Forevermore

Chapter 12 Teachers' Conference In Cebu

Early morning, Teacher Maria get all her stuff and luggage as today will be their first day of the Teachers' Conference in Cebu. She prepared everything and she was so excited.

When she was about to open the doorknob of her apartment, someone knocks on her door. She was a bit frightened as to who will be knocking at this early hour.

She kept her mouth shut and tried to avoid making noise.

Her mobile phone vibrates and when she opened it, a message pops in. It came from Echo," Hey, I was the one knocking on your door."

Teacher Maria got relieved but then she suddenly thinks that why will be here at this early hour? It was only 5 AM.

"Why are you here this early?" she asked. Even though she knew him, she was a bit hesitant to open her door this early.

Echo then was already smiling. He knocked on the door and said, " I'm here to fetch you and send you to the airport. It's your flight remember? Open the door as you might be late at the airport," he said patiently.

Teacher Maria then opened the door, She remembered that he offered last night to send her to the airport this early morning.

"I am sorry. I forgot," she said apologetically.

"I know what you're thinking of. Don't worry I won't harm you. Mom wanted me to give this to you. Have breakfast first," he told her and gave her a pack of breakfast meals prepared by Mrs. del Fuego exclusively for her.

She was so touched by the thoughtfulness of Echo's mother, Mrs. del Fuego.

"It's still early, let's have our breakfast together," Echo said while he headed to Maria's dining table already. He set the table and started to seat.

"Come, let us eat first. I'm hungry too. I left early at home," he said while feeling at home in Maria's apartment.

Maria then seats in front of the Echo and they have their early breakfast together.

She's a bit hesitant to join him at first but after he opened the food keeper and saw his mother's prepared breakfast for them, she starves.

After they had their breakfast together, they both went to Echo's car.

Echo loaded her luggage at the back of his car and Maria was seated in the passenger seat.

When they reached the airport, some of Maria's co-teachers were there already and they saw she was coming out of Mr. del Fuego's car. Gossips started to spread out as Teacher Maria became their main topic once again.

Teacher Maria ignores them and continues to enter the airport's lobby. Echo helped her unload her luggage and followed her inside the lobby.

Maria was a bit wondering why is he still following her inside and he has his luggage as well.

'Why are you still here?" she asked.

"I am coming along with you. I'll be one of your speakers," he smiled at her and held her hand while they were both heading to check-in.

Teacher Maria said," No wonder, you insisted to send me this early. You are coming with me all the way," she smiled at him already. This guy has lots of surprises.

Echo was also her seatmate when they were already on board. He requested a special booking so that he can seat beside Maria's seat on board.

He was already booked at the same hotel. He wanted to be beside her during her 3-day conference. He is looking forward to knowing her better.

He seated beside her during their flight. They shared some stories too and laugh with each other. Some of Teacher Maria's colleagues were just looking at them.

One of them was Teacher Roland, the one who is aiming to pursue Teacher Maria, but when Mr. del Fuego came in from the scene, he distanced himself from Teacher Maria. How can he complete with Mr. del Fuego, though he was quite afraid that Mr. del Fuego will just toy Teacher Maria? Teacher Roland has good intentions for her and he is quite mad that Mr. del Fuego will add her to his collection. He knew that Mr. del Fuego will just ruin Teacher Maria. He can't afford to see her hurt.

He was just looking at them once and a while. He was hurting seeing Teacher Maria smile at Mr. del Fuego. He will look for an opportunity to confess his feelings to her during this conference. He was quite surprised knowing that Mr. del Fuego will be coming with Teacher Maria.

"So this was your first time to fly," Echo asked Maria as he felt that she tighten her grip on the armrest when the airplane started to take over. He holds her small hand bu his big palm. He wanted her to feel at ease and comfortable being him on her side.

Teacher Maria slowly felt comfortable with his presence making Echo smile at her. "See, just relax okay? I am just here," he said.

She felt relieved. Echo put a headset also to Maria so that she won't feel uncomfortable and got difficulty hearing when they flew up higher.

Maria felt that she was being taken care of by Echo and she was so thankful to him. She can express herself when he was near her. She was just being silent every time she saw that her colleagues were staring at them.

"Don't mind them," Echo whispered in her ear. He knew that she was being bothered by the gossip that slowly spreading out. He won't allow them to hurt nor do any harm to Maria especially since he wanted her to be his girlfriend already. He will protect her. He is starting to like her a lot.

Teacher Maria heard some instrumental music from her headset making her close her eyes for a while.

Echo heard her making a small sound from her snore and he looked at her silently. He slowly put her head on his shoulder and hold her head so she will sleep comfortably during their flight. He smells her innocent natural scent of a woman and he loved smelling her hair a lot. He gently touches her soft and supple cheeks.

When the airline was about to land at Cebu Airport, Echo slowly caressed Teacher Maria's delicate face and told her," Maria, please wake up. We are already here."

Maria opened her eyes and she slowly go back to her seating position. She saw that she left a residue of her saliva on Echo's shirt. Echo felt and saw it but he ignored it. He smiled at her instead.

Maria felt embarrassed and she get her tissue and wiped off the dirt on his shirt. "I am so sorry Echo," she said apologetically.

"It's okay. It's normal.," he said while holding her hand.

Maria blushed as she felt the heat coming in from his hand when he touched her.

She gently pulled out her hand and said, "I am sorry again, and thank you."

"No worries. Seat properly as we are about to land okay," he said so that Maria won't feel the turbulence on landing.

After their departure, they both headed to the coaster service at the airport's exit area to send them all to their designated hotel assignment.