Years After - Continues (Completed)

8 - Cebu

Inside the service van, Thirdy occupies the seat three rows away from Rebecca who is sitting a seat apart from Santino while Althea sits besides Rebecca.

Since Rebecca's tantrums, Althea started to feel a bit awkward. "The day after tomorrow pa naman ang convention, why did you choose to fly now, Althea?" Santino asked her to break the long silence.

She smiles at him and discreetly releases a sigh before she replied. "I want to explore Cebu a little. I could no longer remember the last time I was here. Once I started working at MGOC, it would be hard to find time to come back in this beautiful place. How about you, Santino, why did you fly ahead of the actual convention date?" She asked.

"This is the only available booking going to Cebu. Mukhang maraming pupunta sa convention kaya fully book na yung para bukas na flights" Santino replied.

"I hope we get to learn a lot from this convention. We will need it as soon as we take over the family business." Althea uttered.

"I hope it will not be boring as I expect it." Santino said.

"I got confused, if you find this convention boring, then why waste your 5 days attending it?" Althea asked and Santino did not reply immediately. Instead, he throws a stare at Rebecca, whose eyes are closed and her head leans at the window.

"How long until we reach Royalties Cebu, Thirdy?" Santino abruptly asked.

"Twenty to Thirty minutes, Santino." Thirdy replied.

"Rebecca!" Santino calls and Rebecca slowly opens her eyes. "Use this neck pillow para hindi ka mangawit." He said and handed her the pillow she uses at the plane.

Althea took the pillow from Santino and passed it on to Rebecca. The latter silently accepted it and closes her eyes again after thanking Althea and then silently settles. There is no doubt that Althea finds Santino's gesture really sweet. If she does not know Thirdy's relationship with Rebecca, she would have think that Santino and Rebecca are together. She looks at Thirdy at the  back and saw him just staring outside as if the scenery is new to him.

Her awkwardness increases and she begins to doubt if sitting beside Rebecca is a right decision. Reb's sudden change of mood and cold treatment at her is very evident and she does not want to entertain the thought that the girl beside her is actually getting jealous of her. In their entire trip going to Royalties hotel, Althea chooses to talk to Santino more than Thirdy as she believes that it is the safest thing to do.

Upon reaching Royalties Hotel, Thirdy was quick to grab Althea's luggage but the latter stops the kind gesture and instead takes care of her own luggage. "It's fine, Thirdy. Kaya ko na 'to" she said as she does not want to fully irritates Rebecca.

"Are you sure?" Thirdy asked.

"Yes, ok lang naman." Althea replied.

Thirdy lets her pull her luggage from the service van and he just stepped out of the service van without waiting for Rebecca. "Althea, let me help you with that." He heard Santino said.

"It's okay, Santino. Magaan lang naman itong maleta ko." Althea said, declining Santino's offer to help her.

"I insist para hindi ka na mahirapan since may back pack at hand carry ka pa." Santino said and grasps the luggage from Althea.

"Fine, thanks, ha." Althea said.

From behind, Thirdy heard Althea and Santino's conversation. He stops and looked behind as he is worried on Rebecca who is just a few steps behind the two. "Reb, uuwi ka ba ngayon o mag-stay ka sa employee's quarter?" Thirdy asked in a loud voice enough for Santino to be aware of Rebecca's increasing irritation on his sweet gesture at Althea.