Diana woke up later than usual. Well, she just had a very amazing night, who could blame her? Exchanging messages with her favorite person plus an unexpected call from him? A reality came true for her.
She sat on the bed and stretched her arm above her head. A big smile on her lips. She stood up and went out of her room. As usual, Mel and Grace were already fixed on the couch, books on their hands. Janwill was nowhere to be found, very typical of his brother. And Anne came out from the kitchen.
“How’s your sleep, sleeping beauty?” she asked her.
“Great, I had a very peaceful sleep.” She said and went to the kitchen.
She went to the sink to gargle and wash her face. She did not bother to wipe her wet face. She went to the cupboard and grab a cup. She took a spoon on the drawer and made a coffee for herself. She pulled a chair off under the table and took her seat. While stirring her coffee, she suddenly remembered Albert.
‘Was he mad at me? I haven’t heard from him after I replied yesterday…’ she said to herself.
She took her phone from her pocket and started to type a message. She sent a ‘good morning’ message to a few and important people on her contacts. After a while, all of them responded, except for Albert. She felt guilty.
‘He’s probably mad at me. I will just text him after I drink my coffee.’ She said.
She was about to put her phone down when it rang. She checked the caller: It’s Justine. She answered the call.
“Hey Just, you remembered to call! What’s up?” she asked.
“Diana, oh my gosh! Is there something you’re not telling me or are you just not aware?” Justine’s voice was a bit elevated and she sounded quite suspicious towards her. Diana frowned.
“I don’t follow you. Pardon me, I just woke up.” She said and rolled her eyes and she sipped on her coffee.
“He left, right? Right???”
“WHAT???” she was really confused now. She heard Justine sigh on the other line.
“Really? We are really doing this now?” Justine asked her, annoyed.
“Doing what? You’re confusing me, really. I told you I just woke up, so any clue as to what you mean?” she asked.
“I’m not talking about ‘what’. I am talking about ‘who’, okay? I’ll give a clue. Arjay Altamira. Ring a bell?” Justine said sarcastically.
““Oh! Oohhh! That’s what you meant? Ooohhhh~ are you curious?” she teased her to annoy her some more.
“Yes! Because I want to hear the progress between you two! He really left the seminary, right? Right???” she asked. Diana can hear excitement on Justine’s voice.
She laughed. Should she tell her or should she tease her more?
“Diana~~~ I’m dying of CURIOSITY HERE!” Justine yelled her last two words.
“Okay, okay… geez! You’re a gossip queen! Yes, he left the seminary. Actually he’s been out since the week we met. Remember that? I wanted to tell you then but the three were there, too, and the teasing was on you, and I enjoyed it so…”
“That was mean!”
“Well… once in a blue moon event! Besides, you’re always mean so, we just returned the favor.” she laughed.
“That’s disheartening to hear…” Justine said.
Diana could sense that she’s actually hurt and she was about to apologize when Justine continued her sentence in a cheery voice.
“But I don’t care. So! What’s the progress???” she excitedly asked again.
Diana creased her forehead. ‘What the hell?’ she cussed.
“You’re not mad?” she asked her. Justine laughed.
“You’re so back news, honey! That was three weeks old already. Jokes on you. Now, tell me everything!” she demanded.
“Wait, before I tell you everything, can I just ask where you get that info?” she asked, puzzled.
“Nez and I chatted last night and she told me to ask you about Arjay. She didn’t specifically said he went out but told me to ask you.”
She held her forehead. Sometimes she couldn’t understand what’s going on in Nez’s head.
“To be honest, if it weren’t for Nez, I wouldn’t find out about it.” She stated.
“And you didn’t even bother to share the gossip? So, what now? What’s the progress between you two?” Justine asked.
“Progress?” she laughed.
“Yes! Why, you haven’t been acquainted yet? You literally live in the neighboring municipalities, sure you got acquainted already! I just assumed but why not? It is possible, right?”
“Yeah, it is possible. And yeah, we got acquainted. We’re actually friends now and…”
“And… what?”
“He called me last night.” She simply said.
Justine squealed on the other line. Diana had to pull away the phone from her ear. When Justine was done squealing, she heard her clear her throat.
“I got to go. There’s an uninvited guest here. I will text you something. But maybe later. I got to go. Miss you. bye.” And Justine cut the call.
Diana stared at her phone. Who could that uninvited guest Justine was telling about? And what is she going to tell her? She literally jumped on her seat when the backdoor of the kitchen flew open.
“What the heck, young man!” she sneered at her brother.
“Sorry sis. I didn’t know you were here.” He said apologetically.
“Even if I’m not here, it’s not okay to open the door that hard. Where have you been by the way?” she asked.
“Outside. I saw Albert a while ago, sis. He was asking for you. I told him you’re still asleep.”
“Did he tell you why he was asking for me?”
Janwill shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“Nope. He just asked. I’ll leave you now sis, my body’s very itchy. I need to take a bath now.” He said and ran to the bathroom.
She wondered why Albert asked for her and yet didn’t reply to her. She texted him.
BELOT!
After a few minutes of waiting, Albert replied.
YEP?
JANWILL TOLD ME YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ME? She replied.
I DIDN’T REALLY LOOK FOR YOU, I JUST ASKED WHERE YOU ARE.
OOHH, I SEE. ARE YOU MAD AT ME? She asked.
NOPE. CAN I JUST TEXT YOU LATER WHEN I GET HOME? I WILL BE NEXT IN LINE.
She frowned. Next in line in what? She replied to him.
NEXT IN LINE TO WHAT? WHERE ARE YOU?
I’M AT THE CLINIC RIGHT NOW. TEXT YOU LATER.
WAIT! I MADE UP MY MIND. I WILL GO WITH YOU.
After a few seconds, her phone rang. Albert is calling her. She answered the phone.
“Hey Albert, you called.” She began.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
“Weren’t you asking me out yesterday?” she answered. He fell silent. “Are you still there?” she asked.
“Are you serious about that?” he asked back, she can sense the excitement in his voice.
“Why, you don’t like it? Fine. I’m taking it ba---“
“No, don’t! Of course I would love it! By the way, it’s a formal event so you need to wear something formal, like a dress.”
“Okay fine. I thought you’re in a clinic? Why are you calling me?” she asked.
“Because I can’t believe you agreed and I’m happy so I need to call you.”
She heard a woman’s voice calling for Albert.
“I need to go. I will just pick you up at 5:30 later. Formal, okay?”
“Copy that, sir.” She said and cut the call.
She washed her cup and went to her room. She needs to look for something presentable on her wardrobe. She needs to be presentable on that event so Albert and she won’t look ridiculous. She owes to him a lot so she needs to return the favor now.