LARA
Today is Wednesday afternoon and I am on my bed just putting the locket inside an envelope. Once I was done, I got in my car and went to Pierce Harret's house.
I wouldn't let him catch me. I'll just put this thing on their house to think that it's a letter.
I smiled evilly, "Your secret girl will be revealed and you are very itchy. Let's see if you two can get along with this."
As I arrived, I prayed that no one would see me and I immediately put and pinned the envelope to their gate.
I went in my car again and laughed at how easy it was to destroy that girl named Sapphire. And now, Pierce will come back to me.
SAPPHIRE
I kept on looking for Theo around the school since I knew he could help me and he's the only one who knew about my secret.
I have entered all the buildings in the school but I still can't find him. He kind of went early yesterday at school basketball practice so probably, he didn't know that my necklace was missing. And, he also didn't know that I'm in a big trouble right now.
I'm sick worried because I still haven't found my missing necklace. It was impossible for me to lost it because I remembered that it was wrapped around my face towel, unless someone took it and saw it.
I just hope that my necklace ends up in good hands and can be returned to me without knowing my deep secret.
Just as I passed the Theater Art Studio building, I spotted Theo came out from the back door so I immediately ran up to him and called, "Theo! Wait!"
He turned around and looks surprised to see me, "Oh, Saff! It's you. What's up? Do you need something?"
"Why weren't you at practice yesterday?"
"Oh, about that, I went home right away and did some work at our coffee shop. You know my parents, sometimes they are busy," he said and looked at me, "Why? Did something happen?"
I sighed, "Unfortunately, yes. Something did happen yesterday."
"Why? What happened and you seem so anxious about it?"
"It's about my necklace, Theo. I don't know but it just happened to be lost yesterday and I knew that someone had taken it. I haven't seen it until now! I'm really worried!" I exclaimed.
As expected, he was kind of surprised and confused. Of course, for him it's just a simple locket-necklace for me to be anxious that it's gone.
But for me, it's an important thing because my life and my son's life depends on it.
"Seriously? Sapphire, is that all you're worried about?" he asked and I just nodded, "Goodness. Well, what can we do right now? Obviously, it's gone, right? You can't find it anywhere, so it's time to buy a new one. You have a lot of money to replace it."
I shook my head, "No! I'm not worried about that it's missing, but what worries me more is the picture of the necklace! It's a locket necklace and Cooper and I's picture is inside of it. Whoever took it and see it, they'll know for sure that he is my son. A word or quote was engraved beside of it and even kids can understand that he's my son."
His eyes widened when he heard that, "Shit! Why didn't you tell me about it right away? You're really crazy, where can we find that?! Your necklace is a stray cat, that's for sure."
"I have no idea at all! Yesterday, we were practicing cheerleading and I don't know about Lara, she required me to take it off so I just left it on the bench and then just covered it with a towel so no one else could see it."
"What is that photo you're talking about?"
"It is a photo of me with baby Cooper when he was two-days old. That was the first time I saw him after I gave birth to him and then it was written on the other side of the photo about the Unconditional Love of a Mother."
He shook his head, "Probably, whoever got it will know your secret."
"I don't know what to do! What if that necklace will lead back to Pierce? What if he saw it? I haven't told him everything yet."
He held both of my shoulders, "Don't worry, Saff. We'll keep looking for your necklace and for sure, we will find it," he said and hugged me tightly.
"What if he sees that?" my tears flowed and he let me go.
"You love him, don't you?" I nodded while wiping my tears, "Then, do you trust him?"
I was silent but I was sure of my answer, "Yes. I trust him."
PIERCE
I got home after school since we didn't have practice today and when I got home I found mom eating some cookies and cake at the table.
I approached her and kissed her on her cheek, "Hey, mom. I noticed that you baked cookies."
"Yeah, I was bored and was hungry so, I just feel like baking some. Well, do you want one? Maybe you want to eat with me?"
"Alright then. Wait and I'll just get a saucer," I went to the kitchen and got a saucer while going back to get some cookies.
When I was eating, mom suddenly spoke, "Oh, before I forget! Someone sent you a mail. I didn't open it because it was sent to yours and it might be important."
I looked at her and I was surprised. What is that? "A mail? From who?"
"It doesn't say who it is. It looks like it just arrived and then left it there. It wasn't there this morning and I didn't notice anything either."
I nodded, "Alright. I'll just take it and open it. I'll be right upstairs in the room. I'll just grab some more cookies."
"Alright. Oh, is Sapphire coming here later?" he asked and I nodded, "Okay. I'll cook for you two."
I stood up and took some more cookies and then I went back carrying the envelope that mom said.
Who is this from? It looks like it's from a girl because the envelope and paper design is pink in color. Who will send me some mail? Is it another love letter from Fire?
When I opened the envelope, I saw a piece of paper and at the same time, there was a necklace inside, "Wait, this is Fire's necklace? Why did it end up here? Did Fire send this?"
I thought she was missing her necklace? I looked at the paper and it was written,
"The necklace is nice, right? I thought you might be interested. Just look on the inside, there will be a surprise for you."
I wonder about that. What does this mean? Is Fire really the one sending this?
But, no. It doesn't make sense because she's been looking for it since yesterday and pink isn't her favorite color.
Is it possible that someone took it from her? What's the surprise that I really have to open it?
I admit that I really wanted to ask her about this, about the inside of it. I know that it was given from her best friend in Davao but I didn't ask her about it because she might get hurt again when she remembers her past.
Out of curiosity, I opened the necklace and revealed it.
When I saw the contents of that necklace, I was stunned. I couldn't move and I seemed to let go of my grip on that necklace and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Sapphire arrived just in time. She came in smiling but I didn't look at her, "Oh. Babe? Do you have a problem?" I didn't answer her but I stood up and took the necklace and came to the window to think about what I could say.
"What happened?" she asked me more and I turned around to give her back the necklace in her palm.
I could clearly see the surprise in her eyes and the despair, "Pierce," I heard her voice break.
I closed my eyes because she was crying and I didn't want to see her hurt. But it has nothing to do with the pain I felt right now. All this time, she just kept on lying on my face!
That's why it's hard to understand her, to reach out because of the secret that's been building up a wall between the two of us.
"I really want to tell you about Cooper," she started but I shook my head, unable to listen, "Listen to me. I want to tell you everything but I can't."
She grabbed my hand but I pulled my hands away from her. I looked at her full of anger, pain, hatred and sadness.
"Why did not you tell me?" I asked, "It's been a month, but why didn't you tell me the truth that you already have a child? Didn't you trust me? I've told almost everything about me, even my painful events ... But you? How dare you lied to me! You haven't even told me a single thing about you!" she cried even more but I endured it all as I felt it.
"It's not like that. I really want to tell you everything but it's hard to tell you the truth. I don't know how to tell you everything!"
I turned to her, "How is it so difficult to tell? I mean, is it difficult to say, 'Hey, Pierce, before going into a relationship, I have to admit that I have a son who's everybody knows that he is my brother.' Is that hard to say?! Because for me, it's not hard if you just trust me!"
"Not for you, but in my situation, it's not that easy! It's hard to tell you because you might end up like my ex-boyfriend who left me!" I turned to her and couldn't stop crying in front of him, "That's why I told you before, right? I don't want you to get hurt again."
I remembered the words she said when we first met. That's why.
"What about your ex-boyfriend? I mean, Baby Cooper's father?"
"I don't know where he is. He left me when I was just pregnant with Cooper. He actually blamed me for this."
"Then, he's stupid," I whispered to myself but I still didn't look at his behavior, "So, that's why you moved here? To forget the —"
"Yeah," she said and came closer to me. She e hugged me from behind, "Pierce, please forgive me. To be honest, I didn't want to fall in love with you but I couldn't handle it. I fell in love with you and I don't want this secret to ruin what we just have right now," my tears flowed and the only thing I knew was that she kissed me.
I lost myself because I was intoxicated by her kisses but some hurtful memories flashed so I pushed him away.
"I can't," I said and distanced myself, "I'm sorry but I can't. I trusted you but all you did was to lie. I guess you were right that time that I wasn't ready for a new relationship," I said and closed my eyes. I turned back at the window, "I want you to leave now, please."
She nodded and went out. Now the room was lonely but until now I still heard what she said a while ago, "I love you."
SAPPHIRE
I got up early in the morning as I get ready for school on a busy Friday. I don't feel like going to school today, but I can't tell an excuse in case my mom would ask why I would skip my classes.
I can't tell her the real reason why and she doesn't know about me and Pierce.
As usual, I took a quick shower, got dressed, and got my things for school. I gave Cooper a milk and went downstairs with him.
I found mom in the dining room, taking a sip of her coffee. I forced a smile and greeted her, "Good morning, mom."
She turned to me and greeted me as well, "Hey. Have some breakfast and I'll just get Cooper."
Right before she got up, Cooper suddenly cried, "Shh, baby. Mom, I think Cooper might be sick right now. He was crying a lot since last night and it looks like he has some flu and fever."
She quickly approached at my son and checked him, "Yeah, he is. It's okay, don't worry and your son will get better. Don't worry and I'll contact a pediatrician," she smiled and I just nodded.
"Alright. You take care of him and I'll go to school," I said, "Please, call me, in case of emergency."
I also left for school and the usual is that I was late to class. I'm not used to commuting and I especially had a bit of a hard time finding a tricycle today.