778 HER SECRETARY III
Jackson Mondejar, a twenty-seven years old man, single and was soone who never fell in love in his life. He was an only child whose parents were busy working overseas to provide the needs of their only child. His mother worked as a caregiver in Australia and his father was company driver before he died in a traffic accident. Jackson was already 12 years old when his father died.
Losing his father caused him to withdraw from the world. Though he continued to study, he stopped making friends with other students. His free ti was spent reading books, playing gas and watching ani. He loved to spend ti inside his room and be with the fictional characters that other people have created. His mother was never alard with his behavior because he seed normal. He studied and play. He talked when he’s being asked but he was never the type to voluntarily speak his mind. He beca an introverted person.
All these years that changes happened, there was one person who stayed with him despite their lack of conversation. It was Philippe. He lent him different kinds of books; be it manga or novels, and bought him so video ga discs. He was always supportive of him.
His personality remained the sa even when they went to different universities but this ti, Philippe couldn’t spend so much ti with his best friend. His ti with him beca less and less until it ca to the point that Philippe would visit him twice a month.
In his fourth year, Jackson voluntarily left his room to visit his best friend. He planned to go sowhere with him and thank him for all the things that he did over the years. Then, he was thrown to another abyss of despair.
Philippe told him that he chose civil engineering in college and Jackson believed in him. He thought that his best friend was busy with his studies knowing how difficult Math was which beca the reason why he couldn’t visit him frequently like before.
Apparently, he was lying. Philippe was diagnosed with gastric cancer since high school and Jackson never knew it. He wasn’t able to pursue his dream course because his family had to spend their money for his treatnt. All this ti, while he was wallowing in his imaginative world, his best friend in real life was actually suffering.
Jackson would never forget the day that he visited him in surprise. He looked gaunt and exhausted. His lips were dry and his eyes were deep set, like a skeleton with skin holding up his bones. He couldn’t believe that things turned that way.
“Why did you keep this matter from ?” Jackson asked his best friend that day when he visited him. “Is it because I am not reliable?”
.....
“Jack, you were in pain, too. You lost your father and besides, this wasn’t your problem to begin with. I just wanted to make sure that I won’t be another painful mory to you.”
“So, you lied.”
“I never lied. I just didn’t say anything.”
“Isn’t it the sa thing?”
“They’re different.”
Jackson wanted to curse in anger but seeing the faint smile on Philippe’s face, he could only sigh and flicked the man’s head. “I was looking forward to find a girlfriend with you and we’d go on double dates. Now, who would want to date a skeleton. You will scare our targets.”
“Wow! Look who’s talking? You have to stop spending ti with your virtual girlfriends first before you can date a real one. Explore the city. Explore the world and I am talking about the real earth we’re standing on. Then, maybe, by then, you’d find yourself a girlfriend.”
“I can’t imagine us going out there to seek for won.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you sothing else.”
“And that would be?”
Philippe picked up his phone and sent soone a ssage. Not long after, the window to his room was pushed open and a beautiful woman appeared. “What’s the matter? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Do you need to send you to the hospital? Tell . I am worried.”
Jackson stood there in shock. [Who the heck is this woman?!] He thought because he couldn’t seem to find the courage to open his mouth this ti.
The woman noticed that soone else was in the room as well and when she t Jackson’s eyes, she blushed from embarrassnt. “Who is this?!” She whispered through gritted teeth but Jackson was still able to hear her.
“This is my best friend, Jackson.” Philippe introduced before shifting his gaze back to the man in front of him. “I want you to et my girlfriend, Claudia.”
“Girl-girlfriend?! You have a girlfriend? Since when?”
“Since high school and dude, she was our school mate.”
“Jackson?! That Jackson who doesn’t talk with anyone else but you? That Jackson?”
“Yes. That Jackson.”
Claudia could not believe that she was talking to that man whom she often saw with Philippe before. What she rembered was a chubby-looking guy who had a black wavy hair whose bangs covered his eyes. She could not even imagine how he was able to see his way when his eyes were mostly covered and he had a thick round reading glass as well. Compared to how he looked in the past, the Jackson she was talking to right now has beco tall and with less fat. His hair was still a little wavy but they no longer cover his eyes. He looked handso but her heart was still set on her boyfriend. She wasn’t the type to fall for soone’s handso look.
“It’s nice to finally et you. Philippe often talks about you.”
“Nice to et you, too.” Jackson retorted and reached his hand for a handshake. Unlike Claudia, even though they were schoolmates in high school, he has no impression of her. He didn’t even know that she existed. “Thank you for taking care of my best friend.”
“Ah? No, big deal. I am his girlfriend and I am happy to take care of him.”
That day, Jackson was surprised in more ways than one but when he ca ho, he didn’t feel lonely anymore. He decided that he would visit his best friend as often as he could and offer his help if needed. He just wanted to be there for him just like how he stayed when he felt hopeless in this world.
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