Chapter 5
On a sunny evening of the next day, I found myself staring pensively
through the clear window frame. I could see everything so clearly from the high
window, and yet I was looking at nothing in particular. My rocking chair rocked back and
forth, lulling me into a peaceful state of mind.
I inhaled in a deep breath. My thoughts had calmed after the thunder
storm yesterday. I was still upset, of course, but not with Lita. Not after what she'd
told me. If I were to hate her for ever falling in love with Ken, then I'll hate myself. I
fell in love with Ken, so I figured, why can't she fall in love with him? But even though I can
be reasonable about Lita's feelings for Ken, I can never forgive her. Forgiveness was never
easy to give and it was the one thing I knew I couldn't give to Lita.
At the carnival, she had mentioned us going back to being friends.
Friends, I thought, that was the one thing we can't go back to. It wouldn't seem
right after this awkward situation. It was already breaking my heart to look at her, so
how could I even be her friend? Our friendship wouldn't feel the same, not with an unsolved
question of who gets to keep Ken.
I shook my head then. No, going back to friends was the out of the
question. We can't go back to that. Never, I thought.
My head shook from side-to-side once more; I wished I hadn't thought of
this messy business again. The situation of Lita and Ken was supposed to be behind
me now. At least that's what I'd try to tell myself this morning. It had been easy
to say stop thinking of them, but it was truly hard to comply with the words that came from
my mouth.
I gave another desperate sigh. The situation was still in front of me.
It was still clear as ever, and it wasn't going to be put behind me in a long time.
I turned my head toward to the clock hanging on the wall then. Noon
already, I thought. How time flies. I was just talking to Darien earlier this
morning, and now it was noon. Inhaling in another deep breath, I averted my attention back to
the window and my thoughts were turned back to the train of thinking from before.
A deep silence surrounded me, then and it was suddenly broken by an
urgent ring coming from my door bell. My head quickly turned to the door and I
immediately wonder who it was.
"Serena!" I heard from the other side. The voice sounded all too
familiar and I smiled recognizing who it was right off the bat.
"You open this door, Serena!" My friend, Raye, yelled as she rang the
door bell repeatedly a couple of more times. I smiled at the thought of her. She
was never the one to be patient.
"Raye," I heard the gentle voice of Amy from outside. "Don't you think
you should calm down?"
"Oh Ames," Raye said, trying for once to explain something to Amy.
"You have to do this. You know Serena, she's--"
"What about Serena?" I grinned sheepishly when I finally opened the
door. It was amusing to be reminded of the old days.
"That she's stubborn, willful, and pig-headed."
I grinned playfully. "Tell me about it." I said smiling laughingly.
Mina, who had not spoken earlier, giggled and Raye smiled somewhat.
I hugged each of them, then invited them in. Everyone down sat in the
living room a few seconds later. Amy and Mina on one long couch and Raye stood
looking around. I sat in the lone seat.
"Damn, Serena" said Raye. She surveyed the room. "Your apartment's
completely changed. I don't even recognize it anymore."
I smiled. Things had changed. "It just looks different because there's
no more of Andrew's clothing on the couch and none of his mess around."
And it was a big improvement, I thought. All Andrew ever did was mess
the house. Jeeze, my brother was dirty disaster. I wonder how Mina ever
managed him or his apartment.
"What happened to Andrew?" Raye asked.
"Andrew moved out a couple of weeks ago. She has a new roommate now."
Amy informed Raye. She swept a short strand of hair behind her ear and
seated herself comfortably on the couch.
Mina eyes twinkled then. "You have to meet him, Raye. He's gorgeous
looking. Maybe you guys should hook up."
I flinched at Mina's sudden suggestion. Hook us up? It was an uncanny
suggestion that didn't suit me, but I ignored it. "Mina, I thought you
only had eyes for Andrew?"
Mina's face twisted into a mild irritation and she grumbled at the
declaration of Andrew. "Screw your brother. That stubborn man is not gorgeous as he
thinks."
Amy giggled. "Oh leave him out of this. Don't listen to her. She's
upset at him for some reason. I think because too many girls were eyeing him at the bar.
She wants him to quit the bartender job, but he won't."
Mina gave an appalled look at how Amy could guess so precisely and I
laughed. Andrew was really in for some big doldrums.
"Shut up, Amy." Mina said tossing a pillow at Amy. "You seem to know
a little piece of everyone's life. Can you clue us in your own life? Like Greg
and how he kisses?"
I saw Amy blush then. She was never the one to talk about her love
life. Not even to us. It wasn't her forte to chatter about love and mushy kisses. Amy
had her shyness, and I understood.
"Spare Amy, Mina. Don't take your anger out her. Slash it out on
Andrew," I told her.
Mina smiled in delight. "I'll be sure to tell Andrew that you
persuaded me to 'slash it out on him'."
I grinned. Andrew deserved it.
"Serena?"
My musing stopped suddenly. There was something in Raye's tone that
sounded a little too grave. "Yes Raye?"
"We were at Lita's house earlier."
My shoulder tensed. "Really?"
She stayed solemn for a moment, and so did Mina and Amy. So this was
what they came for. They wanted to talk about the subject I've been trying to
avoid. I should have guessed sooner.
"She said she was sorry." Mina said breaking through the moment's
silence.
Sorry, I thought. I've already heard that from Lita. She could say she
was sorry five billion times and I won't forgive her.
"I'm sorry too," I said. "I know you guys are trying to mend this
situation up, but I warn you now to stop."
"We're not stopping, Serena," Raye protested in fury. Stopping was the
last thing she had in mind, I knew. "I don't want to see this friendship in its
closing stage and I'm sure Amy and Mina feels the same way."
Mina nodded in complete agreement, but Amy sat still. She didn't
flinch from her position or open her mouth. It seemed like she was unsure of whom she
should side with.
"I never wanted this friendship to end either, but I can't go back.
Don't you see?"
Raye frowned, and I could see that she hadn't comprehended what I just
said. "See what? All I can see is that you're not making any sense."
My brows wrinkled together. What was she talking about? I was making
the most sense here. "Think about it Raye, how can we become friends again?
Things are too complicated between us. Apologizing would be easy, but reverting back
to friends is too damn hard! It's not as easy as you think."
Raye shook her head. "It is as easy as I think. If you can accept her
apologies then all is well. Why can't you acknowledge that?"
Why can't I acknowledge that? I thought in frustration. Because I
can't! I didn't want Lita's apologies. Why should I accept something that I don't want?
"Look, can we leave this topic alone?" I said. This topic was fusing
on my anger and I found myself not wanting to touch on it any further. Raye didn't
understand a thing about the situation, and I wasn't about to talk to an obstinate person
like her.
"No, we're talking about it now," Raye said, stomping a foot firmly on
the ground.
I puffed out a breath and looked at her. She was angry; I was too.
"Okay, guys." Mina came in between the two of us, her hands waving to
catch our attention. "This is an interesting topic, but you guys are getting out
of hand."
"Raye's getting out of hand," I stated angrily.
"You must be talking about yourself, Serena. You're the one that's
getting out of hand. I don't get you. Why don't you want to keep this friendship? The
five of us formed this friendship a long time ago, why do you want to break it?" Raye
took a long look at me. She was discerning something. What, I couldn't tell. A moment
later, she trudged toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Mina asked. She looked confused.
"Home," Raye answered. She turned the door knob and stopped half way.
She turned her gaze toward me. "You know what, Serena? I think you're the
wrong one in this, not Lita. Lita did her part on apologizing and you didn't accept
it. You didn't want this friendship to continue because of a stupid guy. I can't believe
you."
Raye gave me a disgusted look and out the door she went, leaving me
with a wounded heart. What she said had really pained me. I was wrong and Lita right?
How could this be? I wasn't the one who stole Lita's boyfriend. I wasn't the one who
cheated Lita behind her back with HER boyfriend. Raye was supposed to be on my side on this
one. Not Lita's. I didn't get it. It didn't make sense.
My eyes tensed, in fear of crying. I could feel a tear drop forming,
but I dare not to let it fall. I didn't want to cry over this. No, I thought, crying was
what I did already. It was time to leave this crying Serena behind.
"Serena?" Amy spoke lightly. She placed a hand on my taut
shoulder.
"Yes?" I answered. My voice shook.
Amy withdrew her hand and kept it planted firmly on her small purse.
"You want me to chase after her?"
I smiled lightly. "No. Let her go." I said. Raye wouldn't come back,
even if I called her. When her temper fueled, there was no stopping her.
******************
Later in the evening, Amy and I strode down a lonely brick road in the park.
Mina had left several minutes after Raye. She mentioned something about having dinner with
Andrew. So it was just the two of us left.
"You shouldn't take Raye's word so seriously."
"I know," I said quietly. I knew I shouldn't take her words so seriously, but I
couldn't help it. I couldn't get her words out of my head.
"Amy?"
She smiled at me. "Yeah?"
"Do you think what Raye said was right? Should I accept Lita's apology?"
"Do you want to?" Amy questioned me her brows raised, waiting for an answer.
I looked away from her and bit down on my lip. No. I don't want to forgive Lita. I
already knew the answer, but I wonder if it was the right decision I made.
"Serena," Amy said, and then sighed. "I know it's sometime hard to forgive, but
don't you regret in losing your friendship? Look, I know you're upset, but…"
"But what?" I asked when she stopped.
"Forget it, Serena. I think this is something you should think through on your
own."
"I know," I whispered. I wished Amy could tell me what to do. Things wouldn't
be so hard this way.
We continued our walk slowly down the peaceful road. A moment later, when I
finally paid attention to where I was going, we were somewhere near the jungle gym.
There were kids playing and laughing everywhere. Parents and guardians talked playfully, telling
of their about kids mischief.
"Hey, isn't that your roommate over there?"
I looked toward the direction of Amy's gazing. There was Darien, holding two ice
cream cones in each hand. He smiled happily and I wonder why he was so cheerful. I
grinned as he tries to balance the ice cream cones when a group of kids suddenly decided
played ring-around-the-rosy about him. His tall form stood awkwardly in the middle and
I chuckle. I could hear Amy giggling beside me and knew she thought this was a
hilarious sight. Dorky Darien, I thought, and smiled even more to myself.
"You're roommate's cute, Serena." Amy grinned widely.
I gazed at him. Yeah, he is cute, I thought, cute as a little kid. I gave another
smile; I can't believe the guy can't fend himself against a bunch of little kids.
"Serena," Amy said trying to get my attention.
I looked back at her.
"I have to go," she said. "It's getting late. Greg's sister wants to go shopping with
me today."
I nodded then watch Amy as she jogged hurriedly away.
I turned back to Darien. He had somehow found his way out of the circle and now
looked happy enough. I was going to call him, but then noticed he walked in a different
direction.
I frowned and followed him. Where was he going? I thought. I took a turn into a
deserted place and I spotted Darien. There was a girl sitting on the bench, and I could tell
that Darien was coming toward her.
"There you are. What took you so long?" She said and I suddenly found myself
hiding into a bush near by. What I was doing behind the bush, I didn't know. I never hid
behind abush in my life and found it very uncomfortable.
Darien shrug then handed over an ice cream cone. He sat down beside her. She
gave him a side kiss and I could see Darien blush from where I was hiding. She was his
girlfriend, I thought with a bitter taste.
"Darien, when will you tell your family about me? About our engagement?" The
girl said and licked her ice cream.
Engagement, I thought. Darien was engaged? Now when did that happen? I
inched myself closer as their conversation caught my curiosity.
"Ann," he sighed. "It's hard to tell my family anything. You know my family
isn't fond of Americans, especially my grandfather. He'll have a heart attack if I'd told
him about my engagement to an American."
"I know, but you have to tell them sooner or later. The old man only saw me once
and booted me right out of the door. He didn't even give a chance to know me," She said,
and Darien looped his fingers through hers. "And to think I traveled that long to the
British shore just to get kicked out of your home."
Darien looked adoringly at her. His beautiful face turned soft and I felt an unusual
lump rising in my throat. "I'm waiting for the right time to spring the news, Ann." He
said, with a kind tone that asked for understanding. "You know my grandfather has
heart problem. He's British, and he can be down right stubborn sometimes."
He pulled her head against him and I inched back with a new-born curiosity.
Darien was British, with a British grandfather? If his home was in Great Britain, then
what was he doing here? How come he didn't say anything about this to me?
I looked back at them and found them arm-in-arm, kissing. A surge of jealously
drove through me then, and I didn't know what I was so jealous about. I self-consciously
bit down on my lip as I looked at the envious view, then prodded myself to turn away. I
decided to leave them alone. Darien wouldn't appreciate me spying on him, and I'm sure I
would feel the same. I crawled myself out of the bush, thinking it was
the perfect time to leave, and backed away from them. My eyes took one last glance at
them before finally departing. How odd it was - I felt a strange jealousy enwrap itself
around me.
**********************
After the long walk home, I went to take a shower. Just before I climbed in the
tub, the phone rang. I quickly grabbed a towel and ran to the phone in the center of living room.
"Hello?" I asked. The towel I had on became somewhat loose.
"Is Darien there?" a girl on the other line requested.
Now what was this girl doing asking for Darien? Is it another girlfriend? I shook
my head; Darien wasn't the kind that cheated on girls. He wasn't like Ken, I thought and
a swirling of dark clouds rose overhead.
"He's not home," I told her.
"Then who is this?" She questioned curtly.
"I'm his roommate, I said and wondered who she was.
There was a pause and then, "Can I leave a message for Darien?"
"Sure," I said and found a notepad close by with a pen next to it. My fingers
readied to scribble down her words.
"Tell, him that his sister called." She drawled slowly.
My mind went into a stun state and the pen in my hand stilled in midriff. Sister, I
repeated dumbfounded. I thought he was an only child.
"Are you Darien's blood sister?" I asked trying to untangle my confusion.
"Yes, I am," She answered awkwardly. She was probably thinking that I was a
complete lunatic.
But it didn't matter. I was too absorbed in the new-found information. So they
were blood siblings, I thought. It didn't make sense. First it was the British grandfather
who came out of nowhere, and now his blood sister. What was going on here? Did Darien
find his sister over the years?
"How did Darien find you over the years? After you guys were separated at
the orphanage," I prodded on.
"Separated at the orphanage?" She laughed, obviously amused. "We never stayed in the
orphanage in the first place. Our parents aren't heartless enough to throw us in there."
I frowned. "Your parents are still alive?"
"Yes, what did you think?" She asked in a laughing tone. "Did you think they
were dead? Has Darien been telling you otherwise?"
He obviously did, I thought with a sour taste. He lied. Darien lied.
"Are you okay?" She asked over the other line, when I paused in silence for much
too long.
"Oh... yeah." I responded with a light shake of the head and put behind the
thought of Darien actually lying to me aside. She continued on.
"Tell Darien to call Karen as soon as he gets my message. Write this down," she
said and gave me the number for Darien to reply. "If he doesn't call me back, warn him
'YOU KNOW WHO knows about you know what'."
I quickly scribbled down her words and made sure to bold the word sister. Her
statement of warning to Darien was cryptic, I thought as I replayed her words, 'you know
who knows about you know what'. What did that mean?
"That's all. Thank you," Karen said politely and hung up the phone with a light click.
I slowly dropped the phone in its cradle. He lied to me, I thought with an ache, just when I was
beginning to trust him. I can't believe Darien. I can't believe MYSELF for ever believing
in his words. And all those stories about the orphanage I'd told him. What an idiot I was, I thought and cringed in
humliation. He was probably laughing at me that whole time. I shouldn't have told him anything.
AN: I'm done (finally!) I like to thank midnightrose for all her editing help. It was great working with you!
And another thanks goes out to lily (PassionLily). Thank you for taking up the editing job!
Anyways, if this chapter is not to your liking then I'm sorry. I kinda did half of the chapter this morning. so...
it's prbably not that great. Before I go...I like to warn ALL you readers out there to mail me or review my story.
I'm not having much inspiration these days...and that's bad! Not for me, but you guys because there might not be another
chapter of "The apartement". So a warning to you is: No FEEDBACK = no chapter! email: roses2small@yahoo.com
On a sunny evening of the next day, I found myself staring pensively
through the clear window frame. I could see everything so clearly from the high
window, and yet I was looking at nothing in particular. My rocking chair rocked back and
forth, lulling me into a peaceful state of mind.
I inhaled in a deep breath. My thoughts had calmed after the thunder
storm yesterday. I was still upset, of course, but not with Lita. Not after what she'd
told me. If I were to hate her for ever falling in love with Ken, then I'll hate myself. I
fell in love with Ken, so I figured, why can't she fall in love with him? But even though I can
be reasonable about Lita's feelings for Ken, I can never forgive her. Forgiveness was never
easy to give and it was the one thing I knew I couldn't give to Lita.
At the carnival, she had mentioned us going back to being friends.
Friends, I thought, that was the one thing we can't go back to. It wouldn't seem
right after this awkward situation. It was already breaking my heart to look at her, so
how could I even be her friend? Our friendship wouldn't feel the same, not with an unsolved
question of who gets to keep Ken.
I shook my head then. No, going back to friends was the out of the
question. We can't go back to that. Never, I thought.
My head shook from side-to-side once more; I wished I hadn't thought of
this messy business again. The situation of Lita and Ken was supposed to be behind
me now. At least that's what I'd try to tell myself this morning. It had been easy
to say stop thinking of them, but it was truly hard to comply with the words that came from
my mouth.
I gave another desperate sigh. The situation was still in front of me.
It was still clear as ever, and it wasn't going to be put behind me in a long time.
I turned my head toward to the clock hanging on the wall then. Noon
already, I thought. How time flies. I was just talking to Darien earlier this
morning, and now it was noon. Inhaling in another deep breath, I averted my attention back to
the window and my thoughts were turned back to the train of thinking from before.
A deep silence surrounded me, then and it was suddenly broken by an
urgent ring coming from my door bell. My head quickly turned to the door and I
immediately wonder who it was.
"Serena!" I heard from the other side. The voice sounded all too
familiar and I smiled recognizing who it was right off the bat.
"You open this door, Serena!" My friend, Raye, yelled as she rang the
door bell repeatedly a couple of more times. I smiled at the thought of her. She
was never the one to be patient.
"Raye," I heard the gentle voice of Amy from outside. "Don't you think
you should calm down?"
"Oh Ames," Raye said, trying for once to explain something to Amy.
"You have to do this. You know Serena, she's--"
"What about Serena?" I grinned sheepishly when I finally opened the
door. It was amusing to be reminded of the old days.
"That she's stubborn, willful, and pig-headed."
I grinned playfully. "Tell me about it." I said smiling laughingly.
Mina, who had not spoken earlier, giggled and Raye smiled somewhat.
I hugged each of them, then invited them in. Everyone down sat in the
living room a few seconds later. Amy and Mina on one long couch and Raye stood
looking around. I sat in the lone seat.
"Damn, Serena" said Raye. She surveyed the room. "Your apartment's
completely changed. I don't even recognize it anymore."
I smiled. Things had changed. "It just looks different because there's
no more of Andrew's clothing on the couch and none of his mess around."
And it was a big improvement, I thought. All Andrew ever did was mess
the house. Jeeze, my brother was dirty disaster. I wonder how Mina ever
managed him or his apartment.
"What happened to Andrew?" Raye asked.
"Andrew moved out a couple of weeks ago. She has a new roommate now."
Amy informed Raye. She swept a short strand of hair behind her ear and
seated herself comfortably on the couch.
Mina eyes twinkled then. "You have to meet him, Raye. He's gorgeous
looking. Maybe you guys should hook up."
I flinched at Mina's sudden suggestion. Hook us up? It was an uncanny
suggestion that didn't suit me, but I ignored it. "Mina, I thought you
only had eyes for Andrew?"
Mina's face twisted into a mild irritation and she grumbled at the
declaration of Andrew. "Screw your brother. That stubborn man is not gorgeous as he
thinks."
Amy giggled. "Oh leave him out of this. Don't listen to her. She's
upset at him for some reason. I think because too many girls were eyeing him at the bar.
She wants him to quit the bartender job, but he won't."
Mina gave an appalled look at how Amy could guess so precisely and I
laughed. Andrew was really in for some big doldrums.
"Shut up, Amy." Mina said tossing a pillow at Amy. "You seem to know
a little piece of everyone's life. Can you clue us in your own life? Like Greg
and how he kisses?"
I saw Amy blush then. She was never the one to talk about her love
life. Not even to us. It wasn't her forte to chatter about love and mushy kisses. Amy
had her shyness, and I understood.
"Spare Amy, Mina. Don't take your anger out her. Slash it out on
Andrew," I told her.
Mina smiled in delight. "I'll be sure to tell Andrew that you
persuaded me to 'slash it out on him'."
I grinned. Andrew deserved it.
"Serena?"
My musing stopped suddenly. There was something in Raye's tone that
sounded a little too grave. "Yes Raye?"
"We were at Lita's house earlier."
My shoulder tensed. "Really?"
She stayed solemn for a moment, and so did Mina and Amy. So this was
what they came for. They wanted to talk about the subject I've been trying to
avoid. I should have guessed sooner.
"She said she was sorry." Mina said breaking through the moment's
silence.
Sorry, I thought. I've already heard that from Lita. She could say she
was sorry five billion times and I won't forgive her.
"I'm sorry too," I said. "I know you guys are trying to mend this
situation up, but I warn you now to stop."
"We're not stopping, Serena," Raye protested in fury. Stopping was the
last thing she had in mind, I knew. "I don't want to see this friendship in its
closing stage and I'm sure Amy and Mina feels the same way."
Mina nodded in complete agreement, but Amy sat still. She didn't
flinch from her position or open her mouth. It seemed like she was unsure of whom she
should side with.
"I never wanted this friendship to end either, but I can't go back.
Don't you see?"
Raye frowned, and I could see that she hadn't comprehended what I just
said. "See what? All I can see is that you're not making any sense."
My brows wrinkled together. What was she talking about? I was making
the most sense here. "Think about it Raye, how can we become friends again?
Things are too complicated between us. Apologizing would be easy, but reverting back
to friends is too damn hard! It's not as easy as you think."
Raye shook her head. "It is as easy as I think. If you can accept her
apologies then all is well. Why can't you acknowledge that?"
Why can't I acknowledge that? I thought in frustration. Because I
can't! I didn't want Lita's apologies. Why should I accept something that I don't want?
"Look, can we leave this topic alone?" I said. This topic was fusing
on my anger and I found myself not wanting to touch on it any further. Raye didn't
understand a thing about the situation, and I wasn't about to talk to an obstinate person
like her.
"No, we're talking about it now," Raye said, stomping a foot firmly on
the ground.
I puffed out a breath and looked at her. She was angry; I was too.
"Okay, guys." Mina came in between the two of us, her hands waving to
catch our attention. "This is an interesting topic, but you guys are getting out
of hand."
"Raye's getting out of hand," I stated angrily.
"You must be talking about yourself, Serena. You're the one that's
getting out of hand. I don't get you. Why don't you want to keep this friendship? The
five of us formed this friendship a long time ago, why do you want to break it?" Raye
took a long look at me. She was discerning something. What, I couldn't tell. A moment
later, she trudged toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Mina asked. She looked confused.
"Home," Raye answered. She turned the door knob and stopped half way.
She turned her gaze toward me. "You know what, Serena? I think you're the
wrong one in this, not Lita. Lita did her part on apologizing and you didn't accept
it. You didn't want this friendship to continue because of a stupid guy. I can't believe
you."
Raye gave me a disgusted look and out the door she went, leaving me
with a wounded heart. What she said had really pained me. I was wrong and Lita right?
How could this be? I wasn't the one who stole Lita's boyfriend. I wasn't the one who
cheated Lita behind her back with HER boyfriend. Raye was supposed to be on my side on this
one. Not Lita's. I didn't get it. It didn't make sense.
My eyes tensed, in fear of crying. I could feel a tear drop forming,
but I dare not to let it fall. I didn't want to cry over this. No, I thought, crying was
what I did already. It was time to leave this crying Serena behind.
"Serena?" Amy spoke lightly. She placed a hand on my taut
shoulder.
"Yes?" I answered. My voice shook.
Amy withdrew her hand and kept it planted firmly on her small purse.
"You want me to chase after her?"
I smiled lightly. "No. Let her go." I said. Raye wouldn't come back,
even if I called her. When her temper fueled, there was no stopping her.
******************
Later in the evening, Amy and I strode down a lonely brick road in the park.
Mina had left several minutes after Raye. She mentioned something about having dinner with
Andrew. So it was just the two of us left.
"You shouldn't take Raye's word so seriously."
"I know," I said quietly. I knew I shouldn't take her words so seriously, but I
couldn't help it. I couldn't get her words out of my head.
"Amy?"
She smiled at me. "Yeah?"
"Do you think what Raye said was right? Should I accept Lita's apology?"
"Do you want to?" Amy questioned me her brows raised, waiting for an answer.
I looked away from her and bit down on my lip. No. I don't want to forgive Lita. I
already knew the answer, but I wonder if it was the right decision I made.
"Serena," Amy said, and then sighed. "I know it's sometime hard to forgive, but
don't you regret in losing your friendship? Look, I know you're upset, but…"
"But what?" I asked when she stopped.
"Forget it, Serena. I think this is something you should think through on your
own."
"I know," I whispered. I wished Amy could tell me what to do. Things wouldn't
be so hard this way.
We continued our walk slowly down the peaceful road. A moment later, when I
finally paid attention to where I was going, we were somewhere near the jungle gym.
There were kids playing and laughing everywhere. Parents and guardians talked playfully, telling
of their about kids mischief.
"Hey, isn't that your roommate over there?"
I looked toward the direction of Amy's gazing. There was Darien, holding two ice
cream cones in each hand. He smiled happily and I wonder why he was so cheerful. I
grinned as he tries to balance the ice cream cones when a group of kids suddenly decided
played ring-around-the-rosy about him. His tall form stood awkwardly in the middle and
I chuckle. I could hear Amy giggling beside me and knew she thought this was a
hilarious sight. Dorky Darien, I thought, and smiled even more to myself.
"You're roommate's cute, Serena." Amy grinned widely.
I gazed at him. Yeah, he is cute, I thought, cute as a little kid. I gave another
smile; I can't believe the guy can't fend himself against a bunch of little kids.
"Serena," Amy said trying to get my attention.
I looked back at her.
"I have to go," she said. "It's getting late. Greg's sister wants to go shopping with
me today."
I nodded then watch Amy as she jogged hurriedly away.
I turned back to Darien. He had somehow found his way out of the circle and now
looked happy enough. I was going to call him, but then noticed he walked in a different
direction.
I frowned and followed him. Where was he going? I thought. I took a turn into a
deserted place and I spotted Darien. There was a girl sitting on the bench, and I could tell
that Darien was coming toward her.
"There you are. What took you so long?" She said and I suddenly found myself
hiding into a bush near by. What I was doing behind the bush, I didn't know. I never hid
behind abush in my life and found it very uncomfortable.
Darien shrug then handed over an ice cream cone. He sat down beside her. She
gave him a side kiss and I could see Darien blush from where I was hiding. She was his
girlfriend, I thought with a bitter taste.
"Darien, when will you tell your family about me? About our engagement?" The
girl said and licked her ice cream.
Engagement, I thought. Darien was engaged? Now when did that happen? I
inched myself closer as their conversation caught my curiosity.
"Ann," he sighed. "It's hard to tell my family anything. You know my family
isn't fond of Americans, especially my grandfather. He'll have a heart attack if I'd told
him about my engagement to an American."
"I know, but you have to tell them sooner or later. The old man only saw me once
and booted me right out of the door. He didn't even give a chance to know me," She said,
and Darien looped his fingers through hers. "And to think I traveled that long to the
British shore just to get kicked out of your home."
Darien looked adoringly at her. His beautiful face turned soft and I felt an unusual
lump rising in my throat. "I'm waiting for the right time to spring the news, Ann." He
said, with a kind tone that asked for understanding. "You know my grandfather has
heart problem. He's British, and he can be down right stubborn sometimes."
He pulled her head against him and I inched back with a new-born curiosity.
Darien was British, with a British grandfather? If his home was in Great Britain, then
what was he doing here? How come he didn't say anything about this to me?
I looked back at them and found them arm-in-arm, kissing. A surge of jealously
drove through me then, and I didn't know what I was so jealous about. I self-consciously
bit down on my lip as I looked at the envious view, then prodded myself to turn away. I
decided to leave them alone. Darien wouldn't appreciate me spying on him, and I'm sure I
would feel the same. I crawled myself out of the bush, thinking it was
the perfect time to leave, and backed away from them. My eyes took one last glance at
them before finally departing. How odd it was - I felt a strange jealousy enwrap itself
around me.
**********************
After the long walk home, I went to take a shower. Just before I climbed in the
tub, the phone rang. I quickly grabbed a towel and ran to the phone in the center of living room.
"Hello?" I asked. The towel I had on became somewhat loose.
"Is Darien there?" a girl on the other line requested.
Now what was this girl doing asking for Darien? Is it another girlfriend? I shook
my head; Darien wasn't the kind that cheated on girls. He wasn't like Ken, I thought and
a swirling of dark clouds rose overhead.
"He's not home," I told her.
"Then who is this?" She questioned curtly.
"I'm his roommate, I said and wondered who she was.
There was a pause and then, "Can I leave a message for Darien?"
"Sure," I said and found a notepad close by with a pen next to it. My fingers
readied to scribble down her words.
"Tell, him that his sister called." She drawled slowly.
My mind went into a stun state and the pen in my hand stilled in midriff. Sister, I
repeated dumbfounded. I thought he was an only child.
"Are you Darien's blood sister?" I asked trying to untangle my confusion.
"Yes, I am," She answered awkwardly. She was probably thinking that I was a
complete lunatic.
But it didn't matter. I was too absorbed in the new-found information. So they
were blood siblings, I thought. It didn't make sense. First it was the British grandfather
who came out of nowhere, and now his blood sister. What was going on here? Did Darien
find his sister over the years?
"How did Darien find you over the years? After you guys were separated at
the orphanage," I prodded on.
"Separated at the orphanage?" She laughed, obviously amused. "We never stayed in the
orphanage in the first place. Our parents aren't heartless enough to throw us in there."
I frowned. "Your parents are still alive?"
"Yes, what did you think?" She asked in a laughing tone. "Did you think they
were dead? Has Darien been telling you otherwise?"
He obviously did, I thought with a sour taste. He lied. Darien lied.
"Are you okay?" She asked over the other line, when I paused in silence for much
too long.
"Oh... yeah." I responded with a light shake of the head and put behind the
thought of Darien actually lying to me aside. She continued on.
"Tell Darien to call Karen as soon as he gets my message. Write this down," she
said and gave me the number for Darien to reply. "If he doesn't call me back, warn him
'YOU KNOW WHO knows about you know what'."
I quickly scribbled down her words and made sure to bold the word sister. Her
statement of warning to Darien was cryptic, I thought as I replayed her words, 'you know
who knows about you know what'. What did that mean?
"That's all. Thank you," Karen said politely and hung up the phone with a light click.
I slowly dropped the phone in its cradle. He lied to me, I thought with an ache, just when I was
beginning to trust him. I can't believe Darien. I can't believe MYSELF for ever believing
in his words. And all those stories about the orphanage I'd told him. What an idiot I was, I thought and cringed in
humliation. He was probably laughing at me that whole time. I shouldn't have told him anything.
AN: I'm done (finally!) I like to thank midnightrose for all her editing help. It was great working with you!
And another thanks goes out to lily (PassionLily). Thank you for taking up the editing job!
Anyways, if this chapter is not to your liking then I'm sorry. I kinda did half of the chapter this morning. so...
it's prbably not that great. Before I go...I like to warn ALL you readers out there to mail me or review my story.
I'm not having much inspiration these days...and that's bad! Not for me, but you guys because there might not be another
chapter of "The apartement". So a warning to you is: No FEEDBACK = no chapter! email: roses2small@yahoo.com