Diana is aware that Albert feels something for her. She is not that insensitive. It's just that, she
doesn't feel the same way for him. And it's awkward for her to go with him, especially now that she had
just been with Ariay all day. She cleared her throat and spoke to cut the awkward silence between them.
"So, care to tell me why the sudden urge to invite me out?" she asked Albert while they were
walking towards his motorbike.
A friendly date. Is it bad?" he asked back.
"No.. Not really, but why me? I mean Nez is here, she is also your friend and you never saw her
for 3 years! Why didn't you invite her instead?
"Because I like..." he stopped for a brief moment to think, "to invite you. I like to invite you this
weekend. Maybe l'll set another time for her next weekend if she's not busy." he said and reached out for
the bouquet. He handed it to her.
"What is this for?" she asked.
"1 don't know. For props, maybe? If you don't like it, just throw it away." He said, irritated.
"Why the sudden grumpiness, dude? I'm just asking! Besides, if I'm going to throw it away, it's a
waste of money. This is beautiful! And 1 like the sunflower. Thank you." she said and smelled the flowers.
To her surprise, Albert put on a helmet on her head.
"T-thanks." She stuttered. He just nodded.
He put on his helmet and got on his motorbike. Diana went to seat behind him. He drove off.
"So, who was that guy you were with a while ago again?" he asked her while driving.
"That's sir Ariay Altamira. We were schoolmates in college! You don't remember him?"
"No... why should I remember him, by the way?
"You were opponents! In basketball. Come on, I know you're an MVP but surely you remember
the faces of the people you meet in basketball courts?
"I honestly don't remember him... but you two were close. So it seems."
"Not really. But we chatted years ago. During college days."
"Where did you meet?"
"At school, of course! But his best friend, Brother Jc, introduced us. So, that's how we met."
"So he is a seminarian."
"Was, actually. He just went out from the seminary. You know, you should meet him, like meet
him and not just be acquainted. You know, like be friends since you played basketball together back in
college. I'm sure you'll get along."
Albert just nodded. Diana wondered why he suddenly became quiet. They finally reached Diana's
house but Albert kept his silence. Diana got off from the motorbike and removed her helmet.
"Thanks for picking me up and taking me home, and thanks again for the flowers." She said.
He just took the helmet from her and nodded. He drove off.
'What's wrong with him? Was he mad at me? For what?I didn't do anything, as far as I can
remember.. hmp. Whatever! lf he's mad at me, then be it. I don't know what I did wrong. Besides, I am
too happy today and no one can ruin that for me.' Diana told herself and shrugged her shoulders happily.
She went inside their house. As soon as she entered the door and Janwill saw what she is holding...
"Woohooo~~ someone looks like they got a date~~" he mockingly said in a very loud voice.
Mel and Grace, who are both busy reading, looked up immediately at her and smiled
mischievously. Anne, who's probably busy cooking, went out from the kitchen and smiled widely at her.
"Do they give bouquets in a seminar?" Anne asked.
"1 don't know. I have been to a mock seminar before and I can still remember that NO, they don't
give bouquets in a SEMINAR." Mel remarked.
Diana rolled her eyes.
"NO they don't give BOUQUETS in a SEMINAR, dimwit. Albert gave it to me." She casually said.
"So you really had a date." Grace said, more of a statement
"No. He picked me up at St. Claire and gave me this."
"So he just picked you up and took you home. Is that it?" Janwill asked.
"YES, for Pete's sake!" she exclaimed.
"Why do you sound so defensive? Your siblings were just asking you, Diana."
She turned around to see her father standing in the doorway.
"I'm not defensive! Why are you taking their side now, pa?" she asked her father in disbelief.
"Who said I'm taking sides now? I'm just stating a fact."
"Urgh! You're unbelievable!" she grunts and went to her room.
She immediately slumped on her bed as soon as she entered her room. She can't believe that they
were all going against her! Just because of a bouquet. If she knew this would happen, she should have just
thrown the rest of the bouquet and took only the sunflowers.
Maybe Nez would be a little more understanding. She reached for her phone and dialed Nez's
number. It rang twice before she answered it.
"Aye there mate!" Nez said on the other line.
"Are you busy?"
"Nah. Just chillin'. Why?"
"What's with the Aussie accent?" she laughed at her best friend's trying hard Australian accent.
Nez laughed too.
"Okay, it's embarrassing now that you are laughing. So, any rumors from the vineyard?" Nez
asked.
"He's there"
"Who's there? Kindly elaborate, please?" Nez asked sarcastically
Diana rolled her eyes even though Nez couldnt see it.
"Ariay was there in the ---"
"WHAAAAAAATTTT??????"
Diana literally pulled the phone away from her ear. When she can't hear Nez's scream from the
other line, she returned the phone back to her ear.
"Are you calm now?" she asked.
"Yes, oh my gosh... oh my gosh..I need my inhaler. Oh my gosh!
"Deep breaths, Nez... deep breaths.
She can literally hear her from the other line taking three deep breaths. When she sensed that
she calmed down already, she continued her story.
"Okay, so Arjay was there in the seminar, and we were seatmates." She said.
Another scream came from the other line. She put her phone in speaker mode.
"Nez! How can I tell you my story if you're going to scream every after sentence I say???" she
snapped at her.
"Okay, fine! I'm sorry! Can you blame me if l am that excited with your booming love life???" she
snapped back
"Sorry l snapped at you. Anyways, I will carry on."
"Go, l'm listening."
"As I was saying, Arjay and I were seatmates. We were seatmates by accident actually. He was
looking for a seat and the only available seat was beside me, so he went there and when I looked at him,
bam! He's there, beside me. And then, we had an activity, a pair activity and --- "
"He was your pair."
"Yes, but I didn't choose him. He chose me.
Another scream from the other line and then it stopped.
"Okay, carry on." Nez said.
"Yeah... you're weird." She commented on her best friend's attitude.
"I am your conscience, dodo, because I know you couldn't do it in front of him, so I am screaming
for you now, dim bulb."
"Hey! That's two strikes already!"
"I am waiting for the story, Diana Vidal Pangan,"
Diana Sighed. Sometimes, she can't really jive in with her best friend's weirdness. Now she's
wondering why they clicked so much back then.
"No interruptions this time, please?" she asked nicely. There was no response from the other line.
"Okay, Iwill assume that you are nodding there without making a sound. So, we became partners during
the activity and we had a little bit of misunderstanding but he apologized and I accepted his apology."
"Still listening." Nez commented when she stopped.
"Okay, good. So when he was about to ask me to go with him after the seminar, Albert called out and went to us.
Since Albert told me this morning that he will pick me up, I went with him."
"And then?" Nez asked when she stopped again.
And then on our way to my house, he asked me about Arjay, so I told him about Arjay, I even
told him they should meet as friends and then he kept quiet. He just shut his mouth. And when he dropped
me off, I thanked him for the ride and for the flowers and he just nodded and drove off." She said and shrugged her shoulders.
"Wow.. insensitivity at its finest, Diana." Nez said. Diana can hear the disappointment on her best
friend's voice.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"I'm not judging you for having no boyfriend since birth, but dear, you know Albert likes you. And
just because he asked about a guy doesn't mean he really likes to know him. It only means he is looking
out for a potential rival."
"You mean.." she stopped because she doesn't want to entertain the thought.
"Yes. You know what I mean. But you know Albert. He'll come along. He always do, es pecially with
you and for you." Nez said.
"And now I feel really guilty about it!"
"Don't stress out yourself too much. Anyway, I got to go. Mom's already calling for dinner. Bye!
Love you." Nez said and cut the call.
She stared at her phone. Now she really felt guilty about Albert. But if what Nez told her was true,
then that means...