PROMISES SHOULD NEVER BE BROKEN: JOY GONE! 4

"So this afternoon, we'll go shopping?" Rachel asked Christine once more.

Christine nodded, "Yup, shopping and girl day will be back on Fridays."

"Cool." Denise agreed. The three friends were at their favorite café. They just finished class.

"When will your car be fixed?" Rachel asked Christine again,

Christine smirked, "I never brought it to an auto shop."

"Why not?" Denise asked.

"Because I'd rather ride with David every day," she giggled.

"You little minx," Rachel said and raised her ice tea glass, "To the most mischievous woman of all."

They laughed as Denise and Rachel continued to tease Christine. They were having the most wonderful girl-bonding time when Christine's phone rang. She took it and answered. It was a call from their estate at Garada City: An estimate of four hours drive or more from Chiness.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"You have to come here quickly…"

There was more to that but tears came falling right from her eyes as soon as she heard the terrible news.

"What happened?" Denise asked her as she hung up the phone.

"My sister…"

"What happened?" Rachel asked once again.

With trembling hands, she dialed a number. It was a Car For Rent Company. But unfortunately and as unbelievable as it was, there were no cars available at her current budget. Her mind went blank and she did not know what to do.

"Tell us, what's wrong," Denise told her.

"I have to go to Garada," she said as she wiped her tears.

"The subway? Taxi? Bus?"

She nodded. Her friends tried their best to help her find transportation. However, fate played a dirty trick. Taxis don't want to take her there because it will be a waste of gas according to the drivers. They were willing for a huge price but at the moment, Christine and her friends do not have that amount even if they all pitch in.

The subway does not have a route that ends at Garada. And the only bus left will leave at 8 o'clock in the evening and it was an ordinary one. It was not safe for her. Still, because of her emergency, she bought a ticket and was hopeful that she would get there.

Yet, she wanted to go sooner. She sobbed. She never felt so helpless. She could have brought her car to get it fixed. But, at her state, she won't be able to drive safely and her friends do not drive. She could always call their driver but then her parents will think that she needed them. And she already declared to them that she didn't need them. Her pride would be at stake.

She sat down on the nearby bench and put her head in her hand and sobbed quietly. Her friends watched as the very confident and independent young woman looked very helpless. They looked at each other. They had to do something. Rachel sat down beside her as Denise squatted on the ground across from their friend.

"Should we tell David?" Rachel asked.

"No." Christine immediately answered.

"Why not?" Rachel asked again.

"He has something important to do today," Christine replied.

"But it's too dangerous for you to travel that long and at that time," Denise reasoned out. "If only we do not have important exams, we'll come with you."

Christine glared at them. "If you tell him, I promise I will be so angry," she said and sobbed again. "I'll be alright."

Denise sat down and pulled Christine to lean on her. She looked at Rachel and gave her a signal.

Rachel stood up. "I'll buy us food, that's the least I could do," she said and walked away. She has to look for David.

*****

David was so excited to drive back home. It had been five months and the truth is he really misses Joe so much. He was walking to his car in a happy mood when someone called out his name.

"DAVID JI!!!" He turned around. It was Rachel, one of Christine's friends. She ran to him. When she stopped, she was breathing coarsely, a sign that she had been running a distance.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Christine…" she answered and paused to catch her breath.

David began to worry, "What happened to her?"

"Her little sister who has leukemia was rushed to the hospital today. You have to know that Tara is the only one that still connects Christine to her family. She loves her sister so much."

David was growing impatient. His eyebrows met. "Tell me the problem," he almost raised his voice.

"Garada is a four hour drive. Christine's car broke down. We cannot afford a taxi. No car at the rental shop that matches our budget. Subway has no route for Garada. The only transportation is an ordinary bus that will leave at 8 tonight. What if she does not make it to Tara? And the bus, time, and route is really too dangerous for her to travel alone. You have to help her," Rachel explained as fast she could.

"Why didn't she call me?" David asked.

"She does not want us to tell you. She said you have some important matters to attend to," she reasoned.

David sighed, "Where is she?"

"At the bus terminal."

"Get in the car and fast." He drove away not back to the house where Joe was getting ready for the basketball game but to the terminal where Christine was. 'Forgive me, Joe.'

They arrived at the terminal and the picture of his girlfriend sobbing was new to him. He immediately rushed to her and lifted her head. "Let's go," he told her.

Tears continued to flow down from her eyes, "Why are you here? You are supposed to be with Joe. Go back now. I'll be fine," she said and was gently pushing him away. "Go… Joe will be waiting for you."

David's eyes became teary as well. He hugged Christine, "Everything will be fine. I'll drive you there okay and I'll stay with you."

Christine let go from the hug, "But…"

David smiled at her, "Don't worry about it. Let's go," he said and held her hand. Christine shook her head. But David took her hand and dragged her to his car. He made her sit on the passenger's side and put her seatbelt on. Then, they drove to Garada.