed, she swung her legs off the mattress and immediately yelped, clutching her stomach.

"Shit," she hissed. "Of course. It's that time of the month."

She sighed, quickly used the shower, changed into her uniform, and hurried out the door.

By the time she reached the classroom, she was breathless.

"You’re late, Angelie," the instructor said sharply.

"I’m sorry, ma'am. It won’t happen again," Angelie bowed quickly.

"Take your seat."

Angelie nodded and hurried to her usual seat, only to find it missing.

She froze, confusion clouding her face. Flora, already seated, raised her hands in a helpless gesture. Sonia sat a few rows back, smirking triumphantly.

“Let’s see how she gets out of this one,” she whispered to her girls.

Angelie’s heart dropped.

Before humiliation could engulf her, Damien stood from his double desk, casually lifting his bag onto his lap to free the seat.

"You can sit here," he said softly.

Angelie hesitated, but the instructor’s sharp glare propelled her forward.

Sonia’s face twisted with fury.

"That bastard," she muttered under her breath. "This isn’t over."

Flora caught Angelie's eye and winked. They would be talking about this later.

Throughout the class, Angelie clutched her stomach, biting her lip against the cramps.

His attention was on her, for a weird reason, he couldn’t explain, while he was so drawn to her. 

Damien leaned over. "You okay?" he whispered.

Angelie smiled weakly. "Girls' issues," she murmured back.

He nodded knowingly. He had sisters, he understood.

****************

Later, at the cafeteria, Flora and Angelie sat in a quiet corner.

"Are you okay?" Flora asked, concern etched on her face.

"Cramps. That time of the month," Angelie groaned, resting her head on the table.

"Well, look on the bright side, you’re not pregnant," Flora teased. "I hope mine comes too."

Angelie lifted her head, chuckling. "Why wouldn’t it?"

Flora leaned in and whispered, "I made out with my boyfriend... and I wasn’t exactly in my safe period."

Angelie’s mouth dropped open. "You better start saving for diapers."

Flora smacked her shoulder lightly. "Not funny! He’s too sweet for me to say no to. I just hope he doesn’t get me in the family way.

Angelie sobered, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What’s it like? Being with someone you love... making out, going wild..."

Flora grinned mischievously. "It’s like setting fire to dry wood. Every kiss, every touch feels electric. Your body responds before your brain can catch up. You lose yourself."

Angelie’s cheeks turned bright red.

"One day," Flora said encouragingly, "you’ll find someone who makes you forget where you end and he begins."

Angelie smiled shyly.

But then Flora’s eyes widened. "Wait... are you... a virgin?"

Angelie’s cheeks burned hotter. She tried to distract, looking away.

"No way!" Flora squeaked, covering her mouth. "My baby!"

She leaned in closer. "Do you have a man?"

Angelie bit her lip, struggling with the truth.

"It’s complicated," she said finally.

Flora looked ready to pry, but Damien appeared with a steaming cup of herbal tea.

"For your troubles," he said, setting it down.

Angelie blinked in surprise. "Thank you, Damien."

He smiled and walked away.

Flora opened her mouth, but Angelie shook her head.

"Not today," she whispered.

***************************

A few days later, Jeffery drove to the place he once called home.

A place that reminds him so much of his mum and growing up. Memories that he will forever cherish.

Amaya spotted him immediately, her face lighting up. "Jeffery, please…"

He walked right past her without a word.

She managed to smile and didn’t push further.

Lucas, lounging nearby, smirked. "Told you, Mum. Stop wasting your time on people who don’t care. Team up with me instead. Let’s bring Jeff down."

Amaya shook her head sadly. "Lucas, he’s your brother."

"Half-brother," Lucas sneered.

“Listen,” she held his hands with passionate eyes, “I don’t want you to hate your brother, whatever games you are planning, end it already.”

“I know you married Angelie to spite him, Lucas, you have to put an end to this madness.”

He carefully removed her hands, pecked her on the forehead, “Have some rest, Mum, I will be late,” and with that, he left.

Jeffery made his way to Morris’s study.

The atmosphere inside was heavy. The air smelled like old books, and something more.

Morris sat behind his massive desk, looking smaller than usual.

“You’re here, son. I thought you wouldn’t come.”

"Here’s the guest list," he said, pushing a paper across the table. "Just a few business associates. I don't know the plans you and Grandpa have made."

Morris scanned it briefly, nodding. "Looks fine."

They discussed Grandpa Lu’s upcoming birthday party, tossing around ideas mechanically, without real enthusiasm.

Jeffery stood to leave.

But Morris's voice stopped him cold.

"Jeff..."

He turned halfway, guarded.

Morris’s voice cracked slightly. "Will you ever forgive me?"