Chapter 5: Friendly Date

Summer, 2019

"You're working on weekends now?" Billie asked Zofi.

The two next door neighbors now.

"We have teambuilding," Zofi said.

"Ah, you should be ready with your ideas for mission/vision," he said.

"Oh, it's actually more of bonding," she said.

"Your HR plans teambuilding that way?" he said.

"Well, it's just our unit doing this. Ms. Mitch thought it would be best for the team to go out and bond on one weekend.  They haven't done it for so long," she said.

"Okay, then. I'm the only one who's going to pick up Saatchi from the airport," he said.

"Why does it have to be you? I mean, does she have no relatives?" she asked.

"Because she's staying in our house. She's our guest," he explained.

"Alright. You're close," she said.

"You still don't you like her, do you?" he asked.

"Oh, I think it's the other way around," she said.

"Alright then, let's not meet this weekend," he said.

Saturday comes.  Billie waits early in the airport.

He's not sure how Saatchi looks now.  It's been years since they last saw each other.  He, Zofi, and Saatchi were neighborhood kids but between him and Zofi, Saatchi would always go to him.  She probably longed for a big brother and Zofi misread that she didn't like her.

"Billie?" a young lady greeted him.

"Saatchi?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm not Saatchi," she said.

Billie is embarrassed.

"Yes, I am Saatchi!" she told him.  She pulled a prank on him.

"You got me there!" Billie said.  He gave her a quick welcome hug.

"Do I look different?" she asked.

"You look great!" he answered.

"I know.  I lost my baby fats and my skin cleared up finally!" she said.

"Looks good on you," he said.

Saatchi looks around.

"Where is the other half?" she asked.

"Other half?" he asked.

"Zofi.  Who else?" she said.

"I didn't know she was my other half," he said.

"You two are inseparable. I expected her to come here with you unless she doesn't want to see me," she said.

"Zofi is in teambuilding," he explained.

Saatchi smiled.

"So, are we heading home now?" she asked.

"Mom's cooking your favorite dish for lunch today," he said.

"I miss Mommy Rose," she said.  She calls his mother with more endearment than Zofi's "Aunt Rose".

"Is it really okay to stay in your house?" she asked.

"Of course.  You're always welcome," he said.

Saatchi discreetly smiled.

"Besides, Mom really wants someone there.  Dad is in business trip abroad and I'm staying in my rented apartment near my office," he said.

The smile on Saatchi's face vanished right away.

"You won't be there during my stay? I'll be here for only a couple of weeks," she asked.

"I can meet you after office.  I'll see if Zofi is available too. She'll surely work on her schedule to meet you," he said.

Saatchi doesn't really care if Zofi doesn't meet her. She only cares about Billie.

"What are your activities, by the way?" he asked.

"I will be observing this preschool owned by our friend's family because I'm planning on putting up my own preschool after I pass the board.  The school year ends next week so I have to visit soon," she said.

"Who's going with you?" he asked.

"Perhaps, Mommy Rose can help me," she said sadly.

"I can file a couple of days off - one for this coming week and the other for the next," he said.

"You're making yourself available for me?" she asked.

Billie smiled. 

In the teambuilding, Zofi is the most energetic of all. Her teammates enjoy the games that she planned.  Best of all, she makes Jiro smile more.

"Who are you calling?" Saatchi asked.

"I'm trying to get Zofi on the phone so you can talk," Billie said.

Saatchi feels awkward about the idea.  She's never that close to Zofi.

"She's not picking up," he said.

"Do you guys go out every weekend?" she asked.

"Sometimes.  We live next to each other," he said.

"Really? But you're living next to each other, not in the same house," she said.

"Yes. We live separately," he said.

Saatchi is glowing when they visit the preschool.  Billie promised to join her until lunch.

"Teacher Saatchi!" cute little Lily excitedly greeted her.

"Hi Lily, good morning!" Saatchi said.  She sounds cute talking to the kid.

"Hi!" Lily greeted Billie.

"Oh, this is Billie," Saatchi said.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Lilly asked out of the blue.

Saatchi's face turned red.

"I'm Teacher Saatchi's friend," Billie said.

The teacher called the kids to take their seats.

"I don't know how kids these days know about that," Saatchi said.

Truth is, Saatchi loved what Lily said.  She wishes she can be as candid and as the kids these days.

After the class ended, Lily approached her again.

"Teacher Saatchi. I have a camera," she said while showing her pink polaroid camera.

"Oh, that's so cute, it suits you.  Who gave you that?" Saatchi asked.

"My grandmother.  She said I have to use it every day," Lily said.

"Let me take your picture," Saatchi said.

Lilly's polaroid picture developed nicely.  She gave a hearty laugh after looking at it.

"May I take a picture of you and Teacher Saatchi?" Billie asked.

"Let's take a picture together," Lilly suggested.

Saatchi's heart beats faster than usual.  Billie looks so happy too.  She can't describe what she feels seeing him like that.

"I love it here.  Too bad, my next approved vacation leave is for next week," he said.

"That's okay.  As long as you come back.  They will appreciate it," she said.

Going to the restaurant, they pass by an amusement park.

"Is that a Ferris wheel?" she asked.

"Ah, there's a newly opened amusement park in that area," he said.

Saatchi looks so amused.  She reminisces the time she was growing up in the country before they left for the US.

"I remember you got lost one time and we all looked for you," he said.

"I wasn't lost.  I was really lining up for the Ferris wheel ride," she said.

"Next time, you should have longer vacation so we can go visit more theme parks," he said.

She smiled. Everything Billie says easily leaves mark in her heart.

Friday comes.  The start of the weekend is once again hectic for Zofi.

"What's happening this weekend?" Billie asked sarcastically on the phone.

"Nothing.  Just rest," Zofi said.

"Okay.  Let's go home early today so we can have catch up with Saatchi in our house," he said.

"I'll go home tomorrow.  I have to finish some reports tonight so I can be free this weekend and rest," she said.

"Excuse again?" he asked.

"You're ridiculous.  I'll meet her tomorrow," she said.

"Oh, I guess there's another reason," he said.

"Billie, don't start.  I will go home tomorrow, not tonight," she affirmed.

"Alright, Mom's calling.  Just take care when you go home to your apartment tonight.  Lock your door," he said before hanging up.

Billie's mother worries because Saatchi's not home yet.

"Did you call her phone?" Billie asked.

"It's just ringing now.  She must be lost in the mall," his mother said.

"She must have forgotten to reset her phone after the class.  Did she tell you which mall?" he asked.

"No. I should've asked," his mother said.

Billie drives his car while thinking where Saatchi could have possibly gone.  He thinks of going to the preschool to see if she's back there or if someone knows where she went after the class.

Then, something came to his head.

An hour later, he finds himself staring at the grand Ferris wheel inside the amusement park next to a mall.

"Move forward," the staff asked.

Billie looks around while moving forward to enter the ride.

"Ah, there she is," he said with great relief.

"Are you not riding?" the girl behind him asked.

He's there already so he decided to ride his favorite ride.

As his cabin hangs on top, he noticed someone below sitting on a bench near the ride called "Space Shuttle".  He realized it wasn't Saatchi that he saw earlier.

He rushed to go out after the riding time ended.

"Saatchi!" he called her.

Saatchi realized it was Billie and her heart beats faster once again.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked.

"It's the only mall next to a theme park," he said.

He knows that about her and she's so flattered.

"So you rode this?" he asked while pointing to the space shuttle ride.

"Oh no.  It looks fun but scary too," she said.

"C'mon, let's ride it before we go home," he said.

Billie knows she's scared so he took her hand.  

The riding time hasn't started yet but Saatchi feels she's on cloud 9 already.

"Just close your eyes if you're scared," he said.

Saatchi can't say anything.  Her heart is full.

Saatchi feels the thrill of the ride but the thrill of sharing the ride next to Billie is stronger.  Her eyes are closed because she can feel it better that way.

Billie is a gentleman looking out for her. He noticed that she hasn't opened her eyes almost the entire ride.  He thinks she's really scared so he grabbed her hand.

Saatchi can't ask for more.  The tough ride has turned in to a sweet ride.

"I enjoyed it.  Thanks to you," she said.  

"I worried that you were so scared. I didn't think you opened your eyes the entire ride," he said.

"I was really scared but I'm willing to ride on it again," she said with a big smile on her face.

"So, you're staying longer?" he asked.

"Well, I'm seriously considering that.  This trip is way too short and there's so much to see," she said.

"There's so many amusement parks that you have to visit," he said.

"And I'm so enticed right now," she said.

"Zofi loves amusement parks too. Her favorite rides are those that involve water," he said.

Saatchi turned quiet. Billie noticed.

"You always talk about her," she asked.

"Do I?" Well, practically see each other every day," he explained.

"But you said you're just friends.  You're not a couple," she said.

Billie looked far then pulled over his car to the safe side of the road.

"I have a girlfriend.  She's teaching in the UK," he disclosed.

Saatchi's world began to crumble just when she thought she's almost near her dream.

"Zofi dressed her up one time for the school dance and I was her date," he said.

"Zofi knows her well?" she asked.

"Yes.  In fact, she's so supportive of us," he said.

All this time, Saatchi thought Zofi was her rival but it turned out her real competition was someone unknown to her.

"That's not fair.  I didn't even have a chance," she said.

Billie starts driving.  They are both quiet now.

"Can you just go back to your apartment tonight?  I'll check in to a hotel tomorrow morning," she said.

"I'll do that but you must stay in our house," he said.

Zofi calls in the middle of their travel. Billie doesn't know if he should accept the call.

"Please acceept the call.  I haven't spoken to her," she said.

The two girls talked casually on speaker.  It was quick but it was a good distraction for both of them.  Thanks to Zofi.

Saatchi decided to cut her vacation even shorter.  She said she has something important to take care back in the US.

"Please let us know when you land," Billie said on the phone.  They haven't seen each other after that night.

Saatchi holds the polaroid picture of them with Lilly.  The picture that developed so fast now only brings memory.

Billie wants to say more but he also knows nothing he will say can make her feel better.

"I'm sorry, Saatchi but I can only offer you my friendship," he said to himself.