Hey, ThatShitItTearsMeUp! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! I don't know how you did this cover with Selena and Gui in it but OMG love this so much! Thank you!

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~~~ CHAPTER 7 - COLLEGE ~~~

        When I opened my eyes, the sun's rays came to light upon Mommy Carol's room. She was no longer on bed. Looking at my wrist watch, I was astounded to know that it was almost time for lunch. Oh, the bane of partying!

        Too excited to go out of the room, I hastily fixed mom's bed. While my mind was reminding me that Nigel arrived last night, I decided that I needed to also fix myself to meet him today. After putting everything on bed in place, I ran to the door to open it so I could go to my room and take a shower in my own bathroom. As the door plunged open, my jaw dropped upon seeing who was standing before me.

        Nigel.

        He was actually about to knock the door since I caught him raising his right hand. But when he saw me inside, he quickly put his hand down and stepped backward. I knew he was surprised as I was.

        Since his wavy hair was still wet, it was easy to tell that he had just taken a shower. He looked very fresh and fragrant with his plain sweat shirt and pair of denim jeans.

        Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had just gone out of bed without even having to check on my face or my disarrayed long hair! Without having second thoughts, I promptly closed the door before Nigel's face so I could run to mom's vanity mirror to arrange myself. Luckily, I found some wet wipes on her vanity table and wiped my eyes and face with them. Then, I ran my fingers through my hair so I could tuck the wavy strands in place. I fixed my pink pajama top and pants and made sure that I still looked presentable even in my sleeping attire. After doing so, I quickly went to open the door, terribly afraid that I might not be able to see him again. Fortunately, he was still standing there looking so flustered.

        What a nice way to start my day, huh? Seeing my dream guy first thing in the morning in my sleeping attire?

        I gave him my sweetest smile and accosted him good morning.

        "I didn't know you and mom have exchanged rooms," he said bewilderedly.

        "No, we haven't. I just slept with mom last night," I explained.

        "You slept with mom?" he asked still bewildered. "Well, why should I wonder? That's what babies do. They sleep with moms," he explained later to himself.

        "I'm no longer a baby," I complained.

        "Yet you look like one," he commented as his eyes scrutinized my pajamas. He was smirking.

        "Why do you always insult me?" I mused in between my gritted teeth. Last night, while I was in my party dress, he appeared not pleased with it. Now that I was wearing pajamas, he just simply insulted me! What should I wear that he'd find agreeable? "You're like the harshest person I've ever known!" I cried trying to prevent my tears to fall down.

        Obviously pleased with my expressed annoyance, he chuckled at my statement. "I'm the harshest person you've ever known and yet you wish to marry me? How absurd... or..." he stopped grinning, "don't you anymore?" He stared at my eyes to search for a clue.

        Well, I also had my temper. No matter how I tried to make myself the most patient girl in the world, I couldn't help to get irritated. Disregarding his valuable presence, I walked pass him to go to my room.

        "Althea!" I heard him call my name.

        I turned around. He actually called me? Miracle!

        "What?" I asked.

        "Are you backing out now of our engagement?" His forehead was slightly furrowed.

        Back out? Me backing out? Really?

        "Back out? Never!" I yelled at him and ran to my room.

        Don't you ever push me to back out, Nigel, I said to myself as I dragged the door behind me. I slumped my back on it. I wanted to cry.

        Seconds later, I heard slight knocks on my door. Would it be possible that Nigel was pursuing me? Did he still want to talk to me?

        I breathed in and out. It took me a few seconds before deciding to open the door. When I did so, yeah, I saw him again.

        "What?" I asked acting cold.

        "Let's have a deal," he said as he leaned on the doorframe and I stepped backward, a little farther from him.

        "What deal?" I asked perplexedly as this was the first time that he actually followed me. Normally, it would be him to walk out on me. And, if I'd be the one to leave first, he always never bothered to follow me. So, this was some kind of miracle, huh?

        Still leaning on the doorframe, with his arms crossed in his chest, he drew a heavy sigh.

        "Let's end this folly right now. Let's go to mom and tell her we decide not to get married. Ever." He had that serious tone. Just listening to him, any one could tell that he was meaning every word he just said.

        My mouth opened in shock. How could he?

        "And if you agree with me, I swear I'll be good to you, I'll no longer bully or insult you. In short, I'll be civil to you," he continued, still sounding very serious.

        Civil? No, I didn't want him to be just civil to me. I wanted him to be mine. Mine. Be my husband.

        "And if I don't do what you just said?" I asked stubbornly and meeting his gaze, also crossing my arms on my chest.

        He backed away from the doorframe and stood in the middle of the doorway, his hands in his pockets.

        "Are you kidding me?" Nigel appeared very surprised with my answer. "Do you really want to pursue this folly?"

        "This is not foolishness to me," I immediately said.

        "Ugh!" he groaned in irritation as he turned around.

        "Wait!" I stepped closer to him. I was afraid that he might walk out on me forever. "W-Why can't we just marry?"

        "Damn!" he cursed, clenching one of his fists. "And give in to what mom wants when it's neither healthy nor beneficial to the both of us? Are you really this desperate?" he commented as his back was facing me.

        "Of course, it's healthy and beneficial." I wanted to fight for it.

        He faced me again. "How could you say that? Are you mature enough to even say that?"

        My age. He was referring to my age. Oh, my goodness! Didn't he really think that I had grown up already?

        "When are you really going to grow up, Althea? For once, learn to be mature."

        He still saw me as a child! I still didn't have any effect on him! "N-nigel..."

        He didn't wait for what I was going to say. "What I want to point out is for you to really decide for your future, Althea. You can't just hang on with mom forever. Decide for yourself. Besides, I also have my own future to think of. I only want to marry the woman I like, not the woman my mom likes for me."

        "The only future I like is to be with you..." I said, almost a whisper. How could I shout it the whole world when the man whom I wanted to listen wouldn't?

        Nevertheless, he still heard me.

        "Don't make a fool of yourself," he said, almost a whisper, too.

        That statement again!

        "If you can't accept me right now, then I'll wait for you even it'll take forever for me," I said, almost crying.

        "I said, don't be a damn fool!" he said angrily, this time, shoving both of my shoulders with his strong hands. "I. Don't. Want. To. Marry. You." He stressed every word like he wanted every cell of my brain to perceive it. "I will marry only the woman I love and I don't love you."

        So he didn't love me? What now? His words struck me hard. I was speechless.

        He released my shoulders from his grasp.

        Looking at his grim impression, I felt my tears flowed out from my eyes. He became more resentful as he observed my tears in my cheeks.

        "See? You still haven't grown up enough. You're still a cry-baby," he said coldly as he turned to leave.

        It hurt me so much. His words, all his words hurt me to the bone!

        "Because you always make me cry! Damn you!" I cried out loud so he could hear it.

        He halted and turned around to face me again. For seconds, he just gazed at me.

        "Because you always make me cry..." I repeated, in lower tone now, as both of us were battling gazes.

        "Because that's what I want to do. I will never make you happy, Althea," he uttered matter-of-factly.

        He never looked at my direction again.

        After that, I never saw him anymore that day. He already left.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        In spite of the heartaches and pains he brought to my life, I still couldn't afford to hate Nigel. In spite of my young heart, I still believe that what I felt for him was definitely real. So, I swore to myself that I would wait for the time when he would finally learn to love me... even if it would take forever. Even if he hated the idea of it. Forever. I would love him forever. And I would wait for him forever.

        During the later weeks of summer, I spent my days creating beautiful memories with Elena, my closest pal now. Together with my driver, Diego, Elena and I always went to La Carlota to do some charity work especially to those children who hadn't gone to school. We had feeding and volunteer teaching programs in the village, of course, with the approval and resources of Mommy Carol. I also invited some of my classmates to join and share their fortune to the children in La Carlota.

        It actually all started when one day in the village, I came to realize how unfortunate most of the children were there. Having parents who were mostly peasants, laborers and workers, these children were actually left behind most of the times. They were young and impoverished. They needed attention.

        As we continued our services, I felt good inside. I realized that we could do something for our fellows no matter how young we were. Mommy Carol said she was proud of me, but I was much prouder of Elena and Diego who were persistently there to help me with my newly found mission in life. It just suddenly dawned on me. I wanted to help.

        That was how I started to become really close with Elena. I realized how good-hearted she was. Yet, I felt sorry for her. Like any girl of her age, she wanted to go to college. But because she had a family to support , she had to be confined in the mansion to work after she finished high school in a public school.

        As for Diego, well, I actually started to like him. The annoyance I felt for him had eventually gone. I began now to understand why he was always oozing with confidence and showing a funny personality. They were like his defense mechanism. For a boy who grew up in a poor family, he had to endure the harshest experiences he met along the way. To have a sickly father who already retired being the palacio gardener and a mother for a househelp, he had to help supporting his brothers and sisters. He was now the breadwinner of his family.

        When Diego and I became closer, he stopped telling vocally his feelings for me. Yet, with his stolen glances at me, I was aware that he still had that kind of feeling. I felt sorry for him every time.

        Both Elena and Diego wanted to go to college. Elena wanted to be a nurse; Diego wanted to be an engineer... which made me realize that here I was, about to enter college, but still was not able to decide the course I should take; while Elena and Diego, who had already decided for their courses, could not even go to college. The irony of life!

        I wished I could help the both of them... and the many children in the village... to be able to pursue education.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        The day before I went to the capital for college, I went to visit the lagoon and bade my goodbyes to the place where I came to get used to. With my tears flowing down my cheeks, I placed the blanket in my basket as I was about to leave.

        "I'm going to miss all of you!" I shouted at everything that surrounded me. The sky seemed to get darker and darker as clouds came to build up above. The flowers seemed to stoop. The butterflies came to hover all around me as if saying their goodbyes, too. They all seemed sad.

        "Don't worry, I'll be just going to stay with my Nigel. But I'll be back!"

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        As I was treading the concreted pavement going to the palacio, Diego came from behind, probably coming from their house, riding a bicycle. Today was his day-off.

        He stopped to greet me.

        "Hi, Thea!" he said, smiling sweetly.

        "Hello! Where are you going?"

        "Just where my bike brings me," he joked. "Would you like to come with me, my lovely señorita?"

        "And let me ride on that bike?" I gasped as I looked at the uncomfortable rear part of the bicycle where a passenger was supposed to sit. "No thanks!"

        "There's nothing to fear! Diego, the brave hero, is here!" he said, proudly tapping his chest.

        "No way, Diego," I protested.

        However, he kept on pestering me until he got me on that rear part. I always thought before that riding on his bicycle with him would be a ridiculous idea, but when I actually did, it was like one of the most exciting experiences in my life! It was totally a blast, especially when he would make his bike ran super fast like the wind that I had to shout and shout of both excitement and fear. And, of course, it made me hug him tightly without even my being aware of it until we reached the palacio.

        When he dropped me just outside the gate, I thanked and told him that I would never forget that experience.

        "Wow! It blew my mind off!" I added, smiling.

        He smiled, too, showing his cute dimple. Then, he became serious.

        "Just don't forget me," he said. "When you're already in the city, just don't forget me. That's all I ask of you."

        "Of course, I will never forget you or Elena or anyone in The Fields," I said as I took the basket from his hand. He was still clinging to his bike.

        Diego looked at my eyes without even battling an eyelash.

        "I love you so much," he stated softly as he was about to weep. I could feel his sincerity. It was his first time to say those words to me personally. "I will wait for you, Thea."

        His compelling utterance made my heart sink.

        If only we could teach our hearts...

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        In the evening, all I could think of was Diego. I couldn't sleep just thinking about how pitiful he was. I wanted him to be happy. I didn't want him to be like me expecting love from somebody who didn't feel the same way. I wanted him to find the right girl for him, a girl who could really give herself totally to him without reservations. As for me, I could only be a friend to him.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        Early in the morning, after bidding farewell to Elena and to all the mansion workers, mom and I got in the car to go to the capital. Mom hired another driver because Diego couldn't drive for us there yet. He still wasn't that adept driving in that big city.

        Just before our car left, I said silently my prayers for our safety. I wouldn't be able to surmount my fear about traveling if I wouldn't dare to experience it again and again. I had to do it for myself. For myself.

        Mommy caressed my hand. She could tell exactly what I was feeling this time. She smiled to assure me that, just like last time, everything would be alright. And I trusted her.

        When the driver started the engine, I caught sight of Diego's sad expression. His eyes appeared to have not slept the night before.

        Poor Diego!

        I opened my glass window and waved my right hand at the servants standing in line in the driveway. All of them waved back at me except for Diego. He was just standing there and staring at the departing vehicle.

        "He's a kind boy," I heard Mommy Carol's comment as I put my hand down and closed the window.

        "Huh?" I turned to mom.

        "Diego," mom said.

        "Yeah, he sure is," I replied as I pictured out Diego's pitiful countenance.

        "I'm planning to let him pursue college in the town."

        I was surprised to hear those words from mommy. I looked at her face. She was serious.

        "That's nice, mom! Diego would love it!"

        "I've been thinking about the services you did this summer to the village children... and I am so happy about it, darling. I'm so inspired by it... and it makes me realize that we have our resources to help the unfortunate ones, so why not help? This year, I'm going to send Elena and Diego to college."

        I was so overwhelmed with mom's news that I hugged her tightly. It was enough for me to let her feel how grateful I was to her for answering my friends' prayers.

        I rode on the car with a very grateful heart. How lucky I was to have Mommy Carol in my life! Somehow, this happy thought made me forget a little bit the phobia I had for traveling.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

A/N

        So next chapter, Althea's finally living with Nigel... How do you think this will work? Or will this even work? Haha!

        I will never tire of thanking those who find time in reading this story. Let me know who you are... VOTE and COMMENT pleeeaase.   

        Lovelotz,
        (sapphiregirl22)   ~_^