Chapter24
Grace’s POV
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I thought she’s coming to where I’m sitting, but then I see her approaching the ferris wheel in the distance. I have no choice but to follow them, as I’m curious as to what stunt Cecilia is going to pull next.
I’m not disappointed. Because as soon as we approach the stand, she says, “Two rides, please.”
The clerk just gives her two tickets and posts the “FULL” sign. Of course. Antonio comes with her, smiling as though they didn’t just leave anyone behind.
I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have tried to cushion his
feelings.
I head home, and right now I can almost feel Antonio looking for me but I don’t care anymore.
I just pack my bags, making sure there is nothing left behind.
I book a taxi to my parents‘ place, and before I leave, I write him a note that simply says, “It’s over. The engagement is–off, and I’m breaking up with you.”
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“Oh, honey, it’s going to be alright my mom says immediately as soon as I come in, and I spend the night celebrating my birthday with them.
By eleven in the evening, Antonio calls. I’m too busy to notice it, so it falls through.
That doesn’t mean he won’t try again. And again.
Sick of hearing the tone, I just turn off my phone and go to bed.
For the first time in what feels like years, I have the best sleep of my life. It’s already noon when I wake up, and for the first time, I wake up to a full meal and no complaints from anyone.
I open my phone, and to my surprise, I get a flood of messages and calls.
I log into my socials, only to see so many messages from Antonio.
“What do you mean the engagement is off? Why did you not take the keys to the apartment?”
“It’s a birthday. You’re going to have it next year again. What’s the big deal?”
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“Are you just playing hard to get? Why are you doing this to me? Are you just being jealous?”
“Get your ass back home now, or will never speak to you again.”
The last message was sent three hours ago.
I let out a sigh of relief and delete Antonio from my contacts.
I get up from bed and someone knocks on the door. I open it to see my mom walking in with a glass of milk.
A knock came on the door. “Grace, have some hot milk. You always have problems with your stomach in the morning.”
Last night, I went home with my luggage, yet my parents didn’t ask me anything. They did nothing but take care of me as usual. They somehow felt something, and they just cheered me up.
I drink the milk and smile up at her. “I won’t be here long. I’m planning to get a place of my own. I just need to find a good place and a really good job.”
My mom smiles back. “Your dad and I will help you. How much more do you need? We’ll give you as much as we can.”
I shake my head with a smile. “I have some money left. I can
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deal with it.”
She doesn’t say anything, but she transfers thirty thousand to my account anyway. When I look up at her in surprise, she just says, “A woman must have her own place and savings. There’s nothing wrong with a little help either.”
The next few days are spent looking for the right apartment. Monday comes, and I find the perfect one bedroom for my needs, close to town and in a safe area. I just have to meet up with the landlord and finalize the lease.
That night, Dad cooks a grand meal for me. They even buy me another birthday cake to make up for the other birthdays they missed.
Mom lights the candles. “Make a wish, honey!”
I smile, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes as I make my wish, “I wish my parents will live long happy lives, and that everything will just get better and better for all of us.”
I blow off the candles, and as we start to eat, I suddenly get so many messages at once. My heart stops when I see that it’s ‘ from my old friends.
“Oh, my god! Grace, congratulations! I’m so happy for you! I’ll be
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there for your wedding!”
“Grace, I sincerely wish you and Antonio all the best!”
I’m confused to see the messages. The wedding is off. Did Antonio not get the message?
Suddenly, a Facebook notification popped up. It was Antonio, asking to befriend me.
“Grace, I posted something about our upcoming wedding. You got what you wanted. I think you better stop making a scene.”
I can’t help but chuckle when I saw “making a scene.” Who on earth is making the scene?
I recall that my mom once tried to get along with Antonio but failed.
Now I’m quite grateful that he didn’t even think of accepting my mom’s friend request. Or else she would have seen this. She would not be able to sleep with concern if she finds out.
I try to calm myself down and reply to my friends, telling them. that Antonio and I had already broken up.
Later, I post something on Instagram.
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“Rumors stop here. I’m single and I don’t have a boyfriend. There is no engagement, and there is no wedding.”
Within two minutes, I receive Antonio’s call. I don’t answer it.
Yet Antonio doesn’t stop trying.
That forces me to block his number at last.
Finally, my world is quiet again. I lay back on my bed and turn the music on in my earphones. I can’t wait until all of this is behind me.
Monday comes, and it’s time for me to visit the apartment and sign the lease with my landlord. The process is incredibly easy, and my landlord is a nice professional lady who seems protective and good.
“You will love it here,” she tells me. “Now, if you can just hand me your deposit checks-”
The rest of her words are interrupted with a call from her phone.
She answers it, then her eyes go wide. “Um, Miss Parrish. This call is supposed to be for you.”
My eyes go wide. I immediately know that it’s Antonio and I want to die of embarrassment.
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I take her phone and stand in the corner, hissing, “What the hell is this about? Do you want me to file a restraining order on you?”
But Antonio doesn’t listen. “Why would you tell everyone that you’re single?”
“Because right now, it’s the truth and it’s none of your business.”
“You leaving your keys and avoiding me is none of my business?” He booms. “You’re almost thirty, Grace. Surely you can be more mature than this. We’re engaged. We have our suit and gown fucking tailored. We’re going to get married, like you always wanted. Why would you do this stunt? What do you expect me to do?”
“I expect you to accept it like a grown man,” I say immediately.
He snorts like he doesn’t believe me. “What? Are you seriously breaking up with me?”
I take a deep breath and say slowly. “Yes. I am breaking up with. you and that is final.”
Silence hangs over the call. I can hear the voices in the
background and I immediately recognize that he’s at the airport.
I look at my landlord nervously, then I make a move to end the
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call. But that’s when Antonio speaks up again.
“I know you were mad because I forgot your birthday,” he says, his tone now soft. “I know you’re mad because I spent a lot of time with Cecilia. She was sick and she had no one else in the city to take care of her. I will do anything if you just come back. I will make it up to you-”
“No,” I say firmly. “You’re not going to do anything for me. You’re not going to make anything up to me. All you need to do is remember this: we’re over. Now you need to leave me alone.”
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Chapter25
