"Hey, wanna grab dinner?" He asked, my brows furrowed before looking around then looking back at him. 

"Ahm... why?" I asked, he look at bit taken a back with my question but few seconds later he giggled. 

"Ahm... wala lang, I heard your parents are out of the country, maybe you feel alone in your house?" He unsurely said, I rolled my eyes before a sigh escaped my lips. 

"There are maids, my cousin is there, my titas are there, I am not alone at the house, Sam." I replied with a monotone, he once again chuckled which made me roll my eyes. Ugh, this guy. 

"Look, I know you don't agree with the marriage--"

"Hindi talaga!" I scoffed, he paused, looking at me, amusement written on his face. 

"Yes you don't, but can we at least be friends? When we were kids, when your family would visit Pondz, we used to play by the pool. As we grew older, madalang na tayong magkita." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice. Well it is true, when we were kids, since he's the one of first people I know and got close with, I consider him as my friend. But that was before, when we were kids. 

"I don't like making friends anymore." I replied still using the monotone voice.

He smiled at me that looks genuine which made me more confused, why did he smiled? There's no reason for him to smile. Nothing on what I said he should smile about.  

"Please? Friends? Let's try to be friends so that... in the future once we're living together, we don't dislike each other so much." He said and my jaw dropped. 

Ang dami niyang sinasabi! I just want to go home!

"You know what Sam, hindi nga sure if aabot ako ng college. Malay mo mamatay ako before mag college." I said with an irritated tone. Please, he's talking too much! 

His brows furrowed, "Lory that's not a good joke--"

"I'm not joking, hindi kita pinapatawa. I'm telling you the truth." I said, konti nalang talaga I'll walk out of his face. 

He sighed and look down for few seconds before looking back at me, "Please? Let's have dinner. Umuwi talaga ako to see you and check on you. Please, Please Lory, let's try to be friends again." He pleaded, I shut my eyes tight before pinching the bridge of my nose. 

"Fine, saan ba?" I asked before crossing my arms in front my chest. 

A smile grew on his face, "Alfresco, I'll pick you up by 7PM at your house, is that okay?" He asked and I nod. 

"Fine, is that all?" I asked raising a brow. 

He squinted his eyes a bit, "Why are you walking home? Bakit hindi ka nagpapasundo? Come, ihahatid na kita." he offered but I shake my head.

"No thanks, it has been my habit to walk home these past weeks, so let me be and let me enjoy my alone time." I said, still hint of annoyance in my voice. 

He chuckle before nodding, "Okay, okay, I understand, I'll see you later then. Take care on you way home." he said and I just gave him a nod before he close the window of his car and drive away while I start walking again. 

I arrived at house 15 minutes after. I even pass by Ali's house and saw that their van is not there, no one is probably home. The maids greeted me and my tita offered me a cake she bought. I just ask the maids to bring a slice to my room as I didn't stayed that long downstairs. When I arrived at my room, I lay down on my bed until I was starting to fall asleep. 

But when a maid knocked on my door so I had no choice to get up and open the door. She gave me a plate with the slice of cake. I close the door as she leaves, I place down the plate on my table before I went back to bed. I woke up around 6:30PM, I am mentally scolding myself as I only have 30 minutes to get ready. The cake that I placed on my table got transferred to my fridge since I have no time to eat it anymore. I went to my shower, took the quickest shower I can do before changing into pink, Chanel dress and Chanel heels. I put my try hair on a low ponytail, leaving some strands near my face. I wasn't done getting ready when my tita called me by the intercom telling me that Sam is outside. I told her to tell him to wait for few minutes. 

I put a thin layer of BB cream on my face, followed by powder, I also fixed my eyebrows a bit, applied mascara, blush and baby pink lipstick. For my bag, I just got my Chanel handbag and throw my phone, wallet and hankerchief inside 

"I'm here!" I shouted as I go down the stairs. 

"Ayan, naghihintay na siya sa labas. Kakain daw kayo?" Tita Theresa asked and I nod. 

"Magpapahatid nalang ako sa kaniya, don't worry." I said as I exit the house. I stopped on my step as I'm a bit surprised to see him leaning on his car. 

My brows furrowed and look around, "Ahm... you're gonna drive?" I asked as I slowly walk towards him. 

He smiled at me and nod, "Yes, don't worry, I'm a good driver and I have a permit to drive. I also drive for myself in Manila." he said as he fix his posture as I stopped in front of him. 

"Ahm... let's go?" I asked, he smiled again and nod. 

He open the passenger seat for me, I entered his car and as I'm comfortable already, he closed the door. He went to the driver's side and entered the car as well. I watch him as he starts the engine and press buttons, he took fix the position of the car first and faced the direction  of the gate before he drive off and exit the gates. 

None of us two are a making a noise inside the car. The only source of noise is the radio he turned on a while ago. I'm not making any conversation with him unless he's the one who starts it. I don't even have anything to say to him. He's the one who pleaded to have dinner with him. He should provide the topic and such things. 

Few minutes later we arrived at the restaurant, he parked his car first before he turned off the engine. He's the first one to leave the car and went on my side to open the car door and reach for my hand to help me. 

"That's nice of you." I said as I got out of the car, he look at me and smiled before closing the door. He let go of my hand and we proceed inside the restaurant. A waitress immediately guided us to a table and I can tell he really made a reservation for this.

It's our restaurant, well tito Thiago's restaurant, maybe the staffs recognized me that's why they're treating us like VIPs. 

"Let's order?" He asked as a waitress hand us a menu. I nod and look through the menu. This restaurant have been here for few years but I rarely eat here. I think the times I've been here is when it was newly opened, Ali's birthday in 8th grade and... some other occasions that I forgot. 

"One Buttered Steak for me please, medium rare, the one with rice, and also a mango shake." I ordered and the waitress nods before writing it down. 

"How about you sir?" She asked Sam, 

"I'll have... Honey Glazed Ribs with rice and a Coffee Shake." He said and the waitress nods. 

"Is that all, ma'am, sir?" She asked, I look at the menu once again to see if there's something I'm interested.

"Ahm... I'll have the premium burger also." I said and she nods, 

"Make that two." I look at Sam who's looking at waitress. 

"That's all, ma'am, sir?" She asked once again and I nod. She soon leaves and it's just me and Sam again. 

"Gaya-gaya ng order." I mumbled that something he heard. 

I heard him chuckle, "I'm not quiet familiar with the menu, I'm guessing that's something delicious cause you ordered it. That's why I ordered it as well." He said and I rolled  my eyes before shaking my head. 

I heard him cleared his throat, "While we're waiting for our orders, let's talk about something." He said, fixing his coat, he's wearing a blue coat with black shirt inside, paired with a blue pants and black shoes. 

I raised my left brow, "You're the one who pleaded to accept your offer, you should be the one initiating the conversations." I replied before crossing my arms and putting in front of my chest. 

He chuckled before letting out a deep breath, "Okay, as you say so, so what's your plan in the future?" He asked, I look at the direction of the plaza. 

"Die," I answered, 

"Aside from that? When you find your reason to live, what's your plan?" He asked once again, I look at him with no expression written on my face. 

"Well... I want to take Psychology." I unsurely said and he slowly nods. I have no thoughts in my mind and no passion on anything that's why I don't know what I should pursue in life.

"Payag sila tito and tita?" He asked and that's what made me scoff. 

"Of course... not, specially mom. They probably want me to take Business Management, I don't even like businesses. I don't want to get involved, but look at us now, arranged to marry each other because of their business." I said in an annoyed tone that made him chuckle. 

"I relate to that, except I somehow accept my fate that I can never ran away from business." He said that made me smile a bit. 

"We're just tools of our parents." I said and he hum, "Indeed, I totally agree with that." He said and I nod. 

"So you'll be taking college in Ateneo?" He asked and I bitterly chuckled before shaking my head. 

"That's what my mom said, I want to take my college in De La Salle." I replied and he slowly nod. 

"Then why did your mom said you want to study at Ateneo?" he asked and I shrug. 

"I don't know maybe because she knows you want to study there." I replied before leaning on the chair rest. Our heads snapped by the left side when the speakers started playing a romantic song which made the both of us chuckled. 

"They think we're dating." I said and he nods, "Yes, they might think it that way." He replied, 

"Maybe your mom also knows I'm studying at Ateneo Junior High." he said, continuing the previous topic. 

I shrug, "Maybe, I don't know, me and my mom don't speak to each other that much." I said and he slowly nod. 

"I can tell you two aren't cool with each other." he said and I nod. 

"Glad you noticed," I shortly replied. 

"May I know why?" He hesitantly said, a small smile crept on my lips before chuckling. 

"Too early for me to share my life with you, we're in getting to know more each other, Mr. Ponce." I said and he squinted his eyes. 

"Getting to know more about each other?" He confusedly ask which made me chuckle. 

"Yes, just like people who are dating, if I find my reason to live and continue life and we end up marrying each other, considering what you said, we should at least be close to each other." I said and his lips formed a small 'o' before nodding. 

"Yes, for the companies." he said and I nod. 

"Right, I almost forgot our families own their own companies. Wonder why we stay at this small town." I said and he nods. 

"Right, why aren't you studying in the city, why do they build their businesses here and not in the city?" He said and I chuckled before shaking my head. 

"I don't know, and hey, tito Thiago has e businesses in cities. Lucena, San Pablo, Los Baños, Batangas and... I don't know na." I corrected him that made him chuckle. 

"Oh, right right, looks like you know some of their business." He said with a teasing smile on his face and I rolled my eyes. 

"Shut up." I said, we both fix ourselves when the foods came. The waitress place down the foods on the table. There are two waitress, both holding trays where the foods and drinks are. 

"Thank you," Sam said as they finished serving all the foods. 

"They served everything at once." He said, a hint of amusement on his voice. 

A scoffed, "Scared that I'll have any complain and tell tito Thiago." I said while looking down on my food. I sliced my steak and saw that it is medium rare just like how I want it. 

I heard him chuckle that's why when I took my first bite I look at him who's eating. 

"You don't like people that much 'no?" He asked and I nod. 

"Yes, that's why I asked you if gugustuhin mo ba talaga na mapangasawa ako. Aawayin kita araw-araw, tatarayan at hindi papansinin. Only my friends can handle my attitude, kaya hindi pa huli para mag back-out." I replied, he smiled before chuckling and shaking his head. 

"You hate me that much don't you?" He ask and my brows furrowed. 

I shake my head, "Hate is a very strong word, maybe... dislike." I said before taking another bite of my steak. 

"Will the day you'll finally like me come?" He asked and I lift my head up before squinting my eyes, looking at him. 

"Ahm... I don't know, what do you mean like? As a human or in a romantic way?" I asked and he shrugged. 

"Just... any type of like." He replied and I sigh. 

''If as a human being, sure, of course the day we can be close friends may come, but romantically? I am not quiet sure." I replied and he nods, a small smile crept on his lips. 

"I already sensed that, do you like someone right now?" He asked and my brows furrowed. 

"None, none at the moment." I answered and he nods. 

"I think I want to work on that, I want to be someone you like, romantically." He said before giving me a smile and taking a bite of his food. 

My jaw dropped a bit before shaking my head, "Do whatever you want to do." I said and I heard him chuckled. 

We just continue eating in silence. There's some other customers coming to eat as well. The romantic music continue and I would shake my head when some songs play. It's too sweet for a person like me. The kind of love songs I like are break-up songs or songs that was written when the singers are broken. But a love song about falling in love, yuck. 

"Finished?" He asked as I took a sip of my water, I look at my empty plates, both are finished, steak and burgers. 

"Hindi ba obvious?" I sarcastically ask, there's no more foods on my plate, of course I'm done. 

He chuckled and shake his head before calling the waiter for the bill. When the waiter gave him the bill, he just check it before clipping a one thousand peso bill. 

"Keep the change." He said before standing up. The waiter thanked him and I stand up as well, picking up my bag from the chair beside me. 

"Let's get you home? Or you have something else in mind?" He asked and I shake my head. 

"House." I said and he just nods, he helped me on the way out since the way goes down and I might trip since I'm wearing heels. 

"You can let go of my hands now." I told him as we're now walking towards his car. 

"Oh... sorry." He said before letting go. He press the remote of his car, his car made a sound and he opened the door for me just like awhile ago. 

"It's 9PM na pala." He said while driving. 

I look at the time in his car and nods, "Yes, why? You're catching something?" I asked and he shake his head. 

"Not really, I  just need to  leave tomorrow early cause I might get stuck sa traffic." he replied and I nod. 

"So you're absent for you classes today?" I asked and he hum. 

"Yep, I just really want to see you." he said before glancing at me quick then looking back on the road. 

"Cringe." I said that made me laugh. 

"Is it? I'm sorry, I just want to make you smile." he said and I rolled my eyes. 

"That's something hard to do Mr. Ponce." I said and he hum. 

"I know, but I'll still try my best." he said before entering the gates of our house. 

"Okay, goodluck on that then." I said before he went out his door, he opened the door for me, again. 

"I don't usually thank you and I hate saying that, but... thank you." I said and he smiled. 

"You're always welcome my future fiance." He said and my eyes widened a bit. 

"Dumbass, you should go now." I said and he chuckled before nodding. 

"Okay, okay, bye, goodnight, sweet dreams." He said before entering back his car. 

I watch him drive off before I enter the house. I went straight to my room to get change into pajamas since the heels and dress are starting to make me uncomfortable. Gladly I'm already at the house. 

After getting ready to rest, I opened the fridge in my room and reach for the Red Velvet cake tita got. I sat on my sofa and started watching TV. 

I'm peacefully watching and enjoying my time when something came up on my head. I pick up my phone go through my social media to search for a name. 

"Rus... tin... Lan... din... Sad... I... L, L, O." I spelled his name on the search bar hoping that I got it right. 

"OH, HAHAHAHAH!!" I burst out laughing when I saw his account and his profile picture. It's his baby picture, he's wearing a glasses that is too big for him and a hardhat, how cute!