It's 29th in December . Her mom told her to get dressed because they're going out later to buy things for New Year. Because she didn't recognize the stranger, Deo, she wasn't happy even though her mom said they were going shopping in Bayawan because there were lots products we can choices.
All she's thinking about was going to Taal before New Year's.
Her mom asked, "Why aren't you happy? Didn't you say you wanted to go back to Bayawan before? Why aren't you excited now?"
To avoid telling her mom the real reason, she said, "Oh, it's nothing mom. I actually want to go to Manila so I can visit Taal on January 1st."
Hearing that, Patricia wasn't sure whether to be happy or not. Her mind was split. She still hadn't seen Deo again the stranger guy even though she already forgot him but by hearing what her mom says it quickly remind her about Deo, and she was confused about what to say to her mom. So, she just said, "I'll go get dressed first."
Her mom was confused because when she found out they were going to Manila on the tomorrow, she didn't seem happy at all.
While Patresiah was getting dressed, she felt confused and sad thinking about how she might not see Deo again later.
A little while later, her mom told her to come downstairs because they were leaving. Patresiah went downstairs, but when she saw Zhian coming down the stairs, she suddenly went back inside and yelled at her mom  to change her clothes again because she doesn't  comfortable.
"Honey, come on, hurry up! We need to leave for Manila tomorrow, and we're running out of time. There's still so much to buy," she said.
"I'm coming!" she yelled. When she got downstairs, her parents and Zhian were already waiting by the door, so she hurried up.
 
"Ready to go?" her dad asked.
 
"Yes, Daddy," she said with a smile.
 
"You look so sexy, honey. It suits you,  our princess," her mom said.
 
"Thanks Mom, I wore it before during Christmas. You didn't remember?" she asked.
 
"Honey, with all the dress you have, how could I remember? Hahaha. All I know is that you look stunning," her mom said. 
While they were still far from Bayawan, Patresiah was getting confused about whether she would see Deo or not. She was stressed out thinking about it, so she told her dad that when they arrived in Bayawan, she wanted to have a snack at 7-Eleven first. Her parents agreed to that.
Patresiah was happy that her parents agreed, but there was a tinge of sadness because she was thinking about how she might not be able to talk to Deo when her parents around.
"Oh, come on, why am I like this? There are so many guys out there, but why..." her thoughts trailed off, filled with confusion.
"Why do I have to like him? There are so many other guys I could like. I don't even know if he feels the same way, or if he's even thought about me," she thought to herself, feeling frustrated.
"I'm not sure if it's really him, but why? Why am I feeling this way?" she wondered, confused and questioning her own feelings.
"It's better to just enjoy myself coz thinking about this won't get me anywhere," she told herself, trying to rationalize her feelings.
As she was enjoying the view while looking out the window, her mom and dad were already talking about what time they would leave the tomorrow day.
She felt a little disappointed, but there was nothing she could do about it. She told herself to just forget about Deo because even if they saw each other, they would be leaving tomorrow , so it's still useless.
When they reached Bayawan, her dad stopped in front of the 7-Eleven to let her and her mom out. After that, he parked the car in the 7-Eleven parking area.
Her mom held her hand, and they went into 7-Eleven together. She didn't know how she felt; she felt happy but also nervous.
When they were inside, she chose her drink and then went to the cashier to pay. While walking into the cashier, she was nervous but also excited.
While waiting in line because there were people in front of her, she looked to the other area and saw a male cashier who was handsome but wearing a hat,  So she moved because she was in the wrong line, coz the cashier in her original line was a woman.
She just stared at her phone while in line, pretending not to be nervous.
When it was her turn, she reached for her money to pay. She was about to ask, but the cashier suddenly looked at her and she realized it wasn't Deo.
She lost her excitement and after getting her change, she went to her mom's table. To hide her disappointment, she smiled at her parents and pretended to enjoy their snacks.
"Do it's good?" her dad asked her.
"Yes, Dad, you want to try?" she asked.
"No, thanks," he replied.
"Mommy, where should we go next after this?" she asked her mom.
"Pure Gold, honey," her mom said while eating her burger.
She told herself, "Not everything you want happens."
To her, the stranger guy was just a person who saved her once, but that was all. There was nothing more to it.
She suddenly wondered why she needed to see the guy who saved her again. Maybe he even had a girlfriend now.
So instead of seeing Deo again, she chose to forget everything.
After their snacks, they went to Puregold because her mom wanted to buy lucky charms. She said it brings good luck. Coz it's a common belief in some cultures that certain objects or symbols can bring good fortune.
Once inside, Patresiah wandered around looking for lucky charms too. She also wanted to pick out a dress to give to Larah so she could give something to her before they left tomorrow.
"Don't wander too far, honey, because it's tiring to look for you," her mom said.
"Just see you at the cashier area, Mommy. I'm just going to find a dress for Larah," she replied.
"Bring a small one for Pea too," her dad said.
"Okay dad sure" she said "and of course for you, Zhian," she said to Zhian as they started walking to find a dress.
After a while, she found dresses for Larah and Pea, so she went to the pet clothes area to find something for Zhian.
While looking, she had trouble choosing because there were no sizes for Zhian. So, she moved to the other side.
While she was searching, Zhian was right beside her. Then few minutes she found something she liked, so she picked out one and tried to pic another one but it was the last one, so she stood up to leave and accidentally bumped into a guy.
The man looked at her, his cheeks flushed.
 
"You..." they said together.
 
"Are you the one from the 7-Eleven before?" they said together again.
 
"What is this? Why are we always saying the same thing at the same time?" the guy said while smiling.
"Yeah, I wonder too," she said, trying to hold back the smile that was threatening to break out.
"I'm so happy to see you again," the guy said.
 
"Thanks," she said and was about to leave because she was thinking that maybe he wasn't the one who rescued her, even though he was the cashier at 7-Eleven.
"Wait, I remember that dress," the guy said and it make her stop. "What, did you seen me before?"
 
"Oh, right. I think you forgot about. I'm Deo. Nice meeting you," the guy said.
"I'm Patresiah. Can I ask if you've seen me before?" she asked, just to be sure.
"Patresiah," Deo said, looking thoughtful.
"So you're the one I rescued during Christmas Eve, and I was right, it was your handkerchief I found on the road. He said while full of joy.
Patresiah was happy but she said, "Can I see the handkerchief?" Deo handed it to her and it's confirmed that it was hers because her name was designed on it and that design on it. 
"So that's why it felt so familiar coz it's really was mine," she thought to herself.
"Wait, why did you bring this and why are you here in pet clothes?" Patresiah asked Deo.
 
"Well, I..." Deo was confused about what to say.
 
"Your..... what?" Patresiah asked, looking around to see if her parents were nearby.
 
"My parents are going to Dawis later, and I thought maybe I'd see you there, so I brought your handkerchief and bought clothes for your dog," Deo said, blushing.
Patresiah didn't know what to say and was trying to hold back her excitement.
 
"Can't you speak Tagalog?" Deo asked.
"Thanks, hmm nope," I have to go now, my mom might be looking for me," she said, turning to leave. Then she suddenly turned back, hugged him, and whispered, "Thanks for saving me before."
Deo hugged her back and said, "No, thank you. I'm so glad I saw you again. I've been looking for you starting the way I met you."
Patresiah wasn't sure if it was okay for them to be hugging, so she pulled away and said, "I appreciate that." She was about to leave when Deo asked, "Can I get your FB account?" Patresiah felt her mom might be looking for her, so she handed him her card and said, "Text just txt your account on there. I'll be the one to add you." Then she left, while Zhian following closely behind.
When she arrived at the cashier, she got there before her parents, so she got in line. Her parents asked her if she'd been waiting there for a while, and she said, "No, Mom, Dad, I just got here."
"Why did you take so long?" she asked her parents.
 
"Your dad take a snack earlier, before we were looking for the perfect lucky charm," her mom replied.
After they paid, they left. And she carried Zhian while her dad carrying the things they bought.
 
After Puregold, they went to the market and bought some fruits for New Year's.
After that, they went home.
 
On the way home, Patresiah was quiet, thinking about Deo.
She always remembers the moment she hugged him. It was just a hug of gratitude, but why did it feel different? She asked herself.
He's actually really handsome when I look closer. Maybe he's half too. He doesn't pure look Filipino, even though he's just wearing simple clothes. She whispered to herself.
Why is it like this? Why does it feel so different? she said to herself. I've never felt this way before. I thought he wasn't looking for me, but it turns out he was. That's why he wasn't at 7 eleven coz he do shopping for me.
Do we feel the same way? she asked herself. I can't say if we don't feel se thing because even though he didn't know we would meet, he still gathered his courage.
Lost in thought, she forgot she hadn't gotten Deo's gift yet. She'd left before he could pay for it.
Patresiah felt sad because she hadn't received Deo's gift that he bought for her . She also didn't know what time her parents were leaving back to manila tomorrow.
So, she asked her mom what time they were leaving tomorrow. Her mom said 8 in the morning. That made her sad because she didn't know if Deo would be able to reach her before they left.
She was so sad that she just fell silent and lost her appetite. She stroked Zhian while staring blankly out the window.
A little while later, Deo texted her number and message, "Hi Patresiah, this is my Facebook account."
Patresiah didn't notice because she was just staring out the window, lost in thought, and her phone was on her bag.
She kept thinking about how painful it was. Just when they finally met and talked but then she was leaving tomorrow.
It felt like fate was being cruel to her. She wanted to stay a little longer for Deo, but she knew her parents' decision was final. So, she just grieved in silence while pretending to be happy in front of her parents.