Broken Strings
Chapter 16

MELISSA QUIZON

“Just take him to his room,” I said to Eugene as he lifted my sleeping son out of the car.

He is tired of participating in various games. The event ended almost at dusk, so we went home at night.

Eugene nodded and headed straight for Reid’s bedroom door. I put down the bags that held the clothes we used earlier. I took out the food container one by one and put them in the sink. If I take care of it tomorrow, it will probably stink so bad.

When I turned, I saw Eugene standing behind me. I could see the tiredness and joy in his eyes as he stared at me. Reid always teases him because he likes to swim in the deep part of the pool. I don’t know how to swim so he only invites Eugene.

I wiped my hand. “You want a chocolate cake?”

He reached for me and put my hair behind my ear. “‘Don’t bother, I know you’re tired too.”

I close my eyes as he gently k****s my forehead.

“Eugene…” I said softly as our eyes met. “Are you willing to wait?”

“Yeah.” His thumb caressed my cheek. “You know I can.”

I saw the sincerity in his eyes.

“I’m sorry if we’re both having a hard time with our situation.” I held his hand that was on my cheek. “I can’t just love you with my broken pieces. It will hurt us both, Eugene.”

He nodded. His arms wrapped around my shoulders. I heard the loud and fast beating of his heart. I also felt mine, no, it wasn’t as fast as his heartbeat. I want to love Eugene. But, there seems to be some force holding me back.

“Don’t let your anger consume you.” He pulled away and lowered his face to give me a soft k**s on the cheek. “Good night, Mel.”

“Good night.”

I waited for Eugene’s car to disappear from my sight before I finally closed the door. I locked it and went straight to Reid’s room. He was lying on his bed and sound asleep. I took a pair of pyjamas from his cabinet, Transformers was printed on it, then approached Reid to dress him up.

I slowly removed his clothes and replaced them with pyjamas. He would be more comfortable if he were wearing pyjamas. I kissed him on the forehead before gently closing his bedroom door. I took care of myself before I went to sleep. I lay down on my bed. Maybe because of fatigue, my eyelids became heavier.

Three days have passed without Wright noticing us. I’m thankful that he doesn’t bother me anymore. He seems to have accepted the fact that I don’t want him.

After I took Reid to his school, I went to work. I greeted my other co-teachers as I entered the faculty room. I put my things down on the table and sat on the chair.

“Oh, my gosh! Are they breaking up?” I turned to Ellyza. She was staring at the television. Almost all of my co-teachers stopped what they were doing when they saw the news about Wright.

“Wright and Claire part ways?!” That’s captioned as it shows pictures of Claire and Wright hugging inside an exclusive restaurant. “And Mr Wright Agoncillo confirmed it!”

Suddenly the video pops up where the media surrounds Wright as security personnel work very hard to protect him.

“Yes. We already broke up. To be honest, we are no longer in a relationship for a long time now. Before I went home to the Philippines, it’s over between us. But, we’re still friends, it won’t change/” Wright said as he found it difficult to walk due to pressure from various media men.

“Wright, someone saw you go to church after you went to a resort. What did you do there?” A man managed to pass through the strict security.

“No comment,” Wright responded and smiled.

“Aren’t you anyone dating today?” The female reporter shouted.

Wright smiled sadly. “No one. Because the woman I want still does not want me. Yet.”

My heart pounded when he looked at the camera. The Press was even more aggressive when he said that. They still stumble upon interviewing Wright even though the elevator in which they boarded is closed.

“Oh no! He is single! This is our chance!” My co-teachers were thrilled. “But, it’s obvious that Claire and him no longer together? Claire is already dating another man! I saw her pictures on social media sites.”

“Yes. Wright is so private. That’s the media kept on harassing him. My poor, broken baby.” Hilda said.

I secretly smirked at them. I don’t know why I’m disgusted right now. I’m so irritated. It’s good that he has an eye for someone right now, then he was going to stop bothering us.

“Of course. He is an actor and a multinational businessman. He has the right to keep his life private!” Marites said. I was just listening to their talk.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside our faculty room. I would have ignored that if my co-teachers hadn’t just run to see who was outside. Maybe we just had a new student and the son of a well-known personality so confused. We often do that since we work in an exclusive musical school.

I brought the papers containing the musical notes because I will now teach piano keys to my students. I fix that as I walk out of the faculty. Then I bump into someone.

“Ay! Sor— “Goddamnit! I looked and my smile faded.

“Hi,” Wright said, his smile widened.

Shit. “W-What are you doing here?”

I noticed a lot of people taking pictures of Wright and me, so I do everything to make myself look professional. There are guards preventing people from entering the faculty.

I saw how alarmingly gorgeous this guy was. The one-hand fisted in his pocket tugged at his jeans, revealing a small sliver of a taut stomach. “Uh… I was just going to ask why Bobbie doesn’t want to go to school?”

I was surprised by what he said. It’s only now that I realize that Bobbie hasn’t come in for two days. I didn’t notice that she had an enemy in the room or that anyone was teasing her. Bobbie was quiet as if she were avoiding people. Is it my fault? Wasn’t she satisfied with my teaching? Did I scare her?

“Where’s she? I want to talk to her, Mister Agoncillo.” I formally say but with a hint of concern. As much as possible, I don’t want others to notice that we have a past.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

“This is a serious matter, Miss Quizon. Can we talk in private?” He asked as he stepped closer.

“Private? Really.” I echoed. I clenched my teeth and worked to keep my lips in a neat, straight line.

He nodded. “Yes.”

I looked around us. Even Ellyza, Crissa and Nadine are already involved in taking pictures with Wright. They smiled as they look at the pictures they took. When they saw me staring, their eyes spoke as if to say that I was lucky. Why are they so madly attracted to this man?

I kept the expression blank.

I’m a professional. “Follow me.”

I walked first. Even with my back turned, I could still feel its scorching gaze. I moved my shoulder to relieve the tension there. He whistles as he continues to follow me. Gradually the noise around also disappeared.

I opened the door of the Guidance Office. In situations like this, he should not just talk to me. The principal had to be face to face as we talked.

“After you,” I said coldly to him.

One of his eyebrows rose and smiled. Suddenly his head heated up as he smiled. “No, after you.”

“Okay,” I said so that we would not talk further. Yes, I’m shutting him out. Shutting him out of my life. The principal looked at me. I smiled at her. “Good morning, ma’am.”

“Oh, hi, darling— my goodness.” Ma’am Esqueza’s head shook when she saw Wright by my side.

“Good morning, ma’am,” Wright said sweetly.

Ma’am Esqueza cleared his throat and adjusted her eyeglasses. Her face has also become formal. But her can still be seen. “Please, have a seat.”

We sat side by side in front of Ma’am Esqueza’s table. I avoid looking at Wright. I stiffened my neck and fixed my eyes on Ma’am Esqueza.

“I’ll cut the chase, Ma’am Esqueza. My niece, Bobbie, doesn’t want to go to school anymore and I wonder why.” Wright said directly but softly. There is no mixed authority in his voice.

Ma’am Esqueza frowned. She wrapped her two hands resting on her desk. “From what class does she belong, Mister Agoncillo?”

“In my class, Ma’am,” I said politely. From the corner of my eye, Wright looked at me as well. I bowed a little. “I don’t know why she doesn’t come in anymore.”

“Why don’t you know? She’s in your class, Miss Quizon.” I bit my lower l*p as the astonishment in Ma’am’s voice was palpable.

“The only thing I noticed about her was that she was quiet and avoided other children. I always monitored her because she is new and it’s not easy to adjust.” I took a deep breath before speaking again. “It’s my fault, Ma’am, I failed to pay attention to her.”

Ma’am Esqueza took a deep breath. “We need to talk to your niece, Mister Agoncillo. We need to find out why she doesn’t want to come in. Can you bring her here?”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

My eyebrows met. I turned to him. “Why?”

“Her parents have already decided. She’s just going to do a home tutorial on the Piano.” He touched his jaw. He stared at me. “And I decided to take you as the tutor, Miss Quizon.”

I sat up straight. My system started to panic. “What? No way!”

“Miss Quizon, you’re not in a position to complain. May I remind you that it’s your fault why Bobbie doesn’t want to go to school? You didn’t pay attention.” Ma’am Esqueza with authority.

No! I do not want to. Shit. “But, Ma’am, I have classes from Monday to Friday.”

She shrugged and raised both hands. “Saturday and Sunday then.”

“But the…” I glanced at Wright’s behaviour. He stared at me, his eyes following my movements. Then I looked at Ma’am Esqueza again. “My son, ma’am. I can’t spend time with him. He will be alone.”

Silence covered the room. Ma’am Esqueza thinks of a possible way to keep Bobbie’s home tutorial. I don’t want to be assigned there. I can’t even bear to be with him in less than thirty seconds! No freaking way!

Even if I wasn’t looking at him. I can still feel the warmth of his gaze on me. My heartbeat, which I had previously controlled, increased again.

“Ma’am, how about we find someone else tutors Bobbie? How about Nadine? She doesn’t have Sundays and Mondays. She doesn’t have children—”

We looked at Wright as he cleared his throat. “I’ll buy your Thursday and Friday, Miss Quizon. I’ll double it. I’ll pay you for those days.”

“H-Huh?” What? Heck, no!

“That’s it. I’ll just look for someone who can sub you on that day. And since you’re Bobbie’s adviser, encourage her to go back to school. She’ll have more friends here.” Shit. I was fooled.

I could do nothing but agree to what they wanted. If I refuse, Ma’am’s question will rain down on me, it’s hard for me to slip my tongue and talk about the past. What else can I do when I’m really at fault. If I had just focused on Bobbie, he wouldn’t have happened. Damn it! Destiny seems to be betraying me.

Ma’am Esqueza requested that she and Wright take a picture. When I looked at him, his smile was within earshot. It’s like he won the lottery. I rolled my eyes at him before leaving the guidance office.

When I found out he planned this, I will slap the Grand Piano in his face.

I was stopped walking when someone blocked my path. I raised an eyebrow at him. Now that the two of us are alone in the faculty room, his appearance has become even clearer to my eyes.

His black hair was longer than it had been last time I saw him, but it was still fairly short, brushed back from his face and emphasizing the strong, fierce features that had haunted so many of my nights. And his eyes. Deep, almost black, a midnight blue that made my heart beat faster.

Damn it!

“Uh, thank you for accepting my offer. Even though—”

“Bobbie was my intention there and no one else,” I said coldly. “I still have class. Excuse me.”

I walked past his shoulder, but I was stopped when he touched my elbow. I didn’t look at him. I kept the expression blank.

“Melissa…” His voice was difficult. I stiffened my neck so as not to look back at him. “If you could just hear me out. Please. I’m damn desperate to have you again.”

I can no longer be carried away by his flowery speech.

I slowly turned to him and looked coldly. My eyes dropped to his hand that was still holding my elbow. I firmly withdrew my elbow from his grip. Then without a word walked out of the faculty room.

He will never have me again.

I don’t want to have any connection with him again.

I won’t let him close enough to hurt me. Again.