CHAPTER 24: ENCOUNTER AT THE COURTYARDS

THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE

By Eleventh

CHAPTER 24: ENCOUNTER AT THE COURTYARDS

PRESENT

“MOM!” Raine dashed through her mother’s door and called for her attention with uneasiness on her face.

Ira, sitting in front of her dresser while wearing her earrings, looked at her daughter with worry and concern.

“You alright?”

Realizing that she sounded tense, Raine composed herself.

“Yeah!” she replied with a suspicious smile while holding the door. “Uhm, where are you going today?”

“I’m gonna stop at the café to drop the baked goods, then I’ll head to Pops' house. Why? Do you need a ride to school or something?”

Raine quickly shook her head. “No! My friend is coming to get me. Is that ok?”

“Yeah. No problem. Just make sure that your friend has a driver’s license.” she answered, grabbing her purse and heading to the door.

“How about you let me drive Bumblebee?” Raine beamed a grin, hoping her mom permits her.

“Not without an adult’s supervision, Raine. If you want, call your Uncle.”

Raine rolled her eyes. Though Usher is a one-call-away uncle, she knew that he won’t ride with her if she’s the driver.

“Can we go for a drive when it’s your day off?”

Ira sniggered at Raine’s sulky face. “I'm not sure when I'll be free BUT I’ll make time with you this weekend. How about that?”

Raine beamed. “Deal!”

“I need to go. Take care of yourself!”

“You too, Mom!” Raine replied with a kiss.

The moment Ira left, she rushed to call someone on her phone. Her fingers were shaking as she dialed the number.

“Come on, Miguel! Answer the phone!” She was biting her fingernails as she impatiently waits for the other person on the line to answer.

Minutes later…

“My gaaawd! What took you so long to answer? Are you busy right now? Please, don’t be! I desperately need a ride right now!” she yelled.

“I’m sorry. I just got out from the CR. I’m having a bad stomach right now.” Miguel moaned.

Hearing the low voice from the other line, Raine panicked.

“Oh no! I have to be in my grandfather’s house before my mom gets there and find out that I took her things without her permission. I’m so dead now!” Raine whimpered.

“Alright. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

“Wait, are you sure? How about your stomach?”

“I had some meds. I’ll take time to effect but I’ll be fine. I’m coming. Prepare the things you need to bring with you.”

Truly, in ten minutes, Miguel was outside Raine’s home, sitting on his motorbike with his helmet on while patiently waiting for the lass. When he saw her carrying a big box as Raine goes out of the house, he opened his helmet and shouted, “Need help?”

“Nah! I got this. Turn your engine on. We need to leave ASAP!”

At Raine’s command, Miguel obediently followed.

“Where to?”

“The Courtyards…”

For a few seconds, Miguel imagined the route of going to the subdivision where Raine’s grandfather lives. Once he figured in his mind the shortcut, he sped up their way to the Courtyards.

Unfortunately, when it’s morning, the traffic is heavy going to Uptown.

“Oh, come on! It’s like we’ve been on this lane for ages!” Raine complained, shouting beneath the helmet.

Miguel’s tummy suddenly grumbled.

“Argh! We need to get out of here ASAP!” Miguel groaned.

When the traffic began to move, Miguel dashed between cars and trucks, making their way through the traffic and overtaking the other vehicles. Raine had to hold on tight to Miguel's waist and lean behind his back because of the strong wind brought by his rapid driving.

To get to the subdivision, they must take a turn at the curb before reaching the mall, but Miguel drove straight.

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” Raine yelled, but Miguel could not hear her. “MIGUEL! WE ALREADY PASSED THE COURTYARDS!”

When they reached the mall, Miguel made a turn at the curb and stopped his motorbike in front of a burger place called The Shield. He took off his helmet and ran inside the restaurant leaving Raine in confusion.

It took Raine a while to realize what was going on.

"Oh shoot! Is his tummy acting out?" feeling anxious, Raine bit her lip.

It took about 15 minutes before Miguel came out looking very wet and drained.

“You okay?” Raine felt sorry for Miguel who obviously doesn't look good.

“The sooner we get to your grandfather’s house the better. I think I need to have another round of…” Miguel pressed his lips without finishing his sentence. Saying the word makes his stomach upset.

“I’m sorry I bothered you.”

Miguel gently shook his head. “It’s fine. Let’s just go.”

They stopped the chitchat and quickly went on their way.

When they reached Pardilla’s home, Raine felt relieved that her mom’s car isn’t around yet.

“Poppy? Are you home?”

Rained called from the gate as she opened it. She kept calling until somebody peeked from the window. When Mageneo realized who his surprise visitor was, he rushed to the door and opened it. But instead of finding Raine, a young man stood before him, holding his tummy and wiggling his legs.

“Good morning, sir! I’m Raine’s friend. Can I use your washroom?”

Feeling alarmed for the boy, Mageneo stepped away from the door to let Miguel in. “Turn left and you’ll find the kitchen. Then look for the door, that’s the comfort room.”

“Thank you!!!” Miguel replied and ran to the kitchen.

When Mageneo was left alone with his granddaughter, he was so pleased to see her that he embraced her warmly.

“Why do I miss you all the time?” he whispered.

“Awwwe, Poppy! We just saw each other last night.” Raine teased as her grandfather released her from his embrace.

“Right.” The old man scratched his head as he gave a reluctant smile.

“By the way, Poppy! Is the stockroom open? I need to put this box in there.”

“Oh, yes! It is open. Do you need help with that?”

Raine quickly left before her grandfather could even touch the box or see what’s inside.

“Nah! I can manage, Poppy!” she shouted from afar.

No wonder the door was open. The knob on the stockroom was broken. Its handle was loose and hanging from its hole. With her foot, Raine pushed the door and came face to face with a dark and dirty room packed with broken, old, and unused things.

“Why does he still keep all this stuff?” she muttered to herself.

She sought a space where she can hide her mom’s box and found one at the bottom of a rack filled with tools and empty paint cans. She carefully shoved the box under and stared at it for a little while, thinking and wrestling her thoughts.

“Maybe she won’t notice if two of her journals would go missing. Right?”

Raine stopped debating with her mind. She took two journals and hid them inside her bag before she left and closed the door behind. The next thing she had in her mind was to check on Miguel and leave as soon as possible before her mom arrives. When she got inside, she caught her grandfather staring at an old photo placed on a bronze frame, the one where the Pardilla siblings were still so youthful and fun.

“Are you feeling emotional right now, Poppy?” Raine teased, sniggering at the old man.

“Oh, my little Raindrop! I think I am. I’m old and I’m living in a house that’s always empty. This house used to be… full of life and fun. Your mother and her brothers may fight often but at least the house isn’t as quiet as it is now.” he sighed.

“Are you missing them?”

“Oh, you bet I am. I miss them being kids. Oh! How time flies so fast.” Putting his hands in his pocket as he stared at his children, Mageneo sighed once more.

That made Raine embrace her grandfather and comforted him with a smile. “Don’t worry, Poppy! I’m here. I’ll visit you now and then so you won’t feel too sad.”

It was pleasant to Mageneo’s ears, his heart feeling glad to have a sweet granddaughter like Raine. And looking at her, he sniggered at how he remembers the young Ira in his granddaughter.

“You look like your mom.”

Raine’s face turned sour. “No, I don’t. People always tell me that I don’t look like any of my parents.”

The old man shook his head.

“You smile just like, Ira. And only those who knew her well can tell that. You see, Ira’s smile is very rare. She’s always either grumpy or sad. But when she met your father…” Mageneo giggled as he reminisced. “… your father didn’t have a good start with us. He suddenly showed up in front of everybody and told us that he's marrying your mom. We had no single idea who he was. We haven’t heard about him. Ira never told us she was meeting someone. It was surprising. So, your uncles rejected your father but... I don't know... I could not agree. I couldn’t refuse the marriage. You know why?”

Raine thought for a moment but couldn’t think of any reason.

“Why?”

“Because I saw how your mother smiles and laughs whenever he is around. I have never seen her that happy before. Right there I know, that your father is doing something good in her. She was happy. And only that man can make her feel that way.”

Their sweet moment was then interrupted by Miguel’s presence. He was wet with sweat but he looked relieved. With a disgusted face, Raine took her perfume and sprayed it over him while covering her nose.

“Feeling better now?”

Miguel weakly nodded his head.

“Shall we go?”

Miguel didn’t say a word again but responded with a nod.

“I don’t think your friend is in good condition. How about you stay for a while and I’ll make some drink that will make him feel better?” Mageneo offered.

“But we can’t…”

Raine was about to decline afraid that her mom might catch her there but Miguel held her arm with pleading eyes. That made Raine change her mind about leaving ASAP.

“Okay, Poppy!” she replied.

“It’ll be quick. Why don’t you guys take a seat?”

The old man went to the kitchen to make some herbal tea while the two youngsters relaxed on the sofa. Raine felt apologetic for her discomforted friend and worried at the same time.

Suddenly, she heard a yell from outside which made her heart pound fast.

“POPS??? YOU HOME?” Ira called.

Raine rushed to the window to check and when she saw that her mom was not alone, together with someone she did not expect, her jaw dropped.

“What the hell!? Why is Mom together with that guy?”

There was so much confusion running in Raine’s mind the moment she saw him. She felt irritated too especially when she remembered the first time she encountered him.

“Who?” Miguel asked.

“The CEO of Coffee Works… He’s with my Mom!” Raine replied.