Why Does Love Hurt?

Nathan is in a hurry today to pick up his sister; he's thankful that their project is almost finished, plus he needs to rest now, and he's also worried about his sister.

He spoke to Nadia earlier, and he's thankful that she drove Mariely earlier before going to work at the hospital.

Damn that man. He just said it to himself. He just sighed. He looked at his wristwatch. It's almost five in the afternoon; he needs to leave immediately.

"Are you going home now, Nathan?" His companion asked a question, to which he just waved.

"Yeah, I need to go." Nathan then said goodbye to his companion. He immediately headed for the elevator so he could go down to the ground. He felt for his key in his pocket. He only breathed deeply when he found it.

He called Mariely first, and after several attempts, she still didn't answer his call.

Maybe she's busy. He just said it to himself. Before he got into his car, he sent a message first. He was already driving towards the school where Mariely teaches.

He reached the gate and just waited for it to open. When he arrived, it was also dismissal time for the students at the school where Mariely teaches. He still couldn't believe what she had told him, and he just shook his head at the current generation, who were too impulsive and didn't think about whether it was good or bad.

He looked at the time; it was almost five o'clock, and it would be out soon. He closed his eyes for a moment to rest them.

By then, Nathan heard a knock, so he looked out the car window.

Shoot, I fell asleep. He could only think to himself. He opened it immediately so his sister could come in.

"Hello, brother." Mariely happily greeted him.

"Yeah." He could only smile at this.

He had also tidied himself up while Mariely was placing some items in the backseat.

"Have you been outside for a while?" he asked her, looking at his side mirror to see if he needed to back up to avoid hitting any cars.

Mariely even laughed at him. "No, I received your text that you picked me up, right?" She added. "I know you're tired from work." Mariely voiced concern about him.

"Nah, I'm not at ease if someone's picking you up." He just blurted it out to her. "By the way, do you want something to eat before we go home?" he asked her.

Mariely just shook her head at him. "We need to go so you can rest. Nadia was worried about you." She said while softly chuckling.

"You're teasing again." Nathan even said to his sister.

Mariely even laughed at him.

"Oh, your second review is tomorrow, right?" He remembers that his sister has a review.

Mariely nodded weakly. "Yes, but I'm only scheduled to review on Saturdays," she said. "Ah, oh yeah, it depends, doesn't it?" She is confused and thinks for a while.

Nathan just laughed at his sister and shook his head. They're almost here. It's a good thing they didn't get home late today.

"I'll just go down for a bit; I'll open the gate." Mariely immediately said to him.

"Thanks, sis."

She immediately went down to open the gate for him, and as soon as she got in, he parked his car.

"You're home early?" their mother asked, greeting the two of them.

"Yes, Mom. Our project for our clients also finished early, so I picked up Mariely as well." He could only say that after he kissed his parents' hands.

"I see. I know you two are exhausted, so go rest for a while; we'll call you when it's time to eat."

"Yes, Mom. Thank you." He said it here.

He immediately went into his room. He was only woken up when they were about to eat. After that, he rested as well; he would make up for the sleep he lost yesterday first.

Nathan slept too soundly; he woke up in the afternoon.

Shoot! He quickly got up and went out of his room to look for Mariely.

His father noticed that.

"El commuted to the review center; your sister said you were sleeping too soundly, so she didn't wake you up." His father explained to him, and he just shook his head and smiled at him.

He just sighed. "Eat first, Nathan; you didn't have breakfast and lunch." His mother reminded him.

"Yes, Mom, you didn't even wake me up." He just said, while shaking his head.

"You're tired, and we understand that." His mother said it and smiled at him.

Nathan remained silent and headed straight to the kitchen, as his stomach was growling with hunger.

XXX

Mariely didn't ask her brother for a ride because he was exhausted from work; she didn't want to wake him up earlier because he was sleeping soundly.

Well, I arrived safely. Mariely just said it to herself. She sighed to herself before entering her review center today. They said they would have a test first in all the subjects scheduled for today.

Oh my goodness, here comes Professional Education again, which sometimes just makes me scratch my head. She just said it to herself.

When she entered, there weren't many people yet because their review was starting at 8:30 am, so she looked around for a place to sit. Mariely looked around; she didn't know anyone.

So, she just scrolled through the newsfeed on her social media and read posts. She was engrossed in reading memes that occasionally made her laugh aloud, all by herself. Mariely looked around again, and there were already quite a few people like her hoping to pass the board exam.

She just sighed back then, noticing that others had companions and acquaintances.

Fight, Mariely. Whispering to herself, Mariely started the review shortly after. Since it was a diagnostic test, the review conductor distributed the test papers to the students, who would check them in the afternoon.

Oh my gosh, I think I'm nervous; it feels like I'm forgetting everything I studied today. She just said it to herself. Mariely looked at the questions.

She just swallowed.

Here we go again, Mariely; remember to use your brain. If your brain doesn't function well during the board exam, I will seriously consider removing it from your skull.

Exhale—you can inhale first.

You still have a lot of saliva; keep going.

She didn't answer right away; she just looked at the questions.

Mariely, I'm curious about how you managed to graduate with an education degree. She couldn't help but wonder what she had learned in college.

She just shook her head at their playful voices. She answered that, scratching her head; if she could have chewed on her pen, she would have.

Mariely just sighed. Suddenly her head started to hurt; perhaps she was overwhelmed by the difficulty of these questions.

Time passed quickly, and it was time for them to go home. It was just like she was back in college, excited to go home to the boarding house; her brain was worn out. So, she called her older brother.

"Brother, our review is over. Can you pick me up?" She asked on the other line.

"El, wait a little bit, because Mom and I are currently in another town buying important equipment; Mom isn't finished shopping yet. Can you wait for us?" Nathan asked her again.

She just nodded. "Okay, brother, I'll just stay here at ---." First, Mariely looked for a place to hang out and wait. It's a good thing she saw the 7/11. "Here at 7/11, brother." She said it.

"Okay, I'll text you if we're on our way there with Mom. It just came out."

"Yes, brother, I will wait here."

She immediately went to 7/11 to buy something to eat and then entertained herself until it got dark. She received a text saying it will take a while longer now.

She just sighed. Mariely just called Nathan.

"Brother, I'll just commute so I can get home and you and Mom can go straight home too." It was just a suggestion from her.

"Are you sure about that?" Nathan asked her.

"Yes, brother." He just blurted it out.

"Okay, just this time. Be careful with the one that you ride. Just text me when you're already on the jeep," Nathan reminded her.

"Okay, brother." He said to her.

After the call, she immediately exited the 7/11 and waited for a ride. She could only sigh because the jeepney going to their place was always full.

Ely, walk around for a bit; perhaps you can find a vacant jeepney to ride. She just said it to herself.

It's getting dark too, and her brother won't be able to pick her up. She can only scratch her head now.

"Hey." Someone called her, and a car stopped for her where she was.

Maybe the incident is a kidnapping. So she walked among the many people because she didn't know who called, and it might get pranked.

She was followed then. "Don't worry, I mean you no harm." The man immediately opened the car window.

Marely just furrowed her brow at the person she saw.

"Isn't your brother here yet?" The man asked her.

Mariely doesn't know what to answer to this. But she just shook her head.

"I see, come with me," the man said to her.

She was just surprised back then. "I'll just commute." Her only response was a terse one, and she just shook her head.

"Come on, it's getting dark. I know your house, and your older brother knows me. Come on, hop in." The situation made him say something.

Should I trust him? She wondered to herself.

Mariely just told herself that she really needed to go with the man rather than be stuck there and possibly worry his brother. So, she just got on.

Mariely didn't speak to him; she just looked at him and closed the car window as well.