“HI. WE MET again. Isn’t it amazing?” Ally tried to sound cheerful despite being tense.

Gael sat on the empty seat across her. She asked to meet him in a nearby coffee shop, and he agreed.

“I don’t sense good news,” he said.

“Let me get this straight. We’d probably have a hard time looking for them. Gino’s parents did not know Gino was gone. He hadn’t called to check on them, too. It looks like we have to go to the province and tell them ourselves what happened. I believe they could help us in a way.”

“Let’s go to the province to meet them, then. As soon as possible.”

“When?”

“Tonight.”

“Hey, that’s too soon!” Ally exclaimed.

Gael slightly leaned forward. “I can’t bear to waste any more time, Ally. We’re talking about my sister and your best friend here.”

“I understand that we’re in a rush, but this is pressure to me. I need to let my parents know what’s happening and why I have to do it. I have to leave my job in the meantime, too. I am my father’s right hand, you know. And most of all, I have to prepare my stuff,” she explained.

“Aren’t we here today to talk about that? I will take care of the rest. You just have to trust me. If you want, I’ll talk to your parents. I’ll help you explain.”

“You can leave it up to me. I’ll talk to them once I get home. I know my parents. They’d perfectly understand.”

“At least, we agreed on something now. We’ll find them together. We’ll go every possible place they could be, and we will never stop until we make sure that they are both safe.”

Ally could not help smiling. Perhaps she could trust Gael, after all.

“Where are we going?” She clapped her hands. “To nowhere! Where are we going?”

When she saw that Gael wasn’t very pleased, she stopped singing Dora, The Explorer’s theme song. For some weird reason, it just gave her the Last Song Syndrome.

“I just imagine myself as Dora, The Explorer sometimes. It was my childhood dream to go to the blueberry hill.”

“It’s okay. You look cute.”

“The compliment does not seem sincere to me. I know you just said that out of pity.”

“You look cute.” Gael slightly pinched her nose, taking Ally by surprise. She could feel tiny bolts of electricity creeping up to her.

Ally’s face flushed as if she was high schooler greeted by her crush who was in his senior year.

A few moments later, the tea she ordered for the two of them finally arrived.

“Have you had lunch already?” Gael asked.

“I did a while ago.”

“I guess I have to eat alone.”

“Why haven’t you had lunch yet?” Ally asked, her eyebrows furrowed. If he was her boyfriend, she had probably pinched his thigh.

“The meeting lasted longer than expected.”

Oh, so, that was why, Ally thought.

“You know what? I know a cheap place around here. The food is great, I tell you. I’ll join you. I did not feel satisfied with my lunch, honestly. What do you think?”

“You don’t mind?” he uttered, completely surprised.

“We can continue our conversation there.” Ally finished her tea despite the hotness. Suddenly, she was excited. She would be having lunch with Gael even though it’s late.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

“WHAT IS THIS place?”

Gael totally looked awkward and out-of-place. Well, she just brought him to her favorite restaurant in the country.

“Just sit in that empty table over there and leave everything to me.”

When Gael did not move, Ally pushed him nonchalantly.

“Go quick. Someone might beat us to it. Just look at all these people.”

Gael still looked uncertain as he sat on the table next to the glass-panelled wall. Ally smiled before approaching the counter.

“You know, I’ve been to lots of restaurants before, but I always come back as they have the best grilled chicken ever,” Ally said while they wait for their order.

“I thought you’re going to take me to a classy restaurant.”

“What are you talking about? The ‘class’ should be in people, not in restaurants,” Ally said with a laugh.

Finally, their food arrived. She saw the amused look on Gael’s face once again as he stared at the plate with a banana leaf on it.

“They have unlimited rice and coke here. I bet your favorite classy restaurants do not have that. All you have to do is enjoy the food and don’t be shy. Let’s make our money count.”

“I’ll pay for this.”

“I already paid,” Ally drawled.

“I’ll pay you back,” he insisted.

“No need.” Ally waved her hands in dismissal and giggled.

Ally rubbed her palms as she prepared to make the sauce. She glanced at Gael and found him staring at her with his thick eyebrows knotted.

“This is weird, Ally. I’m not used to someone paying for me.”

“It does not always happen all the time, Gael. If you like this place, you can just treat me for lunch next time if that would give you peace of mind. Hang on. We should wash our hands first.”

Ally did not wait for Gael to respond as she stood up at once. She planned to eat using her hands.