Three years ago…

“Babe, look at that guy, he keeps on looking at our direction!” Allyssandra, my friend, told me in a wiggly voice.

“Oh, maybe he likes you, babe.” I teased and shifted my focus again on our instructor. Babe is our endearment for each other, and it is funny how a lot of people mistake us for being a couple. We are holding our research class with the other sections here in the university’s auditorium. The instructor is pregnant and is about to take her maternal leave but she wanted to teach every lesson to us before she takes her leave. Thus, the adjustments. We were asked to join the other sections for the six-hour research class.

The class went on and on. Me, being an achiever, was very active in the recitations. I don’t care if there are a lot of unknown students around me. I only care about my grades. Time went by fast and it was already time to go.

“Pres, do you know the guy in front at the farthest right corner, earlier? The one with the chinky eyes? He keeps on looking at you.” Chrizel, one of my classmates, said as we walk towards the cafeteria. Most of my classmates call me Pres because I am our class’ president. I don’t like responsibilities that much but I came to like the respect they give me besides a lot of people tell me that I am not only a great leader but also a good one.

“Nah, he must be looking at Ally.” I shrugged and made my way to the stall to buy a bottled water, three cheese bread, four biscuits, and a slice of red velvet cheesecake.

“Wow, you really have a big appetite huh?” said John Ross.

“Well, a six-hour class without a single break is so exhausting. I need more energy for our P.E. class later.” I answered.

We sat in the middle of the cafeteria because it is the biggest table which can accommodate 15 persons. We are only 13 though so there are two vacant seats. My friends are chatting while waiting for our other friends who aren’t here, yet. I didn’t pay attention to any of them and started eating because hell! I am so damn hungry. We were not allowed to eat during that goddamn class. I need my energy back. I was in the middle of savoring my cake when Lyca, my friend and the rank three in our class, poked my cheeks.

“Pres…” She muttered, I raised my right eye brow to ask why the hell is she disturbing my precious moment with my beloved cake, “He’s asking for your number.” I slowly looked up and saw the guy who was in the same research class earlier. I think he is the one who kept on looking at our direction.

“Three minutes…” I said as I face my cake to take a bite again. Two minutes haven’t passed but I was already done with my food so I faced him again, “What was it again?” I asked, wiping the side of my lips with a tissue.

He chuckled, and I must admit that he looked stunning right there. “You’re cute…” He suddenly mumbled, “I was asking for your number. Uhh actually, I already added you on Facebook. I asked Lyca for your name, but I still want to ask you for your phone number, sooo…” He continuously said.

Ally, who was beside me, pinched my side boob, “OMG, Babe! It was you whom he was looking at earlier. He’s hot! Go and grab him!” She teased. I only rolled my eyes and looked at him again, this time, smiling.

“Give me your phone…” He handed his phone. It was a space gray IPhone XS, there’s no password when I swiped it. I smiled a little as I look at his wallpaper. A plain white background with a bible verse in the middle. I am guessing he is a minimalist, considering how organized and little details are inside his phone. I quickly typed my phone number and called it so I can also save it on my phone. “Here.” I handed his phone back.

He smiled as he intentionally holds my hand before getting his phone on my hand, “As much as I want to sit here and chitchat with a cute girl like you, I can’t because I still have a class. Soooo, talk to you later? Nice meeting you, Dana!” He winked before he left.

‘A sweet talker, huh?’

I smiled when I realized I didn’t ask for his name. Well, he implied that he will be messaging me, anyway. Hours passed by with my friends teasing me about him. I found out that the guy’s name was Larimar who happens to be the drummer in Jude’s, Lyca’s boyfriend, band.

Saturday night and I am cramming my school works. Everything is due on Monday and I have to finish it all tonight because I have an appointment tomorrow. I feel my eyes getting heavy as a sign of my sleepiness but I tried my best not to fall asleep. Few minutes later, I could feel myself giving up to the temptation of falling asleep so I decided to go out to buy iced coffee in the convenience store outside our subdivision.

“Thank you, Ma’am. Have a good night!” The staff over the counter smiled as he handed me the plastic bag containing three super cold canned coffees and some snacks. I think this will do to help me stay awake and finish all my works.

It was already past two in the morning when I finished all my works. I was too tired to even pick up the papers scattered on the floor and put my almost broken laptop in its bag. I reached for my phone to set a 10:30 A.M. alarm. My eyes are too heavy but I still tried my best to reply to some of the messages I received.

From: Larimar

Hey there, pretty. Are you free tomorrow night? Want to have a dinner with me?

I sleepily replied yes and let myself be pulled into oblivion.

I woke up feeling groggy, my alarm ringing loudly. I lazily reached for my phone to turn off the alarm. I got up to my bed and went straight to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a bath. I feel like my head is being hammered. It hurts so much but I have to get ready because I have an important appointment to attend to.

I am inside Mc Donald’s at Robinsons Galleria, munching my double quarter pound cheese burger savoring its flavor and then dinking my iced vanilla coffee. I have been here for about 20 minutes but the person I am meeting has not replied to me, yet. I fished out my phone from my pocket to send another text message to Charles, my friend, but as if on cue, my phone started vibrating. Charles is calling.

“Hello…”

“Dana, sorry for not replying to your text messages. I was driving. I’m now in Robinsons Galleria’s parking lot. Where do I pick you up?”

“Nah, it’s fine. I’ll just meet you there. What floor are you in?”

As soon as he told me his exact location, I stood up and grabbed my iced coffee to go there. Minutes of walking, I finally saw him. He was wearing a gray t-shirt paired with a slightly fitted black jeans and his favorite Nike Air Force 12. For a rich twenty-one-year-old guy, he looks rather simple. Well, he is humble and kind.

“Hey…” I greeted. He smiled at me and then greeted me with a handshake. I chuckled a bit. Always the formal type of guy.

“Did you wait for too long? I’m sorry. The traffic was so heavy.” He apologized.

“What do you expect? We live in the Philippines. You’re not in the Philippines if the road is almost as empty…” I laughed “By the way, where is Kat?” I asked, looking for his girlfriend.

“He’s inside the car. Let’s go?” I followed him as he led me to his car. We stopped in front of a red Audi R-16. I looked at the car amusingly. Damn this rich guy.

“New car, huh? Where’s the old one?” I asked as I open the backseat door, “Hello, Kat! Thanks for picking me up.” I greeted as soon as I saw Kat in the front seat.

“Hello, Dana! Don’t mention it,” She then looked at his boyfriend, “Hurry up, Love! The kids must be waiting.”

Charles immediately sat on the driver seat upon hearing the kids. I smiled. I know it will be kind of a long drive but I did not even notice it because I was having fun talking to Kat and Charles.

We arrived at a slightly big old establishment. I look at the high stainless gate with a big cross on it. At the left side is a mail box and beside it is a wooden signage that says, “Golden Ladies Orphanage”.

Charles called someone and after a few minutes, the gate opened. We entered the establishment excitedly. There were a lot of people inside the establishment, some of which are familiar faces.

“It’s so nice to see you again here, Charles” Said Mother Pristine, the head of this institution. “You, too Kat and Dana. Thanks for always visiting us. The children really like it when you and your friends go here.” She added.

“We also love seeing the kids, Mother.” I smiled as I watch the others organize the stuffs we brought to donate.

I can’t put my feelings to words as I watch the kids eat. There are more than 200 kids here, age ranging from three years old to fourteen years old. All of them are girls they are all victims of sexual harassment and rape, and every time I think about that one fact, I get too emotional to the point of tearing up.

Years ago, I wasn’t really part of their group, it just so happened that we coincidentally met while I was giving out foods for the homeless. I work alone because most of my friends are too busy while some do not really like going near homeless people because they said that they might be dangerous, which I kind of hated because I feel like they were insulting the unfortunate people to even have a decent house and eat three times a day. This is the least that I could do to help the unfortunate ones as a privileged teenager.

I met Charles a year ago, he is a good-hearted man who loves to help everyone. He is a wealthy guy and loves to organize events such as tree planting and any charity events you could ever think of. He invited me to join his group and that is when I met a lot of good-hearted people. We went around Luzon to extend our hands to those who are in need. Although there are times when I couldn’t come because I am not as rich as most of them and I am just a senior high school student who still needs to focus on her studies.

Time went by fast. It was already 7:30 P.M. and we are on our way home. Charles and Kat will drop me off before they go home. While on our way, I instinctively fished out my phone to check for messages as I did not have the time to check it while we were at the orphanage because I was busy playing with the kids.

My brows furrowed when I saw nine unread text message from the same contact… Larimar.

From: Larimar

Sent 16:08

Hey, what time are we going out?

From: Larimar

Sent 16:30

Why aren’t you replying? Are you okay?

From: Larimar

Sent 16:45

Hey

From: Larimar

Sent 17:03

Hey

From: Larimar

Sent 17:18

Dana

From: Larimar

Sent 17:53

:(

From: Larimar

Sent 17:59

Are you busy?

From: Larimar

Sent 18:04

I’ll wait

From: Larimar

Sent 18:30

I’m at Robinsons Galleria, you can go here if you want.

I don’t know why he asked me what time we will go out because as far as I know, we didn’t even talk so I scrolled up and I gasped when I saw a ‘yes’ reply to his invitation.

I bit my lower lip as I typed to reply.

To: Larimar

Hey, slr! Omg are u still there? If yes, I’ll come.

A minute hasn’t even passed but I found myself calling Larimar… Out of guilt, maybe?

“Hello?”

“Hey, I’m really sorry. I didn’t… Uh, I-it’s. Omg! I’m really sorry.” I didn’t know what to say so I ended up stuttering and apologizing nervously instead.

“It’s fine though I’m still here. Mind meeting me?”

“Yes, of course! I’ll be there, ten minutes’ tops!” I ended the call and asked Charles if it was okay to just drop me off to Robinsons Galleria.

I was panting when I reached for my phone to call Larimar but before I could even do that, he was already calling.

“Hey, I’m here. Where are you?”

“Yes, I can see you. Look at your right.”

I am still holding my phone on my ears when I looked at my right and I saw him with his white oversized t-shirt paired with a cargo pants. He waved his hands and walked towards me.

‘Why does he look cool in my eyes?’