CHAPTER 8

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A cold wind blew through my skin, causing me to wake up. I slowly opened my eyes. With the bright light that the sun brought over my face, I couldn't open my eyes widely. I even got up from my bed before opening my eyes. The sliding door and curtain were widely open.

I scratched my head, feeling a little bit of a hangover. And then I suddenly remembered something.

Sir Galacio.

"You're finally awake." A cold voice dominated the whole room, so I immediately turned my gaze to where the voice came from. Hoping that it was Galacio, but it was not.

Brent was sitting on the small sofa, having crossed arms, his face was serious. He was looking straight at me.

What's wrong with him? How did he get into my room? And who brought me here? Where's Sir Galacio?

"How are you feeling?" He worriedly asked me, but the expression on his face was still serious. His eyes never even blinked.

Uh... oh. I guess he knew it.

I gently rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm fine. I just feel a little bit of pain in my head. But don't worry, I'm okay."

"You sure?" He started to stand up while still having a crossed arm and his face remains serious.

I feel a little bit awkward.

Is he angry? Why?

"Yeah, I'm sure. You know you don't have to worry..."

"You leave the hotel and go to the bar without telling me? Not only that, you were drunk. What if something bad happens to you? Where am I? Sleeping! Because I didn't know you were coming out." His voice was slightly raised but he was trying to calm himself down. "I... I thought you didn't want to go out? But... why?"

"Brent, you're overreacting. I'm safe okay? Nothing bad happened to me. And... I'm sorry. I just wanted to be alone."

"Yeah, yeah. But what if there is, Ish, huh?"

"Nothing happened, okay? But wait, where is..." No. I'm not sure if I really saw Sir Galacio last night. Ah. I don't remember anything about last night. "Brent, who brought me here?" I asked him to confirm something.

He scoffed and shook his head. "See? You didn't even know who brought you here. Well, how can you know because you were out of your senses?"

Ah. I didn't know.

"Then, who brought me here?"

"Some staff from the bar brought you back to the hotel. You were lying on the sofa on the ground floor of the hotel when the staff called me. But I was the one who brought you here to your room. Don't worry, no part of your body has been stolen." He rolled his eyes.

Was it not Galacio who brought me back to the hotel?

Impossible. I'm sure he was the one I saw last night.

"Ish, we're here for work, not to drink. Okay? Don't do it again." His voice softened and he sat on my bed. "It's my obligation if something bad happens to you. If you want to go to the bar, just tell me, and I will join you. Okay?" He taps my shoulder.

"Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry."

"Fix yourself. This afternoon our client will arrive. Be ready for the designs. I'll go buy you food", he stood up.

"Not hotel meals," I said before he could leave my room.

"I know." He replied and left my room.

I was sighing when he came out. I lay down again and tried to remember the man who had helped me last night.

I know I was drunk, but I can't go wrong. Galacio looks exactly like that man. I am sure. I sighed.

"Urgh." I closed my eyes a bit and opened them. "I'm sure it was him," I whispered.

I got up from bed and quickly took my cell phone out of the drawer. I dialed Aime's number.

"Hey, Isha! How's Palawan? Gosh! Bring me some gifts when you get back, huh?" she giggled.

She immediately said when she answered my call. Seriously.

I walked into the lobby of my room. "Tsh. Yeah. Yeah. Gifts when I get back. Okay, got it. Psh. Anyways, where are you right now? Are you at work?" I asked.

"Not yet. I'm still here in the crypto cafe. You know, eating breakfast. Anyway, my secretary hasn't called me yet."

That's Aime. My long-time best friend. She's a bit flirty, but she has a purpose in life. And she's now the manager of a women's wear company.

"So what's up? I know you have something to share. What is it? Tell me."

Really. She knows me.

---

NATHAN's POV

"Whoop. Have you ever been to the Philippines? You didn't even show up. So now, you're in Palawan? You, man." Gabe's laugh and shaking response to the other line. I am currently at the reef cafe, eating breakfast while talking to him now on Skype.

I laughed a bit and I drank some coffee before answering him. "Soon, when I get back. Let's have a drink."

"You sure? What kind of girl are you planning to take to the private room again?" he laughed out of sheer force and it swung around once in his swivel chair.

I stopped for a moment and drank my coffee. I suddenly remembered what had happened that night five years ago. That wasn't my first time having sex, but that was my first time feeling satisfied with a woman. And she was my student back then. Tsh. I smiled a little. I'm so crazy. That was crazy.

"I shouldn't do that," I said and sighed.

It was wrong that I had sex with my student before. Especially that...

"No. You shouldn't do that to your students. But that's okay, Nath, that was before. Everything has changed now."

"Yeah." Everything has changed now. I'm not a teacher anymore and she's not my student. But there is one thing that has not changed. It was my feeling when I saw her last night.

"We met last night," I said, which made him surprised.

"What!? Seriously? Where?" His eyes widened.

"Last night, here in Palawan, at the bar where I was drinking."

"Ah, that's the reason why you're in Palawan? Wait! Are you following her?"

"You're crazy. I didn't know she was there. I was shocked too. I didn't expect that we would meet. Maybe it was just a coincidence."

He laughed at what I said. "Dude, people don't meet by accident, they are meant to cross their paths for a reason, and that is fate. Fate brings you two together!"

"Dude, I don't believe in that." I scoffed. Those such beliefs are rotten.

"Well now, you should believe it."

"No, we can't be together."

"But you got her virginity." He shrugged his shoulders and leaned on his swivel chair.

"That is not the basis for us to be together. I know I made a mistake. I shouldn't have done that."

"What's done is done, dude. Sex never becomes a sin when you love someone. I know she's your type."

"Before. Yeah." I drank my coffee again. He seems to be frying me for what he says.

I don't know what he is using right now, he carries his iPod or laptop into the lobby of his office. A beautiful view of the city rose on the screen. "Until now." He teased.

I do not know what to answer. I've been gone for five years. I don't even see her. I was also busy studying and becoming a trainee, so at times I lost my memory of her. Yet I don't know if my feelings for her are still there. The only thing I know is that we can't be together.

Just then, I heard the door had sprung open. So, I looked over. There, I saw a man come in.

Wait.

This little brat.

I returned my gaze to the screen of my laptop. "Dude, I'll call you again later. Bye. "

"Yeah. Enjoy your stay there. Use protection this time, man. The second time will be dangerous." He hardly laughed.

"Tsh. Asshole. Bye now." The line died. I closed my laptop and turned my gaze to the man who had just entered the cafe. This little brat. Finally, I see you.

"Sanderson," I called him. He immediately turned his attention to me. He was surprised to see me. I knew he didn't expect me to come to the Philippines and that he would see me here.

"Nathan? When did you arrive? And what are you doing here in Palawan?" he asked as he walked near me.

"Aren't you going to sit down first?" I pointed to the empty chair in front of me.

I heard him scoff before sitting down. "So maybe you can answer my question now?" He asked again.

"Why? Don't you want me to follow you here? Tsh." I asked and took the fork that was on my side. My food was getting cold.

"So you're following me here?" he was a bit irritable to ask.

"Relax. It seems like you don't want me to be here. Can't I have a vacation here, Sanderson?" I laughed. What's his problem? Tsh. Tsh.

"Really?" He scoffed and raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah. Wanna eat? Order there and eat with me." I've started eating.

"No thanks. Someone is waiting for me at the hotel. Eat by yourself. Enjoy." He was about to stand up as I spoke again.

"Ah, your coworkers?" I raised my eyebrows at him and picked up some vegetable salad.

"Obviously." He stood up and was about to walk as I spoke again.

"Okay. I'll see you later. I'll move to your hotel."

"What? I thought you were having a vacation here. You should be somewhere without me." his eyebrows met and were clearly annoyed.

He's really irritated. Tsk. Tsk. And that is, he refuses to talk to me because he seems to know my purpose for him.

"C'mon Brent."

"It's Sanderson," he corrected me. Yeah, he didn't want me to call him Brent.

"Don't be so rude. I'm not going to beat you up because you chose to be a fashion designer instead of a doctor." I grinned. "All right, order your food, your partner might be waiting for you. I'll see you later." I smiled at him before swallowing the vegetable salad again, which made him upset.

"Tsh. Yeah." He turned away from me and went to the counter to order.

Sssh. Little brat.