Rhythm by Ena Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t Ben that I saw. I saw the
girl.”
    “You know her personally?”
    “Not personally, no.” When he doesn’t
respond, I ask, “So what do you think?”
    “I think you should talk to Ben when you see
him.”
    “That’s easy for you to say, but okay, I’ll
prepare myself a speech.”
    “Don’t practice what you’re about to tell
him. Speak with him from your heart, not from your mind.”
    “You’re okay with that?”
    “With what?”
    “Talk with him.”
    “Yes. Unless you plan on making good on your
promise with him,” he teases.
    “Whatever.” I laugh.
    “It’s good to hear you laugh. You okay
now?”
    I smile. “Mmmkay.”
    I’m relieved I poured my heart out to Grant,
even though I’ve been consumed once again with the pain as I relive
the moment my heart was broken.
    I take a deep breath, as I meditate how
blessed I am to have someone like Grant in my life. I know that I
should trust that Grant is different, that there’s still someone
who will never hurt and leave me. I was hurt, yes, but I have to
stop expecting worst from everyone.

Chapter 7
    Grant
    Months passed, but I haven’t had the guts to
tell Rhy about Riley. We’re doing great, and I don’t want to ruin
what we have now. We will celebrate our 1st year soon, and I want
to surprise her—as usual.
    By now, I know that she loves nature, and a
date that involves nature wouldn’t go wrong.
    I remember when Lola told me that they tried
to dine in a fancy restaurant just for fun. Well, everything went
nothing but fun. Rhy wasn’t at ease with all the fanciness around
her that she broke almost all the breakable things around her.
    Rhythm likes being herself, and I cringe as I
imagine her in that restaurant, so I make sure to spend time with
her where she can be herself. Besides, I love seeing how at ease
she is.
    As I prepare for school, I am startled by a
knock on our door. Cale left an hour ago and said he wouldn’t be
back until later after lunch.
    I am expecting Rhy, but it’s still early. I
open the door and instantly regret it.
    “Hello, Grant.” She beams at me then hugs me.
I don’t hug her back. She feels the tension in my body and lets me
go. “Can I come in?”
    “I’m headed out. Why are you here?”
    “That’s how you talk to your girlfriend?”
    “You’re not my girlfriend, Riley.”
    “I am your girlfriend, Grant. We never broke
up.”
    “Don’t pull that on me. We’re not together
anymore.”
    “What makes you think that we’re no longer
together?”
    “What makes you think that we are?”
    “Really, Grant?” She breathes heavily. “If
you like this conversation, then kindly let me in.”
    I give up and let her in. Besides, there is
no point in arguing with her in front of an audience.
    “Explain. Now.”
    “Okay, I’m sorry for what I’ve done a year
ago.”
    “Three years ago.”
    “Right. Anyway, I told you I couldn’t go home
with you. I thought that we had an understanding. I did my part for
our long-distance relationship. I sent you snail mails just like
how you wanted, but I never received any response. I didn’t break
up with you neither did you break up with me, so I guess we are
still together.”
    “I replied in every mails you sent me until
they stopped coming.”
    “I didn’t receive any. I promise, Grant. Can
we fix this misunderstanding?”
    “Misunderstanding? Riley, we don’t have
communication for three years, and the last time we bumped into
each other, you were nothing but casual. Remember? Now you’re
claiming that we are still together? What are you talking about?
Are you out of your mind?”
    “Grant, I didn’t know what to say to you. I
panicked, but I’ve spent some time to think things through, and I
still love you. I never stopped loving you, Grant. Please, give me
another chance. Give us another chance.”
    I don’t answer. How will I tell her that I
have moved on? She used to be the love of my life, but now, Rhythm
has my heart—whole of it.