Change of Heart

Chapter 22

Erica

They say if you don't want to get burned, you don't play with fire. If you don't want to drown, you don't go to the water. If you want to get away, you don't go near it. But what if you don't want to fall in love? What would you do?

Will simply avoiding him, do the trick? No it won't. It only makes the yearning stronger. Why is it that for every step I take back, I always find myself moving two steps forward?

On the Saturday morning, I found myself standing over the Alcala residence tall gates. Tristan had asked me to be his study buddy and I wasn't able to say no.

I no longer understood myself. It's as if I've lost control of my rationality and I've given in to my whim. I have to debate with myself all the time. There's something strong here that is hard to fight.

I rang the doorbell and instantly, he showed up at the gate as if he had been anticipating me for quite awhile. He opened the gates himself, even if they had security personnel to do it and he let me in into his haven, his large mansion built on a sloping hill.

"Your house is really big." I said to him casually as he led me inside. We were greeted by a double volume foyer. The high ceiling extended to the living room. The place was immaculately white, except for the sleek black leather Barcelona chairs in the living room and a large dangling golden chandelier hovering over the living. The main attraction of the space was probably the grand piano at the central of the living area.

"Have a seat first." Tristan gestured me to the sofa. "I'll go get my things. We'll stay at the study room. Anna? Anna?" Tristan's voice echoed around the large space and a short slender lady appeared before us.

"Anna, please make my guest comfortable." There was a definite, very bossy tone on Tristan's voice. And he rushed upstairs, taking two steps at a time.

"Hello, my name is Anna. May I know the name of Sir Tristan's guest?" Anna bowed.

"Hahaha. It's okay. You don't have to bow." I laughed embarrassedly. "My name is Erica."

"Miss Erica?"

"No, just Erica."

"Umm, okay..." Anna paused and thought of something. "Your name rings a bell. I think I've heard of it before."

"Maybe, my name is pretty common, so I guess..."

"Aha!" Anna jumped. "You're the girl that Sir Tristan gave up the taxi for. That's right! I remember!"

I blinked at Anna.

"How can I forget that incident? That was the time that Sir Tristan got lost while riding a jeepney. His car ran out of gas that time and he asked me to fetch him a cab, which I did, but on our way out of the school, he spotted you and relinquished the taxi to you and even paid for your fare." Anna noticed the shock on my face. "You don't know, do you?"