Traces of Her

CHAPTER 7 CERTAINTIES

They were eating at a Korean restaurant . Stephen and Kevin were seated to beside each other while the other two was across them.

"...that is why she was surprised," Andrea is explaining why her friend, Lisa, acted embarrassed when she saw her.

Her friend,Lisa, was actually one of his fans and to add, one of his die hard fans.

"I was surprised when she approached me asking about you, even though she is well known to be a lesbian,"Andrea continued,"I even thought she was into me."

Kevin just smirked while listening. He could not disagree on Andrea's friend, since his older sister, who is a lesbian, was also smitten before by Stephen's charm.

"B-but don't get me wrong. I am just a fan," Lisa defended herself.

"Really?" Kevin asked Lisa mocking ,"Even though you're face is red of embarrassment up until now?"

Stephen simply elbowed his friend to stop teasing the poor girl. He knew himself that he is quite attractive since he is six feet tall and has chinky eyes narrow nose and tan skin. But most of the time, he would forgot about it since he never consider himself as one.

"It is good you're making me as your inspiration, but never forgot your studies, that is one of the most important thing," he advised.

"Of course! I am! Also, since Andrea mentioned that I am lesbian, I am pursuing a girl that I like,"

Stephen was about to speak when Kevin asked first,"Eh, is it Andrea?"

"Oh, no!" Lisa answered immediately. "It is within my college, my classmate."

"Oh, that's a relief," Kevin mumbled and went back on slicing his beef steak.

Their eyes shoot at him in wonder.

Kevin stopped slicing, when he noticed them staring at him, and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I was just relief since..." He then looked at Stephen grab his shoulder, "I know you are really over protected of her and she still need to finish her studies," Kevin finishes while tapping Stephen's shoulder.

STEPHEN went out to have a smoke when he finished his meal. Kevin followed him after a few minutes.

"Hey, can I have one also?" he asked him.

Stephen handed him a cigarette and a lighter.

"Kevin, do you like my sister?" he asked straight forward.

Kevin coughed as he heard his question.

"Don't you deny it. I can see it clearly how you look at her and how concerned you were about her through this past years. You never fail to ask me whenever we have time to say ' hello' to each other on messenger ," I've been through that you know..

Kevin smiled. "So you noticed, huh."

Stephen sipped on the cigarette and blow out the smoke. "Well if it is you I am okay with it since you're decent ," He then faced him. "But make sure to let her finished first since she is already behind her studies because of her comatose."

"Of course, brother-in-law,"

Stephen's brows furrowed. "Who are you calling 'brother-in-law'? It is too early to call me that and besides are you sure she has feelings for you also?"

They both chuckled.

"I will make sure then,"

"Make sure that you're doing it right,"

He smiled. "I will."

A silent went through when Kevin started to speak again.

"How about you? I heard you've been doing good with your company lately."

"Yeah,"

"--And you've been flocking to one girl after another."

Stephen turned to him. "Who told you that?"

"Who else? The Vice President of your company,"

Stephen rolled his eyes. John and his big mouth...

" I never knew you were that close"

"You seldom answer my messages," Kevin replied. "But seriously, Phen, you're already twenty nine but you never take any serious relationship after Mishka. You're not getting any younger,"

"How about you? Do you think you're still young?" He replied mockingly.

"At least, the one that I am pursuing now is alive and breathing..."Kevin replied nonchalantly.

"Sorry," He then apologized when he heard Stephen gave out a deep sigh."I don't want to insult you. I'm just concerned."

He knew what Stephen went through when he is still pursuing Mishka and how he was devastated when they learned that Mishka is dead.

"Thank you, Bro," Stephen replied.

A silence passed went through again when Stephen started to speak.

"But you know..."

"Know what?"

"What if...she is still alive?"

Kevin stared at him. "Are we going on about this again it's been five years--"

"I know it's just that...Last two weeks ago I saw her riding on a bus. Her face actually became matured but I feel certain that it was her,"

" Are you certain about this? Did you look up on that bus if it is really her?"

"I did but...when I went up.. her seat is already empty."

"Would you like me to dig on it again?" Kevin willingly suggested.

Stephen stared at him for a moment and replied." Nah, I might be just imagining things.."

"You say, so," he replied. "Phen, move on. She is really gone," he then tap his shoulder. "Come on, the young girls might be wondering why are we taking so long" he walked back first.

But if I am really imagining things, why is it after five years, I imagined her again?

Stephen knew on the first year he never got over her. Most of the time he would think that she would be still around or was back in Mindanao taking a vacation until he learned to accept that she was really gone.

Kevin stopped on his tracks when he felt that Stephen was not following. He then nudge it's head to follow him. Stephen did later on.