A/N : I want to dedicate this chapter to whatsmyusername17 for her support and encourangement for me to continue posting this story... Thanks my friend... you are awesome.....

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Chapter 18

Leo was watching TV at his apartment when it stopped for commercial. He normally would change to another channel when it comes to commercial but this time he didn’t because the model has caught his eyes. She look familiar, he told himself. Could that be? He doesn’t even realize that he’s been staring at her until the commercial ended.

God, it is her and she’s beautiful. More beautiful than he could remember and those lips, gosh. He hissed, angry with himself. Why does he still thinking of her after all this years? Why he couldn’t forget her? Damn it, he scolded himself. Forget that bitch. She betrayed and used you, his mind told him.

He couldn’t believe that after what he did, after he admitted his feelings and defended her, she betrayed him and told him she doesn’t need him anymore. He couldn’t believe that she’s willing to take the money offered by his mother. He never believed she’s that type of girl and worst thing was to admit that his mother was right. Well, people always say that mother knows best, well it’s proved it then.

After all these years he could still never forget her. He still couldn’t stop thinking of her even when he’s been with other girls, she keep coming into his mind. He remember once time when he’s with a girl and they got intimate, he called out her name making the girl pissed off and kick him out from her room.

He still remembered that fateful incident, the day his mother caught them together. After Luna left with Nikita, his mother had force him to follow her back home with her driver’s help. Back home his mother told him that he was grounded and locked in his room with a guard guarding outside. Even his phone was taken away from him.

A few hours later, his mother had come into his room and tried coaxed telling him that she’s doing it for his sake. She told him that Luna and her mom had demanded some money to leave Leo’s alone and she told him that they have taken the money.

“I don’t believe you!!’ he hissed at his mother, “Luna would never do that!!” he defended.

“You don’t believe me? Just go and ask her,” his mother said to him, “She had demanded USD30,000.00 from me and I’ve paid her that sum to her.”

“I still don’t believe you. Luna will never ask any money from you nor will she demand any. She’s not that type of a girl. She loves me and I love her. We love each other. Money couldn’t buy our love!!” he fumed at his mother.

“You think love is everything? Well you are wrong young man. With money you could achieve what you want in this world and that bitch knows that. That’s why she’s using you,” sneered his mother.

“I said stop calling her that!!!” he demanded again “She’s not that type of girl. She’s not like you who always think money is everything!!”

“How dare you!!” his mother slapped him across his face, “Look what that bitch has done to you? You were never rude to me and talk to me that way before! I will call her whatever I want!!” yells his mother, “And as long as you are still staying in this house you are bound to follow whatever I say, do you understand that? I’ll let you go once you come to your senses,” his mother said sternly before walking out from his room locking the door.

He cursed and threw a picture frame to the door when he heard something was knocking his window. He went over and saw Andrew on a tree next to his window. Why didn’t he thinks about the window the first place, stupid him, he scolded himself.

“Andrew,” he whispered and opened up the window and once Andrew was in his room he hugged him. He never felt so happy seeing him.

“Your mother has prevented me from seeing you. I have no choice but to sneak in,” he explained.

“I understand and I’m glad you did,” Leo said to him. “I never think about the window. I totally forgotten about it,” Leo chuckled.

“When you are angry, you could never think straight,” Andrew chuckled with him.

“I need to see Luna. I want to see her. How is she doing?” he concernedly asked.

“Niki told me that her mother is in the hospital right now,” Andrew informed him, “She had a heart attack and it’s serious.”

“God, Andrew, you must take me there, please, we have to go there and see her,” he insisted.

“That’s why I’m here my friend, to help you get away,” Andrew smirked, “I have my car park a couple houses away.”

 “Thanks man, you’re the best.” They both climbed out the window and down through the trees.  They sneaked quietly and made their way to Andrew’s car.

Andrew drove him to the hospital and there he saw her sitting down with tears streaming down her eyes. He heart fell seeing her so miserable like that. He immediately when over to her and he could see her shocking face to see him there.

“Lu,” he called out but she didn’t move an inch just stared at him with teary eyes. He put out his hand to hug her but hold out her hand out stopping him.

“Go away Leo,” she told him sternly, “I don’t want you here.”

“Please Lu,” he begged, “I love you. I want to be with you and I don’t care about my mother or my family money. All I care is you,” he confessed.

He still remembered the way Luna looked at him and then laughed at his confession as if it was funny.

 “Lu, I’m serious,” he stressed, “I love you and I’m willing to give up everything for you,” but her laughed become louder making as if she had gone mad.

He grabbed her shoulders stopping her from laughing, “Lu,” shaking her at the same time bringing her back to her senses.

He could never forget the way she looked in disgust when she pushed away from him. Her words were like a knife stabbed directly into his heart, “You stupid, do you know that? Just like your mother said. You think I would want to be with you if you are poor like me? You think I want to live with you when you have no money. Think again Leo Hendricks,” she smirked.

“You don’t mean what you just said right? I know you love me too.” he asked softly not believing a single words she just said, “You just says all those things to make me leave, isn’t it,” he pressed.

She chuckled and looked at him with hatred, “I mean every single word, I’ve said. Why do think I still continued seeing you when you mother already warned me not to? You think because you kissed me and I fall hopelessly for you?” she mocked, “its all pretence. I know you want me and I know you mother would definitely gives me money to stop seeing you. I need all the money I could get to fulfill my dreams and by pretending to be in love with you had make me achieved it. I’ve managed get your mother to pay me just a few hours ago to leave you alone which I at first intended not to fulfill because I know I could get more but now after you’ve told me that you willing to give up all that, I don’t need you anymore,” she pushed him away and added, “Leave me alone. To tell you the truth, I even don’t like you.”

He still couldn’t believe her. He just couldn’t believe what his mother told him were true, “I don’t believe you. You would never take my mother’s money,” shaking his head in denial.

“Go and ask your mother if you don’t believe me,” she shrugged uncaringly.

He looked at Nikita who just look back at him with sad eyes without a word. Does Nikita know that Luna has taken the money from his mother? He doesn’t have to ask his mother because her mother words were exactly the same as Luna. His mother was right about Luna all this time and he had been so blind.

He held back his tears and said softly to her, “Well, I’m sorry. I thought you are different and I’m willing to prove my mother was wrong about people like you. Unfortunate she’s right.  People like you doesn’t’ need love, you just need money. I hope you get will achieve all you dreams,” and immediately leave her. He never felt so hurt before in his life.

Andrew follows him from behind stopping him, “Leo, I know she didn’t mean all those things she said. She just so hurt because she just lost her mother. She couldn’t think straight. Give her sometimes to come back to her senses,” he coaxed.

“No Andrew, she meant what she’s just said, because my mother told me the same. She took the money given my mother to her,” he pushed Andrew’s hand away and continued walking.

“That couldn’t be true. I know Luna. She’s not that type of person,” defend Andrew.

“Well she maybe she’s changed when she saw the money,” said Leo angrily, “Please take me home Andrew and I don’t want to talk about her anymore.”

Andrew sighed but followed him. When they reach home, Andrew said to him, “I still couldn’t believe Luna did that. I’ll talk to her and I’m sure she just not thinking straight at the moment. You can’t just give up on her just because of what she said which I’m confidently sure it’s not true.”

Leo remained quiet and get out from the car slowly but Andrew stopped him by pulling his wrist, “Leo, don’t give up on her,” he said to him. “I’ll find out the truth and I’ll help you to be with her no matter what,” he promised.

He looked at Andrew smiling shaking his hand, “Thanks dude. You are truly a friend,” and walked back to his house slowly.

Leo remembered waiting for Andrew the whole night but there’s no word from him. His mother came to his room the next morning coaxing him but he ignored and refused to listen to her. He was still hoping for Andrew to come back and tell him that Luna was pretending last night just to make him leave but……

Andrew did come to see him the day after that with a solemn face and Leo could guess it was not good. Andrew told him that what Luna said was true and it’s best that he just forget about her. After telling him that Andrew left without a word. 

“I’ve told you she could not be trusted,” injected his mother smirking.

Leo remained quiet. Could Andrew say all those because his mother instructed him to do so? Is that why Andrew was allowed to see him? He asked himself.

“Forget about her honey,” his mother coaxed him, “Like I said before, she’s not worth it.” Leo just nodded softly and received a satisfied smile from his mother.

He went to see Andrew the same night and asked Andrew to tell him the truth about Luna.

He was shocked with Andrew response, “No Leo, your mother didn’t forced me to say all those things to you. It’s best if you could just forget about her.”

“Why?” Leo asked, “I thought you said not to give up on her.”

“Well,” Andrews hesitated but added softly, “That was before I know the truth.”

“What’s the truth?” Leo asked him.

“You know what,” Andrew tried to avoid answering him. He could feel that Andrew was not telling the truth about the whole thing. He could feel Andrew was hiding something from him.

“What are you hiding from me?” Leo asked him instead.

“I…” Andrew stumbled, “I’m not hiding anything from you dude,” Andrew denied.

“I know you are because you’re not looking at me when you’re talking,” he pointed out.

Andrew immediately glanced at him and Leo could see his eyes were sad and full of regret, “I…” he tried say something.

 “Don’t bother,” Leo puts his hand up stopping him, “Don’t bother to say anything.”

Andrew looked sadly at him, “I’m sorry Leo,” he apologized, “I….. I just wish that there’s something I can do.”

“It’s not you fault,” Leo said softly.

Leo left the town for Boston the very next day leaving everything behind him including his friendship with Andrew. Andrew too has left the town the same day. He doesn’t know what happen but their parents friendships had also turn sour and they were never in contact any more. His mother told him that Andrew’s mother had betrayed their friendship and he does wonder what that make the long friendship could just end just in a few days. He did try to contact Andrew but his number had been changed and so does his parents number.  Since then he never come back home even during holidays especially summer. It’s too hurt to go back.

It has been 8 years now and he been wondering what happened to his best friend or Nikita but now he knows what happen to the girl who had betrayed him.