Chapter Three

TAMARA 

Really? He wanted to see me? Why? Was he already dying? Did he have cancer that's why he wears a bonnet and he came here to bid his farewell? Cool. I'd be glad if that's the case. 

"Don't worry. I'll be sending flowers on your grave," I said. "Which do you prefer? Daisies or sunflowers? You're dying, right?" 

"What made you think I'm dying?" He asked, flustered. 

"Because you're visiting me." What's taking my mom so long? I badly want to leave this jerk alone. I don't know where he got the courage to step inside this house. Shame on him. 

"Then, you got the wrong idea. I'm visiting you because..." he gasped.  "Tamara, it's been years." 

I raised an eyebrow. "So?" 

He gulped with his pleading eyes. "I just wanna talk to you." 

"You said it yourself that it's  been years so pull your shit together and get over it," I said through gritted teeth. I was about to sytand up when he spoke. 

"Do you even know what I'm talking about?" 

"You're wasting my time." 

"Do you even know what I'm talking about, Tam?" he repeated. 

I squinted my eyes at him. "I don't care what you're talking about. I have more things to do. So please,  if you don't mind--" 

"The egg sandwiches are ready!" 

Mom suddenly appeared, holding a tray with food. She smiled, I quickly stood up and attempted to get out of the scene when she called me. 

"Tamara, where are you going? Don't you want to join us here?" mama said with a teasing tone. 

Really!? Is she kidding? Act natural, Tamara. Don't act bitter.  You have moved on, right? My subconscious mind said.

I forced a smile. I gave in. "Fine." 

I plopped myself beside Sean. I was holding my breath, my chest pained. His presence made me uncomfortable. I grabbed a sandwich. Egg sandwich is my favorite but I couldn't savor its taste because of too much adrenaline in my veins. 

"What brings you here, sweetie?" mama started the conversation.

He took a drink from the orange juice before answering, "Well,  I just wanna inform you that we're going to be neighbors."

I almost choked upon hearing him. Did I hear him wrong? 

"Juice! Juice!" Mama lent me a glass of water. I brought the glass to my lips quickly, afraid that the chunks of sandwich will get stucked at my esophagus and make me lose my life in the process. There's no way that would happen. 

"You should be careful next time." Sean advised. He doesn't look concerned, more like he's stopping himself so hard not to laugh at me. Why do I expect him to be concerned, anyway? 

I shot him a sharp look.

Mom giggled. Joy was evident in her face. "Is that true? What's your name again?"

He swallowed the chunks of the sandwich before speaking.  He was as if he didn't eat for days. "Sean Peralta."

My heart broke a little upon hearing his name. It never crossed in my mind that I would be seeing this guy again after four years. All I knew was I don't wanna see him again,  even his shadow or a trace of his footprint. 

"I still remember you. You've gone handsome than before. You're my daughter's ex-boyfriend, am I right? "

My cheeks reddened upon my mom's question. 

"Yes, madam."

"How you've been doing? I haven't seen you for a long time."

"Well, I'm a photographer." 

Their conversation continued while I'm just silently listening to them, sitting on the couch. Majority of their conversation was about me. How I wish I have the power to teleport. Mom enjoyed his company so much. It irks me that she doesn't seem to have a pinch of sympathy to her daughter. Like,  have she forgotten? The guy whom she was talking to was the guy who cheated on me. 

Sean also told mom that he had just moved yesterday. Why didn't I notice that? Sean leaving next door to us was a bad idea. Did he do this on purpose? 

"Tamara, can you escort Sean to the gate?" Mom requested. 

My eyes went wide. "W-What?"

"You heard me, right? Now,  I'll leave the both of you here. Sean, you can visit here anytime."  mom sweetly said, gazing to Sean. 

Then,  mom walked away. I crossed my arms and flared my nose out of anger. Was mom still devoted to Sean? I remember mom wishing before that I would end up with him because she told me he was the perfect man for me. I also thought that but unfortunately, I was wrong. 

"I think you can go outside alone. Thank you." 

"Your mom told you to escort me." he joked

"Yes but you're not a toddler anymore. So if you'll excuse--

"What's up with the bitterness? Yes,  I know that we're ex lovers but it's all in the past. Don't tell me it still hurts you?" He raised an eyebrow. 

Should I be overwhelmed with the idea that despite of not seeing each other for four years, he didn't treat me as a stranger? My knuckles are turning white now. I hate how he's keeping his 'cool' with the things that happened between us. Can't he be insensitive?

"Can you just leave?" 

"I would have be gone by now if you already escorted me outside."

The nerve of this guy! I was forced to escort him outside for the sake of peace. 

"Now, can you leave and never show up here again?" 

"Even if I won't show up here again, there's a huge chance that you would still see me because we're neighbors." he answered. 

I've been struggling to keep my cool and now, I feel like my head is going to explode.  "You can now leave. In the first place, why are you here? You should be rotting in hell.  I don't--" I don't care how childish I sound. All I wanted was for him to disappear. 

"Tamara, " he interrupted. 

"WHAT? JUST FREAKING LEAVE! I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU AGAIN! 

He was taken aback, shaking. "Y-You don't wanna see me again? But why?" 

I pursed my lips together. "B-Because you're a jerk."

"T-That's why I came here, to right all my wrongs. Have you forgotten our promise to each other?"