EX FACTOR

AUBREE’S POV

Have you fallen in love with someone who can’t fight for you?

You both love each other but still not enough for him to fight for you.

I fell deeply in love with someone who left me in the end. It’s been seven years since he left me. But I still love him. And until now, I’m still waiting for him to come back.

Flashback

I was in my second year of college when I met the most popular guy in our university. His name was Sebastian Dela Rama. He’s good-looking, intelligent, rich, and a varsity captain; despite all of that, he remained kind and humble. He’s the epitome of a perfect guy. His family is known. They are one of the wealthiest families in the country. They owned five-star hotels in Asia and America.

When our class knew that he would be our classmate, most girls are excited to go to school. In a typical scenario, students like weekends and holidays, now my classmate started to hate it. No class, no Sebastian Dela Rama. Simple as that.

Me? Well, I also admire him, but I will never dream of him as my boyfriend. He is like an unreachable star. I will never be a match to him.

My father is just a manager in a 5-star hotel while his parents owned it while my mom has a small business.

I’m also a scholar. My parents can afford my tuition fee, but I still chose to apply for a scholarship.

Our class will start in a few minutes. My classmates went inside our room. Then, I suddenly heard a commotion because the man of the hour arrived.

"Hi! Is this seat taken?" A guy said.

I was busy fixing my bag, and I did not make an effort to look at the guy who asked me.

"No." I just said, still busy with my things.

I saw him seated beside me.

“OMG! She’s so lucky!”

“True! How I wish he sat beside me.”

“OMG! Seb looks handsome!”

I keep hearing the murmuring of my classmates.

"Hi! I'm Sebastian Dela Rama. And you are?"

I felt stiffened upon hearing his name. I look at him to see if he is the Sebastian Dela Rama my classmates talk about. My eyes widen when I saw a handsome guy beside me. He has a beautiful smile. This is the first time that I look at him this close.

“Oh, My! She’s so lucky!”

I tried to compose myself.

"H-hi! I-am Aubree C-custodio." I can’t help but stutter because I was freaking nervous.

He looks at me, still smiling. “Oh, so Aubree is your name. Nice to finally meet you, Aubree.”

Then he offers his hand to me. I felt shy while accepting his hand.

"N-nice to f-finally meet you? W-what do you m-mean?"

He suddenly looked shy. “I have noticed you for a long time. I want to introduce myself to you.”

I wanted to scream and giggle, but I need to control myself.

“Really? W-why?” Shocks! I stuttered again.

"Because I like you." He confessed to me.

Since then, Seb and I became close. He wanted to court me, but I told him that I wasn’t allowed to entertain a suitor until I reached 18. He respected that.

We started as friends, which as per him, is a good foundation of a relationship. And when I reached 18, he began to court me. He courted me to our house. He also became close to my family. That’s why after three months of courtship, I said my yes to him.

Our relationship is nothing but blissful. After a year of our relationship, he decided to introduce me to his family. I feel so nervous. There a lot of things going on in my mind.

Will they like me?

Will they accept me?

Are they okay with my family status?

We’re already in front of their house.

“Nervous?” Seb asked me.

He squeezed my hand to relax me.

"Y-yes." I honestly told him.

"Relax, okay?"

"Seb, what if they don’t like me?" I asked him.

I feel nervous.

"Sssshhh, don't say that. Everything will be alright."

We went inside their mansion. Yes, mansion. Their house is so big and looks luxurious. It looks like a 5-star hotel. I expected it from a Dela Rama.

We waited for his parents in the living room. A few minutes later, we saw her parents going their way. His mom looks so elegant; with just one look, you will know that her dress and jewelry are costly, not to mention his dad; he seems like the older version of Seb. His dad still looks young, though.

"Mom, Dad, I like you to meet Aubree, my girlfriend."

"Good evening, Sir, Ma'am" I greeted them with respect.

His mom looked at me from head to toe.

“Hello, Aubree. Nice to finally meet you.” His dad said.

He looks kind. Seb is right about his father. His mom didn’t say anything. She walks straight to their dining area.

I felt anxious the whole dinner because it's so awkward, and no one is initiating a conversation.

"Aubree?" His dad calls me.

"Yes, sir."

"Just call me uncle."

"Yes, u-uncle." I was a bit shy, calling him uncle.

I look at Seb. He holds my hand and smiles at me.

“What your parents do for a living?”

"My dad works in a five-star hotel as a manager. While my mom is managing a small business," I answered him.

His dad nodded while his mom remained quiet. If you’ll think about it, my mom and dad’s work is okay. But it’s still not enough with the Dela Rama knowing their family status.

"I heard you're a scholar in your university?" Her mom asked me.

"Yes, Ma’am."

“Why do you need to apply for a scholarship? Do your parents can’t afford to send you to school?” His mom asked me with a bit of insult.

"Ma!" Seb tried to stop her mom from insulting me.

I hold his hand and squeezed it. I look at him and smile for him to know that I’m okay.

“It’s not like that. My parents can afford my tuition fee. It is my initiative to help them.”

“Why do you need to help them? Are you guys having a financial problem?”

"Ma, stop insulting my girlfriend!"

"I'm not insulting her. I want to clear things out. You know that our family is not something to take lightly. Not just anyone deserves to be part of our family. And to tell you frankly, I'm so disappointed in you."

I was surprised by her sudden outburst. While his dad remains quiet, this is what I am worried about. I know that they might not accept me because of our family status.

“I understand you, Ma’am.”

"Aubree!" Seb shouted at me.

"Good to hear that. You are not as naive as I thought. I think you know your place.”

"I'm sorry, Aubree," his dad said.

I just nodded and started to fix myself. I excused myself and went out of their house. I accepted the fact that they don’t like me to be part of their family for now. Seb followed me.

"Bree!"

I face him. I bite my lower lips to hold back my tears.

"I'm sorry."

“It’s okay, Seb. I understand. Maybe, for now, we can’t be together. But I will work hard for them to accept me.” I smiled at him.

"Bree," Seb hug me tightly.

I hug him back.

“I love you, Bree, so so much.”

“I know Seb, and I love you too. But I guess our love is not enough to deserve each other.”

He didn’t answer. He tightens his hug. I felt his tears on my shoulder.

"Sssshhh. Seb, it’s okay. In time, everything will be alright.”

Seb sent me home. Before I went out, he grabbed me and kissed me. I felt his love in that kiss. I kiss him back.

After that night, I didn’t see him anymore. His friend went to me to tell me that Seb went to America to continue his study. He left me a letter.

Bree,

Sorry if I wasn’t able to say goodbye to you in person. My parents want me to continue my study abroad to avoid you.

Sorry if I wasn’t able to stop them.

Sorry if I need to leave you now.

But I know that even if they keep pushing us apart, my love for you will never change.

You know how much I love you, Bree.

No one can replace you in my heart.

We’ll see each other again, Bree.

I love you!

-Seb

End of flashback