"Samuel!" I called out, going towards him. Last night I was so afraid, I never got to sleep. So I made it the first thing to meet Jack at school. As I was strolling around, I ended up searching for him in the boy's locker room.

Samuel huffed, looking at me through the mirror. He stood there, wiping his face. "What do you want, you stupid b*tch?"

"Um... Samuel, are you asking me or your own reflection?" I retorted back, pointing my finger at his annoyed expression.

"Why you---"

"Have you seen Jack?" I demanded, rolling my eyes at him. He is always so melodramatic.

"Wasn't it made clear to you, that you don't matter anymore?"

I ignored his reply. "Did he come to school today?"

"No, he didn't." replied a guy standing next to him, "leave before Samuel kicks you out."

I forced a smile and stepped out.

Is he ditching school, so he doesn't have to answer me?

Everything went in haze. I didn't see Jack, nor did any of his friends showed any sign he was visiting me tonight. So I went back home straight and slept. It was around dinnertime when mom entered my room. "Oh, my god, Jo! You aren't ready yet! Jack is coming."

For the hundredth time today, I rolled my eyes, "Mom. Why are you so excited? He is just Jack."

"Sweetie, he is your boyfriend. You don't want to impress him?"

I sighed. "Okay, you guys, set the table. I need to get ready."

"You cannot ignore my question forever!" mom exclaimed, before closing the door.

Fifteen minutes later, I heard my mother calling me. I groaned, almost wanting to yell at everyone. Taking a deep breath, I decided to face whatever there is to come. But before stepping out of the room, I checked my phone for one last time.

No new messages from Alan.

My parents' laughter got my attention which means Jack is here. I left my room, sauntering downstairs with a disinterested look, only to come face to face with Jack.

"Hey." He smiled. An actual smile. I don't know if he was putting up an act just for my parent's sake or if he is thrilled, but I am sure enough annoyed. This boy has weirder mood swings.

I ignored him and glanced at my parents. "Mom, I am hungry. Why don't we eat?"

"Now—"

"Yup!" I interrupted her puzzled look. My mom seemed more irritated by my behaviour than surprised. She clenched her teeth, asking me to behave.

"Jo! He just came. Let us talk, chat---"

"We don't really have so much time, do we?" I asked, peering at Jack.

He shrugged, "I am free but if Jo is hungry, maybe we should all eat before she becomes a zombie and eats us all."

My parents laughed. They always belly laughed at Jack's jokes. I swear if Jack was my boyfriend, I would have laughed, but now he is not. So I can proudly say this was his worst in joke. I stood there awkwardly until mom asked me to set the table.

The entire time during the dinner, my parents spoke with Jack about his family business and how he was becoming familiarized about it little by little. Jack might pursue business management as his major in college. As far as I know, he was already set about college.

Mom murmured, "Your parents are so lucky, Jack. You are going to lift the burden off their shoulders when you grow into an adult."

My dad gave her a look. "Imogene---"

"I hope Jo becomes a doctor like us." She said.

"Why are we having this conversation again?" I asked, my face turning red.

"Yes. Let's not make this about us." Dad said, smiling at me.

My dad wasn't thrilled either when I told him about not wanting to be a doctor. Later he accepted it and wished I was successful at whatever I wanted to do. But this isn't the case with mom. She was and is unhappy.

The dreadful dinner was finally over. Jack came out of the bathroom, rubbing his washed hands on the napkin.

"Jo, can I talk with you?"

"Yes." I said, relaxing on the couch.

"Not here... maybe in the backyard?" He suggested, glancing at my parents, who were in the kitchen.

If he is going to kiss me as if nothing happened, I am going to punch him.

"Sure." I responded, leading him into the backyard.

"There was a lot of tension during dinner... don't you think?" Jack asked as we wandered into the backyard.

"Yes. I rather say the entire day was very weird."

"Yeah, and you know---"

I stopped walking, giving a sharp look at him, "why are you here?"

"Your parents---"

"No, Jack!" I practically yelled, not caring that my parents might hear me. "Why are you really here?"

Jack brushed his hair, not meeting my eyes. "The truth is, there are things I wish to speak with you. Starting with us"

"You didn't give me a chance to explain, Jack."

"I was angry! You cheated on my back, what do you expect?"

"You still think I betrayed you?"

He stepped closer to touch me, but paused when I winced at his move. "It doesn't matter now. I am ready to forget all."

Groaning at his answer, I threw my hands up in the air.

Unbelievable!

He doesn't trust me and is not willing to listen. Is he expecting me to just ignore whatever happened and move on?

"Anyway, Jo. Listen, its just a few months until we finish school. What have you decided?"

"About what? I thought you said there is no us!" I retorted, crossing my arms.

He sighed and strolled away, sitting in my father's bench, which he arranged in the backyard to get fresh air in the morning. "I am talking about college. I will be frank with you. Your mom told me last week that you are not writing and stuffs. Are you confused about what you should do?"

"I am already looking for colleges which have greater scope in literature. I am not confused. In fact, I am very clear on what I will be doing. Anything but medicine."

He laughed, "you are planning to become a full-time writer, aren't you?"

"Yes!" I replied in an instant. I recall Jack advising that the 'money' will not be satisfactory. His constantly smiling face made me sound stupid. As if I wasn't being rational.

"Oh, my god." I squeezed my fist on my head. "I don't want you to be acting as if you are concerned about me because I will let my parents know today that we broke up."

Jack's grin slipped from his face. He frowned, glancing at the neighbour's dog, who was staring at him. "So, you really want to break up with me?"

"You still think I betrayed you, you do not want to listen, just threw me away as if I was a trash. You cannot even stand up for your girlfriend when she was being bullied by the entire school. It hurt me. It pained me so much that I feel it's better the other way- to break up."

"That's not true. I felt upset when I saw them bullying---"

"Upset? Wow, that's so reassuring, Jack. Let's forget about the entire school. Let's talk about our gang of friends, who called me a slut. What did you do? At least did you tell them not to do it?"

"I—"

"Did you?"

Wiping away the tears from my eyes which I didn't notice was there, I whispered. "I wasn't a really great girlfriend to you, Jack. I agree, but that doesn't mean you go around or support your friends to spread tales about me. They bullied me on Facebook, WhatsApp and everywhere. You told me I deserve it, only because you do not trust me."

He was silent again. He stood from my father's chair, shifting closer to me. "Jo, I apologize. I just need you to know, I am sorry for what I did or by my friends."

I nodded. "I am sorry too but if you came here thinking, everything to go back to normal then no. Besides, you are going to be here forever, and all I want is to escape this place. I don't think this can work. On the fun side, I can picture you with a better girlfriend than me."

"A better girlfriend... hm... quite cliché, don't you think?" he teased, making me giggle.

"Are we good, Jo?"

I shrugged, "I guess."

I went back inside the living room to see my parents busy with their conversation. They caught me going upstairs.

"Where is Jack?" mom asked, dashing towards the door. She searched around and frowned, asking me for an answer.

"He left... and we broke up."

Mom let out a gasp. "I didn't mean for this to happen. All I wanted was to strengthen your relationship. I noticed something was off."

"Yes, mom. We broke up a few weeks ago. I am sorry I didn't tell you."

Mom moved closer, tugging me into a hug. I glared at dad for help. "Mom, I am fine. It was a really long time ago."

"But you both were so much into each other."

"Yeah, but not anymore. I just felt he might not be the right one. "

She frantically pulled herself from me. Her eyes narrowed down on me, saying not to mask anything from her. "Why? Did he do something?"

"Um... no."

Dad stood up from the couch. "She is lying!"

"Oh, my god!" I sauntered away from them. "I am fine. And mom please stop asking my friends to advise me on college. I will find something useful to do in my life. Medicine is not the only noble field in education."

"So that means you are leaving this place after your school?" mom whispered, her voice so weak.

"Yeah, I am hunting for colleges."

My parents gawked at me as though I were flyingaway for college tomorrow. I beamed, pulling both of them for a hug.