Chapter 3

   Muffled giggling and voices are heard, it was coming from outside the bedroom door. I felt a sudden sharp pain when I tried opening my eyes. Slowly, I got up and dizziness started lingering, I tried opening my eyes for the second time but my vision is blurry. I can see just hints of my room but it is hazy but I can see that it is already getting dark.

    For a whole day I slept with no failure, I remembered Vicky visited me this morning and told me I have a fever when place her hand in my forehead. I feel sick since last night, every time a wind passed by it causes shivers down my body and felt cold.

    Slowly, I begin to stand up and walk to my door. Dizziness still lingering in my head, I opened the door.

    "How are you feeling Katie?" asked Sister Hanna

    "I'm fine compared before thanks for asking Sister Hanna," I answered and forced a smile. A forced smile registered in Sister Hanna's lips. She was never fond of me neither do I with her.

    "You graduated from your art college right?" she asked while she stride slowly down the stairs.

    "Yes," I answered in monotone. Why does she keeps asking me a question, it irritates a heck out of me.

    "Oh I see...” she stopped and stared at me as if she's scanning my answer. “Well, have a pleasant evening. I'll take my leave."

    I sighed in relief when she continued to go down the stairs. I never liked her when I was younger and even now. There's always something hidden in her tiny little sweet smile. It always causes me eerie feeling whenever she smiled.

I stand there for a few minutes, staring at the stairs where Sister Hanna was standing earlier. There is a feeling in my gut that she's not a nice person and I don't know why.

"Snap out of it!" I said to myself and slap my cheek to snap out of my thought. This is just because of the dizziness and hunger. I walk down the stairs and saw Victoria carrying vegetables and meat.

"Hey Vicky let me help you," I walk to her and reach out my hands to help her.

"N-O, NO." she firmly said while moving her head with disapproval.

"Why? I'm fine I can help," I insisted and reach out my hands once again but she avoided my hand and continued to walk to the kitchen.

"Just sit and wait for the dinner to get ready okay?"

I sigh escaped between my breaths and decided to sit on the sofa when the doorbell rang. I wonder who it is, I peek at the wall clock and saw it is almost 6:30 pm. Who could that be? It rang once again that made me ran hurriedly to the gate.

“Who is it?” I asked in a sweet tone and opened the gate. A tall handsome man with a brown wavy hair is standing in front of me. A shocked expression is registered in his face, what’s his problem?

“You!” he shouted when he recovered and pointed at me.

“Me?” I asked confuse while pointing at myself. I look around to see if he’s pointing at someone else but it’s just the two of us here. Wait… is there any way I met him and cause trouble? I look at him once again but I couldn’t remember if we met before.

“Is there a problem?” I asked nervously. I know I frequently forgot things but I can’t remember if I met him before. I scanned his face for any reaction but he’s still shocked.

“Well, if you don’t have any business with me or someone in this orphanage you better get going,” I said with a polite tone. I look at him the third time but there’s no hint that I met him. Wait… Is he a stalker? A sudden fear creped on me and decided to close the gate in a hurry.

“Wait-” I screamed on the top of my lungs when he suddenly stopped the gate from closing.

“No! I don’t have any money in me. I’m just an ugly human being that grew up in this orphanage!” explaining without taking a breath I closed my eyes with fear.

“Katie! What happened?” asked Sister Maya while catching her breath.

Still catching my breath, I hold Sister Maya with my shaky hands. “There’s a man outside who is trying to get in the orphanage! Sister Maya we need to call the police quick!”

“A man?” asked Sister Maya. She looked at me with full of concern and looked at the gate. When she took my hands off of her, I panicked and hid at her back. She opened the gate with no fear and I peeked at her shoulder.

“Thank goodness it’s just you Lucas” Sister Maya said and sighed. Lucas? She knows him? I slowly unhide myself and stand beside Sister Maya. My face turned tomato red with embarrassment, Sister Maya knew him and I shut the gate on his face. What a dumbass I was.

“Sorry to bother you Sister Maya I know its dinner already I should have come tom-” Yes! Yes just come back tomorrow so that I can avoid you. I looked down at the ground and prayed he would leave right now.

“No, no it’s okay Lucas you can join us for dinner if you like” Sister Maya said. My shoulders fell down in disappointment. I stepped back slowly so they wouldn't notice me but damn I was wrong.

“And who is this girl Sister Maya?” asked the man and peeked at me who is currently sneaking in the orphanage.

“Her names Katie, why is there any problem?” asked Sister Maya curiously while she exchange looks at me and the man named Lucas.

“There is no problem Sister but it is rude to shut the gate-” I ran and covered his mouth before he tell Sister Maya what rudeness I did to him.

“No! Sister Maya there is no problem at all right?” I forced a smile and look at him. I glared at him so he wouldn’t tell and thank god he nod in approval. He’s quite tall but I manage to cover his mouth with my hand.

“It’s that so?” Sister Maya look at us suspiciously. I let go of his mouth and we both nodded. “Okay we should get inside before the food gets cold.” I nodded and went inside first leaving Sister Maya and Lucas behind.

I hurriedly ran towards the stairs when Victoria caught me.

“Hey Katie! Aren’t you going to eat dinner?” said Victoria while staring at me. I stopped and look at her. “I’m not really hungry. I’ll just take a rest.” I said and continued to go upstairs. I can’t eat in the same table as him. I’ve done so many embarrassing things tonight and I would gladly starve than to embarrass myself more.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucas’ POV

When I was about to walk inside the orphanage, Katie, the woman I met at the beach hurriedly went inside first. Until now my heart still races because of her standing so close to me. I hid my excitement and blushing face to Sister Maya and went inside the orphanage.

“Katie!” I heard a girl yell. I looked at the girl staring at Katie who dash upstairs. Is she mad at me?

“Where’s Katie, Victoria?” asked Sister Maya to the girl who is facing the staircase with her hands in her waist.

“She doesn’t want to eat dinner Sister…” she paused when she saw me. “Who is this Sister?” she asked Sister Maya while pointing her finger at me. She went closer to me and scanned every inch of me. What a strange girl. I looked at her and remembered she was with Katie when I met Katie at the beach. I gulped and prayed she didn’t saw my face at the beach. “Not my type,” the girl whispered to herself but I heard it clearly.

“This is Lucas he is the-”

“A friend of the son visiting here tomorrow” I cut off Sister Maya and smiled at her. Sorry sister I don’t want to expose myself. Sister Maya quickly realize what I’m doing and nodded.

“Is your friend handsome?” asked the girl named Victoria while her eyes glistens with excitement. I sighed with relief and smiled.

“Yes absolutely do you want me to introduce you to him tomorrow?” I nervously asked. Her eyes grew brighter and nodded like a little girl who is asking for candy.

“Yes please!” she said cheerfully and smiled.

“But on one condition” An idea suddenly popped in my mind. This is a good chance to ask help in order to get closer to Katie.

“What is it?” she asked curiously while looking at me. I whispered my condition and after that she looked at me seriously. She suddenly smiled, nodded and gave me a thumbs up.

“Just give me your number and oh! Your friend too”

I gave her my number and ate dinner with Sister Maya and the children who lives in the orphanage. I thanked Sister Maya with the meal and bid goodbye. I was walking home when I noticed that the sky cleared up and showed many stars. It’s nice to enjoy this kind of breather once in a while. All I do is work and I don’t have any time to relax so I’m thankful that I visited here.

I was busy staring at the stars when I heard and felt someone suddenly stop a few steps away from where I was standing. I looked at who it is and in my amusement it’s Katie. Katie was about to take a bite from her street food when I looked at her. She stopped and decided to avoid me. What’s her problem? Why didn’t she ate dinner if she’s hungry?

“Hey! Katie wait!” I stopped her by holding her arm. “Is there a problem? I’m not a pervert just like you said earlier” I calmly said and let go of her arm. “I just want to be your friend that’s all” I mean, I want her to like me but I want her to be my friend first.

“My friend? And why is that?” she asked and look back at me while her arms crossed in her chest.

What should be the reason? Think Lucas, think.

“Well your friend Victoria said that you’re both graduated in an art school,”

“And?” she asked and look at me seriously.

“I also graduated in an art college so I want to have friends that have the same passion in art as me,” I smiled nervously and I gulped when she went closer and look at me more. Her eyes are more beautiful up close.

“Okay!” she nodded. I sighed and smiled.

“So… let’s start over shall we?” I asked her with a smile on my face but she just continued to eat her food and not even bothering to look at me.

“Okay,” she replied shortly. I waited as she finished eating her food and drank her refreshment. What an extra ordinary girl, she just makes me want to know her more. Without noticing it a genuine smile appeared in my lips.

She wiped her mouth with her handkerchief and face me.

“Hi my name is Katie Fernandez I love to paint especially sceneries. I’m an orphan and grew up in the orphanage but I finished my college at the city. My best friend is the one you met earlier her name is Victoria, nice to meet you,” she said and reach out her hand with a smile.

“I’m Lucas, Lucas Pangilinan. I work as a photographer in an agency but I graduated as a scholar. I came here to have a vacation and to relax. Nice to meet you Katie,” I reach out my hand and shake hers.

At that night, under the starry night that witnessed our encounter, I don’t have any idea that night will result for our life to intertwine with each other.