PEOPLE ARE WORRIED

It's not that Ivan didn't want to stop her but her question stunned him and he didn't know if he should respond or not. Yes, he likes her but that 'like' wasn't for a friend. It was for someone beyond the boundary of friendship. That like turned to love over the years and if he answered that question, what if she'll ask again.

"You like me as a friend, right?"

These words from Kaye made Ivan felt so frustrated. He was never this helpless in the past 30 years of his life. She was so close to him yet so out of reach.

He stood in the same spot for quite a while. He tried calling her but she wasn't answering her phone. He tried again and again but it was the same result - out of coverage area.

Kaye was thankful that her parents weren't home yet when she got home. She ran directly upstairs, to her room and locked it as soon as she got inside.

She turned off her phone and threw it on the bed. 'I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU!' she was screaming internally as she gripped one of her pillows tightly.

That night, both of them were emotionally exhausted but none of them got a wink of sleep.

The next morning, Kaye was horrified seeing her reflection on the mirror. Her hair was entangled, her clothes were crumpled and her eye bags were so dark. She was even more frustrated with the after effect of the whole night with no sleep.

Ivan on the other hand felt dizzy. He was told by the doctor not to strain his eyes so much and no exposure to radiation for no more than 10 hours. But last night, he was staring at his phone waiting for her to pick up his calls and there was none.

Yvonne knocked on his door when he didn't come out of his room for work. It was Tuesday so he stayed at his biological mother's place. There was no answer coming from him so she knocked again, still silence.

She pulled her phone and tried calling Kaye but it was off. "Something must have happened to them. Kaye would never turned off her phone." she decided to call Margaret instead.

"Hello Yve? What's the matter?" Maggie directly asked since Yvonne would never call her if not for serious business.

"Morning Maggie. Sorry for disturbing you. I just want to ask, is Kaye not feeling well?"

"How did you know?" Maggie was nervous when she heard her question. Yes, she's Kaye's mother but Yvonne was her psychologist. She would know something else that she couldn't identify.

"Well, I just guess. Ivan hadn't came out yet since last night. He won't answer me either. Kaye has turned off her phone. Something must be wrong." Yvonne confided her prediction to the other party. It was a good thing Maggie was understanding. She didn't really disappoint Ivan from finding Kaye a better family.

For Ivan, Kaye matters most and Yvonne knew that from the time he brought her home with him 20 years ago.

"I see. She told me she wasn't feeling well. I thought she told you anything. They might have fought last night. Let's just leave them be. They will make up again." Maggie was optimistic in the middle of their conversation. She knew how much her daughter love Ivan and she had been looking forward to the time they would meet again. She knew that if opportunity comes, her daughter would never hesitate to confess her feelings.

Both mothers talked for a while and decided to keep in touch with each other. They would keep and eye to their children as well.

The next few days, the company was taken over by Kaye's father since his daughter was going through a lover's quarrel and he didn't want her to affect the company or the company to affect her.

On the other hand, Alex was busy with all the proposals and projects that needs Ivan's decision and approval. He was tasked to act as the CEO for the meantime since his friend was going through a battle of confessing earlier than planned or not.

"Didn't our boss and his girlfriend make up yet? They were so happy a few days ago." Eva asked Ivan when she sent him a stack of documents and a cup of coffee.

"Not yet. I hope they would make up soon or I will die with all these schedules plotted for the next few days." Alex complained before taking a sip of his coffee.

Eva laughed at him before going out of the room. "Good luck sir Alex!"

Alex slumped on the back of his chair looking at the documents filed on his table. "This would be a long day." He pulled his phone and sent a message to Jestoni. "My boss bullied me again. Let's have a date once they make up. XOXO"

"I'll have a chat with my dear friend." Came Jestoni's reply with a kiss emoji. Alex just smiled before putting his phone back on the table.

Lexi came to visit Kathleen and found out that their one and only brother, Ivan, fought with their soon-to-be sister-in-law.

"When did this happen?" Lexi asked with unbelieving eyes.

"Three days ago I believe." Kathleen responded with a worried face. "Auntie Yve told our mom that he hadn't come out and she's getting more worried. He didn't even eat. All the food that was sent to his doorstep wasn't touched at all."

"This is indeed a serious case. I thought Kaye was busy these days since she didn't answer my calls. It turns out she turned her phone off." Lexi grumbled on her seat.

"I'll call my brother again. I will call him again and again until he gets annoyed and would answer his phone." Kathleen dialed the first person on her contact lists which was her brother.

It rang for a few times before the call was rejected. She dialed his number again but still rejected. She tried it over and over again until she got annoyed almost threw her phone.

"This is really a serious matter." Lexi and Kathleen held an understanding gaze with each other.