The Annulment

Chapter 2

"Beatriz Ledezma!"

I tried to hide when I heard Lucettia's high pitch voice. Why did she yell out my name in the school yard?

I acted like I did not hear her and continued to walk in the hallway. I lowered my head when I saw other students looking at me.

That witch, Lucettia, is really crazy! If I ever catch her, I’m going to strangle her pretty neck.

"Bea!" A hand stopped me.

"Please, you're getting everyone's attention." I hit her bottom.

Lucettia chuckled. "I'm just concerned. You'll be going out later with the man of the hour. And so, you need to put some color on your face!"

I avoided her hand that was about to touch my face. "Oh, please, Lucett. You know I'm not into dressing up, wearing make-up and such. And what do you mean by man of the hour?"

Lucettia put her pouch inside her bag and pulled me in a not-so-crowded part of the hallway. "Well, it's all over the news now. Your prince charming, Jazon Lucas Zaragosa is currently the talk of the city. I heard from my father that they're trying to get your man to join the Morfori Builders," she said.

Morfori Builders is her family's company. Like Rence’s company, another friend of ours, it's a construction company that expanded abroad just a couple of years ago.

I let her drag me towards the comfort room's direction. "How come? Jazon's company is more on trading."

She bit her lip. "Are you familiar with the word expansion? Jazon is on the peak of his success right now. So, it's normal for all the business tycoons to get him, be his business partner or at least be friends with him."

We reached the comfort room and Lucettia checked all of the cubicles.

"Stop that Lucett, no one's here at this time. And we're not talking anything confidential here," I told her before entering one of the cubicles.

"Hello, Miss Ledezma," she emphasized. She even knocked on the cubicle's door. "Everything about your prince charming was and will always be confidential."

A few minutes later, I got out. "He'll only fetch me later. So please, don't make a big deal out of it."

Lucettia pulled my arm so I can face her. She took a powder kit from her pouch. I wanted to say no but the witch glared at me so I just let her do what she wants to do with my face.

"This is a rare opportunity for you, my friend," Lucett emphasized the word rare as she applied powder unto my face. "How can you be this calm?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "Of course I'm nervous, but I don't want to jump into conclusion. I still remember how he rejected me way back."

Lucettia nodded. She then took a lipstick out of her pouch and applied that to my lips.

"You're still young that time. Maybe that's the reason why he rejected you," she answered. "But come to think of it, why did he invite you?"

She's now applying a bit of liquid blush on my cheeks.

"He did not invite me, he just wanted to talk about something that's why he said he'll fetch me."

Lucettia stared at me for a few seconds then messed my hair a bit. "Perfect!"

I just shook my head. We got out from the restroom. We continued talking as we thread the hallway.

"Maybe he needed something from me or something related to The Prime." I'm hurt from what I said. I only realized now that maybe that's the reason why Jazon met me earlier.

"Oh, your prince charming!" Lucettia bit her nails in panic.

I hit her arm as I tried to take a look outside, to the school's parking lot.

Jazon Zaragosa was perfectly sitting on top of his car's hood. I saw how other female students stared at him while he's busy looking at his wristwatch.

Maybe he felt my gaze, he looked up and his eyes met mine. He waved his hand and walked towards me. I could clearly see the regret of the female students as they watched Jazon approach me.

"Hi," he greeted us.

"Oh, I think I need to go home now. My driver's waiting for me for sure. Nice seeing you again, Mr. Zaragosa." Lucettia giggled.

Jazon smiled at my friend. "Sure Miss Morfori. Take care and please do come at my party tomorrow."

Lucettia nodded then faced me. "Got to go, Bea!"

"Take care!" I waved my hand. I watched Lucettia as she ran towards her car.

"Shall we?" Again, Jazon held my elbow and guided me to his car.

He opened his car's door for me before going inside the driver’s seat.

After a few minutes, we got out from the school. I stayed silent and tried to act normally.

Jazon started the conversation, maybe he saw that I'm a feeling bit uncomfortable so he tried to lighten the atmosphere.

He told me what happened to him in States. How he focused on his studies while he's doing a part-time job so that he can invest his savings to the companies there. How he started his business from scratch. How he really loves investments and such. But he needed to go back home because he’s going to manage their business.

"Since you have your own company in the States, you won't stay here for long, right?" I asked after hearing his stories.

We stopped in the parking lot of an exclusive restaurant. The traffic is quite long, that's why we decided to eat first before taking me home. He assisted me out of the car and we both walked together to get inside. The waiter guided us to a table and gave us the menu book. Jazon chose the food for us.

"No. I mean, I can manage both. My company is not that big compared to Zaragosa’s Group of Companies. But there will be times that I'll have to fly to the States because of that. And I have trustworthy people in Mages that's why I'm not afraid," he answered, mentioning his company's name.

After a while, the waiter served our food. We focused on eating instead. And Jazon really amazed me, he’s attentive of me even though he's eating too!

Our dinner s***h chitchat bonding lasted for almost an hour. I realized that there are a lot of things I don't know about him.

"So, I should take you home," he sounded a bit regretful.

I smiled. "Are you sure, Lilies’ Ville is quite far from here. You need to rest, too."

He guided me back to his car. "No worries. It's all worth it. And there's no traffic anymore so I can rest after taking you home."

I just let him be. Unlike earlier, after hearing him talk about his life in the States, I became at ease around him. I even laughed at his jokes.

And like what he predicted, there’s little traffic so we reached Lilies’ Ville after forty-five minutes.

Jazon's car drove inside the huge village and after a few minutes more, his car came to a stop in front of our tall gates.

"Bea..."

I turned to him. I almost gasped when I saw the emotion on his eyes.

"You never change." His tone is serious. "You're still that teenager who confessed to me years ago."

I smiled shyly. I know what he meant. After all those years, I'm still that conservative, prim and proper Beatriz.

I did everything so that I can at least reach the standards for becoming the perfect woman. I studied hard so that I can make him proud. I never dated anyone because I want to reserve myself for him. I never go to clubs or bars, or even tasted alcohol. I only drink wine when there's a family gathering.

I made myself perfect for everyone's eyes so that Jazon won't be humiliated when we ended up together. I felt my cheeks blushed when I realized how advance my thoughts are.

"You're blushing. Are you embarrassed because I brought your confession, years ago?" Jazon asked thinking that what he said made me embarrassed.

If he can only read my mind, he'll be embarrassed for me too, that's for sure!

I shook my head. "I'm sorry about that. I'm so young back then," I quickly replied.

We're not that close when we were young. Lucett was right, Jazon babysat me because his parents told him that. We became familiar with each other because of our family’s partnership in business.

In short, we’re still strangers to each other and today is the first time that I can talk to him like this. I don't want Jazon to think that I'm head over heels in love with him.

I want a natural relationship with him and if we'll be friends for now, I won't complain.

"I think I need to go so you can go home, too. It's late," I said and opened the door on my side but Jazon quickly pulled me.

A red velvet box greeted me.

"What if..." For the first time, I saw him being unsure of himself. "What if I returned the favor and propose to you, too?"

He opened the box and I covered my mouth with my hands when I saw a diamond ring inside.

"I've been in love with you, Beatriz. But you are too young back then. That's why I rejected your confession and went abroad. We both need to prioritize our studies. I don't want to cause trouble to our families if I decided to pursue you..."

I never thought that too much happiness will make my heart tightened. Not just butterflies, but maybe, the dragonflies also were being chaotic in my stomach.

"I waited for this day. I waited for your graduation day so that I can marry you and make you mine," Jazon added, his eyes full of overwhelming emotions.

"M-Marry me?" I stuttered. I knew in my heart that I love him. Ever since. Until now. And I never thought that this love I'm feeling will last for years.

"I want to marry you after your graduation, Beatriz Cara Ledezma."

I gasped, and I felt a tear fell out of my eye. Tears of joy. Now I understand why it was called like that.

"How about my parents?" I don't know but that question slipped out of my mouth.

Jazon smirked, his dimple on his right cheek showed. "Everything is ready. Your parents gave me their permission a long time ago. All we need is your yes. But if you need more time, I can give you that."

I don't need to think for his proposal.

Without second thoughts, I kissed his cheek.

"Is that a yes?" Jazon’s smile widened.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll marry you, Mr. Jazon Lucas Zaragosa."

He pulled me closer and hugged me tightly. "Then, we'll marry the day after your graduation."