"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Mia, please don't cry," I pleaded, putting her face on my shoulder, caressing her back as I gently combed her hair with my finger. She was still sobbing, and I didn't know what to do.
"Shh, Mia! I won't do it again. I'm sorry for being such an asshole," I cuddled her tightly and repeatedly apologized.
********
Three days have also passed since the scene at Vince's Beach House. I never saw him again after that. He drove me home the following day, and I saw how Mama would take care of him. I wonder why Mama is like that to him.
Aimee even went to let Mama know that someone had taken me. I felt sorry for my friend who was worried a lot.
"Mia! You're stunned again. What's the problem? I'm here. You can talk to me, Mia. I'm your best friend, remember? At least from that, I can reciprocate your kindness to me," Aimee looked at me and worried. Should I tell her I was about to be raped? But can we call it rape? If my body wants it also?
"I'm okay, Aimee. Don't worry about me. It's enough that you're always there." I hugged her, feeling slightly better.
"Do you know the news today all over campus that Vince hasn't been around, skipping class for a few days, the one you threw a ball at?" What do I know about that animal!
"No, I don't, and even that guy," I exclaimed to her while sucking on the lollipop I was holding. Our break time is about to end.
"Aren't you even worried? Maybe he's injured by what you accidentally did." not really because that guy is damn mad.
"I don't know, Aimee, and that's not our problem anymore. The next subject is about to start," I dragged her away, hastening I collided with something.
"Ouch, Ms., kindly look where you're heading," the man picked up the fallen papers, glowering.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," one by one, picking up the other flyers. At the same time, we raised our eyes met, stopped, and our foreheads furrowed. Surroundings seem to have stopped moving. This guy was handsome and like a gentleman. Is he the one? He bears a resemblance to Joshua Garcia.
"Next time, look where you're going," his voice was calmer now than before. I still haven't lost sight of him.
"By the way, Ms. I'm Nick Thompson," reaching out to shake hands
And I immediately shook him.
"M-Mia. I'm Mia Hernandez. By the way, I'm sorry," we still held hands and stared at each other again.
"Hey! You two there, do you have any plans to stand up? Mia, we might be late for class. Ms. Gonzales is very strict," my friend reminded me.
[Vince POV]
Shit, the noise! My loving mother was not letting me sleep—next, a heavy and loud knock in my room.
"Fine, Mom! It'll be out in a moment," I scratched my head as I tried to get up from the bed, only on my brief.
"My God, Vince! You're big, and you're not young anymore. Get dressed," mommy scolded, almost breaking my eardrum with the strength of her voice. We weren't on the mountain to shout like that.
"What now, mom? So early for your disturbance," I asked her, annoyed, opening my eyes. Irritated as I endured, my parents still considered me a child.
"Early? Vince, when will you grow up and be mature enough. You are not a kid anymore, for God's sake, son. You too far beyond from before." Looking at me as if waiting for a miracle. That's right, mommy, I was not like this before until my first love died in a car accident. We were still in high school then, and I couldn't forgive myself for what happened. Maybe if I hadn't mentioned to Cindy my planned wedding to Mia, she probably wouldn't have been angry that day, wouldn't have crashed, and wouldn't have died.
"Okay, Ma! Don't cry. I'll get up," I begged her, and she accepted. I weakened when I saw a woman crying because it reminded me of my late girlfriend, Cindy.
"Patient is a virtue, son. You're graduating, so please do it for yourself, not for me, Vince. The day will come when we get old and pass away, and then you will inherit everything," she said and hugged me, kissed me on the cheek, then left.
~~
When I came out of the bathroom, I noticed the light on my cellphone. I picked it up and saw Philip's missed calls, Mia's batchmate, which I paid to watch over her, so no one stood around.
"Oh Philip, you have lots of missed calls. Why? Make sure it's important. If not, you're dead to me," I threatened him as I sighed, my hair still dripping wet.
"It's Mia, Bro. Mia," he repeated, but it didn't end. It is the only problem with Philip being too timid.
"What about Mia? Philip, are you gay? Can't you speak directly? What happened to Mia?" My forehead furrowed, I asked him angrily.
"There's a man around Mia, Bro, and it looks like they have mutual understanding and that man is also handsome." Perhaps Philip was precisely gay. By just looking at a handsome man, he has already given up. Mother fucker, no one can approach Mia or flirt with her. There was something commotion in my chest as I threw my cellphone on the bed.
[Mia POV]
I was surprised, and Nick turned out to be my classmate in another subject. He was a late enrollee student because of lacking money last semester, he's alone in life, and he's the only one who supports himself, so I'm even more impressed with him.
"Class dismissed," said our Prof in Literature. Everyone was delighted again, and I stopped Aimee when she was about to leave without informing me.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I'm going to use the bathroom, but maybe I won't go with you either," she widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows, pouting that I couldn't understand. Nick and I looked at each other at the impression on her face.
"Are you okay, Aimee?" Nick wondered who was the first to ask.
"Yeah. Are you okay?" She came a little closer, then whispered something in my ear. "I'll go first, Mia. You know I think he's the one," we looked at each other and smiled, getting what she meant.