The Promise Ring (Dear Jann Series 1)

Chapter 1: Hello Stranger

"Hurry up Janniquine Raye Alonzo or we will be late. The others are waiting outside!" Jessa yelled at me when she picked me up that morning.

It was 7:15 in the morning and our first class will start in 15 minutes. Good thing that the school was not that far from my house. We are both attending Saint Louis High School, a private school in our small community. 

Philex is a small community located in the mountains of Benguet. It was a private mining community so only a few families live there. My family is lucky enough to be part of this community. It is surrounded by mountains and far from the noise of the city. Beautiful as it may seem, sometimes, I felt trapped in those mountains. It was like a constant desire to go out of the community. With all those desires, Philex is still the best place I know and it will always be home for me.

Saint Louis High School is the only high school there so basically, whoever is my neighbors, are also my classmates or schoolmates. It was just a few minutes away from our house. We either walk or we ride going to school. These days, my friends and I are just fond of walking and going to school. I guess it was a bad thing as well because it made me so lazy to wake up early and prepare for school since I always think that the school was just close by. I remember getting reprimanded by our school principal for being late. He said he can't imagine how I can be late when I live so close to the school. It was one of those days that I don't want to go to school. It was boring. What do you expect, I was in high school. School can be a little boring for me. I wanted adventure. My friends hated me when I told them that. They say, my adventures were usually associated with trouble.

"Just a minute" I hurriedly ran to get my bag and joined Jessa going to school.

"Why are you late again?" Jessa asked. I wonder why she still asks when she already knows the answer.

"I was up doing my homework," I smirked. 

She gave me an eye roll which suggests that she doesn't believe me. I just laughed. Jessa Esperagoza had been my best friend in our group of friends. Among others, she was my most trusted friend. We felt the same way. We share secrets that only the two of us know. She had been my companion for a lot of adventures that I had. Good or bad, she was just there for me all the time. She knows that I am there always for her as well.

"You were with your honey, Markus Vince Almirol again. And let me guess, you were together until probably 11:00 or midnight, then you forgot to do your homework. So you needed to wake up around 3 in the morning just to do all of it then slept, or should I say overslept." Jessa said.

I looked at her and just started laughing. How could she know me so well? She also laughed because she guessed it all so well. She also laughed because I know that she was with her boyfriend too that night and we just did the same thing. How could I not know, the four of us were together in our usual rendezvous.

Jessa was dating Franc Alex De Silva, who happened to be my male best friend. We had been friends for almost forever. Franc and I were members of our school band during our elementary years. I used to play the clarinet and Franc plays the trumpet and drums. While he remained in the band until college, I stopped when we reached high school. I guess my passion for the band stopped and got more involved in other school activities. I was a witness on how their relationship started, and I guess how it all ended. I was very happy with both of them. Both my best friends.

At the same time, I was dating Markus. He was the "love of my life". I’ve had boyfriends before him but I never fell madly in love with anyone like I did with him. I know, I was too young to say that since I am just in high school. But whenever I am with him, it completes me. He was the only guy whom I shared my plans and looked forward to spending the rest of my days. He was my everything. We were so in love and tried to spend time with each other as often as we could. 

“I’m so excited to graduate and start college,” Jessa exclaimed while we were walking towards the school.

Graduation was just a month away so we were all busy with exams and preparation for the graduation ceremony. Every graduating student did their best so they won’t have any failing remarks for the finals. And I am just one of them. Despite being in love, I made sure that love will not come my way to finishing my studies.

“Have you decided what school you’re going to and what course you’ll take?” I asked her.

“Honestly, I don’t know yet. I am offered scholarships but I am not yet sure which course to take and which school. How about you?” Jessa replied and asked.

“We’re the same. You’re B2.” I said then we started laughing.

We refer to ourselves as B1 and B2. It was from a kids show “Bananas in Pajamas”, where there are 2 bananas, best friends who happen to have the same idea about anything. That is why we call each other B1 and B2.

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I started school at Saint Louis University in Baguio City after graduation. I was one of the lucky students who were able to pass the entrance exam at the University. Unfortunately, none of my girlfriends passed there, including Jessa. It was a big challenge for me because everything and everyone was new. New school, new schoolmates and classmates, and new teachers. I suddenly had the feeling of being so alone in my life. Jessa started school in another university so we seldom get together. I hadn’t heard from her for a very long time. Franco and I were in the same school, however, we didn't see each other much because he was busy in his chosen career and the school band. 

I guess the worst part of being in the university was not able to see Markus every day. We became busy with our studies. I tried my best to make our relationship work even if we are far from each other. I only get to see him every Saturday evening and whenever we are together, he seems to be drifting away from me slowly and it breaks my heart so bad. I finally got to know my standing when we had our semestral break. 

I was so happy because there will be no school for almost 3 weeks. Meaning I could be with Markus for those days. I was planning on how to spend the break with him. I was thinking we could go visit some old friends and go to places that we used to go to. Talk and talk all about our future. So many thoughts running through my head as I was packing my things going home. Only to come home so broken.

I dropped my things when I arrived home and went out to my friends' house. But to my dismay, no one of them came home for the semester break. Either they started working or they are in other places. Even Jessa did not come home that break. She said she needs to work so she can have some extra money for the next semester. Franco didn't have a break either because they still have some practices in the school band even on semester breaks. I went to Markus’ place and was sure glad he was home. 

I was so happy to see him that I hugged and kissed him when we met. I didn't care if people saw us. I just missed him so bad. Before I could say a word, he took out my hands which were encircled on his neck and looked at me like I was some sort of a stranger. I was dying inside on how he was looking at me. I tried to ignore it and just pretend that everything was okay.

"I missed you so much. I'm so glad to see you" I told him lovingly.

He just looked at me like I was saying nonsense. I could feel his coldness towards me. Like he never missed me at all and that I was just a person he used to know. He moved towards the side of their house and signaled that I follow him, which I did patiently. When we were there, he looked at me coldly again.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

I was taken aback by the coldness in his tone. I didn't know what to tell him. I still tried to ignore it and smiled the sweetest smile I could give him.

"I miss--"

"Stop it Jann! Can't you see? I don't like this anymore. It is over...for for both of us. Just leave. I don't want to see you anymore" he said and walked away.

My words were left in the air. I felt like my world stopped and the air was slowly choking me. What did he say? Did he say we are over? Why? What did I do? What happened to us? What happened to our "happily ever after"? Too many questions but he was nowhere to answer. I could feel the tears running down my face. I tried to stop them but the more I stopped it, the more it flowed. How could he be so cold when we were so in love? I had no answer. 

I don't know how, but I found myself in my room and was crying so badly on my pillow. My pillow was soaking wet with my tears. My mind was not working fine. I don't know why I was crying so bad but I don't feel any pain. Is that even possible? Crying even when you are not feeling any pain? Or maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. I don't know why I was crying anymore.

I heard my mom called me and told me that someone wants to see me. I came out of my room but I felt nothing. It was like my feet had its mind and just walked towards the door and to check who was there to see me. A part of my brain was saying that it must be some of my friends who finally came home and wanted to bond. A part of my brain says, maybe it was Markus and he misses me. I didn't know which one was real because both voices seemed so far away. Most of my brain feels so empty. Wait, is that my brain or my heart? I don't know anymore.

"Jann..." he said.

I looked at him and it all came rushing back to me. All the things that happened, all the words that Markus told me suddenly sank in. All the pain and all the tears came in like I didn't know which emotion I should feel first. He looked at me like he was telling me that he was just there and I can see how sincere he was. Before I knew it, I burst out crying again and found myself wrapped in his arms. I can feel him saying it's okay to cry so the pain will go away. He was stroking my hair while saying he was there for me. I cried and cried until I dared to look at him and ask him.

"What did I do? Why doesn't he love me anymore?" I asked Marvin, he was Markus’ best friend. 

I was surprised to see him. Of all the people that I wanted to see, Marvin Bravo was not on my list. I never really thought of him being here with me and telling me to calm down and everything will be fine. Surprised as I am, his touch was soothing. I finally calmed down from crying but I didn't let go of his arms. I wanted him to simply hug me at that moment. Probably because I was so sad and was needing all the comfort that I could get.

He was stroking my hair with one hand and the other was just around my waist. He was holding me tightly like he never wants to let me go. I can even feel his lips on my hair. He was kissing my head while saying soothing words for me to calm down. My tears eventually stopped flowing. When I was finally calm down, he said the strangest thing I ever heard that day.

"I am here, Jann. I will never leave your side" he said lovingly while stroking my hair.