322 minutes

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Keith! Wake up! We're almost there" Rianne shook Keith gently.

"Ungh.." Keith yawned and watched Rianne. "Did you get to sleep at all?" Rianne smiled at him and shook her head.

"You really are excited, huh, babe?"

"Yes! You have no idea. I want to make the most out of this vacation. It took me a long time to plan this and finally, I'm here. 13 days is not enough, I guess. But that can do." She smiled widely.

"Well, I'm happy for you. At least you get to spend 13 days here. Unlike me, I need to go back in a few days." He pouted.

"Aww.. poor baby.." Rianne teased.

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"Hi Ma." Alyssa answered her phone. She was driving on her way home from Manila when her phone rang. It was her mom.

"Hija, where are you?" 

"Ma, i'm almost there." She checked the time and said, "I'll be there in about 15 minutes." 

"Ok, ok. You know i'm just worried . Anyway, do not sleep while you're driving, ok? I'll wait for you and we will eat breakfast together." 

"Allrighty, Ma." Al answered yawning. She blinked her watering and aching eyes and ended the call. 

It's the crack of the dawn and she's tired. She's been driving for 3 hours now with just one quick stop to pee and drank coffee. It's that time of the month where she needs to visit their other site based in Manila to make sure that everything is in order. She's a perfectionist and she hates when things get out of hand.

Alyssa, along with her father work for an export Company owned by one of the prominent family in their province. Her father has been working there for about 40 years already, while she on the other hand, has been working for the David's since she graduated. Alyssa has been since then reliable, hard working and trustworthy that she is now a Manager at just the age of 22.

Alyssa is a beauty-- 5 feet 8 inches tall with a slim body and a chestnut brown colored hair framing her heart shaped face. She's sporting a fringe which almost covers her brown colored eyes with naturally thick lashes. She has a cupid's bow lips which was the first thing you'll notice about her. She is a true beauty but she's oblivious to it all. Many envy her because she is the kind who does not give so much effort to be beautiful. But she was also the subject of ridicule for she is only attracted with other girls. But as time passes by, others have come to accept who she is. She does not give a damn to those who don't as long as she is not doing anything wrong, she will live as she please.

She is now at their gate as she saw her mom opening it to let her in. She parked her car, got her bag from the backseat and got out. She greeted her mom with a kiss and together, they went inside the house. She was greeted by her feline friend, Rusty whom she missed and then she joined her parents at the table to eat.

"How was the Manila site, hija?" Her father asked. 

"There was a little trouble with one of the items but we were able to sort it out just in time for the client presentation. Aside from that, everything looks good." 

"That's great! Well, as you know, we will be having a meeting tomorrow with the management and I'm sure Roger will be happy to hear that. When are you going to have the client's decision?"

"I guess in about two days. Probably we will have their answer by Tuesday." His father nodded. She smiled. "You see Pa, I have a feeling they will give us a positive answer. So, don't worry." She patted her father's hand.

Her father smiled back, "Oh, i am not worried.. Not at all. I was just thinking about other things." He cleared his throat, "By the way i talked to Roger and he mentioned that her youngest daughter is coming for a visit." He eyed her daughter carefully and continued. "I also heard that she will be staying at the Villa with her boyfriend." 

Her hand stiffened, her heart beats fast at the news. She told herself to calm down. She slowly lifted her fork and chew on her hotdog. Her pulse racing, her sleepy brain now alert. 

"Hmm. ok." Her voice slightly shaking.

"Fernan, we need to go to the farm. Ray needs to talk to you." Her mother, her savior said after sensing her awkwardness.

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Up in her room, Alyssa was thinking about the news her father shared. She's excited yet scared. Excited, because after all those years of hoping to see Anne again, she will finally have the chance. Scared, well what if Anne no longer remember her. 

Alyssa is older by 3 years and she's afraid that Anne will no longer recognize her old friend. She stood up went to her closet and pulled out a small wooden box-- a gift her father gave her on her 14th birthday. There, she keeps all those things memorable for her, mostly pictures and some objects like the stone her father gave her similar to Anne's. She lifted the photos, there were about 25 and pulled out the last one. It was a picture of two girls not looking at the camera but just feeling the moment. She has a very short hair back then and Anne has the apple cut style. Both are all smiles at each other. unaware of the surroundings. They have dirt on their faces and on their clothes. Both were just having the best time. Al sat down on the floor and just looked at the picture. This was taken roughly 6 years ago. She just met Anne and they got along well immediately. They were inseparable and the day after they met, they promise that they will be best friends forever. She sighed, took the stone from the box, put back the pictures on it, put the box back on her closet  and then went back to her bed with the picture and the stone.