Julia's POV
As I just opened my eyes, I glanced at the clock on my wall. It dawned on me that it was nearly seven a.m. I got out of bed and checked in the mirror, to see that my eyes already were puffy from crying, and I went back up to Shan's crib, where my baby still was sleeping.
I took a seat and pondered out over last night. I just can't get over it and realizing that this is my fate is still hard.
Shan is, without a doubt, a mistake. In short, I am a total failure, but I have to prove to myself and my family what I am capable of. I have to show them that I am still valued.
I left my bedroom and called out to my parents, but they did not respond. I'm curious about why the house is so calm.
I spotted a sticky note on our refrigerator as I headed to the kitchen. I pulled it off the shelf and started reading.
Julia,
Your mother and I are out of town. We'll recover to take up the remaining things, and we'll come back on Sunday. Just be careful with my grandson, and be careful with yourself.
Love,
DaddyThat explains why it has been peaceful because they're out of town, I'm actually glad that my mother isn't home right now. My life is free of obstacles, however, I still hope that Mom and I will get along someday.
John's POV
"Last night, you were holding her hands! What does that mean?!"
Derek called first thing in the morning and kept asking questions. I basically told him she was a new neighbor who had become a friend, but he refused to believe me.
"I was completely unaware that I had touched her hand. I seized her as soon that I could."
"Come on, bro! You can't really deny it! How can you be certain that you do not have feelings for her? Do you think she's unattractive?"
I was taken aback by silence, "To be honest, she is attractive, but please, bro. Let's just leave it that way. Lia and I are just friends, there is nothing more for Pete's sake. I barely met her the other day, and she's really sweet. It's against the laws to get close to her?"
"You're too obvious, bro! Do you now have pet names? Lia, it's so tacky. What does she call you? Johnny?" He chuckled but was immediately kept silent when he thought his joke was just too corny, "Ok, to be honest, I thought you two were a perfect match the first time I saw you two, but there is an issue. Maybe you will slowly fall in love with Julia, regardless of the fact that everybody else knows how much you loved Kate and that you may have actually moved on. I'm just concerned because I don't want to see the day you guys are indeed unhappy."
I was entirely silent in that room. I've really thought about it a lot recently. Is it possible that I've been having feelings for our new neighbor, whom I just met last night?
I looked out the window and peered out at their home, which was as quiet like nobody is home.
"Hey, dude? Are you still there?" As I was still on the phone talking to Derek, I came back down to reality, "You've lost your minds once again, and - Oh no! My customers!"
"Cut down the gossip. Anyway, Lia and I have plans for later. We're going to have a da — I mean, we're going to be meeting there," I stated.
Even if we're not planning a date, I almost told him we were. I'm not certain what I've been thinking.
"Okay. I'm going to —" I didn't finish him and hung up on him right away.
My phone suddenly vibrated, indicating that someone had texted me, and I read carefully:
Derek's message
I hate you, bro! I was just about to say something when you abruptly hung up! Anyway, bro, I'll see you later! Have fun on your date!
I'm not sure why, but while reading his text, I find myself beaming.
Julia's POV
As I headed to John's place, I was pushing Shan in the strollers. Uncle Jonathan opened up the door for me when I rang the doorbell. He was definitely eating as he was still munching the food.
He looked surprised as if he hadn't expected me to show up, "What are you doing here, exactly? Are you looking for—"
"I'm here!" I heard John exclaim and saw him dash down the steps, "Dad, Julia and I will be going. I'll handle the rest."
Uncle Jonathan laughed up lol and nodded his head, "That's all right. Be careful and I shall continue eating," when Uncle Jonathan walked away in front of us, John and I both chuckled.
"I thought we'd meet in the cafe?" We left his house, and he spotted Shan's carriage, so I could see he was delighted, "Aww. You brought Shan with you."
"Since we live next door and heading in the same direction, I thought we'd go together, and also, I'm hoping it's okay if I take Shan with me? My parents traveled to Davao to get the rest of our things."
"It's all right, Lia! He's so adorable! Hey, you look a lot like him, but he doesn't manage to have your parents' features, only yours," He was staring at Shan's face and playing at the same time.
Shan inherited some of my features, although he looks very much like his father.
"Yeah. Let's go, shall we?" I requested him to help me get rid of the awkwardness I'm having.
He nodded, and we kept on walking till he remarked, "Shan and Faith are perfect when they grow up. Look, they'll be a couple in approximately twenty years, and then they'll prove that there is such a thing called forever in the world. I will absolutely take the lead in establishing a fan page for the Anderson-Avery love team!" I nudged him with a laugh.
"You're completely insane. What if they have feelings for someone? After all, there is no such thing as forever in this world. Everyone splits up."
His smile vanished from his lips, and he just murmured, "Yes, you are right. Since nothing lasts forever, we'll head into Hugot Coffee Shop."
We arrived at Hugot Cafe in a flash, and Derek greeted us with, "Welcome -"
"Yeah, yeah of course, definitely! Mind telling Uncle Roman to hire new staff," John interrupted, and Derek chuckled. " You're too boring to cope with. Please, there's no longer any interest."
Derek's smile faded and he frowned at John, "You persisted to abuse me — Oh, a baby!" Derek was taken aback and motioned to Shan, who had a cute expression.
"Please allow me to introduce my Baby Brother. Shan Ralph Avery is his name."
He was stunned but delighted, and he got Shan, "I had no idea you had a brother. You didn't say whether or not you have a brother."
"I forgot, but you already met him. My parents aren't at home, so I just took him with me."
"For your information, Shan is taken," John added, "to Faith Anderson." Derek and I exchanged a chuckle.
"You're insane," I said, poking him, and he responded, but I knew it was all in good fun. I grinned and locked eyes with him, and he did the same. I'm starting to feel the sparks again.
"All right, sit there and Shan will be with me," Derek as he immediately drew our attention. Last night, we nodded and sat in our chairs.
Derek's POV
I'm amazed at how denial they are of their feelings for each other.
I heard the bell indicating that somebody had visited the store. While I was playing with this baby, I looked up to see a lovely woman enter; she was tall thanks to her heels and her crop-top outfit with pink pants.
The woman welcomed me with a peck on the lips and said, "Hey, love."
She is my stunning girlfriend. Giselle Pierson was gaping at me until she spotted the baby and smiled, "Whose baby is this, oh dear, oh goodness! He's adorable!"
"He's Julia's baby brother."
She took the baby in her arms and started to play with him. The infant is calmed because he keeps giggling
"Who is Julia, by the way?" Giselle asked.
"She's new at our school, and she's the one sitting over there with John," I pointed to them
"Oh, she's our transferee, am I right?" she said, gesturing in the direction of John and Julia. She considered approaching them as I nodded.
Julia's POV
"Who is that? Isn't she a classmate of ours?" I asked John, pointing to the lady who had just walked into the cafe.
He smiled and nodded, "Yes, she is Derek's one and only girlfriend, Giselle Pierson. She also is a part of the cheerleading squad and one of the most popular girls at school. She used to be very nasty, however since Derek and Giselle became lovers, she's become very sophisticated. He would have to have influenced her behavior," he stated.
Why do I seem to have been surrounded by cheerleaders? Is it a sign that I'll be back as a cheerleader? Is it finally time for me to confront my fears?
With a smiling face, Derek's girlfriend approached our table, "Hello, are you our new classmate? I'm Giselle, and I'd want to introduce myself." She shook my hand, which I accepted because she appeared to be really nice.
"My name is Julia Avery,"
She exclaimed, "Your brother is so adorable."
"Thank you so much. His name is Shan ."
She turned at John, "Hey, John, it looks like I haven't seen you around training in a month," she said.
He threw his hands up. "Yeah, I'm in a terrible mood right now. That would've been my chance to make up for the month I had been absent."
"That's why," Giselle explained with a bow, "I'm deeply sorry for what happened. It's great that you have been over Kate and that you're returning. Welcome back, Captain."
"That is correct. I'm not sure why I am telling you this, and I am not ready to tell you everything, but can we go home now? I'm feeling a little drained. For basketball season, my dad and I are training earlier."
Julia's POVWe didn't take long to get to our house, and just as I was about to enter our gate, he took my hand."Let me tell you, Lia,"he began, and I turned to face him,"Everything I said earlier is real."I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I simply sighed. He took my face in his hands and drew his face closer to mine.He drew his face further closer to mine, and I noticed he had closed his eyes. I'm not sure why, but I find myself closing my eyes as well.The next thing I knew, our lips were almost touching, and I gently pushed him away. This is something I'm not prepared for."What are you trying to do?"I inquired, shaking my head,"That would never happen
Julia's POVI witnessed my mother's furious expression as I opened the front door, holding my baby in her arms.As soon as I entered the house, she yelled angrily,"Where the heck were you from?!"I was taken aback by what she had just asked and couldn't help but respond,"What kind of mother fails to remember to pick up her child from school? You haven't given me some money either."She handed Shan to me right away,"I've spent the entire day caring for your child. Probably, my reason will convince you to learn to go home alone."I just headed upstairs, ignoring Mom. I often feel as if I don't recognize Mom anymore if she's that nasty and harsh towards me, but who am I to blame her? It's because of me and she's become the way she is.When Dad came into my ro
Julia's POVI checked myself in front of the mirror in my comfortable oversized blue-striped shirt, which I had paired with my favorite ripped jeans, and I had accessorized with my Chanel belt, and a pair of white sneakers.When I checked my phone, it was already quarter to seven o'clock, and John hadn't arrived yet. Mom is still busy, so I haven't been able to get her permission. Of course, I asked Dad's permission beforehand, and he said it was fine.I grabbed my small sling bag and escorted Shan from the room. I went downstairs to mee
Julia's POVI looked at John as he parked his car at quarter to ten in the evening, and I said,"John, thank you so much for your time tonight. I must confess that I was delighted and very touched by what you did earlier.""It's nothing. I told you I'd take care of everything for you, right?""That was incredible! I can't believe it! And I've never been treated like that before. That is one of the reasons I love you.""I love you, too,"he said gently, and before I knew it, there was just an inch between us, and when I closed my eyes, it was the touch of our lips."That was very sweet.""You're so sweet. So, I'll go inside and you can go home as well. It's starting to get late,"
Kate's POVWhen I spotted the two famous couples on campus, I faked a smile. I really want to smack her. They also were clutching each other's hands. I used to be the one holding John's hands, but now he's been abducted by others.I put my hands over my ears when I heard women chatting."Oh! Julia is very lucky to have found John Anderson as her boyfriend!""YES! I saw them in Hugot Coffee Shop the other day.""Yes, I agree! I initially mistook them for models, but it's just them!"
Julia's POVI began to look for Derek throughout the school. I've looked in every building at the school and still haven't found him. He didn't even know I was missing my necklace since he didn't play yesterday at their basketball practice.I need to find him since he is the only person who is aware of my one and only top secret. Though he is unaware of the necklace, I am sure that only he is capable of understanding me.I'm concerned since I haven't seen my missing jewelry. I couldn't lose it because I knew it was just there on the bench unless someone took it.All I want is for my necklace to fall into good hands and be returned to me without anyone knowing my secret."Derek!"I exclaimed as I approached Derek as he exited from the Theater Art Studio.He turned around and
Julia's POVI was listening to our Teacher's conversation when suddenly Queen called out to me,"Are you and John all OK, girl? Something seems to be going on between you two,"Queen whispered softly to me."We just need space, and we have a serious problem. In any case, it's a long story. We're both busy at the moment, so we'll talk soon,"Queen's eyes widened in surprise at what I stated.Who wouldn't be surprised and perplexed by this? It's happening so fast because it happened all of a sudden. It seems like only yesterday that the two of us were OK, but now, nothing. It's broken because I'm scared of destroying the two of us if I reveal the secret.After a few hours, we were on the final subject when the bell rang, signifying the end of class and lunch break, so I rushed out of school.&n
John's POVIt's Saturday, and I murmured when I heard the doorbell rang. I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was eight o'clock in the morning.They have no idea I'm still tired, and they're disturbing my sleep! My parents are also not here because they left early in the morning for Cagayan de Oro.I went downstairs with mixed feelings because my sleep was being disrupted by this guest. When I opened the door and saw Kate, I was gobsmacked."Hey, baby!"she would have kissed me just before I turned away from her."Woah, chill out! What exactly are you trying to do? And, Kate, what are you even doing here?"I'm not sure why she's here. Isn't it obvious that I d