CHAPTER 12: LOST AND FOUND
THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE
By Eleventh
CHAPTER 12: LOST AND FOUND
“When you’re lost, it feels so good to be found.” – Ira P.
2017 JOURNAL
THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING
September 2 was a scorching hot Friday afternoon, bad weather to get lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood, and not a good time to wear something black.
Unfortunately for Ira, her black V-neck shirt had become smelly with sweat, her head boiling from the heat of the sun, her feet tired from walking without direction, and very much frustrated with her state.
“RION! WHY ARE YOU NOT ANSWERING!?”
Sometimes, things can get more frustrating when help isn’t available from people you expect to be there when you need them.
Ira dialed again and for the 20th time, Orion finally answered her call.
“Ira! Where the hell are you? It’s been an hour when you said you’re on your way.”
Orion’s rant irritated Ira all the more.
“I’ve been calling you for ages! I am lost, bonehead!”
“What do you mean you’re lost?” Orion sounded frustrated too.
“Is that Ira?” Ares's voice can be heard over the phone talking to his brother.
“Yeah.
“Where is she? She’s late!”
“She said she was lost,” Orion explained.
“What? Didn’t she ride a taxicab?”
“Wait! I’ll talk to her.” The 22-year-old gentleman shifted his attention back to his sister to aid her. “Didn’t you ride a taxicab?”
“I did but the driver said he doesn’t know where Cove Garden Beach Resort is. I asked you for directions and you said I should stop at the gasoline station. This place is…” Ira stopped to take a look and describe the place but it was too overwhelming for her. “I don’t know. It looks like a marketplace. I don’t think I’d find any beach resorts here.”
“O my gosh!” Orion facepalmed his self. “I didn’t tell you to stop at the gasoline station. I said call me if you PASS BY the gasoline station so I can tell you where to go next. Argh! What street are you in right now? We’ll just pick you up!”
“I don’t know!” There is so much frustration in Ira’s voice already.
“Come on, Ira! Look around and check the signs.”
“There are no signs.”
“MY GAWD! When will you ever have a sense of direction? Fine! You said you’re at Shell Station, right? Don’t move!”
Ira checked the place but she wasn’t at Shell Station. The look on her face was more confused than ever.
“You mean Petron Station? Near the Sweepstakes Office?”
“What are you talking about? Shell Station next to the Blue Energy, that’s where you’re supposed to be.”
Ira looked again. “There is no Shell Station here, Rion!”
“What planet are you in, Ira?”
“Rion, Come one!” Suddenly, Ira’s phone died. She gasped and felt more disconcerted than ever, holding her phone like she was about to cry. “NOOO! You can’t die right now! I neeeed you! Awwwe gad! How am I going to leave this place?”
Keeping her phone in the bag, Ira tried to compose herself not to be annihilated by the sea of people. The place was packed with folks lining up at the sweepstakes office, street vendors calling random civilians walking to and fro, and construction workers hitting on her. She wanted to ask for directions, but she was tongue-tied for no definite reason.
[Argh! If I could just kill those pervs! But let’s ignore them for now, Ira! I have to get out of this place! I am an adult! I can do this! I can talk to people!]
But Ira didn’t talk to anyone. Every time she tries, words won’t come out of her mouth. Her mind runs a lot of thoughts and she can’t pick the right ones to say. Instead, she sat on the ground and hid her face between her knees to whine.
Suddenly she felt lost again, the feeling she dreads the most. She thought that becoming an adult would help her recover from the trauma of the past, but there she sat like she was her five-year-old self, hopelessly waiting to be rescued.
[Is there anyone who can find me here? Help! This is too overwhelming!]
“What are you doing? You’re not allowed to poop here!”
“I’m not pooping, you ass…” Ira lifted her hand to take a hit, but before she could even lay it to someone’s face, it was already held by a stronger arm.
Surprised, she whispered. "You?"
[It’s you again!]
Help sometimes comes in the most unexpected form. Ira thought so when she saw the last person she expected to come.
“You’re strong but not fast enough!”
“Skye!” she muttered under her breath and grinned widely. “Skyeeee!!!”
Ira beamed the moment she saw her colleague. For the second time, she was glad to see him.
“You said you hate me but that weird smile on your face tells me the opposite.”
“Oh, I do hate you. I really do. But right now, I need your help. That’s why I’m happy to see you.” Then she grinned widely.
Skye stood up rolling his eyes and leaving Ira behind but Ira hustled to stand up and clasped his hand with hers.
Getting up, she begged, “Please, don’t leave!”
“Why should I help you?” Skye with his cold stares, distantly asked.
“Because that’s what good citizens do?” Ira bit her lower lip hoping that Skye would buy it.
“I’m not a good citizen!”
“Oh cut the crap, Skye! Just help me, please. I’m really lost right now and I don’t know how to get to Cove Garden Beach Resort!”
Skye stared at Ira with a curious face. “Cove Garden? What are you gonna do there?”
Ira didn’t answer Skye. Yet, she took his extra helmet tied at the rear of his motorbike and wore it.
“None of your business! Just take me there and I promise I’ll pay you!”
Then she mounted on his motorbike.
Sighing and shaking his head, Skye was helpless at his tenacious colleague. He turned on the engine and went flying with his motorbike. Ira had to hold so tight at his side because Skye was driving too fast.
“SLOOOOW DOWN, TWERP! I DON’T WANNA DIE!” Ira screamed but Skye wasn’t listening. Instead, he drove even faster, enjoying the fear in Ira’s squeals.
__________________________________________
AT THE COVE GARDEN BEACH RESORT
“You twerp! I will never get a ride with you again.” Throwing the helmet at Skye’s chest, she gave him a furious look and walked away, entering the gate of the resort.
“Tss! You’re welcome!” Skye whispered, shaking his head in dismay as he followed Ira inside.
“IRA!” Ares, feeling relieved, greeted Ira who was walking towards the hall in a bad mood. “Are you okay? We were so worried about you.”
“I’m fine!” but her face was scowling as she grabs a chair to sit.
“Here, have some water!” Ares’ fiancé sat next to her and offered a glass of water.
“Thanks, Seah!”
“Good thing Eros found you!” Seah remarked.
Ira gulped the water while gently shaking her head. “Eros? No, he didn’t find me.”
“I’m the one who found her!” Skye declared, walking slowly inside the hall with a poker face.
“What the! What are you doing here?” Ira scowled.
“You did? Thank you, Skye!” Seah
“You knew him?” Ira asked with a surprised face.
“Yeah! He’s my cousin. He’s part of the entourage too.” Seah explained smilingly. “I see. You knew each other?”
“We’re colleagues,” Skye answered walking past Ira to get a glass of water from the table.
“Right! At Grayson Academy!” Seah realized. “Small world, huh?”
“Since you’re here, your brother must be going crazy looking for you now. I think you should make a call.” Ares butted in, wiping the sweat on his neck with the back of his hand.
“But my phone is dead.”
“Ow, right!” Ares answered. Seah stayed closer to him to wipe his sweat with her handkerchief.
“Don’t worry. I already called him the moment she arrived. Sheez! Why is the weather so hot today!” Orion complained, fanning his hand to himself while standing beside Ira.
Suddenly, their conversation was cut off when a plump, middle-aged, queer guy came into the room and called their attention.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen! I am Art, the wedding coordinator! Can we gather now at the garden so we can start practicing?”
The wedding coordinator led everyone to the garden smiling at them despite feeling cranky with the weather and melting in his long sleeves polo. He’s sweating hard making a pool of water right under his armpit.
“Poor him. He must be sweltering in the afternoon heat.” Ira whispered to Orion.
“Agree. Tss! Why would he wear something like that in a day like this?” Orion gossiped.
The people followed Art to the garden where the others are. They were Seah’s family and friends. Looking at the crowd of strangers, Ira held Orion’s arms tightly and whispered again, “I thought it’s just gonna be us.”
“Duh! Ares is not the only one with a family here!”
Orion chuckled at his sister’s remark. But his wide grin quickly shrunk into a sweet smile, the right corner of his mouth rising and his eyes sparkling at the sight of the girl in cherry print white dress cheerfully talking to everyone.
“Wah! She’s pretty!” he whispered.
Ira looked in the direction where Orion’s eyes are fixated at. She peered for a minute and then gasped, “That girl! I knew her!”
The girl happened to glance in their direction.
Beaming like sunshine, she waved her hand and yelled, “Hi, Boyfriend!”
Ira and Orion looked at each other.
“She’s not pertaining to you, is she?” Ira asked his brother who was as confused as her.
“Certainly not!” A deep, cold voice answered from behind them.
Skye passed through the Pardilla siblings and approached the sunshine of the crowd to give her a can of cold soda. Ira watched them without blinking and marveled at how they look perfectly good together.
[I didn’t know he had a girlfriend.] Ira muttered to herself.