CHAPTER ONE

I didn't know why we talked to each other so suddenly. I knew he was Lucas, I kind of heard his name. Well the truth is, this wasn't the first time I saw him. I already know him, but not personally. I just know something like he was Samantha's driver and they're close. That's why I always acted like I knew him for the first time.

“I can bring you home, if you don't mind?" he was still smiling as he offered me a ride. He was like in a commercial with his beautiful smile.

I refused his offer immediately. As much as possible I don't want to have a long conversation with him.

I don't know why but it doesn't seem right, “No, thank you. I’m fine with a taxi. Samantha might be needing you anytime, I don't want any trouble,” I laugh a bit to make it sound like I wasn't trying to avoid him.

“Are you sure? Samantha wouldn't mind that for sure," he said calmly but I still refuse his offer.

“I'm fine, don't worry. I'm going now. Thanks for your offer anyways," I said and bid my goodbye to him as I got in the taxi.

I saw him waving at me when I looked at the side mirror of the taxi.

Lucas is nice and kind, always. Even when I first saw him, he's nice and very approachable. He always talks to me and sometimes he spends his time with me while waiting outside the recording room.

When I got home, I dialed my friend's number. I feel like I need to talk about what I am feeling to lessen the burden.

The past weeks, Xavier's been cold to me. Before he always kept up with me, he's nice and caring.

Maybe it was for his father who had a heart disease but lately he's being short tempered and moody. We also shared a lot of fights the past days because of his mood.

I don't want to think that this is happening now because Samantha came back but I couldn't help myself. Since she came back from Australia, Xavier has changed. 

I am not dumb too, I may be stupid for loving him while he's in love with someone else but that doesn't mean I wouldn't feel that he still wants her. Besides we're together now because this is what his father wants for him.

I sighed when I heard my best friend's knock. I opened the door for her and she greeted me with a long tight hug.

“What do you think you are doing to yourself Veronica? I've been telling you for years, break up with him but you never listened. What is it in him that you love him this much?" she said angrily when she sat on the couch.

She's my best friend, Gail.

I sat beside her and leaned my head on her shoulder, "It’s been years,” I whispered. I heard her repeat what I said in an angry way that made me smile bitterly. She's the only person I could talk about anything with, she’s the only person that I have.

“Maybe I'm really out of my mind, Gail. I know he doesn’t love me but I still love him anyway,” I said, very emotional.

“Witch, you are not just out of your mind. You're stupid martyr. I really hate your decisions Veronica Marchella," she said very madly as she shrugged her shoulders.

I laughed a bit that made her look at me even mad. I sighed before looking at her again, smiling sadly.

“4 years. Four long years that I've been pushing myself to him. I don't have any advantage when his ex is not around, what now? She's away for four long years but he still loves her. Now that she's back, where am I supposed to be?" I laughed and burst into tears, "Those long years and Xavier didn’t learn to love me back even a bit." 

My tears continued to flow at the side of my cheeks then I felt Gail's hug. Her long warm hug, the only person who managed to love me. The only person that I have.

Four years ago, I met Xavier when I was trying to apply for a part time job at a restaurant that happened to be their family business. I was in 2nd year college that time and I needed extra money to continue taking up my degree.

I am living on my own and working to provide for my needs because I don't have family to provide for me. I left the orphanage I grew in to continue studying.

I was 10 years old when my biological parents decided to give me up in a family that they barely know. Even though I was crying so bad, pleading for them to not leave me there, they still did. My foster parents are nice and kind, they loved me and cared for me like their own but then, their own daughter had a very critical disease. They had to save money and they couldn't take care of me anymore so they decided to bring me to an orphanage.

I stayed there and found a new family in the shelter. I get a chance to study and learn to do household chores and different ways to earn money. When I finished high school, I decided to apply for a scholarship in the University that I wanted to go to and luckily, I passed. But it wasn’t enough to have free tuition, I still needed to earn money for my projects and needs. And since I am still staying in an orphanage, I decided to find a job to earn and save money.

I've become a vendor, opened and accepted commissions for assignments, projects and other school work. Until I got into my second year in college, it became harder than it was when I was a freshman. There's a lot of fees that I need to pay for my activities and laboratory expenses. That’s when I got hired in a known restaurant that is owned by Xavier's family.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or a piece of my luck because when I applied for that job, it happened that they needed one waitress. When I started to work there, it became easier for me. I've enough money for my needs and projects. At that time, I never thought Xavier would be this special for me. He's no one to me before, we just started to get along when her father asked me to tutor him on the subjects that he's not good at. Of course, I accepted the offer to earn more money and save it for other important things.