Rachel laid on her bed thinking of what Johanna said to her.
"Is Johanna telling the truth? Is Mina actually pretending?" she thought.
She sat up straight in bed with her back leaning on the head board. She stretched out her hand and took her phone from the night stand and dialed a number.
"Hello"
"Yes, why did you call this night? Why are you still awake?" the voice from the other side sounded half asleep.
"Oh, Chad, did I wake you?"
"Mhm"
"I am sorry, but I have to tell you something"
"What?"
"Mina came to my house this night"
"What?" he was wide awake. "Why did she come to your place? Did she cause any trouble?"
"No, she did not. She only came to my house to apologize"
"Apologize?" Chad's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, she said she is very sorry for what she did to me the other day on the farm. She also told me that she has given up on you"
"Really?" he raised his eyebrow and rolled out of bed and walked to the balcony. The only sound he could hear was the gently breeze rustling his curtain and the sweet voice coming from the phone.
"Yes, she said she has been in love with you, but she has given up"
"Have you forgiven her?" Chad asked.
"Yes I have, but I don't know if I should trust her"
"You can forgive her, but don't trust her. I know who Mina is and I know how she thinks. Be careful, she might try to hurt you" he said in a low soft, gentle voice.
"I don't think she will try to hurt me, but I will listen to you"
"Good girl. Is that why you called me?"
"Yes"
"Okay now go to bed and I might not be able to take you to school tomorrow morning, but i will send my driver to take you and Johanna to school, alright?"
"Okay, goodnight"
"Goodnight. I love you"
"I love you too" she said and hang up the phone.
"Why is Mina pretending to be innocent? She thinks she is smart, huh?" he said out loud and his lips twisted into a smile.
Just like Johanna, Chad knew Mina wouldn't go to Rachel to apologize without a reason.
Next morning at the Torres mansion.
Chad walked down the stairs and entered the dinning room. He sat down across from Mina.
"Good morning, son" Mrs Torres greeted him with a big smile.
"Good morning" he replied. He took his plate, served himself arroz caldo and began to eat.
After taking few spoons of arroz caldo, he looked up at Mina and said, "Mina, i heard you went to Rachel's house yesterday"
Mina already knew he was going to ask her, so she was prepared. She did not panic. She only answered in a gentle, calm voice. "Yes, I went to her place yesterday's night"
Mrs Torres was shocked. She knew Mina didn't like Rachel. "Why did you go there?" she asked.
"Aunt, I went there to apologize to her. I shouldn't have hurt her"
Every other person in the dinning room were stunned. They did not expect Mina to do that.
Mina would never associate herself with those farm workers.
"Mina, what is wrong with you? Why did you do that?" Mrs Sharon, Mina's mother asked.
"Mom, I had to apologise to Rachel. She is a good person and even when I hurt her, she did not do anything back to hurt me. She is very quiet"
What Mina said about Rachel did not still convinced Chad. He knew she was planning something bad.
"So what are your intentions?" Chad asked with a cold voice.
"Pardon me"
"I said what are you planning to do? Why did you feel like you should apologize to her?"
"Because I know that I was wrong. I shouldn't have hurt Rachel the other day" she said with an innocent look on her face.
Johanna and Chad already knew the kind of person she is. She was wearing a fake mask pretending to be innocent and kind, but inside of her contains so many evil thoughts. She was evil and would do just anything to get Chad.
"I also heard you said that you have given up on me and I belong to only Rachel, right?" he said as he put a mouthful spoon of arroz caldo in his mouth.
Mina was not expecting him to say that in the presence of everybody. Her spoon fell from her hand and her eyes widened in shock.
"It's a good thing you have given up at least you will forget about me and get someone else" he turned to his mother and said, "Mom, she said it herself and that also means, you should give up on making Mina and I together." he said with a smile on his face.
Mrs Torres turned to Mina and asked, "Is he telling the truth?"
Mina did not respond. She lowered her head and bit on her lips hard. Her face was filled with disappointment.
"How can I tell aunt that Chad is telling the truth" she thought. She clenched her fist tightly to stop her from trembling.
Mrs Torres face was filled with disappointment. She wanted her son to marry Mina and she was doing everything possible for Chad to fall in love with Mina and now Mina had given up on Chad to someone else. She couldn't believe Mina would do that.
Chad showed a smile on his face seeing how dissapointed and sad his mother was even though he knew Mina said all those to Rachel to earn her trust.
Mina became very angry that moment. She said all that she said to Rachel to earn her trust and now things are turning around on her.
"Mina" Chad called and Mina raised her head to look at him. "If you ever try to hurt Rachel, I will make your life a living hell"
Mina looked into his eyes and they were dark and cold. He was so protective of Rachel, but she was not scared of him as long as she get what she wanted.
"I promise not to hurt her. I won't even lay a finger on her" she said pretending to be scared.
"Very good" his mouth twisted into a wry smile. He took the napkin in front of him and wiped his mouth. He stood up and excused himself and left for work.
Mrs Torres was so angry that she did not want to see, or talk to Mina. She took the napkin, wiped her mouth, stood up, took her bag and left the house.
Seeing the back of Mrs Torres disappeared from the living room, Mina pushed all the dishes from the table to the floor. She was so furious. She didn't expect Chad to say that in the presence of everybody. She knew how sad and dissapointed Mrs Torres is.
At napsan, palawan.
Chad's car was parked in front of Rachel's house very early in the morning even before Rachel and Johanna got dressed for school.
They quickly dressed up, ate their breakfast and hurriedly got into the car.
"I am very sorry for making you wait" Rachel smiled apologetically. The driver nodded, started the car and it drove off.
The driver didn't dare to get angry. He was only following Chad's orders.
The car finally came to a stop at San Jose national high school. They both got down and smiled thank you to the driver.
"Ma'am, I will come back to pick you later in the afternoon" the driver said politely.
"Ma'am?" Rachel was confused.
"You are Sir Chad's girlfriend, so I have to respect you ma'am"
Rachel said shyly, "Ah, don't please. Just call me Rachel" she smiled.
The driver shook his head. "That's what Sir Chad told me to call you, ma'am"
Rachel's smile froze on her lips. She did not expect Chad to tell his driver to respect her.
Chad showed her how much he loved her. He made her the envy of all women.
"Ma'am, I will come back to pick you up" the driver said and Rachel could only nod her head. Johanna held Rachel's hand and they walked towards the school.