Ariay was about to join Diana on walking outside the seminar hall when a few teachers came
and talked to him. He could have just told them he was in a hurry but that would be rude on his part so
he just talked to them. When he turned to look at Diana, she was nowhere to be found. Now he is dying of curiosity to know if Albert picked her up or not.
He was walking down to his car when he realized that he still hasn't asked for Diana's number! He
checked his phone if she saw his chat already. Into his dismay, the message wasn't opened yet. With
droopy shoulders, he opened his car's door and went in. He drove off.
After an hour drive, he reached their house. He was still thinking about Diana when he went
inside the house. He was very preoccupied that he didn't notice they have a guest. His guest, particularly.
"Hi, son! It's great that you're here already!"
His mom's voice took him back to his senses. He looked at his mom, and that's when he saw
Hanney sitting with her. He was surprised.
"Hi ma, Hi Hanney!" he greeted them and planted soft kisses on the ladies' cheeks. "I didn't know
you were in here. You should have texted me." he said, more on Hanney.
"It's fine. Besides, your mom said you were on a seminar so l just waited for you."
"I'Il leave you two alone now. I'll just be at the kitchen if you need anything son. Excuse me now,
Hanney."
Hanney nodded and smiled to his mother. When they were finally alone, he took his seat across
Hanney.
"So, what brings you here ?" he asked her.
She sipped into her cup of tea before she answered him.
"Actually, my initial plan was to call you up but I realized it will be more formal to ask you in person." she answered.
"Ask me about what?" he asked, puzzled.
"My godparents invited me to their 50th wedding anniversary and it's a formal event. I couldn't
think of anyone else aside from you to be my escort during that event. Will you be available and kind to
accompany me?" she asked.
"1 don't know if I will be available. When will that be?"
"Next weekend. Anyway the event will start at 7 o'clock in the evening so if you have something to do in the morning, then it won't be a problem."
Arjay thought for a second. He doesn't have anything planned out for the next weekend, so it would just be polite to accompany Hanney. Anyway they are friends. He smiled at her.
"Next weekend? Sure, I will accompany you. I don't have any plans ahead actually." He said.
"1 know I could always count on you! Thank you, Arjay. You're really a life-saver." She said and
smiled widely.
"It's nothing, really. By the way, where will the event take place?"
"At Hotel Andrei in the city."
He nodded.
"That was fancy. Who are your godparents again?" he curiously asked.
The Vice Mayor of Soliven and his wife."
Arjay nodded but then he realized, Diana was from Soliven. What a coincidence!
"Hanney, you should eat dinner with us before you go home, dear." His mom called out while
coming out from the kitchen.
"I'm afraid I can't, tita. It's getting late and I still need to go home." She said.
"I'Il just take you home." He volunteered.
"1 know you're tired, too, and I don't have the heart to let you drive for another 3 hours. Besides, I brought my car with me, so you don't really need to worry. Maybe some other time, tita?"
"That's unfortunate. But yes, maybe next time, dear." His mother smiled.
She finished her cup of tea and cake.
"1 should get going now. It's getting dark already. So, next weekend, Saturday." She reminded him.
"I'll put that on reminder." He said and they both stood up.
"I'Il just say goodbye to your mom." she said and went to the kitchen.
He heard the both of them saying their goodbyes and Hanney came out from the kitchen.
"1 should go. Bye, Arjay." She said and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll walk you outside." He said and they both went outside.
Before Hanney went inside her car, she hugged Arjay.
"Don't you ever get tired of me, Ariay. You have been my best friend and it will really hurt me if
you will ever get tired of me." she whispered to him while hugging him.
He hugged her back.
"U will always be here if you need me, Hanney because l am your friend." He assured her.
"Even if you fall for someone else? Will you stick around?" she asked and pushed him gently.
He didn't answer. Not because he will ditch her but because he didn't know what to say. Hanney
smiled.
"I know it's a rule that when you have a girlfriend, try to avoid being friends with other girls. It's
okay if you won't be able to stick around until the end, but please stick around until you're still available."
"I'll try my best, as long as I'm not busy, you can count on me." he replied.
Hanney smiled.
"1 should really go now. My parents will be worried sick. Bye, Arjay." She said and got on her car.
Arjay moved a bit so he won't be hit. She pressed the horn and drove off. He waved goodbye.
When he can't see her car's tail lights, he went inside the house
"Is Hanney gone already?" his mother asked when he entered the living room.
"Yes ma."
"She's a very nice girl, Arjay. Don't you want to get back together? I heard she's still single." His
mom smiled mischievously.
He smiled and shook his head a bit
"1 think we've passed that stage ma. Besides, we're both too busy for romantic relationships. We
will just stay friends." he said. "I'Il just wash up, ma." He excused himself.
"Okay. When you're done, get down immediately so we could eat dinner and you and your father
can take a rest for the night."
"Yes, ma." He said and went upstairs.
He immediately went to take a shower. When he was all cleaned up, he went downstairs to the
kitchen. His mom was already preparing the table.
"Call your father now, son. He's in the garden."
"Yes ma." He said and went to fetch his father. "Pa, dinner is ready." He told his father.
"Yeah! I'll be right there." His father said and caught up with him.
"So, I heard your mother asking vou about getting back together with Hanney." His father said while they were walking towards the door to the kitchen.
"Yeah, but I told her that Hanney and I are just friends now, pa."
His father nodded.
"But I think it would be nice if you get back together. But of course, that depends on you both. If
you agreed to be friends only, then it's fine." his father said and patted his back.
"Let's eat!" his mom said as soon as they entered the kitchen.
They all seated and ate silently. After dinner, he went to his room. He checked his sns, hoping
Diana had read his chat already, but still, she hasn't. He laid down on the bed.
"How can I get her number?" he asked himself.
He suddenly remembered Janwill, his student and Diana's brother. He snapped.
"Yeah! That's it! 1'll just asked him tomorrow. Surely he will give it to me since Diana said the kid
liked me that much." He said and smiled.
His phone suddenly rang. He checked the caller ID: it's Jc. He answered it immediately.
"Hey, brother! What's up? he asked.
"Nothing's up. I just want to check up on you, and your progress on finding her." he said from the
other line.
"Wow, you really called me just to hear my progress or just to hear some gossip?"
"Hey, I just used my one call for this week to call you and you're bullying me?"
"I'm not bullying you." he said and went silent for a moment.
Should he tell Jc about Diana? But he knows for sure that Jc will just bully him.
"Hey, you went silent. Does that mean you met her?" He asked him, he can hear curiosity in his voice.
"Yes, I met her. I was actually with her since yesterday."
"Whoah!! That was fast! You're living together now???" he exaggeratedly asked.
"No! Not that kind. We attended a seminar together and we were seatmates yesterday and today.
He explained.
"Ohhh... I thought... silly me." he said and laughed.
"Destiny, I guess."
"So you're actually believing in that now? l guess that's what the magic of LOVE can do to a person.
A non-believer can turn into a believer of destinies." He mockingly said.
'Probably. Just like what they said, love can make your world turn around. It's like a merry-go-round. lt turns your world around, up and down in slow motion. Probably. But once you fell in love, you need to face a great obstacle: time. The moment you enjoy being together with the person you love is the
same moment the time starts to move fast. It's up to you how you are going to go against the fast track of time but you need to enjoy the moment until it lasts. It's difficult to chase time especially if it slips out of your hand, but you got to do whatever it takes to make up with lost time.'
"Wow... that was deep. I didn't know love can also bring out the priest in you." Jc commented on
the other line.
"Huh... did I say something?" he asked.
"Actually, you said a lot. 'Love can make your world turn around. It's like a merry-go-round... yada
yada yada." He said and laughed.
"Did I say that aloud?"
"Yes you did! Why? You thought you said it to yourself? Sorry to disappoint you brother, I heard
it all." And he laughed again. "Anyways, I am happy for you that you are finally progressing. You should p sleep now. It seems your head is cloudy and all. Goodnight brother!" he said and cut the call.
Arjay sighed. Yeah, he's actually sleepy. He should sleep now so he could have the energy to face
his students tomorrow, especially Janwill. He smiled at the thought and he closed his eyes.