BLIND DATE ( ENGLISH VERSION )

ALEXA’S POV

” Ladies and gentlemen, Happy Airlines extends a warm greeting to you as we arrive in Manila. It is currently 3:40 p. m. local time. Please keep the aisle(s) clear until we are parked at the gate and remain seated with your seat belt fastened for your protection and the safety of those around you. Thank you! ”

I heard the flight attendant announce, so I sat adequately on my seat while looking at the view from the airplane’s window. I could not believe that I would return to the Philippines after six years. During the past six years, I have finished college and am now a successful fashion designer. I have my own clothing line and hoping to own another with a subsidiary of my parents’ company.

” Let’s go,” I heard James speak, so I looked at him. He was carrying our handbags, and some passengers were already exiting the airplane.

I nodded and stood up. James helped me to go down the plane. While James and I were walking in the arrival area, I could feel some strange nervousness in my chest. Maybe it is because I do not know precisely what I should expect here now that I have come back.

” Alexa!” I looked to wherever the voice came from.

I could not help but laugh because of how loud Cassie’s voice was. She caught the attention of some passengers, but she did not move and simply flipped her hair. I wave at her and walk faster to her place.

” I miss you so much!!” Cassie happily stated when she hugged me tightly.

” Ca-Cassie, I c-can’t br-breathe,” I hardly spoke my words. She hugged me so tight, making me catch up for some air.

Cassie immediately let go and showed me a peace sign,” I am so sorry. I miss you so much,”

” I miss you too. You look so beautiful,” I smiled while complimenting her.

” Psh, what do you mean by beautiful? I am too stress on my work because my boss was so demanding,” She protested while frowning.

” Why? What did Sebastian ask you to do for him?” I asked while laughing. Cassie is working in our company as the executive assistant of the CEO, Sebastian.

” I could not take him anymore. He asked me things beyond my responsibility. Even how he court Tiffany is my problem,” She pouted while protesting, which made me laugh.

” I already told you to work on my company,” I remarked.

” Nah, I was about to resign since I want to pursue my master’s degree,” Cassie explained. Cassie majored in accountancy in her undergrad and planning to get her master’s major in business.

” Ahem!” Cassie and I looked to James, who faked his cough.

” Are you not yet done talking? If you did not notice, I am also here and carrying heavy luggage,” James complained. I do not know if I should laugh at him or pity how he looks right now.

” I am sorry. I will carry some of it,” I volunteered. When I was about to reach for my handbag, he avoided me.

” Do not worry about it, I can carry it. Maybe you could just start walking,” He said.

” But -”

I did not finish my statement because Cassie said, ” Let’s go, Lex. Let James handle that,” Then she wrapped her arm around my arms.

I could not do anything but let James carry our luggage because Cassie had already pulled me to walk with her.

***

” Alexa!” My mother ran towards me after I entered the house.

” I miss you so much,” She added while hugging me.

” I miss you too, mommy,” I happily said after she let go of me.

” Dad!” I called my father when I saw him go out of the library.

” Sweetie,” He opened his arms as he called me. I smiled at him, ran, and hugged him.

” One of our princesses really grow up now,” I heard dad comment while hugging me.

” It seemed like you are conveying that I am not yet grown up, dad,” I heard Cassie complain, which made us all laugh.

” Oh, it seemed like my family is so happy,” We looked at where the voice came from, and I saw my handsome brother.

” Sebastian!” I called him. I immediately ran towards him and hugged him tightly.

” Chill, it did not obvious that you miss me so much,” He stated while laughing. I pouted because of what he said.

” Where is James, by the way?” Cassie and I looked at each other because of our father’s question.

” Speaking of, where is my soon-to-be brother-in-law?” Sebastian asked.

” Ahm, we send him home first before we went here, so he can have some rest,” I explained.

” What? Why did he forget to pass by here? He got a minus point to me,” Sebastian commented. Cassie and I looked at each other again. She nodded at me like she was saying it was time for me to tell my family what had happened between James and me.

” Ahm, James and I did not work out, so we call our relationship quits already,” I admitted.

After two years, when James and I went to the States, we decided to try again to have a relationship. Still, it did not work, so we decided to end it already. We also promised that we would remain best friends and nothing more. My parents and Sebastian seemed shocked because of my revelation.

” Oh, you all looked like broke. Alexa is happy even if she is single,” Cassie interrupted to lighten up the mood. Well, what she said is true. I did love James, but that love has not been enough for me to see myself spending the rest of my life with him.

” Ah, let’s go to the dining hall to it. I am sure Alexa is hungry already,” Mommy said to change the conversation. We nodded and walked together towards the dining hall to eat.

***

” Alexa, are you awake?”

I stood up from my bed when I heard a soft knock on my door and Cassie’s voice calling my name.

” Yes, come in,” I shouted.

” I thought you were resting,” Cassie stated when she entered the room.

” I thought too that is why when we were done eating, I went upstairs already,” I explained.

” Psh, maybe you were just avoiding questions about you and James,” She teasingly accused me.

” Well, kind of. You know dad very well, right? He likes James for me very much,” I admitted.

” Sad to say things did not work out the second time around,” Cassie commented. I nodded.

” Haist, are we both destined to be single forever?” Cassie exclaimed, which made me look at her. Did she say both?

” D-did what I heard was right?” I stammered while asking her.

She smiled at me, “yeah.”

” What? Why? How?” I confusedly asked.

” Well, let us just say that a forced relationship will simply end up in a painful breakup,” Cassie shrugged.

” Did you and Ken break up?” I asked. I heard a burst of laughter escape her mouth, so I frowned. I am very confused right now.

” There is no such thing as break up since we never get together again,” She bitterly replied.

” W-why?” I stammered again.

” Well, he attempted to court me when you left but you know I felt like he was just forcing himself. When I confront him about it, he said you asked him to do it, so he did. But any way, I did not force things to happen again because I know that I would only be the one hurting in the end,” She explained.

” I am sorry,” I said because I did not know how to ease up what she was feeling.

” Hey, do not be sad there. I am happy in my life now. Beside, I should be the one apologizing to you because you sacrificed your happiness for me, yet there is nothing happened,” Cassie tried to encourage me while holding my hand.

” Maybe if we did not meet in the past maybe—”

” Sssh, things happened as it was meant to happen. Just like what I said earlier, I became happen in that short period of time but I know that I should wake up from the truth that I would never be the woman who will love again. So, do not worry about me because I am fine. Besides, in this beauty, I know someone will be head over heels to me,” We both laughed because of the last words she said. I think she did that for the purpose of making me smile.

” How about you? Are you really all right about being best friend to James?” Cassie asked after we stopped laughing.

I smiled at her,” Of course, we are happy that way. Besides, he will remain special in my heart even if we do not end up being together.”

” How about Ken? Do you still love him?”

TO BE CONTINUED!