Inexorable Encounter

Chapter 45

The night was long for all of us. The three finished drinking before midnight. They made long hair stay the night at home since he was also tipsy and they couldn't afford to send him off. I made him sleep in my room, and they were fine with it.

The next day, we had breakfast. It was a rest day for Mom and Dad, but I had plans with my team. Leon and Zedie will fetch Zion. Long hair wanted to tag along. Frances would come to our lunch since I couldn't accommodate her yesterday.

"Okay na kayo ni Tita Amy?" long hair asked while we were on the road.

I shrugged. "We talked yesterday, and I think we were okay with the way our conversation ended." He nodded. "You know, I don't like saying things directly, I just hope she knows what is going on with us."

"Nagbago ka nga pero 'yang ganiyang ugali mo, nadiyan pa rin."

I looked at him. "I wouldn't be Belle Ivory if I wasn't like this." He nodded. "You even liked me even though I'm like this."

He grinned. "I'm lucky enough, kapag kasama ka."

"You're being cringe again, long hair." He laughed. He put his face on my next. I looked at my driver and he was just smiling while looking at the road. "Belle?" I felt him looking at me while his face was facing my neck. I hummed. "Kailan ka bibisita kay Mama?" I bit my lip. "Hindi naman kita minamadali, gusto ko lang malaman kung nagpla-plano ka na."

"I wanted to visit after I found Yurie and the letter."

I felt him nod. "Want me to help?"

I shook my head. "Yurie is just like me, long hair. She doesn't need to be forced, she will appear if she wants to."

"Edi hihintayin mo lang siyang lumitaw?" I shrugged.

"I think I know where I can find her, but I still need time. I don't think I can face her when my mind is still thinking about her betrayal. I don't want what happened with Mom to repeat again."

"About sa background ni Yurie—"

My head suddenly turned to him. He pouted when I hurt him when I looked at him. "Did you had checked her, long hair?" He immediately shook his head. "I don't like questioning my friends."

"Nasabi lang ni Tito Simon," he answered on his defense. "Kaibigan ko na rin naman si Yurie, pero kung intentionally niyang hindi binigay ang sulat ni Mama sa'yo, hindi ko matatanggap 'yon."

I sighed. "I respect that, but my only concern is why she did that and the letter."

"Konektado 'yon—"

"I don't want to doubt my friendship with Yurie, long hair. We've been together for years."

"Alam ba ni Frances?"

I shook my head. "She doesn't need to know, long hair." I sighed. "Frances was fond of Yurie, which is why she was devastated when she found out one of her secrets. And even respected it by not telling me even though she was against it." I breathed. "I can't afford for her to know about it. I'm protecting her from bigger damage about Yurie."

"Kung matagal mo nang alam, bakit mo hinayaan na magtagal ang pagkakaibigan niyo?"

I looked at him. "Why did you stay being friends with Zedie, even though she liked someone else, and that's not you?"

He scoffed, making me smile. "Magkaibigan talaga kami ni Zedie, Belle. We're better as friends at kahit nagustuhan ko siya dati, hindi ko naisip na magiging kami," she answered, as if he was pissed with my question. "Si Yurie ang pinag-uusapan natin, bakit napunta sa pagkakagusto ko noon sa iba?"