Chapter 13: GO XIOMARA!
The place was so cool! The sun was shining brightly. The cool breeze was so refreshing and the Filipino people who welcomed us made us feel very comfortable. I was in love with this place now!
Nathan decided that it would be more exciting if we will live with his grandparents. Their house was a nipa hut. It is an indigenous house used in the Philippines. The native house was constructed out of bamboo attached together. It had a thatched roof using nipa leaves.
"I really like this place!"
Yohanna was starting to unpack her things. We were going to share the same room and same bed. "I like this place too. The air is so refreshing and I like the view!"
"The people are very friendly too." When we arrived here, the people welcomed us merrily. Everybody was smiling at us and the food that they prepared for us was very mouth-watering!
"Did you see their rice and corn fields?"
"Uhum..." When I was done unpacking my clothes, I changed my clothes and helped Yohanna. "Do you think we can go there after this?"
"I don't know... ask Nathan." she suggested.
"No... you go there and ask him..."
"Why me?" she asked in a high tone.
I shrugged. I cannot tell her that I was willing to help Nathan to win her heart. She will get angry with me - that was for sure.
"You are so stupid, Xiomara," she commented bitterly.
My head snapped up at her, surprised by what she said. "What do you mean by that, Yohanna?"
"I know your plans... and I'm telling you it won't work." She closed the door of our room and stood in front of me. "I - will - never - fall - in - love - with - Nathan. It will never happen."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to sound innocent.
"You know what I am talking about!" She knelt in front of me and whispered, "I know that Nathan is still asking you to help him win my heart. I know that you agreed to help him. I also know that you love him so why the hell do you keep on pretending that you still love Andrew?"
"I love Andrew!" I hissed.
"Okay, you love him... but you love Nathan more." She moved closer to me. "You're hurting Andrew and most especially yourself!"
"What do you want me to do?" I looked at her intensely. "Dump Andrew?"
"Yes," she said at once.
"I can't! After all the good things he had to me? He does not deserve that kind of treatment after all his sacrifices just to make me happy!"
"He'll be happier if you'll tell him the truth. Listen to me, Xiomara." She reached for my hands and rubbed the back of it with her thumbs. "You love Nathan. Why don't you tell Nathan that you love him?"
"He loves you, not me!" I said in exasperation. "If you are in my position, who are you going to choose? The one you love but cannot love you back, or the one you don't love but loves you so much?"
She compressed her lips.
"He loves you, Yohanna..."
"So?"
"What do you mean by 'SO'?" I asked in an irritated tone. "He loves you and he is willing to do anything just to be with you!"
"You are 'XIOMARA"!" she hissed and stood up. "You are a fighter and you never give up! What is your motto in life, Xiomara?"
