Chapter 42

Carla brought Joshua to the rooftop, where they can be alone since no one is there as of the moment. They remained quietly standing there for a while, not talking to each other but just looking at the bright lights of the buildings and the rooftops of the houses in the city. Joshua knows he should be the first one to talk. Aside from the fact that he's the one who asked Carla to talk to him tonight, he's also the one who needs to ask for forgiveness. The issue about the Youtube video is not yet resolved. But instead, it was Carla who first spoke. 'So, who's with Madeline now?" She glanced at Joshua. 'Her long-time best friend," answered Joshua. Carla nodded. 'About the video..." Joshua started. 'Actually, it has two versions. The first is the one that was uploaded. The other one was the edited version, and it does not include the first love part. That was the version that I wanted to be uploaded. But for some reasons, Jeff made a mistake and uploaded the other one. He uploaded the video at twelve midnight, like he usually does, and I just saw what happened the following day. I woke up being flooded by notifications. I was just stupid for not removing the video immediately. Instead, I went immediately to see you." For some reasons, Carla felt glad at what he said. She was glad to know that she was the first one he thought of when that happened. She looked away because it seems she cannot avoid herself from smiling. 'When I thought of removing the video, it's too late already," Joshua continued. 'A lot of people had already seen it, and they even made clips on the first love part. It's useless if we remove the video. And aside from that, Ria told me about the slam book. Funny, but I forgot whose name I really wrote there." Carla was surprised at what he said. She looked at Joshua, who looked back embarrassingly. 'All the while I thought, I wrote your name," Joshua said. 'But it was Madeline." Carla doesn't know what to feel or think with what Joshua told her. Did he really forget Madeline because of her? She doesn't know how to react on that. 'Ria explained that that was the reason why she said those things on the video," Joshua said. 'She's thinking that since Madeline is not in my life anymore, it won't be a big deal if people would know that she was my first love." 'Did you somehow forget about her?" Carla asked. 'I mean, you said you thought it was me." Joshua paused a bit, seemingly contemplating. 'I guess I did," Joshua answered. 'Maybe because the slam book happened during high school. I don't consider Madeline a part of my high school life. We broke up maybe two or three months after we started high school. And we never really had the time to be together that much when we still have a relationship. The truth is, she became by girlfriend because I don't wanna lose her. In a way. Before we graduated from elementary, I found out that she's transferring to Manila. So I confessed my feelings for her and I told her that I want to make sure that her heart will remain to be mine even though she moves to Manila." Carla looked away. She doesn't know why, but she did not like what Joshua just said. And what annoys her more is that she is starting to feel something that she knows all too well but does not like to acknowledge. 'So, that's what happened. Weeks after the graduation, their family left for Manila. We started an LDR back then," Joshua continued. 'But we were so young. Even those who were mature enough still breaks up when they do LDR." 'But you really liked her." Carla said that not because she wanted Joshua's honest answer. She said that to reprimand herself. She's not exactly sure if she needed to do that, but she felt she really needs to. 'I did," Joshua answered. 'During elementary days, I was always happy when we're together. Even just thinking about her, or whenever I talked about her, I was always happy." Here comes that feeling again. Carla feels like scolding herself, especially because she's beginning to ascertain what she is feeling. She's jealous. 'But I guess, I liked you more." Joshua looked at her and chuckled. Carla's heart pounded. Her mind went blank at what Joshua said. Joshua felt a little humiliated when Carla did not react. He decided to explain himself. 'I can't say that I broke up with her because of you. There are a lot of reasons. But as I've said, I did not think about her when I was asked about my first love. I immediately though of you." Gladness slowly crept into Carla's heart at what Joshua said. To stop that, she decided to ask him a question. 'But, how did you feel when you saw her again?" she asked. Joshua contemplated again. 'Nothing… You know how it feels when you saw an old acquaintance? That's how I felt. Although, I have to admit I was worried about her. She looked so sick." Carla unintentionally felt glad at what Joshua said. Not that she's happy with Madeline's condition, but she's happy that Joshua doesn't feel anything for her anymore. 'You don't have to worry about her," she said. 'She's getting better, and she's being taken care off properly." Joshua nodded. 'And thank you for that." 'It's something that I had to do. As a doctor, I had to fulfill my promise of helping any patient who needs me." Joshua just nodded again. And again, the two of them felt silent. Until Joshua spoke. 'So you're not mad at me anymore?" Carla did not answer, making Joshua nervous. He wants to speak and explain some more, but he doesn't know that to say. So he just patiently waited for her answer. 'I guess, I don't have any choice but to forgive you," Carla finally said. 'You still owe me, remember?" Joshua tried to remember what Carla meant. He immediately recalled his ‘debt' to her. 'Don't worry. Promise, I'll pay you your PF." Carla just smiled, and Joshua smiled back. At that moment, both of them knew that they have reconciled. *********************************************************************************** 'Did you deliberately make Jeff upload the wrong video?" Desmund looked at Ria. 'How do you think that video would be uploaded if I did not manipulate him?" Ria sighed. 'I still feel bad, you know. I never wanted for Carla and Joshua to get stressed like that." 'It was successful nonetheless." Ria frowned. 'You should never do a Cupid's job, Des. You're not very good at it." 'Oh... of course, you're the good Cupid." Ria grinned at him. 'Sorry." 'You and Carla will reconcile in due time," Desmund said. 'She's kind and she will definitely forgive you." 'That's why she's my friend, because she is kind," Ria said. 'Here's another kind friend of yours." Ria looked at Joshua who just came in. 'You're still here?" Joshua asked Ria. He then noticed Desmund. He stared at him, and immediately recognized who he really is. 'Destiny?" Desmund smile. 'It seems like your Cupid radar is getting better, huh!" 'What happened to you? Why… did you suddenly become… a man?" Joshua said, unable to believe. 'Desmund, by the way," Ria said. 'That's his name." Joshua looked at Ria. 'He said, Fate can take any form," Ria explain. 'That's why he can be a man or a woman." 'It just feels… weird." Joshua sat down on a vacant seat. 'Get used to it," Desmund said. 'This is not the only form I can do." Ria giggled. 'Next time, he can be a dog, or a cat." Desmund glared at her, making Ria laugh completely. 'But even if you look different, I still felt that it's you," Joshua said. 'Amazing." 'Really amazing," Desmund said. Joshua turned to Ria again. 'Sorry if I was late." 'It's okay," Ria said. 'I just wanted to give you these." Ria handed the two amusement park tickets to Joshua. 'I still feel guilty that you and Carla argued because of what I said on your video," Ria said to Joshua. 'So, I feel like I should be the one doing something so that you can make it up to her." Joshua took the tickets. 'You know, me and Carla had reconciled and fixed everything," Joshua said. 'We're okay now." 'Really? So, you don't need the tickets anymore?" Joshua contemplated for a while. Then suddenly, he remembered something. 'Actually, I might need these." Ria frowned. 'What for?" Joshua smiled. 'To pay for PF."