Her Memories

CHAPTER 13. True Identity

Asia invited Joaquin to their family dinner with her aunt Angel in their house. Also expecting Wacky to accompany them tonight, too, finally. Her dad also said that there is something that he wants to share with the family, but Asia already has a feeling that it was just about his engagement with Angel. Whatever it is, she is just so excited for tonight's dinner. She is wearing a casual mint green maxi dress and a messy bun for her hair. She was very sure that her father would like her boyfriend because he is a diligent, kind person, and most of all, he loves her.

It's already seven in the evening, and Asia is waiting for his arrival on the terrace when her phone rings,

"Yes?" She answered excitedly.

"Hi beautiful, I'm here already. Where are you?" Joaquin informed her.

She immediately looked out from above the terrace and saw his car parked just in front of their house.

"Oh! Just wait. I'm coming." She said and dashed down the stairs running to welcome him.

When she was about to reach the gate of their house, she noticed that it was already open and thought that someone might just forget to close it, but suddenly her pace became slow when she heard Angel cry out cheerfully.

"Wacky! Finally, you came!" She went out and was left frozen in her spot while watching the mother and son hugging each other until they noticed her presence.

"Yo-you're Wacky?" She asked, unbelievably.

"Oh! Yes, dear, this is Wacky. I'm so happy that finally, you meet each other." Angel introduced him with a smile glued to her face.

"H-Hi," the only words came out from her.

"Son, this is Annastasia, your uncle Albert's daughter." She introduces her to him as well.

Before he could say anything, Asia ran off inside the house and locked herself inside her room. She holds onto her chest as her heart is pounding hard and fast, as if she can already hear it beating.

"Joaquin? Wacky? Joaquin? Wacky? Wacky?" She keeps on repeating to herself with widened eyes realizing the event that just happened.

She wanted to cry, her throat was in pain already, but she didn't want to and so tried to resist it as much as she could.

"Why haven't I realized that?" She unbelievably asked herself.

She didn't notice the tears that are already flowing down her face. Until there was a knock on her door, it was Lucy. She quickly wipes her face to get rid of the tears before opening the door.

"Asia, do you know who downstairs is? It's your handsome friend!" She excitedly announced.

"I know," she replied, and tears started to flow again.

"Please don't tell dad and aunt Angel." She pleads while sobbing.

"It's okay. I promise I will not. Go and wash your face already. Your dad is asking for you. They're waiting at the dining table." She said while caressing her back gently to soothe her like she already knew the reason.

Asia quickly went inside the bathroom and breathed deeply before washing her face.

"I'm sorry, dad, I got a call." She reasoned when she came to the dining table and sat at her dad's left side, while Angel on the right across her and Joaquin beside his mother.

She tried her best just to avoid Joaquin's direction because she doesn't want to see his face after what happened.

"So, you know Wacky already?" Albert asked her.

"Yes, dad, actually we're schoolmates," she said, focusing down on her plate, fighting the emotions to come out.

"Yeah! I never thought that you guys would see each other there since he is only taking up a few units, and your school is pretty wide." Angel said while helping Lucy serving the food.

"By the way, I'm sorry if it takes too long before he joins us in a dinner like this, but I'm sure you guys will get along, right, Wacky?" Angel said and turned to him, trying to make the two commence a conversation.

"Yeah, I'm sorry Annasta,"

"It's okay. I'm just surprised." She quickly cut him off with a fake smile before he said anything inappropriate.

They start eating, Albert and Angel keep on complimenting Lucy's cooking while Asia already lost her appetite, but she doesn't want to be obvious to her dad.

"Dear, I thought your boyfriend is coming for tonight's dinner? Did something happen?" Her father suddenly opens up about him.

"I-ahh h-he can't, daddy." She manages to say.

"It's okay," Albert said.

"I'm sure he has his reason. Come on, cheer up," Albert said when he noticed his daughter's uneasiness.

"Yes, dad," she answered and smiled at him.

"By the way, guys, we have an announcement," Albert started, and everyone looked up to him, waiting for what it was about.

"What is it, dad?" Asia asked in a low voice.

"Well, Angel and I are planning to get married next month." He announced, holding Angel's hand on the table.

"What!?" Joaquin extremely cried, and everyone looked up to him.

"Isn't it too early? You guys just get engaged, right?" He tried to protest.

"Of course, not my son. Besides, we're not getting any younger anymore," Angel said, defending their decision.

"Annastasia?" Albert turned to his daughter, waiting for her reaction.

"Perfect! It's just in perfect timing. Also, aunt Angel is right. You guys are not getting younger anymore," she said, smiling genuinely before she stands up to congratulate them.

"Congratulations, daddy," she said with a kiss on the cheeks.

"Congratulations, Auntie." She also turned to Angel and kissed her as well.

"I think it's better if you call me mommy from now on," Angel said happily to Asia.

"Would love to, mommy," Asia said, smiling at her and excusing herself already.

She went upstairs as she can't stand the situation she's currently at the moment with Joaquin. The mixed emotions are too much for her to handle, the happiness and betrayal.

She's at the terrace now, trying to catch some air to breathe, trying to analyze things that are going on in their house, when Joaquin suddenly call her from behind,

"Love,"

She doesn't want to talk to him and listen to what might be his explanation because she doesn't care anymore. When she was about to leave, Joaquin grabbed her arm and said,

"I'm sorry,"

"Don't touch me!" She cried in just a low tone with annoyance and pulled her arm off his grip.

"You knew it all along?" She asked with so much disappointment in her voice, but just enough not to hear inside the house.

"Let me explain. I didn't mean to lie." Joaquin started, but she doesn't want to listen to any single word from him.

She turned her heels, but then Joaquin quickly walked in front of her to block her way.

"I had a plan; I am supposed to tell them about us, first, but mom saw me. I'm sure if they learn about us, they will cancel the wedding, and we can be together." He tried to reason, but Asia just scowled at him.

"You're only using me to prevent your mother from getting married again? How dare you?" Asia said with anger rising inside her.

"No!" Joaquin cried defensively.

"Liar," Asia responded sharply.

"But I love you," he was about to hold her, but she stepped back quickly.

"Stop! And don't you dare say a single word to my father or everyone about us because I swear, if you do such a thing, I will destroy you." Asia furiously said before she turned her heels to get out of that place.

Her body shivers with so much anger, she wants to hurt him, to slap him hard, but she can't. Her heart also tightens by her own words as she also starts getting confused about her feelings for him.

'But I do love him, for real, and he does a good job of hurting me.' She told herself.

She ran quickly inside the house, straight to her room, and buried her face in the pillow. She cried all her heart out while pouring all the pain she had.

"Why!?" She hysterically cried on the pillow that is covering her face while their happy memories together keep on flashing through her mind, one by one.

"Lies!" She cried between her sobs.

"Asia?" It's Lucy, knocking on her door, and she gets up and opens it.

"Oh, my Asia, what happened?" She asked worriedly and hugged her gently while caressing her back.

Asia told Lucy everything and asked her not to tell anyone, especially her father. She is afraid that it might cause problems in his marriage, and she didn't want that.