The Path Leads To You

Chap 3

"Bye, text me anytime okay? I know you don't have many things to be busy with. Try asking me out, don't just stay in your apartment like you always do. " She said and waved me goodbye while I got in the taxi. My work today is in the afternoon so I had the time to ask Miah to come. It is enough time for us to talk about things we didn't have the chance to tell each other.

I learned from her that some of our college classmates were already married. Some had become successful and finally got their dream job. By the way, before I forget I graduated in Mass Communication.

"Woah! I didn't know Miss Hannah was already 26. She's even older than you Diana." I intended to open the door of our office when I heard Miss Shein say those.

"Well, she looks so young that's why we can't tell." Diana, one of our colleagues.

"I also heard she is still single. It will be a waste if she doesn't look for a boyfriend now." Rica. Instead of going inside, I remained standing outside.

"Yeah right, but who would like that girl, she's quiet and so pretends. I don't like the way she acts." I rolled my eyes because of that. I clearly know Miss Shein doesn't like me. She always smiles at me but I know when I first got here she tried sabotaging my work. One time she told my student the class would be afternoon so the student had to go back and I came in the morning only to find out my students didn't come. Thanks to June that time she had no class in the afternoon so she managed to teach them while I started my class in the afternoon with the other batch.

"Hmmph, she's not even that pretty. One time she smells of spices like she didn't take a bath." She continued.

Now that is an awful story. Come on, even if I don't take a bath I make sure I don't smell so bad. I don't like spices either.

"Good morning!" I entered the room and acted like I didn't hear something. I saw how they instantly moved away from my table. I even caught sight of a pink packet in Shein's hand which she instantly hid.

Hmm. Stealing my dried mangoes and talking bad things about me. Tsk so hateful, how dare they open my drawers. They are supposedly my private space.

I didn't say anything about the things I saw and still acted as if nothing happened.

"Oh, why do you look so tense Diana?" I ask her as she looks very nervous.

"Ah-about that I-ah I am..." She didn't finish what she was about to say when Miss Shein interrupted her.

"Oh, it's just Diana accidentally poured her coffee on your table. But don't worry nothing is wet. " She said making up stories that made Diana blush even more. Diana is a person who would never lie because she blushes when she lies or is nervous.

"Diana let's go. Isn't your class about to start?" Then she pulled her outside not wanting Diana to talk more.

Acting like a fool I asked, "What's with them?"

Rika the oldest among us just shook her head and smiled at me. Then I just shrugged my shoulders and proceeded to my class too.

... "One coffee latte please and a carbonara. " I said to the waiter when I settled on the table for two.

"Are you outside?" The person on the other end of the phone asked.

"Yeah. I don't have food at home. Better eat outside than endure my hunger. Haha." I kept talking until I didn't realize my bag had fallen off.

"Miss, your bag." A man walks by and picks it up.

"Oh, thank you!" I said and he just smiled.

"What's that?" Claire asks because we are still talking on the phone.

"Ah, just my bag. It fell off my chair." I explained as I looked at the man who picked up my bag and he asked the waiter for something. He kind of looks familiar to me though.

"Hey, Rae. When will you come home, we haven't seen each other for so long." She finally asked me. This is Claire one of my cousins and a best friend too. She's been ranting about her problems again as always. She always does that every time she calls me.

"I don't know, I'm just starting my new job here."

"Oh! But still, you need to come. Our high school batch will be having a reunion for the second time, Last year you didn't come." She said making me think of those days in high school.

"Yeah, let's see. About last year, I don't want to go." I said and put my head on the table.

"Then why don't you mind sharing it with me where did you go for the last 4 years, you suddenly went missing? Maybe I'll suddenly find out you are married already?" She said making me choke even if I was not drinking anything.

" What the heck! I'm not that crazy enough to get married without telling anybody." I said and laughed. Well, she's one of the people who doesn't know where I went 4 years ago. I didn't tell many people about it. Aside from my family and chosen friends, no one knows. My uncles and aunts were even angry at me because I didn't even inform them. They just know it when one day I suddenly called and said I'm coming back home.

"Well, I ran away from home. I borrowed some money and I can not pay it so I run away." I said jokingly. I was just not ready to tell anyone about my whereabouts 4 years ago.

"Tsk. You're still not telling me. Come on we're friends." She said encouraging me to talk. But I just chuckle at it.

"Maybe next time. I wasn't ready yet." I said.

"Fine! Then I should say bye now. My husband is calling me already." I smiled at what she had said.

"Ayeeiii! Okay, bye-bye. Talk to you some other time."

I put my head on the table as my order wasn't served yet. I stared out the window and I watched the people pass by. It's six in the evening and many people are rushing to get home. The cafe is also full. Most of them are students, well after all this cafe is just near the university.

Seems like all of those people I know are already moving on with their life. Some of them reach their goals in life. Some of them had already built their own family. While looking at me, still stuck in this boring and unchanging life I have. They already found things that they can be proud of and are satisfied with what they have. Yet me? I still don't know what I want to do with my life. I tried different things and thought would somehow help me find it in myself. However, until now I'm lost, I don't know what path should I take, or if is there even a path for me.

"Hey, Cleve! Did you order our food already?" I suddenly woke up from my thoughts because of the familiar voice I heard. Looking at the other side of the cafe I can see four people at the big table including the man from a while ago.

Looking at the only woman with them, it's like a balloon suddenly pops up in my mind.

I know those people!

They were my college instructors before. That's why he looks familiar, of course, how could I forget? He is Mr Larkins? He's our Art teacher.

The other two gentlemen, Mr.Cross our communication teacher. While Mr Diaz is our film and theatre. And Miss Ramirez our Ethics teacher. Wow, It's been so long yet they still look the same.