“I’m really sorry. I thought the event would end by 5 P.M. at most.” Larimar and I are at the supermarket buying some snacks and I still can’t stop myself from apologizing for being late. I really hate it when I don’t make it on time to anything. I’m a very organized and punctual person so I can’t let this go. I want to smack my head for what happened.

“I told you, it’s fine!” He smiled and held my arm to pull me somewhere, “What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?” He asked as he open the ice cream fridge to get a cheese flavored ice cream.

“I like cookie dough but it’s hard to find cookie dough flavored ice cream so I always settle with cookies and cream or sometimes any ice cream with nuts. Oh, how I love nuts!” Talking about food is really my thing. Like hell! I am a big foodie!

“I see, there’s no cookie dough so let’s just get you a cookies & cream, rocky road, and double dutch ice cream.” I looked at him in awe. I love ice cream, that is for sure but for him to get three different flavors for me, that’s so sweet, “I figured you have a sweet tongue, cafeteria encounter.” He smiled showing his perfectly aligned white teeth.

“Yes, thank you!” We talked about a lot of things as we go around the supermarket. We were at the counter to pay for everything so I opened my wallet and got a one-thousand-peso bill but he just looked at me and smiled and he paid for everything.

“Hey! Accept my payment. You’re not the only one who is going to eat those.” I said, slightly pouting. We are at the park just a few walk from Robinson’s Galleria.

“Shh, I was the one who asked you out, aren’t I?” He said as he handed me my ice creams, yes with an s. Not that I can’t eat all three of them at once, I just find it fascinating how he doesn’t comment about how much I eat like the others.

“Even so…” I stopped what I was about to say midway because he put a kitkat in my mouth. I glared at him but he only laughed and pinched my cheeks.

“Okay, the next time we go out, we’ll split the bill. Stop throwing tantrums just because you didn’t pay for your food.” He laughed and I can barely see his eyes.

‘Tsk. This Chinese-like guy really.’

I sighed as I looked up. I see a lot of stars. I smiled unknowingly. Could this day get any better? Larimar is such a sweet guy and I wouldn’t mind making him my first boyfriend if ever. I came back to reality when I heard a shutter sound and I saw Larimar smiling as he holds his camera.

“Remembrance.” He said as he gives me another chocolate from his other hand and then he clicked his camera again while I was reaching for the chocolate. I went beside him and looked at the photo he took.

Half of his arm is visible in the photo holding the chocolate, my arms reaching for the chocolate. I was half smiling while looking at the chocolate.

“Wow! You’re so good at taking photos.” I said as I click the button of the camera to see his other shots. Mostly, it was my stolen pictures from the supermarket ‘til we got here. I smiled. This guy, really.

“I was a photojournalist from my previous school.”

“Nice, a journalist, huh?”

We talked about almost everything under the sun until it was already time to go home because I received a message from my Mom that Dad is already home and is looking for me.

It’s been months since Larimar and I went out and we have been constantly communicating and going out during our free time since then. My classmates are so supportive of us although Larimar hasn’t made it clear what we really are. He’s just… plain sweet and caring,

“So… What’s the score between you and Larimar, Dana?” Czyrhen, one of my closest friend, asked.

“Nothing. He didn’t say anything, but I like him.” I admitted.

“That can’t be nothing! He picks you up every after class, you two go out on dates and you’ll tell us, nothing?” said Chrizel.

“Well… He didn’t say anything about courting me or such.” I said with a small voice. I’m not this kind of woman. I don’t like uncertainties. I am the kind of woman who doesn’t want to be entangled with people who are not sure of me but hey, I like Larimar and he’s been nothing but nice, sweet and caring to me. Maybe… just maybe, I could hope a little that he’s just waiting for the right time to tell me to be his girlfriend?

Weeks passed and nothing much has changed, Larimar and I still go out on dates and he still picks me up every after class and yes, he still hasn’t say a word about what we really are. It was during the last day of our final examination when I decided to ask him what we really are. We have a date after the exams so I just have to wait.

“You look nervous, babe.” Ally noticed.

“Hmm, I decided to ask Larimar later about what am I really to him.” I confessed as I look at the wall clock. A few minutes before break time is over and then another one and a half hour for our last exams then we are good to go.

The bell rang indicating that the time is up. I stood up and organized my things before going in front to pass the questionnaire and my answer sheet. I can’t say that the examination is easy but it was not also hard. I fished out my phone from my bag to check if there was a message from Larimar and I smiled when I saw his name on my notification bar.

From: Larimar

Dana, sorry we can’t go out today. I have an emergency to attend to. I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to you.

Though I was a bit disappointed that we will not meet today, I still smiled and replied it was okay. I’m even more worried about the emergency that he has to attend to.

“Pres, do you want to come with us? We’re going to JD’s KTV bar.” Joyce said

“Hmm, don’t ask her to come. She already has plans with her love of her life.” Ally said teasingly.

“Actually, our plans just got cancelled so I’m in.” I smiled to them.

Saturday night and everything is going quite smooth. Weeks had passed since the cancelled plan with Larimar. We now rarely see each other but we talk every day. He said he is just busy with his band and church responsibilities. He even invited me to attend to their church. He is a big fan of god, well at least that’s what I call it.

I don’t really believe in god. I am a science woman. A rational one. Without solid evidence, I don’t believe in something. Also, I think it is better to be just nice to everyone rather than go to the church every Sunday just so you could do the same mistake over again. Most god-fearing people, I know are hypocrites. They go to church every Sunday but they don’t even pay attention to those unfortunate street children, rather they criticize them and point their fingers on them as if it’s a sin to be that poor. Don’t get me wrong though, I respect people and their beliefs. I still know some who believes in god and is a genuinely kind person. It’s just that I can’t get myself to believe in him.

I’m getting ready to sleep when I received a message from my friend telling that our grades are out. I excitedly opened my laptop to log in to my account in our University portal to view my grades. After looking at it, I’m as good as going to sleep with a smile on my lips. I’m still the rank 1 in our class and rank 6 in the overall ranking. Not bad, I mean out of approximately 600 students, I placed 6th.

I decided to message Larimar to ask how was his grades before I sleep.

To: Larimar

Hey, the grades are out. How’s yours?

It took him a minute to reply.

From: Larimar

I haven’t seen it. I’m out practicing with the band. Can you look at it for me?

To: Larimar

Sure. Give me the username and the password.

He then gave me his username and password for me to access his account. I looked at it and nothing really is impressing. His grades are average. I told him what I saw then decided to sleep since he’s too busy practicing with his band but for some reason I couldn’t sleep so I just opened my phone and scrolled through my Facebook account but I got bored quickly. I messaged Larimar to ease my boredom but he wasn’t replying and then something popped in my mind.

I tried opening Larimar’s Facebook account using the password he gave me to access his Student University account and damn! I actually opened it. I know this is invading his privacy but I really feel like he’s about to surprise me or something, reason why he doesn’t meet with me lately. I don’t like surprises, I am a very curious woman and I don’t want being kept in the dark.

And yes, so much for not liking surprises. I’m beyond surprised. I browsed his messenger and saw a lot of messages from a lot of people. Most of which are women. I clicked a message from ‘Caroline Fortaleza’. I scrolled up until I saw a date, the same date when Larimar cancelled our date.

Larimar:

I hope you had fun!

Caroline:

Yes, thank you so much!

Larimar:

Just tell me when you need me, again. I’d gladly take you out on a date anytime.

I stopped reading then tried opening other messages from other women and I can’t believe he talks to almost everyone the same as he talks to me. Sweet and caring that made me think there is something special between us. I logged out of his account. I am truly disappointed. I feel a void inside of me. I feel numb, actually. Am I mad? I guess I am. Am I hurt? Not entirely me, but my pride is. He led me on and that freaking hurt my ego! But I won’t cry. I am unable to cry because I promised myself never to cry over a man. He made fun of me by leading me on? Fine!

“You look like a panda, Pres. Did you even sleep?” I heard Chrizel mumble. I didn’t heed any of them my attention. I still feel numb about the thing I found out about Larimar last night.

“Oh, I think I already know the reason…” Czyrhen said smirking, “Is it Larimar?” She added teasingly.

I sighed and glared at her, “Don’t mention his freaking name. That fucker!” I do like him but I hate him for hurting my ego. That goddamn man just played with me.

“Why, why, what happened?” My classmates and friends started to gather around me ready to listen to my rants. We’re here at Amy’s house—just few blocks away from our house—prepping for our photoshoot project in 21st Century subject.

“Apparently, the guy has been hitting on four more girls aside from me.” I rolled my eyes as I remember the messages I read last night. “…And please, let’s just finish our tasks. Don’t even ask for more details.”

Days have passed and I just avoided Larimar. I’m not going to stay stupid and date him when he’s got four more girls he’s hitting on all at the same time! Though, I’m not that bad so I sent him a last text message telling him I want to focus more on my studies so I don’t want him messaging me again. I don’t want to tell him what I found out. I mean how can I? It was wrong of me to invade his privacy. I will not let anyone know I invaded someone’s privacy.

“Good morning, babe!” I greeted as I hug and kiss her right cheek. I did the same to everyone in our class. That’s actually my daily routine. I’m quite clingy to everyone in my class, and yes I kiss my guy classmates on their cheeks, too—except for those who have girlfriends who aren’t friends with me. Though I’m basically friends with almost everyone in the morning schedule students in our University.

Time went by fast, and it was already our break time. I didn’t even have to go out to the cafeteria because most of my classmates offered me half of their foods. I smiled happily and accepted all of those. I like foods and my classmates love me. I love them, too.

I was roaming around the classroom, talking to everyone and asking how they were. One of my daily routines, too is to talk to everyone and make sure that they are doing good with life. I love checking up on everyone… especially, my friends.

“How are you and Renzo, Chelle?” I asked Rochelle, one of my classmates, while I’m hugging her from behind.

“Nothing much, really. I message him from time to time but I don’t think he knows that I like him.” She answered, “How about you? How are you coping with all the Larimar thing these past days?”

I frowned before answering, “I don’t care about him. How about you give me someone whom I can have a crush with?” I jokingly said, “Someone smart, please. I’m really into intelligent men.”

“Oh! You’d like Joseph!” She said as she fished out her phone from her pocket, “Joseph Austin Lorenza is Renzo’s best friend. He’s smart!”

I laughed a bit then shifted the conversation to somewhere else. I was just kidding about looking for another crush. I really have to focus on my studies now. I’m aiming to be the class valedictorian.

‘But who knows? I might like this guy… Joseph Austin, huh?’