"Henry, join me for today, I want to go anywhere," said William to his friend Henry.
"Where?"
"Just anywhere, I want to comfort myself so I can't think of Helena."
"Okay, I good place is the mall, let's go window shopping."
"Yeah, okay that's better," replied William.
The two went to the mall, but William had no idea that he would see Amelia again, the lady he had mistaken for Helena. They went to the men's section to look for something to buy.
"Henry, I'll buy jogging pants," said William.
From the men's section, they looked fast food where they can have their snacks. They chose the one with few people eating so they can chat while eating.
"William, are you thinking of something? I noticed of your being silent," said Henry.
"You, Henry, not because I'm silent you'll think of something, and I'm sure you will say it's Helena. Ha! Ha! Ha! But honestly speaking I'm thinking of her. I miss Helena, sometimes," said William emotionally.
"You see, I know you even before."
"Yes, Henry, I've already done everything, just to get out Helena in my mind but I couldn't, what should I do, Henry, help me."
"William, I knew, when you first met Helena in the hospital I've noticed you the way you talk and your action showed that you have crushed on her, right? And I advised you to forget her because you will only get hurt."
"Yes, Henry, but I don't know, I just don't know to myself."
"I would suggest that you try yourself to look at someone who you can give your love, so your attention, your focus would be on that someone you love. And by doing it I'm sure you will forget Helena without any doubt," said Henry.
"Yeah, you're maybe correct," replied William.
"Do you know Victor? He's our classmate in an engineering course, I suggest we visit him sometimes because he has a beautiful sister by the name of Amelia, a look-alike of Helena. I remember when I was in Victor's house he did not introduce to me his sister, I just didn't know why he just said that Amelia was his sister."
"You make me laugh Henry, that's nonsense. How do you understand love? You mean, you are just going to the woman, introduce yourself and then you will fall in love? For all you know, love starts with being friends first until their feelings were developed, that'sit. But it takes a long time also to develop once feelings, and sometimes they don't. It's very rare to love a person at first sight, in the movie, yes it happened," William explained.
"Yeah, I don't understand you, you have a lot of excuses, it's very hard to talk to you. May I ask you a question, William, how about your case with Helena, isn't that you love her at first sight? Answer me!" asked Henry and William just laugh.
"Well, I think that's an exemption to my rules and principles."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! You see, you always make alibi," replied Henry.
"Okay, okay you won, when do you like to visit Victor so I can meet Amelia."
"Next week for sure."
"Okay, let's go I'm fed up already."
"Let's go first to the sports section I'll buy a ball," said William.
In the sports section
"Miss, how much this one?"
When Henry saw the saleslady he was shocked because it's Amelia.
"Amelia? You're Amelia, right?"
"Yes, I am, but how do you know me?"
"We were classmates of Victor in college. When I was at your house your brother said to me that you're his sister but he didn't introduce you to me."
"Yeah, it' was because my brother was so protective."
"William, this is Amelia, the one I was telling you earlier. Amelia this is William my handsome best friend."
"Yes, I know her already, we met here before, remember Amelia?"
"What? You know each other?"
"Isn't it Amelia, we met before when I accidentally bumped your shoulder?"
"Ah, yes, I remember now and you mistook me as Helena, right?" said Amelia laughing.
"Now, Henry would you like to introduce me to her?" said William joking.
"How fast you are, I have nothing to say about you," replied Henry laughing.
"Amelia, can we take you home? Just if you want to," said William.
"Why not, I couldn't refuse to such gentlemen like you," replied Amelie with a smile on her face.
"By the way, what time do you usually off from work?"
"Seven-thirty pm."
"Okay, we'll just come back."
"Amelia who are they, your friends?" asked Vicky.
"No, they were classmates of my brother Victor in college then."
"You introduce me to them, I like the tall one," said Vicky with eagerness.
"Ah, you're referring to William, the one tall and handsome. But unfortunately, he has a girlfriend already by the name of Helena, just I know."
"How about the other one, Henry, he's handsome too, what do you think?"
"Alright, go ahead, introduce me to him so I can have a boyfriend right away."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! You made me laugh how dare you to say that, Vicky?"
"Please, Amelia, I'm longing for a boyfriend."
"Okay, they'll be back here later."
"They'll be back later? But why?"
"Because they offered to take me home."
"Really?"
"Yes, Vicky, and I'm happy I met them, at least I felt I'm a woman once in my life," said Amelia smiling.
"I believe now, being beautiful was really a trait of a woman, approached and courted by men, isn't it?"
"Don't envy, you are also beautiful waiting for the right man for you, okay?"
"Yes, I know, but I'm not so beautiful and charming as you are."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! You Vicky, until now have no self-confidence."
"Why is it taking so long for us to go home," said Amelia.
"Uy! I know you're bored because you want them to take you home, right?" said Vicky obvious in her speech that she meant something.
Amelia and Vicky stopped chatting when customers arrived.
"William, let's go back, Amelia will be home soon," said Henry.
"Okay, let's go."
When the two came back, Amelia introduced Vicky to Henry.
"Henry, I want you to meet my friend Vicky."
"Hi! Vicky, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Henry."
"What are we waiting for, let's go home."
"Vicky, we'll go ahead."
"Okay, Amelia takes yourself with those two handsome guys," said Vicky laughing.
"She's like that, joker, that's why I like her to be my friend, she kept me smiling."
"All right, see you tomorrow, bye."
"Where do you live Amelia?" asked William.
"I live in Fairview."
"By the way Amelia, your boyfriend might get angry when you're with us," said Henry.
"Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend yet, my brother Victor doesn't want to. That's why most men in our area are afraid of him flirting with me."
"Oh, if that so, Victor might get angry with us because we take you home."
"No, if he gets mad at you, I just laugh. Besides, you used to be classmates and he will be glad to see you both."
When they arrived at Amelia's house, Amelia called his brother.
"Brother Victor, look who's with me!"
"Henry, William, how are you? Long time no see. It's good you came to our house," said Victor.
"Yes, we saw your sister Amelia, and we went with her here to your house," said Henry.
"All right, just sit down and I'll just bring out bottles of beer."
"Victor, we might get drunk on our way home," said Henry.
"No, we won't get drunk, just one beer each while we talk."
"Okay, my friend."
"Let's cheers for our long friendship."
"By the way, Henry, what's your source of income now?"
"Well, I work in Makati, my income still enough to meet both ends but our company is having an expansion and promised me a higher salary, so I persevere there."
"How about you, William, how's your status in life?"
"Ah, yes, after we were graduated I worked abroad, and I spent a year in Canada. And now my plan is to put an auto part and service business. Of course from the start, it would earn a little profit but I'm determined that I can make it successful."
"I'm happy to hear that from you, my friends. Henry, do you still remember that beautiful woman, the one we met before at the beerhouse and you told me to court her? His father was strict, I was chased after their dog when I flirted with that beautiful woman," said Victor.
When Victor mentioned that incident, they laughed at the same time.
"How about you, Victor, what are you up to?" asked Henry.
"I don't have a solid income yet, but next year I might be lucky because we have a project in Baguio to build a twenty-story building and I was chosen to make the architectural design," said Victor.
"What if we form a company, after all, we have the same course finished, what do you think?" said Henry.
"Okay, I think that's a good idea. All right, when I finished our project in Baguio let's talk about it, we will carefully make our plan because you know, my friends, in putting up a business company we have to consider so many factors, but I like that idea of yours, Henry. Let's see," said Victor.
After almost an hour of chatting, the conversation among them ended because Henry and William were still far away to get home.
"Victor, we are glad to meet you and thanks we have a good conversation. We'll go ahead," said William.
"I'm glad you came to our house, next time we'll meet again in a comfortable place where we can enjoy drinking," said Victor.
William and Henry got on the passenger bus easily.
While the two still on the passenger bus, Amelia became the subject of their conversation.
"William, didn't you notice Amelia glancing at you while we were having a conversation with his brother Victor?" said Henry.
"I also noticed her and when I smiled at her she also smiled. I think she is not difficult to get her into my heart. I can love and cherish her, but the only problem was Helena. Helena came first inside my heart," said William undecided.
"I don't know what's inside your mind, William, but I feel like I'm going to be crazy with what you're saying," said Henry laughing.
"Henry, may I ask you a question, something personal, have you fallen in love yet?"
"Not yet, why did you asked that question?"
"Now I know, that's why you are like that, you don't know why a person can feel love even if it is forbidden love," said William a little bit serious.
"Well, we have different opinions, because for me, even if I don't court a girl if she is for me, she is mine without any condition, we will get marry and live happily forever, right?"
"That's what I'm telling you, Henry, why not try to find a girl that you can fall in love with her so you can feel what I'm trying to drive at."
"Everything you had said was true because I have never experienced to love and be loved. But now, I think I'm falling in love with Helena," said Henry to tease William.
"Are you crazy? Why Helena?" said William laughing.
"Oh! Of course, I'll look for another one to love."
"You, Henry, until now you're a joker ha! ha! ha!."
Due to some traffics, William got home late at night.
"Mom, have you eaten dinner yet?" asked William to his mother worrying.
"Yes, William, I have prepared your food in the table, just eat and I'll go to sleep," said his mother without asking where he has been.
After eating, William went to his bed to sleep, but although his eyes were closed his mind was awake. Two women at the same time struggling in his mind, Helena and Amelia that made his world in turmoil.
A week later, William went to the mall to see Amelia.
"Hi! Amelia, Vicky," said William smiling.
"William, why are you here? Will you buy something?" asked Amelia while her heart fast beating.
"No. I'll just invite you for a snack."
"Okay. Vicky, I'm just leaving for a while."
"Okay"
"Where do you want to have us a snack, Amelia?"
"Anywhere nearby so I can come back easily."
"Okay. Ah! Here we are. What do you like to eat, Amelia?"
"It's up to you but not heavy, I'm in a diet," said Amelia joking.
While the two were eating, William says something to Amelia.
"Amelia, can we be friends from now on? I just want you to be comfortable when we are together. We can exchange our ideas and opinions without any reservation in ourselves whether personal or something that might not acceptable but we can freely discuss it, would you mind?"
"William, the way I looked at you, you're so gentleman, the way you talk, the way you dressed and because of that who I am not to accept your request, okay let's be friends," said Amelia confidently.
"Thank you, Amelia, for giving me a little chance to your heart."
"What?"
"I mean friend at heart."
"Ah! Okay"
Since then, they have thought of each other as friends, they are happy when they are together when they talk when they joke to each other when they eat together. So, William often took Amelia home after getting off from her work.
"William, my brother is leaving for Baguio."
"Why? I thought he's going to Baguio next year."
"Well, the project has to be started ahead of schedule that's why he should be there at the earliest possible time."
"I see"
When William and Amelia were on the bus to get home, William said something to Amelia.
"Amelia, I have something to tell you."
"What about?"
"I want your opinion on my problem as a friend of yours," said William emotionally.
"Go ahead, tell me and we'll see if I can give my opinion."
William couldn't talk yet because he's thinking if this was the right moment.
"Your problem seems to be serious, I think," said Amelia waiting for William to confess.
After a while, William recounted his feelings for Helena. How they met, how he gradually loved Helena secretly despite the condition of her fiancee, even William force himself to forget her still her picture lingering in his mind something he doesn't know.
Of course, William's confession to Amelia had no effect on Amelia because they were just friends.
"Well, my advice to you is that if you really love her, forget your feelings for her. It won't do any good to you and for her, because Helena's fiancee is still alive although in comatose and your conscience will bother you for sure. And one thing you do not know that she will respond to your feelings," said Amelia.
"Thank you, Amelia, I will remember all that you have said to me," replied William.
One day Amelia received a bouquet of flowers handed by a kid who was ordered by the giver.
"Are you Amelia? Someone is giving these flowers to you," said the kid.
"Ha? Who was the.' Amelia would ask the boy who the giver was but quickly ran away.
"Uy! Amelia, it looks like you have a secret lover," said Vicky.
"Yes, but who he was?"
Amelia disregarded William would be the one because of his feelings with Helena. Amelia knew that because Helena was the one William loved.
"Whoever he was, I wish he was someone like William, who is gentleman, polite, and thoughtful," said Amelia to herself.
The next day, Vicky teases Amelia.
"Amelia, you have plenty of admirers, while me not even one squint man admires me," said
Vicky laughing.
While the two were chatting and joking, William and Henry arrived.
"How are you, Amelia, Vicky?"
"Here, we are waiting for our admirers," Vicky said that made them laughed.
"Vicky, why not just Henry," said William joking.
"I don't like him, you, William is my type," replied Vicky joking.
"Why, don't you know that William and I are both handsome?" Henry said so they laughed.
"We are inviting you to have snacks," said William.
"But who's left here, you may go and I'll just stay, it's okay, I'm fine," said Vicky.
William was the one secretly sending flowers to Amelia without Henry's knowledge. He is beginning to love Amelia, because, from the first day they met, Amelia was always in his mind but because of Helena he couldn't just turn his feelings just like that.