Her 20th Fiancé

Dream, Memory, or Nightmare?

“… I’m not—”

“Will you marry me?” I immediately asked, without second thoughts.

“—interested.”

“Oh…” I looked away.

I was rejected.

This is my first time proposing to someone I’m interested in, and he rejected me? Just… wow.

“We will change that,” I confidently said, as if I could easily make him fall for me.

“Not a chance,” he said, putting everything inside the kit. “Rest and take care of yourself. I’m leaving.”

I walked him until we reached the door, limping.

“I’m not kidding about pursuing you,” I said, leaning at the door frame.

“And I’m not joking about rejecting you every time. I’m not interested in you, so don’t waste your time and energy on me.”

“I’m Andrea Martinez, the heiress of the Martinez Business Corp.”

“So?” he said, sounding so uninterested in what I uttered. “You can’t buy me with your luxury, miss.”

“Let’s see, Mr. Zion Vasquez.” I smiled at him and stared at his hazel eyes for a second. I don’t know, but my head hurts a little looking at him, or maybe it’s just the hangover from last night. “Goodbye… for now.”

He turned his back and left.

I watched him until he reached the elevator before I closed the door.

Just you wait and see. I’ll make you fall for me, Zion Vasquez.

When I went back to the sofa, I noticed a black luxury wallet under the glass center table. I took it and looked at what was inside. No bills but several black cards on them.

I looked at the business card in it—Zion Jace Vasquez, Zeion Group President.

My eyes widened. President of what? Goodness! That’s why he’s turning me down, because he has a company as powerful as mine. Who would have thought that I had met that guy in my hotel?

That’s what you called ‘fate,’ Andrea.

I smiled to myself. I’ll make you mine, Zion. By hook or by crook.

A knock interrupted my thoughts and I limped again to open the door, but my head suddenly felt achy and my world spun.

Before I passed out, I was able to reach the knob and open it.

——

“Where are we going, love?” I softly asked.

“Remember what I told you before?”

“What?”

“We will leave everything behind, love. Are you willing to go with me?”

Leave everything behind? But… despite the fear and uncertainty, I nodded at him because I love him, and he needed to know something important.

“Let’s go.” He offered his hand and opened the door for me. He went to the driver’s seat and held my hand the moment he settled.

We were on the dark road, going somewhere. I trusted him so I didn’t ask. The rain was heavily pouring outside.

“Love…” I mumbled, but enough for him to hear me.

“Yes, love?” he asked while kissing the back of my hand.

“I’m… I’m p—” I wasn’t able to finish when our car suddenly crashed into something and everything happened so fast that the last thing I remembered… I saw him looking at me, bathing in his own blood.

——

I woke up, almost breathless.

I looked around and I was in the hospital.

That accident… it felt so real, like it was a memory from my past. Or is it just a nightmare? Who… I don’t remember the guy in that dream.

It occasionally occurs in my dream, but I always forget whenever I come back to reality. I tried lifting half of my body to sit on the bed. I am in the VVIP room.

This is not new to me. I’m a regular guest here.

I may have a strong and brave personality, but my body’s frail and can easily break. I hate it, but what can I do? Nothing.

I was about to go down, my feet almost touching the cold tile when the door slowly opened.

“You’re awake,” he said while holding a tray of food in his hand. I didn’t expect him to be here.

“Zion…”

“How’s your feeling? Still feel dizzy?” he asked softly, unlike his sarcastic and uninterested tone earlier.

“I’m… I’m okay now.”

“Eat and take your meds,” he said and pulled something to serve as my table before putting the tray on it. “You’re a grown up, and you can handle yourself, right? I’m leaving—”

I quickly held his arm.

“Can you stay with me? At least tonight. I don’t… I don’t want to be alone. Please?”

“Miss—”

“I know it’s inconvenient on your side, but can you at least stay until someone arrives?”

“Fine,” he said so unwillingly.

“Can I borrow your phone?”

He didn’t utter a word and just lazily handed me his phone.

I dialed Jayron’s number. That’s the only number I memorized, and he’s one call away, so I don’t hesitate on asking as a friend.

[“Hello? Who’s this?”]

“Hey, Jayron. It’s me, Andrea. I’m in the hospital.”

[“Andrea… wait what? Hospital? What happened to you?!”]

“Calm down. I’ll tell you everything. Just hurry and come here.”

[“Okay. Okay. I’m on my way.”]

“Thank you. Drive safely.”

I ended the call and turned back Zion’s phone. He’s looking at me as if he badly wanted to ask who Jayron was.

“He’s my closest friend,” I told him.

“I’m not asking, and I don’t care,” he mumbled.

“What?” I want to hear him clearly.

“Nothing. Just finish that,” he said, pointing at the dinner served in front of me.

“Have you eaten?” I asked, trying to break the silence.

“Not yet.”

“I can share this with you, if you want—”

“Just eat,” he said, a little annoyed.

Half an hour later, Jayron arrived and Zion immediately left when he saw my friend.

“Who’s that?”

“Zion Vasquez,” I casually said while taking my meds.

“Vasquez… Vasquez… Vasquez?! Don’t tell me he’s the youngest president of Zeion Group of Companies?” Jayron asked, covering his mouth in disbelief.

“How did you know him?”

“I am not Jayron Santiago without knowing who’s who, you know?”

Fair enough. He’s always my source of information.

“How did you casually meet that big fish, huh?” He asked, grinning at me, teasing me.

“Well, I mistook him as my driver last night,” I laughed at the thought, and so did Jayron.

“A driver? What the f*ck? That’s hilarious!” He laughed, hitting the side of my bed using his palm.

“And my so-called knight in shining armor when Daniel—wait. Speaking of that devil! How could you drop the bomb without my consent? I hate you.”

“Wait, what? You called me last night, Missy.”

“Called you?”

“Don’t tell me you were drunk at that time?” Jayron facepalmed. “Gosh, Andrea. I thought you—nevermind. At least you ended everything with that f*cker.”

Anyway… maybe, everything happened for a reason. I wouldn’t have more time with my future man if that mor*n Daniel didn’t come into the picture.

“Did he do bad to you?”

“This,” I showed him the bruise I got, and he frowned at the sight of it.

“Uncle Aiden should know about this.”

“I don’t want stress tonight, Jayron. Let me have some peace, please?”

“Fine. I’ll just tell him tomorrow. Now rest.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re always welcome.” He messed up my hair before removing the table in front of me and tucking me in. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

The next morning, I heard dad’s voice arguing with someone.

“Is it true, Maggy?”

“Dad, he’s just a friend. I didn’t know he would think that way about our relationship. Please, dad… believe me.”

“I don’t know, Maggy. Your sister was hospitalized because of that b*stard. I won’t let this slide.”

I heard dad storming out of my room, but my eyes were still closed.

“What’s wrong with you, Maggy?” Melissa, Dad’s mistress, annoyingly asked her b*tch daughter.

“I swear, mom! That b*tch is trying to make me bad.”

“You’re getting into your stepfather’s bad side. I told you to behave. You’re not listening.”

“Why aren’t you believing me? I’m your daughter, mom!”

“Yes you are, and I know you better than anyone else.”