Arrangements

3

The knocks on my door disturb my tight sleep. I get up to open it and it is manang Silvia.

"Po?" I ask while half asleep.

"Leo, your dad called. Aren't you going to office?"

"Give me a break!" I say as I walk back to my bed.

"Your mom prepared you a breakfast," she informs.

I hear beep sounds around my room. Manang must be controlling the universal remote of my room. The music has turned off; the air con, off; and the curtains, open.

"... but it's already lunch time, so we ate the breakfast that ma'am prepared for you. It would be a waste to throw it out." She explains while I feel the sun's heat.

"Close the curtains please!" I say, still sleepy.

"Get up and eat your lunch already. Brunch, rather," manang commands.

"I will!" I bury my head on my pillows and kick my blanket away from my body.

I hear the door opens and closes. Manang must've left already.

Suddenly, I feel craving which washed away my drowsiness. I rush to my door and open it. Manang hasn't walked far yet. Good!

"Manang, hot choco. Please?" I request.

"Okay. Go, wash up and prepare for the day." Manang nods.

After I fix myself, I walk downstairs and head to our dining room and there, I see my meal. I drink a glass of water first and taste the hot choco but it disappoints me that it doesn't taste like Anna's. Anna's hot choco is my favorite. I'm craving for it now.

Though my meal isn't satisfying, I still finish it.

"Manang, where did mom go?"

"She didn't tell me. But she's with Mrs. Mendoza," manang says while arranging some stuffs in the room.

"Ah."

I return to my room and change my clothes again. I missed my visit to Claire yesterday because I had to go with dad and mom to Anna's place. So, I have to make it up to her today.

I drop by at the cake shop near her boarding house first to buy her favorite strawberry cake.

I ask the guard to call her out for me because male visitors aren't allowed inside. So I wait for her here at their gate as usual.

Minutes after, I finally see her. I quickly hide the box of cake behind me. I want to surprise her.

She's in her pajama but she's still as stunning as ever. Her beautiful face glows more as she walks towards me and her long black hair sways around her shoulders as the wind blows at her.

"Hey," I greet. Before I can even say another word, she quickly pushes me away.

"You're here again! Just how many times do I have to tell you to stop seeing me! We're so over," she protests. It hurts me hard but I am still insisting. I know she doesn't mean it. I know she is just hurt too.

"Sorry, babe. I just want to give you this," I show her the box of cake, and my smile.

She breathes deep. So deep that she falls on the ground.

"Babe..." I call. But I hear her weeping.

"Babe, hey... Why are you crying?" I ask as I hug her for comfort.

"Please. Just leave."

"Ssh... Okay, okay. I'll leave. Just don't cry." I kiss her forehead and wipe away her tears. I know she is in pain for what's happening to us.

It's been months. A day after I proposed to her, I met her whole family. I am sure they were happy for us until they met my parents. A week later, Claire broke up with me. She informed me that her family doesn't want us to pursue our marriage. Later I found out, it was my dad's doing. Claire's family belong to a middle class. They don't own a company nor any business. Her parents work as private company employees. That's why dad is against my plan of marrying her. My mom didn't say a thing but I know she was still rooting for Anna. She didn't even stop dad from insulting Claire's parents by offering them a big amount of money.

"Everything will be fine again. Ssh..." I say as she cries harder. "Babe. Don't cry." I please. And she listens. She covers her eyes and tries to calm them.

"Here. Have this." I hand over her the cake. "It's your favorite. Now, get up," I stand up to help her get up. She takes the box but she avoids to look at me.

This hurts me. God, why do we have to be in this state?!

"Babe, I love you. I always will. So please don't give up on us yet. Just wait, okay? Please?" I plead but she just shakes her head, shooing me away.

"Go in. Take care of yourself. I'll visit again later," I say while I slide few strands of her hair behind her left ear. I kiss her forehead and take a look of her face for the last time for today. She still avoids my eyes.

I smile at her and finally walk to my car. I look back at her and she is still standing right there, I guess she wants to see me off.

As I get in my car, I exhale deeply, rest my back for awhile.

I hate seeing Claire in that state. Because of me, of my dad, she's now left in her pajama. She's supposed to be at work now.

All because of me, she lost her dream job.