Chapter 6 - The Pair-Up thing.

“Morning mom, dad!” Josh said while entering their house. They then greeted him back and offered him a coffee but he refused.

“What are you doing here early this morning?” she asked loudly then covered her mouth after realizing that she just blurted out.

“I’m here to pick you up so you better hurry, you don’t want to be late in your class today,” he said while one of his brows raised.

“And who gave you the authority of picking me up at home?” she said in a rather calm voice.

“My authority!” he said.

“After our first date, I know it’s now my responsibility of picking you up and dropping you home, I felt compelled of taking care of you now, any problem with that?” he said confidently.

“You’re really confident huh?” she told him.

“Yes I am, so you better move yourself already and I’m sure you don’t want your instructor to kick you out of the room if you came late,” he told her.

Andie is so irritated but she can’t get angry with him. He acts like a kid sometimes but he really made her day. She felt protected, cared for and loved. She knows she couldn’t ask for more but passing her stateboard is another thing.

“Bye mom, dad, you both take care, okay?” he told Andie’s parents while Andie just grinned.

“I really couldn’t believe you times 10!” she said.

“Okay, here’s our new schedule: every morning at 7 a.m., I’m picking you up at home, then I’ll go check my business after I dropped you at the center, then I’ll go back at 12 noon for lunch, then we’ll spend some time together between lunch time till 3 p.m. for your next class and then I’ll pick you up at 5 p.m., understood?” he said after he enumerated the schedule he made.

“What’s got into you?” she told him while shaking her head.

“You arranged my schedule without consulting me?” she asked.

“No, this is my schedule so no need to consult you,” he said.

She just nods, but she’s angry that it seems like he’s manipulating her.

“You can always say no, if you don’t like to,” he said.

“There you go again, you always say that but if I said no, you’re still coming after me,” she told him.

“Then who’s confident here, Ms. Dancel?” he teased. “I just want to be with you, is that hard to understand?” he said.

“And you make me so confused, why are you doing all of this to me, why do you want to take care of me, why do you want to be with?” she finally asked him.

When words are caught up on his mouth, he just shook his head.

“I don’t know, I’m also confused why I’m doing this, but I know I like what I’m doing and I like to be with you, I just don’t know, maybe it’s just as simple as that, we don’t need to look it up on the dictionary for its profound explanation. But Josh is faking it. It chokes deep into his throat the words he just revealed.

“Okay,” Andie just said with a feeling of disappointment, as she didn’t like the words she heard from him.

She finally realized that there is nothing more to think about. She’s now sure that he only wants a companion through her persona to reduce his anxiety of being alone, but she’s definite that SHE’S ALREADY FALLEN FOR HIM. She knows being unattached for almost 3 years already made her so vulnerable of falling in love easily to someone who frantically shows affection on her. That’s what she’s trying to contend with.

Josh lied once more. He lied about his true feelings for Andie. He doesn’t want to distort Andie’s motivation on her thing. He knows how much he loved her already but he told himself he’ll just love her clandestinely and would not reveal to her how he really feels until her exam is cleared up. The two are unaware of their real feelings but they know they want to continue seeing each other.

“So, I’ll see you at lunchtime,” he told her while squeezing her hand as she’s about to get off the truck.

It is now clear to Andie that she should not assume about Josh wanting a serious relationship with her as she already found out how he really feels about her. It is easier for her not to think of him anymore, so she can focus on her review. She thanked the Lord for giving her the answer to her prayer.

Josh already reserved a table for two in the nearby restaurant. He texted her where she could find him.

“This isn’t a lunch date, right?” “If it is, I won’t sit with you,” said Andie while expressing a wry smile. It’s easier for her to blurt out what she wants to say and be herself after their talk that day. She’d like to think that she’s just spending time with a close friend so there’s no need to panic or overreact.

He just shook his head.

“Where do you want to go after lunch?” he asked.

“I’m not going anywhere, I need to stay on the library till my next class, I’m already a couple of chapters behind so I need to catch up.

“Okay.”

“What about later after your class, you want to go to Bluewave or somewhere else?” he asked.

“Ah no, I need to go home early too, I need to teach my niece for her upcoming exams,” she told him also.

“Seems like you don’t have plans for the weekend, right?” he asked. She just nods.

“So, when’s our next date?” he asked straightforwardly.

Andie was choked after sipping on her iced tea, “Date?” Not too soon, Josh,” she told him while wiping her mouth with napkin.

Josh just shook his head and continued to eat. He thought that he’s starting to lose her. He knows after telling her things the other day it gave her a wrong notion that he doesn’t really care about her. He just wants to tell her how much he loved her but something is resisting him, he knows he couldn’t mess up with her review and stateboard. He doesn’t want to interfere on her future.

“I’ll just go back to check the business after our lunch then I’ll pick you up after your class, okay?” he said. “But please promise me that you’ll wait for me later, please?” he seriously expressed.

She just nods. It melts her heart whenever he displays his affection to her but she just doesn’t believe it now.

Josh already arrived while Andie is waiting for him at the nearby cafeteria. He got out of the car to look for her but when he didn’t find her he immediately called her phone.

“Hello, I’m here already, did you just leave?” he asked in a concerned tone.

“No, I’m here at the cafeteria reading, wait for me, I’ll meet you there, bye.”

Josh smiled when he saw her.

“I thought you left already,” he said in relief while opening the door for her.

He then drove going home.

“Why do you drive so slow?” she asked. “We don’t have plans for today so that means we won’t be spending much time together so bear with my driving……” he told her. She just grinned.

“By the way, my friend from the US has just arrived and we’re planning to go to Baguio on Friday afternoon until Sunday evening. They wanted to come up there earlier but I told them I can’t coz you still have classes and I know you will not skip class so I changed the schedule, so will you come with me?” he asked.

Andie thinks about it for a few minutes, “Uhmm, no, I think I couldn’t come, you can go back to your earlier schedule, I couldn’t come really,” she told him.

“And why not, I thought you like to come so I invited you,” he repeated.

“I’m not sure this time, I told you, I only have two months left and I couldn’t mess up,” she said. There goes her excuse again.

Josh didn’t argue anymore because that’s what he wants to give her, her privacy and her focus.

“Okay, but if you change your mind please tell me immediately,” he said. She just nods.

It became a daily routine for them, spending the day with each other, but the intensity of feelings became less for Andie. It didn’t do good on her. It didn’t draw her momentum back. This made her even worse. She’d have sleepless nights longing for his love but she believes it’s impossible to happen.

It’s already Friday morning when Josh came to pick her up from home.

“Ready?” he asked. She just nods.

“You’re not coming with me, right?” he asked. She just shook her head.

“Are you driving up tonight?” she asked. He nods.

Andie wants to ask details but she resisted her mouth from talking. She thinks it is possible that his friends might pair him up with some girl and that worries her.

“I-I’m sorry if I couldn’t pick you up later, we’ll head up at 4 p.m.,” he said.

“No, it’s okay, I told you,” she said in a calm tone.

“Bye for now Andie, I’ll see you when I get home,” he said. This time he didn’t say he’s going to miss her, nor hold her hand or kiss her.

“He turned so different this time,” she whispered.

She arrived home feeling so restless as she knew they’re already on their way to Baguio. She’s thinking how it feels to be with him on a long vacation, in his rest house, how he looks like while on his pajamas. She felt envious about his friends that they get to spend time with him in a cool breeze of Baguio.

Andie didn’t sleep yet. She’s waiting maybe Josh will call her. After a while her phone rang.

“Hello Andie,” a happy tone presented her.

“How’s your trip?” she asked in an excited tone.

“It’s good but tiring, we’ve just arrived,” he said.

“Did you drive?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Good thing he’s the driver so that means he couldn’t speak much with whomever he’s being paired to, but what if the girl is sitting in the front seat also?” she’s thinking.

She finally asked him.

“How many friends you brought up there?” she asked straightforwardly.

“We’re 8 in total, Joy and Benj are here, remember them?” he said.

“Oh yes, how’re they?” she asked.

“They’re fine. Joy asked me why you didn’t come, I told her you need to study,” he added.

“Oh okay, so how’s everybody there, are they treating you well?” she just laughs.

“Oh yeah,” he said.

“I can feel that you’re happy, good thing I didn’t come to screw you,” she said teasingly.

“Of course not, I’d be twice as happy if you came, now I felt I’m all alone, I need to make myself happy with them I guess,” he told her.

“Hey Andie, I’ll call you later okay, bye.” He hurriedly hung up the phone seems like he’s up to catch something.

“Why, what happened?” Josh came running toward the other room where a friend of theirs is staying.

“Mitch was frightened by the shadow of the curtains,” Nathan told Josh while grinning.

“I didn’t realize it was the shadow, it almost freaked me out,” she told them while still catching her breath.

“Almost?” You screamed like a whining cat stepped on its tail, Mitch, that freaked us out,” Nathan teasingly told her.

“Very funny!” she said.

While they are about to leave, still nodding their heads, Mitch secretly called Josh, “Can you accompany me tonight coz I’m so afraid, the people said that there are a lot of ghosts here in Baguio.”

Josh couldn’t resist her request even if he doesn’t like to. He doesn’t want to give his friends the impression that he’s flirting with Mitch even if she was flirting heavily with him since the time they’re introduced, but there’s no clue that Josh likes Mitch at all. He’s just concerned that his friend, Paul, brought the lady with them so he could pair her up with Josh.

“Let’s go down first, I think they’re drinking tonight,” he told her.

Mitch followed him while she scoops her elbow on him.

The whole group was gathered at the veranda of the house. Josh brought out bottles of beer and chips. They were talking about Josh and Paul’s experiences in the US. Mitch would butt-in in their conversation about their life in the US also as she had lived there for quite a while. Josh’s friends started teasing them but he didn’t give them any sign of conformity. He’s just gentleman enough not to make it obvious to them that he has no interest on that lady, but Mitch felt otherwise. She’s extremely flirting with him. She follows him wherever he goes. She’d ask him to accompany her wherever she wants to go. This made Josh all the more irritated. He doesn’t like a clingy lady, at least this time, especially if he’s not interested on her, but he can’t do anything. He doesn’t want to be rude.

It’s already 1 a.m. when they call it a night. They all scattered to their respective room. Mitch secretly asked Josh to stay the whole night with her. She even told him that he can sleep on her room, but he disagreed. This made Mitch feel more interested on him as he challenges her much. She said she won’t quit on Josh.

“I’ll just walk you off your room then I’ll stay at my room, okay?” he said. Mitch walked in disappointment.

Josh tried calling Andie so he can explain why he hung up the phone but she seems asleep already. After ringing two cycles, he then stopped, he just texted her,
“hi andie, i knw ur asleep alrdy,
i nid 2 attend 2 sum things
a wyl ago so i hung up
hpe u huv a gud nyt sleep
i wish u wer hir,
gud nyt my dear.”

Andie wasn’t able to catch up the phone but she read the text. She didn’t reply. “Good night Josh, I hope you won’t forget about me,” she just thought to herself.

“Who are you calling?” Mitch asked Josh in curiosity while she saw him flipped his phone.

“Uhmm, I’m calling my friend from Manila,” he said.

“I suppose you’re not calling a guy this time of day?” she asked.

He just shrugs his shoulders then he said good night to her.

“Good night Josh,” she told him when he passed by her.

As she’s sure he’s not going to respond, she quickly pulled his arm to turn to her and holds his face with her other hand then kissed his lips and hold it for a few seconds. As she twists her lips on his and working her tongue, Josh pushed her and immediately turned away wiping his mouth. He was so embarrassed by the lady’s act. He immediately ran toward his room, to his bathroom. He looked at the mirror, washed his face, pat it dry, then looked at the mirror, he brushed his teeth, and then looked at the mirror. He couldn’t believe himself he actually acted like a first-timer to the lady who’s giving into him. The only thing in his mind was kissing Andie, and no one else.

It was already 7 a.m. when Josh went down the kitchen to prepare for their breakfast. Joy is already awake with Benj. They helped him set the food on the table.

“Morning guys, morning Josh,” Mitch told them while smiling at Josh.

Joy and Benj are suspecting about Mitch’s behavior. They both know that Josh introduced Andie to them as his special friend, so the thing about Mitch would be a little odd if he attempts to flirt with her also.

After breakfast, they first went to the recreational area. Some would match in the squash game. Some stayed at the recreational room playing table soccer, billiards, card games and dart. Mitch asked Josh to teach her how to play squash but she couldn’t learn it, so they’re all making fun of her.

In the afternoon, they all decided to go out and tour around Baguio. They first went to SM to eat lunch then went to Mines View, Wright Park, Cathedral, John Hay and The Mansion. They went back to John Hay to have a dinner at Manor Hotel. As usual, Mitch is too clingy with Josh. He felt so irritated. After a while they went home so they could rest. They spend the night in the recreational area to drink again. The ladies and other friends are gathered in the karaoke room singing while Josh is talking to his friend, Paul.

“What do you think about Mitch?” he asked Josh.

“Uhmm I think she’s fine, but she’s too clingy,” he told Paul.

“I thought you like girls like that, that’s why I brought her here for you man, I know she can be right for you,” he said.

“I don’t know, I think I just lost interest in ladies who give me a hint immediately,” he told him.

“I bet you already found someone?” Paul asked him.

Josh just smiled after Andie’s face flashed into his mind.

“Yes man, I already found her, I know she’s the right one for me. I can be so myself whenever I’m with her, I get to straighten my life when I met her,” he added.

“You must love her already and I think she’s special,” he told Josh.

“Yes, she is, but….” he said.

“But what man? Aren’t you two together already?” he added.

“The thing is, she didn’t know yet….” he said while taking off his phone to call Andie.

“You what?” Paul exclaimed.

“Hello Andie, how are you, still toxic?” he asked her.

“Yes, Josh, I wish I could finish all these chapters today, I’m sooo tired!” she complained.

“Good thing I called so this is your break now,” he added.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” she said.

“So, how’re your friends over there, are you having fun?” she said.

“Yes, but it can be more fun if you’re around, you’re so stubborn you don’t wanna go so that’s the price you have to pay, you have to read all that books now, beh!” he said teasingly.

“You’re really such an annoying thing, I don’t know how your friends endure you and I don’t even know why I endured you,” she teased.

“It’s because I’m such a good guy and for you, I’m the charming man, ha ha,” he told her.

Paul is amazed by the way their conversation is going. He really thinks Josh is enjoying her company.

“Hey, my friend, Paul, is here he wants to talk to you,” he said while signaling Paul then handed him the phone.

“Hello, Andie, right?” Paul asked.

“Yes, Paul, this is Andie, how are you?” she asked.

“Did all of you get to rest well?” she added.

“Ah yes, yes, it’s nice to be here in Baguio again, same old stuffs,” Paul said.

“I heard that you’re reviewing for the stateboard so you weren’t able to come with us?” he asked.

“Uh yes, I need to focus on this thing, this is something serious, I still need to take the exam to be able to work in the US, unlike you guys,” she said.

“And is it good or what?” he asked.

“Definitely in between, it’s more of tensing me and my brain,” she said while releasing a short laugh.

“So, what do you think about Josh?” he diverted the topic.

“Oh, Josh, hmm…Josh….he has extreme personality. He can be so good while he can be so bad,” she said teasingly. “I’m just kidding. Josh, is such a fine man, I’m not sure if we’re thinking the same thing about him because you knew him more than I do, but that’s what I think of him honestly. I know he has sordid past but that I don’t mind at all because he’s living his new life at the moment. He’s sometimes lame, he’s sometimes funny, sometimes sweet and sometimes serious. I don’t know, he can be everything,” she said.

“Wow, I didn’t know, Josh has become like that,” he said jokingly. “And sordid past? You knew about it, I didn’t know that myself?” he asked her in curiosity.

“Shhhh, keep quiet,” she told him.

“I’m just kidding and yes, everything you said was true about him, so I hope you take care of our Josh,” he said seriously.

Andie is just dumbfounded after she heard what Paul says. It seems like he knows something about them.

“I wish you good luck and please when I get back next time, I hope I can see you both holding each other’s hands already okay?” he said teasingly.

Andie just laughs. Paul returned the phone to Josh while Josh looks in astonishment to Paul as he has never heard him speak like that about him even before.

“Hey what did you tell my friend, you’re selling me huh?” he asked.

“Ha ha, you can ask Paul about it, I’m not telling you,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll call you later, I don’t want to hold you for long, go back to your books and when I come back be sure that you’ll give me all your time,” he said teasingly.

Andie just shook her head in wonder. Then they hung up.

“Man, I didn’t know she’s a fine lady like that. How’re you able to meet her?” he asked.

“I told you so, so no more Mitch pair-up okay?” he told him.

“Our conversation is good and all and she’s really witty,” he added. About Mitch, okay, I think I should meddle between you two,” Paul added.

“Good, I don’t wanna be hurting another lady’s feeling anymore,” Josh said.

“What is keeping you so long to tell her how you feel man?” Paul asked.

“I’m not really sure, I just don’t want to confuse her. I want her to focus on her review and eventually pass her exam, then I guess that’s the time I’ll tell her everything.” Josh said.

“But you’re not confusing her. I think she knows how you feel already but she’s just guarded. I think she’s just waiting for you to tell her, so why don’t you go for it Josh?” he added.

“I’m just afraid…..”

“That she’ll turn you down?” Paul continued.

“Josh, guys like us don’t waste time waiting for the right timing, I bet you know that?” he challenged him.

He just looked straight at him.

“You can always find someone like her or maybe someone better if she dumped you.” Paul said.

“You don’t understand,” Josh said while starting to get upset.

“I’m just kidding man, loosen up!” Paul said while tapping Josh’s shoulder.

“I’m just challenging you and now I’m certain that you really love the lady. I haven’t seen you giving attention to other ladies like that before and man you really changed, and that’s a positive change I suppose, and I commend your good work.” Paul told him.

“About her exam, if you feel you can be an interference to it, I suggest you keep your mouth shut yet and wait until she passed her stateboard,” Paul added.

“But that’s really nice of you to consider that. No more sane man would ever do that in this generation,” Paul continued.

“Thanks man, now you understand.” Josh told him. “She doesn’t like any interference because I think she’s capable of getting wasted during a relationship, so she avoided having one, so that makes me cautious also.” Josh told him.

“Really?” Paul is curious.

“I think that’s her reason why she’s uptight,” Josh said.

“Well, it’s better to be cautious if you really want to end up with her,” said Paul.

“That’s very true, if only I can fast forward the time, I’ll do it so I can love her without restraint.” Josh said.

When Mitch saw Paul and Josh she then called the two to join them in karaoke.

“Are you calling your friend again?” Mitch asked in curiosity.

Josh just nods while Paul pulled her hand to sit beside him at the karaoke room. They then took turn to sing. When it’s Josh’s turn to sing, he picked up the song “Take This Love” by Sergio Mendes. Mitch felt that the song was for her but Paul thinks it’s his song for Andie. After he sings he texted Andie and told her what they’re doing, but he doesn’t know that Joy also texted Andie to let her know that Josh is being paired up with the other lady they just knew.

“Really, how does she look like?” Andie asked Joy on her text.

“She’s pretty, flawless and sexy,” she texted back.

“I just want to let you know coz I get so confused that you’re the special lady of Josh but he is being paired up with someone.

It also confused Andie why Paul is wishing them luck where in reality he’s the one who started the pairing up thing with Josh and that lady, but she doesn’t know how Josh really feels for Mitch.

“No, it’s okay, just let him do his thing, maybe he’s just being nice to the lady, thanks for your concern Joy,” she told her.

“Okay, I’ll let you know how the things are progressing here later,” she added.

Andie sighed deeply after their conversation. Her mind is occupied with a lot of things already. She doesn’t know who is telling the truth. She thinks his friend might just be covering him up and Joy would not make any stories, as they don’t really know each other well, maybe Joy is really reading what she sees. But she cannot disregard giving credit to Josh either as she thinks he is totally honest with her. She stopped thinking for a moment and brought her attention back to her review.