When they finally pulled away from each other, Georgie closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“We should not have done that. I am always impulsive and—” she started but Jordan suddenly stood up, trapping her words in her mouth. He turned away, his jaws clenching in anger.

“Yeah, I guess we should not have done that. You know, I like it better when you’re drunk. Let’s go back,” he said without glancing back at her.

You pissed him off, Georgie. I’m telling you, you should not have said that!

Jordan was briskly walking back to the party. Georgie  sighed as she stood up and closed my door behind her.

*****

“I just don’t understand her,” Jordan was saying a few hours later. He, Dean and Troy were talking near me after they bid Lee and Miguel goodbye. Georgie, Jackie and Dannie were talking with Troy’s parents, saying their goodbyes.

“Yeah, we’ve heard that before,” Troy said dryly.

“Sometimes I think she likes me, especially when she’s drunk. And then she’ll say weird things that make me think otherwise.”

Dean and Troy just looked at the frustrated Jordan.

“Don’t you think it is time to be honest with her? Maybe she’s like this because she’s confused,” Dean said.

“She’s confused, alright. I don’t know if she has feelings for me for sure, but what I am certain of is that she doesn’t want to end up like her mother whom she thinks has given up too much of herself by marrying her father. That’s how she sees our relationship. She fears she’ll fall in the same fate as her mom.”

Troy and Dean looked thoughtful for a moment.

“Then prove to her that it is not how it is going to be between the two of you,” Troy suggested.

Jordan shook his head. “I don’t know. She’s just hard-headed. She has this ideal life she wants to live and I don’t think I am part of that. I also have my own life and it doesn’t fit with hers. I might think we can work it out, but I don’t think I would be able to if she’s not willing to change some things in her life. I am sure that she will have to accept some changes she never wanted before if she chooses to be with me and I don’t believe her feelings for me are enough to make her go for those changes.”

“You know what I believe? Just be freaking honest with her, man. Sooner or later, things are going to end for the both of you if you don’t speak up,” Dean said.

“I think he’s afraid to do that,” Troy said without question.

Oh, yeah, of course you’d say that. You know the feeling, don’t you, Troy? You’re afraid of being honest as well. Really, these men!

Jordan was frowning down at something on the ground as he uttered, “Yes, that too.”

I almost want to give up here, you know! This is not going anywhere! You’re dragging this one, Jordan my boy!

“I think the best way to do this is to make her deal with her family issues, you know. She’s keeping a lot to herself and it’s eating her up,” Jordan quietly said.

Hmmm…Maybe you’re right, Jordan. Okay, I got your point there. There’s not just the issue of Georgie and you here. There’s her family as well. And herself.

*****

It was a Georgie Week and it had been going well so far.

They totally chose to forget about the kiss, which was a relief because I didn’t have to listen to their arguments which, by the way, were almost all the same. On the other hand, not talking about it would only make things difficult for my boy, Jordan.

On Monday, I didn’t get a lot of scoop because I was with Jackie and she had been going on about how she and Dean should let Georgie know that Jordan had feelings for her.

“Let’s just let Jordan handle it,” Dean said.

“Why not help? You know, George can get very insensitive in matters like this. She wouldn’t even know what’s knocking on her doors until it is too late.”

Dean just shook his head.

“Are you sure he ended everything with his girlfriend?”

“Yes,” Dean answered dryly.

And that was the end of that. I didn’t have to narrate the rest because it was just the usual Jackie crazy moment.

By Tuesday, things picked up for me and Jordan—the dangerous way.

My life was at a brink of being over again when Georgie carelessly drove me on our way home. What happened? Okay, let me take a moment of silence first to thank any holy cars who watched over me that day.

Okay, so what happened was GEORGIE. Yep, the usual reckless Georgie came out again because of the traffic.

“What’s the rush? Slow down,” Jordan told her but she was not listening. Her brows were furrowed in a line.

Okay, what the hell is wrong now? I said in a dry, gas-less voice.

“George, you might get us killed,” Jordan said, shifting in my seat.

“We have to get to Dannie fast,” she said with worry.

“Why? Is this about that incident from last week? If you are going to do something—”

“It’s not about that,” she snapped, making a sharp turn.

“Then what?”

Yeah, Georgie, what happened? What’s wrong with Dannie baby? Huh? What?

She just shook her head.

She wouldn’t tell Jordan. That only meant one thing: Dannie’s past.

The luck of that girl! What is it now? Did someone show up from her past? Is that it? What happened, Georgie? I beg you, please tell me!

“We’re near her school. We can slow down now,” Jordan said.

“What the hell is this motorcycle doing?” she uttered in frustration instead, punching my honk. She did an overtake, but just as we were about to succeed, another car from the opposite lane did the same.

My engines almost skipped and stopped in fear but I suddenly found myself swerving to the right and the motorcycle that was in front of us earlier almost crashed against my right side if not with luck that he was able to turn right.

But that was not over for me yet.

Because I was bound to get hurt—bad.

My breaks did not work perfectly because I was scared shitless and it was too late before we went over the side of the road and into a ditch.

Ouch! Holy Volks that hurt! If I had a mother, I would have already cried out for her.

My front tires were in the ditch and I couldn’t move. I could feel my bumpers falling.

Oh holy cars, my bumpers!

Holy cars, holy cars, holy cars, I am gonna die!

People started coming and crowding around us. I was screaming for help but no one was doing anything. I checked if I was smoking. Luckily, I was not. No white smoke of any kind oozed out of my hood. But it still hurt!

Georgie almost flew out my windshield but thanks to my awesome seatbelts, she and Jordan were okay. But she was wincing as she tried to move. Of course, the seatbelt still caused some injuries after that blasted fall. But they were okay, considering the circumstances. The ditch was not that deep, but I was still stuck!

“Jordan, are you okay? Don’t move your head.” she asked, taking off my seatbelt.

Jordan was holding his head, looking dizzy, but he managed to say, “I am okay.”

“Shall we call for an ambulance?” asked a man outside.

“No, we’re fine,” Georgie shouted. “How about the other vehicles?”

The man outside looked around. “They all went away. It seems that you are the only ones who got it big. But it’s a good thing the two of you are okay. What happened there was fast!”

Okay, so everyone was okay except me. Okay, okay, can I panic now?! I almost cried all my gas out when Georgie tried to open my doors. They barely did, but she was able to squeeze her way out. She stumbled to Jordan’s side and helped me get out. The two of them did not have a scratch on them but they were both heaving as they stared at me as if I was descending six feet down the ground.

Hey, I am not dead yet! Do something! You can’t just leave me here!

Help came when the BTAO arrived and I was hauled out the ditch after they took series of pictures of me.

Hey, you better not post that anywhere. I’ll be the laughingstock of vics online! Don’t you dare post that on Facebook! I’ll kill you!

We were escorted to the precinct. Good thing my engines were still okay except my bumpers and the dents on the lower parts of my hood. I was driven by the BTAO officer while Jordan and Georgie had to ride with the BTAO vehicle.

Instead of us going to Dannie, she went to us.

When she saw my condition, her mouth hung open. It took her a few seconds to recover and finally enter the precinct where Jordan and George were.

Dannie baby, please ban Georgie from driving me for the next few months! I mean, look at me! Look at what she did! Oh holy Volks I cannot even imagine what those vics across the street must be thinking. This is such a shame!

*****

I didn’t know what they managed to pull off, but the three of them came out as if nothing happened.

And Georgie were holding my keys.

“Let me drive,” Jordan ordered.

“No, I’ll drive.”

“George, I am serious. Let me drive. In case you forgot, they took your license.”

“Which I can get back tomorrow. I’ll drive!”

No, no, no! Please, you’ll drive me crazy, Georgie! No!

“Shut up! I’ll drive!” Dannie shouted over their voices and they both fell silent.

“Let’s go to the hospital,” Jordan said to Dannie as Georgie settled herself in my passenger seat.

“Hospital?” Georgie asked incredulously. “Were you hurt?”

Jordan shook his head. “No, but you may be.”

“I am okay.”

“You’ve been wincing whenever you move your left shoulder. We’ll have it checked right away.”

“There’s no need to—”

“Let’s go, Dannie,” Jordan said, completely ignoring her.

Yeah, that’s right my boy! Ignore her!

By the way, who’s gonna take me to my kind of hospital? Huh? Who? I need a thorough check-up here!

*****

“No, that’s not going to happen,” George told the doctor.

“Do it,” Jordan said to the man.

The doctor looked confused.

“I won’t. I won’t sign the consent.”

“I will,” Jordan contradicted.

“He’s not next-of-kin. He can’t sign,” George snapped.

“I am her future husband and she hit her head. She may not agree with what she would have if she is in her right mind. Do it.” She turned to George and added, “And there’s no need for a consent.”

George was staring at the confused doctor and said, “I am not marrying him ever and no, you can’t do it! I am saying I want to go home.”

Jordan finally turned away from the man and stepped in front of her to look at her squarely. “Don’t make this hard on us, Georgina. Have the sling. The x-ray shows you injured your shoulders.”

“They just fixed it.”

“They recommend sling. It’s just a sling, you know. It is not a freaking cast. Are you a nurse or what? Why can’t you understand what they’re trying to say?”

“It is such a hassle!”

“It will be more of a hassle if I call your parents and tell them about this.”

She glared at him in response.

Jordan stared back, his nostrils flaring.

Finally, he stepped back and faced the doctor. “Do it.”

*****

Dannie decided to stay with me. She had been silent the whole time, not saying anything. I knew she was worried about something and it was not about Georgie. They had been to a lot of trips such as this one for her to look that worried.

I knew it was about something else.

But it was not only worry that was etched on her pretty face. There was also fear.

Oh, Dannie baby, just tell me…

That was when Jordan and Georgie came into view and we both threw our attention back to them.

I was so happy to see Georgie in a sling. That only meant one thing: she wouldn’t be able to drive me for some time. And obviously, she was not happy about it. I could almost see the angry energy around her and it was directed toward Jordan who was walking beside her.

Jordan, you are not looking so good, buddy, I told him.

No one paid me any attention. Great. Just great. Everyone was not in the mood!

*****

It was Jordan and Dean who took me to my own hospital.

My bumpers were replaced by new ones which looked so great I was almost afraid Vicky aka Victor (she’s still crying over it) would once again be reminded of her nail-polished ones.

Once I was ready, Jordan paid the bills. He had also set an appointment for my next visit to correct the dents near my hood.

It was a good thing the boys were suddenly preoccupied with what happened that afternoon and with Dannie’s own concerns that they had let Dean and Jordan take me just so they could get rid of them and have their private time to talk.

The men immediately grabbed the opportunity, thus my new bumpers, and went to a convenience store to buy two cans of beer and they drank at a parking lot two blocks away from the apartment.

“I don’t know what advice to give you, man, because I don’t really have any experience with women like George,” Dean broke the silence. “She and Jackie are so different. Jackie may be impulsive like her, but she says what’s on her mind and if she doesn’t, I usually get to know what she’s thinking or doing or what she did. With George, I don’t know. She hides things well.”

Jordan gave off a bitter chuckle. “I know. I can’t even tell when she’s being serious and when she’s not. I like her dry humor, but sometimes you have to know when she’s throwing them. And during certain occasions, I don’t really know where I should stand.”

“But you’re right. Maybe she’s just going through a lot. Her family, you and her own feelings. She must be confused.”

“Well, she’s not giving me any chance to clear whatever is unclear between us. When Cassie’s name comes up, she changes the topic as soon as she can. I don’t know why. Maybe she feels uncomfortable about it because she has feelings for me or she just simply doesn’t want to talk about Cassie because she simply doesn’t care about my personal life. I tried to tell her I broke it off with Cassie but I never got the chance. She just wouldn’t let me.”

“I can drop that detail off casually if you want,” Dean offered.

“I’ll do it. In time. At her own time. Let’s let her deal with her family first.”

 I agree. Though she may not admit it, Georgie may only think bad about her family because of how they treated her and by how she sees other families. Maybe in time she’ll learn to understand and accept that hers is a family that can get better if she can learn to, as I’ve said, accept.

*****

Not a lot happened the rest of the week. I was back with Jackie by Wednesday and Thursday because Georgie couldn’t work much to her frustration. She got her license back though and it scared me shitless.

That same Thursday, she was off the sling. She took it off without the doctor’s orders, of course.

But the HQ wouldn’t let her go back on duty yet because she had to get permission from the doctor first. The doctor told her she could go back to work next week, which was not happening because that would be our Jordan Week.

Jordan was the only one happy about it because that meant she could have more time to rest her shoulder.

As for Dannie, no one uttered a word about what they talked about or her problem. It was the boys’ code not to tell anyone about it to help Dannie go on with her life and forget the past.

Sure, Troy knew about her past. Or just a small part of it. But he didn’t know every shitty detail. I wished I was in the same page, you know. Not knowing a lot about Dannie’s past would have been easier. I didn’t have to worry about what would happen to her every now and then.

But as what they said, leave the past behind. And we had been trying to do that. There were just days when we would have to face it because it kept coming right after us, especially Dannie.

Anyway, back to Georgie and Jordan.

Also that Thursday, just as Jackie, Dannie and I arrived from work, Jordan received an invite to a party and the two of them had to come tomorrow.

“No, I am not coming,” Georgie insisted. “I am injured.”

“You just took off your sling.”

“I’ll put it back on.”

“Come on, George. Your family’s going to be there. I can’t just go alone. They’ll ask after you and since it is Friday, we are supposed to be together. They would wonder whether or not we stayed true to our words that we would try to learn each other.”

She shook her head. They were outside, talking because Troy just came in with food and he and Dannie had been quarreling inside ever since. It was not a very conducive place to talk about their families. Dean and Jackie were also inside preparing dinner.

“And it might be your chance to talk to your mom face to face.”

That did the trick. She was once again reminded of their goal and she finally said yes.

*****

“We’ll bring Toto,” Georgie said when she came out wearing the same dress she wore at Troy’s parent’s party. Obviously, she did not bother thinking about what to wear. And of course, she was still carrying the heels while wearing the slippers.

“No, let’s bring Victor,” Jordan said with amusement as he said Vicky’s name.

Vicky started wailing.

Don’t worry, Vicky. What did I tell you before? You’re one of the boys now. Your name sounds so masculine, yet you’re sexy. Don’t cry. You can’t very well tell them to change your name, right? They would never hear you.

It was a surprise when Georgie did not fight to take me with them.

She wants this party to be over with as soon as possible, I told Vicky who was still sobbing.

Just go home safe, the two of you. No more fighting! I shouted after them as they sped away with Vicky aka Victor.

*****

George’s brother, Chester, was the first to greet them when they entered the small function room rented for their merged family business’ party.

Close business associates were there to celebrate the new Georgina line.

“Hey, sis, long time no see!” Chester greeted, giving George’s injured shoulder a heavy pat.

She winced and flinched from his hand.

“Watch it. Her shoulder’s not good at the moment,” Jordan said to Chester.

Her brother’s slit eyes grew a few centimeters as he looked at the two of them with amusement. “So, how does it feel to be engaged?”

“We’re not engaged,” George corrected. “Where’s your wife?”

“With Viv,” her brother answered. One of the reasons she liked Chester’s wife was the fact that she was good to Vivienne.

“Did you bring Viv?”

“You know we can’t bring her here. She and Mel are back at the house playing and watching movies.”

“Yeah, right,” she answered, walking away. “Jordan, let’s go.”

Jordan followed her to the bar, leaving her brother behind. “She already has you in a leash, bro!” Chester’s laughing voice said behind them.

“Don’t mind him. He’s probably drunk,” she said under her breath as her eyes scanned the room.

“There’s your mother.” Jordan motioned his head to the far right.

Marianna Lacson spotted George before she did and the lady was smiling at her as she approached. And behind her was her husband who was not looking so good. He walked with his wife anyway.

“Hey,” George greeted her mother with a kiss. Then she looked at her father and hastily gave him a peck.

“How are the two of you holding up?” was her father’s first question.

“Good,” Jordan answered with a smile.

“You look a bit tan,” her mother noted. “Did you go somewhere?”

“Siquijor. Training,” she explained.

Her father was frowning at her but did not say a word. Instead, he turned to Jordan saying, “You made a good call with the new line, much more so when you named it after Georgina.”

George rolled her eyes. “I need a drink,” she whispered to her mother.

“There’s wine over there.”

“Why don’t you come with me?”

Marianna smiled at her and they left the two men talking about business to get some wine.

“So? What did he say?” she asked her mother.

“He’s reluctant. He thinks you and Jordan can work well together. The new line came up because of you, anyway.”

“But, mom, you know I don’t care about the business.”

“But don’t you have any feelings for Jordan? Surely you must have grown some feelings for him these past months.”

“Yeah, and they are not very nice feelings,” she lied. She didn’t know why she was fighting this hard. She knew, deep down inside, that Jordan could be something more to her. She was confused as hell, but she could not do this for herself. There was Cassie, her freedom, her job and a lot of other things she could not let go just yet. Whatever happened between her and Jordan would happen, but not with their families hovering over them like puppeteers holding them in strings.

Her mother sighed beside her. They took two bottles of wine each and they returned to Jordan and Anton Lacson who were now surrounded by other associates. She almost had the urge to back off and go somewhere else. Surely there was one corner in the room she could go to and hide until it was time to go home. Since she was young, she would always find a corner to stand or sit at during such parties. She never knew anyone and whenever Jordan was around, his parents would always flaunt him and he was only happy to oblige. For years, George would always look for her corner whenever they entered parties and she’d stay there while her father flaunted Chester around like Jordan’s parents.

“There they are,” her father said when he spotted his wife and George. “Jordan, why don’t you introduce the woman who inspired the new line?”

George almost spilled her drink but she contained herself. She handed Jordan his wine and faced the four people who were looking at her expectantly. By that time, Chester also joined the group with his own drink.

“This is Georgina Lacson, George, meet Mr. Villafuerte, the CEO of…” she was not actually hearing him. She was stuck at the part where he called her George in front of her parents and the four people who were smiling at her. It was nice that he called her that, but it might also mean something for her parents.

And to make things worse, Jordan’s parents joined the group. She gave them a peck each and returned to Jordan’s side. She didn’t know why, but it somehow became an instinct on her part to be beside him. She felt safer standing with him. She could have chosen her mother, but she found herself standing next to the man she had vowed to her parents she could never learn to love. It bothered her that at that very moment, she considered Jordan as her very own corner.

“So, where do you work, Georgina? I assume you are working closely with Jordan?” Mr. Villafuerte’s question brought her back to the moment.

“Me? No, not really. I am a rescuer,” she answered casually before taking a sip from her glass.

“She also trains Basic Life Support and First Aide,” Jordan added with a smile. “I was actually one of her students.”

Her father was not looking good though. Chester noticed that one as well so he laughed and said, “She’s an amazing rescuer. You should see her in action.” For the first time that evening, George felt grateful for her brother’s presence. He may be cocky at times, but he had always had her back. Well, most of the time.

The associates just nodded, smiling at her.

“I am sure you have a lot of amazing stories up your sleeve,” Mr. Villafuerte said. He turned to her father with a smile. “Anton, you should be proud. Your daughter saves a lot of lives.”

Her father’s face turned sour. “She’ll eventually have to leave her job. Its’ just temporary. Georgina will have to help Chester once her mother and I decide to retire.”

It was not even a question.

George felt Jordan’s hand behind her.

“It’s a very fun job, tito,” Jordan told her father. “I am actually enjoying it.”

Her father’s eyebrow arched in disbelief. “You mean you also go on her runs?”

That did it. It was not her father’s words, it was his tone that surged her anger. But before words escaped her mouth, Jordan’s strained angry voice spoke above her. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

His mother did a nervous laugh and the other people that were not family excused themselves.

When they were finally alone, Anton Lacson stared at George. “You let Jordan go to your runs? Do you know what others would think when they see him—”

George was ready for an answer but it seemed that Jordan had more words to say. “I chose to be trained and I volunteered freely to be a rescuer,” Jordan said, this time his voice was raised.

“Jordan,” his father said with warning.

George gulped and decided it was better she stop him right now. Just as when she was about to turn to him to say they should probably look for some food, he scoffed and incredulously looked at their parents. “I don’t see anything wrong with what George does. And it never actually occurred to me what people might think if they recognize me doing something that I enjoy. Let’s not judge what everyone here does, shall we? Because in our book, you guys have also done something we do not approve of.”

“Jordan,” George whispered beside him. She cleared her throat. She was not used to this. What she was used was being on his side of the table, doing all the talking and fighting.

“Anyway,” Jordan said with a fake smile, “I think we better go. It was nice to meet you all again. Let’s have a better time next time.”

Chester was grinning at the two of them, giving Jordan a thumb’s up behind his father.

George felt Jordan’s hand grab hers and he said, “Say goodbye, George.”

“Uh…goodbye,” was all she managed to say as she awkwardly walked to her mother to kiss her. The lady was actually still shocked, but she faintly smiled at George. She didn’t want to go near her father, what with what Jordan did, but she had to at least help him simmer down a bit or else things would get really complicated for Jordan. “’Night, dad,” she whispered under her breath and turned to Jordan’s parents and did the same. She sent her brother a light punch on the chest and then Jordan was pulling her out of the party.

She glanced over her shoulder to check what their families were doing. They were just staring at them as they walked out the doors, their expressions shocked.