Chapter 11

Isabel's P.O.V

Concentration is impossible on this activity because of the mysterious letter. The teacher gave us thirty minutes to answer, lingering more than two minutes per question. Oh Lord, help me. There are only ten essay questions: however, the teacher specifically instructed us to have fifteen words minimum per answer. Please mind, do not fail me now. I gave a minute to control my mind, have a deep breath then it worked. I can finally answer the questions moreover with ideas are popping in my mind to every question I have read.

---

The annoying bell resonantly brings us to reality, and I witness the students standing abruptly towards our teacher- hustled to pass their answers and get out in the classroom. I look back at my paper and beam because I am satisfied with my answers. Joining my classmates hustling to give our answers, looking at the outside school ground, observing a sea of students hurriedly getting out of the school, I noticed a mysterious man hiding behind the big tree near the gate looking up in our building. I am not sure if the weird man is looking directly at me still; he waved as if watching me and turned his back with the people gaiting in the street outside the school.

Forcefully bringing my attention back to my surroundings and looking at Lily's back, I dismissed the worry and confusion about the letter and the mysterious man.

Exiting from the classroom with Lily, we saunter outside the school ground, going to the parking lot and in my car.

"So, are you still up for the diner and have our snack there?" Lily asked me, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, we have a lot to talk about, and we need to open the mysterious letter. Race you to the car? The loser will be the one who pays." I looked at Lily and saw her disputing expression. I run to my car, leaving her. I see her running to keep up with me, but I am already a meter away from her.

I sensed a tag on my back, and I almost tripped. I then saw Lily in my side smiling widely at me. I gave her an annoyed expression and apace. I won because I was faster than her. We ran non-stop, about 20 meters from the building to my car- the reason why Lily, is out of breath when she hopped in, giving me an annoyed expression.

I just grinned, gave her a cocky face, and then I said,

"I won, so your treat."

She just rolled her eyes and mumbled, "I befriend a child."

I did not reply and started driving towards the diner, smiling.

The drive was only fifteen minutes, and I opened the door inhaling the aroma that grants a smile from my face. I love the ambiance of this place, and I usually loaf around here. The surrounding gives me peace of mind and makes me relaxed.

"There! Hurry Isabel, I am starving." Lily found an empty spot, held my hand, and dragged me towards it.

I just let her because I am used to it.

The waitress was already at our table waiting for us to settle and gave the menu. I have to admit, she is beautiful, and the uniform she is wearing is perfectly fit for her body.

Lily gave me a light kick under the table. I glanced at her, expressing an allusive, expression then she smirked. She quickly gave her attention to the waitress and said, "please give us time to choose food from the menu, and I will call you back."

"Of course." The waitress agreed and, back to her post.

"What was that?" Lily asked me

"What was, what?" I asked innocently

She just rolled her eyes and gave her attention to the menu.

I did the same and found my favorite food, the lasagna, partnered with fruit salad and lemon juice. I can feel myself almost drooling in my chosen dinner.

I look at Lily to tell her I finished and am ready to order, but she is looking at me-- waiting for me to finish. I smiled and signaled her indicating, to call the waitress, and we will order now.

After stating our order, the waitress uttered, the food will be served twenty to thirty minutes from now, and she went back to the counter.

--

Lily put her phone on the table and looked at me, saying, "So, can we discuss the elephant of the room now?"

I mimic her action and give her my full attention.

I did not answer her for a minute to arrange the words that I needed to utter, and then I said,

"Jason and I texted last night. I told him to formally court me by talking to my family especially, my father. He just realized that it was a big deal for me. And-"

"What? Does it mean he did not take what I said the last time we talked? That fool." She rant interrupts me.

"Yeah, he mentioned that too. He said he is sorry for not taking your reminders and suggestions, seriously."

"Jason informed me that he is free this Wednesday, so he will be going to our house, joining us in the dinner, and he will inform everyone about him courting me."

"What about the text he sent earlier?"

"Jason just informed me about him and my father's conversation this afternoon in the mall. He told father about me and his conversation last night, the courtship formality. He informed my father that this Wednesday night, he will be joining the family dinner, informing the family, and asking their blessing in courting me."

"Awwww... That is sweet of him." Lily mocks.

I just smiled and rolled my eyes playfully at her.

We fell into a comfortable silence, absorbing today's events, then I remembered the letter inside my bag. I suddenly reach out for my bag, startling Lily, scan for the envelope and show it to her.

"This mysterious letter, it was not in my bag earlier this morning, but after lunch, it appears subtly, for me to see it. I do not know who sent it and, oh, I forgot to tell you that I saw a man in the big tree beside the school. I do not know if he saw me, but when I look at him, he waved in an instant, turned his back, and gaiting with the people in the street, as nothing happened."

Lily blinked, her eyes are dancing between my face and the letter, absorbing the information. She did not talk for a minute, bombarded with the news. She closed her eyes and said,

"Okay. Have you read the letter or not yet?"

"No, not yet. I plan on reading this with you."

"Let us read it then."

I read the letter loud enough for her to hear it, "This day is special. It will be more special if Carsons will lie six feet below the ground." Oh my! I nearly shouted while covering my mouth, ceasing from screaming while forcing myself to look up at Lily and see her mirror my action. If the situation is different- I will be laughing because of how comical our action is.

"Isabel! It is a threat." She whispered shout.

I nod and agree with her thinking about a lot of things.

She grabbed the letter from my hands and read it. There are still a few sentences after the first two, but I did not finish them because I was disturbed by the threatening statements.

Lily continues to finish reading the letter aloud, and it says, "Give the letter directly to your father. He will help you decipher who I am and save you from suffering. Do not give this to the authorities. If you do, then feel my wrath."

"Lily, stop!" I commanded her, unable to take it anymore.

"But, Isa-"

"Excuse me, ma'am. Sorry for interrupting but here are your orders." The waitress and her co-worker arrived at our table startled us.

We both nodded and said, "Thank you."

Lily voluntarily offered a prayer for the food, and we started eating it.

We ate in silence, thinking and absorbing all the events of the day when Lily mumbled something, "Did you say something, girl?"

"Huh? Nothing. I am just singing to the music that is playing in the diner. The song is one of my favorites."

"Okay."

"By the way, Isabel, are you sure you want to study in Davao City for college despite the threat?" Lily asked, and I quickly realized that my father would probably postpone his decision or, worst, decline my request.

"I do not know anymore, Lily, one of these days, I can answer that. For now, let us finish our dinner and go home."

Lily just nodded and, she followed what I said.

We finished our dinner, and Lily quickly went to the comfort room while I, get my phone in the bag to check if, father or anyone in the house was calling me. When I opened it, I saw my father's text, saying, "Isabel. Where are you? Come home now, quickly!".

I did not wait for Lily to come back from the comfort room. I grab her bag and follow her to the comfort room. She just finished her business, and I said, "Lily. Let us go to the counter and pay our bill. My father texted me to come home quickly. I will drive you to your house, so do not worry."

We pay our bills, and we quickly hop in, in the car. I dropped Lily at the front of their gate, and I speedily drove to my home. My family is already in the living room waiting for me. I hastily ran to my room, changed my clothes, settled myself on the sofa next to Hayley, and waited for my father to speak.