Her Memories

CHAPTER 11. Secret Affair

Joaquin decided to take a shower at Asia's apartment instead. She just gave him the largest shirt she has to wear. Luckily it fits well on him. It's just that it has a little logo of a bunny on the right side.

"Is it okay, even if you are not wearing a uniform?" She asked.

"I'm not sure, but don't worry. I'll just make an excuse." He assured her, smiling.

"Let's go?"

"Yeah," she agreed, and Joaquin helps Asia to lock her apartment.

"So, see you in school then," Asia said and was about to walk when Joaquin quickly stopped her.

"What do you mean? You're not going to ride with me?" He asked with confusion.

"Yeah? If I will, the whole campus will go insane if they see me coming out of your car." Asia explained.

"And so?" He asked again with furrowed eyebrows.

"What's so? Of course, I don't want to be the center of their attention, and Stephy will also be furious." She explained again, but he only sighed.

"I don't care. Just get in the car now." As he grabbed her wrist.

"Joaquin, please don't do this to me," Asia pleaded while he almost carried her just to get inside. He buckled her seatbelt before he turned and settled on the driver's side.

"I understand that you're not ready to tell them yet, but please don't ruin my morning." He was annoyed and started the engine.

"Joaquin, my friends don't know that we used to hang out together. How can I tell them that suddenly you become my boyfriend?" But he just ignores her and keeps his focus on the road ahead.

After almost thirty minutes of driving in silence, they arrived at the campus parking lot.

"Wait," he stopped her when she's about to open the door.

"What?" She asked, turning back.

"I love you, Annastasia," He suddenly said.

"I-I love you too, Joaquin." She said, stammering, and he smiled.

"It's okay if you want to keep it as a secret for now, for as long as we understand and love each other, that's fine with me." He said, and she nodded, smiling.

"Annastasia," he called her again,

"Yes?"

"Kiss me." He suddenly demanded it.

Her eyes widen while her heart suddenly beats so fast.

"Wa-what?" She asked, shocked.

"Kiss me before you get out of the car. Come on now. We're getting late." He said while slowly leaning closer to her, and she swallowed in nervousness.

"Joaquin, don't do this here. Someone might see us, please." She pleads, and he just sighed.

"Okay, see you later then." He said and kissed her on the forehead before they waved goodbye to each other.

Luckily, there's no one around to see her coming out of his car.

In the class where they shared the subject with Joaquin, it is still the usual. Some of the girls greeted him, including her friends, since he is not the stubborn Joaquin anymore as he smiles at everyone. She also notices him sometimes taking a glance in her direction, but she just ignores him so that they can't be so obvious.

After class, Asia and her friends decided to go to the library to get ready for their report in the next class.

"Hi, Joaquin!" Stephy cried when she saw Joaquin walking closer in their direction.

He texted Asia earlier about their whereabouts. She told him that she is with her friends and warned him not to come, but he's stubborn, and now he's there with them.

"Hi, girls. Getting ready for a report?" He asked when he sat beside his girlfriend.

He holds her hand under the table while their friends are just sitting across them. Asia tried pulling her hand off his grip, but he just holds it tighter.

"Yes, by the way, I really wanted to ask you about that shirt you're wearing. Is it really yours? I never saw you wear a purple shirt ever, and look. There's also a cute bunny." Maggie inquired while chuckling.

"Oh! Actually, it's not mine."

"What!?" Stephy cried in surprise.

"Yeah! It's my cousin's," He said.

"I see, so I guess your cousin is a she?" Maggie asked again while Asia squeezed Joaquin's hand, giving him the warning to answer it carefully.

"No, he is a he." He let out, and Asia abruptly laughed softly.

"What's wrong with a man wearing a purple shirt with a bunny?" Stephy asked, raising an eyebrow at her friend. She is just sitting across from Joaquin.

"Nothing, of course. I just hope that cousin of yours is as handsome as you." Asia said, looking up to Joaquin while smiling.

"He is." He responded shortly with a smile, looking back intently at her eyes.

"Asia!" Stephy cut their stares,

Joaquin and Asia didn't realize that they were looking at each other for seconds already.

"I'm sorry," she apologized and looked down.

"Why do I feel a strange connection between the two of you?" Maggie suddenly asked,

"Yeah! Maybe it's because we're like brother and sister already. We're both only children of our family, so maybe that explains it." He reasoned with a smile, trying to convince the lady.

"Anyway, Joaquin, do you have any plans this summer? I'm just wondering if I can invite you for a vacation with my family?" Stephy asked.

"Really!? You're asking him while you never invited us first?" Maggie said, feeling jealous as a friend.

"What's wrong with that? Besides, we have always been around each other. I just want someone new. You know." She said mockingly to Maggie.

"Thank you, but no thanks because I have plans for summer." Joaquin kindly refused it.

"See? He doesn't want to come with you." Maggie mock again.

"That's not true! What about after your plans? I'm sure your plan will not consume all of your summer days." Stephy tried to convince him again.

"I'm sorry, but I'll be spending my summer with my girlfriend." He announced while Asia abruptly pulled her hand out of his grip and stood up.

"What!?" Both of her friends cried.

"What!?" Asia also asked, terrified of what she heard, but he only laughed.

"Why are you so surprised, Asia?" Maggie asked her.

"I understand about Stephy's reaction, but you?" Maggie added, raising an eyebrow at her while Stephy is also waiting for the explanation.

"No! I mean, yeah! I'm just surprised that Joaquin has a girlfriend now. He never mentions any before." She reasoned.

"Yeah, you never mentioned it before. Why so sudden?" Stephy asked Joaquin. He just scratched the back of his neck and chuckled softly.

"Well, don't worry, girls, I'll introduce her to you one day." He said.

"Oh my gosh!" Stephy dramatically said while hugging Maggie.

"Okay, tell me, is she pretty? Prettier than Asia?" Suddenly she asked.

"Wait, what? Why me?" Asia abruptly asked, then Joaquin looked up to her while scratching his chin as he thought of an answer.

"Hmm, well, she also has a sweet tooth like Annastasia. Kind and when she sleeps, she is snoring, but yeah! She's much prettier than her." He said, like teasing his girlfriend.

"For your information, Asia snores as well," Stephy said, which made Maggie laugh madly.

"You're so mean, guys," Asia uttered and sat down again.

Maggie and Stephanie continue asking Joaquin about his girlfriend while she just listens to his answer. Until the time that they have to go to their classes.

After school, Asia told Joaquin that her dad texted her and he's going to pick her up. She even asked him to meet her father, but he refused and said that he needs to gather a lot of courage before meeting him.

"How's your day, my dear Annastasia?" Her father inquired.

They are currently on the way now to her favorite cafe to have a coffee and sweets.

"It's been a good day, dad," she said, smiling sweetly at her father.

"I can see that on your face. Something great happened?" He asked.

"Actually, yes?" She said while cupping her face with her hands, feeling embarrassed.

"So, care to share it with your father?"

"Daddy." She started.

"I already have a boyfriend." She mumbled shyly but enough for him to hear.

"I knew it!" He quickly said, tossing his hand in the air while laughing softly.

"Dad! Don't make me feel embarrassed!" Asia said, now covering her face.

"Far from happening, eh?" He said, teasing her daughter.

"Well, no one can really tell." She reasoned, shrugging her shoulders.

"Do you love him?" He suddenly asked.

"I never thought I could feel this way, daddy, but yes. I do." She said, smiling while her father just nodded.

"I can't believe you're in love now, baby. But always remember that I got your back, whatever happens. You understand?" Her father said seriously.

"I always know that. I love you, daddy." She said and hugged his arm.

"I love you too," He responded.

"I love you more than your boyfriend does." He added, teasing Asia,

but Asia always knows that it's the real truth.