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Chapter 4

Good morning Besh! Are you on duty today?

It was a text message sent by Edmalyn, Carla's long-time best friend. It sounds like her friend wants them to meet, and she also knows that it's because Edmalyn has a problem again. Yes, Carla knows Edmalyn all too well.

Nope. I just finished earlier.

Her duty ended at six AM. It's now eight in the morning and she's about to sleep when she received her friend's text message.

Great! Can we meet? At Cusina. 6PM.

'I knew it.' Carla accepted her invitation just so the conversation will end. Anyway, they surely will talk a lot later. 'Let's discuss everything later, Besh,' she thought. For now, she will sleep to get ready for the long conversation that's about to happen tonight.

She arrived five minutes before six at Cusina ni Ikay. It's a native Filipino restaurant set in the middle of a field. Each table is located inside individual bamboo huts which provide privacy to customers. It's something that Carla and Edmalyn like.

And because their rendezvous was set on that place, Carla knows that what they will talk about is something serious. She was not surprised to see Edmalyn already waiting for her.

"Besh!" Edmalyn said upon seeing her. She stood up to greet her.

Carla sat down on the chair opposite Edmalyn. Their table is for six, so the hut that they are in is really spacious for just the two of them.

"How's TGH?" Edmalyn asked.

"It's doing fine. Still a lot of patients."

Edmalyn nodded, and then looked away. Carla looked at her friend, trying to decipher what might have caused her friend to rendezvous with her tonight.

"Let's order."

Edmalyn was smiling at her, but Carla knows it is fake. She can feel that her friend is not well. It's in her eyes. Her smile didn't reach her dark-brown eyes.

Edmalyn ordered a lot of food. Another proof that she's going through something right now. It's not that she's stress eating. She just wants to show Carla that she eats a lot because she's happy with her life right now.

Which is not true.

Carla just kept quiet as Edmalyn continued telling her stories about work, her workmates, her parents and siblings. Like her, Edmalyn also came from a well-to-do family. They might not be as rich as their other classmates in high school, but their families can also be considered well off. Edmalyn's father is the former Vice President for Administration of CPRU, while her mother used to be the HR Director of Melting Pot Hotel.

Right now, Edmalyn is the Head of Procurement of UrbanShop. Truth is, she is a patron of that mall and it's her favorite stress reliever back in high school – to shop at the said mall. So when she finished college, she immediately applied for a job there, aside from The Coffee Club which is her favorite place to hang out back then.

Their order has arrived, they have started eating and Edmalyn has told a lot of stories already, but she still does not reveal the real reason why they met tonight. Carla has also shared some stories about her work and life in general, but she did not bother asking her. She knows it won't take long till her best friend divulge what's bothering her.

And she was right. They were halfway through the dinner when Edmalyn started sharing.

"Red has a girlfriend."

'So… that was it.'

"It's been a month already. She's from Pampanga. They met in Bohol when he took a vacation… How fascinating, right?"

Edmalyn is not fascinated at all. Carla saw that her eyes are watery. The former just focused on her food.

"This Kare-Kare is really the best! Cusina really does it all the time, right? Well, your mom's Kare-Kare is still better but this is also a contender."

'Oh no, you're not diverting the conversation to food.' Carla knows that they have to talk about it right now because if she will let it pass, the issue will just be pushed aside, and her friend won't be able to move on.

"How did you know about the girlfriend?"

Edmalyn stuffed more food on her mouth, obviously trying to avoid answering her question. But Carla didn't give up. She waited for her to answer, and she knows Edmalyn is aware that she won't just let it pass like that. She would really squeeze the information out of her until Edmalyn gives up.

"I saw his Facebook post," Edmalyn answered after she finished chewing. She can't continue eating because of unhappiness.

"He said she's his girlfriend?"

"He said it's their monthsary." Edmalyn looked at her. "Is it possible that she's just his friend?"

It was an irony, especially because Edmalyn's eyes are glistening with tears already. Carla felt bad for her friend.

"Just let it be, Besh." What can she even tell her?

"Can you believe it? He just went to Bohol three months ago for a vacation, then he met this girl and now, she's his girlfriend. We work in the same company for three years now. We see each other every day. Why didn't he fall in love with me like that?"

Carla doesn't know the answer. Her expertise as a doctor does not include human emotions.

Edmalyn stopped eating completely. Carla also lost her appetite. It's a pity because they only consumed half of what they ordered. Well, Edmalyn ordered a lot, so maybe they already ate enough?

"It's always like that. I fall for someone who will not like me back. First is Ace, then Benj. And then, now, it's Red. Besh, am I ugly?"

Carla understood that reference. "You're not Liza Soberano, Besh."

Edmalyn scowled.

"But you're not ugly. You are beautiful, and I'm not saying that because I'm your best friend. I'm saying that because that's the truth."

"Then why can't they like me back?" Edmalyn's voice cracked.

Honestly, Carla doesn't know the answer. But she knows she has to say something, and she knows something that might answer Edmalyn's question.

"Maybe because they are not the ones meant for you."

"Then, who is the one for me? Where is he? Why is he not here yet? What's taking my Mr. Right so long?"

Carla was not able to answer that question. She can't think of another cliché. She also doesn't have a lot of experience because she stopped doing that thing when her heart was broken by her first love.

It's a good thing she became a doctor. At least, she has diversion, and it's a good one.

Edmalyn wiped the tears on her eyes before they could fall down her face. "Let's go somewhere else, Besh."

Carla knows what Edmalyn wants. "Sam's Tavern?"

"You know I can't go back there."

The last time that they were there, it was that time when Edmalyn found out that Benj is engaged to be married. She felt so bad that time because she thought she finally has a chance on him because Benj and his girlfriend is about to break up. Their relationship was on the rocks that time, but instead of giving up, Benj and his girlfriend was able to turn the tables around. They decided to get married, and Edmalyn was so hurt she drank too much. And because she is so drunk, she threw up on the bar counter of Sam's Tavern.

It was the most embarrassing moment for Edmalyn, and she vowed to never set foot on that bar again.

"Where else can we go, then?" Carla asked.

Edmalyn looked at her. "I know."

Carla was able to guess what Edmalyn is thinking. "And you know I can't go there."

"Come on, Besh! We're not even sure that Joshua is there."

"And we're also not sure he's not there."

"Okay, you're right… You have a point. But if he's there, then what's the problem with that? Don't tell me you're still affected by him?"

"Of course not!" Carla is shocked at what Edmalyn said. "Why would I care about him?"

Edmalyn smirked. "I don't know. Why don't you want to see him?"

"You know why."

"Besh, Joshua might have been obsessed with you, but that was in high school. He's very happy with Caitlyn Soriano right now. He won't bother chasing you again."

Edmalyn has a point. Why would she worry so much about Joshua Socorro? It's been a long time since she last saw him – personally, at least. Maybe he's changed from the old Joshua who used to chase after her back in high school?

"Fine! Let's go there!"

After paying the bill, they proceeded to Pure Act Café. Carla is still quite hesitant to go there, but she just let her friend take charge. Maybe because Edmalyn feels bad right now, that is why she feels she needs to sympathize with her for the meantime and spoil her a little.

They went straight to the bar counter, where they met their former classmate James de Vera.

"Wow! What a surprise!" he greeted the two. "Welcome to Pure Act Café!"

"Thank you," Edmalyn greeted back. She smiled at him. "Your place is nice."

"I'm glad you like it," James said. She then looked at Carla. "Long time no see."

Carla smiled. "I didn't know you're a bartender now."

"Sometimes," James said. "Just my hobby. To release stress."

"So, Mr. Bartender, what could you suggest for us?" Edmalyn asked James.

"What do you prefer?" James asked.

"I want something different. Something strong. Something that will knock me out," Edmalyn answered.

Carla tried so hard not to grimace. Her friend sounded so desperate.

"Wow! It seems like you want to go all out tonight, huh?" James said.

"Why not?" Edmalyn said. "So, what can you suggest?"

"How about a Martini? How about a 6 to 1 ratio? That is about 40% alcohol content."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but that sounds great!"

Not for Carla. She's preparing herself mentally for the upcoming trouble.

James quickly made the said cocktail drink. Edmalyn immediately took a sip of her Martini once it was served.

"Ooh! This is good!" she said after.

"I'm glad you liked it," said James. He looked at Carla. "How about you?"

"I'm not drinking," Carla refused. "Someone needs to be sober so that we both could go home later."

"Just let her, James," Edmalyn said. "She's not the drinking type."

'You're not the drinking type either,' Carla thought. Edmalyn drinks only when she has a problem, and even so, she only drinks beer. Carla is very sure Edmalyn is not even familiar with what she's drinking right now. More reason for her to stay sober beside her.

"How about something that does not contain alcohol?" James asked Carla. "Come on, it's on the house."

"Wow! Really?" Edmalyn asked.

"Yup. You only visit here once in a while."

"Ask her about it," Edmalyn said as she looks at Carla.

Who almost rolled her eyes on them. Edmalyn just had one sip of her Martini but she seems like she's drunk already.

"Joshua does not come here often," said James. "Just when he's not doing a movie or a teleserye, which is quite rare nowadays. That one has become quite famous."

Carla is not surprised that James knows the reason why she doesn't go there. He had been friends with Joshua since first year high school so he knows his friend's antics.

"Though, he's here tonight," James said.

That suddenly alarmed Carla. If she hadn't restrained herself, she might have asked Edmalyn to leave.

"I just thought maybe, you should know," James added.

Carla said nothing, especially because Mark and Jeralhd arrived. The two men are happy to see Edmalyn and Carla.

"This is amazing!" Edmalyn said. "We haven't seen each other in a long time!"

Carla is pleased that her best friend is having fun and kind of forgetting about her broken heart. And besides, Edmalyn has a point. She is also happy to see her former classmates.

"You should try going here often," Mark said. "Promise, we'll give you discounts."

"You heard that, Besh? He promised discounts," Edmalyn said as she looked at Carla.

"Well, I'm kind of busy," Carla just said.

"Oh, yeah! You're a doctor at TGH, right?" asked Jeralhd.

Carla nodded. "My shift is twenty-four hours or more per day, so I really don't have time for that."

"It's really hard to be a doctor," Mark commented.

"Mark doesn't do much in life, you know," James joked.

"That is why he has a lot of time to date women," Jeralhd added.

"So, it's all about me again, huh?" Mark said.

"We're just telling the truth," James said.

"Wait, where's Joshua?"

Everyone was silenced by Mark's question. That's when he realized what his question meant. He looked at Carla.

"I mean… we have a drinking session tonight. That's the reason why me and Jeralhd went here," Mark explained.

"It's okay," said Carla, though deep inside, she knows it's not. Her heart pounded upon hearing Joshua's name.

"Right!" Jeralhd seconded. "How long has it been? Ten years? Eleven?"

"Twelve years," James said. "Actually, we're thinking of having a reunion."

"That's good," Edmalyn said as she looked back at Carla. "So that we could meet everyone again."

Carla nodded. "Yeah. That's… nice."

"Hey! Don't tell me you're starting already!"

Carla was stunned when she heard that voice. It came from someone behind her, and she can sense that he is moving closer to her. Her heartbeat suddenly doubled.

The others looked at the person who just arrived. Then suddenly, everything became awkward, especially when the guy got closer to them, especially to Carla.

Joshua frowned as he felt something strange with his friends. Then he saw Edmalyn.

"Hey!" he said, then realizing what seeing Edmalyn meant. He looked at the woman who is sitting in a bar stool in front of him. He has a good guess who that woman might be.

And he was right. The woman turned to face him, and Joshua knows that Carla was as shocked as he was as they both laid their eyes on each other.


Notes:

1.Cusina ni Ikay – Cusina is a variation of kusina, a Filipino word that means kitchen. Ikay is a Filipino name. So Cusina ni Ikay means Ikay's Kitchen in Filipino.

2.Pampanga and Bohol are two provinces located in the Philippines.

3.Kare-kare is a Filipino dish made from pork, beef or even seafoods, which features a thick savory peanut sauce and some vegetables.

4.Edmalyn's statement 'Besh, am I ugly?" was referred from the movie My Ex and Whys starring Liza Soberano.

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