Nate reached home almost the same time Cela reached his brother's house. He unloaded the chips and drinks from his car. He also thinks of having the car washed to be ready for Monday although it was cleaned just the other day.For some reason, he's delaying calling Nina but it can't be for too long."Hi, Nate." Nina greeted."I just arrived home," he said."Can we talk now? Is it a good time?" she asked."Yeah but can we do audio call only? I swear, I'm here in my house," he asked.He feels he's not ready to see her face right now but doesn't want her to think he's in some place else."It's fine with me where you want to take the call. I'm okay with audio call as well. I'm not ready to face you anyway," she said."What happened these past couple of days? I don't understand anything up to now but I am trying to think of the best reasons," he asked her straight to the point.Nina is sile
Nanny Rita has never looked so beautiful than she looks today. The happiness in her eyes are overflowing and so are the tears."Aww...don't cry. You're ruining your make-up!" Joyce said."Believe me, I'm trying my hardest not to. It's just that I never imagined this would still happen to me at my age now. Who would have thought?" Nanny Rita said."There you go again. Need I tell you a hundred times more that you are not old? You're not even 50 yet," Rolan said.Cela gave a bouquet of flowers to her beloved nanny. "I'm so happy for you and you deserve it," she said to her."I feel like I am going to get married in church but I'll save that for you," Nanny Rita said."Okay, I have a decade to wait for that so please continue praying," Cela joked."I love, guys. I want everyday to be like this," Rolan said."Stop it, Rolan. We'll be late," Cela said to prevent everyone from turning emotion
"Trees Park. Cedar Bench. Tomorrow at 5PM," Mr. Bro, the school janitor read the paper that Nate handed over to him."Shhhh….please don't read it out loud. Just give it to her," he told him."Why don't you just send her a message instead of this?" Mr. Bro asked him."Her mother or someone might see it," Nate said."I am just being careful too," Mr. Bro said."What should I do then?" Nate asked."Just tell her personally when you meet her here later," Mr. Bro suggested."What if she says she can't come? I don't know if I can handle instant rejection," he asked."Tell her slowly so she will get every details correctly then run fast before she can answer," Mr. Bro gave a ridiculous suggestion."You think that'll work?" Nate asked.The janitor nodded."Now, crumple that paper and throw the pieces here then go to your practice. It's in 10 minutes, right? Mr. Bro said."Oh shoot! I'm running late and I still need to change," Nate said.The janitor shook his head and continued to sweep the
The next morning, Cela and Nate's interrupted meeting is the biggest news in campus. Everyone can't help talking about it. In fact, no one remembers Mrs. Serrano and Lora's heated disagreement that also happened yesterday.Cela entered the classroom more quietly than even."You should've been there, guys. It's like watching a scene in a TV series live. It's intense drama," one of Lora's friends started the conversation.Lora discreetly asked her friend to stop but she refused. "It's okay. What's there to be afraid of? I am not her mother's scholar and so are you now, aren't you?" she said.Cela felt more isolated and even more traumatized than before when people in school would only talk about her parents' separation. Now, she felt they hate her mother more and dislike her too for what happened to Nate and Lora. Both were immediately removed from the scholarship program sponsored by her mother.Clearly, she has no friends in the room and they found a new reason to isolate her e
Cela found herself sitting on the bench in the waiting shed where she used to hang out with Nate. Needless to say that her feeling of joy is overwhelming. The last time she was here was the day she received the paper from Lora. She went home full of excitement and anticipation for the next day.Lora followed her to the waiting shed."Can I just have a few minutes?" Lora asked."What is it?" Cela asked."Well, first, I'd like to personally thank you for finishing the third book in such a short time," Lora started."Honestly, I didn't have to think so much about what to write there. Like what I told our staff, I based it loosely on real events with some alterations and twists. You helped too, right?" Cela said.Lora smiled. "I was actually thrilled when Ivy told me that you were searching for Nate when you began writing it so I provided everything that I knew and heard about him after high school," she said.Cela listens attentively. Of all people, Lora is Nate's last contact in sc
One year quickly passed leaving tons of questions and dramas, the TV adaptation of the first book of the three-part series is finally shown and it's immediately trended on social media. "Congratulations, Ms. Cela! You are now a certified blockbuster writer," Hyun said."Thank you but I'm hardly a blockbuster writer so please stop saying that. Also, I don't want to hear those compliments that may lead to more work," Cela joked."Got that," Hyun said. "But now you have no reason to decline blind dates and speed dating."Cela sighed. "Dear, you know how I feel about being pressured," she reminded him."Oh no, no, Ms. Cela. That's not my intention. All I wish is for you to never totally close your doors to these things. But please take your time," Hyun said. "It's okay, Hyun. I understand you. But yeah, I will take my sweet time. I don't feel there's a reason to rush. Besides, I am so freaking tired. Don't worry, I'll get there naturally if that's meant to happen," Cela explain
The rain pours down heavily, and it looks like it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Only a few tourists visit the Pines City during the rainy season and it’s perfect time for those who are seeking peace and quiet away from the noises in urban cities.Amidst the cold weather, Nate took a long stroll from the main road to the foot of the mountain where the main entrance to Pines City is. He had to stop somewhere to let the rain pass. From a distance, he discovered an old building that looks like a chapel. Later, he realized that it is the chapel of the seminary that is standing right behind it.“Good afternoon, Sir. May I still enter?” he asked the staff who is closing the chapel’s main entrance.“I’m sorry but the last mass was already finished. We have the first service tomorrow at 6AM,” the staff said.“I understand. Thank you,” Nate said. He looks so tired.“Wait. Don't you have an umbrella?” the staff asked.“That’s what I forgot,” Nate said.“Can you wait here. I’ll get
Cela’s hands are shaking in excitement. She just received the best news she’d been waiting for the longest time.“He contacted you?” she asked Lora repeatedly.“Yes. He replied to my message that I sent last year. I called him to be sure it was really him who replied to me,” Lora said. “You did? How’s he?” Cela asked more excitedly.“Well, it was a quick call and the reception’s not good. I thought he looked almost the same the last time I saw him,” Lora said.“Where’s he now?” Cela couldn’t stop asking questions. “He’s back from the Pines City just yesterday. He stayed there for close to 5 years,” Lora said.“Pines City? He’s been here all this time? Where exactly here?” Cela asked.“I wasn’t able to ask but maybe you could ask him. I took the liberty of giving him your number?” Lora said.“Oh my God, he asked for my number?” Cela asked.“Ah….I was very excited, I just gave it away. I’m sorry,” Lora said. “Oh no, that’s fine,” Cela said.Hyun and the others are glued to her