"How many times do I have to tell you, I don't like you anymore!" I screamed.
"Erin, listen," Jarmin sighed. "You know that I really love you. I know you can feel it. You weren't even surprised because one day I just called, saying I cheated on you? Do you think I can do that?"
I laughed sarcastically. "How should I know? That's up to you!" I screamed and tried to remove his body that was holding me against the wall. "When Cadmus sees you here, he won't hesitate to end you!" I still yelled at him.
"End me?" It stopped for a moment but immediately laughed. "End me huh, Erin? He can't end me. But I do can end him."
"What do you want to prove huh? What do you want?" Little by little, the tears I had been holding back were starting to fall. "You left me and now you're going to show up again? I don't love you anymore, Jarmin. Not anymore."
"You're only saying that because Cadmus is there. Because he showed you the one he loves. I'm here again, Erin. I can give you more than his money and love. Don't act like I never loved you the way he did! I love you! We love each other, that's the truth!" He still yelled at me but when he saw my eyes, he softened his gaze at me. "I-I'm sorry, Erin..."
He's right. There are similarities of him and Cadmus on how they made me feel loved. Jarim also took me out like Cadmus did, kissed me like Cadmus did, hugs me like Cadmus did, makes me laugh like Cadmus did but... Did he take me to a special person's grave? Bought me cotton candy and balloons to heal my inner child? Kiss me in the forehead like Cadmus did? Say sorry like he did? Gives me assurance like Cadmus did? No.
"You're not Cadmus, Jarmin. And you never will be. We are done long time ago."
Cadmus finally left Amber in front of me and I will do the same to Jarmin.
"But I love you, Erin!" Tears started rolling down his eyes.
"You love me? Then why did you leave me hanging? I was struggling, Jarmin! You left me all alone! If you loved me, you will never call me one day and just say you cheated on me like it's nothing! You left me!" My tears flowed.
I genuinely loved him and I know he genuinely loved me too. But that doesn't change the fact that he cheated and left me. And now he wants to come back to me like nothing happened?
"Can you please let me explain, Erin? I just want you to spare some time to listen to me. Please Erin... I love you so much."
"We are done, Jarmin..."
He frustratedly touched his face. "Okay... Okay. Let's just say that. We're done. But please listen to me, just a few minutes, Erin... Please."
I looked at him, full of resentment.
But no, I want to listen. I want to know what really happened. But nothing will change my decision. I would choose Cadmus and Cadmus only.
"Fine," I looked away.
He took me to a coffee shop. He was just looking at me while I was just looking outside because I didn't want to face him. Because the cover in this shop is also made of glass.
"I never cheated on you, Erin..." he began. I almost threw up but I chose to laugh sarcastically. His introduction is great, it's a lie! "I-I'm not lying... I swear, I promise I'll tell you the truth about everything."
I still didn't speak so he sighed.
"I'm greedy, that's what people knew. But that's wrong, it's my father who's that bad person. He may seem like the good person in other person's stories because he fakes everything, but in reality he is not. He's the one who controlled me. He wants me to handle our company at such a young age. He wants me to be Cadmus' rival because he knew I'm his weakness because we used to be friends. He wants me to end him. And I cannot take it any longer because if I don't do it, he will end everything that makes me happy. Even you, Erin. Even you."
I just listened to him quietly. I don't speak.
"That's why I left you, to save us. That's the only reason I gave you because that's the only for you to leave me. I know you love me, Erin. And I love you too---"
"Stop that crap," I hissed.
"So I said that and left you because I don't want you to be hurt. I already know you're having a hard time and it's my fault that I became another reason why it's harder than the last time but it's the only way to save our relationship. Sorry for being selfish but I really want to save us..."
""Save us?'" I asked sarcastically. "You never saved me, Jarmin."
"Believe me, Erin... It's the truth. When the time the company is passed to my name, my father can no longer control me so I called you but you never answered. I decided to go to the place where you used to live but Lady Francia said you no longer live there and you're with your new boyfriend who looks 'rich'. I don't know who that guy is until I saw pictures of you and Cadmus in the mansion. It was taken by Dale. Do you remember him?"
I thought for a moment until the conversation between Cadmus's friend and I suddenly entered my mind.
"Hi, my name is Dale. I think I've seen you before... You're kind of familiar."
I remember him.
I didn't nod, I just looked at him to confirm that I knew him. He might say I'm still interested in him. I don't want to feed his delusional mind.
"So I immediately came here. Then I saw Amber there saying you guys really have a relationship. That way, I confirmed it. You are that young Arcajante's girlfriend now... How?"
"I don't have time for this. I gotta go." I immediately stood up. "Cadmus is looking for me."
I started walking.
"Erin, I love you,"
What he said didn't stop me from walking again. I hadn't taken four steps before he spoke again.
"I will end him, Erin. I will end Cadmus."
I turned to face him. "What did you say?"
"Make a deal with me, Erin. Let's make a deal."
------------
"Let's go for a vacation,"
I smiled at Cadmus, "Where are we going? I'm going to call Cadesia," I took my phone out of my pocket but he grabbed my hand.
"A vacation for the two of us, only." He said while looking deeply at me.
"Where then?"
"An island... beach? Just tell me. I'll take care of it." He hugged me so I giggled in excitement. I will not hide that from him.
"Alright! Let's go to the beach!" I said excitedly and hugged him back.
Just a few days after that conversation, he took me to the private island.
I'm wearing a light blue two piece triangle swimsuit of course. With my hair down, I covered it with a beach hat.
I sat on the beach chair while putting sunblock on my body. It's nice to hear the sound of the waves hitting the white sand.
I've only been able to take a vacation like this when Nirca and I wanted to wander around in high school, we just went to the Mall to do window shopping. Or we were just at their house to watch a movie from illegal sites that we got from my classmates.
"That's good sound to here... I haven't left here yet and I want to come back again. I hope there's another chance..." I took a deep breath before closing my eyes to feel the quiet sound of the waves and the cool air.
When I remembered our deal with Jarmin, my eyes widened suddenly. I seem to have lost my appetite.
I just looked at the birds flying. The sun is not very hot so it does not burn the skin. If that deal had not entered my brain, I would have enjoyed the tour even more.
Deal... Cadmus and I met there too.
"Hey,"
I looked behind me when I heard a baritone voice. My jaw dropped when I saw him topless and in beach shorts. His hair was not done but he made it even more handsome. It was also windy so his hair looks dancing like my hair.
That scene felt unreal. It was like I was in a drama when the surroundings suddenly slowed down while he was looking at me and smiling. While the wind is blowing my hair while looking at him.
"Can you apply the sunblock for me?" He smiled at me before approaching. When he got close to me he turned away.
"I have not said yes yet!---yeah, turn around!" I laughed.
I put the sunblock on his back. Then he faced me. I put sunblock on his face. I was a little surprised because he was staring at me while I was doing it and I was holding him like this just now.
He held my hand and kissed it. "Can we... Can we be lovers for real, Erin?" He faced me, full of hope.
I was stunned by his question. Why now?
I lowered my hand and touched his cheek. "I told you before, Cadmus... It's only going to hurt us both."
His smile disappeared because of that.
He sighed. "Erin look, we'll never know if we try. How can you be so sure with that? I promise you, it'll be worth risking. If I get hurt, so what? It's okay to be hurt..." He pleads with me. "Erin, let's try... Give it a try. If I waste a chance you can leave me anytime you want. But I promise you, I won't waste you and your time. Please Erin..."
I looked at him. He seems really determined to win my heart. But how? I will only hurt him in the end. But he said, even if it hurts, it's okay. I don't want that to happen. Why would I want to?
"Be my girlfriend, Erin," he kissed my cheeks. "I date to marry."
I hugged him with tears in my eyes. I don't know what to answer. We can try, can't we? Even hurt?
Even if it hurts, I will come back and come back to him.
I nodded one after the other as he kissed my cheek sweetly. The smile on his lips widened when he saw that.
"Say it," he touched my cheek, then kissed my crying eyes. "Is that a yes, Erin? Please say yes to me."
"Y-Yes, I'm your girlfriend now, C-Cadmus. That's a yes." We hugged each other together. His warm body gave me a comfortable feeling.
The young Arcajante is really my boyfriend now, for real... We won't pretend anymore because he is really my boyfriend!
"Thank you Erin, thank you for giving us a chance." He said this after we parted from the hug. He planted many kisses on my forehead while smiling.
Then we boarded a yacht. I was very happy while watching the fishes. The sea was so clear, I felt like I was in heaven! This is the happiest day of my life.
But I don't want to be too happy because I know, if you're too happy, you'll cry tomorrow!
Even! I'm really happy when I'm with Cadmus. I'm like a kid who ran away from home during lunch to play with my favorite game. My heart is happy.
"Erin!" He called me. I looked behind me. I saw Cadmus with a turon in his hand. He acted surprising. I kept laughing. He came to me immediately. "Eat this. It's my favorite now." He laughed.
"Favorite huh?" I bit into it while looking at him.
"Yes," he also bit the area where I bit. "All your favorites are my favorites now too."
I laughed again and kissed him on the lips. This time, I was the first to do it so he looked shocked.
"Damn... That's a sweet kiss." He licked his lips. "I want more," he put his hand on my cheek. One of his hands raised a few strands of my hair covering my face. That's what he did before kissing me.
"You want more?" I asked when our kiss stopped. He smiled mischievously before laughing. "I'll give you more," I kissed him again as I removed the strap of my bra.
I wish this day never ends. I want to be with him forever.