Chapter Nine

“LET me remind you, Avon, that I will no longer comfort you if I ever see you cry a river again.”

She looked at Carmela with a knotted forehead. “So, you came here to preach?”

“Don’t me, Avon! Erika told me that you and Roeden were back together. Is it true?”

She rolled her eyes. Back together was so overrated when they did not even have a relationship back then.

“Pain is part of our lives, and when you feel pain it’s only natural to cry. I’m not the only person here on Earth who cried because of a broken heart.”

“I know. But didn’t I tell you that enough is enough? I thought this time you will finally succeed in moving on. It seems to me that you made a fool out of yourself.” Carmela shook her head disapprovingly.

Of course, she already expected that kind of reaction from her friend.

“Believe me, I tried!” She pouted her lips. “But what could I do when fate dragged me back to Roeden? Perhaps this is a sign that we are really meant for each other?” She clasped her hands above her chest and sighed dreamily.

“Goodness gracious, Avon. Why are you always like that when it comes to Roeden? We should have sent you to a rehab a long time ago.” Carmela cupped her forehead.

“You better do it now before it’s too late.”

“You know what, I’ll spare you because I know you’re a writer. It’s only natural for you to be weird and—”

“Hey, I’m not weird!” Avon narrowed her eyes on her best friend.

“Then, what are you?”

“Well, it’s just that I’m beyond normal.” She grinned.

“Whatever!” Carmela handed her the unripe mango that she peeled for her. “Ah, anyway, did you go online on social media again?”

“Not yet. Why?” Avon dipped the slice of mango to the shrimp paste and munched it. “Social media is not my top most priority. I’m busy these days.”

“Really? I bet you are just trying to avoid Roeden’s post that might ruin your mood.”

Avon grimaced. Not because of the sourness of the unripe mango she was eating, but because of what her best friend said. She knew what she was talking about. Avon saw that post on Roeden’s SNS a couple of days after they had a slumber party with their friends. She could not help but feel jealous to that girl he was with in that photo. His sister said that girl was just a friend. But they looked so sweet it made her want to reap her soul out. After seeing that, Avon was back to bitter mode again. She deactivated all her social media accounts.

“You should have unfollowed him if you’re really moving on,” Carmela added.

“I change my mind. It would be a hassle if I unfollowed him and follow him again now, you know.”

Carmela picked a pinch of salt and threw it at her. “I was right all along. You don’t really want to move on when you said that five years ago.”

“Are you really my friend? Friends should support each other, right?” Avon said somberly as if she was about to cry.

“Stop with your drama, Avon. You’re no longer that high school student,” Carmela retorted.

“Ah, when will you go to Metro?” she asked afterwards.

“Why?” Carmela turned to her.

“I’ll hitch on your car. I need to go somewhere in Makati.”

“You have a car. Why don’t you use it?”

“I don’t have a driver.”

“You can drive.”

“I have motion sickness, remember?”

“Why do you have to go to Makati, anyway?”

“Well, I need to go to Lionsoft.”

Carmela’s eyes grew wider. She looked really shocked, and she knew why.

“Were you that obsessed with Roeden now that you are going to visit him in his office? Come on, Avon—”

“What can I do? This is our fate.”

“What?!” Her best friend was almost freaking out.

She chose another mango to peel. “Do you want more?”

“No, thanks.” Carmela fished her phone out of her pocket and made a call.

“Who are you calling?” Avon asked as she peeled the mango.

“I’m calling Erika to ask for back-up. We can’t let you—”

“Stop freaking out, Carmela.” She glanced at her best friend. “I’m not going to Lionsoft to see Roeden just because I’m up to something.”

“Then why?” Her best friend looked at her intently.

Avon heaved a deep sigh. She should have called for a meeting so that she would only explain it to her best friends in one go. But there she was, telling it to them one by one.

“Roeden and I are working on a project. The publishing company that I write for collaborated with his company. That’s the same reason why we met again. I didn’t joke around. It wasn’t intentional either. Now, do you understand?”

Carmela was still looking at her intently but with furrowed brows now. It looked like it did not sink to her. Then, her friend laughed afterwards.

“Why are you laughing? Do you find it funny?” Avon snorted.

“Come to think of it. It happened again.” Her voice was filled with amazement.

“What do you mean?” She was not slow, but she could not follow.

“Whenever you plan to move on, something happens.”

She nodded agreeably. “Yes. Fate always finds its way to ruin my plan to move on and drag me back to him. See? That’s what I’ve been telling you from the start. So, you better stop judging me as if I’m doing this to—”

“I’m sorry for that. But wait… Do you think it will work this time around? I mean, we both know that it’s an unrequited love.”

“I haven’t confirmed it yet. But I’m certain that something has changed. I can feel it.”

“If you say so.” Carmela shrugged and took the mango and peeler from her. “I’m just one call away if you need a friend to—”

“You said you will no longer comfort me this time.”

“Who said I’m comfort? I haven’t finished my sentence because you cut me off. What I mean to say is that… I’m here to snap his neck for you.”

They both laughed.