Chapter Twenty-Two: Continuation
Inang took Clarisse and Roli away to Manila. There, she sent them to school. She forced them to forget everything that happened in their province. Five years passed, and Clarisse was already in college. Inang suddenly disappeared during that time, leaving only Clarisse and Roli living under one roof. Fortunately, Inang had left them some money.
- UNIVERSITY -
"NANA!" Clarisse frowned when Roger suddenly appeared in front of her. The young man was her schoolmate, currently studying Law.
She was resting under a tree after her second class. "Why do you keep calling me by that name?" She rolled her eyes at him.
"No reason. You just look beautiful with that name." He gave a sympathetic smile. "Doesn't your other friends call you Clarisse?"
"If Maria hears that, she'll get jealous." Maria was her best friend—the same Mrs. Ocampo she had mentioned before.
Roger's face clouded over. "We're over."
Clarisse's eyes widened.
"She has a new boyfriend," he looked at her. "Your brother." He was referring to Roli.
Clarisse felt a sharp pang in her heart. she crossed her arms and faced him. "I thought your best friend Eric Ocampo liked Maria?" The Eric she referred to was the man Mrs. Ocampo eventually married.
"Who knows, maybe they'll end up together in the end. Eric won't give up on Maria, anyway."
The pain in her heart remained at the thought that her best friend was the one Roli desired. She had sworn that Roli would love no one but her. He had made that promise to her as well. Consumed by growing anger, she approached Roger and kissed him without hesitation. The young man was caught off guard and didn't resist.
"Oooow!" He grinned, shocked by what she did.
"Are you going to court me?" she asked while her arms were still draped around his neck.
"I was planning to."
"I only have one wish, Roger. I hope you fulfill it."
"Anything, I'll do it," he said, hugging her back.
"I want our first daughter to be named Ara."
Roger pulled back slightly. "We aren't even 'us' yet, and you're already thinking about kids!"
"Fine, we're 'us' now. But fulfill my wish."
Roger nodded repeatedly. He hugged her again. "I have a wish too. And I want you to fulfill it..."
She just nodded.
"From now on, the name I want for you is—"
"NANA..."