Twenty Two

"You're welcome. My assistant will be there when you go tomorrow because I can't go home tomorrow. We'll do something else here, " I said.

Mang Celso nodded. So we thought we would go home because I wanted to sleep.

"Are you all right? Maybe you still want to dance there." I said.

"Not anymore, Miss. We want to sleep well," they said.

So we went into our every room and decided to sleep.



The next day, I woke up early. It's a good thing because our duty was not exempted. After all, it was Hearts Day yesterday. I got up, went out of the room, and thought about going straight to the kitchen. And I found my mother preparing food on the table.

"I thought you were awake at noon?" she asked.

"No, mom, we have duties at school now. It's forbidden to be absent without a good reason," was my answer.

"It's good that I woke up early so that I could prepare something to eat. And then the uniform you're going to wear is ready," she said to me.

"Thanks, mom, you shouldn't have bothered anyway."



"As long as the two of us are still together. And you're not married yet. I'll do something for you first, "she says.

"Thank you, mom." My mother nodded and then spoke.

"Eat that before the food and the broth have cooled," said my mother.

I sat down and scooped up the chicken broth and sipped.

"By the way, where's Uncle Augusto? " I asked.



"He came home at two in the morning," my mother answered.

"Is that so? Why? I thought he would sleep here?" I asked.

"He said he was going to a meeting at six in the morning. So he left in a hurry." my mother responded.



I returned to my room after eating to take a shower. I checked my phone, but there was no message from Mitch. Is she still grumpy at me? I went into the bathroom and showered. I left the room half an hour later. And I kissed my mother goodbye and left for school. I approached the car that Uncle Augusto had mentioned. I rubbed it. I couldn't believe it because I had no intention of purchasing a car. Because of my friendship with Duke, I only know how to drive. I'm ashamed to use it. So I'll put it to use the next time.

I rode my motorcycle to school. I'll call Mitch later or go to her workplace. I saw Vienna as I exited the gate, but she ignored me despite the fact that we both looked at each other. I entered my room slowly. Duke was sitting in front of my chair.




"I thought you weren't coming in today?" he asked me.

"Is that okay? What are we, students? That if we're tired we won't come in? Why are you here? As far as I know, this is my room," I told him.

Duke laughs.

"I already know this is your classroom. But there's nothing stating that it's forbidden to enter," he replied.

I shook my head while sitting in the student chair.

"Aren't you doing anything? Why are you here?" I asked him.

"I have a lot to do, but then I'm still tired. By the way, are you okay? That's not the kind of reaction I expect to see now." he said to me. My forehead furrowed.

"What reaction should I have?"



"Of course, you're smiling. What happened yesterday? Didn't you date Mitch?" he asked me.

"The truth is that Mitch and I already have a relationship, that's why ..."

"So just what?"

"Maybe she was upset with me because I didn't go back to her apartment because one of her board mates had a party. You know we're still busy today. Why can't he understand? She even hung up the phone on me. I called her again, I can't contact her anymore. " my long explanation.

"Just understand him first, he might want to be with you for a long time. On the other hand, you didn't give in," said Duke.

I shook my head.

"Let's eat at the cafeteria first." Duke invited me.

"I'm still full, Duke, I ate at home. Mom cooked early." my answer.



"It's ugly to eat alone, Zander. Even if you don't eat as long as you just accompany me," he says.

"Right? I guess your attitude was new to me. You'll just invite the others with you to eat. I still have a lot to do," I said.

"I'm not leaving here, as long as you don't come with me," said Duke.

"You look like a child, Duke. All right." I said and then left the room first.

"You know I saw Vienna earlier outside the gate. But I wondered why she wasn't paying attention to me," I said.



"Ignore it first. That's really how women behave. We don't know what their struggles are in life because we don't have to do them every day." said Duke, as we walked out of school.

"But come to think of it, we both admitted that Vienna loves you very much. Maybe she found out you already have a girlfriend, so she's avoiding you?" said Duke.

Duke has a point, but I don't want to assume it. I still considered Vienna as my friend besides Duke. We entered a cafeteria near the school. I sat down first while Duke ordered his food.



"A coke that's cold for me, Duke. I'm suddenly thirsty." I told him.



"Okay." I picked up my phone and then looked up for a call from Mitch.

I smiled because she had two messages that greeted me, and I loved her in the end. And in the second message, she said that her phone had suddenly turned off and she had forgotten to charge it. I'm just thinking too much about it. Duke had already unloaded the food he had ordered. Including the coke that was for me.



"What happened? Why did you suddenly smile there? "he asked me. I shook my head. This man likes to criticize me.

"Mitch texted me that she had just put down her phone and suddenly her battery was low," I said.

That's right, you overthink. "You look like a woman," said Duke.



Duke sat down and began to eat. I noticed he was looking at me as if he wanted to say something.

"Why, Duke, do you want to tell me something?" I asked him.

"Not that I'm interfering, Zander, I just want to ask," said Duke, stopping chewing what he had eaten.

"What's that?"



"Did your mother and Don Augusto have a relationship? I saw them together once. I would think they were just friends, but they were holding hands when entering a restaurant. I know your mother is modest and she will not allow a man to hold hands. That has nothing to do with her," said Duke.

"Yeah, maybe a few months. Who am I to stop them?" I said.



"Seriously? It's good for you to think about getting married. "
Duke joked at me.



"You idiot! I'm not ready to get married yet. I'll put you first. The truth is that he gave me a new car yesterday, " I said.

"Where is it now? "Can I try to drive?" said Duke in a cheerful voice.

"It's still at home. I haven't used it yet because it might get scratched, " I said.

"If you don't want to use it, just give it to me," Duke said.

"You bought your new car. You have purchased, " I replied.

Duke laughs.