It was strange, Lea thought, how her day ended up with unexpected twist. Just in the morning, she was devastated with how she encountered a dead end to her impossible search. She was about to give up when her dice of luck started to roll. She had felt that the Almighty One from above might have heard her desperate plea. Whether it was heavenly intervention or fate, she was glad to accept them.
It all started, Lea believed, with a simple prayer she whispered at the church. She just asked God if He didn't really want her to find him. Yet, her prayer was answered quickly as she unexpectedly had a sumptuous lunch with Landon and Mavis at a wonderful seafood buffet restaurant. Then in a dinner with some great people, she discovered the identity of the chef she was looking for. And when she thought nothing could get any better, her blessed evening ended up with being able to serve her dinner companions with a delightful dessert.
Minutes before midnight while her friends were fast asleep, Lea was still wide awake, sitting on the coach with her drawing pad and pen on her hands, staring blankly the dark scenery beyond the window wall. She was actually reminiscing all that had happened with her. She couldn't get over with them. Lea never thought such things could all happen in just a single day. Her adrenaline was still high that she couldn't get herself into bed.
Lea was absorbed with her thoughts that she didn't sense Shira sitting beside her.
With her left hand holding a glass of water, Shira asked, "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
Lea didn't respond. How could she if she was deep in her thoughts, recalling the events of the day?
"Hello?"
When Shira noticed that Lea was absent minded, she tried to snap Lea by waving her right hand in front Lea's face.
"Who? What?" Lea shook her head and turned her attention to Shira. "What are you doing her."
"Well," she showed her the glass of water. "I felt thirsty. What about you? Why you're still awake, sitting her alone? Is something bothering you?"
Lea blinked, her mind was still wandering on the things that just happened. Shira stayed silent, waiting for her to go on.
"Nothing's wrong." Lea paused. "I just couldn't sleep. All the things that had happened today seem unreal."
"Speaking of what happen. You haven't told us yet what happened to you this morning." Shira took a peek at Maggie and Julie's rooms. "Tell me. What happened this morning between you and Mr. Bachelor Chef?"
"Bachelor Chef?" Lea asked, for once at a lost as to how to respond next.
Shira raised her eyebrows, collecting her thought as she cast Lea a sidelong glance. "Come on, Lea. Don't try to pretend you don't know whom I'm referring to. You and Landon even had a moment together making the desserts," she complained.
Lea knew that Shira has the sharpest eyes among her friends. If there's someone she wanted to avoid in order to keep her secret, it would be Shira. As her classmate in psychology classes, she's acquainted with her habits and traits. Lea and Shira had been the guinea pigs of each other on many personality test experiments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the BIG FIVE Personality Traits. Lea feared that after so much time together as friends and classmates, she wouldn't be able to keep her secret long since they got to the point where they could anticipate what the others would be thinking and doing.
Not wanting anyone to know her secret, Lea tried to be careful with her movements. Shira's keen observation skills would definitely catch her if she's not careful. It wasn't that she doesn't trust Shira or any of her friends. Lea just wanted, for the first time to do something alone without their help. Lea perceived, as had been in the past, that her friends would surely lend a hand when she's in trouble or in need. She's thankful for their help but she had already decided that her secret should only be done by her, alone.
"To top it off, you and him even seemed to be getting along well after the dinner." Shira gently pushed her.
Shira was talking about the time, she and the others strolled on the beach shore while Lea remained at the open deck with Landon and his friends. From a distance, Shira have seen a smile on Lea's face, having a good time. It was unfortunate that she couldn't hear their topic. She was actually happy for her. She needed a break from the stressful situation waiting for Lea back in Los Angeles. This vacation, Shira thought, was a good way for Lea to unwind with the planning and conceptualizing.
Lea also wanted to walk along the shore but she couldn't. She also thought of having her feet play with the dust like sand of the beach and be splashed by the little waves of the sea. Yet, she couldn't stand up. Mavis had actually fallen asleep on her lap after finishing his dessert. Not wanting to wake him up, she just said that she didn't want to as Landon was offering to get Mavis back.
Lea sarcastically laughed. "Mr. Bolton and I are just friends. There's nothing between us."
"Yeah, right."
"We're just friends," Lea insisted.
"If you say so." Shira rolled her eyes. "I can't blame you. He's attractively handsome, talented chef and most of eligible."
"What? You don't believe me?"
Shira chuckled. "Oh yes, I do," she mockingly said. "How can't I if Landon has met all checklist that you have."
Lea used to have a checklist on what she was looking for in a man. Shira accidentally discovered it when Lea had forgotten to hide her diary the night before Shira came to their apartment for one of their activities. It wasn't a fancy checklist of a knight in shining armor. It was a product of Lea's pinpricks of memory of heartaches and tears from her past. Lea, actually, regretted making one and being discovered by her friends since becomes a topic whenever Lea and her friends meet a man who tops her checklist.
Lea hate to admit it but she's right about Landon. She also found it ridiculously easy to imagine that Landon would easily meet any checklist by women. Lea knew she hadn't really known him long enough to make that kind of judgment, but she couldn't deny her intuition.
"All except for the last one." Lea was referring to having no strips attach. She and her friends felt the immense love of Landon for his wife when Julie unconsciously asked about her during the dinner.
"He's single," Shira insisted.
Lea didn't immediately respond. "He is... but his wife just died. It wouldn't be proper to dig deeper into things."
"So you're thinking of trying." Shira smiled.
"Of course not. You're the one who started it. Besides, why on earth are we talking about it? Let's just enjoy our vacation," Lea suggested, trying to divert the topic.
Shira met her eyes and reached for her hands. She squeezed it softly. "If you need us, never forget that you could always count on us." She smiled at her. "Maybe except for Julie," she jokingly said.
Both ladies laughed. Julie has always been considered as someone favored by trouble. There's not a single moment where Julie haven't got them into trouble. She's worst than a kid who needed an eye on despite being blessed with high IQ. She does whatever she wanted without thinking of the consequences of her actions. Lea and the others have been bombarding her about it. They have talked to her ad nauseam. It went in one ear and out the other, of course.
Same old story for Lea, who have known Julie longer than the rest. Seeing an attractive man has was one of those moments where Julie's immaturity takes over her. She wasn't a bad girl though. Immature, yes, but not bad.
"What can you expect? She's a living example of carelessness." Shira smiled.
"Well, that's about right."
Both ladies laughed as Shira didn't push her to spill it out her day. After all, she knew that if ever Lea would be in trouble, she would hesitate to ask for help.
Shira rose from her seat, stretched her arms and yawned. "It's late. We should already be resting. Tomorrow would be more energy consuming."
Lea simply nodded and quietly entered their own rooms.