Chapter 358 I Don't Want to Act Anymore
Leaving wasn't about catching the fireworks; it was more about giving Jerry and Hope some alone time.
Elissa was just ready to crash. It had been a long day, and she was beat.
"Hey, Elissa, wanna see further?"
She wasn't exactly drunk, but she'd had enough to make her head a little fuzzy.
"How far can I see?" she asked, a bit confused.
Efren bent down and lifted Elissa up so that she could sit on his shoulders.
Elissa let out a surprised yelp, but once she was steady, she was all smiles and excitement.
She let her long hair down, gave it a shake, and her eyes, a bit glassy from the drinks, sparkled.
She patted Efren's head and shouted, "Full speed ahead!"
Efren grinned and started striding forward.
They were quite the sight in the crowd. Tourists couldn't help but notice, and some even pulled out their phones to snap pictures.
Everyone seemed amused.
Except for Francis, who looked like he was sucking on a lemon.
Jessa noticed his expression and said softly, "Elissa's got a charm about her. I've really started to like her lately."
"If even I feel this way, imagine how the guys must feel."
Francis's face darkened even more.
Jessa, seemingly oblivious, continued, "Francis, she's a good girl. She's bold, straightforward. If you really like her, maybe it's best to let her go. The Peterson family isn't right for her."
"She shouldn't be caged," Jessa added.
Francis suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Jessa, as if just realizing his mood, said quickly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said so much. As family, I should support whoever you want to be with and not say things that upset you."
Francis's eyes stayed glued to Elissa's back. Even when he stopped, he didn't look away.
He finally said, "If you don't tell me the truth, then who will?"
Jerry didn't tell Francis because he knew that once Francis set his mind on something, no one could change it.
With the power Francis had now, he didn't need a marriage alliance for benefits or power.
If he really wanted to be with Elissa, he'd find a way to make it happen.
But Jessa was right about one thing.
Elissa wasn't someone who could be caged. With her free spirit, she'd suffer in his family's social interactions.
Sometimes, a single sentence could be twisted in so many ways.
Even if Elissa was smart and capable at work, she'd lose her freedom.
"Let's go, get some rest," Francis said.
Jessa tried to match Francis's pace, walking beside him.
Once they were in the hotel and in the elevator, Jessa finally said, "The truth can be hard, but I'm thinking about Elissa too. We're both girls, after all."
"I get her. I think she turned you down because she didn't know about your family's situation at first. When she found out later, she hesitated," Jessa said.
Francis didn't respond. He walked Jessa to her room but didn't go back to his own.
Jerry had booked their rooms on the same floor.
Apart from him and Jessa having their own rooms, the others were shared.
Francis looked at the room across from his.
Then, he went to the end of the hallway and lit a cigarette.
At the hotel entrance, Elissa asked Efren to put her down because she didn't see Francis behind them.
In the elevator, Efren kept chatting away, but Elissa's head was pounding, so she just nodded along, not really listening.
Efren didn't seem to mind and helped her back to the room.
He got her settled on the sofa and handed her a glass of water.
Then he started making the bed for her while he grabbed a blanket to crash on the living room sofa.
Suddenly, Elissa felt more awake. "Efren, I can't keep pretending," she said.
A long silence hung in the air.
Efren stood there, clutching the blanket, looking at her with hurt in his eyes.
Elissa rubbed her face. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me, but this isn't going anywhere. I don't want to waste your time."
"You act for a living, but you don't have to in real life."
"Just be yourself."
Efren held the blanket tighter. He wanted to ask why, but he already knew the answer.
He had hoped that by pretending to be her boyfriend, she'd eventually fall for him.
But deep down, he knew it was a long shot.
From the start, Elissa had just been having fun. He played along, pretending he was cool with it.
But the truth was, Efren had liked her from the moment he saw her.
It wasn't just her looks; it was her free spirit and passion that drew him in.
Efren had always been weighed down by family responsibilities, working hard to support his studies and pay for his grandma's medical bills.
His light had dimmed in his teenage years.
Just when he thought it might come back, it was snuffed out again.
"You should take the bed. This room is yours. I'll find another one. You've had a long day, get some rest."
Elissa didn't wait for his response and got up to leave.
But as she reached the door, he grabbed the hem of her dress.
"Elissa, do you think I'm useless, so..."
Efren's voice cracked. He paused, then continued, "I am useless. When Francis bullied you, I couldn't do anything. I just watched you get hurt. I'm too weak."
"I don't have his background, and I'm not as strong as him."
"It's right that you don't like me. There's nothing about me worth liking."
When Elissa first met Efren, she didn't feel anything for him.
He had been the one to make the first move, acting all experienced. She just went along for the fun of it and pretended to be a couple with him.
But after spending time together, she realized he wasn't what he seemed. He was serious, but life had forced him to act otherwise.
In that moment, Elissa saw her past self, working all kinds of jobs to pay for her education.
For a moment, she thought about trying a serious relationship with Efren.
But the heart wanted what it wanted, and love didn't follow logic.
"Efren, you're a good person."
Elissa turned to him and said seriously, "Don't put yourself down. You're a great guy, but you're not right for me. So I'm sorry, I can't give you what you want. Let's end this here."
She pulled her dress free from his grip, opened the door, and left without looking back.
The room echoed with the sound of the door closing.
Efren thought this was the end for him and Elissa.
But he never expected that fate would give him another chance.