Chapter 12

The steak is perfectly well done as requested. The finest wine and other side dishes are all delicious. With Nina beside him, nothing in this moment could make Nate think he lacks anything.

"Let's eat," Nina said in unusual less energetic tone.

It's obvious that she put effort to sound cheerful when she invited him to eat.

"I know. It was a busy, long day, right?" Nate asked.

He already noticed her lack of energy when he picked her up from the gallery.

Nina managed to smile but she still doesn't look like her usual self.

"Are you sure you're okay? We can leave now if you want. It looks like you need to rest now," he asked as he begins to worry.

Nina assured him with a bigger but quick smile. "Of course I am okay but yes, my energy has gone really low today. I'm sorry that I'm making you worry," she said.

"You sure about that?" he asked again.

"Yeah! I think I just need to devour these dishes right here and my energy will be back in no time," she assured him.

There's festivity going on outside the restaurant. The fireworks are in full display brightening the early evening sky. The onlookers are so thrilled with the free show. Inside the restaurant, the dinner goes on quietly for the two lovers. None of the dishes brought Nina's energy back.

Nate begins to seriously think that something's not right.

Cela is one of those spectators watching the grand fireworks display. Her living room window allows her to see the beautiful night sky adorned with bright lights shaming the stars and even the moon. Needless to say, this is another thing she hasn't seen in years. What she's witnessing is so magical that it can make one romantic scene in the story she's trying to write.

On her dining table, her dinner of hot noodle and a cup of coffee awaits her. Her laptop is up and running. She feels she's somehow ready to start creating a new story tonight.

And then comes the sad part. As she watches the grand fireworks display outside her window, she begins to imagine Nate and Nina looking at that same beautiful sky after having a lovely dinner together while she sits in her dining alone having instant food for dinner and will cap the night with nothing special but work.

"This is so pathetic. How did I end up like this?" she asked herself.

She's about to call for food delivery when Ivy's call came in. She already knows exactly what she's going to ask her and that's another sad thing.

"I just talked to the TV producer. She's okay with the third book to be launched in January next year. She told me they would broadcast the series in three weekends in February," Ivy said.

"It's impressive that you're able to negotiate the timeline for the project but please remember that I still cannot guarantee the success of the third book, which by the way doesn't have a solid plot as we speak. I'm sorry, Ivy but I'm stuck in the planning stage. I keep going back to the drawing board. I just don't know what to write this time," Cela said.

"Well, there's still plenty of time. Let's not give up this early yet," Ivy said.

"And why does it have to be a Valentine's special in February when there are so many networks airing the same thing? Why don't you suggest that they make it a summer's special instead. Doesn't anyone believe in summer love anymore?" Cela said.

"That's a good suggestion for a back up plan but for now, let's try to do it in time for their February requirement," Ivy said.

"But please don't rush me. I can't write that way," Cela said.

"By the way, how can I possibly thank your brother for giving me some ideas on how to negotiate?" Ivy asked.

Cela rolled her eyes first before replying. It became clear to her that the two have been talking lately and they used the negotiation of the timeline as a reason to talk.

"If you were able to talk to him about that in the first place without involving me, I don't see the point why you have to ask me now on how to thank him. I don't get it," she said.

Shortly after Ivy's call ended comes a text message from Rolan asking her if the talks between Ivy and the producer went well.

"You two are adults. Talk to each other and stop bothering me," she told her brother.

"Sis, are you okay?" Rolan asked.

"I am but I can't let myself be bothered by those matters of yours. I've so much to do. I'm still working while I'm on my supposed vacation from work and that is thanks to Ivy," Cela replied. "Why don't you talk to Nanny Rita," she added.

"Nanny Rita is busy with her own personal matters," he said.

"What matters? Whatever. It's personal you said. I'll go to sleep now," Cela said. "And oh, my unsolicited advice to you is that you make sure that your friendship only status with Joyce is clear with her," she added.

Cela surely lost her appetite. She turned off her laptop and gets ready for bed without touching her bowl of noodles.

"How can everyone need me but I don't have anyone to run to? And how come everyone has something going on with their lives except me?" she asked herself.

It's a good thing that she fell asleep fast. Perhaps the frustration did it to her. The day was filled with unexpected moments that if not taken correctly will only result to false hope and wrong expectations.

Nate drives Nina home. They agreed to change their plan of spending the night together and instead sleep in their separate places.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay overnight? I will drive you to the airport before lunch tomorrow so it's easier if I sleep in your place," Nate said trying to see if he could still revert the plan.

Nina turned her face to him. "Listen, I know I'm acting weird but I just couldn't help it. Maybe the stress of these past week's activities and the coming wedding are taking the toll on me. I'm really sorry. I just want to be alone tonight so I can rest well," she said.

Nate feels bad that Nina finds the wedding preparation tedious but he tries to be understanding. Some brides even turn in to monsters during the wedding preparation. Nina is only feeling tired but not a bridezilla and that's should be a relief to him.

"Hey, none of these is your fault, okay? Let me be clear on that," Nina assured him.

"Are you sure, that's all about?" Nate continued to probe.

"What do you mean?" Nina asked.

Nate breathed deep. "About earlier today. I told you I was with a friend and we got stuck somewhere while waiting for the rain to subside?" he asked.

"What about it?" she asked.

"That friend was actually that person who tried to meet me in the gallery," he said.

"The one who was in a minor accident and who also came by the following day? What about her?" she asked.

"I was thinking you might be….," he could not finish.

"Jealous?" she asked.

"Perhaps suspicious but I tell you now that there's nothing to worry about," he said.

"You know what? You're so funny. What would I be jealous or suspicious? Was there any reason why you thought that I was or I should?" she asked.

Nate looked at Nina. "Absolutely nothing," he said.

"See? There's none so everything is okay. We are okay," she said.

Nate watches quietly as Nina gets out of the car. He's still not convinced that she's just tired and that there's nothing wrong.

"Wait, I have to bring the artworks to your unit," he said.

"Oh, sorry I haven't told you. My secretary will arrange shipment from your place to our sponsor's office tomorrow," she said. She continues to sound weird.

Nate waited for a few minutes before he decided to get out of the car to follow her. He can't let the night pass without clearing things up because it's evident that there is something that has to be cleared.

Nina let him in. She apologized again for her lack of energy. This time she said it's because of the time of the month other than the other reasons she could think of and already told him.

"Can we just sit and talk for a few minutes? I just need to explain more," he asked.

Nina could not think of any reason to avoid further conversation.

"Okay, the person I was telling you about who was with me this morning and the girl from the bench story were the same person," he said.

"You're telling me this because…?" she asked.

"C'mon. I feel guilty that I couldn't tell you all the details earlier," he said in a shaky voice. "But I swear, we were just there talking while waiting for the rain to stop. She even brought up the idea of writing our story. She's a promising writer," he continued to explain.

Nate is obviously not prepared for this kind of situation. They never had one in the past and it never crossed him mind that there would be days like this.

"Actually, I had a hint that they were one and the same girl but who cares? I don't. Look, I don't see you as a bad guy just because you met with someone who you had a thing before. You never were the bad guy. Don't overthink," Nina said.

"But I still can't understand what's going on. The sudden shift in your mood makes me anxious. I've been thinking of any possible reasons for that," he said.

Nina shook her head. "I told you, I just need to be alone. Please go home and have your much needed rest too," she said.

"How can I rest if we are not okay," he asked.

"Please, Nate. I don't have time for this now. I told you, there's nothing wrong between us. Can we call it a day now, please?" she asked calmly.

Nate walked out of the door more confused. As he entered his car, he realized that he went without saying "I love you" to her. He couldn't even recall if they said "good night" to each other.

With only less than two months before the wedding, he realized for the first time that it will not be all bliss in the new life he's taking with her.

"You know what I am thinking? Why don't you spend this weekend with her? Tell her our story. Let's see how it goes when she writes it." He could still hear Nina telling him to meet Cela once again and narrate their story to her. It still doesn't make sense to him.

Even after driving with a heavy heart in heavy Friday traffic couldn't make him fall asleep easily. He got some beer from the refrigerator and starts drinking while hopelessly waiting for a text from Nina. Nothing came that night.

In Cela's place, only the sound of the clock can be heard. The night is still young but not for a tired and uninspired spirit who takes refuge in sleep.

She purposely turned off her phone before going to bed. The reality hit her that there will be no messages for the rest of the night. No one's going to look for her for reasons apart from work.

Another day is ending and this one is ending on a sad note. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.