Chapter 5 First Dinner Date

CHAPTER 5 FIRST DINNER DATE

Carina is already seeking another job so that she can leave the restaurant where she works and she will not always see her employer.

That was Loid’s last day in London, so when Carina agreed to meet Loid, he was happy with what he heard. They ate at a restaurant overlooking. Quite far from where she works.

“I am happy Carina because you granted my request to meet me on my last day in London.”

“It’s okay sir, I’m ashamed of you because when we first talked I didn’t show up.”

“It’s okay. I understand your reason. So, what will you accept from my offer?”

Carina didn’t answer first. But she conceived what Dina had said. She needed the money. She also didn’t sleep well last night because of what Dina had told her. She thought that if she did not accept Loid’s offer, she would have nowhere else to go because Dina has little to earn and her family also depends on her.

“Are you okay, Carina?”

“Ha?! Yes, sir, I’m just thinking.”

“Don’t worry too much Carina, everything will be okay too.”

Suddenly Carina’s phone rang. She saw her mother’s name. She answered you immediately.

“Hello Mom, how are you?”

“Carina…” she heard as if her mother was crying.

“Mom, what?! Why are you crying? How is Carlos?

“He still hasn’t woken up. It’s been two days. I’m having a hard time, the hospital bill is already big huhu!” said her mother sadly.

“Mom, calm down. I’ll find a way for us to pay for that.” Said Carina.

“Thank you, dear. I’m sorry if we are always a burden to you. I know it is difficult to work abroad. Everyone is sad, tired, and awake just to work and send something to your family in the Philippines.” Said her mother.

“Mom, everything I do is okay for you. Don’t think about it anymore. All right mom, rest first. Just let me know, and don’t worry because I will send it within this week.” Said Carina.

When she hung up the phone, sadness could be seen on her face. Loid noticed that.

“Are you okay, Carina?”

She spoke for a long time because she was sad she heard the news from her mother.

“Ha?! It’s okay, sir.”

“Are you sure? Why do you seem to want to shed tears from your eyes?”

Carina couldn’t ease herself from crying. That’s where her tears flowed. Even though she did not want to cry in front of Loid, she could not. Loid sympathized with her. He hugged her for comfort. She could feel Loid’s strong arm. As she leaned against his chest, she inhaled the fragrant perfume he was using. Did she say in her mind that maybe this person is delicious to love?

A few minutes passed as they hugged. And Loid asked her again if he would accept its offer.

“What? Will you accept?”

“It’s embarrassing, but I’ll just pay little by little,” Carina replied.

“You can no longer pay, but I would like to ask you for a favor. If it’s okay with you.” Loid asked.

Carina was nervous that it might be the same as her manager’s offer. But she trusts Loid more than his manager. And Loid is a young man, unlike his manager.

“What is your favor, sir?”

“Ah! I didn’t want to do this because I know if we just met, you don’t know me very well and I don’t know you very well either, but I trust you. You differ from everyone I have met. I know you are kind and trustworthy.” Loid explained.

“Thank you, sir, for your trust. What would be your favorite?” Carina asked.

“Ah! Can you pretend to be my girlfriend?”

Carina suddenly became spit from her food. She immediately fetched water to drink.

“What?! Pretend to be a girlfriend?”

“Yes, I hope so, because I’m under pressure from mom and dad. They always tease me when I’m supposed to have my family because I’m old.” Loid replied.

Carina did not answer immediately. She thought first. Can she accept that favor? She also thought that she would be grateful to Loid if she accepted the money, but she had no choice but to accept that offer for her family in the Philippines, especially from her brother, so a few minutes later, she replied to him.

“Ah! All right, I will do this for my family so that my brother can be saved.” Carina replied.

“Really?! Loid said, smiling. “Of course, I promise that no matter how much you borrow, I will give.”

Carina thought, is this man so rich that he seems to give heaven and earth, ah! She stared at Loid. Who is this man?

“Ah! Why do you look at me like that Carina? Am I overreacting to your answer to me?” Loid asked.

“Huh? It’s not like that. I’m not saying anything else, ah! I was just surprised by what you said. As in pretending to be your girlfriend?”

“Yes, I’ll just make a contract about our rules so that somehow we know our limitations.”

Carina was silent again. Various things bother her, the difficulty of the condition or the favor that Loid is requesting. She wondered how, if she fell in love with the man, would she be able to avoid this man? Haist! She just sighed.

“How’s the contract? Aren’t you leaving for the Philippines tomorrow?”

“Yes, but it’s okay if I email you and print it and then just scan it with a signature first and email it back to me,” Loid replied.

“Ah! Okay, all right,”

“By the way, I’ll just order my secretary to give the money to your mother, because the charge will be big if you send it to the Philippines and I’ll be back by tomorrow or the next day.”

“All right, just inform me what my mother will say after giving the money.”

“Yes, don’t worry. I won’t let you down what we agreed I will do and I hope you won’t back down from our conversation. Maybe next month I will come back to London again.”

She looked at Loid. She thought, will he return to London next month? Wow, maybe this man’s wealth is because he just made Manila and Cebu London! Ah! The fare is expensive.

“Hey! Do I have dirt on my face?

“Ah! Nothing, sir, I’m just making fun of you. I’m just thinking of something so that we can meet for so long.” Carina smiled at what he said.

“Haha! Really?! Maybe you’re just new. Maybe I just look like someone who has become your customer, so that confuses you. By the way, is it ok for the two of us to take a picture? I’ll just show it to mom and dad?”

“Ha?! It’s okay, but it’s embarrassing.”

“Don’t be shy, you’re beautiful,” Loid said, smiling.

That night ended when they were both happy. Loid took Carina to their apartment a little late, and Dina fell asleep from work.

Loid kissed her on the cheek, and Carina smiled. Loid was gentle. He was not like other men she had met who sometimes did not know how to respect women.

~~~~~

As the days passed, Carina felt excitement because she remembered what Loid said that he would return to London next month, and the month would be over in a few days. They will meet again.

Carina also felt better because she heard that her brother’s surgery was successful and that Carlos was currently recovering. He is grateful to Loid for lending her a large sum of money. She knew that the money was conditional, but she had no choice but to accept it for her family and save her brother’s life.

While Carina was working on her resignation from the restaurant because she had already left where she worked, she saw the news in a newspaper. Her face was there. She was very embarrassed because it was stated that she had borrowed money from a manager for her dignity. Carina was depressed by what she read. She did not know who broke the news, and she did nothing like that.

Carina just cried. She was ashamed to go out because their neighbors already knew her. And she thought Dina had heard that too.

In the evening, Dina came home from work.

“Carina, are you okay?”

“Did you read that too?”

“Yes, but don’t worry too much, because I believe you can’t do that. Do you have any idea who spread that false news?” Dina replied.

“Yes, but I don’t fight because I don’t have money. Whatever he says, people will believe and sympathize with him.” Carina said sadly.

“Be firm because you know if the truth will come out. He probably did it because he was angry that you resigned and left the restaurant,” Dina said.

“I’m ashamed Dina, I don’t know how to deal with people, especially since our neighbors know me.”

“I understand you, but I know if you can do that, that issue will go away as well.”

“Hopefully, what if Loid hears that?”

“I’m not sure because he’s still in the Philippines and he’ll be back here next month, right?”

“Hopefully, you know the news, even if we are in another country, will also spread quickly to the Philippines,” Carina said worriedly.

“Don’t worry too much. Let’s eat. I’m already hungry!”

Carina was still uneasy about what she read. So she thought she would go to his manager because what he did was not fair.

Will Carina get justice for humiliating her?