"I am sorry. I was caught off guard with how much you know about me and how much you could get from the first conversation. The lawyer has information about where my mother is presently but being a loyal dog to my father, even at gunpoint, I am sure he will choose death over spilling. I should commend my father, he did a good job in hiring someone this devoted." Tyler watched how Michael's face shrunk in dismay.
Forgetting the fright he just experienced, he almost held Michael's hand but he knows that much affection is still a work-in-progress. "Michael, do you remember during our final year exams in school? The day you were pranked concerning your mother and everyone saw your sudden outburst. I know how much she means to you and how much you feel hurt by her. Nothing is hard for me to do if it means making you happy. I love you Man"
Michael almost cringed however he promised to start getting used to Tyler's words of affirmation and bizarre expressions. "A hug?" Michael offered and soon got a feedback of a hug right in his arms.
"And the girl?" Tyler slowly detached his upper body from his. He hoped Michael wouldn't say it is to be a secret or be discussed later, pushing him to press more, "are you not speaking of her now?" Tyler brought out his phone from his pocket to put off the phone reminder to go check on his parents at the hospital.
Going to the Adult Care home established by his parents to volunteer was one of the promises Michael made to him when he came furious about the discriminatory incident with his father and asked for help to be free from his father's negative impact on him.
"She is the one." Michael muttered changing into a comfortable track suit and shirt revealing his broad chest. "What! What do you mean?" Tyler brought his ears closer to Michael's mouth, his face daunted still waiting for a clearer response.
"She is the one I choose. She is the one for me. So all you need to do is help find her address if she doesn't contact me in a week or maybe her social media account." Michael's droopy hooded eyes showed so much sincerity as he stared back into Tyler's who won't stop staring and opening his mouth in amazement.
"Let's head out to the Adult center and we can talk more in the car." Michael dragged Tyler out of his room, threw his car keys that he placed on his center table to him. "I will meet you at the basement in five minutes, I need to pick something. Your distraction won't be further entertained."
Tyler took no notice of all that Michael spilled. He was in utter shock that after two years, he could hear Michael finally say something sweet about a lady on planet earth, Tyler began to mysteriously calculate what must be going on with Michael "Did I just hear him right? Am I listening to my heart say what I want him to do? Nope, this can't be real. How in the world did he get to fall in love with a stranger? He just chooses any lady before to do, nothing more or less. Now in love? Does he just want her body? Geez! Scheming Michael"
Michael hoped he wasn't making the biggest mistake of his life out of mere attraction and impulse. "I felt something I have never felt in years. I can't just look past it like I didn't feel a spark, right? I need to focus on finding my mother and if she can be the legal wife, that'd be great." Michael sprayed perfumes asking himself different questions in front of his cupboard mirror.
At the Adult center, Michael and Tyler greeted Tyler's parents, Mr. And Mrs. Celery with kisses on their cheeks. "What more can I say? You both have never given us a cause to be disappointed. I am so happy you have chosen to volunteer again today, Michael." Mr Celery addressed the both of them with a soft pat.
"Mom, Dad, let's get to business. We have a lot that needs to be handled after we leave here. You can save your praises for later. Love you." Tyler threw an apron to Michael (who seems to still be getting used to how sweet 0Tyler's parents could be) to start with washing some of the plates that are going to be used to serve all the adults in the Adult Care Center.
"How do your parents cope with this lifestyle that brings them less money and more trouble? I am in awe of their dedication to serve all the adults in this home with little workers." Michael passed a plate he just washed to Tyler for him to do the rinsing.
"I fathom they enjoy this lifestyle because once they lost their home and had nowhere to go to. After a few days of searching for new affordable housing, they got help from an old widow who showed them great hospitality when they needed it most. Giving rise to why they made sure I was in good enough shape to help others and also learn to defend myself and others by getting trained in martial arts as you already know. All of which amounts to their immense love for humanity as a whole for it was bestowed on them when they most needed it." Tyler raised his left eyebrow and smiled. It was the first time Michael asked personal questions about his parents in their years of being best friends.
Michael knows when it comes to Tyler's parents, he is the softest of the softies on earth. He was glad to see Tyler smile genuinely. Just before he could ask more questions,
"So how did you meet her? Is today your first meeting with Miss She-is-the-one or?" Tyler teased.
"You just won't let me be. You know I hate volunteerism and unnecessary labor. I need to save my strength for it rather than rant to please your curiosity" Michael went for his cap and gloves leaving Tyler behind so he can focus more.
"We probably have to do something at different spots so we do not have to argue till your parents come for us" Michael rushed to the food stand and joined to serve the patients who could come get their food in the cafeteria and the ones who couldn't, he was ready to go serve them himself. This was one of the few places that he could generally clear his head and live his life just as he wants to, free of judgment.
"Ma'am, do you want more sausages? I like sausages too if you do not mind, I could add more for you" Michael patronized the slightly chubby and tall woman with plates in front of him. She smiled but said no words to him nor moved for others to get to him.
Confused about what to do, Michael kept a smile on his face hoping she would eventually leave when she got her fill. The moment he noticed the smile lines on her face slowly faded. "Now, this is the moment. I am sure she is tired of smiling at myself. I had better not add more sausages so she doesn't resort to smiling again back with me."
A sudden slump to the ground gave Michael a wake up call that she must be exhausted and couldn't move. He rushed to the woman on the floor to help lift her on a bed to find out the real reason behind her fainting. He felt bad for her and wished he paid more attention to her instead of concluding she was just acting up.
A car parked in front of the three story old mansion Michelle lives in, A low-key, black Toyota Corolla. Knowing fully, Ariel uses a red Toyota Camry that she still is paying for, Michelle wondered if she had gotten another car in the few months they had been apart.
"She traveled to Ghana for a course, there is no way she had the expenses for a new car. It's not a bother, it's a good thing, raising her shoulder and placing the back of one palm on the front of the other. Did she get rich overnight and this is her way of flaunting? Hmmmm this naughty girl. Let me go welcome her by ushering her in from the door.
Michelle walked quietly and carefully with her heels raised and her weight on the balls of her feet preparing to give Ariel the greatest shock of her life. She could hear her type in the house code. She was much more certain it was Ariel as it is an old house code she has been using for years.
She grinned and grabbed the door knob with her in sync to accomplish her purpose. She opened up to see a tall and lanky young man standing in front of her door leaving her bewildered.