CHAPTER 04

I took a quick step out of that building, I don't want to go back to this place anymore. When I saw Pio's pick up, I at once got on it and slammed the door shut.

"What happened?" Pio at once asked me and based on the tone of his voice, he seemed to be interested on what happened between the lawyer and me.

"I'll tell you later, I want to go home," I replied weakly to him, and I just averted my eyes so that he could not see the tears forming in my eyes.

The good this is, he never asked again and without a word, he started the car while I was just looking out the window.

I am Analeigh Devon, but you can call me Leigh for short. I am 25 years old, and I am an orphan now because both my parents are dead. My mother has been dead for a long time, it was just before college while my father died last year.

When I returned to our province after my grieve, I just found out that he had left me his endless debt to Ms. Cruz where it wants to take the land as compensation.

That is why I had to find a good lawyer to fight for that land because it was important to me— but unfortunately, I was confronted by a useless lawyer who did nothing but think his own needs. I am not angry with him because in fact he should be angry with me for what I did to him before but if I had to choose, I would not want to do that.

But it is too late, I have already done it and already cause a damage in him. We have been apart for more than five years and we can no longer change the past.

Everything between him and I had change… even it is a good thing or a sad thing.

He is successful and I know he got it through his own efforts. Ever since, he does not depend on his parents, and I am happy because of that. He is still handsome, I mean— he has become a more handsome man and he is still as good-looking as ever. That is why I could not help but stare at him earlier.

Why shouldn't I stare at him? I have not seen him for a long time and as I said I did not really expect to see him earlier. For how many times have I been back to that firm, if I'm not mistaken it's the third time now and I've never seen him there before, so I'm really shocked.

I was happy when I saw him but not so much happy because I noticed how huge he had change. From his posture, in the clothes he wears, to his manners and the way he spoke to me. To the point that he told me about that THING.

I admit that we already did that thing when we were still together, he was the first man in my life. My first experience of everything is him… that is why it was hard for me to forget him.

I DIDN'T notice that I fell asleep thinking too much about him during the whole trip between Pio and I back here in the province, so I just woke up when we finally arrived. 

Pio quickly opened the car door for me and when I got off, he quickly confronted me, "Are you really okay Leigh? Did something bad happen earlier?" He asked me anxiously while he was just looking straight into my eyes.

I quickly avoided his gaze. "I can't help but to worry about you because you are acting so weird since you got back. Didn't the lawyer still accept your case? I told you, you don't have to fight for this land, just come with me. " he said and slowly turned me to face him.

He gently touched both my shoulders and his expression seemed to be begging now. I quickly shook my head in disapproval. "I'm sorry but I can't give up this land. It's not that easy Pio. I need to think now, I need to be alone. So, please, just leave me alone," I said softly, and I removed his hands from holding me.

He just stared at me for few seconds until then he slowly nodded in agreement. He finally turned his back on me and got into his pickup. I didn't even wait for him to leave, and I went inside the house and locked the door.

I fell and sat on the bench here in front of the table and I even tweaked myself. I didn’t really know what to do anymore. This land is important to me. I don't know if I should just give it to Ms. Cruz and went with Pio. Well, he's not my boyfriend but he's been courting me for a long time and we're also friends. If I ever go with him, I know he can give me everything I need in life even if he is not that rich.

We will have a simple life but is that really what I want to happen?

I know and he knows that I don't really have a special feeling for him, and I clarified that since before. But I also know that when there is a crisis here, I am ready to go with him and forget everything. That's what I was thinking then-- I'm just not sure if that's still what I'm thinking now especially since I've seen Wayne again. I can't deny to myself that I still love Wayne. It's just-- like I said, everything isn't the same as before. 

I'm also afraid that the reason I left before will be the reason for me to get hurt a second time. And I can't afford to experience that anymore. Not in the second time around, so if I can, I’ll never let myself to be involved in his life AGAIN!