Never Skip a Date

Chapter 7: Head Over...Just Over!

"What took you beautiful ladies too long"? An old woman asked.

"Alicia was excruciating because her boyfriend was sarcastic enough to tell her she's no longer your baby", Joyce uttered as she embraced the old lady.

"She not my boyfriend and it wasn't about me being your most beautiful daughter". Alicia justified and embraced the old lady the same way Joyce did.

"You two are both beautiful in different ways, and both of you are my babies still", the old lady stated.

"Well, I won't argue with you, Mom", Joyce Sat beside Alicia and asked her mother,

"How's your checkup, Mom"? Alicia was turning her head around the room when the waiter approached them.

"What would be your order ladies"? He asked, and took out his pen. Joyce and her mother already decided their order, but Alicia seemed to be a bit confused.

"Can I have the usual order"? She uttered all of a sudden.

"Is that all, Ma'am"?

"Yes" Alicia affirmed. The other women were staring blank at Alicia. But she seemed to be contented with what she just ordered, and both women just looked at one another.

"How many times have you been here"? Joyce asked.

"I've been here once. Why do you asked?" She asked in return. Joyce didn't reply instead she held the menu once again and started flipping the menu page after page.

"There's no such thing as usual order in here", she spoke out loud, but Alicia didn't hear anything at all.

"How did your jobs turned out"? Their Mom asked to put them in a same channel. Joyce failed to interrogate her sister about the order and turned her attention to her Mom instead.

"Mine was all good. I'm still having some adjustments, but I'm gonna be fine". Joyce replied. Alicia seemed to be listening biting her lower lips off her face, but she didn't say a thing.

"Are you alright, my little darling"? Her mom asked. Alicia was surprised when Joyce shook her arms.

"I definitely ordered fries". Alicia stated. Joyce rolled her eyes,

"Mom, asked you about your work you silly princess"? She clarified.

"Oh! Well, I love what I do, and it is fun being one of Castle mag's reporters". She replied in an instant. They all have a full stomach. Joyce kept noticing her sister feeling frenzy while their mom talked about the things happened back home.

"Little princess, are you with us"?

"You must be working too hard, darling. I suggest you take a vacation for a while". Her Mom asked.

"What"? She asked them back. The two women just stared at her and wondered.

"Yes. No. I don't know. I'm fine. I'm a bit tired. I just want to get some rest". She uttered, after noticing her company was bothered of her action.

---

"Hello darling! How are you"? The man in a gentle voice from the other end said. Alicia was in front of her article when she picked up the phone.

"It's over between us, James, so quit calling me darling", she answered.

"Oh darling, I'm very sorry about what happened between us. Please give me one last chance to make it up to you".

"And what if I don't"? Her tone increased another notch, "I had enough with your lies and there's nothing in this world that could make me change my mind". She justified and hung up down the phone. She sighed thinking why she ever hooked up with a guy who has a nice smile and a gentle manner, just like the usual dates, it counts as first impression, but never lasts. She felt like a fool and sighed in regret.

'No more dates for me'. She thought while typing the article she has been working on for a week, one of her workmate and closest friend came into her cubicle.

"Hey there, sexy"! The woman greeted.

"What's up?"

"Guess what? I met this guy last night and asked me to have a date with him tonight", the woman stated with excitement all over her face, "I need you to come with me. He has a friend he'd like me to meet and I thought we could go out on a double date or something".

"I can't. I'm very sorry", Alicia declined.

"That's too bad. Have you heard of Bon Vivant? They say it's the most sought after French cuisine today. How's that sound"? Alicia was hesitant. She's been trying to make a reservation to that restaurant, but always failed to have a space and thought this would be an opportunity for her.

'This I'm gonna do for the Castle's column'. She tried to convince her self.

"Okay then. What time would that be"? She asked.

"They'll pick us up at 5, right after office hour. It's a date then. See yah"! The woman left with a smile.

---

"Hi Trish! Who's your friend"? The man asked.

"This is Alicia, my colleague".

"Pleasure to meet you, Alicia. Just call me, Fred".

"Hello", she replied briefly. The guy looks charming, but like her ex-boyfriend, she can tell he's a womanizer who only thinks of giving people the first impression. And she didn't like his aura after all, but she can't back out; she couldn't disappoint her friend by calling the night off.