Chapter Twenty-six

" So Anny, how's the plan going?" Amy asked as we sat together at lunch.

" Uhh.. it's going great"

" I hope they're aren't gonna be any casualties, like you falling for him?"

" Nah, it's all good"

" Good!"

After I got into a relationship with Rio, Amy had come to me begging me to get back at Rio for breaking her heart. I had been moved by her pleas and plus we were friends so I had promised to help her and that is exactly what I'm doing. Toria and my other friends is totally against it but it doesn't matter, I'll still do it anyways. Amy's like my closest friend now and I've gotta do this for her. She gave up her girls and chose me so I'm willing to help.

" So how about Isaac?" Amy asked

" I broke up with him"

" And Jeph?" Jeph's the new guy.

" I think I'll end it too. The dude's basic "

" Anny, that isn't fair. You've got someone as amazing as Jeph and you say he's basic" Amy said.

" Wasn't it you who advised her to leave Isaac? Isn't he way more better than this Jeph of a guy?" Toria shot at her. They both aren't in good terms. They obviously hate each other.

" And who are you to talk in matters like this?" Amy attacked.

" I'm her friend. Her best friend before you came in and snatched her" Toria retorted.

" I didn't snatch her. You just weren't enough...

" Okay that's enough" Eureka said before Amy could finish.

" Let them keep on arguing, they have nothing useful to do with their lives" Nancy added.

" Oh! You had better watch your mouth" Amy said angrily.

" And what's wrong with what I said?" Nancy said back.

Well, that's how they are. They'll continue till everyone joins in the argument and then I'll have to separate a fight.

" Who asked you to say anything?" Amy said. She always stood alone.

" The last time I checked she's human and she has every right to speak" Elena put in.

" You call this incomplete thing a human?" Amy said. That earned her a slap from Nancy. A hard slap that even I felt it. I just sat there, eating my meal and watching them. When it's the right time, I'll stop them.

" You watch your mouth devil. The fact that Rio was able to endure it doesn't mean I'll take it" Nancy said. Amy didn't return the slap as I expected her to. Normally she would have but Rio walked into the room and I guess that's why she mellowed. He was walking towards us, I wonder why.Rio hasn't spoken to me for a while now. A long while, I wonder what I did wrong. The argument had already ended. He finally got to us , me I mean.

" Can I speak to you Anny? In private" he said. I nodded and stood up. We walked out together and I could see eyes glaring at me. Especially Natalie. We got to a place private enough and stopped.

" Do you wanna break up?" I asked.

" No , I want to say something,more like a confession" he said.

" Okay!" I nodded.

" Annalita... when I accepted the deal to date you, I... I had no feelings for you. I just wanted to prove to my dudes that I couldn't go soft over a girl, any girl. But I was wrong... Anny, I have no idea how but I've fallen for you, I mean I'm crazy over you Anny. I'm in love with you, everything is just so different with you. And I know, I heard you're in love with some other guy and I know you don't love me but Anny don't, please don't let me go. I know you're using me and you just act like you care but please, please don't you ever stop... "

"I'll lose my mind without you, Anny" he added. I stood still not knowing what to say. Believe me, I was shocked, not that I didn't expect it. This was exactly what I wanted but I didn't see it coming so soon. And who the hell told him that I'm in love with someone else? That person must be really crazy. Such a traitor! Kyra wouldn't try it and only my girls know about Styles. Amy won't snitch on me and Toria... I know she's a bit crazy but she's secretive and so are her friends.

" Rio... I'm not using you" I said.

" Yeah yeah... a player would never admit it. Yeah, I get the hang of it. Trust me, I thought I knew how to be a player but now I'm actually the one being played" he chuckled and continued, "Anny, I really don't care. As long as you hold me and lie to me that you love me every day, that's all I need, Anny"

My guilt kicked at me. What am I doing? Jeez! Am I hurting him way too much? It can't be just me, I haven't done anything to him. Yet! Except maybe, he's being through this before and I'm opening up an old wound.

" Rio... you've been hurt before" I said with a mild voice.

He chuckled and said, his voice laced in pure pain,

" Yeah, how would you know? It isn't easy trying to be strong when history just decides to repeat itself "

" Who was she?" I asked and our eyes met.

His Pov:

" Who was she?" I heard her ask and I looked up almost immediately. Our eyes met and I felt my heart twist. I've never told anyone about Summer. They never even knew that I had ever being in love. Well, what harm could there be in telling someone? In telling Anny?

I took a deep breath and sighed. My heart was heavy but I went on anyway.

" Her name was Summer. I was 13 then and she was my first love. She made my life beautiful, changed me completely, made me fall deeply for her and then dumped me on by 14th birthday. Damn! I was broken. I was so fucking sure that Summer loved me. I could have sworn before God that she'd never hurt me but that would been a really stupid thing to do cause she eventually did. There and then, I seized my heart and locked it in a double barrel. It was safe, so safe... until you came in.... Anny, I knew something about you was different. I mean, when you came in and I started getting goose flesh whenever our eyes met, I just knew you were gonna break down my walls. But I thought I could be strong, thought I could get to your heart and break it before you could even get to mine. Guess yours was solid proof " I stopped for a while and sighed again. I was hurting. Badly but yet I continued.

" Then came the deal. I stupidly accepted at least to prove to myself that I was still the King of the Game. It's quite crazy that I fell for you in no time. I tried to deny it. My friends would tease me all day of how I'd become softhearted because of you but I'd deny it and get upset. And then you started proving tough. Didn't act as caring as you used to. And that was when I actually did realize that I had fallen. I couldn't deny it any longer cause I had to make you realize that I had fallen. But you just couldn't see it because clearly you had someone else. I was shattered when I heard that you were in love with another dude. Like what the...! I tried getting the name of the guy, wanted so much to fucking tell him to stay away from you. My efforts were futile though, the person who told me about him gave me a condition to date her and get his name. I couldn't accept it cause I felt it was cheating even... even when I knew that you didn't love me and you were obviously cheating on me.... Anny, we've been dating for two months now. The first month felt like heaven in your arms and the second month,... I've never seen a hell so cold." I went quiet, battling in my mind whether to continue. I couldn't stop now. No it was too late.

Much to my surprise and to her bewilderment, I went on my knees. The one and only Rio on his knees. Love! Look what you made me do!

" Anny... I'm on my knees. Please love me. The same way you love that fucking dude. Love me Anny, that's all I ask. You're probably speechless now and you think I'm crazy but I don't care. Anny, just love me, please!" I stopped as I felt my eyes watering up. Okay! that's how far I can go. I'm not gonna cry in front of her. No!!! That'd be way too deep.

Her Pov:

I couldn't say anything as I watched him. He's actually on his knees. Wow! Wouldn't this be quite some entertainment to the whole school. Good thing I was wise enough to turn on my video recorder. And as I held it all through,it was actually taking everything he was saying on Camera. Amy would love this. Just exactly the same thing he did to her. He had recorded her begging him to stay with her and bursted it. Broke my girlfriend's heart to pieces. Time to have a taste of his own medicine.

I sighed and turned off the recording. I placed my phone aside and helped in stand up.

" Rio... please! You don't have to go this far. Look, I understand your pain. I know... I... I don't even know what to say" I began. Rio stood up and held my hand.

" It's simple Anny, I just want you to give me a chance. Give us a chance. Maybe we could work out" he said. I smiled and tightened my hand around his.

" If that's all you want then I promise. I'm going to give you a chance "

I saw him smile and my heart flipped. I really don't know why.

" Come here!" I said and pulled him into a hug.

" I love you Annalita " Rio said after the hug. I gave him one of my loveliest smile and pecked him on the lips. Then we walked out of where we were, hand in hand.