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Five

"I want you to investigate and find out all the transactions my parents used to have. Maybe they had things to hide until they died. Because it's scary like this, I don't know who I'm going to avoid or not. When they were still alive, they never mentioned anything to me or I heard anything. Maybe I won't be able to get out of it because of the fear of them." Elodie said.

"All right, I'll take care of everything," he said.

Elodie nodded and leaned back in the swivel chair. She took the check outside the drawer and wrote the amount of her down payment to him. She gave it to him. He accepted it at once, saying,

"Thank you," as he stood up and left the office.

Donald then entered the office, carrying plastic cellophane, which she believed was her lunch.

"Here's your food for lunch, Miss." He said.

"Thank you,"

Meanwhile,

"How's your courtship with the woman you like, Zander?" his co-teacher asked.

They are in the faculty room right now because it is lunchtime. Zander shook his head at the question of his co-worker.

"I don't know, Duke, I seem to have no hope," he replied, in a low voice.

He is dating Davianna for a long time, but it seems like he hasn't had a chance with her. And he notices that he is not the type she likes to be with.

"Why? You tried so hard to court her and then you couldn't get an answer from her? That only means that she is making you rely on nothing." Duke said.

Zander shook his head.

"I feel like I've lost hope. It's not my habit to wait and force myself on someone who doesn't like me." Zander replied.

"What type of man does she want?" He asked.

"I don't know, Duke,"

"You can pass on being a model of branded clothing, and I don't think you're fit to be a teacher. You can also be a soldier or a policeman. You can even be fit as a boyfriend for rich women, as I see in the tabloids. It's not like you who makes a girl like that look like a fool." Duke said.

Zander smiled bitterly. He feels that Davianna doesn't like him but he continues to court her because he likes her a lot but it seems that his courtship is lopsided.

They stopped talking when Vienna suddenly entered the faculty room, carrying food. She handed it to him.

"That's for you, Zander," she said.

He accepted it.

"Thank you, Vienna."

"Is there nothing for me? Is Zander your only favorite out of all of us here?" Duke asked.

Vienna just laughed and quietly left the faculty ignoring Duke.

"Stop that. You sound like a woman," he says.

After Vienna left Duke confronted her.

"Why are you still looking for someone else? Vienna is here for you," said Duke.

Zander always noticed that Vienna likes him because she always cares for him and has a lot to give him that he doesn't ask for. He is not assuming but he knows the movements of a woman who has feelings for a man.

Zander shook his head.

"We don't have to force ourselves to like someone if our heart beats for someone else." He replied.

Duke shook his head.

"Don't be a martyr to a woman who can't give you a chance. You don't have to be sad just because of a woman. There are many more days, months, and years to know when the right person is for you." Duke said.

"You're right," Zander said.

"Any angle you look at it, I'm right. It's not right for us to chase after someone who has no use. We should be the ones being chased. It's okay to chase if that person deserves to be being chased." Duke said, smiling.

Duke is one of Zander's friends because they are the only two boys among their fellow teachers. And as for the women, Vienna is the only one left unmarried, the others have many children and are old as well.

"You don't have any plans to find a girlfriend, Duke? I don't even notice or even see that you even date a woman."

"It's not something we're looking for. It just comes into our lives voluntarily. Maybe at this point, the one for me hasn't come yet." replied Duke.

"How can you have a woman in your life if you don't take your life seriously," Zander said.

"You don't have to take life seriously all the time, because when you do, you'll die sad. Let's hang out later, Zander. A new bar has been opened here in our area," Duke said.

"Maybe next time. I won't go with you right now. I have a lot to do." Zander replied.

"Just give yourself a break; it's not just working you have to do always," Duke said.

"All right, just call me later," he replied.

It was four in the afternoon when they got out of school. Duke left first because he had to do something at their house. He was about to leave the gate when Vienna called him.

"Are you going home, Zander?" Vienna asked.

"Yes. I still have a lot to do," he replied.

"Let's eat first. My treat." Vienna invited him.

"It's embarrassing if you pay for our food. Maybe next time I pay." Zander replied.

Vienna's shoulders dropped as she walked away from him. Zander noticed that she was upset. He didn't want that a woman paid for their food or it is correct to say that he is not in the mood to go out now. He was walking to the jeepney when he saw someone. Davianna with a man. It appears that they enjoy each other's company. His eyes burned with anger at what he saw. That is why she can't love me because she has a boyfriend. The thickness of her face fooled him. All the effort he made for her was all wasted. He continued walking towards the jeepney and went inside. His heart and mind are in chaos right now. He wanted to confront her and punch the face of the man she was with. But she restrains herself from doing it since he's a teacher. He has a name to prevent. So the Jeepney travels to their place. After half an hour, the jeep stopped because it arrived in their barangay. Zander got out after he paid the driver and was slowly walking towards their house when his sister noticed him.

"Brother, did you buy some food for me?" She asked.

Zander suddenly stared at Melissa. He forgot to buy her food since was preoccupied with what he saw.

"I'm sorry, little sister, I forgot to buy you food," he replied.

"Okay."

Zander knows that Melissa was sad.

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