CHAPTER III: Cold Feet Trauma

“You, woman in blue dress. Can you please stand up?” Jette strictly asked her student.

“Mam, sorry… I am not prepared for the recitation…” Explained by her student.

Upset by the unpreparedness of her students, Jette went out of the room towards the powder room. After she returned to her table and she found a bottle of iced tea and cupcake.

“Who put these here?” She asked.

“Ma’am, someone in the class asked me to buy those for you.” Said the youngest in the class.

“Well, thank you whoever you may be.” She told the mystery giver.

***

Right after the class, Jette went out of the school to look for a ride going back home. She heard the sound of a motorcycle behind her, and when she looked at the driver, she saw a familiar face. It was one of her students, Brent.

***

When she came home, tired of the class she had, she immediately jumps on her bed… Grabbed her phone and started scrolling her F******k and I*******m accounts.

*Text Message*

Brent: Hi Ma’am. This is Brent, your student. I like to ask something, is it okay?

Jette: Yeah sure. Well, first of all, where did you get my number?

Brent: Remember Ma’am, you gave your number to our class monitor. I asked her to give me because I have a lot to ask you.

Jette: A lot?

Brent: Yes. Guess we’re childhood playmates before. I am ahead by 3 years than you.

Jette: I don’t think so. I am your teacher, and I am supposedly older than you.

Brent: No. I am older than you, your cousin is my classmate way back in Elementary.

Jette: Oh well…

Brent: I got a 2-year course before that’s why I am aiming for a 4-year course this time.

Jette: That’s nice.

Their conversation started to be consistent. Until one day…

*Text Message*

Brent: What‘s your favorite color?

Jette: Why?

Brent: I have something to give you.

Jette: What is it?

Brent: It’s a surprise.

Jette: Well, I love the color green and sometimes, purple.

Brent: Nice. Thanks. See you around.

While having a class discussion with her other subject handled, Jette was distracted by someone knocking on the door. She looked at it and found Brent asking her class to excuse her because there is a very important matter he’s about to discuss with her.

Puzzled by what’s happening, the class said “Sure. Ma’am, you may talk to Brent now.”

Outside, Brent handed her a small green pouch. And said, “Wear it always.” Then he went out.

She doesn’t want to be the subject of gossips so she resumes her class right after.

***

The other day, while spending her weekend with her Dad and Mom, she received a text message from Brent.

“Ma’am, you know that I’m courting you, right?” Brent asked.

“Oh, are you serious? I am your teacher. A student and a teacher must not be involved in any romantic relationship,” she explained.

“Well, I don’t think it’s forbidden. I know you like me too. Assuming I may seem but I am straightforward. I want you to be my “serious” girlfriend.” Brent said.

“I don’t know what to say,” Jette said.

“Let us meet, right after the class. I’ll give you a ride towards your house.” Brent said.

Jette did not respond anymore because she’s puzzled.

Right after her last class, Brent and Jette went somewhere silent. It was at the back of one of the houses in the village nearby. Romantic it may seem because fireworks started playing but it was just a coincidence.

“Someday, I will have fireworks played especially for you if you will allow me to be your boyfriend,” Brent said.

“You know Brent, you’re a nice person. But I don’t think it’s possible. I’m a teacher.” Jette said.

“You can resign from being a teacher if that’s the case, you are employed in the nearby Law Firm, right?” Asked Brent.

“Are you serious?” Jette asked.

***Silence***

“I’ve been hurt so many times before… I can’t afford to be hurt once again. Betrayal is the last on my list… I hate it.” Jette said.

“So, is it a “Yes?” asked Brent.

“Yes,” Jette answered.

Jette left the school where she was teaching. She just focused on her work as a part-time Paralegal. Every day for almost four months, Brent is always giving her rides going and leaving the office. Until one night, it was unexpected…

“Love, can I accompany me to the nearby Chapel?” Brent asked.

“Okay, sure. No worries. I’m happy that you’re God-fearing too.” Jette answered.

*Inside the Chapel*

Jette: Okay, you may now pray.

Brent: ***Silently prayed***

***Teary-eyed***

Love, can you see this?

Jette: A ring?

Brent: It is a set, it came from my heart. I want to give it to you as a symbol of my love.

Will you marry me?

Jette: In front of Jesus, I am saying “Yes”.

Brent: Wear this ring as a symbol of my love, in sickness and in health, I forgot the rest ***laugh

Jette: ***laugh

They planned to get married civilly 3 months after. Everything starts to be prepared. Happy about the plans, Jette excitedly told her Mom about it. There are minor changes when their parents knew about it. But everything is fine and good.

***

Brent and Jette continue to live their lives and chase their dreams and career. Brent is working while studying, and Jette on the other hand got a new high-paying job in a nearby town.

***

One month before the wedding:

“Hi, Love. I am going to attend a very important seminar on an island. You cannot reach me via phone call because it will be very difficult for me to catch some signal.” Jette is explaining to Brent.

Brent remains silent.

“Are you okay, Love?” Jette asked.

“Yes, I’m good… I just felt something isn’t right, Jette.” Brent told her.

“What are you saying, Love? And did I hear it right? You called me “Jette?” asked Jette.

“Sorry, Jette but I guess I cannot marry you anymore,” Brent said.

Jette removed her ring and gave it to Brent. She’s a tough girl. She silently moved away. She did not ask for any explanation. She believes that everything will fall in its proper place one day. Brent, on the other hand, spent every night drinking…

***After 1 month***

“Jette???” A friend surprisingly asked her.

“Oh, John! Nice to see you!!!” Jette recognized her friend, a co-teacher.

“Jette, I’m sad to know about your failed engagement and wedding,” John said.

“Can’t we talk about it, friend?” Jette said.

“Oh sorry, friend. I know you’ve had enough. With all the scandals and stuff like that.” John added.

“Scandals?” Asked Jette.

“Oops… You haven’t known about the scandals at school?” John asked.

“No, what is it?” Jette asked.

“Everybody at school was talking about you and Brent. A teacher-student forbidden affair, they say.” John told her.

“It was not forbidden because I resigned when we became a couple,” Jette said.

“Also, Brent is telling everybody that you’re the one who’s insistent to push through with the wedding as planned for you by your parents,” John added.

“I guess I need to confront Brent about it. Nothing there is true. Our parents only suggested some changes because a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. He proposed and I accepted it.” Jette answered.

John said, “Do not talk to him anymore because he’s telling everybody that you cannot get over him yet.”

***

Jette went to the church and prayed to God…

“God, I am here once again. Asking so many questions. I’m a good person as far as I know… I do not do anyone any harm. I am always a friend ever ready to lend a helping hand. When someone expresses love to me, I always see the goodness in that person. The first two relationships I had, were destroyed by betrayal. While this one, was destroyed by “cold feet” and it brought a lot of trauma to me. 

I have been keeping my transformation God as a secret because I don’t want anyone to die. I have managed how to hide this from Ralph and Brent recently. No matter how bad they were before, I have never wished something as bad as death to happen to them. 

My questions God are… Why me? There are a lot of people out there who are inherently bad, but they are enjoying their lives. They have boyfriends who are loyal to them… They never suffered betrayal and cheating in their lives. But for me, I have suffered twice and the third one is the most difficult because my name is dragged to scandals. It’s as if I insisted myself to be married to Brent. I wasn’t interested in him at first, he was the one who made the first move. 

I’ve met his family, God… I’ve treated them like mine. But what I felt now is major betrayal. Please give me the courage to trust again. Please give me the courage to forgive. Please give me the courage to accept my fate. I am so sad right now God. I am so mad… I don’t want to take revenge. That’s why I am praying that You give me the strength that I need this time. AMEN.”

Jette went out of the church and thought of someone who wants to listen to her whims but won’t judge her anyway. She thought of Drew… But she remembers her promise to herself… That she will forget about Drew anymore. He is already happy with Annie and they might get married or they might have been married already. She doesn’t have any news about Drew since the time she decided to let everything be.

While driving, she decided to stop over at a famous bar downtown… She grabs Tequila and some chips. She is wearing a cap, and jacket that’s why nobody would recognize her. She also requested the live band to allow her to sing. By the way, Jette sings well. She was trying to choose the perfect song for her, and she chose “White Flag” by Dido…

“Sir, is the mic working?” She asked the lead band.

“Yes, Ma’am…” The lead band answered.

***Intro music***

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you

Or tell you that

But if I didn't say it, well, I'd still have felt it

Where's the sense in that?

(Tears start rolling from her eyes. Every word in the lyrics comes from her heart)

I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder

Or return to where we were

But I will go down with this ship

And I won't put my hands up and surrender

There will be no white flag above my door

I'm in love and always will be

(Inside her mind, she curses Ralph and she curses Brent even more)

I know I left too much mess and

Destruction to come back again

And I caused nothing but trouble

I understand if you can't talk to me again

And if you live by the rules of 'it's over'

Then I'm sure that that makes sense

But I will go down with this ship

And I won't put my hands up and surrender

There will be no white flag above my door

I'm in love and always will be

And when we meet

Which I'm sure we will

All that was there

Will be there still

(She remembers the times Drew treated her like a princess)

I'll let it pass

And hold my tongue

And you will think

That I've moved on

I will go down with this ship

And I won't put my hands up and surrender

There will be no white flag above my door

I'm in love and always will be

(But the, she remembers the conversation Annie and her friend, Delilah was talking about)

I will go down with this ship

And I won't put my hands up and surrender

There will be no white flag above my door

I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship

And I won't put my hands up and surrender

There will be no white flag above my door

I'm in love and always will be

***Everybody clapped their hands***

Jette immediately grabbed her phone and bag, and tipsy, she drove fast… Until she forgot about the “transformation time”… At 12:00 midnight, she transformed into a white furry dog again, while her car collided with a truck, and she had the chance to jump over the window and save herself.