"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." — Oprah Winfrey

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NIKKI POV

Morrison High

It's been a month after that party. I avoided him and his friends like a plague. Even Lilian and Mara noticed it, but they never questioned me which I'm grateful about.

I saw them once with Annabel's group. I know his eyes was following me but I care less. I saw then once in my peripheral vision that they were kissing and Annabel. It was the most painful sight. I didn't finish my food and left the canteen at once.

I stopped going to the tree as well. I decided to stay in the library on my break time or anytime I'm free instead of wandering around the campus where I could see them both lip locking.

I'm glad Cheng gave me a schedule already. Every Saturday 5-7 PM. For the past month, I race once only, and of course, I won again. Since then, Gregory never called me for another race.

As the days passed by I have never felt so empty. I was crying at night. I was thinking to go back home. I missed my mom so much.

I was walking to the library thinking to read another book. As I look around, and to the beautiful color of the leaves, screaming of fall. The gust of breeze blows, chilling the air and blowing the trees. I clutch my cardigan tighter as I felt the cold biting into my skin. I was wearing tight black skinny jeans paired with a white tank top and gray cardigan. My hair was blowing freely around my shoulder and back.

I was already close to the Library entrance door when I saw Alex and his friends with Annabel and Kelly laughing as they are exiting the door. It's too late to retreat since he already saw me. I stop and for a second, our eyes locked.

I pulled myself together and look away avoiding his hot gaze. I saw them stop and looked at me for a moment, from my peripheral vision as I passed by, ignoring them. I held my head high showing them I wasn't affected with their presence.

They have been mocking me on my behind, I heard them many times. And I won't show them I'm weak because I'm not.

I felt relieved when I was a meter away from them. I heard their voices leaving but on my next step. "Nicki!" Alexander's hurtful voice calling me.

I stop. Never looking behind me. I stood there for a few good minutes, with my heart racing rapidly. It really pisses me the fact that even after what he did, my heart still longs for him. It still him my heart, beats. When I heard nothing I continued walking.

I wanted to turn around, but if I do that I know I will launch myself onto him and just hug him and never leave him. I missed him terribly, that's for sure. I felt the tears prickling around my eyelid.

I can't cry here. I can't.

I exhaled and inhaled trying to relax. My heads are scrambling in confusion and the strong urge to run onto him. I held the tears as I tried to reminisce the words he told me, that night.

I don't deserve him.

*****

ALEX POV

I planned to talk to her quite many times but she's damn avoiding me. I called her almost every night, using different numbers, but she always declined my call. I went to the willow tree almost every day like a fool trying to catch a glimpse of her, but I failed miserably. For the whole month, my life has been a mess. I really missed her terribly.

Every chance to talk to her I always find myself retreating. Her cold eyes showing nothing at all made me hesitant to reconcile with her. I knew I had hurt her so much. I come to realized how much she meant to me. As the saying goes, "you'll never know its worth until it's gone".

I tried to make her jealous by kissing Annabel when she's around but to no avail. I don't know if she still love me or did she even love me.

The thought of a one-sided love made me curse the fate... the day I met her, the day I kissed her.... it made it all worst.

Today, when I saw her, the longing I felt rushed through me. I wanted to pull her into my arms and never let her go. I wanted her to know how much I missed her, that I love her so much that it pained me seeing her but I can't touch her. So close yet so far.

I wanted to scream the words I love you, but I knew it's pointless. She never loved me.

She looked at me coldly, still no hint of any longing in her eyes. She just walked passed us without glancing over our direction. When she was a meter away, I was alarmed I felt like this is going to be the last chance.

I just found my voice calling her. "Nicki!!" I could taste the bitterness in my voice, my heart bleeding.

I suck in my breath barely audible when she stops, but then, she never turned her head. I waited and waited... but she didn't. Then, she continued pacing into the library aisles. I heaved a painful sigh and with a heavy heart I followed my friends.

"Goodbye, Nicki!" I uttered decisively with my heavy heart. I felt the stray tear rolled down my cheeks.

*****

NIKKI POV

When I got home after school I went straight to my room and cried until there were no more tears left. I don't know how or when did he enter into my elusive heart. All I know is that I felt him there. His face, his smell, his voice, everything about him was engraved into my heart, into my soul.

I had hurt myself quite many times during my martial arts training. I crashed many times when I started racing with motorcycles that's why I decided to do car racing, I thought I could handle it better, but the pain now with our break-up was far worse than the pain I had during those times.

It's painful than death.

The next day, I went to school with heavy heart praying I wouldn't come across with them. I was wearing a sunglasses since my eyes are puffy and sore. Lilian and Mara kept sighing beside me. I just ignored them.

We entered our first subject. I wasn't paying attention whatever the teacher was blabbering about. All I wanted to do is leave the place and never come back.

The history class was over with my head wandering away and same thing with the next class. I was just lucky the teacher didn't notice me I wasn't paying attention.

When lunch break came, Lilian and Mara was asking me to join them but I declined it politely. They didn't force me.

I walked out the English classroom and kept on walking along the hallway, thinking to go to the library. I was ambling to the hallway when I passed by an abandoned room. I walked back, facing backward and walked in. I thought it's a perfect place to kill time. I was about to sit on one of the dirty chairs when I heard two voices arguing behind a big old dusty cabinet.

My curiosity kicked in. I walked quietly closer to the cabinet.

"Stop! I don't owe you any explanation, Annabel," a man's voice growled. I knew that voice even when I'm sleeping. It's Alexander's voice. And what are they doing behind the cabinet?

I was about to walk away when I heard my name.

"Is it because Nicki is Juan Antonio's daughter? That you could avenge your dad using her?" Annabel retorted suggestively which made my step comes to a halt.

I waited for Alexander's response.

After a long tormenting wait, "YES! satisfied?" he replied coldly.

I felt my tears starting to drip. Why is he trying to get a revenge? I don't understand. I unconsciously step backward hitting the old dusty chair making a loud noise. The two scrambles out of the cabinet to checked, but I hurriedly walk-ran out of the door.

I heard Alex was calling me furiously. I know he was following me. I saw all the curious eyes of the students watching us and Alex as he tried to catch up on me. I quickly ran outside the building into the exit door, ignoring each and every curious eye. When I felt he's not following me anymore, I called Paul.

*****

ALEX POV

Shit!

"Fuck Annabel for ruining everything.... Fuck!"

She will never forgive me. Why is she there? Did she saw us fucking, too? Did Annabel plan this too? To get us caught? I just said yes to just to shut her up. She was too tenacious in knowing why.

"Dammit!"

I don't know where she turns. I can't see her anywhere. I gave up following her.

Shit! Now I'm fucked up.

I sat on the ground as I leaned my head on my bended knees fisting my hair and pulling them in frustrations.

*****

ANNABEL POV

I didn't plan this, but it seems the fate is with me. Now, there's no way Nicki will forgive Alex.

I know he really loves her, I've seen it in his eyes. It hurt because I've never seen that look in his eyes whenever he looks at me, not even once. I have loved him since I started knowing what crush or love means.

He is the only thing I couldn't get and it frustrates me, but today I felt like I won a billion dollar lottery.

*****

NIKKI POV

Paulo was worried when he arrived. He thought I was bullied. After I reassured him I wasn't and that I wasn't feeling unwell, he didn't protest and drove me home. I told him to just go get the two when it struck 5 which he agreed.

I walked straight to my room and called dad. He's in New York for a business trip. His phone was just ringing but no answer.

I remember Annabel's words. I don't understand why he wanted a revenge. What did dad do to him? Is this the reason why mom and dad are not living together? Is dad having an affair with his mom?

I had to find out. I'll ask mom. I had to know. I won't stop this time until they will tell me. I have the right to know.

Then it hit me. The picture of dad and that girl Hailey. I quickly walked to my vanity mirror and rummage through the drawer. I know I threw it in there. Not long, I found it at the bottom drawer.

I turned my laptop on. Then I type Hailey Morrison on the search box. Then Hailey's pictures showed up, the same girl that is in the picture. I unconsciously grip the picture. My heart clenched. My temper flared up. It's all clear to me. I just had to confirm it from them and I want to know since when.

So I started packing. I will just leave a letter to my dad in his office. I will leave tomorrow to the Philippines. I started calling people like Gregory, Cheng. I will talk to Mara and Lilian tonight and maybe call Carla before I leave or she'll hate me forever.

I called my Mom, but no answer. She must be still sleeping. I left a message then hung up.

I called the travel agency.

"Barcelona Leisure and Travel Agency, this is Cathy, How may I help you?" a girl's voice started as soon as the call connected.

"Yes, Hi Cathy! I was just wondering if you have any opened schedule for tomorrow's flight to the Philippines, business class please? I wanted a direct flight." I stated flatly.

"Sure, I'll check the schedules for you Ms." she uttered as I can hear tapping on a keyboard.

"Ms. Cara Nicole Rivas!" I addressed.

"Alright, Ms. Rivas there's an open schedule, business class for Korean Airlines direct from here to Manila, at 11 AM and 9 PM."

"Ok. Book me the 11 AM." I agreed then I gave her my Master Card's account number to pay the ticket. Soon, she emailed me the itinerary. As soon I as I received it, I printed it out and tucked it in an envelope putting it all together with my passport in my purse.

Then, I continued packing all the clothes I needed and my racing and martial arts stuff. It was 6 PM when I was done the packing. I pulled the big red luggage to the side of the bed and I drop my exhausted body onto my bed. I'm gonna missed my room here.

I heard my phone ringing. I crawled my hands along the covers and soon I felt my phone. I grab it and check the caller. Another new number. I ignored it. I put my phone in silent.

When it stops ringing, I decided to call Lilian.

It rang a couple times before she accepted it.

"Hey!" was my first word as soon as it connected.

"Where are you?" Lilian asked worriedly. I could hear Mara on the background.

"In my room.!" I replied softly. "Can you guys come over?" I asked sadly. I know I'm gonna miss them.

"We are coming!" Lilian replied urgently in her worried tone. I can hear their footsteps on the background. I ended the call.

Not long I heard a knock in my door. I quickly got up and walked to the door.

"Oh my God Nicki. You worried us so much," Lilian chided as soon as the door opened.

"Are you ok, Nicki?" Mara muttered cautiously. I know she needed more information, but as always, she is too nice and polite not to pry.

"Come on in," I said giving them a forceful smile.

"Please tell us what happened, Nicki?" Lilian begged as she hold my hands looking straight into my eyes.

"Please, I don't wanna talk about it!" I looked away. Tears are starting to well up around my eyelid.

"What did that devil do to you?" Mara grumbled as she clenched and unclenched her hand. I looked at her and chuckled. I never saw her like this. She used to be the composed Mara.

"I'm not kidding Nicki. I will kill him!" she stated firmly as she gritted her teeth. I was so touched with all the concerns they showed me. I hugged Mara tightly and soon Lilian joined us.

Then, Lilian noticed my red luggage and her head whipped to my direction looking at me questioningly. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"You're leaving again?" Lilian frowned.

I nod my head in agreement. As I looked at them both with a forced smile. A lone tear fell on my cheeks and I wipe it with my hand harshly.

"If you think this is better, then go ahead Nicki," Mara said softly trying to hold on her emotion. As always the composed Mara.

"Yes, and I missed my Mom," I mused softly.

We hugged each other again for the last time. We talked and laughed that night. The two had dinner with me. They didn't press about what happened with me and Alex. I also called Carla. She was surprised and was mad at me for giving her such a short notice. But in the end, she wished me good luck.

I can't wait to be back home and start forgetting Alex.

*****

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