Seasons

It's Done For You

Anntonia's POV:

"Ann! I beg you. I'm truly sorry!" Max gripped my wrist, forcing me to face her. She had been following me since Miss Nicaragua won, right after I excused myself to the staff.

"Get your hands off me, Max! I loathe you. I hate everything about you, don't you understand?"

I could feel my frustration and heartbreak pouring out. I was angry at Max because she had just confessed to doing something that affected my placement.

"I was just helping you achiev--"

"Damn it! You're not just disrespecting me! You're also belittling me! Are you saying that I can't win through my own efforts? I spent months trying to mold myself and be ready for this moment! Only for you to ruin everything!"

"Ann--"

"Leave El Salvador." I wiped my tears and faced her with my most serious expression. It's done for her. She has been exhausting me and I really had enough.

"For what? So you can have Deedee by yo--"

"Everything I do in my life is none of your business. Put your delusions away from me, Max. That decade of friendship is something I treasure, but seeing how ruthless you can be and how it affects us and Dee, that's not something I would let go. I am not your go-to person that you can play with when you're lonely."

"You loved staying by my side, didn't you?"

"I did, but that doesn't give you the privilege to use me whenever you want. I am a human, Max. I liked you for so long and I settled for what you can offer. I was never unfair to you, right? Why are you doing the opposite to me?"

"You're just overwhelmed by Deedee, Ann."

"I gave you more than enough time to realize that you deserve my love and I deserved yours too. But you didn't take the chance, and it was okay." I paused and stepped backward. "Max, I was tired. No one took me away from you. I walked away from you because you made me do so."

"I never pushed you away."

"You never did. But you kept on setting me aside like I was never an option and then you pull me back only in the rarest of times."

"Ann."

"This is not where your heart is. I was not the one you want. You love the chase, but I love the certain. You only love me if he's not around, and I love Dee at all times."

"You have the guts to say that to my face?"

"Please bring me back the old Max. The Max who can never say and do any of this to us. By that time you find her, I will be the Anntonia you met at summer again."

"You'll love me again?"

"As my best friend." I clarified.

"What's so special with Dee? Why do you choose her instead of me? The Anntonia I know can never do that."

"I don't have to answer that, Max. Just please, leave me alone and go back to the Philippines."

I walked away from her after that. If she does respect me even in the tiniest way possible, she would listen to me.

My heart hurts so much. I was almost there, and I was so convinced that every step I had to take to move forward is because I did well, only to be slapped by the truth that she did a dirty move.

I just walked ahead, knowing nothing on where I am planning to go. I was just walking with my tears escaping my eyes.

"Hi."