Forgotten

Chapter 16

### **Chapter Title: Proving Ground**

Jacin and I have been together for a few months now, and honestly, it's been amazing. My father still hasn’t figured it out, and since I’m rarely home these days, Lyssa and I aren’t butting heads as often. She has tried to get me into trouble for how little time I spend at home, but her logic contradicts itself—how can I be a lazy freeloader and never around?

Making my own money feels empowering. My ads are doing well, and I finally took Jacin’s advice and started filming cooking videos for my reviewer blog. It all started when he gave me a key to his apartment on our three-month anniversary. I use his kitchen to film, and he loves it—mostly because he gets to devour everything I make afterward.

Our relationship is solid. It’s only the topic of my family that keeps causing tension. Jacin’s been pushing harder and harder for me to tell them about us. And I get it—we’re serious. It’s not just a fling; I can’t picture my life without him. I want to finish school, move into his apartment, and study from there. I make enough now to help pay bills, and if I do, he can save up and maybe even start studying too.

I’m lucky—my mom set up a study fund for me before she passed. The only catch is… my father. He already has a carefully crafted life plan laid out for me. And mine? It clashes with his in every possible way. I’m terrified he’ll threaten to disown me and take away my fund. If that happens, I guess I’ll just do what Jacin did—save up and make it on my own. I even opened a savings account and call it my rainy-day fund. It’s modest now, but it’s a start.

Maybe I’m thinking too far ahead, but isn’t that what happiness does? When you’re sad, you prepare for the worst. When you’re happy, you dream of the best.

Today’s Saturday, which means I get the whole day with Jacin. I took a taxi like I usually do and headed over to the apartment—our apartment, as he calls it now. Most of my stuff is there anyway. Things got complicated with Liara’s parents. Apparently, a neighbor saw her riding around at odd hours on the back of a motorcycle and reported it. She was ready to take the fall for me—because she’s the best—but I couldn’t let her. I confessed everything.

Her parents were not happy.

They wanted to call my dad, but I promised to stop seeing Jacin. They believed me because I moved all my stuff back home. What they didn’t know was that Jacin had told me to leave everything at our place. The way he said it made my heart flutter.

Every Saturday, I go to the apartment early and make us breakfast. I always eat a bare minimum at home with my father, just enough to keep him from questioning me, and save my real breakfast for Jacin. He’s a heavy sleeper and usually only wakes up when I kiss him—or if the alarm insists.

This morning, I decided to make homemade Cinnabon rolls, a fresh fruit salad, and juice for me, strong coffee for my caffeine-obsessed boyfriend. I got to the apartment and was just putting the key in the lock when the door behind me creaked open.

“Oh. It’s you,” said a familiar voice.

Jacin’s neighbor.

She was dolled up like she’d walked off a film set—winged eyeliner, blood-red lipstick, and black lingerie that left nothing to the imagination. It was either desperation or performance art at this point.

“Good morning,” I said politely. “Can I help you with something?”

She said nothing, just grabbed a robe from behind the door and draped it over herself.

“You have a key?” she asked, eyeing me with something between confusion and challenge.

I nodded.

Just before she closed her door, I added, “Want to come over for breakfast?”

She blinked at me like I’d offered to throw her a surprise party. I wasn’t blind to her intentions. But I wasn’t going to tiptoe around this anymore. Maybe if she saw us together, she’d finally back off.

“It’ll be ready in about thirty minutes,” I continued. “You can throw on some clothes, and I’ll come get you when it’s done.”

Yes, the clothes comment was petty. But I’m not a saint.

Inside, I got to work on breakfast. Once everything was in motion, I set the counter, then went to wake Jacin. I leaned over and kissed him softly. His eyes fluttered open, and for a second, he looked adorably dazed.

Before I could pull away, he grabbed my waist and pulled me into bed with him.

“Jacin!” I squealed, laughing as he peppered my face with kisses.

I cupped his face and gave him a deep, lingering kiss. I loved mornings like this. I just wished I could spend the night sometime. But my father had already forbidden sleepovers entirely.

“The coffee will get cold,” I whispered. “Put on a shirt. We have a guest.”

He blinked, confused, but did as I asked and shuffled barefoot to the kitchen. I headed next door and knocked. She opened the door immediately and followed me back to the apartment, now fully clothed. She looked better dressed—less like someone who answers doors like a perfume ad.

I gave her a seat at the counter, and Jacin smiled at me, kissing my cheek.

“Thank you for breakfast,” he said sweetly.

“I made three kinds—vanilla, caramel, and coffee Cinnabon rolls, plus fresh fruit.”

I saw her eyeing the spread, though she didn’t touch anything at first.

“Juice or coffee?” I asked.

“You made all this?”

I nodded. She picked up a pineapple slice shaped like a flower and popped it into her mouth.

“Coffee, please.”

I poured her a cup while Jacin showered me with compliments, bragging about my cooking. I blushed so hard I thought my cheeks might melt off. When we finished eating, Jacin took the dishes to wash, and I walked her to the door. She actually smiled as she left.

Maybe—just maybe—that settled things.

I hugged Jacin from behind as he rinsed the dishes. As I pulled away, I pinched his butt, just to mess with him. He gave a dramatic yelp and glared at me playfully.

Afterward, we lounged around in comfy clothes and curled up on the couch to watch movies. The morning passed peacefully.

“I wanted to let you know,” Jacin murmured while playing with my hair, “my friends called. They want me to hang out with them tonight.”

I perked up. “So… I finally get to meet them?”

He froze, hand stilled in my hair.

“No… I was going to go alone. I haven’t seen them in a while. I just want to catch up.”

His hesitation felt like a punch in the gut. Why not bring me? He knew all my friends. He’d met them several times. He even got along with them.

“Are you embarrassed to introduce me?” I asked softly.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s not that. I promise. They’re just… different. Rough around the edges. I don’t want them giving you a hard time.”

I frowned. “I’m not made of glass, Jacin. I can handle meeting your friends.”

He looked at me seriously. “Alysson, you and your friends—you’re nothing like them. You’re smart, organized, always thinking ahead. Back in high school, we were lucky if we even showed up for class. You guys are planning college; we were planning parties.”

I looked away. “We’re not ‘sheltered,’ Jacin. We’re just… pressured. Most of us have our lives planned out for us.”

He stayed quiet, so I pressed, “I want to meet them. Tonight.”

“And I want to meet your family,” he countered.

That hit me like a slap.

“That’s different, and you know it,” I snapped. “If my father meets you, he’ll make me end it. You don’t fit into the plan he’s already made for my life. I’m trying, Jacin. I’m just stuck.”

I didn’t wait to hear his reply. I grabbed my phone and texted Liara.

---

“So, you’re trying to impress his friends now?” Liara asked as we scanned racks at the mall.

“No. I just want to prove that I can belong in his world. At first glance, I’ll look like I fit in—then once they get to know me, they’ll see the real me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’re trying to seduce and subvert them.”

“Exactly,” I smirked.

We searched for hours until I found the perfect outfit—edgy and sexy, but still me. Eat your heart out, Jacin. I honestly loved it so much I made a mental note to revamp my wardrobe before university.

Liara dropped me off at the apartment. Jacin was on the couch, watching TV.

“Where’ve you been? I’ve been texting you like crazy.”

“Shopping with Liara,” I said casually. “I didn’t check my phone. I’m getting ready for tonight.”

He sighed. “I was worried when you didn’t respond. Don’t storm off like that again.”

He looked so genuinely concerned that I melted a little. I leaned over the couch and kissed him.

“I promise I won’t.”

I got dressed in the bathroom—black pleated skirt, lace-up bralette, sheer stockings, ankle boots, and a flowing dark-gray cardigan. I curled my hair and did my makeup to match.

When I stepped out, he didn’t notice at first. Then he turned.

His eyes widened.

“I’m going to kill them tonight,” he muttered, dragging a hand over his face.

I smirked. “Still think I’m cute and sheltered?”

He crossed the room, put his hands on my hips, and pulled me close. “What are you wearing, princess?”

I leaned in and whispered, “You said I’m too soft. Don’t I look dangerous now?”

He inhaled sharply.

We hadn’t slept together yet. We’d had a few steamy make-out sessions, but I was still figuring out what I wanted. I wasn’t waiting for some magical fairytale—I just wanted the moment to feel right.

He stepped back with a smirk. “How are you supposed to ride the bike in that?”

I lifted my skirt to show the fitted shorts I wore underneath. He chuckled, took my hand, and we left.

Getting on his bike felt natural now. We stopped at a dive bar—old, slightly rundown, with a flickering sign and a broken window. Definitely not my usual scene.

If my father could see me now, he’d have a heart attack.

I took Jacin’s hand and let him lead me inside.

As soon as we stepped through the door, a chorus of voices yelled, “JACIN!”

He grinned, and I smiled too, seeing how happy they were to see him.

I lagged slightly behind, nervous. His friends looked older, rougher. Intimidating.

Then one of them spotted me.

“Who’s the goddess you’re dragging in with you?”

“This is my girlfriend, Alysson,” Jacin said proudly.

I beamed. The guys made room for us at the table, and I took a seat beside him.

Maybe tonight would be better than I expected. Maybe I could fit into both our worlds.

Maybe, just maybe… this was the beginning of proving that I belong exactly where I am—by his side.