MARITA

Matter of The Heart (Part 2)

With no other choice, Diah scooted over to the next chair so that she is now directly opposite Marita and Frank sat on the chair opposite Mama Vina. Diah can see that Marita was visibly distraught having Frank sitting in front of them where Mama Vina is also present.

"Uhmm..." Diah cleared her throat when Frank sat down. "Excuse us, Frank. We need to use the rest room".

Diah kicked Marita's leg under the table as a signal to follow her. Frank immediately stood up to make way for the ladies.

"We'll be right back, Ma." said Marita to Mama Vina.

Diah checked the toilet stalls making sure no one was in the restroom with them before approaching Marita who has taken out the face powder form her purse.

"Mari, Look at me!" she held both Marita's hands pulling her to face her.

Marita looked at her best friend.

"Mari, you liked him, don't you?" Diah said carefully trying to search for the truth in Marita's eyes.

Those eyes turned red with a pool of tears slowly rising. Diah hugged her friend.

"Mari..." she sighed. Her head was spun a bit. This is a catastrophe. The matter of the heart is no easy business.

"I don't know why I feel this way, Di" Marita sobbed in her embrace.

"Shhhhh... That's OK. I know." Diah tightened her embrace.

"We have to go back to the table, Mari. You need to get a hold of yourself." Diah wiped the tears from Marita's eyes. "For Mama's sake, we need to go through this dinner".

"Di, I am scared that I am throwing away my chance of happiness to a momentary feeling."

Diah didn't answered. She took another tissue from her bag and gave it to Marita to clean her nose.

"It has been 9 years for me and Arnold. I want that marriage, Di. But I am now confused with my feelings now. Why am I suddenly attracted to Frank?" wailed Marita

"Shusssh!!" Diah cupped her hand to her friend's mouth to stop her wailing.

"Heart wants what the heart wants, Mari. Let us not jump into conclusion. I know we are tight on time considering your wedding is in less than 2 months now. So let us keep this between ourselves, OK?!" She grasped her best friend hands in hers trying to channel some of her strength to her.

"Act Natural, dear. Be professional towards Frank. He IS our colleague. Focus on that," whispered Diah as they walked back to the table.

Mama Vina was laughing at something that Frank said when they arrived back at the table. Frank stood up to help Diah with her seat. Mama Vina liked what she saw. She followed Frank's every move.

"I see chivalry isn't dead after all" she said when Frank finally sat down again.

"Ah, Thank You, Ma'am" Frank realized that she was talking to him.

"Your parents' raised a good man," she continued again looking into Frank's face. She admitted that this man is incredibly handsome but her demeanour, words and chivalry put him in another level.

Frank looked up to see Mama Vina looking at him. He gratefully smiled and politely lowered his gaze and bowed his head a little. A subtle sharp pain nudged the corner of his heart whenever someone mentioned the word parents.

Felt that she had been nosey enough Mama Vina turned to the girls. "Sorry, girls. I have already dived into the dessert without waiting for you. But Frank is kind enough to wait for you guys." She said spooning the dessert to her mouth.