Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

**Lisa’s POV**

I was already sobbing when my mother came to my room asking what really happened. Archie was left in our living room. I just can’t accept the reality of what my aunt was telling me. “Don’t you know that your boyfriend had a lot of girlfriends in our area? You may not know that because he didn’t tell you, did he?” My mother was shocked to know that my boyfriend is not truthful of his intentions to me. That’s what my mother speculates.

“He already told me that he has a lot of promiscuous relationships. But I never thought that he did it in your area. He already told Father when father talked to him. I need to ask Archie about this personally. And why don’t you allow me to talk to him and explain his side?”

“He’s not good for you. He will just use you.” My aunt was telling me and he was furious with Archie. My aunt did not allow me to get out of my room, and she was telling me that she is going to drive Archie away.

Archie left without having the chance to explain himself to me regarding the accusation my aunt made. Though there is nothing to explain, because he already admitted his previous relationship was not that good. “Do you know that almost all the women in our place have been his girlfriend. His gang even got dead drunk for the whole day. How can you say that he is a good man?”

“Aunt, he changed and he did not deny to me that he got a lot of girlfriends before, and it was already in the past.” I did not eat my dinner and I continue crying. My mother just heard my aunt blabbering things to destroy Archie’s image to them. “You need to avoid him at any cost.” She imposes it on me.

“Don’t tell me what to do with my life, Aunt. I respect you, but you have no hold of my future and my life to love and marry. I can decide for myself. His past has nothing to do with my present.” I was at the edge of my anger because she was imposing what I should do. “Whatever I decide, I will be responsible for whatever its outcome.” I told her with gritted teeth. I know they want the best for me for whatever happened from my last relationship. But it was already in the past and I got over it. I never regretted that I accepted Leon the second time and hurt myself again the second time. I have no regrets either, because I decided it myself. And that’s what I intend to do with my relationship with Archie, and nobody will be responsible for my failure If I do fail it again, because it is I that decides. I can’t blame no one.

My mother and my aunt left me sobbing all night and didn’t eat my dinner. My cellphone chimes and I see Archie’s message and he wanted to explain tomorrow if I could just hear him out. I will give him a chance to explain and he better explain it well.

‘Ok, I want to hear your explanation.’ I answered his text message.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow love.’ I cried reading his words of endearment. I knew something was amiss and I couldn’t let it go. I need him to explain everything to me before our relationship gets nasty.

My aunt left with me when I went to work. We never talked to each other, though we went the same route. He alighted from the bus first and I went straight to my work. I never expected Archie would be there that early but he smells of liquor which I don’t like. I told him to go home first and rest. But he demanded that he talk to me first before he went home. I guess he’s been drinking the whole night. But he doesn’t seem to be drunk.

We entered my office and he sat on my visitor’s chair and he just stared at me and he didn’t want to start talking.

“Speak up and tell me the whole truth and don’t even try to omit a thing. You already knew I have been in a hurtful relationship and I don’t want that thing to happen again. I do understand what my aunt’s intention was, to protect me from another heartbreak. But I am giving you a chance to explain. So, start talking before I change my mind.” Archie widened his eyes because of what I said but this is his last chance to explain himself.

“As I have said before, I have gone to many relationships that I am not proud of. Your aunt is right, almost all the women in our place have been all my fling and I am not serious with anyone. They were just all my plaything. I am not proud of it, because I am just playing with them. It is their choice and I never force them to be with me or do things that they don’t want to do. I am not even happy with what I do. I even got dead drunk the whole day with my friends. I have done this out of desperation with my relatives to force me to look for a job wherein I am in contact with a lot of shipping companies without their knowledge. The day you bump me into that building, I have already signed a contract with your company, that’s why I told you that I am just waiting for my schedule for departure. Just after I signed my contract with your company, I have never been with any woman nor I drink liquor. I was so afraid that you would reject me too, if you know what I was doing with my life. I wanted to change for the better because I wanted you to be proud of me as your boyfriend. I have no intention to use you or your influence in the company, because before we met, I had already signed my contract. And there is no truth about using you. I know that whatever I have done with my other relationship will backfire on me, but I can always say that I cannot change that and I am being honest to you that it is all in the past and I am not proud of it. Out of desperation to my relatives, I have never thought that what all I have done in the past would be brought up again.” I was listening to Archie’s story and he was in tears of frustration waiting for my answer.

I know we have gone a long way but I need honesty and faithfulness with our relationship. He never lied to me when he said that he has gone through a lot of relationships that he was not proud of. I never thought that he was that bad with women.

“You should understand that women are not a plaything, and I don’t want you to do that to me. I have gone through a lot of failed relationships twice with the same man. But I never lose hope that I could find someone that would respect me as a woman and not just a plaything.”

“I know it was all my fault and mistakes. I have a lot of women surrounding me and I do respect them a lot. But these women whom I got involved with were mature enough to know what they are getting at. I have made it clear to them that I don’t like relationships or be entangled with them. And we both agreed to that. Again, it’s my mistake to take advantage of the circumstances. I just hope you understand and forgive, Lisa. I have changed because of you. And I will do anything to be better as you expected me to be.” He was still crying and so was I. He held my hand and I let him. He went to my chair and we hugged each other while crying. I released him before my office mate came.

“Go home and sleep to freshen you up. I forgive and understand you. You can come later after office hours. I will wait for you. I will stand by you always. Ok?”

He was crying because of what I said. “Thank you, Lisa, you won’t regret it for giving me a chance to prove myself to you. I love you honestly and sincerely. I will be back later. Thank you again my love.”