AMAYAH's POV:
I was wondering why there wasn't a Kalex at the restaurant the next day. Mayah? I heard a voice in my head that interrupted my silence. The last few days without Kalex were dull and dreary. What the heck am I thinking? I continued my morning routine at the restaurant and saw Kalex's friend. I greeted him warmly.
"Good morning, sir. Here's our menu." After giving him the menu, I excused myself. He spoke before I could turn around.
"Amayah?" His baritone voice was canorous. I smiled at him as I turned around.
"Yes, sir?" I said in a friendly tone. He was handsome, no doubt, as I looked at him. But I felt nothing. My heartbeat seems normal. I felt comfortable talking to him.
"I would like to invite you to dinner tonight." He said calmly and smiled, and his white and even teeth showed up. It looked like he was a commercial toothpaste model.
I was stunned, unable to decide what to do or how to answer without offending him. I watched him plead. My heart was filled with compassion.
"Okay!" That word came out as if it were nothing. I hadn't thought about it thoroughly. I couldn't take back my answer because it was too late. I could see in his eyes that he was happy. His two dimples emerged when he smiled even more comprehensively, adding to his handsomeness. His teeth looked perfect.
"Great! I will pick you up at seven o'clock sharp!" He handed me a calling card. I glanced at it and saw his name. John Gabriel Manansala is a senior architect. I took it and then left.
Thirty minutes were allotted for me to take a break. I stepped out onto the restaurant's balcony, looking at the busy highway. When I looked down, I saw Kalex and John Gabriel arguing. What the hell happened? John fell to the ground after being punched by Kalex. As I covered my mouth in shock, my eyes were wide open.
Kalex stared at me with an angry glare that made it impossible to control my heartbeat. Seeing that deadly look filled my heart with fear. A rage filled his eyes as if I had done something wrong. It made me feel uncomfortable. Shivers ran down my spine as he looked at me. He was walking towards the parking area. He drove his vehicle away. Until I can't see it anymore. I shook my head and went back to the restaurant.
After that incident, I did not see Kalex during my entire shift. My heart suddenly ached. I couldn't help myself. Each step was heavy when I left the hotel. I hailed a taxi and gave the driver my address at the university. It was not long before the cab stopped in front of the school's entrance. The guards greet me when I enter the building, but I ignore them. I went directly to the canteen as I was late for lunch. Looking at Cleah in one corner, I noticed that she was crying. I approached her and asked. "Is everything alright with you, bestie? Could you please explain what happened?" Her eyes were swollen, and her nose had become redder. Suddenly, she hugged me and wept on my shoulder. I rubbed her back and allowed her to cry to her heart's content. We released our embrace after the sobbing stopped. Without judging her, I gazed directly into her eyes.
"You can tell me anything you know, don't you?" I asked sympathetically. There was a hint of hesitation in her beautiful eyes. I grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Nothing," she replied, wiping away her tears. "What do you mean by nothing? If it were nothing, you would not cry in such a way, so please tell me what it was. I am your friend, Cleah. We have made a promise to each other!" I said with a sullen tone. She pushed me towards the counter so that I could get my lunch. I heaved out. In light of the fact that I know her very well, I am not able to force her to open up unless she is ready. As I glance at my wristwatch, I have only thirty minutes left. After getting my food, I returned to the table, but Cleah was not there anymore.
I received a beep from my phone informing me that she had sent me a message. "[Bff, I am sorry, but this is not the right time to discuss what occurred. I went home. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend class today. It is likely that I will not be able to comprehend anything either because I am confused in my mind. After reading her text, I finished my meal and headed to my class.
As I had anticipated, Cleah was right. I barely understand what we are discussing. I am concerned about her situation. She pushed me away when I wanted to be there for her or help her. Apart from that, all I could think of was Kalex's deadly gaze. There was a lot of difficulty in my major subject, and what is even more challenging is the medical terminology that I must study for my exam next week.
My whole class was boring. I left our room right after my last subject. My steps are big. I want to get out and go home. I hit my forehead when I realized the dinner was with John Gabriel. I said yes when, in fact, I had class. What the fudge am I thinking? I took my phone, and when I opened it, I received tons of missed calls and messages. I called the number right away, but I heard a busy tone. Argghh! I composed a message, but I kept on deleting it. I don't know what the right words to say would be. Instead of saying I was sorry, I forgot to tell him I had a freaking class.
[Hey, first I'm sorry I forgot to inform you I have class until nine p.m. My phone was on silent mode, and I apologize if I couldn't answer your call.] Sent! My hands are shaking. I put my phone back in the bag. I saw my brother Michael leaning on his motorcycle again, a crazy man smiling alone.
"Ahem, shall we? Stop smiling like a crazy person. It's like you're in a mental hospital!" I teased him. He pinched my cheek and put the helmet on. "Michael quit it. I am not a kid anymore!" I scornfully scolded him. "Yeah! Yeah! Noted, Young lady! He replied mockingly. My eyes rolled back, and I mimicked his response. I heard my brother chuckle and shake his head. "Hop in, Mayah, very melodramatic!" I slapped his shoulder in my annoyance… Despite our teasing and occasional annoyance with each other, there is a deep bond of love and understanding between my brother Michael and me. We may have our differences, but at the end of the day, we always have each other's backs and find solace in each other's presence.