6 Chapter 6. Him

CD's POV

"Hello Tita P" I greeted her when she picked up her phone

["Hello CD. Are you coming?"]

She asked me with a hopeful voice. I smiled.

"Yes Tita, actually I'm here in Mall, just near in Boulevard" I answered while checking some shoes.

["Oh! That's great! I'm happy you're coming. So, can you go here now?"]

There was an excitement in her voice. I smiled again, she's just like my Mom, a very energetic super woman.

"Yes Tita, I'll go to parking lot now"

["Good. Don't end the call yet, I'll instruct you the direction of our house"]

Tita told me the direction and I easily found their house. I'm outside of the gate, I got my phone, but the gate automatically open. A security guard went to my car and I opened the window.

"Good noon Maam, ikaw si Maam CD?"

(Good noon Maam, are you Maam CD?")

"Yes po Sir" I answered with respect and smiled.

"Sulod na Maam, diretcho lang tapos kung may nakita ka nga fountain, sa wala ka dayon. Salamat"

(Please proceed Maam, drive straight and if you see the fountain, please turn left. Thank you)

"Thank you, Sir" I said

"Welcome Maam" and then the security guard left and I follow the instruction of the guard. The house of Tita was so big yet simple. When I saw the fountain, I turned left, there were different kinds of flowers in the surroundings of Tita P's house, how I wish my mother could see this. I saw some cars and I think, that's the venue. I find some space and I parked my car and went out.

There were many visitors and I think, I want to go home now, I didn't know that there were lots of people here.

"CD!" I heard my name and I found the woman who called me. I saw Tita P walking towards me and I saw her wide smile. I smiled shyly because many people look at us.

"Hi CD!" she greeted me and kissed me on my right cheek. "I'm glad you're here. I love your outfit today" she said

"Thanks Tita P" I answered shortly

I was wearing batman highcut shoes, fatigue shorts (above the knee), white V-neck shirt with a black print of "Proud to be a geek", guitar necklace, and a geek rayban glasses. It is so cool! I love it!

"I'm sure you will enjoy this party" Tita P said excited.

"Thank you for inviting me here" I said while smiling

"Oh CD! You're so beautiful when you smile. By the way, let's get inside. For sure, you're hungry now"

I just nodded and we went inside. They have really many visitor. They're very rich, I saw businessmen, teenagers, kids, waiters, waitress and many more. I am one hundred percent sure that Tita P loves flowers so much and I think Tita P and Mama will be compatible.

I saw their foods and wow! The foods were very delicious.

"CD, can I leave you for a while? I'm going to find my husband"

"Sure Tita P"

"Just get your food, okay? And feel at home"

I nodded and she left.

I got my food and found a table so I can eat and go home early. I admit, I came here because Tita P invited me, but I don't have any plan to stay longer. I have some meeting virtually, Lyka called me earlier, she wanted me to attend the meeting.

After I ate, I was looking for Tita P when my phone rang, I easily got my phone in my pocket and anwered it.

"Yes hello?" I said

["Chain, I'm here in Capiz"]

It's LDF.

"Really? What are you doing here?" I asked

["H-he invited me"] he answered my question stammering.

"O-okay" I said. I almost forgot that someone also lives here in Capiz

["Are you okay?"] he asked me with a concern tone

"Of coure LDF, why wouldn't I?" I lighten up the mood

["You sure?"]

"100 percent sure"

["Great! Then, let's go out tomorrow. Tour me here"]

"Tss! Why me? You can ask him to tour you"

["Hmp! So, you don't want to tour me? I'm asking you, not him. If you don't, FINE!"] he said annoyed

I sighed. LDF is LDF.

"Okay. Don't be sad, I will tour you"

["Really? Great! I will hang up now, we're justr arrive in their house"]

"Okay LDF, take care" I said

["Okay. You too. Bye!"]

"Bye!"

I sighed. Where's Tita P? I'm going home now.

"Excuse me? Where's the bathroom here?" I asked the waiter

"Go straight and turn left" the waiter said

I smiled. "Thank you"

*****

Narrator's POV

He was in parking lot, waiting for his best friend and his girlfriend to arrive. After some minutes, there was a Van came in their gate. The van's door open and he saw his so pretty girlfriend and his best friend.

"Hi Honey!" his girlfriend greeted and gave him a peek of kiss on his lips.

"Get a room!" his bestfriend said.

"Fuck you!" he said laughing.

"How was your trip Hon?" he asked his girlfriend

"Fine Honey. I missed you" That's why he likes his girlfriend. She's very sweet.

"What the hell! If the two of you wanted to be sweet, please continue it later because I'm so damn hungry now! Where are the others?" his bestfriend

"Inside. They're waiting for you." he answered

"Then, can we come inside?" his bestfriend

He just laughed and nodded. He held the hand of his girlfriend and they came inside.

CD's POV

After I went to the bathroom, I'm looking for Tita P. I couldn't find her. Maybe I will leave and then call her that I have emergency call. Damn Chain! No, it's bad. Your Tita P invited you excitedly and you were just to leave like that?

I took a deep breathe. Okay, I will find Tita P again to ask her permission.

And there I saw Tita P! She's talking to three persons. I didn't see their faces because they were facing Tita P.

She saw me and she called me to come. I went to them.

"Hi Tita! I'm looking for you, I want to ask permission if I can leave now?" I asked Tita without looking to the three persons in front of her. I usually don't look at the people if I talked to someone.

"Eille?"

I stiffed in my position. Oh my! That is LDF voice.

I slowly turn my head to the right and my eyes got widen when I saw him.

"Chain" he said my pen name.

Oh my God! It's LDF! Meaning...

"Who's Chain Wie?" Tita asked Yngwie while she's looking back and forth to me and LDF

LDF pointed me.

"She's CD Wie" Tita corrected LDF

LDF nodded. "Yes Tita, she's CD, but that is her innitial name"

"Ah. Okay" she said and smiled. " But, CD, I wanted you to meet my son JK and his girlfriend Michaela. It seems that you know her Yngwie" Tita introduced me to them.

"Yes Tita, I'm her long distance friend" LDF said and smiled. He looked at me and he smiled too, but I saw his worried face. I smiled at him, assuring him that I was fine.

Tita P looked at me and asked "Then, you know my son?"

I slowly nodded.

She smiled widely. "Really? What a small world. How did you know each other. Is it because of Yngwie?" Tita

"Sweetheart!" someone shouted. A matured man went to our side

"Hi Sweetheart! I was looking for you, where did you go?" Tita P asked to the man. I think, that was her husband

"I went to our room. I got some thing there"

"Oh, that's why I can't see you earlier. By the way sweetheart, this is CD. The one who got backed my wedding ring"

The matured man looked at me and he smiled.

"Nice to finally meet you CD, thank you for returning my wife's wedding ring"

I found a way to smile.

"So, JK please accomodate my special visitor, okay?" Tita P

He just nodded.

"Excuse us" Tito P said, and he held the right hand of Tita P and left me here.

This is not happening! The heck! I wanna go home, this was so bad. There was an awkward feeling atmosphere, but LDF broke the silence.

"Ielle! I missed you!" LDF hurriedly hugged me. I hugged him too then he loosen the hug.

"I missed you too LDF" I said looking at his eyes.

Spell awkward C-H-E-A!

"Hi! I'm Michaela. JK's girlfriend" she put her right hand in front of me.

Chea! Calm down, okay? Be confident! Okay! I said it to myself.

"Hello! I'm CD or Chain, you can call me what you like" I said awkwardly and we shook our hands

"Ielle, can I talk to you for a while?" LDF asked me

"Sure" I smiled. Thank you for saving my face LDF!

"JK, Michaela. See you later" They both nodded. I know JK was looking to me at this moment, but I won't give a damn.

We're here in the garden, we sat down in a bench.

"Chain" LDF said my pen name. I know, he did it on a purpose to avoid awkwardness.

I looked at him and smiled.

"Yes LDF?"

"Don't give that fucking smile on me Ielle" he said seriously. I sighed.

"Okay. You say so. If you don't like this smile, then I will give to the other"

"Don't joke around Chea! I'm serious here!"

Okay. He sounded mad, really mad. I sighed.

"Sorry" I said and look in the front while touching my shorts.

He took a deep breath.

"Ielle, are you okay?"

I smiled. Yes, I am okay, I think so.

"Of course LDF, as I said when we met in Manila, I moved on" I answered him without looking at his eyes.

"I'm asking you if you're okay Ielle, I'm not asking if you moved on"

I rolled my eyes and looked at him. I got his right hand and hold it.

"Come on LDF! I know you. Don't worry. I'm not affected" I smiled at him.

He sighed.

"Okay. But, I'm just here"

"I know LDF, I know" I chuckled

"So, can we go back there?"

"Yup. I'm going to ask a permission to Tita. I'm going home"

"Why? Is it because of him? I'm here Ielle, you know"

I laughed. "LDF, before we met I'm gonna asked Tita anyway. I'm not fond of party besides I have a virtual meeting"

"Is that the real reason?"

"Of course, why? Is there any reason? You know what? I should be the one asking you if you're okay. Come on LDF, be happy. You're here to enjoy"

"You're right" he said and stood up.

"Let's go back"

I smiled and we went inside.

"Hey Sta. Maria! We're here!" we looked at the man who shouted.

LDF smiled. "Can you stay for a while? Please? You said you al-"

"Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm staying"

I will just send a text message to Lyka later.

"Good"

We went to the table of his friends, including him and his girlfriend.

"Oh. Who's that cute pretty chick Sta. Maria?" Boy 1 asked

"Ah. Sorry for not introducing her. Guys, I am proudly to introduced to you all, my LDF or Long Distance friend, Chain"

"Hi Chain! I'm Dos"

"I'm Marvin"

"I'm Kelvin"

"I'm Liam"

So, Liam is the name who shouted earlier.

"Nice to meet you all" I said smiling.

"Take a seat Chain" LDF

"Thanks"

"Palanca, do you know Chain already? You didn't introduce yourself yet" Liam asked him

I'm aware that they call their friends in Surname not in the first name. Why? Because they took their course at PMMA (Philippine Merchant Marine Academy). Like duh, of course they would be introduced themselves by their first name because I'm not their classmate.

"I know her" he answered.

"Oh. How come? Because of Sta. Maria? Is that true Chain?"

All their eyes looking at me, even him and his girlfriend who was shocked.

I slightly smiled. "To be honest, I knew him because of my ex-boyfriend when I was in first year college"

"Sounds interesting. So, you met him personally?"

Tsk! Hot seat again. I don't want to tell again the story. Damn it!

"Chan, you're asking too many questions, could you stop?" LDF

"Why? Is there something wrong?" Liam

"It's okay LDF, he's just curious. But sometimes, curiousity kills the cat" I smirked. By the way, remember I am the Cold Hearted Chinita. " Anyway, I didn't met him personally, he was my chatmate in a dating app that time"

"Really? Well, Palanca was fond of having chatmates back then"

They all laughed except me, LDF, him and Michaela.

"But did you meet? At least for once?" Chan asked curiously

"Of course" I answered

LDF looked at me. I saw his eyes saying "Don't mind him"

I secretly laughed. He was nervous, it should be me, not him, but I never felt nervous in answering their questions, it's just that I feel irritated.