Shan's POV
The waiters came over and asked for our order. If only Uncle Derek was here, he would probably already know what we both wanted.
When the waiter left I looked at Ciara who was drinking her Matcha Milk Tea, "Why isn't Uncle Derek here?"

She sighed, "We are supposed to be having dinner with our family tonight."
"What? Why didn't you tell me? I wish I could just postpone our meet-up," I knew this was very important to her if this is a family dinner with her parents.
"It's okay. I can chase and it's just at our house."
I nodded and took a deep breath before I took her hand, "Ciara," I began, "First of all, I wanted to say that I am so sorry about everything. I should've listened to you."
She smiled and held my hands too, "It's okay, it was understandable too. I know that Julie means a lot to you and I know how much you loved her."
"I'm sorry, Ciara because I doubted. I should've known better than listening to her. Just for you to know, I broke up with her."

I could see her eyes widen in shock, "What? Since when?"
"Just now," I said, "That's the important thing I've been doing lately. Tell me, what happened to the both of you? Why did you and Julie end up fighting?"
Ciara's POV
When he asked that question, I don't know if I need to tell him? I know that Julie and he broke up and I am quite happy about it.

"I don't know if I have to tell the truth. Maybe I'm wrong again," I said. Maybe it will happen again and they won't believe me again and I will be bad in the eyes of other people again.
"Please, tell me everything," He held my hand and I don't know but I loved his warm touch. It makes my heart pound just like the first time I fell in love with him.
I was about to speak when all our food orders arrived. I waited until they finished delivering the food and after that, I started to tell everything.
"Do you remember when Patrick did the try-outs?" he nodded, "You even got upset at me because we didn't take you with us."
He rolled his eyes and he even laughed, "Yeah, I'm so jealous of you because Patrick had got you away from me."
I smiled and continued, "So, the main reason why we didn't include you was that we spilled the tea about Julie," I saw he was interested in hearing whatever he was supposed to hear, "Before that, Patricia and I were in girl's toilet that time when Julie's group also entered. I'm not sure if it was cheerleaders or maybe her classmates who were talking."
"What were they talking about then?"
"At first, I think they were asking how you two were. Just asking how your relationship is and not until they came across a guy who was also her boyfriend named Dwight."
He thought about it, even me because I didn't know Dwight's name at school. Although I'm not famous, I know all the people at school very well, even in Agusan where there are over thousands of students, I know them all very well.
"Dwight? Maybe he was the one who answered my call earlier," I heard him say so I asked him if how did he know, "I was breaking up with her earlier so I called her but unfortunately, a man answered. He never mentioned his name but I heard him say that Julie is his girlfriend. "
I sighed because you can't count on Julie's face and aura that she's that kind of person. His whole being is very innocent but everything is just the opposite, "I was also shocked when I heard that. Believe me, I had a hard time telling you the truth and then your contribution to me added even more."
He chuckled, "I'm sorry, best friend. Did you have a hard time?"
"Hmm, not really," I joked, "I'm grateful that Patrick is always there to comfort me."
"Yeah, I remembered something," he said as if he remembered, "I remember the time Julie accused you of slapping her and you were like not in the mood, plus I'm upset with you because you're still wandering around by Patrick at the beach. I saw your photos of that. Anyway, were you that mad that time?"
"Oh that," I remember that because it was the busiest day that came in my whole life, "Because Julie is crazy. Annoying!"
"What happened at that time?"
"I don't know what happened to her but all of a sudden she shouted at me, accused me, and slapped me. She accused me of stealing your time."
He sighed and looked straight into my eyes, "I'm sorry it happened to you and I'm sorry that I didn't believe you right away."
I smiled at him, "That's okay. I'm glad that you left her."
"That's the best thing to do," He said and continued eating.
We just finished the meal and the story before we decided to go home.
I am so happy because we were both okay, too. Just after that, we were right in front of my house and I saw that Uncle Derek and his family were still inside.
"Ciara," I turned around Shan and I was shocked to see that our faces were so close.
I can see sparks in his eyes. His eyes are full of love and I missed every single piece about him. I missed my best friend.
He brought her face even closer to mine, "The reason why I broke up with her is that I love you."
As he said that, his lips crashed into mine. I can feel the butterflies in my stomach and my heart beats fast.
I closed my eyes and held his face. Gosh, how I love this man.
I do love him. From the beginning, I do love him.
As we parted, he looked at me, "I love you, ever since. I am sorry because it took me time to realize and I hope that so does -"
"I love you too, Shan," I said, "I love you. I do love you, ever since."
He smiled and hugged me real tight. I can't believe that my best friend loves me too. All of my prayers have been answered. First, it was with my parents and the next is Shan.
He got out of his car and immediately asked me to open the door to get out.
"So," he said, "Your my girlfriend now?"
"Are you that crazy?" I slapped him on the shoulder and laughed, "You just broke up with Julie, don't you think it's kind of odd?"
"Why can't it happen? You're the one I've loved since the beginning."
Gosh, I love to hear when he says I love you to me.
"You love Julie too, don't you?"
"Yeah, but I love him like my sister. I don't know but that's what I felt since when I first saw her."
I nodded, "Well, it's true indeed. It's like you're siblings and you're I can see the resemblance. Can't you be siblings without knowing that you were separated?"
He laughed at my joke, "You're crazy! She can't be my sister."
"I am just kidding, let's go and they're all perfect and complete here."
We went into the house and shared it with my parents.
I've already said that about the two of us. My parents also have no problem even if they just broke up with Julie.
After all, Julie was also to blame when she cheated, but the important thing was that we were both happy with each other.
x x x x x x x
"What?! You and Shan are dating now?!" Patricia exclaimed on the other end of the line, "How did that happen? I mean, I can't imagine!"
"It happened that he's been in love with me for a long time, and he already knows about Dwight. He's planning on breaking up with her before he heard about Dwight and settled things with me," I smiled and clicked the loudspeaker button so that I wouldn't be annoyed by her loud voice.
She screamed, and I heard it. "Oh, best friend! I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed, a good thing I turned on the loudspeaker.
I chuckled, "I know, I know! I wasn't anticipating anything like this. But then I wondered, what will happen to Julie now?"
"That is the cause of my fear. But we'll only be watchful, and I'll be right by your side, particularly your lover boy."
I laughed out loud, "You're completely insane! Let's get ready, and if we're not careful, we might be late for class."
"Oh, yes. Bye, and I'll see you later."
"Bye," and I hung up the phone.
I walked to my closet to change into my school uniform and get my bag.
When I got downstairs, I heard someone laughing and talking, so I went down and found my parents and Shan at the dining table.
"Hello there, everyone! Shan, you have visited this early. What's going on?" I asked and kissed each of my parents as I sat next to Shan.
"Of course. We'll go to school together since you know we're a thing now," Shan added, and I could tell my parents were pleased with him as well.
I'm also grateful for the time and day I've spent with my family.
"You're so sweet, Shan," I said, pinching his cheek, "I'll eat first."
As I finished eating, I brushed my teeth and quickly got my things, and bid goodbye to my parents.
"Goodbye, sweetheart! Take care, you two."
Shan stared at me and said, "Come on," as he opened his car door for me.
"Wow, this is my first time. By the way, what a gentleman you are."
He just chuckled, "Ciara, please. You're a princess, thus you deserve to be served," he snatched my hand in his and kissed it. I have no idea how sweet he is. Was he like this to Julie back when they were dating?
"Thank you," I replied as I climbed into his car. He drove to school as he went on the other side.
"Are your parents aware of us dating?"
"I can't keep it from them," he acknowledged, "and I gave them the actual reason why."
"And? What did they have to say?"
"They were alright with it," he replied with a smile, "and they were pleased with the news. They stated you're a lot better than her because they don't know her very well yet, and Faith is delighted."
"She's probably pleased that she continually pressures me to tell you how I feel."
While driving, he glanced at me, "Please tell me. When did you realize you liked me?"
I wondered if it was because I had a long-standing crush on him, "I recall being in elementary school. I mean, it was just like a crush or attraction until when it became more serious when we started high school."
He grinned, "That's something I've never known before. Sorry, it took me years to realize. For me to see it, Patrick still needs to enter our lives."
"What does he have to do with it?" I wonder.
"Believe me," he added while on the trip, "I was jealous of you two when I saw you together. You know this since you witnessed me crying."
"Yeah, I recalled that," I said with a giggle.
"No one was courting you, right?"
"No. Why? Do you think Patrick was attempting to court me?" I immediately snorted out when he nodded, "Certainly not! Although I'm still surrounded by men, you're still the one. Besides, Patrick and I aren't compatible."
"What do you mean?"
"You're usually so busy to Julie before! Patrick had admitted to being gay."
"What?! Is that true?" I burst out laughing. Even I didn't think he'd be gay.
When we discussed Julie's cheating, Patrick informed us that time.
He claimed that Julie just became his ex-girlfriend because he wanted his family to be proud of him, therefore finding out that Julie had another boyfriend wasn't a huge concern to him.
It's a shame since I think he's cute, but Shan is much sexier, "I don't imagine he's gay. He is a very attractive dude."
 
 
 
"I know right," I admitted as I glanced out the car window and realized we had arrived at school.