Chapter 55: The Signs

He looked up into dark emerald eyes, unwavering. Derek pushed aside the chills of discomfort and extended his hand, "I apologize about that."

He stared at the young man wearing blue jean shorts, tennis shoes, and a yellow and white striped polo shirt. When their hands came together, the handshake was short.

Derek glanced at Tyler, "Do you want to come with us?"

Tyler raised an eyebrow, sensing the anger between the two men. He said, "No, it's ok, Marc and I are going..."

"Hey, I say go for it," he asked. Marc stated, his eyes on Hershey.

Tyler looked at him. "Marc, if they want to be alone..."

"No, it's cool let him, I'd like to hear how you met." Derek stated, making room for Tyler and Marc Junior.

Marc sat next to Hershey, who was near the booth.

Derek turned his gaze back to Marc, who just glared. Marc's eyes landed on him, meeting his gaze with a blank stare. When Tyler cleared his throat, he glanced down at the menu on his side of the table, "So, what's recommendable here?"

Hershey sat there thinking it was a dream. It can't happen, it can't. When no one spoke, Tyler fell silent. Derek looked at him. "Scalloped shrimps, and crabs, white rice and pineapple juice."

Marc Junior looked over at Hershey, watching her reaction. It's like he couldn't get over the pout of her lips.

"So, Marc, how long have you been friends with Tyler?"

This question caused Marc to look at Derek.

"Since high school."

Derek nodded, "Did you work with him too?"

Marc Junior shook his head. "No, I studied in the Shanghai."

Derek's eyes went to Hershey's and he asked, "Do you know him too?" Hershey looked at Marc and she just stared.

"Yes, we know each other," Marc Junior said, his tone soft.

Hershey turns back to face Derek. She couldn't believe it was happening. Why here, now?

"Okay." Derek raised an eyebrow at her and then turned back to Marc.

Marc Junior gave a tight smile, "We dated back in high school."

Hershey's eyes widened in shock and turned her attention back to Marc Junior. "That's none of Derek's business."

"Oh, really? Until when?" Derek's arm circled the booth behind her. Marc's eyes were cold. "Four years."

Derek raised his eyebrows in shock and looked at Hershey. "You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend in high school Hershey?"

Hershey shrugged, "I wasn't aware that I had to tell you," she stated, her tone shaking a bit. Tyler began to shake his head, knowing this was going to be a disaster.

Derek sighed, ignoring the irritation in his voice, "Well, it would've been a nice thing to explain, since you obviously don't have an iota of attraction to me." His tone was so smooth and deceptively soft, that because everyone at the table felt the tension, they could hear the pain.

"I didn't say I had no attraction to you." She hissed, her gaze turned to him. "I just want to be friends with you. Is that a crime?"

Marc looked at Derek, hating him even here. He didn't know how close he was to Hershey's heart. The closer she is to his heart, the closer he is to hers. He waited for Tyler to finish choosing his order because he didn't want it to look like they were together. It sent shivers down his spine.

"Geez, I feel good." Derek replied sarcastically.

Marc Junior glanced at the suit and tie, curly hair, and long thick eyelashes, and couldn't stand it anymore. He can say that he is just Hershey's type. She always goes for the brother in the suit before any other guy. This made him look at himself and feel ashamed. He wears clothing associated with people who are lazy, unemployed, or whatever. This caused the abominations to float in the air. Standing up, he said, "Excuse me, Tyler," and abruptly left the table.

Tyler stood up and looked away. They watched as Marc Junior left the restaurant, saying nothing at all. Hershey felt his heartache to help him. She stared at the door he passed. Tyler glanced at him, and then stood up as well, following Marc Junior.

Derek sighed, "Ok...interesting."

Hershey, unable to resist the feeling of going to him any longer, also stood up. "Excuse me."

Derek looked at Hershey's face, "You're kidding right?"

Hershey sighed, "Move, please."

Derek stood up, shaking his head, "Whatever, Hershey."

"He's still my friend, Derek. I care about him."

Derek sighed and watched in frustration as she made her way to the restaurant's exit. Confused, Derek looked at his watch. He hoped it wouldn't take all day.

Outside the restaurant, Marc Junior and Hershey talk, "When did you start smoking?" Hershey asked as she watched Marc Junior light a cigarette and place it in his mouth. They stand away from the brick structure, which is shaded by some trees that cover the restaurant, giving a nice cool feeling. "I only do it when I'm stressed." Marc said staring at the sun.

Tyler also stood in front of the building, watching the two of them, saying nothing. He hopes Hershey is sharper than she was in high school. Intellectually, she was wonderful, but when it came to emotional availability, she had serious problems.

Hershey swallowed weakly, "What's wrong?"

Marc Junior focused his attention on her. "Nothing."

Hershey smiled, "You always say that."

Tyler raised an eyebrow. Is that a twinkle in his eye? He stared at Marc, who inhaled another cigarette and stared at him with a confused expression. Judging by his demeanor, he could tell that the smile Hershey was giving him was a turn-on for him. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and stared at her mouth. This caused another color. He wondered how long it had been since Marc Junior had made love.

"I mean it. I just need some fresh air." Another puff of smoke, the calming effect of cigarettes.

Hershey shrugged, "Ok."

For several minutes, the two of them stood there staring at each other, communicating with their eyes, not words.

Tyler frowned. "I always hate it when you do that." He said. Hershey looked away from Marc Junior and turned to Tyler's face, "Do what?"

"Talk with your eyes. I can't ever get a word out of what's saying."

Hershey raised an eyebrow. "Talk with our eyes?"

Tyler laughed, "Yes, it's like you always talk to someone without saying anything. That gets annoying after a while."

Marc Junior took a deep breath, threw the cigarette on the ground, and kept quiet, "Maybe you won't be too loud then." He said.

He immediately looked at Hershey. A smile appeared on his face when he read their expressions. Marc Junior stared, eyes glazed over.

Subconsciously, Hershey's hands went up her arms and she started running them over the goosebumps she felt.

Tyler cleared his throat, "Yeah, well maybe if you didn't make it so obvious that you haven't had sex in quite a while, I wouldn't be so nosey."

If it weren't for the red tip of his ear, Hershey would think that Marc Junior was not affected by what he said.

He looked into Tyler's eyes, "Would you mind giving me a lift home? I'm not in the mood for lunch."

Tyler reached out and pulled his ear, suddenly scratching an itch. Hershey turned her head and watched Derek walk towards them. When he got to her side, he asked, "Are you ready to order?"

Tyler sighed, "Marc and I are leaving. I have some business that came up at the office."

Derek extended his hand to Marc Junior, "Nice meeting you."

Marc Junior held his hand. Derek's fingers clenched tightly. Too strong. "Yeah, nice meeting you too."

Marc quickly withdrew his hand from the man's grip. Looking him in the eyes, he told him to back off.

Derek held her gaze, telling her to back off as well. His arm went to Hershey's shoulder and he looked down at her. "Are you ready for lunch?"

Hershey is no longer in the mood for lunch. She wanted to make sure marc Junior was okay, but he brought her for the occasion so why not?

Sighing, she looked at Marc Junior and with soft eyes, she smiled, "See you later, Marc."

Marc shrugged, "See you later, Hershey."

As they walked in separate directions, each mind was filled with the other. Does Marc Junior wonder why he came back here to Bacoor, Cavite? He told himself that maybe he should just focus on taking care of business at home and leave things between them the way they were with Hershey. He and Hershey's past, why they broke up. Obviously, he is in the process of moving on.

Hershey felt a strange tug at her heart when Marc Junior and Tyler left. Her heart whispered to him, told him things, things she didn't really believe. Her heart told her that he still loved her and she still loved him, and while that might be true, they weren't the same. He is already smoking. He wondered if he was still drinking. Probably.

Another thing her heart told her was that she would never be more than Derek's friend. He's a great guy, but he's never evoked anything unusual in Derek. Glancing at him, he studied Derek, wondering what was wrong with him. Why not him? Why I don't like you? Why Marco Fernando Jr.?

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