Chapter 14

"Sir, I can just ask. Is Ma'am Bea your sweetheart?" Wyn whispered to Aldrin as he counted money in the case.

He was stunned for a moment and turned to the young man.

"Why did you ask?" he said with a serious face.

"Nothing sir. I'm just curious, especially with the way you look at him." It was a response and they both looked at the behavior of the girl who was currently talking to Wendy.

"What's wrong with my stares at him?"

"Umf- it's like you're dead to him." He answered with a smile while Aldrin hit him on the head.

"Is that obvious?" he said with a smile and continued counting the money again.

"But sir, it would be a shame if you let Ma'am Bea go." Wyn promised.

"Why? do you plan to date him?" he was just joking but suddenly Wyn turned to the girl and stared at her smiling.

Aldrin seemed to notice that he wasn't talking about what he said, so he briefly glanced at the young man next to him and saw that he was just watching Bea.

"Hey!" he said while gently hitting him on the head.

"Don't try to lust after him, or else-"

"I thought, sir, you didn't have any? That's unfair!" he said frowning.

"Get settled. Do you want to lose your job?"

"Of course not sir." It responded with a shake of the head.

"Just focus on your work. Better count those coins."

"Yes, sir!" he replied with a greeting as Aldrin handed the coins to him.

After a while they closed the store and went out together.

"Don't worry guys, I'll find you a new partner right away." Aldrin said to his two employees.

"Why do you have to find someone else there, sir? If Ma'am Bea can just take over." Wyn said and they suddenly looked at Bea who was also shocked by his suggestion.

"Me? but-" he pointed to himself and he didn't finish what he was going to say when Aldrin suddenly spoke.

"He can't. He also has his own business and he's busy. Isn't he?" he said and turned to the girl next to him.

"That's it." He replied with a smile. Wyn seemed to be frowning because he was disappointed to be working with him.

"It's a shame. I still want to work with Ma'am Bea." The young man grumbled at them. Aldrin just looked him in the eye and quickly looked away from him.

"Oh, he, we have to leave and I'll take him to their house. You two be careful and come in early tomorrow, okay?" he said goodbye to the two and they got into his car.

Wendy and Wyn also left, after Aldrin left.

Bea seemed to lean her head against the sliding window and let out a deep breath.

"I'm sorry if I tired you today." The young man promised him when he noticed that he was very tired.

"Yes. I didn't think I was tired. I couldn't feel the tiredness I was feeling earlier when I saw the customers smiling." He replied with a smile while watching outside.

"Don't worry, I will pay for the day you worked today." After saying this, Bea suddenly turned around and frowned.

"You still haven't really changed. Instead of being thankful, you're still passing the buck."

"Well, I'm still grateful to you because you helped us earlier. But, you know I won't be able to sleep well if I don't pay what I owe you."

"At least don't. I don't need your money!" he said and leaned against the window again.

"Psst! are you mad?" he asked glancing at the girl.

"No." He responded weakly and meekly.

"By the way, about what Wyn said," he stopped speaking for a moment and was nervous. He was already assessing her mood and whether she would agree to what he offered.

"Do you want to.. work with me?" after he said that, Bea slowly glanced at him with a hint of surprise on her face.

"So, you really want to hire me and you were just pretending to be concerned about me earlier, am I right?" he pointed out to the young man.

"Not like that. Don't get me wrong, I was really sincere in what I said earlier but I just thought you might like it or if you just like it. There's nothing wrong with trying, right?" he explained but suddenly he grinned and laughed loudly.

"What's funny?" he said and glanced at the girl for a moment.

"It's obvious you're obvious! Admit it, do you still like me?" he joked and always drew a smile on his lips. Aldrin just grinned and looked at him.

"What if, yes?" he answered. Bea just stopped and the smile on her lips disappeared. He stared at the young man next to him and his cheeks were red.

"Stop staring at me. Maybe that will melt me." Aldrin said at the same time the girl hit him hard on his shoulder.

"Damn it! why again?" he said to Bea but she didn't say a word and turned to the window again.

"Bea," he called seriously.

"Hmph?"

"Think carefully about what I said. Don't worry because I won't bother you and make you suffer there. I just want to give myself a chance to help you and at least make up for what you helped me with before , even in a small way. Just think I'm paying you a debt of gratitude." He said and he stopped the car when they arrived in front of his house.

"Just a minute!" he suddenly said and he turned to Aldrin.

"Why?" he said in surprise.

"How did you know my address? I didn't mention anything to you from earlier about the direction of my house, did I?" it asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just calm down. Your friend gave me your address earlier." The young man replied to him.

"Friend?" he said shaking his head.

"Yes, your friend. I forgot her name but she was the saleswoman you were with earlier in the market."

"Ahhh!" he clapped his hands twice at the same time.

"Pearl?" he assured the young man.

"Yes, he is." He responded with a nod of his head.

"Hey! That's really the girl!" he said weakly and then he got out of the car. Aldrin followed him and approached him.

"Or why? Don't tell me that you also want to sleep here now at my house?" he was curious about the young man in front of him. Aldrin just smiled and scratched his head.

"If it's possible, why not?" he joked as Bea stepped on his left foot.

"Ouch!" he shouted.

"You lelang panot! Your style, rotten! You better leave before I offend bro!" He crossed his arms at the young man.

"Okay, go ahead. Sweet dreams." He said smiling at the girl. Bea just stared at him while he was still standing outside his house.

Aldrin got back into the car and waved at the girl before she left. He just grinned and went inside his house.

The young man's lips seemed to draw a sweet smile, especially when he remembered the expression on Bea's face with him earlier. It seems that he can't hide the pleasure he feels and there is almost no place to put the joy he feels.

He felt that he didn't want to go back to their place or go home to his house.

It seems that he would rather just stay there and live with the girl.

So that same night he temporarily stayed in a hotel. He spent the whole night there and rested.

He was still smiling lying on the bed and hugging the pillow tightly.

"Hey, Bea! this morning you are dumbfounded again. What are you thinking and you seem to be carrying the problem of the Philippines?" Perla said to him when she noticed that he was deep in thought and had been looking at his fish for sale.

"Nothing." He gave a short reply and chased away the flies that were hovering around.

"Gosh, you're pretending! Admit it, you just miss Papa P. right?" he said poking his side.

"What are you Perla, no no."

"Then, what exactly are you talking about?"

"That's true because someone offered me a job."

"Oh really? If that's the case, what are you doing here?"

"Huh?" he was curious as he looked at the girl next to him.

"You know, not everyone in this world is given the opportunity to find a job. You're good enough that the job comes to you. While others out there are almost exposed to the heat of the sun just to get around all over the city and find a good job. I just want to tell you girl, grab it while it's still there. You're still young and don't spend your entire girlhood selling fish. I'm not belittling , but you know our life here, don't you?" Perla said to him as he bowed down and seemed to be thinking about what he said.

"You know, girl. If you're thinking about me or if you're worried for me that I might be left here alone, it's okay to think! no, it's just a joke girl. Don't worry about me , Bea. I'm used to being left here and that's why no one really stays in that place for long! if you don't make friends or lose, someone else is given a good opportunity like you. So if I'm yours, grab it it's yours." He said to her as he put his arm around her shoulder.

"But of course you should visit me here too, even if only occasionally. I'll miss you, girl." He said while Perla hugged him. Bea just smiled and patted his back.

"Yes, of course. I might even come here every day." He said to the girl as she poked him in the side again.

"Hey, you already have a customer." The two of them were stunned for a moment in the fight when Perla pointed to the three standing in front of Bea's merchandise.

"What is it?" said the girl as she turned around.

"Bea?" the girl's eyes almost widened in shock when she saw her best friend, Ara, while Leo and Aldrin were together.

"Hey?" he said with tears on his face. Ara was about to hug her but Bea immediately avoided her.

"Sorry, but you might just smell like fish." He promised his friend, but he just ignored him and hugged him tightly.

"I miss you so much, Bea." The girl whispered to him and tears were falling.

"Hey, how did you know I was here?"

"Is that still being asked? It's because of him." Ara said then she pointed at Aldrin who suddenly looked away from them.

"I'm here too, Bea." Suddenly, Leo's groin was still waving at him.

"Leo? hey, how are you!" he greeted the young man with a smile and was about to hug him but Aldrin quickly stopped him.

The four of them almost laughed and looked at each other.

"By the way, it's Perla." He introduced himself to the girl and they turned to Perla at the same time.

"Hi, Perla. Your name sounds familiar." Leo joked while reaching out one of his hands to shake his hand.

"Oh, don't! my hands are dirty right now. Maybe next time." He said but Leo still shook hands with the girl and so did Ara and Aldrin.

"Bea, these friends of yours are very nice. I think I want to join your group." Perla said more and the four laughed.

"I like her." Leo was smiling and pointing at him.

"Omg! Really? We have the same feelings for each other." Perla said while parting her hair behind her ear. The young man burst out laughing and he even made out with the girl.

"By the way, are we just going to talk here all day? I mean, maybe you want to go shopping with us?" Ara said to her friend Bea.

"But-" he turned to Perla for a moment.

"Oh my, Bea! I'm fine. Go ahead, hang out with your friends and it looks like you haven't seen each other in a long time." He told her, but Bea just scratched her head and looked at him again.

"That's not what I meant. I was wondering how my goods are." He said that Perla looked at him at the same time, but she was just joking.

"Don't worry, I'll just buy it all so it doesn't go to waste." Aldrin suddenly said that he presented to steal his goods.

"Oh, it's really Papa p! very gallant." Perla groined at them.

"Then we'll just split up." Leo said to Aldrin and they both took out their wallets.

Ara and Bea looked at each other in shock and turned back to the two.

"Hep, hep, hep! do you think you'll get me to buy it all at once, just so I can come with you?" he said to the two men with raised eyebrows and they slowly put their wallets back in their pockets. Aldrin swallowed deeply, while Leo just bowed his head.

"I'll just give you 2,500." Suddenly the girl said that Ara and Perla smirked.

"That's my girl." Perla whispered as she looked at Bea with a smile.

"You surprised me there, huh? I really thought you were mad at Aldrin and me, didn't you bro?" Leo said as he turned to Aldrin who was still nervous and had a serious face.

"Bro, are you okay? Don't worry, Bea was just joking!" he said, they just laughed at the same time.

*******

Bea, Aldrin, Ara and Leo are CURRENTLY riding inside the van. While the two women were sitting in the back and Leo and Aldrin, who were driving the car, were side by side in the front.

"Hey, are you okay?" Bea asked when she noticed that he didn't seem to be in a good condition.

"I'm fine." It was a weak response to him.

"Wait, do you want to drink some water first?" he said while handing her a bottle of water, but Ara just hit the bottle and quickly avoided him.

Bea seemed shocked by what he did and she couldn't believe her friend's new behavior. So he just picked up the bottle and returned it to where he got it from.

"I'm sorry, Bea. I'm just not feeling well right now." Ara said while covering her mouth.

"Then take some rest." He said.

"It's not going to get through with just rest."

"Do you have a fever?" Bea approached him at the same time and touched his forehead. But Ara suddenly pushed him away and opened the window in disgust.

"Wow!" Leo called him with concern.

Bea gently patted her back and after a few moments Ara sat down again.

"Should we go to the nearby hospital first? Ara doesn't seem to be doing well." Bea said to the two men.

"No, I'm fine." Ara said weakly.

"We'll only be there for a while. It's better that we can be sure." He promised his friend.

"No need." Leo said suddenly.

"But bro, it looks like he's not doing well." Aldrin said. And for a moment he glanced at the one next to him.

"She's pregnant." He said that Bea and Adrin were surprised and he stopped the car for a moment.

"Seriously? congratulations bro!" Aldrin was happily aware of the two, while Bea looked back and forth at Leo and Ara, with a look of surprise on her face.

"Just a minute, just a minute! you (he points to Leo) and Ara are-" he didn't continue what he was saying and just stared at his friend in the eyes.

"Actually, the truth of that is that we came here to invite you to our upcoming wedding and to let you both know that Ara is pregnant." Leo explained to them and Bea seemed to be clear from what he heard.

"Then it's really the two of you who ended up together?" Bea said smiling to the couple. But Ara just bowed her head and seemed suddenly emotional.

"There's something else you should know." He said with tears in his eyes.

"Wow." Leo called his fiancé but he didn't even look at him.

"I am indeed pregn

ant. But.. but Leo is not the father." Her voice was shaking and her tears were falling one after the other.

"What?!" Aldrin said in shock as he turned to his friend.

"Wow!" Bea also couldn't believe what she found out, so she just called his name out loud.

CURRENTLY, Bea and Ara are sitting at the dining table, while Aldrin and Leo are ordering something to eat.

While they were waiting for the two to return, Ara talked about what happened in her life, as well as her sudden delivery.

"What? Robin is the-" Bea's words almost got louder but she was immediately covered by her friend's mouth.

"What are you, it's embarrassing!" he whispered to the girl and looked around them.

"Are you serious? Nothing is going on between you and Leo yet?" he just whispered to Ara and she just nodded her head.

"So, does Leo know who his father is that you're bringing?" he was curious about his friend again.

"Yes, I told him everything. It's like my feelings have eased." He said he just drank water.

"So, you mean. Even if he found out the whole truth, he's still willing to marry you?"

"When something happened between me and Robin, I was just content with my decision. I thought it would be fine if I broke up with him and left him. But when he found out the whole truth, that's when I felt scared."

"Fear of which? fear of losing him in your life or fear that you might just hurt him? Ara, do you still think this is the right decision you made? I know and you also know within yourself what you really want , am I wrong?"

"What am I going to do? I'm here, I'm here."

"Ara, it's not too late. You can still back out. And if Leo really loves you, he should be willing to tolerate it for you. If the exchange is your own freedom and happiness, isn't it?"

"But, Bea. I don't want to hurt Leo. I love him too-"

"But because of that love of yours, you keep making him depend on you and hurt him. Alright, let's say you love him. What about Robin? What is he to you?" after he said that, Ara bowed for a moment and there were tears in her eyes.

"Ara, if you're really worried about him. Let him go. Let him find someone else who will value and love him as much as he does for you."

"But, Bea-"

"You're only going to get hurt Ara. It's just going to hurt him too. And for sure, even if you don't see it face to face, Robin feels the same way right now." He said. Ara suddenly raised her head and looked at her friend.

"Do you think he loves me too?"

"Then why don't you ask him?" Bea pointed behind her and Ara turned and was surprised to see Stephen and Robin walking towards them.

He quickly turned around and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"How did they know we were here? Did you invite them both to your wedding?" Bea asked him while crossing her arms.

"Huh? no-no." It quickly responded to him.

"Bea? hey, long time no see!" Robin greeted him. Bea lazily clung to the young man's hand and looked at Stephen next to him.

"By the way, what are you doing here?" he asked as he shifted his gaze to Robin.

"To eat?" this philosophical response to him. But the girl just looked at him and drank water.

"Is it you? what are you doing here now? and are you just the two of you together?" he was curious about the two girls and avoided looking at Ara.

"By the way, do you still remember her?" Bea suddenly pointed at her friend Ara.

Robin was quiet for a moment and looked at the girl just beside him.

"Have you forgotten? this is Ara, my best friend." He said more but he just grinned at him and turned to his companion.

"Yes, I remember her. What about her? Do you still remember who she is?" he said while gently pushing Stephen, closer to the girl.

Ara suddenly turned to what he was talking about and her eyes widened in shock when she saw Stephen, who was now standing in front of the two of them.

Bea seemed to be silent and just stared into the gentleman's eyes. Stephen was looking at him the same way, but he immediately looked away and turned away.

"Is it him," Stephen was about to walk out but Bea suddenly spoke.

"Does he, does he still care about me?" he said with tears in his eyes. But the gentleman just ignored him and stepped forward again but he was also stunned.

"It's me.. it's me, I can hardly forget him." He said more and at the same time his tears started to fall.

"What's happening here?" Aldrin happened to arrive with a tray and food, while Leo had drinks.

He and Stephen met each other's eyes but he just passed him and sat next to Bea. Meanwhile, Robin followed Leo who was sitting next to Ara and was being handed pineapple juice.

"What are you two doing here?" Aldrin asked, looking back and forth between the two gentlemen.

"Don't worry, because we had no idea you were here." Robin replied to him as he focused his attention on Ara, trying to avoid her eyes.

"Babe!" the woman walking from behind them suddenly called out to him. Robin quickly turned around and approached her with a kiss on the lips.

Ara saw that but she immediately avoided him and just sipped on her pineapple juice.

Robin put his arm around her shoulder and she approached Bea's table again.

"By the way, babe. Do you still remember him?" he said pointing at Aldrin. The girl just shook her head and looked at him again.

"No. I can't. Who is he, by the way?" it asked with a surprised look on its face.

"That kid you used to make cry all the time." He said with a smile as he covered his mouth.

"Omg! is that Al?" he pointed at the young man in surprise and he turned to Robin again. The gentleman just nodded and let him approach Aldrin.

The young man seemed to be still wondering who the woman was with him, who suddenly hugged him from behind.

"Hey, Aldrin! don't you recognize who he is?" Robin asked him and he turned to the woman he was talking about for a moment when he suddenly remembered who she was.

"Wait, Aunt Abby?" he said in surprise and she just nodded at him. The young man stood up quickly and hugged him tightly.

Abby, who stood as a second mother to Aldrin. Although he didn't feel the nurturing of his real mother, Abby made him feel the love that cannot be measured by the leap of blood.

However, he also has to move on with his own life and dreams. That's why she was separated from Aldrin for a long time, since he married her husband, who is now her ex-husband.

"How are you, aunt?" he said happily to the girl while holding both of her hands.

"Here, it's still beautiful." This was a joking response to him.

"Sit down first. Do you want something to eat?" he said and she sat next to him.

"By the way, I have some friends. Is it really okay with you if we have a party?" he asked and Aldrin momentarily turned to the two gentlemen standing.

"Sure! They say, the more, the merrier, don't they?" said Leo which surprised Ara, Bea and Aldrin. That's why they didn't do anything but just let him join them at the same table.

"By the way Aldrin, you might want to introduce me to your friends." Abby said as she looked around at the two girls in front of her now.

"That's Bea, Ara and Leo." When he introduced himself to his friends, he and Abby just smiled.

"So, you're Bea?" he suddenly pointed at the girl who made them all turn.

"Yes." He responded weakly.

"And you are.. Are you right?" at the same time he shifted his attention to Ara.

"Yes." He said and Abby suddenly put one of her hands in front of the girl, to shake hands with her.

Ara briefly looked at the lady and at her smooth hand that was waiting for him. He slowly raised his hand and held Abby's hand.

"It's really nice to meet you, Ms. Ara, I hope I can meet you soon and I hope to get to know you better. If you have free time, maybe you want to talk with me or maybe we can go shopping together sometime ." He smiled at the girl and looked directly into her eyes.