Chapter 7 An Invitation

As Teacher Maria was so busy preparing for the upcoming Teachers' Conference in Cebu, she received a message from an unknown number. She immediately opened her phone's inbox and got surprised with the message and to whom it came from.

"Hi Teacher Maria, Can I invite you for a dinner tonight? It's me Echo, remember me?" the message came from Mr. Jericho del Fuego, the one she had a crush on. But then she was quite hesitant to reply to his invitation. Mr. del Fuego had a reputation as a playboy and a womanizer. Even if Maria had a crush on him, she felt awkward because of their status gap.

She knew that she might be one of those women who will cry after Mr. del Fuego rejected her. "Hey, Maria, why are you having those thoughts? Mr. del Fuego is just asking for dinner. That's all!" her conscience asked her.

She was quite ashamed of what she had just thought. She might have overthought it that way. Perhaps Mr. del Fuego just wanted to know more about her father's business and she might be of great help to him. With this thought, she can help her father as well to earn more income if she will not offend Mr. del Fuego.

"Okay, Sir. Thank you," she replied.

"Why Sir? You can simply call me by my nickname remember I've told you to call me Echo last time?" Mr. del Fuego replied.

"Okay Echo," she replied with her shaking fingers on his mobile's keypad.

"Well then, I'll fetch you after your work. Would it be fine at 5 PM or 6 PM?" Mr. del Fuego asked her while smiling over his phone. Even if it's just his teaser for her, he found himself quite excited when Maria gave a positive response to his invitation.

"6 PM will be fine Sir, oops I mean Echo," Teacher Maria replied while smiling as well. She was so happy being invited by a handsome Bachelor like Mr. del Fuego. It's her privilege. This will be her first date from the opposite sex and she is quite too excited about it.

She immediately sort all her things and started to pack the things she will bring home. She also had a checklist for their upcoming Teachers' Conference in Cebu so that she won't miss a thing. Maria is a very organized woman when it comes to her things. Though she's quite a bit clumsy with other things. She put on some makeup and fixed her hair to look a bit presentable when Mr. del Fuego fetch her. She wasn't prepared for Mr. del Fuego's Invitation that's why she will be coming for a dinner date under her school uniform.

A few moments later, a luxury car entered in St. Mary's Academy parking area. Almost all the students and teachers inside the academy were awaiting to whom this luxury car belonged. Mr. del Fuego who is casually wearing his signature Polo Shirt and jeans went down his car and now heading to Teacher Maria's classroom. He already called the school personnel and asked everything about Teacher Maria and he even asked permission that he will be fetching her for a dinner date.

Del Fuego Family is one of the stockholders of St. Mary's Academy that's why Echo can easily access and enter the school premises.

"Good afternoon Mr. del Fuego," the Directress of the school approached him when she saw him walking towards the elementary department.

"Good afternoon Madam," Mr. del Fuego replied.

"Is there anything we can do for your visit? It's our pleasure to serve your needs Mr. del Fuego," the Directress asked him charmingly. She had a long-time crush on this playboy Bachelor in their town. She is finding a way on how to hook him and now is an opportunity for her.

Being a playboy, Mr. del Fuego sensed the Directress' intention already and she wasn't his type at all. He is quite being annoyed now as he was being distracted by her presence.

"Excuse me Madam, but I'm quite in a hurry. I am going to fetch Teacher Maria for our dinner date," he said straight to the Directress.

"Alright. Enjoy Mr. del Fuego," the shocked Directress said. She was curious why he dating Teacher Maria. Of all the women being linked to Mr. del Fuego, Teacher Maria is quite different. She is not sophisticated and elegant. She is just an ordinary nerd lady. A boring one. The Directress can't help but wonder, but she is assured that Teacher Maria will be just a new toy for Mr. del Fuego.

"Poor Teacher Maria. Tsk! Tsk!" she said to herself before she proceed to her Directress' Office on the third floor.

Other teachers were gossiping already when they've learned that Mr. del Fuego is looking for Teacher Maria. The majority of the female teachers were so envious of her and few of them got worried about her. Mr. del Fuego's reputation as playboy and womanizer is not hidden humor in town.

When Echo was about to enter the room of Teacher Maria, he saw her putting some lip gloss on her lips. Seeing her lips pouted made him hard already.

"Hey, what's happening to me?" he asked himself. He is quite surprised with his reaction upon seeing Teacher Maria who wasn't doing anything yet to him.

Teacher Maria felt that someone's staring at her and when she raised her head, she saw Mr. del Fuego's eyes looking at her. She immediately put her lip gloss in her bag and said," Good afternoon Mr. del Fuego, errr, I mean Echo," she greeted him.

"I just arrived. Are you ready?" he asked her without leaving his eyes on her. He was fascinated with Teacher Maria's simplicity and yet making him aroused already.

'Yes, I am," she replied.

"Shall we?" Echo offered his arm to her but she refused. They were still inside the school vicinity and Teacher Maria doesn't want to add fuel on those eyes looking at them right now.

"It's okay, let's go," she said and started to walk with him.

After getting inside the car, Echo started the engine and they both left the school.