Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

**Archie’s POV**

Weeks have passed and I haven’t seen Lisa on the second floor. I was expecting her to be there as she said she was working with the seafarer payroll program. After failing to see her for days, I waited for her in the lobby of the building. Always hoping to see her since I don’t come here often to make a follow up for my schedule. I hope this day I will be lucky to see and talk to her.

I had my luck today, because I saw Lisa with a companion who just came down from the lobby of the building. I called Lisa, but she seemed not to hear my call. So, I came running after them while still calling her name. She turned her back and saw me coming running at them. I am so lucky that they were going out to buy food and I offered my help. They both agreed, though her companion, whom she introduced as Helen, was suspicious of my sudden appearance. After they were through buying food, we returned to their office with food tow in our hands. Though Thankful for the help, her office mates thought I was her boyfriend. That was my real intention, but I need to take it slow. I don’t want to rush things because I want things to last forever.

They were teasing Lisa and I realized that I am not the only one who got interested in Lisa. I am be dumb fool if I thought that no one will notice Lisa. I know most of them are seafarers like me or her officemates. Her beauty is something that you would like to stare at all day and you wouldn’t get tired of doing so. The first time I saw her when I bumped her on the second floor, I couldn’t control myself from staring at her, that’s why I became tongue tied to say a word. She might find me weird but I just loved staring at her.

I’m the kind of guy that talks less, even when drunk. If you talk more, you would probably get into trouble. I don’t really talk much because I don’t talk much about my life to anyone. We have our secrets meaning, life secrets. Though it is not as if I’m a serial killer or a murderer. It has something to do with my family though, it has no difference from any other family that you can’t be proud of.

I was brought up by my great grandmother on my mother’s side because my parents were separated when I was two years old and my sister was just newly born. My sister and I both live with my aunties and they were the ones who bear the responsibilities for our education. My mother works as a seamstress and she could not afford to send us to school, so my mother’s sisters help us to finish our courses. My father had his own family now and he didn’t spend a single cent for our education or send us money for our everyday needs. I really hate him for leaving us for another woman. My father was so shameless to let her wife and his other woman live in the same town. How unfortunate of us to have this kind of father. That’s why we’re always the talk of the town. I have promised to myself that I won’t be like my father and I would be good to my wife and a good provider to my future children. That’s why I am very careful to enter into a relationship not until I am sure of what I am getting at. But Lisa is different, though I don’t want to rush things because I don’t want to make mistakes, then later I would just regret it. I don’t want to hurt others feelings as much as I don’t want to get hurt also.

I haven’t talked to her that long because of our circumstances, though I wish we could have some lunch out to get to know her better, and for her to know me better. I knew she was avoiding getting close to any man. I don’t know what was the reason for that. I would like to respect her space. Maybe someday when she is ready to talk and sit down with me. Fate then will take us where we should be in the future.