Week of futile struggle.

Weeks had gone by after Bel acquired the mystifying man's number. She had debated her option a long while ago with her friend, where she shared a night at her apartment. The next morning after the incident was fun! With Katie who sat very close to her and urged her into constructing the message already, her impatience was very intriguing which made Bel to wonder; between her and Collins who did the pursuit and who did ' the umm...you know! The chasing and reciprocating. Katie would always shrug it off, saying this was different! How was it different? She would ask her seemingly dumb herself. Cause none of her pursuers would ever take it likely knowing how she was being stood-over by a man.

The conversation had always ended with Bel responding that she's not sure or rather still thinking about what to say and how to say it. Despite how boring Katie was beginning to see Bel's unreasonable response, still she was patient with her maybe it was because 'it was a best friend thing' or rather she knew what Bel's biggest downside was in starting a relationship, that fear of loving someone like her mother all over again. Like the Bel of eight years old won't be able to handle that much heart break; knowing how her own father didn't show up rarely in her life over the past year now.

At about ten o'clock in the night, Bel sat on her bed with a phone in her hands. She was going through the list of messages she had received all through the weeks; some from her friend and others from college and scrolling down she saw his message.

Left hanging there was a message she sent him after three days of endless pestering from Katie. She would give a quote saying " the early bird catches the worm! " Which made Bel more dumbfounded at the similarity between her current situation and that adage.

Though she did send him a message, a short one at first saying "Hi! " What followed was her trying to ask him if he could maybe consider her previous opinion about them going on a date? Since she had already made her intention known to him, but strangely she hadn't been receiving a response from him. Days slowly stretched into the week and she was still waiting. Like what kind of man keeps a girl waiting?

She tapped on the number icon, she prepared to text him all over again. Why she was trying this hard again, became a surprise to herself though she had one thought which Katie said. " A beautiful relationship starts by not giving up! " Where Katie got this notion she couldn't say but Bel had her resolve set on not giving up and trying to get through to him.

The next day at the college, it was past lecturing hours where students were heading out from the college ground. Bel along with Katie headed for a cafe which was situated a bit farther from the college. The cafe was designed very creatively with bright colors, and fancy chairs and tables; taking a seat. The both girls presence at the cafe had already called the attention of the waiter, walking forward he asked what they would like.

" Ummm...a milkshake and vanilla yogurt! "

"Alright."

The waiter left them.

" So...how was class today? "

" The usual! Anything going on with the current vibes going off in college I won't be surprised if there's having something cooking! " Bel remarked placing her bag's handle at the edge of the seat.

" Oh- that! It's nothing really just don't think about that. "

" So something did happen? "

" Well it's related to you! " Katie pointed out munching on her words.

" That's a surprise! I barely even did a thing."

" That's exactly it. You didn't, but Ken did! "

" Ken...! " Hearing his name all over again didn't spill any emotions from her, rather made her more puzzled.

" Well the thing is. There's this rumor that the number one Jabe of the college got dumped by her modest and doting boyfriend! " Katie explained what she had heard from hunch whispers all over college.

" What? That's... who would prioritize my breakup with Ken into such a wide spread rumor? And Jabe of the college! " Bel exclaimed finding the rumor nonsensical.

I mean one was bound to find it to be nonsense since she was the one involved in the scene and knew what truly transpired between them.

" Take a look at this. " Katie handed her phone to her which she received and saw a video of Ken and the girl beside him was none other than the girl from the girls restroom; both of them were at a party.

" Katie this is nonsense! " Handing the phone back to her, she hissed in annoyance at how someone could make up false stories using her name.

" Bel cheerup, besides you know it's not real! Anyways let's have our orders. "

" Katie...they even captured how we've never gone out together all through our dating! " Bel lamented seeing the post through her phone.

" Girl...would you stop! That's all in the past now. Look on the bright side! "

" There is? " Bel asked feeling lost; she just got slandered on the social media and there is a plus side to it!

" .... Yeah...yeah...I mean you are currently chasing after someone else. That's something you've never done before! " Katie reasoned.

" Katie that's not the point. My life and what I chose to do is personal not anyone's business! "

" I think it's the part of your life that connects with Ken that got dragged to the media! "

" You are not helping. " Breathing out in defeat not seeing the logic in Katie's words.

" See... that's why I told you to drop this issue and think only about what you want! " Gripping at the milkshake, she held the straw with both fingers seemingly positive about the entire ordeal.

" So... anything new? " Katie inquired after sipping on her milkshake.

" No! " Scooping a mouthful of her vanilla yogurt.

" Disappointing right? " Katie remarked, clearly feeling down for her friend

' Beep '

That very moment Katie's phone beeped which she took and went through the content of the message.

" Bel are you free on friday? "

" Huh...I guess, besides the classes ain't that great anyway! "

" Good. We are going out! My cousin is having dinner at ' sky rock ' this friday and he invited me over. " Katie said with excitement bubbling inside her already.

" Katie won't he... " Bel tried to sound unsure about going out when she wasn't invited.

" No excuses. Besides I gotta introduce you too! " Katie said cutting her off while responding to her cousin's text.