I entered the restaurant elegantly with a dull face. All people in the restaurant were staring at me. I slightly smirked. I saw girls with envious eyes and boys were looking at me with amazed eyes. I was wearing a COLROVIE white waist wrap knot belted strapped split sexy dress A Line and 3 inch white stiletto with a indigenous hand made cute clutch.
A man waved at me sitting on a vacant table and I went there.
"Have a seat" the man told me. I seated and put my bag on a vacant chair and look at him.
He was wearing a black tuxedo with a gray neck tie. He's Allen Lazaro, the only son of the Lazaro Group of Companies.
"Fucking businessman" I said on my mind
"So, how old are you?" he asked while smiling
"25. Can we order now?" I answered shortly. Damn! I am hungry.
"Oh? You're young. I am 28 by the way"
I rolled her eyes. "And so?" I said while my right eyebrow was raising. I saw him smirking. Did he smirk at me?!
What the hell?! He didn't feel that I'm not interested with him? Tss! Slowpoke!
"Nothing. Then, where are you from?"
I rolled my eyes again. What's this? Was he really interested with me? I was giving him a cold treatment, like duh?
"Capiz" I answered again and drank the water in a wine glass.
"Capiz?!" he shouted and I saw how he was shocked. Nah! I know that face. Here we were again.
"So?"
"Are you kidding me? Really? You are from Capiz?"
"Do I need to repeat myself again?" I asked him coldly.
Tsk! Relax! I know what he was talking about.
"Then, is it true that there are ghosts and vampire there?"
"And why would I answer you?"
Damn it!
"N-nothing"
And now ladies and gentlemen, he was stammering or was he just afraid of me? I'm too used of that reaction by the way.
"Really?" I asked him looking at his eyes coldly. I saw him gulped.
"Y-Yeah. But is it really true?"
"What do you think Allen?"
"Maybe, yes?"
I closed my eyes to convince myself to relax, but I can't control it! I opened my eyes and drank my water once more and took a deep breath and,
"Who the hell are you to judge my province?!" I said shouting.
I know, there were lot of eyes looking us now, but who cares?! He's insulting my province!
"H-hey relax. Don't make a scene here"
"Relax? Oh come on you fucking idiot! How could I relax if you're insulting where I came from?! Stupid!"
"Now, I know. It's true that you are such a brat Ms. Chea Danielle Delavin " Allen said while smirking.
Oh! How dare him! I will give what he wants!
I tsked. "So, are you putting me on a show? Then, congratulations to you Mr. Idiot because you put me on this fucking situation" I stood up and saw his shocking face. I knew for sure that I insulted him. A beautiful lady calling the one and only son of Lazaro Group of Companies, an idiot one.
"Oops!" I acted covering my mouth and told him "I'm so sorry. My eyes became blur, I thought you are an idiot" I said and then smirked. I know I won this match.
I walked out in the restaurant with heads up high without looking back and went to my car and drove.
I hate that guy! I mean all the guys! Don't you dare to say that I was a bitter person because I was not. I was not defensive, I was explaining.
Speaking of Capiz, I know you're wondering why I acted that way when that idiot said that there were lot of ghosts and vampires in Capiz. I acted that way because he was judging my province without any basis and evidence! I hate that! He was my fellowmen here in the Philippines but he kept judging and judging my beautiful place and those Filipinos who believed in that statement! Jeez! Stupid people!
My phone rang while I'm driving to Caloocan. I took the call with my blue tooth ear piece
["Hi Nene!" ]
I blow an air. I know that voice.
"Don't call me Nene! Tss!" I said annoyed.
Nene is an appellation for a small girl. In Capiz, it is a popular endearment for a young girl that aged 14 years old. It's kinda annoying when she called me NENE.
["Haha! You're so funny Chea"]
"Really? Oh thank you"
Insert sarcasm here. I heard her laugh and rolled my eyes. Eyes on the road Chea. I told to myself.
[You are so welcome Nene, by the way, how was your date?"]
"Mess" I retorted
["Again?"]
"Are you still shocked? You should be used to it my dear" I told her in a boring tone.
["Yeah, I know. But, you should gave him a c-" ]
I cut her off.
"A chance?" I laughed. "Are you trying to make me laugh? If you do, you got me. Thank you!"
["Delavin!"]
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If she said my surname, she was in her short-tempered level. I sighed
"Fine"
[ "What happened?" ]
I sighed again. I know, I could not say no to her. If I didn't tell her, she will keep asking and asking me. So of course, I told her the whole story that happened in the dinner.
["Chea! Are you out of your mind?! That issue again?"]
"So?"
["So? Is that all you can say?"]
"Of course! What else?"
["Argh! I couldn't believe you!"]
"Then, believe me"
["Delavin!"]
She's getting on my nerves again!
"What?!" I said scornfully
["You are 25 now. For Pete's sake Chea, you don't have a boyfriend!"]
"So, is it a big deal if I don't have? I can survive without it Lyka" I said seriously. Here we were again, talking about useless topic.
["I want you to be happy Chea, I'm getting married soon"]
Lyka was my secretary but I didn't treat her like that, I treat her as my eldest sister. You read it right. She's getting married three months after.
"I know you're getting married Lyka, I am not yet old, okay? Please? I can be happy without it, I have my families and friends. I am contented now"
["Now? Then, how about soon?"]
"Whatever. So, what is my schedule tomorrow?"
["Super change topic!"]
"Lyka. You know me, okay? Please?" I told her calmly
["Whatever!"]
Yes! I won in the battle. I know Lyka very much. If she said "whatever" then, she wouldn't argue me anymore.
"So, what is my schedule?"
["You have a signing of book at Market-Market. 2:30 pm"]
"Is that all?"
["Yes, but the one of the drug stores here in the Philippines wanted you to be their model"]
"What is the name of the drug store?"
["It's Maciano Drug Store"]
"No!"
["Chea! They always contacting me about this endorsement. They have a good offer. I think, you can do it"]
"I said NO Lyka, NO!" I emphasized the word NO.
["Another issue again huh?"]
Argh! I will tell the story, as if I have a choice, when I was 20 years old, I applied in the pharmacy which was the Maciano Drug Store as a pharmacist assistant. I know it was not related to my course but, I need the job badly. I was shy to my Auntie because I stayed in their house for almost one month, but I didn't have job yet. Do you know what happened that day? They didn't accept me because my height is not an ideal for the job. I'm just five feet and two inches. In their requirements, it stated there that female must be at least 5'0 and then, I was shocked when the interviewer measured my height and told me to go home because I was not qualified for the job because of my damn height! I was affected on that day, they had a very vague rules and regulations. I felt bad, they already judged me without questioning my skills, knowledge and ideas. Tss!
So now, they want me to be their model? Hah! No thanks! After what they did to me? Tss!
"You know the story behind it Lyka and you know the feeling of being rejected"
["Chea, it was 5 years ago, don't you think it's time to move on? Five years is enough"]
"I already moved on Lyka but the pain is still here. Let's drop this topic and sorry, I can't accept their offer. Bye!" I ended the call.
I parked my car in the garage and went inside of my Auntie's House.
"Good Evening!" I greeted them. Everyone was in the living room, they're watching a tv show.
"Hello Ate Chea! (Ate means Elder Sister in the Philippines) Asher greeted me while holding my right hand. Asher was my cousin.
"Hi Asher! How are you? You're now a big boy and handsome" He smiled at me.
He's really handsome, for sure many girls would cry.
"Hi Chea! How are you?" My Tita Loida greeted me too.
I kissed her on her cheeks and smiled.
"I'm great. Kinda busy to my work" I retorted.
I sat down on sofa.
"Do you have any appointment tomorrow?" Tita Loida
"Yes, I have Tita. Why?"
"I'm just asking. Chea, you should take a break. Look at your face, you looked haggard"
I slightly smiled.
"Thanks Tita for the concern, but I need to finish my schedule tomorrow" I gave her a half-smiled, assuring that I'm just fine.
"Okay. It's already 9:00p.m, you should take a rest now"
"Thanks Tita" I stood up.
"Wait Chea" I looked at Tita.
"Yes Tita?"
"Smile Chea. Since you have a work, I noticed that you're not smiling anymore. You changed a lot, I miss the old Chea"
I forced a smiled to Tita and proceed to my room.
I sat down on my bed. I know this is not me 5 years ago. I looked at my picture on my side table, my picture when I still know how to smile.
I was a bubbly girl, chubby, always smiling to people, talkative, an adviser to my friends in their love lives, and a cool guitarist. My other friends always asking me if what happened, but I keep silent on that issue. I don't want to talk about it.
*******
"Chea, your schedule tomorrow is you have a meeting to a TV Network" Lyka said while sitting here in Van going to the Market-Market Mall.
"What's the name of the Network?" I asked while texting.
"ASB Network"
"What?!" I shouted
"Shocked?"
"Isn't obvious? Tss!" I rolled my eyes. That damn station.
"Hmp!" She's bitching me
Lyka was so childish!
"Cancel it" I said
"What?!"
Now, she's shocked.
"Shocked too? " I laughed out loud.
"Oh my Gosh! Did you... Did you..."
"Did I what?" I asked her frowning.
Is she crazy? Her two eyes were sparkling. Just like she saw her favorite food. Tss!
"Did you laugh Chea? Did you? Waaa! You're so cute when you laugh"
O-okay? I stopped my laugh instantly when I realize that I really laughing out loud. I'm not like this. Chea, don't be back to your old self.
"You barely smile Chea, but I love your laugh today. Waaaa!" Lyka said while clapping her hands. Tss! Childish!
"Whatever!" I said with a cold tone
"By the way, why are you cancelling the meeting with ASB Network? They're the number one TV Network here in our country. You will be more popular"
"Nah! My popularity is too much now. I am contented. I'm just happy to know that my readers are happy too and inspired because of the stories that I wrote"
"Oh No! You're an emo now Chea"
"Tsk!" I said and looking at the window of the van. I heard Lyka's laugh but I didn't mind her.
****
Finally, the book signing already finished. Many people came to see me to sign the book that I wrote. I saw their smiles and I loved it. They also told me that they're very inspired to live in life and I am overwhelmed.
"Hey Chea, you want to date?" Lyka asked me while I'm sitting in sofa. We're here in our office.
"Again Lyka? C'mon!" she always set me up on a date. She always asked me to date here, date there, date everywhere! She's playing a cupid to my negative 8 love life.
"Delavin!" she glared at me and rolled my eyes again. I was a ROLLED EYE QUEEN! AND I EXIST!
I sighed and I faced her with a pleading eyes.
"Please Lyka, don't bring up that topic. I don't want to talk about it, okay? I think it's my 9th time to date a boy and I didn't feel any spark"
"Because you didn't give them a chance Chea"
She took a deep breath. Oh fuck it!
"Lyka, they keep insulting my beloved place and they always saying that I am brat"
"Of course Chea, they will always say that you're brat because you showed it. I know and you know that you're not brat. Are you a man hater... or a lesbian?"
"What the heck! What kind of question is that?! I'm not a lesbian! So, if I didn't have boyfriend for the past 8 years, you considered me a lesbian Lyka?! Tss!" I shouted. Is she out of her mind?! I wasn't against the gender identity, actually I was promoting gender equality.
"I'm sorry Chain, but I think it's time to have a love life"
"Nope. It's not the right time and it wouldn't be happen"
I was not ready yet.
"Why? Are you hiding something from me?"
I looked at her and then I remembered how we met.
I knew Lyka when I was 20 years old, she was an applicant too on ASB Network and so am I. The position was a Customer Service Representative. I was not hire by the network because I didn't answer the question clearly. I admit, I have no idea about customer service because all I know was all about my course. In that time, I need the job so badly, but they shouldn't gave me a chance to train me. I know to myself that I can do it if I have a proper training, but they didn't give. And, now the ASB Network wants me? Huh! Never! I couldn't forget that time of my life.
"Hey!" She snapped her fingers on my face.
"Ha? Of course not. Maybe next time" I answered her and cleared my throat
"Shoot! That's great. You said next time, I'm looking forward to it" she said while smiling. Tss!
"Chea, can I ask you something?" she asked again.
"What is it?" I asked while I'm taking my phone on my bag.
"It's a personal question Chea"
Okay? She seemed so serious.
"Spill it"
"Why did you change yourself five years ago? I know you are a happy go lucky person, smiling always, friendly, cheerful and loving when we met. You were talking and talking to me, but now I noticed that you are different"
I was not surprised of Lyka's question, many people asked me that, but I still remain silent. I don't want to remember it. Past was a past, present is a present.
"Lyka, people changed"
"Yeah I know, people changed Chea, but it's good to see people change in positive way, not a negative way just like you. You don't want to smile, you don't want to go the mall if you are alone, and especially you don't want to be a friend of a boy. Why Chea? Why?" She asked me furiously
"It's not the right time to talk about it Lyka, soon, you will know"
She sighed like she already surrendered. "Alright"
"Any schedule tomorrow?"
"You have a vacation leave, two weeks"
Finally!
"Great! I'm going home to Capiz, want to come?"
"I loved to, but sorry Chea, I can't be with you, you know we're preparing for our wedding" she smiled and I saw her eyes and it sparkling. I was happy for her
"Okay"
"Excuse me" Lyka said. She answered her phone. She got a call again.
While Lyka's talking on her phone, I open my phone and there, I played MY HOME game, I was kinda addicted to this game.
"Chea" I paused the game in my phone and looked at Lyka.
"Yes?"
"ASB called me"
Again? I rolled my eyes.
"And?"
"They want you. They will make a movie and they choose your story entitled THE CEO's ORBS and the offer of the network is so excellent" she said with a tone of excitement.
"My answer is still no Lyka" I said quickly
Her smile was gone. "Why? Is this your dream, isn't it?"
I tsked.
"Yes but that five years ago"
"DELAVIN!"
"I'm going to the mall, I'm meeting someone. Bye!"
I said and hurriedly got my bag. I ran as fast as I could so that she shouldn't reached me. I was in the elevator when my phone rang, I saw the named flashed on my screen and I tapped the answer button.
"Hello!" I greeted
["Hi Chea! Are you on the way?"]
"Yes. How about you?"
["I'm already here"]
"Oh. What a surprise! You're early now. I'm so proud of you" I teased her
["Hmp! I'm waiting here, okay?"]
"Okay! Where are the others?"
["They're coming now"]
"Okay. See ya!" I said energetically. I was going to meet my friends. Yes! I have friends and Lyka doesn't know about it.
****
At the Mall
"How are you Oh Women?!" someone's shouting at our back
"That voice!" we said in unison and looked at the lady who shouted a while ago
"Waaaa! I missed you all" she said while pulling the chair and sat down.
We're here at Mall of Asia, the biggest mall in Asia, specifically in a fast food resto.
"We missed you too Rose" Anne said
"So, let's start talking about our lives" Abegail said
All girls were too excited for this get together, but me? Well, I couldn't know to myself.
"Okay! Who will be the first to tell the story about her life?" Anne
"Me!" Rose
"Hahaha" they laughed and here I was, looking at them. I was so happy that they were happy to their lives.
She told us about what happened to her life. Now, Rose has four children. Two boys and two girls. Rose and Ricky got married 3 years ago. Her husband's work was a seaman and she has a mini department store somewhere in Manila. Gail, Mariane and Anne went to the wedding of Rose. I didn't attend to her wedding because I was in London that time to process my contract in a publishing company. She understood my situation, but she told me that I will gave her an expensive gift. Tss! Rose was Rose. She loved expensive things.
"Next" Rose said
"Me!" Anne said
Anne told us that she's planning to run as a Mayor in Roxas City, Capiz, to my beloved place. She has a business there, it was a bookstore.
"Seriously Anne?" Mariane asked her
"Yes of course, I never thought that my joke when we're in college will be happened" Anne said proudly
"So, how's love life?" Gail asked
I blew an air. This was not good! Maybe, I will be on a hot seat later.
What do you expect Chea? They were your friends for Pete's sake!
"Strong and happy" Anne said and smiled. I can see that she's happy with Gian
"Next" Anne said
"Me!" Gail said while she pointed finger to her chest.
Gail said that she is now the Vice-President of the one of the fast food chains in the world. Big time! She's engaged to Emboy.
"Congratulations Gail!" Mariane
"Thank you. Then, how's your life now?" Gail asked
"Me?" Mariane laughed and sipped her soft drinks. We were waiting our order and I was also aware that people were looking us because we were noisy.
"No! You're not. Actually Gail asking Anne. It's not you" Rose said and laughed.
I know it was a joke. Hmm. I knew I missed them so much, but I was not comfortable with the topic. I need to go, I need to escape!
Running again, Chea?
This was not good, my mind has a mind too. Damn.
"So, tell us about your life" Gail said
Mariane told us that she has a coffee shop and she has branches all over the Manila. I secret smiled. That's her dream! She's also an artist.
"How about the love life?" Anne asked
"Well, actually I'm engaged yesterday"
"What?!" we said in unison. The Oh Women group was so shocked about what Mariane said. Is she serious? We were looking at each other like what the fuck was happened?
She smiled to us! Oh my! She's really serious!
The crew served our order and we started eating.
"Oh my Gosh! Who's the lucky guy?" Anne said while she sipped her pineapple juice
"Choco Brown"
"Wow! Really? How come? I mean, how did you know each other?" Gail
Mariane told us that she and Jhake, the real name of Choco Brown, met in her coffee shop.
She said that on the day that they accidentally met, she was the cashier of her shop because her crew has an emergency call while on duty.
Then, Jhake told her that she looked familar and Mariane realized that Jhake was her crush in college.
She told that they were schoolmates and after that Jhake always visiting her Coffee Shop.
"Destiny" Rose teased her
"Congratulations!" I greeted Mariane happily.
Mariane was the serious type in our circle of friends. She didn't have any boyfriend in college, unlike us, we had. But I had only one okay? Oh forget it.
At least, she has a love life now and take note, she's engaged yesterday. Maybe the saying "True love waits" was true. Well, I don't care anyway.
"Thanks Chea! How about you?" Mariane
"Yes Chea, how's life?" Gail asked.
Now, all their eyes were looking at me. Okay! I'm on a hot seat. I blew an air again and said,
"Can we finish our food first before I answer all your questions?"
They nod, thank God! They agreed to me.
"Spill it" Anne said.
We already finished eating our foods. Hot seat on!
"Hmm.." I was thinking what would I tell them "I am an author now" I said shortly. I don't want to talk about my life.
"That's all?" Gail
"Yes. That's all" I retorted
"We know that you are an author now Chea, you are so popular. I have your books on my bookstore, we are talking about how's your life, your family" Anne
"Yeah. I'm agree with Anne. You're always busy. Every time we have hang outs, you'll say that "Kinda busy, next time maybe" Mariane said in immitating my voice. Tss
"I'm saying the truth Oh Women!" I said irritated
"Yeah. You say so. It's miracle that you're not busy today. Look at you, you're disguising every time you go out so that people wouldn't recognize you" Rose
Tss! I hate this. It's just like that I was the one who complicating our hang outs.
I rolled my eyes.
"I am free for just two weeks" I said
"Really? Then you must treat us for 2 weeks, repayment for your absences in our hang outs" Rose
"Really Rose? Tss! I'm going home"
"Where?" Anne
"Of course in Capiz. I missed my families there especially my parents.." And I realized... "I mean my Mom and my sis"
"Then, are you not missing us Chea?" Gail asking full of sulky
Face palm! Aren't they working? They should know the word BUSY. Letter B-U-S-Y! Tss!
"Of course I missed you all guys, we still have plenty of time, five years were so long. My Mom and my sis didn't see me. We always video chat, but it's not enough. They wanted to see me Oh Women, I promise, when I get back here in Manila, I will treat you all. Now, happy?"
I saw their smiles flashed on their lips. Tss!
"Shoot!" they said in unison.
I really missed them. My Oh Women Group was my circle of friends when I was in College.
In the Philippines specifically in Capiz, the students there were fond of giving names in their group of friends. We named our group Oh Women because when we hang out in mall, we kept joking around and Anne changing the words of common expression of the boys, just like "Oh boy!", she'll changed it to "Oh Girl!" Then, "Oh Men!" and then she changed it to "Oh Women!" and BOOM! That was Oh Women Group arise. Amazing right? Just kidding.
And yes, they didn't ask my you know, Ew! You know what I mean. LOVE LIFE! and I was so happy. I was safe.
"Wait" Anne
We looked at her.
"Why? Is there a problem?" Mariane
"We missed one question to Chea" Anne
Oh-oh.
"What is it?" Gail
"How's your love life?" Anne asked me. I palmed my face. I thought they forgot to ask me. Jeez!