Chase after you
“Are you okay?” Asked Ruth.
“I’m fine. I just haven't had a goodnight’s sleep.” I answered, massaging my temples and feeling a headache.
I hate to admit it, but I felt guilty about last night.
Too guilty that I wasn’t able to concentrate on my work.
Just then, Ruth stood up and gave me a cup of coffee. "Someone wanted to give you this,” she said. “Gosh, the power of Sereia Philomena Isolde for boys! You really are quite a charmer that men always chase you!” She exclaimed happily:
I winced in pain, feeling the headaches worsen from her loud voice. “Who gave this?”
"I don’t know. It was just placed outside the door.” That was all she answered.
I grabbed the coffee and noticed there was a note taped on the cup.
“Don’t let yourself get hungry. I’m still waiting for your answer.”
I sighed, now having a bit clue who sent it and drank the coffee.
Lunch passed by that when night came, my shift was finally over.
I quickly went out and found Phoenix hanging out outside. When he saw me, he panicked and walked away but I stopped him.
“Phoenix! Wait!” I yelled after him as the cold wind brushed past against us.
He paused and turned to me. “Just so you know, I was just passing by. I’m not waiting for you.” He said, clearly angry.
“Okay, now come on. Let’s eat dinner.” I suggested.
“Wait, so you’re now agreeing to have a date with me?” He asked, his eyes glimmering in hope.
I scoffed, “It’s not a date.”
“Well for me, it is.” He said, sticking his tongue out at me. “I knew you would cave in my charms soon enough.”
I sighed at his comment. Really…this guy...
We went to a nearby restaurant and sat to have a nice little talk.
“So, why were you so desperate to have a date with me?” I asked him. "Are you okay with your parents now?" I asked the first question in my head without thinking twice.
He sighed, “We’re somewhat okay now.”
“Then, what about the land?” I asked.
That sparked his interest, “So you were curious about my life huh? You missed me, didn't you?”
I shook my head, “No.”
He released a chuckle, finding this amusing. “Don’t worry. I know that you miss me but you're too prideful to admit it.”
I looked him straight in the eyes. "Tell me Phoenix, what did you come here for? I thought you were so intent on staying in the province for your freedom?”
"I've become a photographer, Sereia. Aside from coming here for you, I have an art gallery in the next few days and I wanted to invite you.”
Photographer? Am I hearing it right? "That's ... great. You reached your dreams now." I said, genuinely happy to him.
He gave me his business card containing his details and an invitation card. “I hope you’ll come for me.”
That made me stop. I'm proud that he reached his dreams, but no. I shook my head to clear away my thoughts. "I'm busy. I don’t think I can attend that.”
"Oh .." he trailed off, looking down disappointedly.
Silence fell. I want to make it clear to him that I don’t want to see him anymore.
“Phoenix, listen-"
"Are you avoiding me?" He cut my sentence off. “You’re acting like I’m a pest in your life. You keep on pushing me away. It makes me think that the thing that happened between us was not even real…” He continued. There was a pain in his eyes.
I gulped, knowing it all too well that he’s right. "I have a life, Phoenix. Besides, my work is all piled up here, I have to catch up a lot." I reasoned out.
He reached out and held my hand, "Is it because of our grandparent's tragic love life?" He looked at me dead in the eyes, looking so emotionless now.
I shook his hand away and looked at the window beside us. "Partly."
It was partly my decision to leave him. He is getting married to Ms. Buenaventura. He should stop chasing me before the media will see us. I have to let him go.
"But why?" He gulped and I couldn’t bring myself to answer him. “The path that they had was different from ours. Right this moment, we have the chance to change our lives and be not miserable like them.”
I stayed quiet. He had a point. I was afraid that I would become like my grandma in the future. Where Phoenix will marry some other girl and I will be forced to choose an option on whether I choose to be in pain forever just to be with him, or leave his life.
I don’t want that to happen. Our grandparents' love story ended tragically and miserably. I should take it as a lesson.
He cursed under his breath. "Did you know that I left the farm? Do you know how hard I worked to find you?"
I stopped at that, “What?”
He pursed his lips, “I canceled my engagement for you, Sereia. And now you're driving me away.”
“Why did you cancel it? You’re really not making sense Phoenix.”
“Did you really think I would give you up just for a mere land?” He looked at me with disbelief. “I had help from another friend of mine, Aiden. He invested in my land. I don’t need my parents' help now.”
I nodded at that, processing everything.
"Did you know how many times you betrayed me, Sereia? But I stayed. I am still chasing you.” He said. “Thank you for tonight. But it’s best if I leave now.”
Standing up, he threw one last glance at me and said, . “You keep on making people wait. Sooner or later, they will get tired of you.”
*****
I stared at the tulips placed on my desk. A month has passed.... though I admit there seems to be something missing.
Phoenix didn't visit me after that night. I mean that's fine. He is not a part of my life now.
I've had enough of him.
I know what he said last night was true. It made me think about my decisions in life:
But what's done is done.
"You like them, right?"
I almost jumped in shock at the sudden sound. I looked up and saw my boss, Theon, who was now in front of me.
I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry Theon. Can you repeat what you just said?"
He chuckled, "The flowers I gave you ... you like them right?"
"Oh that ... thanks Theon," I said. He seemed satisfied as he smiled and walked back to his chair across from me.
I stared at the flowers placed on my table. He's been giving me flowers every day, with notes.
I also learned that it was he who gave me a cup of coffee every morning.
I find it kind, yes. But I wasn't born yesterday so as not to know what it means, considering the fact that he was courting me last time.
I had already made it clear to him but he’s still here, courting me. I sighed. I thought he would get tired already.
A call rang through my phone and I answered it.
"Good Afternoon, this is Sereia Philipomena Hudson Isolde speaking, who is this?"
"Cuz, what’s up.”
I blinked. Glancing at my phone, I saw my cousin, Eion’s name on the caller ID.
I sighed. “Tomorrow’s my wedding, cuz. Where are you? We’ve been rehearsing.”
My mind paused at that, wait….wedding? Trying to remember it... shock was on my face. Oh right! My cousin is marrying Snow!
“So you forgot your own cousin's wedding? How cruel.” He said, sounding hurt.
“Sorry, I was just busy,” I said.
“You sound stressed. Are you sure you're okay?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Make sure to come, my dear cousin. Snow has been bothering me about you.” He said, sighing.
“Did you invite Phoenix?” I asked. They are business partners and friends, I hope he won’t.
“Yes. Why?” He asked unsurely.
“Then I won’t go,” I said firmly.
That made him scoff. “Oh c’mon. Did you two break up?”
He asked and I gulped.
