CHAPTER 9

ELISHA's POV

"I brought you Braised Leeks with Mozzarella & a Fried Egg and Lamb Salad with Fregola. And this is your medicine. Take this after you eat. Okay?" He said after he laid down on the small table the meal he had bought for me.

"Thanks. Ah, by the way, our clients have emailed me. They will arrive early. Maybe, around lunchtime, they will be here. I have already prepared my designs. How about you? Are your designs ready?"

"I have prepared it already."

"Good." I nodded and started eating.

"Yeah. I'll leave for now. I'll see you later."

"Yeah. Take care." I nodded.

"Don't forget to take your medicine. Okay?" He added before leaving my room.

Jeez! As if I am a sick person. This is just a hangover. But he was funny. I didn't know he was so worried.

I continue eating, and suddenly I remember the conversation that Aimee and I had had earlier.

[FLASHBACK]

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

Really. She knows me.

I took a deep breath before speaking. I hope she believes what I say.

"I was drunk last night." I heard the surprised expression in her voice as I spoke.

"Oh my!!! Isha, don't tell me, did you have sex with another man? Gosh! Why??? Did you know you could get HIV because of what you did? If you look for what happened between you and Sir Nath, my god Ish, don't look for that to the other guy! It's dangerous..."

"Aime! What the hell are you saying??" My eyes widened because of what she had said. Gosh. Is she really thinking about that? Seriously? "I said, I was drunk last night, okay? I did not have sex with another man! You're crazy. Your brain sucks! Why the hell would I do that? You're being absurd." I rolled my eyes.

I heard her laugh roughly on the other line. Gosh. "Oppsss. I didn't mean to say that. Well, it's your fault! It's because of you, you didn't tell me right away. You know how I think fast." She giggled. "Okay, apologies."

"You... seriously. Urgh." I rolled my eyeballs. I got up from my bed and went to the lobby. The cool breeze that greeted me was fresh.

"So what now? Why did you get drunk? Where did you drink? At the bar?"

I took a deep breath before speaking. "Yes."

Aime sighed heavily. She knows the reason why I always drink at the bar. "Do you still hope that you will be going to see him? Ish, it was already five years ago since he left. Forget about him. You two will never meet again."

"That's impossible because I think I saw him last night. Someone harassed me at the bar and a guy helped me out. And I'm sure he's that guy, Aime. It was him."

"That! That's an impossible thing to happen. C'mon, Ish. You are in Palawan. Why would he be there? You said you were drunk. I guess that was just an illusion. That happens, anyway, when you are missing the person."

"What? No. I'm sure. I'm sure about it. I can't go wrong. Believe me."

"I am sorry, but that is impossible. Don't be so illusory. The guy you've tasted in the past and still dream about wasn't here in the Philippines, okay? He's in... somewhere, far away! Stop that illusion of yours, Isha. Okay? Don't hurt yourself. You have to move on."

[END OF FLASHBACK]

"Illusion? Really? Tsh."

If I could only see him with my illusion, I would be ready to go crazy.

I ended up eating and taking my medicine for a hangover, but Brent still wasn't there. Hmm. I didn't call or text him. I fixed myself, then I took my sample designs for the bride's gown. Brent did for the groom. I placed it on the small table at the edge of the lobby and I reviewed it, maybe something was missing or what.

I put on my eyeglasses so I could look at them carefully, and it's good that it worked out well. I'm excited about showing it to my client. I'm confident that she'll like this.

I closed the folder where my designs were in place, laid them aside and I got up to go to the lobby. There, I could see the whole beach. The cozy and calm blue sea and the sunshine are not so harsh on the skin. Sunbathing looks nice today, but I still have work to do. Well, I'll do it, before we leave. I also want to try snorkeling. I guess it sounds fun.

Just then, someone was knocking on the door of my room.

I guess it's Brent. I waited for the door to open, but it didn't. Until he knocks again. Jeez! Why is he still knocking?

I walked over to the door to open it.

"Why are you..."

My mouth stopped talking when Brent wasn't the one I am seeing right now. We were both surprised to see each other, but the expression on his face changed rapidly. My heartbeat accelerated and I could feel the trembling of my hand holding the doorknob.

Am I dreaming? No. I'm widely awake.

I'm not drunk anymore. It's him. That's exactly what I saw last night. He was the one I saw last night.

Oh my goodness! It's Nathan Earhl Galacio. He is here! It wasn't an illusion.

A smile grew in my inner circle because it was Galacio who was the man standing in front of me now. He was wearing a white polo and the three buttons were not buttoned, so I could see his healthy chest. And above-the-knee Hawaiian shorts and he had slippers on. Gosh. He became more handsome. I can't help but swallow my own saliva. And that night, it started to come back to my mind.

"S-S-Sir." My voice was stuttering. Damn. I want to cry out because for so long I have not seen him. I want to hug him tightly. I can't believe he is here!

"Ah. I thought, is this Sanderson's room? Looks like I'm lost. I'm sorry." He took a step backward.

Wait, what? Sanderson? Is Brent the one he is referring to? Brent Sanderson? Why does he know Brent?

I thought... He came to me.

But never mind. I just ignored it. The important thing is that he is here today.

"No. It's okay." I'm back to my senses. I held the knob tightly and bit my lip at one point, lowering my head. Am I really not the one he meant to see here?

"You've been drinking alcohol? That's not good."

My head raised as he said. Confirmed! He was the guy that I saw yesterday at the bar. I wanted to smile but I held myself back. I know he is worried about me. I feel it.

"It was you."

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