Chapter 28 Derick's resolution

“I’m sorry,” Joana said. “I just didn’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position, that was why I thought bringing Dana here would make things a bit better.”

“So, you’re indirectly saying you’re scared I won’t be able to control the feelings I have for you?”

“No Derick, you know it isn’t like that.”

“Then tell me what it is, are you afraid of being alone with me now? Are you scared something will happen?”

“That’s enough Derick,” Dana interrupted much to Joana’s relief. “I didn’t call you here so that both of you would start another argument, I want us to live in peace, you know that Joana won’t be with us for very long and instead of spending the time she has here fighting, you both should be trying to make memories.”

Joana might have been happy that Dana stopped Derick from trolling over her, but now that Dana was saying these things, she was beginning to get uncomfortable again. What kind of memories? What did she mean by what she just said?

Dana turned to Joana and continued speaking.

“Joana, I know Derick, and I can vouch for him that he is a very responsible person, I know that what happened between the both of you was a mistake and just an old reaction from some of his feelings for Marylin, I am assuring you that it won’t happen again.”

She turned back to Derick after Joana nodded her head.

“Joana came to meet me because she felt bad for the things she said to you, she is hoping you will forgive her and that things can go back to the way they were before the kiss.”

Derick then turned to face Joana who was still avoiding his gaze.

“I’m sorry for kissing you, Joana, and like Dana said, it won’t happen again. That’s why I think that we should still stay away from each other.”

Joana rose up her head, that was the last thing she expected Derick, who had always been so nice to her, to say.

“W-What do you mean?” She asked him, trying not to stutter.

“It turns out you were right after all, my feelings for Marylin never died, and they became even stronger after seeing you. The last thing I want to do is to get in between your relationship like you said and that’s why I think staying away from each other would be the best for both of us.”

Joana didn’t know why but suddenly hearing those words from Derick made her heart bleed. Why was the thought of being away from him sounding so painful to her?

Derick continued talking to her.

“Your refusal to come and apologize to me on your own also confirms that you have feelings for me, argue it all you like. And even if they were from Marylin, they’re still yours, its your heart that feels the attraction now, not Marylin’s.”

Great, he was reading her mind again.

“I’m sorry Joana, and I’ve forgiven you too, but I just don’t think I can do this anymore.”

She then began to read his mind too, she saw that same pain in his eyes again, the one she saw in her dreams and at the balcony, she saw that he had been holding himself and hiding his feelings all the time they were alone together, training. She saw his heart shatter whenever she reminded him that she belonged with someone else. And now that he finally summoned the courage to push her away, it was her turn to feel the rejection.

Dana sat there, watching the two parties express themselves, she didn’t say anything anymore, as this one was beyond her.

“If that’ll be all,” Derick said, turning to Dana who now gave him permission to leave the study, and he did so, leaving poor Joana shattered.

***

“Where is Joana?”

Grandma Jen had been hearing different voices in her head, asking her that same question. It gave her constant headaches as everyone that had been asking now realized that she had been lying.

She went to the police station a few days ago to report that Joana had been missing for months. Even though they found it hard to believe her story that a strange woman took her away and said she was okay, she was released after a series of interrogations, they probably thought she was crazy. They were on the lookout for her now, the police were searching from house to house but unfortunately, little evidence was gathered as no one could remember the last place she was seen.

Grandma Jen knew that the police might not be of much help, but it was better than doing nothing, she went with some of Joana’s friends to paste missing signs with her pictures all across the neighborhood. She sure did hope that the strange woman, whosoever she was, would return Joana safely, as grandma Jen would not be able to bear the thought of losing the only family she had.

The person whose reaction she was most surprised by was Andrew, her fiancé. She couldn’t wait for Joana to come back so she could tell him what he had done.