Past - Joe

Sophia got to her shop and imagined what Wilson wanted to see her for. Though deep down, she could guess his thoughts. But that couldn't stop her from imagining many things. She started grinning to herself as she was sewing. Her heart went back to how she has vowed not to jump on any man that comes her way, especially the rich ones, because of what she has suffered from them.

Her heart flashed back to what Joe, Kim, and Tom had done to her in the three relationships she had been in before. Joe and she have been together since high school. She remembers all the promises that Joe made to her. They have been together since the second grade.

Their relationship began as friends. They are so much into each other. They do their assignments together, go home together, and when they get to their different homes, they still visit each other after school. Both parents agreed to their friendship because they have a positive impact on each other's lives.

They continued their friendship like this, so every student accepted them as lovers.

They continued like this till their final year of high school, when Joe thought of taking the friendship to another level. So, as they finished the class that day, he called Sophia to meet him in the school dining room. When she got there, she spotted him sitting in one corner of the dining room. He was looking nervous. Sophia thought of what could make her friend nervous like this, but she pretended as if she did not notice.

"Good day, How was your exam? "She greeted

"Fine, and yours?" He replied, rushing his words.

"I have something to tell you," he said calmly.

Sophia looked at him and could see that he was more nervous. She thought about what she could do to calm him down. She quickly brought out her book and showed him a mathematics question that came up on their exam. Sophia knows he likes mathematics very much. This made him smile, and they solved the question together. But that did not say he should forget what he wanted to tell Sophia.

Sophia asks him what he wants from her as they prepare to leave the dining room. Fear grips him again. It scared him because he didn't know how Sophia would take it. He summons courage and tells Sophia what he feels about her. That they could make a good couple. He buttresses the point that their parents have an interest in their relationship.

Sophia could not deny the fact that she also liked him. But just acted cool. She gives the excuse that they are still small and she can not put that in her mind now. But Joe said he would wait and that they should continue their friendship. Since that day, they have become closer, especially when they finished high school. This made Sophia not have an interest in any other boy, thinking she already had the person she would marry.

The story changes when Joe gains admission to a higher institution, and Sophia is still looking for admission. At first, he always found time to come home every two weeks to check on her. Later, it became once a month. And sometimes when Sophia calls him, he will not pick up the call. He will give the excuse of being busy with schoolwork, not knowing that Joe has already gone out with another girl.

This continued like that until it came to when Joe didn't come home to check on her for an entire semester. And if he called once a week, unlike before, he could call her ten times a day. Even after he came back during a semester break, he didn't come to Sophia's house. Sophia heard from her friend that he was back from school. So she went to his house and challenged him. He gave the excuse of being too tired the day he came home. He quickly discharged her, saying that he wanted to go somewhere very important.

His shift in attitude took aback Sophia, but she dismissed the thought and returned home. Joe's parents also noticed it, and his mother called him to his room to ask him questions. But Joe said there is nothing wrong with that, that they don't have any misunderstandings. So he left him but thought in his mind that he should have words with Sophia.

Sophia got home, and her mother noticed her change of attitude and also she came home quickly, so she asked.

"Sophia, why do you come back so soon? Is Joe not around? Or is anything wrong? What caused your sad mood? Do you fight? "Her mother asks curiously.

"Nothing, mum, he has an appointment, that is why I came back. I could go later; he can even come here to check on me when he is back, "she said casually."

"Okay, if you say so. But is there anything you want to tell me? Your countenance concerning him changes, "her mother asked.

"Hunn, I noticed it was as if he was avoiding me. He doesn't call him like before. And if I called him, he would not pick up his phone. And when I complain, he will give the excuse of being busy with schoolwork. " She dejectedly.

"Hmmm, what do you think could cause that? I would advise you to pay him an unannounced visit. "Her mother said she felt concerned.

"Thanks, mum, I will do that." She replied.

Sophia left to go to her room and ruminate on what her mother said. The thoughts of Joe having another girlfriend crossed her mind. 'Can he really be dating another person besides me?' Her heart missed a beat, but she shook her head. 'Impossible, Joe won't that to me?'

Joe did not come back to check on her till the following day. He came to her place, and they chatted for some time.

Sophia noticed that a call kept coming to Joe's phone, but he just ignored the call. He didn't want to pick up the call in her presence. Sophia even wanted to check his phone when he went to ease himself, but he discovered he had a password to his phone, so she couldn't get access to it.

'When did he start locking his phone!?' She exclaimed in her mind.