"I will end him, Erin. I will end Cadmus."
I turned to face him. "What did you say?"
"Make a deal with me, Erin. Let's make a deal."
I scoffed. I hurriedly returned to my seat with anxiety in my chest. What is he saying again? Is he threatening me again because I don't want to get back to him? Is he really that desperate to get me back?
"Deal? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know I can end him easily... I already told you about it. I will stop my father's plan on ending him in two conditions."
"Are you scaring me?" I laughed and hit the table. "I'll never be afraid of your money, Jarmin," I said seriously.
He just looked at me. "Did you notice that Cadmus is struggling more in his work these past few days?"
Huh? He's right! Cadmus is really getting busier with his work now. How did he know? Is he the one with the plan?
"That's just the beginning, it'll get worse and worse every time you decline me until he finally falls. You love him right? Do you want to see him suffer?" It even seems to enjoy teasing me.
"Fuck you!" I clenched my fist. My fingernails were digging into my palm so hard that it felt like it was going to hurt at any moment. "Tell me the conditions."
Even if my pride is trampled, I will do it. Cadmus always makes me happy. He helps me without reciprocation, gives time even when he is tired, gives without reciprocation and much more. It's always him. It's my turn to return the favor.
I'm sorry, it'll hurt temporarily... You'll forget about me someday. You'll find a girl prettier than me, smarter than me, taller than me, more kind than me, richer than me and... A girl who'll stay true and faithful to you unlike me.
"What will you name your company when you create one?"
"Hyacinth..." I answered without looking at him. I'm fixing stuff. This is our last meeting.
"That's a beautiful name... What's the reason why you chose it?" He topped for a moment, probably noticing that I was taking a lot of clothes. "A-Are you going out with your friends?" In his tone, even though he was a little shaky, he was still happy, you would think he was even more excited than me.
"No," I simply answered.
"Then where are you going, baby?"
I stopped at his tone. He didn't seem to have any idea what I was going to do. I've been holding back my tears almost unstoppable for several weeks now. I don't want him to experience this too.
"C-Cadmus," I tried to stay calm but I can't. I ended up shaking my own voice. "I'm leaving..."
"Where are you going? Can I go with you?"
I looked away because there were tears in my eyes. Why am I so soft when it comes to him? It's like my knees want to shake because of the pain.
"Cadmus let's break up..." I violently wiped my tears before looking at him.
He was stunned. He was silent for a few minutes and his pair of eyes just fixed on mine. "I-I'm pretty sure I heard it wrong..." He forced a laugh. "You're going on a break?"
"I'm breaking up with you, Cadmus..." I repeated to him.
We were silent again. Until I saw the tears in his eyes. I couldn't hold back the tears I was trying to hold back.
"Why... It's been only a month since we had a relationship... Why? What's the reason? Did I do something wrong? Why..." He sat on the floor while looking at me. "Right... It's my fault. Sorry I'm not giving you more time than I deserve. Manang Aida's right, these days I'm prioritizing work over you... I'll do better. Let's have a date again? Can we do that? Let's go eat turon---"
"I don't want it Cadmus," I was still looking at him.
"Or go back to the beach and ride a yacht again like we did---"
"Cadmus please,"
"Or visit mommy again and go to the park after that---"
"Cadmus..." My tears fell one after the other when he said about his mom. It was still an important event for me. It is pure of my heart.
"Or I'll sing you to sleep---"
"Cadmus stop!"
"Erin..." He broke down in front of me. He started sobbing. "Why did you give up so easily? One month... We're only one month into a serious relationship but why so sudden... I-I thought we would try? Can you, Erin? Try?" It was very difficult for him to speak because it was preceded by sobbing.
"That's enough, Cadmus... I don't want to..."
"Why then?" He asked me almost in a whisper, then he pulled himself together. "Why does it seem easy for you?"
"Jarmin and I got back together..." That's the reason I got for this.
"What?" It faced me. "I-Is that the reason why you're c-crying every night? Because you feel guilty for what you're doing to me?"
"We only started because of the deal, didn't we? Why did you expect? You didn't think that I only used you because of your money and family?" The tone of my voice rose.
"Call me an assuming person but I never ever saw you're faking it whenever I look into your eyes!" he stood up as his tears continued to fall. "We're not going to break up. We're going to fix this."
"Didn't you hear? Jarmin and I got back together! That's cheating!"
"Then cheat!"
My eyes widened when he said this. Does he no longer respect himself? Does he love me that much? It seems that I underestimated his love for me too much because I was even surprised by what he said.
"C-Cadmus..." I started to sob.
I was surprised when the door suddenly opened. Cadesia was there crying. When our eyes met, she gave me a glaring look.
"You are like Amber, Erin..." He said firmly. "You are all a pathetic user bitch." He hugged his brother. "Leave!" It screamed at me.
I was just stunned. I can't seem to cry anymore because of the many tears that have fallen on me in recent weeks.
I hurried went to get my suitcase. I don't want to see their faces because it hurts me more. It was like being stabbed several times in the heart. Feeling very sick.
I called my friends to tell them what happened. I was sent to Nirca's house first.
"Erin!" She immediately hugged me. Renice and Laurel were also waiting there. Their eyes are also red from crying. Perhaps because I told the whole reason earlier.
"What else happened? Huh? Is Jarmin hurting you?"
I couldn't speak. I just cried and cried.
"Don't... Don't tell others everything I told you... Especially the Arcajantes." I'm still sniffing. I could barely open my eyes because of the swelling.
I cried for days until the day came that I would fly to Chicago. I will study there. That's one of the things I did to hurt and crush Cadmus.
The shameless Jarmin even offered me help but I did not accept it. After landing my feet in another country I promised myself that I would get back to myself, to them and above all... To the Arcajantes.
They loved me completely and then this is all I'm going to give them? I won't let that happen.
I swear to all of them, when I come back to the Philippines, I am a full-fledged CEO. They will never step on me again. I will never ask anyone for money. I will revive myself.
It's difficult finding a job here in Illinois because it is one of the most populated areas in the United States. There are also many who are better than me here and have more experience. It's not like I finished studying.
My plan is to combine my studies and work so that I can support myself. Even though sometimes I have been without sleep for three to four days, I still continue for my dream.
When I think of giving up, I remind myself of the Arcajantes and how they accepted me even though I was poor. I want to be like them.
I heard the notification from my phone and when I saw the screen Jarmin's missed calls appeared to me. Maybe they are forcing me to give the money but I don't accept it. I also paid for my ticket going here by the money I'm saving.
I thought I would have a hard time just working, but I had a harder time going to college. In addition to tuition of schools, there are many other needs. I have cried a few times but I can't do anything but continue for my promise to myself.
When I got into a university I started making new friends. They are rich and have great connections with others. I didn't even ask them for a penny, they helped me find a job.
The first job I entered was modeling. My friend Grace, who is Black American, brought me to that industry, after all, I fit its standards. She said.
That's when I started making money. Until I was able to save for myself. It took me two years before I finally had the budget to start a company. Right after I graduated and luckily, I didn't do it again.
"You're going back to the Philippines?"
I smiled at Grace's question. "Not yet, Gracey. I'm planning to start the company here before I go back there."
"You're really motivated for your dream huh! You got the energy, I love it!" She chuckled. "Tell me when you go back to the Philippines because I'd love to go back with you!"
Go back... How can I go back there if I left the people there who are important to me full of sadness?
I put my blood and sweat into making the company. I take a lot of risks that sometimes went wrong. I have to go on even this is Hell. I heard someone say, "If you're going through Hell, keep going. Why would you stop in Hell?"
I won't stop.
And then my time came. The company's successful. Also because of my connection, what I used to think was difficult became easier. My dreams, little by little, came true.
When the applications for my secretary opened, my eyes widened when I saw Amber. She was even more surprised to see me!
"Y-You are the CEO?" She questioned in surprise.
"Yeah?"
Now this is fun. It's my turn to return what she gave to me. But I'm not a bitch like her so I'll kill her with kindness. I accepted her as my secretary even though it disgusts me every time I remember what she did to me and Cadmus. I just hope she had a character development, at least. So I wouldn't have a problem.
Within a month of being together with Amber, I noticed that she did change. She also has respect for me and even calls me "po" and "opo". (Filipino sign of respect) I also found out that we studied at the same university but we had different courses.
"Ma'am Crisostomo, you have a meeting in five minutes with Mr. Tamizen of Tamizen Air group."
I nodded and got ready.
Cosmetic company. That's Hyacinth. I built it.
When I'm sad I cook turon at home or any street foods. I took a picture of myself for remembrance and sent it to Jarmin so that he and Amber could slap him for what they did to me. If it wasn't for the shame they did to me I wouldn't be where I am today. I also lied when I said that Cadmus and I were together again.
Now I'm thinking, maybe he's already married... I'm turning twenty five now. He's twenty eight so there's a high possibility that he's married now. I wonder how his wife looks like. Maybe he already has a child by now?
A lot happened in one year until the time came when I had to go back to the Philippines for a meeting. My eyes widened when I saw the company name.
"What the fuck..." I covered my mouth.
It's Arcajante's company.