My Puppy Love (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 2 -My Decision

"What?! You're going home?" Mary's eyes almost popped while exclaiming those words. She's one of those people I can truly trust with everything. I nodded slightly then sipped my coffee calmly. It's 5 pm and we're here at our favorite coffee shop near the bank where we're working as a junior accountant.

"What about Bernard?" I rolled my eyes.

"What about him?" I asked while raising one of my eyebrows. I rest my back on my chair and had another sipped of my coffee while crossing my legs. I'm busy watching the busy street outside the coffee shop through its glass wall. Mary moved aside her coffee as if she'll be explaining a very complex subject to me.

"Girl, once you go home, your fiance might not let you go back here in Manila and marry you right there and then. And Bernard is here. Your boyfriend, remember?" I'm so amused looking at how serious she is while saying those words. She even motioned quotation marks in the air when she mentioned fiance and boyfriend. I put down my coffee and cleared my throat.

"First of all, Alex is busy campaigning, he won't have time for marriage yet, and second, Bernard is NOT my boyfriend hello. We're simply hanging out. We enjoy each other's company and that's it. Nothing serious." I explained with a hint of a smile on my lips and I really wanted to laugh with her reaction.

"Seriously?! Alex and Bernard are both good catch girl and still, you chose no one to be the one! A Haciendero and at the same time a public servant and a CEO. You just have to choose one." She motioned one with her finger as if to stress her point. I shook my head and stared outside the coffee shop again. Even I, I'm wondering why until now, no one seems to catch my picky heart. I have met lots of men and even dated some. But I have never entered any serious relationship. Maybe because of the thought that I'm "engaged" to someone else.

"We're still young okay? You know that I outgrew my puppy love for Alexander a long time ago. Yes, I do have this little attraction for him. But that's it." I said plainly. As I've said, she knows everything about me which includes my attraction to Alex so there's no point in denying it.

"Why not just call the engagement off?" she seems more relax now. I smiled again.

"So my parents can drag me home and tell me what to do? No thanks." I know how selfish I sounded but this is the only way to keep my life here.

"Just a thought, don't you think you're being unfair?"

"Bernard knows clearly my situation. I came clean to him which includes my engagement." she carefully nods. I don't really know if she's convinced or what. But I chose to ignore it.

"And how about Alex. I heard he's willing to marry you. What if he really loves you? If you really want to get out of it, you must tell him now." guilt crept into my heart but I chose to shrug it off.

"It's impossible that he really loves me. Maybe he's just riding along with this charade too for all we know he's also using the situation to pursue his political ambitions. We only see each other once or twice every month, he rarely calls me. He never showed any interest at all. I'm sure the spark is not there." I avoided her gaze. I pretended to be sipping my coffee. I don't know why I felt uncomfortable looking straight into her eyes while saying those words. She chuckles while shaking her head. As if not believing my words.

"Whatever you say. But still, you have to tell him the sooner the better. You have to be honest with him." she held my hand then looked straight into my eyes. "You're my best friend. I don't want you to make a decision that you might regret later okay?" I inhaled sharply. At some point she's correct. I mean in every point actually. 

"You're right, maybe I have to tell him and my family now. " It is more of I'm telling myself. I came up with a decision. "I'm telling them when I get home." I have to face the consequences of my actions and take responsibility. She's right, I have to be honest so I can achieve my true freedom. I just have to be strong and firm in explaining my side for my parents to understand. I cannot drag Alex on my situation forever, can I? 

My attention was caught by the ringing phone inside my bag. It's Bernard. It has been weeks since we've met. I almost forgot about him. I excused myself to answer the call. I inhaled deeply before picking it up.

"Yes?"

"Let's have dinner babe. I missed you." I rolled my eyes. He's been so sweet to me despite I made everything clear to him about my complicated situation.

"Don't call me that!" I hissed at him. However I told him to stop calling me babe, he still does every time. He laughed sexily and I can't help but roll my eyes again. He really enjoys annoying me. Bernard is good looking no doubt about that. He's fun and adventurous. Not to mention rich not that I care. He was a self-made businessman. At the age of 30, he already has his own company without his parents' help. That made me admire him. I love his independence and self-reliance. But I'm not at the point where I can say that I really like him as a man. Besides, lifetime commitment is not yet in my vocabulary. I enjoyed his company but I'm as if looking for something else, something more that I cannot pinpoint which.

"Okay, okay. I won't. "He's now laughing. I can only imagine how he's enjoying my evident annoyed reaction. "But let's meet tonight. I really missed you. It's been weeks seen we hang out." he made his voice that made it so hard for me to say no at the same time, I really need someone to talk to. To release my stress and relax my mind with all the things I have in right now. "Okay."

"That's how I liked it, babe. I'll pick you up at 8 then and wear something nice. Bye." he ended the call even before I can react to his action for calling me babe again. That sly guy. A small smile formed on my lips. Maybe I really need this, to help me make better decisions. I shook my head before going inside the coffee shop again. I need to say a quick goodbye to Mary so I can prepare for our dinner now.