“Hanney.” Arjay remarked when he saw the lady standing in front of them.
“Hmnn, you have a date, I suppose.” Hanney said, one of her eyebrows were raised.
“Yeah, but I guess so are you.” he replied.
“I met with a client. I don’t have the time to actually date.” She said sarcastically.
“Well, it’s great if you closed another deal with a client but I think you’re already leaving. It was nice seeing you here.” Arjay said and looked at Diana. He gestured that she go ahead.
“Nice seeing you, too. Enjoy your meal.” Hanney said and turned her back.
“Don’t mind her.” Arjay assured Diana.
She smiled a bit and felt awkward because of what happened. She went inside and Arjay followed. After they ordered, Arjay noticed Diana’s silence.
“You’re bothered.” He remarked.
“No, I’m not.” She said and smiled but deep inside, she was really bothered.
“I can feel it. But you don’t need to worry about Hanney. She might seem a bit overbearing but she’s actually nice.” He assured her.
“She might be nice to you, but to me, I doubt it.”
“See, you’re really bothered.”
Diana sighed.
“Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m bothered because she was your ex and you’ve been good friends ever since.”
“And…?”
“What if she wants you back? And you realize you wanted the same?” she asked worriedly.
“We’re still on our first date but you’re already thinking negatively.”
“Well I’m worried.”
Arjay reached for Diana’s hand.
“And I assure you, you don’t need to worry anything. I and Hanney are only friends now, nothing more.”
“Here are your orders Ma’am and sir.” The waiter said and placed the food on the table.
“Thank you.” they both said and smiled to the waiter.
They started eating.
“So, how’s your work?” Arjay asked to ease up the awkward silence.
“Stressful. Well, you know now what the struggles are. After the program, rush hours of paper works.”
“You’re already computing grades?” he asked.
“No, school forms. You don’t have those?” she asked curiously.
Arjay shrugged his shoulders.
“Not sure. They didn’t give me the paperwork.” He said
“Then who’s doing it?”
“Still the adviser. My role is just to deliver her lesson plans, so I just administer all the activities she planned.”
Diana nodded.
“Then I guess you’re work is a little bit easier because of the less paperwork.”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“How’s my brother doing in your class, by the way? Is he good? Just tell me if he’s a bit of a headache, and I will set him straight.”
“Janwill’s a leader and he’s doing great in my class. I guess he takes after his sister.” He smiled and looked at Diana.
“No, he didn’t.” she laughed.
“Why do you say so? I think he’s a lot like you.”
“He’s a leader, I am not. And I might have been good in class but I was never that great. He’s a better version of me, I suppose.” She smiled.
“I am guessing he’s your favorite.”
“Well he’s the youngest, and he’s the only thorn among the roses.”
“Oh yeah, right. Speaking of, I haven’t met your sisters.”
She furrowed her brows.
“What do you mean? You went there yesterday and this morning.”
“Yeah, but they weren’t there…”
“Maybe they stayed in their rooms. They actually liked to bury themselves with their books.”
He nodded in response. They finished their cheesecake dessert before they left the restaurant.
“Where do you want to go?” Arjay asked Diana before they entered the car.
“Well, I’d like to see and walk on the riverside at Naguilian Bridge if that’s okay with you?” she asked.
“Sure. I really like to go there but I don’t have anyone to go with me before. Let’s go then.” Arjay said excitedly and opened the car door for her.
“Thank you.” She smiled and went inside the car. Arjay went back to the driver’s seat and they went on.
When they arrive, there are a few people who were also enjoying the walk.
“This is actually really nice. It’s as if I am in Manila Bay seaside walk.” Arjay exclaimed.
“I’ve never been there but this is actually really nice.” Diana smiled.
“I will take you there soon.” Arjay smiled back.
Diana gave a head start on the walk. Arjay followed.
They were walking silently when Arjay cleared his throat. Diana looked at him.
“You might think I’m not being serious with you, but in reality, I just don’t know how to properly act in front of you. I was so accustomed to just looking at you from afar and---”
Diana stopped him from walking by holding his wrist.
“Relax, it’s just me.” She smiled. “If we’re being honest here right now, the feeling is mutual.” ‘I’m also accustomed to look at you from afar.’ She continued her statement in her mind.
Arjay smiled and they continued to walk silently. When they were heading back to the car…
“Diana I…” Arjay stopped mid-sentence.
Diana looked at him. He stopped walking and faced her. Diana stopped walking, too.
“Please don’t worry about Hanney, okay? I know you’re worried and all but I will talk to her. I just want this to work out. I want US to work out. I have been looking forward to this day ever since I came home and now it’s finally happening and I don’t want to waste this chance I have… So please don’t push me away after this.”
Diana could feel, see, and hear sincerity from Arjay’s voice and action. She’s been waiting for this moment to happen, too, and she’s hoping and praying that they will work out. She’s not going to let this pass now.
“T-then let’s give it a try.” She said and smiled at him.
“Does this mean---”
“This means that I am giving you my permission to court me and date me. I’m a bit old-fashioned so you need to bear with that.”
“YES!!!” Arjay said and hugged her. He realized what he did so he gently pushed her away from him. “Sorry, I got carried away.” He said.
Diana laughed and they continued walking back to the car. They went on their way.
When they arrived at Diana’s house, Arjay opened the car door for her and she went out.
“See you tomorrow?” Arjay said.
“Tomorrow? Don’t tell me your going to pick me up again. It’s fine. I can just hail a trike here.” Diana said.
“I thought you’re not going to push me away?”
“I am not… I’m just being practical. If you’re going to pick me up in the morning and take me home in the afternoon, you’ll be spending a lot of money for the gasoline. And I don’t want that.”
“Then can I just call you?”
“Yes. That’s more practical. We could see each other in the weekends, if we’re free, of course.”
Arjay sighed.
“Weekends it is.” He smiled a bit.
“It’s getting late. We’re still early tomorrow. Take care on your way home and drive safely.”
“No goodbye kiss?” he asked.
Diana furrowed her brows then laughed. She kissed her fingers and patted it on Arjay’s cheek.
“That’s the kiss.” He said in dismay.
“For now, yes.” She laughed.
“I’ll be waiting for the real one then.” He said and walked towards his car.
Diana waited for him to go and when his car was already out of sight, she went inside the house.
“What was that?” Mel asked.
Diana almost jumped in surprise.
“You almost gave me a HEART ATTACK!” she yelled at her sister.
“You didn’t answer the question. What was that thing we just witnessed?” Ann asked.
“What thing?” she asked.
Grace kissed her fingers and pat it on Mel’s cheeks.
“What? That wasn’t a kiss.” She said and rolled her eyes.
“That’s still counted!” Mel said.
“Whatever you three. Where’s Janwill?” she asked.
“In his room, of course. He must be sleeping already.” Ann said.
“Okay. How about you, three? Why are you still awake?” she asked.
“Well, papa told us to wait for you.” Grace said
“I’m already home so you can go to bed too. Goodnight sissies.” They all went to their rooms.