It has been a week and Ferns never heard from Andro. They work in the same company and just a couple of floors away from each other. Andro is not joining the group in their lunch or during their coffee break in their favorite coffee shop just across the building. Their friends always asked Ferns to text Andro all the time reminding him for lunch or inviting him for the coffee because they know how close the two are.
Andro, however, answers Ferns or the others with their text messages and they all got the same excuses. He is either busy with work, in a meeting with her boss, out for lunch with her boss or he needs to man the office as they are always understaff.
The group all feels the same thing. They feel that Andro is avoiding them.
But for Ferns, he feels differently.
Ferns' feels that Andro ghosted him.
Andro used to answer their text messages quickly, and then it became delayed either after a few minutes or even half an hour and sometimes no response at all.
Ferns became busy especially its audit season of the company. He and Mhy who works in the same department sometimes could not join the rest of the group as well. They are either having lunch in their table or out for lunch with the auditors.
End of workweek and audit season is almost finished. Ferns feel relieve and cannot wait for the weekend to relax. While in the middle of his work, he heard his phone. He received a message in his facebook messenger. He quickly checks it out and he saw that the message came from Ken, Andro's friend.
Ken asked Ferns if he is doing something tonight after work. If he is not too busy, he is inviting Ferns for a dinner or coffee.
It took a few minutes for Ferns to answer Ken until he decided yes to the invitation not because he wants to see Ken but because of curiosity.
They will meet after work and Ken will be waiting in the lobby of Ferns office.
As soon as Ferns answers Ken back, he drops his phone back to his desk when Andro came. Andro has some paperwork with him for the Accounting department to process. He tries to hand it over to Ferns but the latters just ignore him.
"I don't do the payment processing please give it over to Mhy." Ferns said without looking at Andro and continued with his work.
Mhy who is sitting in front of Ferns separated by a divider overheard Ferns quickly ask Andro to come over to her desk.
"Give it to me, Andro. You know that I do the payment processing all the time. Don't bother, Ferns he is very busy right now with our audit. Come here!" Mhy gently asks Andro.
Andro walks towards Mhy. While Mhy is receiving the paperwork, Andro is still looking at Ferns. Mhy notices it and said.
"Where have you been, Andro? Are you avoiding us?" Mhy seriously asks Andro.
"I was just busy, that's all!" Andro politely answers.
Ferns boss calls him so quickly got up from his chair and enters his boss office while Andro still staring at him.
"You should talk to him!" Mhy advises Andro.
It's 5pm and everyone is starting to leave the office. Ferns also starts to pack his personal belongings so that he can leave very soon as well. Mhy is very curious that Ferns is eager to leave quickly.
"You're leaving early today?" Mhy curiously ask Ferns.
"Yup, I will be meeting someone today." Ferns answers.
"Who, date?" Mhy suspiciously asks Ferns.
"Date my ass, haha. It's not. I didn't even know this person very well." Ferns' laughs.
"Hmmm, what are you going to do?" Mhy quickly asks Ferns again.
"Not sure, maybe will just grab a coffee or something to eat in the mall. I think it will just a quick meeting." Ferns' clarifies.
Ferns did not wait for Mhy's reply and wave goodbye at her and quickly steps out of the office.
Ken came early and is already in front of the building waiting for Ferns to come out. He saw that the employees started to come out of their offices. He walks in in the lobby of the building just to make sure he wouldn't miss Ferns when one of the elevator opens, he sees Andro steps out from it. Andro saw him right away and he is very surprised to see Ken.
"Ken, what are you doing here?" Andro shockingly asks Ken.
"Hi Andro!" Ken answers.
"I didn't know that we would be meeting up." Andro said.
"Yes we are not meeting up. Actually, I am not here for you." Ken politely answers Andro back and look away because he saw Ferns just come out of the elevator.
Andro look from his behind and saw Ferns. Ferns stares at him and quickly look away and glance to Ken.
There was a quick moment of silence and awkwardness to all of them until Ken said to Ferns if he is ready so that they could go.
Andro remains standing while seeing the two walking away.
As they disappear, Andro was still standing until Mhy patches him in his shoulder.
"Andro, what's up? Are you leaving too?" Mhy asks Andro while trying to check out what is Andro looking at from the distance.
"Do you know where Ferns is going right now?" Andro answers back Mhy with a question too.
"Ahmm, he said he is meeting someone. But he said, he doesn't know this person very well. I don't think they are friends too. He said it might just be a quick meeting. They might just grab a coffee in the mall." Mhy answers as detailed as she can.
Ferns and Ken end up in a coffee shop inside the mall that is just very close to the office. Ken asked Ferns if he wants to have a dinner instead but Ferns said he is not very hungry. They were chatting for a little more than half an hour when someone interrupted them.
"Can I join you?" Andro interrupts.
Andro did not wait for both to answer and sit quickly beside Ferns. Ferns move away a little bit from Andro while Ken was just observing.
"I did not know that you would like to join us, I could have asked you earlier." Ken said.
"Well, I didn't know that you would be meeting up with Ferns." Andro answers back Ken then quickly glance at Ferns.
"Do you want anything?" Ken asks Andro while passing over to him the menu.
Andro pass back the menu to Ken and said, "I don't want anything. Is there anything you want, Ken?" he quickly glanced again at Ferns.
"I wanted to know Ferns that's why I invited him out." Ken started to be very direct with Andro.
"Don't worry it has nothing with you." Before Ken let Andro answers back, he follow up his answers right away.
Ferns could sense that something is starting to fire up. And judging from Andro's approach he comes a little bit strong and intense. He thoughts he should say something to calm down the situation.
"Ken said you were a good teacher, is that right Ken?" Ferns tries to change the topic.
"Am I?" Andro asks Ken.
"You were!" Ken answered.
"I was?" Andro confusingly ask Ken. "So that means I'm no longer a good teacher?"
"No, I didn't mean that. You used to be a teacher so I said you were." Ken clarifies.
"I am still a good teacher even though I am no longer teaching." Andro confirms.
"I think you are misinterpreting me." Ken reply.
"What is it that I am misinterpreting you? Isn't this is obviously misinterpreting already that you asked Ferns out?" Andro started to become intense again.
"Wait, Ken did not invite me out. He just asked me to go out for a coffee. I think there is a difference between that." Ferns butted in.
"He invited you out, that's what he said exactly. And he wants to know you more." Andro insists.
"Okay, whatever. So what is wrong with that? Do you have any problem with that?" Ferns starts to become impatience with Andro.
There was a moment of quick silence.
Before Ferns to loose his temper, he got up from his chair and decides to leave both.
"I think you two should talk. I believe you have some unfinished business and leave me out of it." Ferns said and walk out.
As Ferns slowly walking away from the coffee shop and heading toward the exit door of the mall he stops.
"Why do you have to go out with him?"
Ferns' was not so sure who shouted from behind and if this person shouted at him so he slowly turned around. He saw it was Andro.
Ferns just look at Andro and did not respond.
"Why do you have to go out with him?" Andro repeats what he said while walking towards Ferns.
"Why shouldn't I?" Ferns impatiently answers Andro.
"What did you talk about?" Andro asks again.
"What we talk about is not really your business?" Ferns answers.
"Why did you keep this from me?" Andro asks again.
"What did I keep from you?" Ferns answers.
"Did you talk about me? Are you talking behind my back?" Andro starts to interrogate Ferns.
"Talk about you?" Ferns laughs. "Wait, wait. Get yourself together. Everything is not all about you! Besides, we haven't been hanging out for a long time yet to talk about anything until you barged in from nowhere." Ferns explains but he is still a little bit impatience towards Andro's behavior.
"I've known Ken a long time ago and met him before you. I know him very well. You don't know him." Andro said.
"If you are possessive about him, you should go back to him." Ferns' answers with a little bit of temper already.
"I am not possessive of him. I am possessive of you!" Andro without hesitation lashes out his true feelings (of jealousy) about Ken and Ferns meeting.
Ferns shocks of what he just heard. He couldn't speak right away and tries to gather his thoughts for a moment while holding back his feelings.
"What, What do you mean?" Ferns' calmly asks Andro.
"It means I am jealous. I am not happy when I saw you going out with Ken or with anybody." Andro answers.
"Is that right? Didn't you not want to see me after the party, after that night, after that kiss?" Ferns couldn't help it but he has been meaning to confront Andro about ghosting him for many days.
"Because I was not so sure. I thought I could look for an answer if I will not be seeing you for the meantime." Andro while stuttering tries to answers Ferns.
"So tell me, are you sure now? Or still not yet sure about anything?" Ferns' follows up.
"I don't know!" Andro softly answers.
"You don't know but you are stopping me to see people?" Ferns chuckles.
Before Andro answers back Ferns said something right away.
"I think you are selfish and insensitive person." Ferns parting words while he turned around and walks away immediately before Andro can say anything again.
While Andro and Ferns heads home separately they were both thinking of their last conversation. It keeps playing in their minds all the time the unpleasant dialogue they had and tries to remember every single word they said and heard from each other. They don't feel good about it. Both are not happy about what happen.
After dinner, Ferns and his family are in the living room watching their favorite Friday night show together. He was just sitting and quietly watching the show while his parents and his 2 other siblings are happily reacting to the show they are currently watching. Sometimes, his dad who sits beside him pat his head while his two cheeky siblings throw some popcorn in his lap. Their mom just laughs at them.
While in the middle of the k-drama show, Ferns receives a text message. He was startled because he was concentrating watching the show. He looks at his phone and saw that the text message came from Randy.
"What are you doing? I am in the front of your house. Are you free to come out?" the message of the text.
"Yes, I am coming out now." Ferns reply.
Ferns told his family that Randy is outside and ask permission to go out and see him.
Ferns' comes out and when he reach the gate of their house, he opens it and saw Randy in his motorbike.
When Randy saw Ferns he turned off the engine of his motorbike.
"Hey, what's up?" Ferns' asks and give Randy a friendly tap in his shoulder.
"All good. How are you? What are you doing?" Randy response.
"Watching a k-drama show with my family. We just had our dinner a little while ago." Ferns' laughs.
"Looks like you are going out?" Randy teases because Ferns usually wear a walking short and nice t-shirt when he is at home.
"Haha just in case if something comes out but normally this what I wear when I come home from work after changing." Ferns chuckles.
"C'mon join us. We are currently having small drink." Randy invites Ferns.
"Where? Who is with you?" Ferns' excitedly asks Randy.
"In an open barbeque shop near my place, I am actually with Andro. He is actually a little bit drank already." Randy said.
"I see. Really? Why did you left him alone there? Is it okay for you to left him alone there?" Ferns' worriedly asks Randy.
"He should be fine. He is with Jovs actually right now but I don't think Jovs can manage him all by herself so I need to come back very soon. I thought to come by here and invite you to join us. I think you and Andro has something to talk about." Randy tries to convince Ferns.
"Me and Andro?" Ferns wonders.
"I am not sure, he keeps talking about you. Please can you join us? I need to go back very soon." Randy insists.
"Okay, I'll just change my slipper and tells my parents. I will be very quick." Ferns said.
While on their way to join Andro and Jovs in the barbeque shop, Randy and Ferns continuously chatting in the motorbike.
"I am very glad you could join us in just a short notice. I am just worried about Andro." Randy sounds very grateful as he starts the conversation with Ferns who sits behind him.
"It's okay. My parents knew my friends and I said our house are just close to each other." Ferns response.
"Jovs & I were very surprised that Andro text us earlier and asks us if we could have a few drinks because he doesn't want to go home yet." Randy said.
Ferns did not response.
"Usually, you two hangs-out all the time. We keep on asking him what is going on. He was saying stuff that we don't really understand but he keeps mentioning your name. So I thought if I could tag you along that might calm him down". Randy softly chuckles.
Ferns still did not response and remain quiet at the back.
They reach the barbeque shop and since its already middle of the night, the place is getting busier especially because of some acoustic band playing in the corner of the bar.
Randy and Ferns head towards the table where they are. As soon as they reach the table, Jovs who is currently sitting beside Andro moves herself in the front when she saw Randy and Ferns came so that Ferns could sit beside Andro and of course Randy will be sitting beside Jovs.
Randy was right that Andro is already a little bit drank and Jovs said he had another one or two bottles while he was away to see Ferns.
Andro did not notice their arrival because his face is looking down while trying to enjoy the acoustic music.
"He keeps asking about you. He said where did you go? He thought you already ditched us and left us here." Jovs softly laughs as she tries to talk about Andro's behavior while Randy is away.
"Hey, Andro! Randy is back!" Jovs softly shout out Andro.
"Is he? Where have you been, man? I thought you left us!" Andro looks up and look at Randy who sits in front of him.
Ferns' is just observing at the moment.
"I told you I am coming back, I just need to go somewhere quickly."
"Thank you for coming back, man!"
"Hey, Andro look who is with us. Look beside you!" Jovs excitedly tells Andro.
Andro looks up again and tries to look who is with them. He glances in his right side but he didn't see anything but when he turns to his other side, he saw Ferns.
He was startled and almost stands up when he saw Ferns face.
Randy and Jovs laughs. He sits up straight and tries to pretend that he is not drank.
"Here he is. You keep on mentioning his name earlier. So, I brought him here for you. I hope you can calm down now and get yourself together." Randy teases Andro.
Andro froze and all of a sudden became mute but he never look away and just keep staring at Ferns face all the time.
Randy and Jovs laugh very hard while seeing Andro's reaction.
"We just gonna go quickly and get some pork barbeque and something to drink for Ferns." Randy said and took Jovs with him.
They left Andro and Ferns in the table.
Andro is still quiet and looks like he is indefinitely mute for the meantime so Ferns thoughts to start the conversation.
"I heard you are very drank. How many bottles have you drunk already?" Ferns sounds a little bit annoyed.
"No, I am not very drank. I just had a little bit." Andro politely answers Ferns.
"Just a little bit? But that's a lot of bottles already?" Ferns said while he looks at the table and tries to count the number of bottles of beer.
"It's not mine. I mean it's not just mine. I am glad you are here!" Andro tries to change the topic.
"Well, I am not doing anything tonight so I thought to join my friends." Ferns said.
"I don't want to be your friend!" Andro quickly respond.
"What? What do you mean?" Ferns wonders.
"I mean I don't want to be just your friend!" Andro explains.
Just before Ferns answers back, Andro made a follow up quickly.
"I like you, Ferns. I like you very much!" Andro softly says it to Ferns.
Ferns' pretends that he didn't hear what Andro just said because the acoustic band is playing also at the moment.
"I said, I LIKE YOU VERY MUCH! I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU!" Andro this time is saying it out loud.
This time there is no way that Ferns could pretend that he didn't hear it because even the table next to them could hear it as well.
Ferns' freezes this time. He never sees it coming. He does not know what and how to react. His heart beats quickly and he could feel his heart is pumping a lot of blood at the moment but deep inside he feels joy.
He took a deep breath and closes his eyes quickly as he tries to look for some answers to what Andro just confess. He is about to give Andro his response but he was interrupted when Jovs' suddenly fell off one of the bottle in their table.
Andro and Ferns didn't realize that Randy and Jovs were already back and also heard what Andro just said.
Randy quickly picks the bottle up before it spills more liquid out from it. They sit in the bottle and did not say anything. They just continue staring over at Andro and Ferns and waiting for something from them.
Ferns' quickly turns his head to Randy and Jovs and said, "You are right Randy, Andro is really drank already."
"They said when you are drank you have more confident to say your true feelings." Jovs tries to keep the confession going.
"And I think drank people do not lie!" Randy follows up.
"I think let's continue drinking because it looks like Andro is no longer very drank." Ferns cheer up his bottle and quickly take a sip.
The group turns their attention to the acoustic band. While, listening to the music, Ferns reaches out Andro's hand under the table and hold it.
Andro who feels disappointed because he never got the response from Ferns from his confession suddenly changes his moods when he felt Ferns holds his hand. He holds Ferns hand back and put it in his lap and looks at Ferns. They both give each other's a sweet smile.
They didn't realize that Randy and Jovs is quietly observing them and do not want to interfere anymore so Randy put his arms over Jovs shoulder and together they all enjoy the music.