A Promise?

Tara's POV 

Just as Ella had said, the next day as early as 5:40 am, here she was with at least five big boxes of a 'few of her things', lined up in my room. 

I still couldn't believe the night before so I was ranting to her. With the way Ella hugged me and acted all sweet, no one would believe we had been fighting for over four months now. 

"That son of a bitch. He needs to really watch himself. Has he forgotten you're also a lawyer and you can sue his dumbass if he crosses the line?" Ella had that murdering sneer on her, the way her small pouty lips pressed together and the squinting of her eyes. 

She resembled a typical sweet and charming lady, long brown hair always in a messy bun, petite and slender, might I even say busty as well, she resembled a character straight out from an anime movie with her glasses that made her appear somewhat sexy. Ella was beautiful, though it annoyed me she didn't see herself the way I did. 

"You know I'm like the sister you never had, right? And I always want the best for you." Ella sat me on the bed and joined me, looking all serious. 

This already brought a frown to my face. Ella was also very stupid, always thought of life to be simple so she made horrible decisions!

"Get married to that bad boy with green eyes. The one Richard made friends with the other day."

I got up from the bed, leaving her there and storming outside. She followed me quickly. 

"Honey, wait up!" I heard her call out. 

"See, this is why we had an argument. You can live your life however you want to, change sex partners like you're changing your outfit, but I am not like you. I have a child, and I've actually been married before so I know nothing is fun out there. Only short lived enjoyment." I blast her. 

"Oh see that's where you're wrong! You keep blaming me, talking about how my life sucks because I don't have a kid or husband? That is not fair, T!" 

When I turned to look at her, her eyes were teary already. 

"And I'm sorry, but your words are hurtful sometimes. You know I'm trying to settle down but nobody really cares out there! I'm not lucky like you, who have Richard. I'm struggling here."

I felt bad now, so I quickly rushed to pull her into a hug. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean that."

"It's fine. But I keep insisting because, what? You can't tell me you're still attracted to that disgusting ingrate?" Her nose scrunched in detest when she pulled free. 

"That disgusting ingrate is Richard's father," I looked around to make sure Richard wasn't anywhere around, then lowered my voice. "He's my son's father."

"That's not an excuse. He treated you wrongly. And even if, God forbid, there's a chance you might end up getting back with him, you'll be his second wife with that Melissa still married to him. Also, he'll be getting you back on a platter of gold. No struggles, no fucking character development? No punishment for the way he treated you back then?"

I sighed. "It was seven years ago--"

"--no! Don't go on being all stupid. Stop picking his calls, stop interacting with him at all! Now, I'm proud of you for blocking his number immediately," she patted me on the shoulder but I shrugged her hand off. 

"You need to put yourself out there. Keep acting like this single 'I don't need a man' girl, and he'll start thinking this is a sign that you still want him back." Ella warned. 

"Go out there, have fun. Live your life. Richard complains everyday because he's scared of this pathetic lonely version he sees of you every day. You need to live your life too."

"Oh my goodness. I get it, Ella." I raised my hands in defeat. 

"Now tell me," she said, dragging me back inside. "Who's this stranger guy? And just how handsome is he?"

"He talked to my son about hookers." I insinuated but she just rolled her eyes and urged me to go on, "okay, I don't know. He's handsome," it felt cringe of me saying a man was handsome. Ella was a devil making me talk about a man like this when clearly, I didn't need one! I was fine by myself. 

"That's it? That's all I get? Richard gave me better details than you. And he's six years old!" Ella groaned out loudly, then she jumped up to grab her phone and fell back to the bed. 

Damn it, why did I have to bring this girl back into my life again?

"Okay, so what's the principal's name?" She asked, ready to start typing. 

"What are you doing?"

She looked at me like I had just asked a dumb question. "I said we need to find out about this stranger, I mean, if he's going to be Richard's friend then we need to see if he can be trustworthy. Jesus! What kind of a mother are you?"

That was because I wasn't going to let my son become friends with this man in the first place!

"I don't know his name," I admitted to her. 

Ella looked as if she wanted to slap me so hard, "okay, what's the name of your son's school?"

"Skyhigh Academy."

"Okay," she began typing. I explained the principal was also the owner of the school as well and she frowned. "He owns a school? That means he's rich! Why is he an ordinary principal?"

"Unclear." I responded. 

"Okay, oh my God!" Ella gasped. I leaned forward to see why and I couldn't contain my shock seeing the headline too. 

'Ronald Hernandez, owner of famous Skyhigh Academy and his lovely wife, Selena Hernandez go on a lovely trip to Korea.'

"No," Ella shook her head. "This must be another kind of Hernandez. Not the famous Hernandez family!"

"See relatives," I clicked on that and it led me to a new page. "Sofia Hernandez, younger sister, Arlo Hernandez, younger brother, oh wow."

"Green eyes!" Ella screeched as soon as she clicked on Arlo's profile. "Tara, how could you not have realized he was Arlo Hernandez! The greatest and hottest man alive."

"Richard, wait up!" I heard madam Margaret's voice and I slapped Ella on the back to behave.

Richard rushed inside, "aunt Ella. You're here early!" He jumped on the bed, hugging her. 

"I know, right! I bought chocolates. Lots of chocolates!" Ella got up and began rummaging through one of her bags. 

Richard came up to meet me, then whispered in my ears. "Mom, today is Friday. You need to call Arlo now and invite him tomorrow like you promised."