Arrangements

8

I returned but they didn't allow me, even if I protested, because Anna was still out of it. A part of me is guilty for what's happening to her. Really. Just who is Arwyn?

Another day, I am here again. Michael banned me from visiting but luckily, Anna saw me. Good, she's well again. But it frustrates me to adjust to how she remembers me. And now, she thinks we're still in college. Wow, this is really serious.

I feel stupid to pretend that we're simply just friends because she thinks she's still with Leo. This is worse.

I spent half of my day there. I also found out that Chairman Winter and Michael brought their work to their house. Their library became chairman's office while Michael's bedroom his office.

If only they gave Anna a bit of their time in the very first place, maybe Anna wouldn't have to suffer this way.

Way back in college, Anna's family was very busy with their work. They weren't always at home that they had no time for her.

I met Anna through Leo when we were in college. I was Leo's study buddy. They were best friends since she was ten, always together even when I and Leo study, so I always got to see Anna. Anna took fine arts, while Leo and I took management.

I was actually envious of Leonard. Anna always talked about him, like all her memories were with Leo.

Anna told me that Leo used to bully her when they were in grade school. I asked her how their friendship developed but she didn't tell.

Leo courted Anna when we were freshman. I witnessed their relationship, from best friends to sweet lovers to strangers.

Anna was frustrated when Leo started to take her for granted. She was always in bad mood, which is unusual to her, and she stopped going out with us anymore. Our friends were tired of adjusting to her, but I stayed.

Whenever we saw Leo, who was always with Claire, Anna was always transforming into a crybaby. I was always there for her, especially when they broke up.

I talked to Leo, thinking I could do something for Anna but he didn't listen to me, accused me that I took Anna away from him. God knows I was innocent. He blamed me his fault.

Leo didn't talk to me again. I was sorry for our friendship but it's his fault he lost Anna. And then I fell in love with Anna. I knew she was vulnerable. She couldn't rely on her family. But I took it as an opportunity to love her, and she accepted me.

On our graduation day, I had to deliver a leadership speech in the stage and I grabbed that opportunity. I proposed to Anna. There was nothing more I could wish for when she said yes. That was my happiest day.

However, my parents were against it, and her family didn't give their blessings. Our family were rivals in one business auction. I did everything to settle our conflicts but things were very complicated.

I left home, bought a small house with the money I'd saved up. Daddy cut off all my credit cards. My bank accounts were frozen, I struggled financially. I almost gave up. I was dependent to my parents that I realized I couldn't do it. Anna was so brave that she still stood for me, she motivated me to not give up.

We lived on our own in our small house. I looked for a job while Anna took culinary arts.

Daddy was determined to pin me down that he used his connections to prevent me from getting hired. So we started a business of our own after Anna became chef, but it didn't succeed.

I was so busy looking for a job that I lost sight of what really makes my wife happy. All I thought of was to get a job to prove to my parents that I could do life without them. I forgot about me and Anna.

I threw out all my stress to her, which I truly and sincerely regret. I started to think that the dishes she cooked was all Leo's favorite. The stories she told was all with Leo. It was all about Leo, Leo, Leo. It frustrated me that it's still Leo. It's Leo again.

Until one night, I was drunk. I had one night stand with our friend, Melissa. I promise I never intended nor ever wanted to cheat on Anna. I loved her so much.

I realized that Anna truly loved me, and that the things about Leo was all just my imaginations. Melissa got pregnant and Anna was devastated. How she looked at Leo when they broke up, I saw that in her face when she found out about Melissa. It felt like the sky and the soil sandwiched and swallowed me down wholly, that even hell rejected me.

I broke her heart.

She wanted to go home so I gave her space. Little did I know that she ran to our friend, Fiona, whose dad was a lawyer. She filed an annulment. She wanted me to stand for my baby, to be a good father. It broke me harder that I couldn't do anything for us anymore... or that I didn't do anything for us at all. I returned home. Gladly, our house was still open for my comeback.

Few months after, I found out that Anna flew off to California where her favorite uncle was. She returned when our annulment was granted. She was seating across me. I was looking at her while she was looking away, lost in her thoughts. When the judge announced our marriage null and void, she shed a tear but she was all fine. All I could do that time was to clench my fist. I was angry that she looked fine about it, but I know it was my fault.

My son was already four then. That's how long I'd been fighting against our annulment. I also had another case for the full custody to my son. I may have lost against Anna but I won against Melissa. I took my son while Melissa left to Australia and married a local.

My parents threw a party for my annulment and my granted full custody to my son.

To my surprise, Leo was invited. We exchanged punches when he cornered me in the comfort room. I knew he still loves Anna. He was really mad that I was rushed to a hospital.

Mommy filed a case against Leo, but we had to withdraw it when their lawyers requested for personal settlement.

Because of what he did to me, I swore I wouldn't let him get back to Anna.

I can't let him be happy with Anna while I suffered too much.