Chapter 7
2076 Words
Chapter 7
LAST night, I breathed a sigh of relief, secretly grateful that Uncle Ramon was no longer in Lolo's room. Perhaps he had stepped out for some fresh air, and Aunt Malou was already asleep on the long sofa inside, so no one noticed the redness and puffiness of my eyes from crying. Knowing them, they were like investigators with the number of questions they asked.
I tried my best to act normal as if nothing had happened last night. I stepped out of the bathroom, satisfied with my appearance. I wore a loose white t-shirt paired with fitted denim jeans and rubber shoes. I tied my long hair up and placed my hat on top.
Unfortunately, I couldn't escape Aunt Malou's scrutinizing gaze. "Did you cry last night? Your eyes are red and puffy, dear," she asked, her eyes fixed on me.
I lowered my head, unable to withstand her stare. "No, Aunt, I just have eye irritation. I forgot to remove my contact lenses last night," I lied.
A wave of relief washed over me as Aunt Malou seemed to accept my explanation. But the weight of my secret still pressed down on me, a heavy burden I couldn't shake. "Where are you going? Are you going home? Aren't you waiting for your mom?" she asked in quick succession.
"I'm just going to look for a computer shop, Aunt. I forgot to bring my laptop. I need to file an emergency leave through email so I won't go AWOL at work," I explained. "And I need to talk to my superior too, as I haven't given him an update since I arrived here," I added.
"Alright, take care, dear," she said. "There's a computer shop in front of the plaza," Aunt Malou added as an afterthought.
"Thank you, I'll go ahead," I replied. Before leaving, I went to where Lolo was and kissed him on the forehead. "Need to go, Lolo, love you," I said, about to head to the door when it swung open, and my heart leaped into my throat. There, standing in the doorway, was Lolo August, his presence filling the room with warmth I hadn't felt in years.
"Lolo August," I exclaimed cheerfully, running to him and hugging him tightly.
"Whoa, easy, darling," Lolo August chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me. "How are you, dear?" he asked as we let go of each other.
"I'm fine, Lolo. How about you?" I asked.
"I'm completely fine. I'm strong, unlike that weak one over there," he said, gesturing towards Lolo Menandro.
"Oh, that's why you have a cane," I joked.
"I can walk on my own, look, I'll show you," he boasted. "Hold this first," he said, handing me his cane. He walked without it, heading towards Lolo, with me following closely behind. Just as he was about to sit down, he lost his balance. Thanks to my quick reflexes, I caught him before he fell, and Aunt Malou rushed over to help us seat him properly.
"Are you okay, Lolo?" I asked, concern lacing my voice.
"I'm fine, dear, thank you," he replied.
I quickly checked my wristwatch and saw that it was past seven, so I decided to say my goodbyes. "I'll leave you now; I have something important to do," I said.
"Then you owe me a visit, dear," he smiled. "Visit me sometime; we have a lot to talk about," he added.
"But—"
"No more buts, dear, please say yes," he pleaded.
"Okay, Lolo, I owe you a visit," I conceded. "Whatever will be, will be," I thought to myself. "I really need to go, Lolo," I bid him farewell and kissed his forehead.
When I looked at my phone, I was surprised to see it filled with missed calls and text messages, mostly from Mama and Sir Alex, with the rest from my colleagues. I owed them an apology. Since I arrived here yesterday, I hadn't bothered to check my phone as it was on mute. I immediately dialed Sir Alex, and after a few rings, he answered.
"Sorry, Sir, I missed your call yesterday," I quickly apologized.
"It's okay. I was about to call you to tell you something," Sir Alex replied.
"What is it, Sir?" I asked.
"We have a problem with a client, and it turns out they're from Santa Monica too. The Municipal Agriculturist signed the contract with us, but it was suddenly terminated by the mayor," Sir Alex explained. "Since you're there, why don't you try to convince him to sign the contract again?"
I remembered the man I met on the bus. "Huh, that giant guy," I thought.
"Elise, are you still there?" Sir Alex asked.
"Y-yes, sir, I'll try to convince him," I said.
"Okay, Elise, I entrust this to you. I'll send the laptop and other materials you'll need through Greg. I was planning to come personally, but something came up," he paused. "And one more thing, don't forget to give me daily updates if possible." Alex may have a friendly demeanor, but when it comes to work, he's quite serious.
"Noted, sir, I'll—" I stopped mid-sentence.
Ahem. A loud cough came from a man behind me, so I turned to look back.
I was mesmerized by the person before me. Even though half of his face was covered with a facemask, his handsome features were undeniable. He was a drop-dead gorgeous creature, wearing a black short-sleeve polo shirt with three buttons and black slacks, paired with black leather shoes. His well-defined muscles seemed sculpted by the finest artist; there was nothing more to criticize about him. He was indeed blessed with a good physique.
"STOP PRAISING ME, ELISE," he said. "You're drooling," he added.
A curve formed on my lips when she seemed to be doused with cold water, but before she could recover, I grabbed her hand and pulled her close, to claim her for a moment. I knew this diner held a special place in her heart, and I wanted to see her smile again, to feel the warmth of her presence.
Elise POV
I felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water on me. “Oh please, earth, swallow me whole,” I pleaded, feeling utterly humiliated.
“Come with me,” he said, grabbing my hands and pulling me. I was about to protest, but no words came out. I couldn’t find a single word to say. My traitorous body just went along with it.
“Now sit,” he commanded.
“I’m not a dog! Why are you dragging me, and why did you bring me here? I’m not hungry,” I snapped. But as if to mock me, my stomach let out a loud growl, forcing me to clutch it.
“I see,” he said, but before he turned away, I saw the amusement in his eyes, just like I’d seen in Reuven’s eyes before. I sighed.
“Reuven again, self,” I muttered to myself.
I looked around. It was Aling Tasing’s diner. I wasn’t mistaken. They used to eat here often. It was their favorite spot. They had so many good memories together here.
As he stood in this corner of the food house, I can't help but look back at the past.
**[FLASHBACK… 12 years ago]**
And now they were at their usual spot, their favorite corner in their favorite food house. The view was breathtaking: lush greenery and towering mountains, as if bowing down to their little town.
"When I have my own money someday," the young man declared, his eyes sparkling with a playful gleam, "this corner will be just for us."
Elise, her mouth full of a crispy chicken wing, simply replied, "Really?"
"YES!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "And all our favorite foods will always be on the menu."
Elise, with a mischievous grin, stuffed another wing into his mouth, silencing his chatter. He was momentarily stunned, but a smile quickly spread across his face as he continued to eat.
"Yay, I'm full," Elise announced, patting her stomach. She had a metabolism that could rival a hummingbird's, and she could eat mountains of food without gaining a pound.
"I don't know where you put it all," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Elise chuckled. He still had a bit of baby fat, especially on his chin and belly, but it only added to his charm.
"What's so funny?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in mock annoyance.
"We should start jogging tomorrow," Elise suggested, her voice laced with a playful teasing.
**[END OF FLASHBACK…]**
“Is something wrong? You’ve been standing there for a while, why don’t you sit down?” he asked as he returned to their table, carrying a tray laden with food. He was followed by an elderly woman, also carrying food.
“It’s none of your business,” I snapped, and I immediately sat down on an empty seat.
I heard his deep sigh, but I ignored him.
“I’m happy to see you both back together,” the old woman said with a smile. I recognized her. It was Aling Tasing, the owner of this diner.
“Huh! I used to come here before, but I wasn’t with him!” I said, pointing my index finger at him.
“Oh, this young one, maybe you have lovers quarrel?” Aling Tasing said teasingly. “Okay, Mayor, I'll leave you now. There are other customers coming in.” Aling Tasing said goodbye to us.
I was puzzled by Aling Tasing’s remark, but I just shrugged.
“I got everything on their menu. Eat whatever you want, just put aside what you don’t want, and I’ll have it wrapped up for Joanne,” the young man said, sitting down opposite me.
“Joanne?” I asked, out of the blue.
“Yeah,” he replied simply.
His simple answer sent a sharp pang through my heart. I was eager to know more about this woman. I wanted him to tell me more about her. But why? Why did it matter?
"Whatever! Whoever she is, she can't take away my food, these are all mine," I said to myself, stuffing my face with the food in front of me, trying to ignore the growing unease in my chest. So, when he tried to grab the last chicken wing, I quickly snatched it.
"It's mine," I growled at him, my voice laced with possessiveness, and I shoved it in my mouth.
REUBEN POV
I knew she was pissed off about Joanne. Actions speak louder than words, as they say. To tease her, I tried to grab the remaining chicken wing. It was her favorite food, and as expected, she quickly took it and said, "IT'S MINE!" I find her cute and amusing in her act of claiming the food as her own. I wanted to laugh, to tell her how adorable she was, but I held back, knowing that she was still hurting.
"Possessive," I said, chuckling, my heart warming at her fierce independence. I wanted to reach out, to touch her face, to tell her that I was here for her, but I knew it was too soon. I had to earn her trust back, one small step at a time.
Elise’s Perspective
"Possessive," He said to me, chuckling. I raised my head abruptly and glared at him.
"What? Me, possessive?" I asked in disbelief, pointing at myself. "This giant guy has some nerve," I muttered under my breath.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," he said, his voice a warm caress, sending shivers down my spine. The way he looked at me, with that playful twinkle in his eye, made my stomach flutter with a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. It was a feeling I couldn't quite place, but it was definitely captivating.
I was about to speak again when something suddenly got stuck in my throat. I clutched my hands to my throat, my breath catching in my chest. I had accidentally choked on a mouthful of food. I couldn't even speak for help, and I couldn't even cough to dislodge whatever was stuck in my throat. I was struggling to breathe, and there was a squeaky sound every time I tried. I was about to lose consciousness when I felt strong arms wrap around me, pulling me up, and my glasses fell off.
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