The Annulment

Chapter 1

I was admiring the comforting view outside of the coffee shop I’m currently sitting in. It was bright outside as if it did not rain heavily last night. The new day was refreshing and the sun shone beautifully.

It’s nine o’clock in the morning and I’ve been sitting here for about thirty minutes. I’m waiting for my best friend, Lucettia Morfori, so we can go to school together. Only a few days left and we’ll be marching on the stage and receiving our diplomas, completing the degree in fashion design.

This is the proof of our hard work and we are waiting for this day. Right now, we only have to take care of the things that needed to be taken care of since we’re only four days away from graduating and leaving the school that had become the witness throughout our four years of stay, Saint Louis College.

I turned and looked at the waitress when she suddenly placed my blueberry frappe order on the table.

“Thank you,” I thanked her.

The waitress smiled back at me before returning to the counter. I returned to watched the people pass by outside the coffee shop. To this day, I still wonder how other people smile when they seem to be lacking of resources.

It’s one of the things I wanted to understand. I was born with a silver spoon. However, my parents taught me to be respectful to everyone and never judge their circumstances. And I’m grateful that my parents gave me all that love.

As the only child to one of the country’s business tycoon, I grew up comfortably but lived simply. Though we can afford anything that I could possibly want, I never asked them for it. Instead, my parents taught me how to live frugally. Besides that, my family has been known to be generous, caring and employee-friendly.

A lot more came to mind but they all disappeared the instant I saw two vehicles parked outside the coffee shop. I easily recognized one of the cars. It was one of the Morfori’s.

I smiled when I saw my best friend got out of the car. She waved at me right away and I raised the frappe glass in return. I saw how she rushed to the coffee shop, nearly tripping just to get to me.

“I’m sorry, Bea. I woke up late that’s why I’m late,” she apologized. She sat down on a vacant chair beside me.

I would have believed her if I hadn’t seen the owner of the other vehicle that came with Lucettia.

“That’s Kiefer.” I pointed at the direction of the guy who owns the red sports car which is was parked outside, right in front of us. “Why do I get this feeling that you intentionally came late just so you could come with that guy?”

She giggled. “Look at him, isn’t he perfect?”

I shook my head and took a sip of my drink.

“He’s smart, with a great physique and definitely handsome!” she exclaimed.

I covered my face with my palms in shame when she gave praises to Kiefer. I knew her all along. Whenever she saw a handsome guy, she acted like teenager in love.

“I know that expression,” she said. “Compared to you, you’re only in love with one guy and no other man can replace him in your heart.”

I hit her harder which made Lucettia laugh even more.

“Oh, my Beatriz… How many years has it been? Your dream guy doesn’t look like he’s coming back for you. And besides, think about it. He might have met a hot, smarter and more beautiful blonde in the States!”

I felt a shiver run down my spine and pouted. Thinking about what she said, she could be right. I became sad at the thought that what Lucettia said was true. There’s a possibility that it could have happened because Jazon had been away for long, he’s basically living there now. He left four years ago and I haven’t seen him since then.

He never went back home. Or, he could have gone home but since he doesn’t care about me, he chose not to let me know.

It’s not surprising because from what I heard, he was supposed to stay in the States for only two years because of his masteral studies but he ended up staying for four years now. Jazon’s mom, Mrs. Alice Saavedra whom I’m already calling Auntie, also told me that he opened a business and was very much focused on running it. So, if he decided to live there, it’s really possible that I won’t see him anymore.

And that will be the end of my one sided-love.

“Earth to Beatriz Cara Ledezma!” Lucettia snapped her fingers near my face.

I frowned. “What?”

She giggled. “Let’s go. We still have more to do before we finished.”

I took my frappe and stood up. Together, we went out of the coffee shop. We saw Kiever and some of his friends on our way out.

“Good morning, Bea, Lucett,” Rence, the son of Choi Builders, greeted us.

“Good morning!” Lucettia greeted them back in a friendly tone.

We continued walking towards the school gates. The coffee shop was just a few minutes away from school.

We continued chatting so we hardly cared about the surroundings. Some of our schoolmates also greeted us as we walk inside the school park. Lucettia is naturally friendly while I’m the introvert type, so most people thought of me as the spoiled brat heir of the Ledezmas.

“Whoa!” Lucettia pointed the blue sports car.

We passed by the school’s parking lot and of all the vehicles parked there, the blue sports car stood out and caught the attention of all passersby.

“That’s expensive!” Lucettia exclaimed while pointing at the car. “I think it’s worth hundreds of millions or maybe, a billion.”

I slapped her pointing finger. “I’m sure you can afford that car. But your Mom won’t really let you as I am a hundred percent sure you will just bump and break that car somewhere.

Lucettia pouted which made me laugh at her. Morfori’s only daughter is an accident-prone woman that’s why one of her brothers always volunteer to be her driver.

“Oh, s**t!”

I was looking at my friend and I saw how her eyes widened and then she covered her mouth with her hands, gasping.

I tried to follow the direction she was looking at. I almost dropped my jaw at the sight. I did not anticipate that beside the blue sports car was the person I wasn’t expecting to see today.

The man of my dreams, the man who promised to marry me when we were five and the very same man who broke my heart when I was sixteen, Jazon Lucas Saavedra. He was donned in a white long-sleeved polo, a pair of gray pants, and leather shoes; looking tall, fresh and still handsome. My heart almost leaped out of my chest.

I felt Lucett’s grip tighten. “Am I seeing this right? I’m not dreaming, right?” she asked.

If on normal occasions, I would’ve probably laughed at her silly jokes, this one’s different. I don’t exactly know how to react and I froze right then when Jazon started walking towards us.

“Hi, Lucett,” he greeted my bestfriend. “Can I talk to Beatriz?”

I’ve yet to recover from the shock when Lucett pushed me to the guy. I almost hit his broad chest with my face and if it wasn’t for his quick reflexes, I would’ve hurt my nose.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Lucettia said but I knew that she’s just making a show out of it. “Take your time, we still have a lot of it and Beatriz can also decide to graduate next year…”

Jazon laughed at her. I suddenly felt a chill after hearing his lively laughter.

“I’m just going to wait for you there, witch.” Lucettia said while pointing at the main school gates.

I replied with a nod and watched her as she walked away from us.

“How have you been, Beatriz?” Jazon asked after Lucett left.

I immediately turned to look at him. “I’m fine. How about you? When did you arrive?”

“I went straight here from the airport, today.” He pocketed his hands and looked at me from head to toe. “I guess; I did the right choice of visiting you first before heading home,” he added as if it didn’t hurt me when he rejected me four years ago.

I erased the thoughts from my head. It was part of the past and I knew I was immature back then. Besides, I don’t feel angry anymore whenever I remember that episode of my life. I also learned that it was natural for teenagers to experience rejections.

“Why are you here?” I asked him. “Shouldn’t you be at home right now? Your parents, especially your mom might have been waiting for you.”

“It’s because I missed you… So much.”

I was speechless. I again felt the butterflies inside my stomach. All those years, I didn’t expect that I still have feelings for this guy.

I’m sure that this isn’t just some kind of attraction like what I’ve thought of years ago.

“I also want to ask you if I could drive you home later?” he asked again. His eyes showed fear of what my answer will be.

But then, I knew that after all those years when it comes to him, I am still the same; the weak, the fragile and the vulnerable Beatriz.

“Four thirty this afternoon,” I quickly replied. “I’ll be done with my requirements by then.”

He smiled sheepishly. “Alright, I’ll fetch you later. I’ll go home and come back later. Probably, by three this afternoon. I’ll just wait for you then.”

I just nodded at what he said. I still can’t believe this was happening. And even the time he said goodbye and went back to his car, I just waved at him. I felt hypnotized as I watched his car leave the school grounds.

“Your prince charming is definitely handsome, Bea!” Lucettia exclaimed as she rushed back to me. She shook my arms and asked,” What did he say?”

Still in trance, I told her that Jazon will pick me up later.

I snapped and covered my ears when I heard Lucettia squealed.