3 months of pure magic!

Thats how Eric remembers the time they dated.

Both of them were curious but also cautious. So they kept it secret. Only 3 people knew. Roy, Tara and Ben.

Secret love-chits, holding hands, movie dates where they came and left seperately, kissing each other in an empty classroom........

Eric and Joanna's dating period was all pink and even their fights were over silly things.

She never let him pay for anything. Movie ticket, popcorn, coke, snacks, gifts...... She never let him spend too much.

While he wanted to splurge on her

"Do that when its your money, not your father's"

She was right but it made him upset, yet determined to be successful in life. They worked harder on themselves and soon the final exam was knocking their conscience.

But who was stressed? They had Roy! The notes-fairy!

They were surprisingly good at secretly loving each other. She was all he could think while making any decision. He had even made plans to go to college together but she was against him following her to botany!

That was her passion. To learn more about plants and herbs and flowers and someday, open a flower shop.

"I will open a book shop attached to it"

She used to tell him.

A flower shop that is also a book shop? Eric didn't understand how she was planning to make money out of it, then again, whatever that makes her happy.

She had no doubts he will be a wise and successful businessman. So why follow her to Botony?

She mattered to him. But how much did he matter to her?

Eric got that answer when she send him an SOS chit after math exam.

They stayed back and met in the vacant spot behind school, he got her into his car.

"Please......take me somewhere.....somewhere far from here"
She was all tears when they embraced.

That day,  Joanna shared the most locked in, traumatic memory of her past. The reason why she couldn't think straight with math. Something that broke her heart before she came to Lewisia.
Something even her parents didn't know.

An above average student, becoming anxious and unable to do math? Just math? People said it was laziness. But this was way beyond that.

For Joanna, Math reeked of death. Loss of a dear friend.

"I didn't take it seriously when she used to say about how hard life was or how she wished if she wasn't born"

Joanna was panting but holding onto his hands, that was working like an anti-anxiety pill. A viewpoint, from where they could see the whole BB Haven. That was far enough for her to breath again.

"During one of the math exam, when the teacher wasn't looking, she asked me for answers."

"That would be cheating"

"I was trying to improve my rank, you know. She was first in the whole class and I ranked fifth. So..... I......"

"Hey, not your fault" Eric gently rubbed her cheek, gently.

"I should have known. She was really desperate....And I..... Do you know what she told me after the exam? She asked, Was it really that important for me to beat her? I was gonna end up in a farm either way while she had no choice."

"Thats harsh"

"I attended her funeral next day"
She choked on her on tears. Eric pulled her closer for another hug.
"Its okay.....Shhh..... Cry all you want. Its not your fault"

"I.... I should have known when she said she had no choice. It was that important for her. Stress made her forget everything and I..... I could have helped! Then she would have been alive today......I can't let her face go off my mind, Eric...... Everytime I see an equation or a number, all I hear is her voice......."

Eric kissed her forehead and shook his head to reassure her.
"Not your fault, dear"

"I ignored it too long. But thanks to you, I was able to get better at math. Actually, I did better than what I used to do in today's exam"

"I am proud of you, Jo. You fought so hard!"

"No.....you don't get it! I feel like I shouldn't get better at all....... I feel so guilty!"

"What? No! Come here!"

He landed a peck on her lips, sending butterflies down her spine.

"You and I both know that it was unfortunate. It was not your fault. What you can do is pray for that friend and hope that she will find rest and peace."

"I just can't forget her!"

He wiped her tears. He knew her. Anyone who knew her is aware of it.

She can't give up. Whether its a friendship, or a habit or a memory or a person, she is toxically consistent. She just won't give up.

"I have decided. I am quitting math. I can't quit things....But this I will. I am fed up, Eric......"

She shook her head and he became her pillow that day. And her tears soaked it completely.

"Whatever you want to do, just know that I will be there for you. Always"

She trusted him. She believed those words.

Liar! He abandoned her 2 weeks later. That man who vowed to stay by her side for a life time, was now sure that she need not be in his life anymore. Just like that!

What could have gone wrong? Neither of them fell out of love nor did they had any unresolvable fight.

Then why? Why Eric? Why did you break her heart?

**********************
It was at that very beautiful view point that he broke her heart. As if, the whole BB Haven was being a witness to it.

That damned day of breaking up with each other.

"Did you have something to tell me,Eric?"
School was over and she was going back to her village that day and had already kissed each other a happy vacation. For him to send an SOS, she assumed it was important

He answered her question with a passionate kiss. He couldn't stop. Tears dripped down his jawline and he kissed her thrice, before pressing his forehead against her's. He stood still as if he wanted to devour that moment forever.

"Joanna......"

"What happened? Are you okay? Something happened, right?"

She sensed from his voice.

"Forgive me. I love you. Let's break up"

Those words that made no sense. I love you, lets break up?

Cluelessly, Joanna stared at him and he couldn't meet his eyes.

"School is over, right? You will go back to your village and I will live here and become an heir to my father's empire. No point in continuing whatever this ...." He hesitated but spit it out
"Fling is"

That word and she pushed him away.
Eric tried to take a step towards her but she.......... Ordered him to not dare, with her hands.

"What did you just say?"
She asked in the most faintest voice. He knew....it was full of pain! Pain from the deepest wound of her heart!

"A fling?.....A damn fling? Was that all this was? This is too harsh to be a joke, Eric"

He nodded no. He was not joking. It was painful for him too, but he had no choice.

Joanna squatted on the floor. Her whole world was shattered and her legs were not strong enough to hold her up.

Eric tried but couldn't dare to take a step closer.

This was not what she thought their story would be. She thought they were both going to be successful, get married with family's support and grow older, gracefully! What did just happen!

Eric dropped his head down and kneeled in front of her.

"I am sorry if I gave you the wrong meaning"

This was it. The moment she lost it. Her fist swooshed and that beautiful face of his was punched. It hurt him and it still does.

"You..... ARE THE WORST, YOU PATHETIC HUMAN BEING....... IF MY LOVE, MY LONGING, MY HONESTY ARE HONORED BY THE HEAVENS, YOU SHALL PAY FOR WHAT YOU JUST DID TO ME! YOU......SHALL DEFINETLY PAY, ERIC LUTHER JONES.....LIFE SHALL MAKE YOU REMEMBER THIS MOMENT, WHILE I WILL NEVER THINK OF YOU EVER AGAIN"

Her last words were cursive. That hex haunted him till their paths crossed again.

He never found love. At times Eric wondered if Clara was the curse Joanna casted on him. If yes, then he found no way out.

And he endured that pain for 11 years. Eric had his own reasons to do what he did. A mission that he had. A goal and a revenge to full fill.

Too bad, Joanna was sacrificed. His happiness, youth and love was sacrificed for the sake of a mission he never wanted. A curse that came on him before he even knew.

Now as a 29 year old man, he didn't know how to fix this void in his heart. This burning void. If time was the most powerful healer, then why was his heart still bleeding? Why couldn't he ever find that magic in anyone else! Why did he feel so powerless without her presence in life!

How could a smile from her, light up his heart, just like it did 11 years ago? Did time only make him miss her even more?

Just how precious was Joanna for Eric?

What was he hiding in his heart?