Call from Destiny | COMPLETED | English

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: Huge Problem

E T H A N

"Vanessa's coming back home," she told me before she opened the door. I just stared at her while thinking about what she said.

Is Vanessa coming back? The Vanessa?

When I heard those words, it was as if a storm was right in front of me. I know I shouldn't have a problem. For others, she is just a problematic girl who is really desperate in having a relationship.

To me, she is a woman who will do anything just to have the one she loves.

And she always succeeds.

What she wants, she gets.

I can't refuse her because I am indebted to her. She's my childhood friend. Both of our parents are best friends - they're almost like sisters and brothers to be precise.

I can't say that I don't love her because she still has a little spot in my heart. She was my first crush before I met Claire. She was always by my side before and she was also the reason why I was no longer bullied.

I still remember the first meeting between Vanessa and me. I can't believe she's the only woman who will help me.

I could remember it as if it was still happening right now.

"What now Ethan? You're giving up? Come on, fight me! " Ray said to me before kicking me to the side. I looked at him angrily before I punched him back.

Ray and the minions of Satan are the only people who like to bully me. These people are the only ones who always like to challenge me in a fight. He's also the only one who likes to pull my collar and just wants to kill me.

Ray Guiterrez. Everyone's enemy when I was in elementary school. The twin brother of Benedict.

"Will you just leave me alone, Ray? I haven't done anything bad to you," I exclaimed while taking a deep breath.

All of his goons applauded and Ray smiled at me maniacally. "You've always been the lover boy. Picking up girls, making them stare at you in gawk. You're always the one with the attention. But now, I'm claiming that title."

At the same time, he stepped on my side wound again and even got the guts to punch me in the face.

I lay on the ground, staring at them. They laughed out loud as they looked at my helpless figure.

Suddenly, I heard a girl yelling before Ray and his friends looked behind them.

"Just stop! Stop this! Don't hurt him!" said the little girl who was the same age as me while she looked at my wound, very worried.

He just smiled once the girl tried to stop the fight. "Hello Vanessa, I see you're quite worried about Ethan here."

"Since when did you have the courage to take an interest in this guy, huh?" Ray asked her as the girl got closer and closer to him.

Since I couldn't bear to see Vanessa being blocked by Ray, I stood up and fought. Eventually, they left, but my body was full of bruises.

Vanessa suddenly approached me, her eyes staring at the large blue bruise that I got. "Are you okay? Let me take you to the clinic. I'm sure the nurse will take care of you there."

I just nodded as she helped me to the clinic. I looked at her as she smiled at me sincerely.

"Vanessa, thank you for trying to stop the fight. You're the only girl I've met so far who's brave to yell at Ray like that," I complimented her.

"Ethan, I had to. I can't stand seeing you fight with those guys anyway. You're hurt and I want to help." She decided to help me stand up and guide me to the nearest clinic since we were at school.

Since then, we have been close. All the students found out that we were friends and no one tried to bully me.

But, Vanessa and I only spent a little time together. When she was 13 years old, we took our last picture before I left.

Suddenly, my mom decided that we should go to the Philippines because they preferred to go on vacation there. They also didn't want to leave me in the States so they just decided to bring me with them.

And I did nothing but say goodbye and keep our last picture on my phone.

Yen snapped her fingers right in front of me, gaining back my attention. "Hey, you alright?"

Blinking a few times, I gave her a nod. "Huh? Oh yeah, sorry. I was kinda out of it."

We stopped in front of KFC — probably here since my sister wanted a take-out. When she stepped out of the car, I followed her until we ended up in front of the counter inside.

"A bucket meal. Coke for our drinks too. Please also add four fries to our order. I'll have that for take-out, " she said while giving the woman a 1000 peso bill.

As soon as the crew got the order, they prepared our food and Yen quickly took a glance towards me. I fakely coughed, looking away and trying my best not to speak. I know that I'm still in trouble since I got Vanessa mad.

A few minutes passed by and our order finally got served. We immediately returned to the car, holding our take-out. Suddenly, Yen's phone rang and she looked at me and answered. 

"Mom? Yes, we're coming back already. Is Mrs. Carmen there with you? Alright. Alright, we'll be there. Love you, " she replied while turning the car on. Mrs. Carmen? Vanessa? This can't be good.

I knew immediately that would be the conversation later at home. I'm so sure that it was all about Vanessa coming back.

When she hung up, she then looked at me. "Prepare yourself. Mrs. Carmen will surely ask you a lot of questions."

"I told you not to make Vanessa mad." As for me, I was shocked.

I could only think of one thing as we got closer and closer to our house.

Help me.