Chapter 7: Unforgotten

Kyle Sebastian's POV:

"W–WHAT! NO! WHY DID YOU SAY THAT SEÑORITA. I CAN'T DO THAT!" I defensively said, voice raised and almost shouting.

The workers froze and their eyes were nailed at me in shock.

I shook my hands and say, "I— I am sorry Señorita. I don't mean to shout at you. " I gulped and drink my own bitter pill. Why am I like this? I am so conscious of everything.

I heard her laugh, her eyes closed and giggling. 'She's not mad at me?' I asked myself in confusion.

And the workers shook their heads and just walked towards the rest house, with smiles on their faces. Even my parents have this teasing smiles on their faces as they go with the others and left us alone.

I can feel my face turned red with shame. Nice work Seb! The soil will now eat you alive!

"I mean, why would I try to avoid you, Señorita?" I was glued to my feet and couldn't make a single move. Eyes nailed on the ground. I can't bear her to see my face blazing with shame.

"I don't know. Maybe it is I who is always busy and just assumed that you're avoiding me." She got up, and slowly walks towards me. Her eyes nailed on me.

My heart is racing and I felt like I am running for miles. Sweat dripping on my forehead. She's really affecting my whole system with just one stare.

I am speechless, I don't know what or how to respond. All I know is that, I am happy that she's here, talking to me.

"I understand. You are the President of the Students Council and a Cheer Leader, on top of that, you are also a top student in our batch, so no doubt you have a tight schedule. That's a tough job, you know, balancing all that school stuff on top of your studies." I started walking as she passed by me. At last! I had the chance to walk with her side by side.

"So you already knew. You did well research about me. Yes, It's quite challenging but I still managed to handle it without compromising my grades."

My heart flustered as she said that. So she doesn't mind that I got a few information on her.

"You're popular, so I think everybody knows that about you." I have a lot of things to tell her but I choose not to. Afraid it might come off as a bad impression. She might think that I am stalking her.

She didn't utter any word and just kept on walking beside me. I didn't talk either. Scared that I might say the wrong words and displeased her. In fact, not saying a word speaks a thousand words to me. Even in these moments of silence felt like surreal.

I realized that she wants me to be a friend, that her kindness towards me doesn't end at school, that somehow my wish for us to become close could come true.

We reached the table and saw workers enjoying their snacks. I excused myself and join others. She, on the other hand, goes back inside of the rest house.

That short encounter with her made my day. And I can't help myself but anticipate for her time again. I can't help myself falling for her.

* * * * *

Months have passed, but despite her busy schedule, we always find time to meet at the Hacienda's entrance and ride our way to the Mansion.

In the weekends, we hang out at the Mango plantation to talk for hours. We talked about anything and everything under this the sun.

Being with her every single day makes me fall hard, and the more I find it harder to suppress this feelings.

Just like now, seeing her laugh at my silly jokes made me want to hug her! For Pete's sake!

"You've been staring at me for two full minutes? Do I have something in my face? Or do you want to tell me something" she asked while trying to wipe something off on her face by just using her hand.

"NO!" I shouted again out of panic. Damn! "I mean, I—I'm sorry for staring at you, Senorita. Sorry for being rude."

I said that shyly. It feels like my face is getting red and my heart still racing.

I really need to get away from her or I might blurt out my feelings.

"I.. I need to go. I remember something that needs my attention."

I turned my back at her but she grabbed my arm quickly.

I can feel her soft skin in mine, and it feels electrifying! I can't help but froze in this moment.

"Are you trying to run and avoid me again after this?" her voice sounds disappointed and I felt she removed her hands slowly as she didn't get a response from me.

So I slowly turned to face her this time. My eyes locked with hers.

"Every time you want to tell me something, you always end up avoiding me. Why is that?" her eyes pleading.

I heaved a loud sigh, trying to control this trembling hands of mine. My emotions in a roller coaster —from being frantic to being emotionally cornered.

I can't get away with this feeling this time. So I decided to let this feelings uncaged and be brave to admit that I admire her.

So I placed my hands on her shoulders and looked at her lovingly.

"I have to.. Because if not, I can't help myself from falling harder. I tried suppressing my feelings for you because we can't possibly have a romantic relationship because of our status.

But every time I am with you, my heart keeps betraying my resolve. Instead of distancing myself away from you, I found myself glued to this kind of amazing feeling you brought me.

So tell me, How can I stop this surge of emotions whenever I am with you? I fought myself long enough not to hug you when you are at your lowest, and not to kiss you when you're giggling like earlier.

So to stop myself from being a fool, I have to distance myself from you."

That's it! I blurted out my feelings in front of her. I need to get away as fast as I could before she rejects me and started to move faster. I can't humiliate myself further more. The pain of this confession is starting to numb my chest.

"Kyle Sebastian!" she called my name while I am meters away from her.

"I am busted, I know —" I spoke so softly that even myself hardly heard of what I said. My voice croaked that gave away the upcoming tears I hardly fought.

"I love you too!" she said shyly.

"Wait! What??!!" I am in total confusion right now. One minute, I am a battling the sudden pain and humiliation my confession caused. Then another minute, breaking all those emotions all at once.

I didn't waste a second and run towards her to ask again. I might misunderstood or misheard it.

"C–can you say it again, p—please?" I pleaded her. It feels like I am catching my breath out of nervousness.

"I love you too, Kyle Sebastian."

I couldn't help but hug her tightly. Oh Gosh! I dreamt of this moment for so long and it finally came true!

"I love you so much, Cassandra!" I said that with tears streaming down my cheeks. “You will not regret that you love me for me.”

It might be too sudden, but I can't help but kiss her passionately and she responded it with the same passion.

Oh! Goodness! This is the happiest day of my life!

Present time

Cassandra's POV:

It's one o'clock a.m. and I can't put myself to sleep. I tried different sleeping positions but to no avail. Is this the effect of too much work?

Maybe not, I know that I am well adjusted with my current work. So how come that I am not able to sleep.

Sebastian's face instantly flushed into my mind for no reason. Is he thinking about me? Nah! That's impossible. He's already committed so why think of me?

To stop myself from thinking about him again, I grabbed my phone to check my F* and browsed for a moment, thinks that it might put me to sleep, that's what I thought until I saw a post about High School crushes and such.

So, instead of sleeping, I searched his name on the internet and I got no information about him, I've been looking for him eversince the day they were gone.

Is he blocking all his information on purpose ? Or is it because of the woman he was with that make the information unavailable up to this day.

My head is spiraling with thoughts until a familiar name appears on my screen, calling.

It was Keljeisz!

I immediately tap the “Answer” button on my screen.

“Hi Cassy! How are you? I heard from my father that your family is facing a crisis.” his voice is so worried, it makes me grateful that someone actually cared.

“I am in my survival mode right now. I gotta grind for my Mom. My Dad is nowhere to be found.” my voice almost croaked. Acknowledging the reality I tried to set aside.

“I am glad that you're still fighting despite the things you've been through.”

“I don't have a choice, Jeisz. I must do something. My mom rely on me.”

“But I know you can surpass this, Cassy. I have huge confidence that you can get yourself back up.”

“Thanks for the encouragement. I badly need one right now.” I said that emotionally.

After all the rejections and harsh opinions about me for this past days, I badly needed some bolstering from someone I trust.

“Anyway, after hearing what happened, I decided to go back and give you a visit.”

“Really? Thank you, Keljeisz! I do appreciate it! Bye! See you soon!”

I ended the call and I felt like a ton of weight was lifted.

This time, I can sleep peacefully.

Keljeisz Lucio Regato's POV:

Toronto, Canada

11:00 am

I placed my phone on my working table after my call with Cassy, ended.

After learning that their family went bankrupt, I was so frantic! I wanted to be with her. So I made a decision to go back to Leyte.

“I don't know what happened to your family, Cassy. But I will help you get justice.”

It took me a week to settle all things in my Dad's company.

I heard three loud knocks before my secretary entered and approached me.

“Sir, you're flight has been scheduled. And Mr. Regato wants to meet you in his office before you leave.”

“Thank you. You may leave.” I heard the door closed.

I picked up the picture frame from my table and looked at it intently. It's me and Cassandra on our College Graduation day.

“This time, I will make sure you're safe. And I'll make you'll fall in love with me. Kyle Sebastian, your name will then be erased from Cassandra's heart.”