Chapter 2

THE DINNER WAS OVER, and the guests wished the newcomer a "Welcome Back." Athalia is in a dark corner holding a glass of wine where no light can reach her. She finished the rest of her glass.

"Is that you, Atalia?"

The baritone voice from behind her. Athalia turned to see a very attractive creature standing nearby.

"Luke?" She greets him. "How are you? Welcome Back!"

She smiled at him, and he returned her smile. He took a step closer to her. He looked sharp in a gray suit. His shoes are the only black thing. Athalia raised her gaze to the moon. He, too, looked up.

"You are still the Luke that I've known for ten years ago. You're still addicted to the color gray. " She said jokingly.

And they laughed. He stared at her. She looked down. She can't stand to stare at him. It's like any time, She's going to lose her consciousness.

"You, you changed a lot. You are a girl now and of course, you looked beautiful tonight." Like praised while looking at her intently.

He stared at her until his gaze dropped to her lips. Her chest throbbed harder. Will, he going to kiss her?

 "Athalia. You're here!"  Charles called Athalia. He approached them.

"Hi, I'm Charles. Athalia's new friend." He held out his right hand to Luke. Luke accepted Charles' handshake.

"I'm Luke, Athalia's Best Friend since childhood."

Luke introduces himself to Charles. She was surprised by what he said. Best friend? Did she hear it right? Or maybe, he just said that because Charles introduced himself as her friend. It hurt her to think that. She looked at him.  He seemed serious about the words he uttered.

"Can I borrow Athalia for a moment to dance? "Charles asked.

 She looked in the compound and she noticed that the other guests were already dancing even the servants. There are no tables either. The fragrance of music soars into the depths of the night.

Of course, you can." Luke agreed but she heard the bitterness in his voice.

Luke left. Charles and Athalia had already walked away from that place. When they were in the middle, Charles took her hand and placed it on his shoulder. Meanwhile, he took one of her hands and holds it. His other hand is on her waist.

They have already started dancing. She saw out of the corner of her eye, Luke and his girlfriend dancing. Their bodies stick together. You can see their love for each other, in how they looked at each other. She's jealous of what she saw. She wants that Luke to dance with her too.

She suddenly looked up as Charles spoke.

"If I'm going to court you, will you agree?"

And he pulled Athalia closer to him. She doesn't feel even a scant attraction for him but they said that love will learn. There's nothing wrong if she let him court her.

 "Of course. I don't have a boyfriend, so you can court me." and she smiled at him.

After that party, Charles took her home.

 

"Thanks for ushering me, Charles."

 "It's nothing. Good night," he replied.  I delivered him by a gaze until he disappeared from her sight. When she entered the house, her mother was immediately curious.

"Who's that?" Mom asked.

"He's Charles, Mom. We met at the party, and he's planning to date and court me. Can he, Mom?" She asked.

 "There's nothing wrong if he wants to court you. But first, you must get to know him well because it's hard when you don't know him very well and then when you become his wife you'll only know who he is. It's too late to repent, daughter." Her mother preached to her.

"Yes Mom, and besides, he's just wooing. I'm going to my room now, Mom. I want to rest and I'm tired also.  I have work tomorrow." she said. And kissed her mother on the cheek.

 As Athalia lay on her bed, she wondered if her decision to consent Charles to woo her was the right one. She doesn’t want to think about it. Go with the flow. Athalia closed her eyes to sleep.

She woke up early in the morning because of the ringing of her cellphone. It's an unregistered number. She immediately answered the call.

 "Who is this?" she asked whoever she or he is.

 "Get out of your house."

Luke? Is Luke on the other line? How did he find out her cellphone #? And, why he convoked her at this time? Athalia went out of the house and saw him outside and leaning against his car.

 "What are you doing here? It's only five in the morning?" She asked him with curiosity.

 "I just want to see you. Maybe Charles will come here later and take you to work. I was supposed to take you home last night but Charles got ahead of me." His voice seemed with a mixed sulk. But why?

"He won't take me later. Go home now and I'll call you when you pick me up.  Maybe your girlfriend gets angry if you told her about it?"

She doesn't want to be the emanate of a quarrel in their relationship. What about now? Luke and Athalia met first and they treat each other as a brother and sister. Will Mickaela prohibit it? She's been with Luke longer than she. Luke approached her.

"Really? Charles won't escort you?" He stared her in the eyes. She nodded in agreement.

 "I miss you so much Athalia. I just can't help myself being angry at him because instead of that I'll be with you last night, he was there and ruined it."  Why is he saying that to her?

Luke came even closer to her. He stared at her lips. And he immediately lowered his head to kiss her. Our lips will nearly apply.

 A loud bang on the door woke her up.  Athalia woke up in a dream, a dream that she wished to be real.

 "Athalia! Wake up! It's going to be seven in the morning. Luke is waiting for you downstairs, he's going to take you to your work. Come and have your breakfast."

She immediately stood up. She looked at the clock. She slapped her forehead. It's seven o'clock in the morning, already. She was tired last night so she had a good night's sleep. What did Mom say? Luke is here at our house. She's dreaming again? She pinched her arm. No, she was in reality.

"Yes Mom, I'm going down."

Athalia was on her way downstairs when she saw Luke at the dining table happily chatting with her mother, while the fried fish with anchovy sauce was served on the table. Some eggs and hotdogs were served. He looked at her when he saw Athalia going down the stairs.

"Good Morning, Athalia. I'm sorry I didn't let you know that I'm going to visit here because I don't have your cellphone #." He explained. She open her mouth to answer him but her mother suddenly interjected.

"That's okay, Luke. You're very welcome here at home even if you don't let her know first. Just eat, huh. You must have missed these. Does your Mommy know you came here?"

She sat down at the dining table. Luke and her face each other. They looked at each other. She saw the glitch of happiness in his eyes. Is it because he sees her? 

"No. Besides, she's in Manila right now with Mickaela. She's taking care of something important." He explained.

He looked at Athalia. Their eyes met. She's the one who regained the gazing and rushed to eat the food.

 "Where are you working now Athalia?" Luke asked her.

"In a garment factory or Heirwone Enterprise. I'm a Marketing Staff there. Sis Melissa recommended me to be one of the staff." She answered him while her attention is still on the food.

"That's good to hear. Heirwone Enterprise is good and the product they make is high quality. I need a Secretary or a partner in managing the Hacienda. But, I should know him or her, it's not a joke to trust now." He stated.

She just nodded in agreement with him. After eating, she got up to take a shower and get dressed for going to work. she said goodbye to them first, who were busy chatting. After she took a bath, she immediately went out. Athalia saw her mother washing the dishes. They had finished eating.

"I'm going, Mom."

She went outside and found Luke standing and leaning against his car.  When he saw her, Luke immediately went to the passenger's seat and opened the door. She immediately went there and entered. He also turned to the driver's seat.

NO ONE wants to break the silence that prevails between the two of them as they cross the road to the Garment Factory. She looked out the window. Athalia observed the fields planted with paddy. The harvesting is near. The paddy is owned by Sebastian's family. He suddenly spoke.

"Looks like you were getting along with the man last night. Who is he?"  he asked with curiosity in his voice. Why does he seem disgusted based on the tone of his voice? Or she's just imagining it?

"He was planning to court me and I agreed." She answered.

She looked at him. Suddenly his eyes sharpen. What is his problem? Is he angry? What right does he have to be angry? He didn’t say a word throughout the trip until they reached the Garment Factory or Heirwone Enterprise.

I got out of the car. He didn't even hesitate to open the door for her.

AS SHE LEFT the building where she was working. She saw Charles in a corner. He smiled at her, she smiled back at him too. When she approached, he immediately took her bag.

"What are you doing here, Charles? How did you know that I'm working here?" Athalia asked him. She just wondering because she didn't mention to him last night where is her work.

"I asked Melissa. After I took you last night I went back to the Hacienda to get Mom and Dad. Then, I talked to her and I asked where's your work." He explained. Athalia nodded. They walked down the road to the parking lot.

"Where are we going? Can't I go home first to change?"

 She can't wear this if they're going somewhere. She also needs to look decent, especially visual in Charles’ clothing that he has something capable in life.

"That's okay. You don't have to change, you're still beautiful even if you're wearing that office attire." he praised her.

 Athalia blushed at his compliment. She thanked him for what he said and got in his car. He also took the driver's seat. He already operated the vehicle.

As they cross the road towards a restaurant. The restaurant was a bit far away, she felt suddenly nervous. Is it right to be with him? Even she only met him last night?

 "You look restless. Are you hesitant? I'm harmless Athalia. I won't hurt you. Just trust me. Yes, I know we only met last night, but give me your trust. I won't hurt you."

 

"I'm sorry if I think that way about you. I just can't avoid it and I don't know you very well, yet."

 "It's okay I understand."

She smiled at him. It was right to say that to him to feel better. Maybe he was right. He will not forsake her. She will trust what he said and that he will do nothing bad to her.

She looked outside, and she caught a glimpse of the side mirror of the car.  There is a vehicle following us. The car following us seemed familiar to her. It was like Luke's car. Athalia shook her head. No, impossible!

Maybe, it just looks like Luke's car and maybe, we’re on the same path. Why would he follow her? There is a reason for him to follow you because you are his friend and he is worried about you. That's a part of her mind. But did he own that car or not?