3

She hoped she could tell Sam that she wanted to break their relationship.

It was just a minute’s talk, but it hurt her enough to cry like a baby. Kirsten was also wondering if Charles had already left the hospital. She will hate her more. Ugh! Charles even saw her weeping, and she got offended by what he asked her. 

Charles is famous on the campus, and many girls want her— except her— she just knew because she couldn't stop herself from hearing those girls sitting next to her that they have a massive crush on that guy. 

Whenever he's there, they perk up and chatter about him as though they have no intention of growing tired of gushing over him.

So sometimes, she intends to bring her earphones. 

Returning to her plan, she needed to devise an idea of breaking her boyfriend's heart so Sam could finally leave her. 

"Think… think, what if I just t-tell him that I don't love him anymore and we need a break?" she whispered. She's now standing in this hallway, no one is around, and Kirsten is just brainstorming the situation. 

"I need an answer now. I want to break up with him," she sobbed. She knew that she had no guts to say those. She loved him so much and couldn’t bear to lose him.

"Should I tell this to him now, directly?" Kirsten asked herself. "No, there must be more ways to break up with him."

She thought if she said it directly. What reason is she going to say? She can't tell the truth. 

"Tell him you cheated…." Her back stiffened when she heard this voice again. "...with me." 

She looked at where it came from. She saw Charles standing there, holding a coffee and a bag of food he had probably bought earlier. 

Her eyes were now wide. She stopped sobbing and now cursed herself for not being careful. 

"Charles? What the hell," she said in a low voice. Charles just gave her a poker face. 

"I know that you will ask me if I heard everything. Obviously, yes, I did." 

Her jaw dropped, and she wanted to kill herself now for being so careless. 

This is the result of your drama! 

"Can you please don't tell him about this?" 

"I can't promise that if you aren't going to tell me why you need to break my brother's heart." 

Should she tell him? Of course not! 

"There's no way I could tell you that," she remarks. 

"Then, do not ask me to be quiet about this," Charles said. She fell silent. "The sun will come up soon, and I need to go home, Anderson's future ex-girlfriend," he teased her. 

And really? Anderson’s ex-girlfriend? Did he forget that he also had the same surname? He's annoying. Wait… she isn't supposed to be annoyed since that is true. 

Kirsten saw him turn back at her and then leave her there. She immediately went straight to the bathroom to wash her face.

After washing her face, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were swollen red because of her cries. 

"I should've not said all of those out loud. Now, I made the situation worse. What should I do?" 

At eight in the morning, Filipinas told Kirsten to go home. Fetch some clothes for her and the patient, Kirsten's father. Kirsten just did what she was told to do. She rode a taxi to go home. 

While she was on her way home, her eyes sparkled when she received a text message from Sam. 

I'm sorry about my brother. He bothered you yesterday. And sorry I didn't tell you where I was going. We should see each other.

She replied to her boyfriend that she was going home at this moment. 

Finally, Sam was the one who was holding his phone. But… her heartbeat was faster again because of nervousness. What if…

Did Charles already tell him her plan? Shitless. Is that the reason why he wants to see him? 

Maybe not. Samuel always wants to see her.

Charles has nothing to do with her, so why would he listen to her? 

She heaved a deep sigh. If he told Sam, she would never forgive that guy. Tsk. As if Charles was going to ask for her forgiveness.

She got home and did what she needed to do. She brought the suitcase to put her mother's and father's clothes in it. 

After preparing the things she will bring, she heads to the kitchen to prepare a dish to get to the hospital.

However, she was taken aback when she looked over and found her sister sitting there eating. She asked, "Why didn’t you pick up the phone to talk to your mother?”

"I didn't receive a call from her, even one. I lost my phone," she said uninterestedly. 

"Dad is in the hospital." 

"I know." 

"Aren't you worried at all?" 

"Why would I? It was enough for me to know that he was still breathing. I have a class. I must go," she stood up. "I will visit him later after class," she added before leaving her in the kitchen. 

She sighed and started to prepare the dish she would cook. Thankfully, she has a little bit of knowledge of cooking. After preparing the ingredients, she looked at her phone when it started ringing and saw an unknown number calling her. 

She was hesitant to answer it but thought it might be an emergency.

"Yes, hello?" She picked up the call. 

"It's me, Charles. Save it now to your contacts." She closed her eyes tightly. 

"What do you want?" she asked. "For sure, you already got your car back. Why are you still calling me?" 

"Aren't you afraid that I might spread your secret?"

"You dare!" she hissed. "You should keep your nose out of this, okay? Just avoid letting him know what you have overheard. Let's forget that, shall we?" she spoke out loud.

"O... Okay," he said. Hearing that, Kirsten had part of her that felt relieved.

"Thank you, I hope you will—" He cuts her sentence off with a snort. She gasped.

"What's your name again?" He asked her, damn, this man, he's so rude. 

"Could you please let me finish my sentence first?" Kirsten scowled. 

"I don't want you to expect something from me; I just said 'okay,’ but it doesn't mean I agree. Answer me; what’s your name?" Her mouth parted. 

Is he dumb? Saying that word also means agreeing!

By the way, even though she had been dating his brother for a considerable time, he was utterly unaware of her identity. He addressed her by name several times but eventually forgot it. How come?

Charles still remembered her name the last time she checked, hours ago.

But that wasn't the point. His words hit her. She thought she wouldn't go hard convincing him about this. It's just like she was not ready to break up with Samuel. That’s why she wanted to practice and plan it well.

"Kirsten," she simply said. 

"I need your full name." 

"For what?" 

"To verify something." 

"Huh?" she was puzzled but ended up saying it. "Kirsten May Saavedra." 

"Oh, I see." She was confused, but she chose not to ask about it. 

"Please, don't say anything to Samuel. I'm begging you."

"Uhm. Kirsten, I need to do something. I'll hang this up." Before she could say anything, the call ended. 

Then, less than a minute later, she heard their doorbell rung. She didn't waste any time and headed straight outside, where she was taken aback to see her lover waiting for her.

"Oh, how are you? Where have you been?" When she saw her very handsome boyfriend, she seemed to have lost her annoyance with Charles for a while. 

She hugged him tightly.

"I just helped my friend fix his things. He just moved into an apartment," he explained. "Sorry if I didn’t tell you. I forgot my phone." 

It's not a big deal for her, so she just nodded. 

"Did your brother tell you something?" she asked. She also wanted to ask why Sam took his brother's car, but she held herself back. The question that she asked is more important to her than anything. 

"Nope. He just silently gave my phone back."

Kirsten smiled. She knew that Sam would never lie to her. 

"Okay. I will come back to the hospital. After cooking, would you mind helping me?" 

"Sorry. Unfortunately, I won't be able to accompany you. I have an important lesson in the next hour. I am just here to tell you I am sorry for not updating you on where I went." 

She understood it even though she felt hurt. It's like… he seldom rejects her offer even though he has an important event. He always makes her his priority. But maybe, that's good for both of them. 

To start distancing themself.

"It's okay." 

"Promise. I'll visit you after class." 

That's when Sam already says goodbye to her. Kirsten waited for Sam to leave before she returned to the kitchen. 

At that place, she started to sob again. This hurts.