Just when I expect that we are finally going to have our own place, we are back at the Babaylan's residence to heal the injuries we sustained. With the second and third tasks still coming, it seems like we are going to become a common visitor. Heck, even Mayumi and Migo are already becoming close.

"See? When it happens, it will become like this," Migo says and makes a whooshing sound and I roll my eyes. However, Mayumi is listening intently and laughs. She really laughs so pretty. The laughter reaches up to her eyes and she brightens up. I get why Migo is gushing over her whenever he talks about her.

I reach over to my bakya and wear it. It's already dark outside and the feast will start soon.

"Migo, I'll go to the plaza early," I say.

He shifts his attention to me and nods.

"Are all of you going to join the feast tonight?" Mayumi asks.

"Yes, ain't we required to go?"

"If you are too injured, then I can ask Rosa to ask the Rajah to make exemptions."

I tilt my head. "Which Rosa?" Isn't she the one who handles the new Babaylan's training? Or the Cleaner's workgroup?

"I mean Rosa from the Babaylan workgroup, not the Rosa from the Cleaners. They share the same name." She pauses, but when I just nod, she continues, "I heard that one of your friends, Cielo, from the Cleaners still has stomachache due to the taste testing of the crab that you hunted yesterday."

"So Migo should stay too?"

"He can walk, but it will be harder for him to join the Feast. It's just an option for him."

"If you are going to join him here, I'm sure he'll stay," I say and take a shawl. It looks like it will be cold. "Anyways, see you later." I say, but then remember something, "And also Mayumi."

Mayumi shifts her attention to me, waiting. "Cielo is not our friend," I say and leave the room.

I walk from the Babaylan's room to the plaza. The feast will be held at the same place where the Feast of Ulalen was held. This time, the feast is to celebrate the coming of a dignitary.

I pass through the plaza. The firelights are being erected and the tables and chairs are being prepared. There's also a dais in front with a couple of chairs and a single table at the side.

However, the plaza is not my goal. Finally, I get the chance to set a time to talk to Renz and this is the time that he scheduled for us to meet. He says that there's a garden around ten meters away from the plaza. There's also a huge tree in the middle that is encircled by bushes.

When I see the place he described, I am filled with hope. It's an area that cannot be seen from the plaza or by anyone passing through. Is this little escapade mean that he changed his mind about us? He'll come back to me? I lean at the tree trunk and think up all the possibilities. Maybe the reason why he's comforting Cielo yesterday, instead of me, is because he told her that he's going to break up with her?

Besides, we have been together for years. Maybe, after that death-defying stunt, we did during our first challenge, he realized that I am still the one he loves? I smile. Should I forgive him easily when he apologizes? Maybe. I squeal at the thought. Then, whatever I lack, I'll give it to him this time.

Thinking of all the scenarios, my smile does not vanish, even when I see him coming towards me. Damn, he looks good. His straight hair is longer now, but it fits the shape of his head. His built is also getting better. I'm sure that the sandig training is making him fit.

When he's only a meter away from me, I hide my hands behind me. When his eyes meet mine, I look away. He should not know what I am thinking. I can't just easily forgive him, even if I want to.

"You said you wanted to talk?" he starts.

I nod. It's been a while since I heard his voice with only the two of us in a conversation. How should I start talking to him?

"If you're not going to talk, then I'd rather leave," he says.

Panicked, I reach for his arms. He stops but does not speak.

"Wait, please," I whisper. How could he leave just like that? Ain't he going to ask me to return to him? Wait, I'm the one who requested this meeting. Ugh. Nonetheless, this is my chance. I tighten my hold on him and blurts out, "Come back to me."

There is a pause and then he says, "No. I am already with Cielo."

I feel like someone slapped me physically, on my cheeks, and it burns. I feel bad, the giddiness I feel a while ago is replaced by jealousy. And yet, all I can think of is how to recover from shame. I bow my head down and say, "I don't mean that."

I need to look up at him. I can't bow down like this forever. I look into his eyes and the tears warn me of their presence. No, that can't be.

"I..." I start but can't say anything more.

I bite my lips. Think hard, Jade! You can't be this lost for words! However, my brain's not cooperating. I just stand there, looking at him like an idiot while clasping his hand to mine. I might have looked pathetic in his eyes like how some of his relatives judged me as someone stupid. Because with him, I felt content. With him, I feel safe. With him, I don't need to play games so there is no need to think.

"Then what?!" he almost yelled at me.

That is clearly annoyance. That is a first. He's always so gentle with me. Not once did he raise his voice, no matter how insufferable I become. I'm not used to this. Where is the previous Renz? I feel the need to clutch at my chest but if I do that, he might leave.

Yes, let's forget about this and continue with what Aian told me. Let him leave. So, I let go of his arms, but instead, I grab at my skirt. Let it hurt, for now, I'll take care of it later.

"I--" I choke. "I just want to ask if you'd like to cooperate with us, you know, to return to our time."

"That's all?"

"Yes," I answer.

"I don't want to go back home," he answers. "I love it here."

"But your family, surely, you--"

"And what do you know about my family? You never cared at all. All you care about is your little project which is the reason why we ended up here."

"I did care for them. I did care for you. I still am, so--"

"So what? In the end, I never felt it."

"You should have told me! I should have--"

"Should have what?" He's mad. Thankfully, the music at the feast is getting louder.

"Please Renz, I just needed you to be, at least, cordial to me," I hear my voice break.

His anger, directed at me, is another first. I feel my chest getting tighter, so I reach for it. I feel like I can't breathe, but I'm sure as hell, that I am not sick. How could he change so much in so little time? It's almost like I don't know him at all.

"Cordial? I'll tell you something about cordial."

He pulls me closer to him, raises my chin to face him, and kisses me. It is a hard kiss, long and rough, the first time he did it with me. He used to give me gentle, soft kisses, to tell me how much he cared.

He suddenly lets me go. However, his hands are still around my waist, supporting me. "Now, stop thinking that we would be like before," he says, but he's as breathless as I am from just a single kiss.

Given another straw, I catch it. I reach up to his neck and pull him down to me, kissing him again without a word. I match the way he kissed me, rough but wanting more. Soon, he's pulling me even closer to him. When it does not seem enough, he tips my chin up and deepens the kiss.

It lasts for a few seconds, or minutes, I cannot tell. Finally, he pushes me away from him, roughly. Disoriented, I look at him. I want more. Slowly, I reach for him again and close my eyes, ready for another kiss. I feel the tip of his fingers caress my cheeks, trailing my cheekbones down the side of my neck. He comes closer and I know he won't be able to stay away from me for long. It's not over between us yet. I still have a hold on him.

"I didn't know you are such a slut," he whispers.

My eyes flew open. My lips start to tremble and before my tears fall, he leaves. How could he?! Where is he going after this? To find Cielo? To give her a quick kiss so he can erase what he'd done with me? The sobs start but I try to control them. Now, it sounds like I am whimpering. This is pathetic.

How could an achiever like me be hurt like this? Maybe they are right, the more intelligent you are, the more bad luck you have in finding a partner. But I didn't actively look for love, he's the one who courted me, made me fall in love, and then broke my heart.

Another round of sobs went up again. I sit down and hug my knees to my chest, stifling my cries in the process. If I'm no longer loved by him, what should I do? It still hurts. How will I move on? Live like it doesn't matter? That would be false.

I grab my knees even tighter. I don't know what to do anymore.