Diana and Shane arrived in the city. She had just been here 3 months ago but it seems there are a lot of changes that happened already. They went to a hyper mart where Shane had to buy something.
“You know you could just buy it at the mall, right? I’m sure whatever it is, they have it there.” Diana said to Shane.
“I know but it’s a lot expensive there. I only need to buy the cheap one. He deserves the cheap one.” Shane murmured her last sentence. Did she misheard it? No, she was sure Shane said ’he’.
“And who could that ‘he’ be?” she teased her.
“What do you mean?” Shane asked innocently.
“I’m pretty sure you said ‘he’.” She pressed.
“If I said he, who could that be? I don’t even go to dates.” Shane said and left Diana to stroll around the hyper mart.
She remembered Arjay. Why did he quit the seminary? Did he encounter any problems in there? She’s curious.
“Hey! You’re zoning out again.” Shane snapped in front of her which took her back to her senses. She blinked.
“What? You were saying…?”
“I asked you if you could text Rhian and Ailee where they are. They should be here already. They went way ahead of us, so they are probably here.”
“Can’t you just call them?” She said, irritated.
“I can’t. My load subscription has ended. Besides, I know you wanted to see them, too, so win-win.”
She sighed and reached for her phone.
“Why are you so nagger today? I’m not used to it.” She said and rolled her eyeballs.
“I am not! Just text them so we could meet.”
“See, there you go again. Nagging me.” She texted Rhian and Ailee.
HEY GIRLS? WHERE YOU AT? I’M WITH SHANE RIGHT NOW. LET’S MEET UP.
“There, I sent the message. What do you want me to do next, ma’am?” she said and leered at Shane.
“Call Just. I think her seminar’s done already. Anyway it’s already quarter to 12.”
She dialed Justine’s cell. It rang once and the call was answered.
“Hey Just!”
“Heeeyy~~ my seminar just ended. Where are you guys?” Justine asked on the other line.
“We’re here at the hyper mart. We’re just waiting for Rhian and Ailee. Let’s just meet at the mall. We’ll be there before you know it.”
Yeah sure. Let’s just meet there. I will be on my way, too. Let’s just meet at the Department Store then. See you!”
“Yeah, see you! Bye!” and she cut the call. She received a text from Rhian and Ailee.
I’M AT UNI TOP. I WILL JUST MEET YOU OUTSIDE THE STORE. –Rhian. She replied.
OKAY, WE’LL JUST BE OUTSIDE.
She read the message coming from Ailee.
I’M STILL AT THE BANK. WHERE SHOULD WE MEET? – Ailee. She replied back.
WE’RE JUST OUTSIDE THE HYPER MART. WE’LL WAIT FOR RHIAN AND THEN WE’LL BE AT THE MALL.
Ailee replied as soon as she sent her reply.
I’M AT THE BANK BESIDE THE MALL. JUST MEET YOU OUTSIDE THE MALL THEN. –Ailee.
FINE BY US. SEE YOU, LEE.
“So?” Shane asked.
“Rhian said we’ll just meet her outside the Uni Top. Ailee’s just going to meet us outside the mall. She’s at the bank.” She said.
“And Just?”
“She’s on her way to the mall. She’ll just meet us at the Department Store. Have you found what you came here for?” she asked Shane.
“Not yet. Let’s go upstairs. It’s probably there.” And Shane pulled her to the stairs.
“You don’t need to pull me. I can walk, geez.” She said.
They both went upstairs to the office supplies. Shane grabbed something from the paper and stationery stand.
“You found it yet?” she asked her again.
“Yeah. I’ll just pay for it and then let’s wait for Rhian outside.” Shane said and they both went to the counter.
“I’ll just wait you on the other side.” She said and went out of the cashier's lane. She waited for Shane. When Shane was done on the cashier, they went out of the hyper mart.
“So what is that, exactly?” she asked Shane.
“Some piece of crap… I mean craft.” She said laughing.
“Seriously, what is that? And what would you need that for?” she asked.
“Fine, but don’t tell Just. She’s going to lecture me again non-stop. It’s for Sirach.” Shane said.
“Sirach??? As in Sirach Anton Cauilan???” she asked, surprised. Shane nodded. “Since when did the two of you get in touch again?” she asked again in disbelief.
“A few months back… probably a year. But it’s not that big of a deal, okay. He chatted me asking if we could be friends again. It won’t hurt to be friends.” Shane said defensively.
‘Why don’t you want to tell Just?” She asked curiously. Shane sighed.
“Because she got angry at me when I cried because of him. Though that was college days but still…”
“Are you sure she got angry at you and not Sirach?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, it’s just the same. She got angry that I cried. She said I shouldn’t cry because of some guy.” Shane said and shrugged her shoulders.
“When did that happen? Why can’t I remember that?” she asked frowning.
“Third year? Yes. We were in Third Year College back then. We were at the library and I asked Just if she could help me look for a certain book, but she knew that was an excuse so she dragged me on the bookshelves and asked me what’s wrong, and then I cried at her and she got angry. Now I remembered, she was not angry with me at that time… she was indeed angry at Sirach because she was about to go to him and confront him but I asked her not to.”
Diana was dumbfounded. She didn’t know that story. Justine never told her. But that’s Justine; she tends to be overprotective of them sometimes even if it wasn’t necessary. She’s the mother of the group anyway. She just remembered what Justine did when Jc was about to tell Arjay she likes him, knowing Jc and Justine became really close a year after their first encounter with the seminarians. That friendship didn’t end well, obviously, but that does not fall on Justine’s account. It was Jc’s fault. She shrugged the thought. She doesn’t want to zone out again thinking about Arjay.
“What happened after then?” she asked Shane.
“Well, it doesn’t went well. And I was too stubborn that I tried to stay away from Justine as far as I could without her noticing it. But then I realized that Justine was right, that I was just Sirach’s past time. I learned that the hard way, anyway.” Shane laughed without humor.
“You learned that the hard way and yet here you are, doing favors for that man.” she said. She knows it will hurt Shane’s feeling but she needs to say it. Shane looked at her intently. Shane sighed and shook her head disapprovingly.
“Okay, I’m going to give you a scenario. What would you do if Arjay suddenly came back and you realized that you still have feelings for him? And he asked you to be friends? Would you grab the opportunity or just ignore it?” Shane asked her. She was left thinking. “See, you’re thinking. Then try to put my shoes on, Diana.”
“Does that mean you still like him?” She asked.
“What do you think?” Shane asked her back.
“I want a real and true answer, Shane. Because I can’t walk on your shoe if I do not know how I should feel.”
“Just imagine me as you and Sirach as Arjay. As simple as that.”
“No, it’s not that simple, Shane. You and Sirach had a mutual understanding. In fact, you were close. Arjay and I doesn’t have that kind of relationship. So I can’t really see myself as you.”
“Come on, just run your imagination.” Shane said. She shook her head.
“No. Not gonna happen.”
They were on that conversation when Rhian waved and called out.
“Hi!!!” Rhian cheerfully greeted them. They both smiled at her and they hugged. “So, what’s with the tension between you, two? You looked so serious a while back.” Rhian asked.
“Just talking about life. You? It’s been a while! How’s the future bride doing?” Diana said, ignoring what Shane had just told her.
“I’m so stressed! There are a lot of things that I need to fix and to plan. I just wanted this to be over.” Rhian groaned.
“So, should we go to the mall now? Do you still have something to buy here, Yan?” Shane asked.
“I’m done. Let’s meet the girls now. And I am actually starving so let’s go!”
They got in a tricycle and went to the mall. When they got off, Ailee was already standing outside the mall.
“Lee!”Shane called out and as soon as Ailee saw them, she smiled and walked towards them.
“Hey guys! Long time no see!” she said and hugged each of them.
“We know right! Your partner is so possessive! We can’t even borrow you even just for a day!” Rhian exclaimed.
“I totally agree.” Diana said.
“Let’s get inside then and meet the Royal highness.” Shane said and they all laughed. They entered the mall altogether.