First Heartbreak

Chapter Thirty-One - Her

Rome POV

I got home from school and stopped by Sam's house. I got the chance to get to know her and her world out of school. Her mom is as beautiful as her, now I know where she got her looks from. She just looks like her mom but more gorgeous. I tried to cover up my nerves and my heart which is beating way heck of lot! Stop it heart!

I was also concentrating on making conversation with her mom when I noticed that Sam was rolling her eyes at her mom. I bit my lip and suppressed a smile.

"It's great that Sam has finally brought a boy...friend at home! She's always busy with school, I never thought she had other friends other than Vanessa." Her mom said.

"Mooooom!" Sam was obviously pissed. She grabbed her mom's arm and attempted to drag her away from me. I stopped her.

"It's great meeting you Mrs Goulding. But I better head home. My ride is waiting for me outside." I gestured my hands to the door.

"Oh! Of course! Of course! Silly me! Of course! It was a pleasure meeting you, Rome." She smiled. "Sam didn't tell me how charming you were!" Sam elbowed her mom to the side.

"Whaat?" Her mom complained but smiled teasingly at Sam. She just rolled her eyes at her again. These two are funny.

Sam excused ourselves from her mom. I was still suppressing a smile. "Sorry about my mom." She explained.

"Naw, your mom was cool." I said truthfully and looked down. "She's a lot like you, you know."

I saw her cheek flushed velvet. "T-Thanks." She lightly punched my arm.

"Hey, no problem!". Go ahead! Tell her what you think about her! Tell her that you like her! I was battling on whether or not to tell her what my mind just screamed at me but I closed my mouth to save it for later. Chicken!

She thanked me for giver her a ride. When fact of the matter is, I should be the one thanking her for agreeing to do this with me.

"You're welcome, Sam. Anything for you." I looked at her in the eyes hopingq that she'd feel something for me too. Anything. Ba-dummp! Was that my heart?

"I-I... I g-guess I better get going, Sam." I started to back away. "I-uh.. Tell your mom it was nice meeting her. See ya tomorrow!" I smiled and waved at her before finally turning to my truck's direction.

I hurriedly jogged to the car and went in the passenger side.

"Aren't we in high spirits today, Master Rome?" He teased.

"Yes Charles. By the way, I met her mom actually, she's a nice lady. And she's a lot like Sam."

"Well, that's superb to know Master Rome. I don't want to ruin the end of your day but..." He waited for me to react. "But I believe we need to go back to the mansion. Your father is expecting you. He just called me not too long ago and asked why you weren't answering your mobile."

My eyes widen in horror! My dad wasn't supposed to be home from his trip at New Zealand! Well, not until next week, as far as I knew. And he could not know my whereabouts after school or he'd ground me and be forced to make me commute from our home to school!

"Worry not Master Rome." Charles must've read the expression on my face. "I did not tell your father where you were. Where WE were. I told him a nearly-impossible-to-believe lie that you were on the passenger side of the truck and fast asleep."

"I had to open the window of the car so he'd hear the sound of the street and had to emit a sound of a snore of some sort to make him believe ther you were really asleep." Charles continued.

I cracked up at what he said. I knew Charles always had my back but I didn't knew he's going to do that to the extent to cover-up for me.

"Phew! I can't thank you enough Charles for all the things that you've done for me. I'll make it up to you next time."

"There is no need Master Rome. I did what I had to do. It was my pleasure deceiving your father and lead him to think that you were sleeping soundly." He smiled.

He's really a great guy. He should get an award for being a cool and awesome driver/bodyguard that he already is!

-o-

When I got home, the maid told me that dad was waiting for me at the study.

As soon as I entered the room, the smell of faint cigar and coffee enveloped me, hinting that he just finished his last puff. His chair was facing the fireplace and his back at me. He was at his favorite mahogany desk. He was somewhat consumed into reading a book. In-case you were wondering, my dad is a very influencial businessman while my mom is a well-known lawyer. Put two and two together and BAM! You've got two busy parents who often leave their only son at an empty mansion most of the time.

I cleared my throat. "You wanted to see me, father?" I asked. Emphasis on the word father. Although he is my biological father, I never had the chance to call him "dad". It all had to be formal for guests and clients to hear. And at home when both he and mom are around, I was always casual and well-behaved.

He turned his chair to face me. "Ah, son! Come in! Come in. Please have a seat." See what I mean about being formal? He even treats me like a client or business partner most of the time.

It took him awhile to put down his book and place his now unlit cigar on the ashtray. He looked at me and started to speak. "I won't be beating-around-the-bush, son. I've heard the maids saying that you've been coming home late most of the time. You wake up early and come home late. What seems to be the matter?"

I was silent. I didn't know how to start or what to even tell him!

"Have you been skipping class?" He asked again.

"NO! I-I... I mean, no father. I'm not skipping class nor I will be skipping class." I answered.

He was still suspicious of my answer. "Have you been doing drugs?" He raised his voice a little.

"No! Father No! I would never do as such!"

"Fine! Then what's going on? Why have you been going home late? Are you taking advantage that your mother and I have been away most of the time? Is Charles your accomplice?"

I was shocked! "God! Father no! Don't. Charles has been nothing but a good and loyal bodyguard and driver to me over the past few years. Do not take this on him father. It's my fault." I finally admitted it. "I talked him into this and told him not to tell you because I know you wouldn't approve of me going home late and hanging in the streets alone."

"YOU WHAT??" My father's eyes were now blazing red. He was fuming in anger. "ROME ANTHONY!! I DID NOT RAISE YOU TO BE JUST HANGING AT THE STREETS ALONE AND I CERTAINLY DID NOT RAISE YOU TO BE A LIAR!"

I bowed my head. I couldn't look him in the eyes. I knew I should've told him the truth when I had the chance.

"Father, it was not my intention to disobey you. Nor was it to lie to you. I just...just..."

"You just what? Stop stuttering! Staighten your posture and speak to me like a man!" He slammed his mahogany desk hard.

"It's because of a girl." I said it in a hurry that I had to repeat it to my father.

His features immediately softened at the mention of the word girl. He ran his hand on his neatly combed hair, brushed his suit and came closer to me.

He tapped my shoulder and I was already looking down. Waiting for him to bark at me some more.

"Well why didn't you say so, son? If you would've told me then I would've not exploded there earlier a few minutes ago!" He punched me in the arm. "Do tell me. What does she look like? Is she studying at the same school as you are?"

My father now sounded interested all of a sudden. So he was okay with this after all?

"Y-You're not mad at me??" I was still seated but I slowly looked up at him.

"Mad?? How can I be mad when my only son is finally becoming a man and has come to like a girl!?" He was smiling. It was the first time I ever saw him smile genuinely without even feeling casual or business-like. "So, what is her name? What is she like? Are you two officially dating?"

I stood up. "Woah, woah, woah! Relax father! I'm just friends with her...for now. But her name is Sam. Samantha." I smiled at the mention of her name.

"Samantha. Hmm..." My dad responded. "It's a lovely name. But you haven't answered my question, son."

I furrowed my brows. "Which one father? You had a lot of questions."

"Well, the last part of course! Are you two official so I could meet the young lady?" He grinned taking his unlit cigar back to the side of his mouth.

I hesitated. Should I tell him about the make-believe set-up that I have with Sam? i***t! That was just between the two of you, remember? Right. "N-No , father. I want to pursue her. But..." I frowned at the thought.

"But what son?"

"She love someone else father." I answered honestly. My shoulders felt heavy.

"Is she and the "one she loves" official?" He asked some more.

"No. They aren't. The person she loves, happens to love someone else." I bit my lip, trying hard not to slip a tear in front of my father.

"Well then there's your answer son! If they're not together and that person has another woman in his life, then I think it's best that you start pursuing her or else you might regret it in the end!"

I let out a deep sigh. I felt my father putting an arm on my shoulder. "There, there son. If you really like this girl so much, then you have to fight her. Sure, you might get hurt in the process, who knows! Take a risk! You're not trully loving someone if you won't take a leap of faith and hope for the best. It would be worth the risk. Take it from your old man!" He winked.

I smiled at my father's encouragement. "Thank you father. But... I don't know what to do or where to start."

My father stepped in front of me so he could state his point at me. "Son, that's just easy. You'll just have to be the gentleman that you've always been and be there for her no matter what! Make her happy. Make her feel special. Make her feel that she's the only person in the room. Make her realize how good of a catch you are!"

I smiled weakly at him. "Tell you what. I will be lifting that curfew of yours so you could spend more time with her after school. I will even add more money to your gas allowance so you could take her anywhere you want! Just promise me one thing." He turned serious.

I gulped hard. What could that be? "What is it, father?"

"You must let me meet her." He smiled. "Oh, and you also must not forget about school and your grades. Maintain it. I don't want you being so lovefool that you'll forget your studies."

"I will father. I won't let you down." Him lifting the curfew was a big thing. My father was a kind of guy that didn't liked his kids to go home late.

"Good. Now run along while I finish my work and tell me everything the next time we meet, son." He started to light his cigar and went on to his seat.

I hurried out of his study and went to my room. I was beyond ecstatic!

-o-

Morning came and I woke up bright and early. The talk I had last night with my father was surreal. He was glad, no, scratch that. He was beyond glad for me and supported me in my decision to pursue Sam.

My father had already gone for work when I came down for breakfast. As always, I was eating alone. But for some reason, I didn't feel alone. I felt alive. I felt I had hope and I felt like a have a chance.

Sure enough I followed my father's tips, or should I say suggestion. Charles and I left the the house early to come fetch Sam. I stood by my truck's passenger side door as I waited for Sam to come out of their house.

Man! I would fight for you Sam. I would fight for you so damn hard even if it means I'd be breaking my own heart.

As if on cue, someone opened the front door and out came the most gorgeous girl I've ever known. She never wore makeup, she looked even more beautiful when she flashed that smile of hers. I had to keep my cool and try to calm my heart which was now beating rappidly fast.

I asked her to have hot choco with me before we head to school. She said she'd love to. We stayed there for about an hour or so. We didn't converse that much because the look on her face says it all. She was in deep thought and I didn't want to interrupt her. I'd just smile at her whenever she'd glance my way.

Once our drinks were consumed, we walked back to the truck to head off to school. Once we got out, I took her backpack and books. And placed my arm over her shoulders.

I cleared my throat. "Ready for class, My Queen?" She looked shocked. She didn't looked terrified though, but defintely shocked. I smiled at her reaction and pinched her nose ever so lightly.

"Y-Yeah. Let's go?" She looked at me and I could sense that she was trying to hold me by the waist.

I leaned closer to her ear and made sure I slightly brushed my lips on her cheek. "Make-believe, remember?" I looked at her and smiled widely.

"Naturally." She smiled back.

At the corner of my eye, I saw that girl Zen with that clingy girlfriend of hers. What was her name again? Mellany? Melissa? Michelle? Maria? Oh never mind!

I saw Zen's hands balled into fists as we walked past them. Hmm.. Guess she just might be looking past us. After all we're not the only students in the campus.