CHAPTER 5: In love with her

ADELE'S STANDPOINT

   I drove my car into my home only to find my friends packing stuff into Lana's new car and looking all dressed up and ready to go out. 

   Ever since they moved here two weeks ago, I got used to them showing up unannounced in my house. Kieran and her husband already travelled back to the Philippines about two days ago, so it was just Lana and Lu Cheng, storming my home at the best time ever. My mood from the incident at Excellency Modeling Agency still accompanied me home, despite Arsenio's efforts to cheer me up. I had to return home earlier than usual__as Mayven already succeeded in ruining my mood.

   After I'd packed my car at my garage, I walked to them and they grinned at me instantly. However, their smiles left their faces immediately they noticed my sullen mood.

   "Dela, what happened? You don't look so great." Lana stated immediately.

   "True she doesn't. Good thing you're here, we've just finished packing some casual but necessary items from your home." I gave Cheng a puzzled look. "Just get in the car Adele, we'll talk about it on the way. We need some girlie time together anyways." She said, shoving me into the passenger side of the red sedan car. 

I sighed and obediently wore my seatbelt. There's no point arguing with them anyway, they won't listen.

   I watch them throw the remaining of the items into the booth before they finally joined me in the car. Lu Cheng by the wheel beside me and pregnant Lana at the back seat. It wasn't long before Cheng started the car and soon directed it out of my home and into the streets.

______

   Guess where I finally found myself? Oh well, at the beach. All thanks to the girls' amazing idea. Coming here wasn't a bad idea considering how much I needed to think and ease my heavy heart.

   "Don't you like it here?" Cheng asked with a concerned look in her chestnut brown eyes.

   "Of course I do. Just that I can't seem to get over the incident at Arsenio's today." I looked towards Lana, she was happily walking by the beach and dipping her legs in the water.

   "Really? Something unpleasant must have happened then. Does it have anything to do with him?" 

   "No. Not really." I bent my knees  beneath me and stretched my knuckles. 

   "I'll call Lana over so we can talk about it. You in?" She asked. I nodded a yes and watched her called Lana over.

   "Lana stop running. Girl, you're pregnant!" 

I raised my gaze towards her and to my amazement she was really running.

   "Oh C'mmon Lu Cheng. I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't run you know, I'm still Lana." She grinned and slowed down her pace. 

   "Aye-aye Miss, just come sit." Lu Cheng chuckled. I smiled as Lana reached us and sat beside us on the picnic mat.

   "So who was it that got you so pissed?" I looked at Lana and sighed.

   "Carlo's Ex, Mayven." 

   "What?! How's that possible? The last time I checked, that bitch was home in the Philippines, throwing herself around in a bid to become a model. How did this happened?" Lu Cheng asked, her rage rising with her voice. I could already feel she was really angry. Who wouldn't be? Considering what Mayven did to me.

   "I don't understand Dela. Did she call you or did she send you those damned messages again?! Tell me. I'm ready to fly back to the Philippines and have her entire career ruined." Lana gushed angrily as well.

   "Apparently, she happened to be a new contracted model in Excellency Modeling Agency." I announced, pushing the strands of hair off my face as it was starting to get windy here.

   "What the heck!"

   "OMG!"

   "Actually, I don't care what she's doing with her life. My anger is that, I saw her wearing my couture design for the upcoming Relish Fashion Show."

   "No. No don't tell me she's gonna model that amazing piece. She doesn't deserve it." Cheng frowned.

   "Yeah and we can't let her. Not after all she did. I can swear she's still not repentant, right Dela?"

   "She's still a bitch to the core. She insulted me straight up on seeing me and realizing I designed the dress. She said many things to hurt me and she almost succeeded. Seeing her brought back unpleasant memories in me I thought was buried deep inside me and long forgotten." I exhaled sharply as my eyes pooled again but I quickly blinked back the tears.

   "Oh Adele,"

   "Don't let someone so damned get to you." 

The girls tried to encourage me and I smiled.

   "Don't worry, I'm not letting her." I pursed my lips. "Thankfully, Arsenio was understanding and decided he'll let me choose anyone else aside her." I added.

   "Wow, that's amazing." Lana smiled, her lovely dimples revealing.

   "This Arsenio guy, personally I think he's into you. Don't you agree Lana?" Cheng grinned, Lana looked at me and immediately started slurping on the drink beside her in an attempt to avoid answering Cheng's question.

   "Oh not again, Cheng. Not now." I swat her laps slightly. She gave me an innocent grin.

   "Fine. You both are no fun.' She eyed us. Lana continued sipping from the juice can absentmindedly and I rolled my eyes from Cheng. "By the way, who's gonna be the new model for your dress? Have any in mind?" She asked.

   "I'm thinking Sheila. You know her? She's an international model but also works for Arsenio. From what I think, my design would look perfect on her even more than it does on Mayven."

   "I don't know this girl but I say yes. Anyone not Mayven is perfect for the job." Cheng said as she lay flat on her back.

   "I know her. She's got really nice body, She'll do just fine and I believe, win you the trophy." Lana said approvingly. Amongst all three of my friends, she was the number one fashion freak and sometimes even more than myself. Lu Cheng was the least fashionable one amongst us.

   "Thank you girls." I smiled at them.

   "You're welcome only if you'll agree to go swimming." 

   "Lana? You're pregnant girl, we know you love swimming a lot but not now, it could be dangerous for your health and that of my godson." Cheng chided, sitting up straight to proof her point. She stared at Lana's bulging stomach and sighed, raising her hand to touch it while Lana watched her with a bored look on. "My darling boy, I'm sorry your mom had to be so 'unreasonable' sometimes." She glared at her. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to continue keeping her on the right track. You know, she's inexperienced that's why." 

   "You done?" Lana sprang up and started running to the water again, while shouting to Cheng about swimming being healthy for pregnant women too and that Cheng should do proper research. Cheng chased after her shouting that she stopped running and blabbing about it being unhealthy and bla bla.

   I laughed as I watched them. They're always so amusing.

   "What are you doing? Hurry and join us." I raised my gaze to find Cheng back, pulling me to stand up and join them.

Oh well, that wouldn't be a bad idea. I laughed as I dive into the water.

______

ARSENIO'S POV

   "So do you think you'll be able to do it? Alright, see you soon Sheila." I dropped the phone on my desk and sank into my bed.

   My mind traveled back to the incident at the company with Adele and Mayven as my eyes traveled around the wall of my exquisite room. Her photos were everywhere in my home, but they're more in my room. Call me obsessed, I don't care. I just know that I've been in love with Adele for a really long time now. Sadly, she doesn't seem to know or pretends not to know.

   There's something about her_probably from her past, that she's not saying.

   I've watched her since I knew her for about four and half years now and no matter how she tries to pretend she's fine, I could tell she's suffering from depression. Most times when with her, she just zones out. Like, she's lost in some unseen place for a long time.

  It took a lot of effort from my part before I could get her to be friends with me. Adele is beautiful, independent, successful, smart and intelligent. But there's one thing she doesn't have_happiness.

  For the first time since I met her, I saw her cried. She cried so convulsively it hurt so much. While hugging her warm endowed body against mine, I just wanted her in my arms forever. It felt right_like she belonged here with me.

   How am I gonna help her if she's not willing to share her story with me? I've tried several times already but she'd turned me down politely. What am I going to do to make her trust me? I want her to be happy. It wasn't nice seeing those tears that seem to weigh a lot. 

   Stalking her isn't helping matters. I only managed to find out were she lived. I took a guess on her favorite flower because it's clearly obvious from the red rose plants in her home and the ones surrounding her fashion house.

   One thing was certain though, I'm helplessly in love with her and I won't stop loving her because I can't even stop.

   I'll continue to stick to her side until she gets overly comfortable with me.

   Whatever it is, I'll keep trying to help her move on.