Cold Hearted, You

03

NOTE: Please be aware of the chapters point of view.

03

I neatly folded the last piece of shirt that was left on my bed before putting it on my luggage on the floor. I double checked if all of my clothes are packed just in case that I left something. All of my shoes, tops, jeans and even coats are all nowhere to be seen on my used to be clothes filled cabinet. It was just left with nothing now.

My eyes went to the night stand where two photo frames are placed. I stood up from an Indian seating position on the floor and sat on the edge of my bed before reaching for one of the photo frames that is placed just in the front. It was a photo of my family that was taken probably a month before we left our country for the States.

A small laugh escapes my lips when I realize my messed up hair back then. It was still styled neatly otherwise my mother won’t allow me to have that family picture taken. My hair is just much more fine and looks even healthier now than it was back then.

“Don’t you look so young?” I told my younger self over the photo who had a wide smile that almost reached his ears.

I put it on my side, making sure to be careful of the stand because I need to take it back with me. My attention then went to the other photo frame. A smile slowly forms into my lips as I stare at it more. It was a photo of me and Krystal probably just around the same year before I left for the States. We are both wearing our school uniform with her just standing there while I stand next to her with one arm draped on her shoulder. The two of us had big and beautiful smiles on while looking directly at the camera.

“This photo was really taken well.” I whispered before the smile on my lips slowly faded as I remember how it was like just a dream.

It has been a long time since I heard anything from her. Maybe it was about three years ago from now since the last time she sent me a message. We were casually on good terms and replying to each other's messages when she just suddenly disappeared. Not a single reply and not even a single call. I tried calling her number but it turns out she changes it and I can’t get any reply from any of her social media accounts as well because she seems to not check any of it except if she is to post something.

Suddenly, our relationship feels like back to zero. I was suddenly out of her life because I was away. I keep wondering if it was because I decided to come with my brother and not convince my parents enough to make me stay there? But she said she understands and she is fine with it that we were even able to communicate well for the first three years. What’s with the sudden hanging?

“That photo will melt,” I heard the familiar annoying and deep voice of my brother. I raised my head to look towards the door to see him standing there, leaning on one side with arms crossed. A smirk forms on my lips when I see his outfit. “Still haven’t heard from her yet?”

A bitter smile replaces my smirk as I shake my head slightly. “You are the one who has already gone back there but you can’t even provide me with any information.” I argued which made him scoff.

“Well, Kai Nicholas, Erin is just nowhere to be found just like how you explained that she just suddenly ditched you.” He answered, making me glare at him. He welcomed himself in my room and sat on the couch just located on the side of the door. “I didn’t even manage to see a single strand of her hair despite getting to come back there for years now. She's almost gone, you know?”

Kuya Joshua has been back in our country for almost two years now. Since then, he took his place as dad’s right arm by taking the COO place and has been known as one of the top bachelors of the country. He was pretty successful because dad was able to hand him the CEO position just early this year.

On the day of his return, I asked him one thing. I asked him to check on Krystal for me because I really got nothing for her. I was even on the verge of ditching everything here in Los Angeles and going back in there in the middle of the school year just to know whatever it is going on with her. Because of that, my brother promised to do me a favor but… he never had any proper information.

“During my new position proclamation, she wasn’t there as well. Actually in any events that we attend, she was nowhere to be found. I always expected that she would show up because she is the future heir of Empire Group but I always ended up disappointed.” He shook his head as he repeated the same explanation. “Whenever I ask auntie about it, she will say that she is busy with academics, which is why she is not available. It just happens that she is alway occupied considering she is at the top of her year. She is always in academic competition as far as I heard.”

Krystal has always been smart ever since then. Her potential is gifted not manipulated just because their family owned the school. She has always been capable of competing with whoever is a threat to his academic ranking. That is why I never doubted the future of their family business since the day she told me that she is their heir after ate Jessica gave it up.

“How about ate Jessica? Have you tried asking her about Krystal?” I questioned. He looks flustered by my question that made me smirk.

“W-why are you suddenly bringing her up?” He questioned back in a defensive tone, looking agitated.

“You went to see her in San Francisco again today, didn’t you?” I raised a brow when he avoided my eyes. “Or did you stay outside the shop once again?”

“S-stop trying to corner me Kai!” He yelled, making me jump a little on my spot as a laugh later on escapes my lips.

That has been his routine since then. Ever since we found out that ate Jessica opened her first branch of clothing line in San Francisco, he has been sacrificing his six hours just to get there if he decided to drive and an hour and a half if he decided to go on a plane. I don’t even know why he always ended up with nothing after coming back here from there. He is just wasting both money and gas for coming back and forth.

“Try to send Krystal a message on her i********: again just to inform her of your return. She just updated it a couple of minutes ago so she might still be online there.” He suggested.

“I know. I already sent her one while she was still active but still… no use.” I said, shaking my head.

Instead of getting any response, when I look at my brother, he has this teasing look on his eyes that makes me wanna poke it out. He always does this! Whenever it is me who is trying to tease him, he always does his best to dodge it and change the topic right away. But if it is me with Krystal, he will keep on going and going!

“You should have confessed to her back then.”

“So we could end up like you and ate Jessica? No way,” I said out of nowhere but it was late for me to realize it now.

I looked up at him carefully only to see him with a small smile plastered on his lips as he shook his head. I expected him to fire back and defend himself but instead, he remained silent and just looked at me.

“Just packed up completely so we’ll be good to go by tomorrow. We still have an early flight back there to catch.” He says standing up from the couch. He was about to go out when I called for his name that made him turn to face me.

“Did you regret letting ate Jessica go?” I carefully asked him.

The history between the two of them has always been unclear for me. He never told me the whole reason why they suddenly just ended things up even without even getting to the point where they finally put a label on their relationship. Since then I already know that they like each other but things just suddenly call off completely a few months before ate Jessica went to Paris for a vacation.

“I don’t… because if I didn’t let her go, I would be selfish. Both for her,” He looks at me deeply as if there is something in his eyes that he wanted to tell me about. “And the people who are very important to us.”

What he said just made me even more confused and curious of what actually happened to them. From what I know now, both of them are on good terms and are on talking terms like usual friends but I know that my brother still likes her the way he did back then. He wouldn’t go to San Francisco and not face her if he doesn’t. Even if he tried to dodge the topic every single time, I am still his brother who knows things about him.

The next morning, we went to the LAX to finally get into the flight that will bring me back to the place that I missed the most. Compared to kuya Joshua, I wasn’t allowed to visit there because of my parents' fear of me not wanting to come back here again.

I am Kai Nicholas Juarez. I have been staying in Los Angeles for the last whole six years of my life without even knowing when I would be able to come back. My life was easy in that city at first because I had my brother to help me adjust but when he left to go back, I was left alone. I was just lucky because I managed to have some loyal friends who kept me company despite my brother’s absence.

I did learn a lot staying outside my hometown. The difference in culture and the way people talked. I could say that I also improved a lot and adjusted well with the environment I adapted in Los Angeles. But despite all that, the urge of wanting to go back to where I really came from has always been there. I know my stay in Los Angeles is not permanent anyway so during my stay, I just did my best to have fun while studying and make the most of the time…

But still worrying if the person who I wanted to wait for me… is still waiting for me.

“Nico!”

A wide smile immediately formed on my lips when I saw my mother in the waiting area, ready to run into me if it weren’t for the barricade that separates us. I look at my brother who shakes his head in disbelief with a small smirk plastered on his lips. We both made our way towards them as I was immediately tucked into my mother’s arms without any hesitation.

“I have missed you so much, my son!” She exclaimed that it made me laugh. I wrap my arms on her body to reciprocate her warm hug as well.

“You just saw me about three months ago when you visited. You are acting like you haven’t seen me for years.” I teased which earned me a light smack on my shoulder as she let me go.

“Well three months is like three years for a mother, Kai Nicholas! You are just exactly like your brother!” She scolded, pointing at me and kuya.

“Why am I even included?!” My brother complained, looking unfair.

“It’s because you said the same line to your mother when you first returned here for good as well, Josh.” Dad told him as a laugh escapes my lips, watching them. His attention went to me, approaching me to give a warm hug as well. “Welcome back, son!”

After six years, I am finally back and this time… for good! I don’t know how much this whole place has changed. Surely the temperature is a lot different from Los Angeles which is one of the things I will have to adjust to. The time is probably the one that I need a major adjustment for the next few days considering Los Angeles is 15 hours behind in time. But as long as I am back now, I can do all that adjustment without any worry.

We went straight to the mall to have lunch since it’s already time. Even though I am not that hungry yet, I couldn’t miss the first family meal back home after years. I just spoon a small portion of food to my plate despite mom’s complaint. Since I have been trying to keep my body in shape back in Los Angeles, I decided to continue it here so my efforts won’t go to waste.

“Have you told Krystal that you are back, Kai?” Dad suddenly questioned when I was about to drink my juice. I put down my glass and glanced towards my brother who is sitting on the opposite chair to mine. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Not really, dad, It’s just…” He raised a brow at me when he noticed my hesitation. “Well, I lost my contact with Krystal for years now.”

“Lost your contact? What do you mean, son?” Mom questioned in confusion.

I explained to them what happened which was far from what they expected. They never really heard anything about it because we kept this issue between ourselves. I am not even sure if Krystal let her parents know about this as well considering how close our parents are. Even they have no idea of her sudden disappearance in the parties because according to them, she used to attend business parties with her parents until two years ago.

“Once you go back to school, I’m sure you will see her there anyway. She still studies at the same school and really kept her rank all by herself.” Mom says, trying to cheer me up as I nodded and gave her a small smile.

“Krystal is really amazing actually. I know she has been a smart girl since then but I didn’t expect she could manage to keep her rank up until now. But I heard she once lost her top rank back then.” I immediately look at my father with his revelation of an unknown information. My brows furrowed with the sudden and unexpected revelation. “I think it was last, last year? She dropped to rank ten suddenly by the end of the school year. I heard she was even out of school for a long time during that year but I forgot the reason why.”

Was it accidental that so many things happened two years ago? She began to be out of my contact about three years ago then the following year, all of these happened. It's almost like she suddenly rebelled for unknown reasons because the Krystal I know wouldn’t let herself out of the first to third rank. The more I think about it, the more I get confused with everything that happened to her while I was gone.

krystalvargas just posted a photo.

I immediately clicked on the notification from i********: as a photo of Krystal popped up on my screen. It was a photo of her while sitting on what seemed to be a bench next to a window with one leg on the soft bench and the other kept hanging as she looked outside the window. The photo has two sides of it which is the other is occupied by the natural lighting and the other in. She kept a straight face like the photo was taken candidly.

juarez.kai: erin can u see my messages?

juarez.kai: how are u today?

juarez.kai: btw i’m back. can we meet?

I sent those messages, hoping desperately for a reply from her. My fingers scroll down from the conversation. Not even a single reply. Since last year, I have been the only one who keeps sending her messages and she did not even bother replying back. Did she really forget about me? Did someone come first and fill my spot already? Did I lose my chance now?

For the next few days, I stayed inside the house and only went out from time to time whenever my brother came to pick me up from the house to bring me around. He doesn’t live in our house now since he stayed at his own unit that is located at the Empire Grand Residence which is owned by Krystal’s family. With his help, I manage to adjust little by little with the timezone since he knows better on how I should handle this than I do. After all, he already went through the cycle every single time he visited the States..

I wore the last piece of my uniform, a navy blue blazer, on top of my white long sleeve polo touched in beige colored pants. I paired it with a black leather shoes that mom prepared for me earlier while I was taking a bath. My hair is styled neatly, leaving my bangs to cover my forehead. I have seen this uniform with kuya wearing it, it just feels different wearing it now. I didn’t even expect that I would get to wear this as well. All this time I thought they would keep me in Los Angeles until I finished high school.

After taking a break fast with my parents, I was driven to school by our family driver. It was funny because mom even insisted on coming to drop me there like it’s my first day of kindergarten when it already passed long enough. Even no matter how we grew up or even how taller we have gotten than her, I guess we will still be the same kid in her eyes.

“It feels different being here now,” I exclaimed, staring at the school building that I never came in before. We passed by my previous building earlier before I left for the States and it feels nostalgic. The memories just popped up in my mind like old times.

Students are everywhere on the campus as I enter the building with so many pairs of eyes eyeing me. It’s not everyday they get to see a new face, especially when the semester has already started for about three weeks now. I am already a late enrollee, which is probably why they didn’t expect my arrival.

My brows arched when I saw a crowd on the barricade, looking down on the ground floor. Taking advantage of my tall height, I went to a place where it is less crowded but still has a clear view of whatever it is they are looking at down there. I narrowed my eyes when I saw three girls there. One girl is on the floor who looks like in mild pain, one is left shocked while looking down on the girl on the floor, almost frozen, while the other approaches the one on the floor.

When the girl who was on the bus managed to stand up with the help of the other girl, the shocked one suddenly got on her knees this time. I turned my head a little when I heard mocking from the students on my side. They keep laughing and whispering things such as calling the girl on her knees an i***t for not looking in her way or even making fun of her with many more insulting words.

I raised a brow when I heard the girl on her knees keep on apologizing while explaining her side. I watched and tried to wait for the other girl to at least help her stand up, but much to my disappointment, she didn’t help her. Instead, she passes by her like she didn’t see her.

"She is so rude and childish. She can't even accept the apology of that girl." I whispered to myself but enough to catch the attention of the girls who were standing a few inches away from me. Their attention went to me as they suddenly stared at me while whispering to one another. I only gave them an awkward smile before leaving that crowd.

I made my way to the Chairwoman’s office like what mom ordered me to do. She said that auntie would be really glad to see me again since she requested for me to come into her office right after I arrived at the school. I just wished that Krsytal would be there, waiting for me.

But I only disappointed myself.

"You look so handsome and tall! You are all grown up now!" Auntie complimented when I walked straight to her, giving her a peck on her cheeks. A shy smile formed into my lips as I scratched the back of my neck. “How are you dear?”

“I’m doing fine, auntie. How about you?” I answered politely.

“The same as you, dear. Come and sit!” She says, guiding me on the couch.

"On my way here, I actually witnessed something in the hallway auntie." I revealed which made her raise a brow at me. “A girl bumped into another girl, I think by accident, which caused her to lay on the ground. The girl who bumped into her keeps on apologizing to the point that she kneeled down but she only got ignored by that mean girl.”

I heard a gasp from her. “Do you remember what she was wearing? Or maybe you heard her name?” She asked as I thought of it.

Name… there’s no name. Clothes…

“Red blazer!” Just at the right time, the same girl entered the room. I pointed to her as she looked at me weirdly. “It was her auntie!”

“Krystal?” Auntie suddenly said that made me look at her with wide eyes in disbelief. I repeated that familiar name before looking at that girl. That is not possible. “Yes! She is your childhood friend, Krystal. Can’t you remember her?”

I pointed to the girl with wide eyes and lips parted. “You are Krystal?”

"Yes, weirdo! I'm Krystal, Krystal Erin Vargas!”

No! She can’t be the same person. The Krystal I know is not that kind of person. The Krystal I know is the sweet girl not the mean girl like the one from earlier unless… she changed.