On his way to the company, Chad told the driver to stop at a shop where an old woman sells banana cue. He remembered those days when Rachel would bring him there to eat banana cue. She said it was her best street food, so he loved it also.
He got down from the car and walked towards the small shop. An old woman with a gray hair who is in her 70s stood up when she saw Chad. She immediately rushed to hug him. "Oh chad, I am so happy you came today. I have missed you so much"
This old woman took Chad as her own son. People see Chad as arrogant and cold, but she saw Chad as a caring and loving young man.
"Chad, where have you been? You have not been coming here? Why? What happened?" this old woman was so happy when she saw Chad.
"Grandma, I am sorry. I had a lot of problems to solve that's why" he said.
"Oh, poor child. Look at you, you have lost weight and your skin looks tan. Get a lot of rest, will you?" she said in a worried voice as she examined Chad.
Chad smiled. "Grandma, I am fine. I will be fine, don't worry"
The old woman nodded and smiled. She looked around as if she was looking for something and her eyes filled with disappointment. Chad noticed her and asked, "Why grandma? What happened?"
"Where is Rachel? It's been a long time I saw her also. Why didn't she come with you today? You know, I have been thinking of her"
Chad's face expression changed. He became sad immediately. Also, he himself has been thinking of Rachel and it's been a long time he saw her. His heart clenched. He didn't notice that this old woman has been looking at him not until she cupped his face in her hands
"Chad, what happened?" she asked him.
Chad's face expression changed immediately. He smiled and said. "It's nothing, grandma. Rachel didn't come today with me because she has something important to do" he lied.
The old woman knew something was wrong, but she just smiled and nodded. "Take this. I kept them for you because I knew you were coming" she gave him some banana cue wrapped in a foil paper. Chad pulled out his wallet from his pocket and brought out some cash to pay her, but she refused. "No, keep your money and before you go, take this with you also. I kept those for Rachel. Give it to her later in the evening and tell her that I am missing her so much and when you both are free, come and visit me, okay?"
Chad's heart ached. He looked at the banana cue that's for Rachel and smiled. "I will, grandma" then they waved goodbye at each other and he left.
At carpeDiem Torres.
Chad was working on some documents when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in" he said.
Joy opened the door slowly and walked in. Her eyes lit up when she saw the banana cue on Chad's desk wrapped in a foil. "Sir Chad, wow! Banana cue. It's one of my favorite street food. Do you know why I love it? It's because it is cheap and it feels great to stand and eat. Why did you buy it sir? Is it because you knew I love it" joy knew that was a bad joke and she shouldn't have said that, but since Chad was in a good mood, he won't yell at her.
Chad glanced up at her and smiled lightly. "I never knew you love it or it's your favorite. I bought it because it's my favorite also"
Joy was astounded. Did he just say he love banana cue and it's his favorite? "Sir Chad, you love street food?"
Chad as a rich person never eats street foods because it's unhygienic, but what's surprising her is that Chad said he actually liked it. Does he not know that street food can be unhygienic?
"Yes, why?" he dropped his pen and asked. "Since you can eat it then I can eat it also. Why are you looking at me that way?"
Joy has not recovered from the shock. She shook her head and smiled. "Nothing. Sir Chad, but why do you actually love street food? She asked.
Chad paused immediately. He looked up at joy and lean back into his chair.
Why did he love this street food?
It's because it's Rachel's favourite and she normally ask him everyday to buy it for her. Even though he doesn't like it at first, he still had to buy it for Rachel. Rachel's favorite is his favorite also.
"Because it's Rachel's favourite" he gave her a sincere answer and he continued working.
Joy smiled inwardly at what Chad said. She wished she had a boyfriend like Chad. She reached out her hand to take one of the banana cue, but Chad grabbed her wrist.
"You, who told you to touch my things? He asked in a cold voice.
"Sir Chad, you have a lot here, why don't you just give me one?" she said jokingly.
Chad knew she was joking and decided to change the topic. "So what brings you here?" he released her hand and asked.
Not until she asked him why he was here did she remember the reason why she came to see him. "Em... Sir Chad, I just came to remind you that your meeting with Mrs Elena Reyes will start in ten minutes time" she glanced at her wristwatch and said.
"Okay. Got it"
She bowed and turned to leave, but Chad stopped her.
"Joy, wait..."
"Yes, sir" she turned to face him.
He pointed at the banana cue on the desk. "Take as many as you want from this" he separated the ones for Rachel from his.
Joy was surprised. "Ah, sir Chad, I was just joking when I said I wanted one" she didn't know that he would take her words so seriously.
"And I am serious. Don't you dare disobey me. Take as many as you want" he said in a serious tone. What's the excess of keeping all this banana cue when there is no Rachel to eat it with him. He can't eat everything. Joy took the ones for Chad, thanked him and left the office.
Who said Chad is arrogant?
Who said he is not nice?
Later at night at the Torres mansion.
Chad walked into his room tired. He put off his clothes and entered the bathroom to take a cold shower. After showering, he put on his pajamas and lay on his bed.
He opened his drawer and brought out Rachel's photo. Every night, his prayer is that God should keep Rachel safe where ever she is. He knew she left for a reason and she doesn't want to bother him with it. He believes that someday she will come back and explain to him why she left the country without telling him. He hugged her photo to his chest and soon he drifted off to sleep
That night, he had a beautiful dream. In his dream was Rachel taking to him. She wore a white short gown and a brown heels. Her hair was made into a messy bun and she was holding a letter. At first, he didn't see her face clearly, but as she walked closer to him, he caught a good look of her face. His tears rolled down his eyes like streams when he saw her. She was like an angel in the light coming towards him. He ran towards her and carried her, then spun her around.
Rachel used her thump to wipe his tears away, but his tears didn't stop dropping. He dropped her, cupped her small face in his hand and planted a kiss on her forehead, the tip of her nose and her lips.
"Why did you leave without telling me? Do you know how worried I was?" he asked
Rachel wrapped her around his waist and said, "I'm sorry and I promise not to leave again"