I sighed and answered Anne seriously.
"Coke Zero"
Coke Zero means zero love life.
"Why?" Gail
"I have no time" I said boring
"Your love life is kinda boring my dear" Rose
"Yeah Rose. I know it's boring, but I do NOT care at all" I emphasized the word 'not'
Not all people should have a love life. It's pretty fun when you are free, right? Are you single too? We were happy, right?
"Chea Danielle" Gail said my name. Oh-oh She's serious.
"Yes?" I smiled fake.
"Tell us the truth, we noticed this after 5 years" Gail
"Please direct to the point" I said
She sighed.
"Okay" Gail cleared her throat and asked me. "Chea, what happened to you? You are not the Chea Danielle Delavin we knew five years ago. You're not smiling, you're not cracking a joke and you're serious now. Where's the Chea that we met? Is she still there? I know you're not a man hater nor a lesbian, but what happened? Is there a problem? We can help you"
They were looking at me and waiting for my answer. I sighed.
"People change" I said. That's exactly what I said to Lyka when she also asked me that question.
"People change Chea, but it seems that you changed in a negative way" Mariane
Really? For me, I changed myself positively.
"Please tell us, we are your best friends"
I know they planned this. They want to know what happened to me.
"Maybe in the right time Oh Women, please understand me, I will tell you, I promise but not now"
Silence.
It's really hard for me to tell them, I don't want them to know what happened to me. I know, it's unfair but I'm not ready yet.
"Okay. But call us if you're ready to talk about it anytime, anywhere" Rose
I smiled.
"Oh! That's smile, we missed that! Waaa!" Anne said
"Hey! How is he?" Mariane
"Who?" I asked while checking my phone
"Sungit" Sungit means frown.
In our country, we gave a codename or alias to our crushes, so that when we will talk about our crush during schooldays, the people won't know who we we talking about. You know there were gossips around.
"Oh? Who is he?" I innocently asked while I put my phone back on my bag.
Rose laughed. "It seems that you didn't forgive him?" Rose teased me
"I don't want to talk about him"
"Okay. Then, are you planning to get married?" Mariane
"Wait! Why is that you have a lot of questions about me?"
"Just answer it Chea" Anne said seriously. Oh my. Serious tone and I hate that kind of attitude of Anne.
"Fine! Chill Anne, chill, okay? I'm going to answer it, okay?"
Damn! The tantrums of Anne was so hard to control .
"Answer" Anne
Maybe when she wins in Politics, she will be a dictator Mayor.
"To be honest, I don't have any plan to get married"
"Wow! So, you're sticking to your plan when we we're in College huh?" Gail
"Yes. I told you. I'm serious about it"
"Serious about not to get married, but you want to have a child" Mariane
"Exactly!" I said loudly
"Weirdo! Then, how can you have a child if you're not going to get married?" Rose
"Tsk! Are you old? I'm going to ask the doctor if it's possible that I can have a girl child through injection. I have no idea about it yet, but I'm going to research"
"Then, how about if the doctor said that it's not possible to have a baby girl through injection?" Gail
"Well, I have a Plan B"
"What's the Plan B?"
Wooo! I'm in a talk show? I'd better to answer them. You know their tantrums will attack me if I refuse.
"One Night Stand" I said with full of confidence
"What?!" I know they will be shocked. But that's the last option I have.
We caught the attention of people here in a fast food chain. We smiled as a sign of sorry.
"Are you insane?!" Rose said madly with a low voice. Her eyes were kinda scary.
"I'm not. You know what my situation is. I hope all of you will understand me" I calmly said
"But how will you do the one night stand thingy if you don't have any boyfriend?" Anne
"Tss! I'm going to hire, okay?"
"What? My Gosh Chea Danielle Delavin! You are out of your mind! What happened to you?! What if that boy has an HIV or AIDS?!" Rose hysterically said
"Calm down Rose. Oh my God!" I said and looked around us. Damn! "Of course, I will not allow it, okay? I'm going to be sure that he has a good genes"
"What if your Mom wouldn't agree to your plans?" Gail
"She wouldn't know unless you will tell her"
They all sighed.
"I know that all of you are concerned with me, and I am very thankful, but please you should understand me, you know what I have"
They remained silent and looked me. I just smile at them.
"Okay" They said in unison. I sighed. I want to end this day. I badly need to get out here.
*****
Lyka's POV
Oh my Gosh! I'm so excited for my upcoming wedding. Waaa! I was really happy. I was here in my Condo, specifically in my room, lying on my bed, imagining my wedding day.
I heard my phone rang. Distuber!
I answered the phone without looking the screen.
"Hello" I boredly greet
["Good evening! Is this the secretary of Ms. Delavin?"]
Oh! Maybe a client. I should be polite.
"Good evening too. Yes, this is Lyka speaking. Who is this please?"
["I am Greg, one of the representatives of ASB Network, I'd like to ask if she is free tomorrow? We will offer again the movie"]
They were really interested with Nene, but Nene wasn't.
"I'm sorry Mr. Greg, she's on her vacation leave"
["Can you set me a meeting with her after her vacation leave?"]
"I can't be sure Mr. Greg, she already made her decision, but I'll ask her again. I will inform you what's her decision"
["That's all Ms. Lyka, we are hoping that she will take our offer. Thank you"]
"You are welcome, Bye!"
I hung up the phone. I wondered why Chea rejected the offer of ASB Network, their offer was so great and I knew Chea will be richer. If she would accept the offer, she can live without working. Chea was so weird. Maybe she didn't forget what happened when she applied a job in ASB Network
I knew also that she felt annoyed when I forced her to date someone. I was just a concern citizen friend here. Like duh! She's getting old, for Pete's sake! I really don't know why she didn't give a chance to those boys who like her. Many hot guys like her, she's prettier now, sexier, she lost weight, popular, but boys call her cold hearted chinta. Chinita means chinese eyes, or asian eyes, usually has small brown eyes.
You read it right. She's so-called Cold Hearted Chinita. Why? She simply give her oh so famous line, "what the hell?! or what the fuck?!" with Chinese eyes or her oh so famous expression "Tss!" every time she has a date.
Some of her bashers throwing issues to her just like she's a brat, weirdo, play girl and a cold hearted. But it's good that her fans didn't mind it. Instead, they were more supportive to Nene. Of course, she's now in popular in Asia, she needs to answer those issues every time she has a press conference.
I know also that there were some companies were very eager to get NENE because she always rejected their offers but of course, she has the right to reject. She's the boss. Business was a business.
I know Chea well, she's not brat and not a cold hearted chinita. I will agree in the weirdo issue, why? Because she's a mysterious to me. Even though we were friends, sometimes I felt that there were lots of secrets behind her success. Why did I say this? Because I want to know it and I want to help her.
Maybe I should consider the love life issue, a mysterious thing with Chea. I was always setting her up on date, but she keeps rejecting it. I asked one of the boys that she dated, the boy told me that Chea was brat and he concluded that maybe Chea had a bad past relationship that's why she's so mean. I knew her bad experiences thru applying a job five years ago, she's sensitive. She told me that she always rejected because of her height and pimples on her face and she was an inexperienced. That time she was a fresh graduate. But I was shocked when she called me that she wanted me to be her secretary because there was an international publishing company offered her to publish her story and it began her career.
All I can say about Chea, she's unpredictable.
*****
Chea's POV
"Yes Ma, I'm going home on Thursday"
[Really? That's great! We will see you. We miss you so much Chea"] I heard my Mom crying.
That's your fault.
Damn! My mind again.
"Mama, please don't cry. If you continue crying, I wouldn't go back home" I blackmailed said
["Waaaa! Mama! Don't cry! Kuya wouldn't go home if you keep crying. Please?! Stop crying"]
That's my sis. Tss! Childish as ever.
I heard Mama laughed.
[Chea, please go home. Please?] My mom sounds begging. It broke my heart.
"Of course Ma. I'm going home. I'm packing my things now. Don't worry, okay?"
[Yehey! Kuya will going home. Pasalubong okay? I want all your books] My sis said again.
Pasalubong (Tagalog, "[something] for when you welcome me") is the Filipino tradition of travelers bringing gifts from their destination to people back home.Pasalubong can be any gift or souvenir brought for family or friends after being away for a period of time. It can also be any gift given by someone arriving from a distant place.
"Okay. If that's you want. How about you Ma?"
["Even there's no pasalubong Chea it's fine with us. All we want is, you will be home safe and sound"]
I sighed. My family was so sweet. I really missed them.
You're getting back to old Chea! Nice.
"Okay Ma. I'm going to hang up the phone"
["Okay Chea. Be safe"]
"Thanks Ma. Bye!"
I ended the call. I was packing my things, my flight was on Thursday. Today was tuesday, so I have time to shop pasalubongs to my family.
Suddenly, my phone beeped. I got one message received.
From: LDF
Hey Ielle! Are you still here in Manila?
I replied.
To: LDF
Yes. I'm still here. Why?
Sent
From: LDF
Meet me at Market-Market Mall.
To: LDF
Why?
Sent
From: LDF
Of course. I want to see you. Tsk! I want to treat you, but it seems that you don't want to go with me.
I immediately replied.
To: LDF
Hey! I'm just asking! Tss! What time?
At Mall
We're here at my favorite fast food chain. I'm wearing my disguise outfit.
"Ielle, can I ask you?"
"Yes?" I said while chewing my food.
"Where are you going?"
Ah. He was shocked when he saw me carrying many plastics and paper bags when we met at 2nd Floor and of course, he couldn't believe that I'm wearing disguise stuffs like a conservative nerd. Tss! He called me on my second name and he shortened my name "Danielle" to "Ielle" pronounced as ELI.
"Ah. I'm going home in Capiz. I just bought pasalubong to my Mama and sis and families"
"Oh? That's great! How's your life? You are now popular Chea and I love your stories"
"My life? Hmm. I guess, happy and contented"
"Yeah. It's totally obvious, you changed Ielle. Physically and emotionally"
"Physically? Really? Why did you say that?"
I knew, I always went to the gym to loss weight because I was chubby that time.
He laughed. "Are you serious that you didn't know?"
"Tss! Am I going to ask you if I know?" I rolled my eyes.
"Oh! You're rolling your eyes now ha? While five yeas ago, you didn't know how to do that. You're smiling always" He was amused.
"Tss! You know what? My Oh Women told me that too. Can you all just support me? Tss!" I irritated said
"Hey! Relax!" He tapped my shoulder. "We're just saying what we noticed about you"
"Yeah right"
"Let's just finish eating before we talk" LDF said.
LDF means Long Distance Friend. His name is Yngwie Sta.Maria (pronounced as Yongwie). We're friends when I was in 3rd year college. I knew him because of someone.
"So, we finished eating. How's your work?" It's my turn to ask questions.
"It's great. Pretty girls are around us" he said laughing
"Tss!"
"Hey! Are you jealous?" He teased me
"Duh! Why would I be jealous? Are you my boyfriend?"
He laughed again. "I'm just kidding you know. You're always serious Ielle"
Yngwie was a seaman. If your boyfriend was a seaman like LDF, then, expect to be hurt. They're playboys. Tss! In our term, SEAMANLOLOKO! They were all betray their girlfriends.
"Whatever!" I said and rolled my eyes
He laughed again. "You're losing your patience Ielle. Just relax okay? You know what?"
"What?!" I asked him angrily.
"You are prettier now Chain"
I looked at LDF. He's serious when he said that. I was shocked.
"Hey! Where's my thank you? You're just looking at me. Am I too handsome for you?" he said while smiling.
"W-What?" I stammered.
He laughed again. "So, I guess my charm now is working to you"
"Like Duh! Mr. Sta Maria? You're very conceited"
He laughed again. My god! He was always laughing at me.
"Whatever! So, when did you arrive here in Manila?"
"Last sunday Ielle"
"Okay. How many weeks or months you'll be staying here?"
"Hmm. I think, two months"
"Wow! Really? Yes!" I said smiling.
"You're smiling now"
"Why? Is it wrong to smile?" I rolled my eyes again
"Of course not, it's just that it's very long time that I didn't see your smile Ielle"
"Okay. Tsk!"
Was it a big deal when I laugh? Oh well, I can't blame them.
"Then, everyday you will treat me LDF?" I asked
I saw his shocking face and he coughed. I suddenly gave him a glass of water.
"Are you okay?" I asked him
"Do you want me to die? You're rich now. You can buy all you want. Tss!"
I laughed. "I'm just kidding. I really miss you LDF"
Don't take it like we were sweet lovers, okay? LDF was like my brother. He always there for me when I was weak, problematic, happy, sad or other kinds of feelings, but of course, it was unlike now, I'm stronger, bolder and fiercer.
Really?
"I miss you too Ielle" he smiled. "By the way, what's this issue that I heard that you are a play girl now and brat?" he added
"That news, it's not true LDF. You know me" I smiled again
"Are you not done moving on?"
"I'm totally moved on LDF"
"Then, why is it that you're not open to date someone?"
"I'm wiser now LDF, it is really hard for me to trust boys and besides, I'm too busy to my work"
"Not all boys are playboys Ielle. You know that"
"LDF, please let's drop this topic. I want this day a happy day"
"So, you're not in an open relationship because of him?"
"Of course not!" I replied hurriedly.
"Oh? Really?" I saw his smirked