CHAPTER 17 (Part 1)

Caelan Rainer Vassamonte POV

THE FEELING when you're contented and happy before darkness consumes you. When you opened your eyes and light came into your view your heart felt so heavy.

You don't even know why. . . you just felt your heart aching for some unknown reasons.

I slowly opened my eyes when I felt my chest suddenly tightened. My eyes immediately went to my side but it was like a cold water was poured on me when I saw that Talliah was not by my side.

Where is she? I looked around my room in wonder. Suddenly, my heart pounded so hard inside my ribcage when I saw that there was no sign of Talliah.

I quickly got down of the bed and quickly walked out the door. Every step I take feels like my chest is so heavy. I don't even know the reason why.

Where is Talliah is she just outside? I looked around the living room. I still haven't seen Talliah. Were she already go home? Why she didn't wake me up? Maybe I slept too well? Because I'm with her?

My face immediately brightened when I heard a noise from our dining area. I quickly walked towards it thinking that Talliah might just be there.

I prepared my smile but suddenly it was erased when I saw someone else.

"Good morning Rai! How was your sleep?" Leina enthusiastically greeted me when she saw me enter the kitchen.

My brows furrowed while looking at her. Why is she here? And where is Talliah?

"Are you looking for, Tita? They went out early because they said they were going to buy something. I woke up early so I thought of coming here so we can go to school together." she said while smiling brightly at me.

They're already back? Did they come home early? Even though I was confused, I smiled at Leina sincerely. She suddenly came to me and stared at my face.

"Are you okay? Do you have a problem?" Leina asked worriedly.

I shook my head at her quickly and messed up her hair. She immediately pouted and glared at me. I laughed at her reaction but my mind is in chaos right now.

"Stop that Rai. My hair is going to mess up." She said with a snort.

I only smirked at her "You're still beautiful even if your hair is messy." I said and laugh. I saw her eyes sparkle as she stared at me.

"Alright, I'll just take a shower first." I said to her and quickly walked towards my room.

My family and I are used to Leina being here because we have been friends since childhood and she's also a family to us. But why do I feel different now? Is it because I love someone else and not Leina? Back then I was very happy when she always visited here at home. Is it because I used to like her?

But why I am looking for something else now? Why do I want to be with someone else? The happenings in my life are very fast. I knew then that I liked Leina and I was ready to date her when I turned twenty one. But why did I fall for another girl so quickly?

I know that I like Leina but I'm not sure if it's called love anymore. But with my feelings for Talliah I'm sure I love her. At first I was still struggling as to why I felt this way towards her and I still can't admit to myself that I fell for the person who I used to hate the first time we met.

I even shouted in her face that I would never like a woman like her. But why do I see my heart now already belongs to her? Why is my heart screaming now Talliah's name and not Leina's name?

I guess I'm falling so fast and deep huh.

I quickly looked for the cellphone in my cabinet. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that the cellphone was still working. I smiled when I saw that the battery still had 50 percent. I took a money to buy load and quickly left the house. Fortunately, Leina didn't see me go out.

I quickly by a load and immediately searched for Talliah's number.

Why didn't she wake me up? Did my family saw her? If not, what time did she go home? Why did she go home by the way? She can stay at our house until morning comes. She doesn't need to left early.

My heart beats very fast while pressing Talliah's number. I was nervous because it was my first time to call her first she always calls first everytime.

I bit my lower lip while putting my phone beside my right ear. I heard how my heart beats so loud inside my chest.

My lips parted when I couldn't contact her. I nervously dialed her number again and called. Is her phone off? Is it lowbat? Why she's cannot be reached?

Why do I feel like something is wrong? I'm sure she didn't turn off the phone.

As the minutes pass I feel a little nervous and scared. Fear for reasons I can't explain.

I put the phone down and stared at it intently. Maybe she's just getting ready for class now. I thought of sending her a message and maybe we could talk at school.

I quickly walked back inside the house. I blinked when I saw Leina in front of the door staring at me intently. Her eyes turned into slits while looking at my face.

"Where have you been?" She asked while her eyes were still dark staring at me.

Why is she staring at me like that? Her eyes suddenly darkened.

I lick my lowerlip and rubbed the back of my neck. I'm not good at lying so I told her the truth.

"I'm buy load for a while. Alright, I'll just take a shower first. I'm just quick." I smiled at her sweetly before going to Cr to take a shower.

I took a quick shower because Leina might be impatient and I also wanted to go school early so I could see Talliah. There is concern in my heart because I know that she's not well. I could clearly see last night how sad her eyes. How she cried so much and I don't even know the reason.

Isn't it when you are in a relationship if your partner has a problem she should tell you. So that you can help each other. I'm hurt and sad because why can't she talk or tell me about her problems.

I know Talliah is a strong and independent woman but not all the time she's strong. She needs someone to lean on too. What's the point of being her boyfriend if I don't even know the reasons why she's hurting. But it's also not right if I'll force her to tell me if she really doesn't want to.

I will understand her as long as I can.

I was nervous while entering the classroom. I don't know what the reason is. Leina is in a different building because our course is different. I didn't know why her face became irritated after we parted ways.

I combed my hair back while with every step I take I felt like my chest was getting heavier and heavier. It feels like someone is crumpling my heart.

As I walked towards my room. In the corner of the other room I saw a boy who had big round glasses staring intently at me. I'm not familiar with his face. Maybe he's a freshman? I shrugged my shoulders and entered the room.

I was restless in my seat while listening to our prof on a subject. My mind wanders if Talliah got home safely. Why does I haven't feel that she left of the bed?

I was relieved when Prof. said goodbye. That means I will see Talliah. I kept looking at the door and waiting for his arrival. My heart beat loudly because of excitement.

But my excitement instantly vanished when I saw my old Prof coming inside our room. My lips parted as I stared at his smiling face while looking around the entire classroom.

I blinked my eyes repeatedly to see if he's real. But to my shock my old Prof is real. Is he back? Where is Talliah then? Does that mean she won't be the one to teach us? It's like something in my heart hurts while thinking that I won't be able to see her every day.

"Good day class! I'm back! Why don't you seem happy?" Prof asked with a laugh while looking at us one by one.

Like me, my other classmates couldn't believe it either. Because it seems sudden? I wanted to took my cell phone out of my pocket to call Talliah but I knew it wasn't the right thing to do since I was still in class.

"Sir, is your wife's delivery going well?"

"Sir, we miss you. But why did you come back so suddenly?"

"Miss Talliah, won't she be our substitute teacher anymore?"

"Why did Sir come back so suddenly?"

My classmates asked so many questions. Some of them are murmuring to each other. But I feel like I'm deaf because I still can't process well that Talliah is no longer our teacher because Sir is back.

I'm even more nervous because she doesn't even answer my calls. I frustratedly combed my hair while listening to my classmates talking to Sir. Can you speed up the time? I want to go home and visit Talliah. I want to know if she's okay.

It feels so weird that I didn't see her face and hear her voice today. It's like my day isn't complete when I don't see her.

After the whole class I wasted no time and quickly left the classroom. Holding the old cell phone, I called Talliah again while looking for a ride to their house.

I'm like crazy while staring at my phone in case she will answer my calls. I rode a tricycle and told the driver the address of her house. The trepidation in my heart did not go away as I headed to their house.

"We're already here," The driver said, causing him to grab my attention.

"Thank you Sir," I quickly paid and immediately got out of the tricycle.

I looked at Talliah's house while putting the phone to my ear. But just like earlier she still didn't answer my call.

I walked towards her gate and knocked softly.

"Talliah!" I shouted so that she could hear me.

"Can you come out? Are you okay? Why aren't you answering my calls? Come out first please... Let's talk!" I shouted again while slamming the gate.

But I suddenly stopped when I realized something. Why is her house so quiet? My heart was beating very fast while writing a text message to her. I begged her to come out because I was so worried. But no matter how many texts I send, she doesn't even reply back.

Until the skies gets already dark, I was still outside her house just in case she will come out and come to see me. Because maybe like me, she also misses me. But I was disappointed because there's no Talliah came out of their house making my heart ached.

Mom called me and she said I should home when she saw that it was ten o'clock at night. I looked at Talliah's house before leaving. I'll be back here tomorrow just in case you'll show up. Maybe you just did something important. I understand. I'm convincing myself.

Two weeks had passed when I was coming back here again and again. I was standing outside the gate and wating for her to appear.

I tried to think positively in my mind that she will come back. Maybe she's just too busy at work that's why she didn't call me or texted me.

But my mind started to think badly. Because the Talliah I know can't stand being away with me. Because when she misses me too much she will go to my house. She would find a way for her to see me.

But why is she gone now? When I was looking for her full presence. I don't want to think bad things because I know it will only make the problem worse.

Every night I pray for her to show up because I'm going crazy wondering if she's okay.

I laughed without humor when I realized that maybe she's okay, because she will come to me when she's sad. Maybe she's just too busy to even think of me. Maybe she's just too busy that she forgot, she has a boyfriend.

Maybe she just so busy that she couldn't show up herself to me.