CHAPTER 29 - THE PAST REVELATION
“Can I ask you something personal?” Courtney is curious to know about the cause of her Nona’s death.
“Go ahead.” Ben motioned his hand to continue.
“I remember you mentioned to me your Nona was the one who took the responsibility in taking care of you and Eric when our mother left.” Her face showed confusion.
“Oh that…” Ben paused for a minute.
“It's okay if you don't want to talk about it, sorry for being too nosy." Courtney sounded self-conscious.
“I don’t mind telling you about it but I you will not doubt in me after you knew everything.” He says with glimpse of anticipation.
“Whatever you have to say can never change what I feel about you Benj.” Courtney gave her own assurance this time.
“Alright, here we go…” Ben composed himself and began telling her in slow phase.
He narrated the time when his father got into an accident; described what their life back then as teenagers and barely knew how business works. Ben also opened up how their mother accepted the situation making their Nona act as there legal guardian. Courtney cried non-stop while listening to Ben’s revelation about his past.
“I can’t imagine the hardships that you and Eric had been through.” Courtney made a hiccupped.
“I know but we’ve made it so there is no need for you to cry, that part of our life is over.” Ben wiped her tears.
“Still that was a very difficult choice to make for everyone.” She added while sniffing.
“It is but we’ve managed to work things out with our mother.” He answered while comforting Courtney.
“How did it happen?” Courtney interestedly asked.
"Actually it’s because of ---.” Ben gives a gap on that information.
“Nona?” Courtney guessed seeing Ben stiffen a little.
“No.” Ben corrected while shaking his head.
“Who was it?” She probed full of curiosity.
“It’s because of the woman I dated for eight months.” He made sure to let that information sinks in to Courtney.
“Oh… I see.” Courtney stops moving after hearing it.
“She was uhmm… the one who made it possible… uhmm to reconcile." Ben cleared his throat in between.
"That's nice of her to do that." She spoke trying not to show some emotions.
"Yes, she is." Ben smiled on that.
“What’s funny?” Courtney pried after hearing Ben laughed.
“I just remembered the time when we both found out how connected we are because of Zac.” Ben chuckles.
“Is she related to Zac?” Courtney thinks hard if the woman is related to her too.
“Yeah, she is Zac's sister-in-law.” He confirmed with a nod.
"What's her name?" She hoped they are not related though.
"Sherina Johnsons.” Ben told her straight away.
“If she is Johnson, then what made you say connected?” She put a strong facial expression.
“I didn’t know about her family in New York aside from her father that I met during her art exhibit here. Same with Zac’s situation we met here when he regained his lost memory.” Ben narrated to her.
“I know that very well because I was his Therapist.” Courtney attested on that.
“To cut the story short, I head back to America to help him out and his family’s problem, that’s also the time we met.” Ben added.
“I remember the twin was kidnapped and we are all devastated on that news but thanks to the videos they retrieve who the culprits were, the kids were returned unharmed.” Courtney joined in.
“I was the owner of the Café where the videos were taken.” He revealed to her with a big grin.
“Wow! That was a total coincidence.” Courtney exclaimed.
“Exactly that’s why when we were all gathered to Zac’s house I was surprised to see Sherina there, it was a disastrous day.” Ben chuckles.
“Oh now I understand.” She tried to be as enthusiastic as Ben.
After seeing this reaction Courtney felt jealous, she can’t even compete with that type of relationship that is not only based on feelings but have deep connection. Seeing the man she’s been in love with is still in contact with him made her disappointed because she knew she will not be able to break that connection.
“So what happened… I mean with you and Sherina?” Courtney pried a little bit more even though she felt wounded.
“We broke because of me, I lied big time but when I realized my fault, it was too late because she's already with someone." Ben expression became dismay.
"Do you... uhmm... still have feelings for her?" Courtney finds it hard to ask this but she needed to know.
“At first I couldn't accept it and even had a fight with her boyfriend but it's useless because she already chose him over me.” He spoke honestly.
“Do you still have communication with her?” She can’t help but probe again.
“Yeah we still do and decided to stay friends but that's it.” Ben wants to clear that with her.
“She must be a very nice woman.” Courtney doesn’t know what to comment and thought of the safest words she can describe her.
“Sherina is and she will always be a part of our family and I owe her the relationship I have now with my mother.” He declared.
“I agree, that’s something you can’t just throw away and forget." She stated then went in silence.
“I hope this will not make any trouble if a time comes that you meet her unexpectedly.” Ben held Courtney’s hand looking directly in her eyes.
“Of course Benj, after all we are just here for a contract.” She concluded.
"Now you know about my past how about you?” Ben’s turned to put her in hot seat.
“There is nothing to tell about my life, I stayed focus with my studies so I have no time entertaining guys or dating per se.” Courtney revealed.
“So there is no ex-boyfriends that I will need to punch or might know of?" Ben somehow got interested.
"None, nada, zilch and besides the guys thought I'm taken since I used to hang around with my best friend.” She claimed.
Ben inwardly smiled of that information because it made him admire Courtney more. She is a very special and delicate woman for that Ben is proud that he is the man will be her temporary husband. If only Courtney felt the same way he will be more than happy to ask her to be his real girlfriend but. He is aware that they have mutual understanding but he doesn’t want to cross the boundary if Courtney is not ready to have any serious relationship considering she never had any experiences with guys.
