Chapter 2

“REALLY, now?!” Julienne laughed at her like she’s some sort of a lunatic. “When will you find that perfect man in your imagination? When you turn forty?!”

“You don’t trust that I will find him, don’t you?” Zharm chuckled.

“Yes, because no man like that exists!” Julienne reached for her glass of juice placed on the center table and drank from it. “I know that I don’t say this often but I will say this to you because you’re my sister and I kinda care for you.” Zharm scoffed but she’s really interested in what Julienne was about to say. Julienne’s good at criticizing her but not in giving advises.

“What is it?”

“Do you know why you’re single until now?”

“And why is that?”

“You’re so being keen with finding a man who meets your standards. Those standards don’t guarantee that you’ll find the right one for you. Those standards just limit you to find someone who may not be perfect but is perfectly fit for you. The only requirement you need is true love. Find someone you love and you’ll see, even if he’s not perfect, you’ll know that he’d be more than enough.” Julienne has a point but…

“I don’t see anything wrong with setting standards in love because if that man is really right for you, he will rise up to meet your standards,” she said. Julienne was about to speak but she somehow changed her mind and just shrugged. “Trust me, I’ll find someone who can check all the boxes in my checklist,” she said confidently.

“Why are you even bothering finding the right one when you know that the right one is just across the street.” Julienne pointed at the direction of the house across the street. It’s her best friend, Jared Franco’s house. Julienne loves pairing her up with Jared even if there’s nothing’s really going on between them. “He’s perfect for you. He’s tall, rich, handsome”, and most of all, he’s the only one who can understand your crazy self.”

“I’m not crazy.” She glowered at her. She must admit that Jared is a fine man but she just can’t picture of them together and he annoys the hell out of her all the time. When they were younger, Jared said that he liked her but he said it a joke. She thought that he’s just messing with her. She doesn’t want to involve herself with someone who doesn’t even know how to take things seriously. “Why did you even mention that jerk? He doesn’t even take things seriously, how can he even take me seriously?”

“Do you think he’s joking?!” She gives me a fleeting quizzical look “The guy has been courting you since college! Are you even in your right mind to say that?!”

“He’s not courting me. He’s just messing with me.”

Zharm and Jared have been friends since college. Even their respective families thought that they were in a relationship because they were so close. Sure, there’s something special in the way they treat each other but they’re not romantically involved with each other. Jared sometimes pretend to act like he’s courting her that’s why people assume that they are together. But she knew better. Jared has no romantic feelings for her and if he did something that suggests otherwise, Zharm would take it as a joke. Jared always makes fun of her and she’s used to that.

“I know what kind of person he is. so, please stop pairing me up with him. We’re just friends.” She sighed. “And even if I like him…” Julienne’s face lit up. “…hypothetically,” she added with emphasis which Julienne responded with a laugh,

“Fine. Hypothetically.” Julienne drew quotation marks in the air to emphasize the word.

“If I did, he won’t even like me back. He’s too busy with so many girls surrounding her,” she said. She tried to sound nonchalant but she can’t help but frown when she remembered new girl in the village who introduced herself with Jared. Though Zharm can’t deny that the new girl is really pretty, she’s pretty much annoying being so obvious that she likes Jared. When Zharm realized that her sister is watching her, he feigned innocence and looked at Julienne like it was no big deal. “What?”

“So, you’re not acting jealous, are you?” she teased. Zharm playfully scowled at her sister.

“Why would I be jealous? I don’t care how many girls would throw themselves at her as long as…” I don’t see them or else, I might beat the hell out of him. She gets annoyed when Jared is with other girls but she won’t say that to her sister.

“As long as?” Julienne prodded. “As long as Jared’s heart belongs to you?” She punched her sister’s arms when she said that while Julienne just laughed hard. Julienne really likes making fun of her.

“Never mind what I mean,” she said. “Why are we talking about Jared? It’s not the problem here. Just check my email again,” she said trying to change the topic.

“I told you, your novel is rejected. Why don’t you marry Jared instead so that we can be rich?” Julienne chuckled.

“Stop talking nonsense. Instead of teasing me, why don’t you pray for my novel to get approved. We need money right now.” Julienne did not respond immediately but she looked at her like there’s something that she wants to say something and Zharm’s pretty sure what is it about. “Don’t even think about asking money from Dad.”

“And why not?”

Her siblings had maintained a good relationship with their father despite what they did to them, but not Zharm. It has been ten years already since their father left them for another woman. Her father’s marriage with her mother, Belen, is just an arranged marriage. There was no love involved between them and there’s someone else that his father loves. Years later, when he met his first love again, he decided to abandon his own family to be with the one he loves.

They have not seen him for a couple of years and then one day, he went back, apologizing to them. He wants to be close to his children. If there’s a special occasion, her siblings would go to her father’s house but Zharm won’t go along with them. Until now, she’s holding grudge from her father. Why on earth would he leave them for just some other woman? Doesn’t he love them enough to give them a happy and complete family? Even her mother seems to be forgiving and is still waiting for her father to come back to them.

They have experienced many hardships after her father left them and he wouldn’t even give a damn about her. Now that he’s in a better position now, how could he get back to their lives like nothing happened. Her father has no idea how hurt Zharm had felt when he left. Zharm promised to herself that she won’t ask for her father’s help no matter what happened/ They managed to survive even without him, she doesn’t need him now.

“If he willingly gives you and Erhan money for your tuition, take it but don’t ask for it. I will still be the one to pay for Mom’s medicines. I won’t ask help from him. Ever.”

Zharm stood up and went back to her room before her Mom hears them. Her Mom would be mad if she hears her talking back about their father but Zharm sees nothing wrong with it. What is wrong with protecting yourself from someone you know who would break your heart again?