CHAPTER 2

"It's been a while," he greeted. "I wonder if you have changed. I changed a lot. Will I still be able to recognize you if I see you someday?"

Talking to the person he set as his wallpaper whenever he does not have any work to do, he will take the time to look at the picture and talk to it. As if he would get an answer back. He likes to talk to the person on his phone; it's like a part of his life. There was no day he would not do it.

"If we meet again, I will make sure to help you and return the favor," he promised. "Just make sure to be alive and let me see you. That is what I am praying and hoping." he added.

Caressing the phone, and said, "I hope you are still alive, that is what all matters. I can help you with all my might if you are still alive... I do not know what I would do if I knew that you were not on this earth anymore." sharing his biggest concern.

The reason he became a businessman is because of the person on his wallpaper. It may not have told him to take the business path, but it made him into a new and useful person that they, his family, and he himself, had not expected at all.

He did not know himself that he would be a business man. That was not part of his plan, and he did not know what to take when he was still in his college year, but somehow, meeting the person in his wallpaper made him study hard.

Studying hard was not his thing, but a miracle hit him, and he studied hard.

"Son! You are here. How is your work?" Lance's mother, Lauren, greeted him as soon as she saw him enter their house.

"It's good, Ma," Lance answered. "How about your work? Is it doing well?" he asked back, hugging and placing a kiss on the top of his mother's head.

"Ah yes! My work and your Dad as well are doing fine." Lauren replied, returning the hug.

Lance's mother is working as a fashion designer and has her own clothing line, while his father is managing a call center company, called PageUp.

"Ah, Son. How about dating Mikaela? I heard she is very close to you?"

Lance could not help but sigh. He guesses his childhood friend, named Bricx, talked about it already. He cannot believe that his mother will be able to know about it in just a few hours! It was like he was a paparazzi, ready to spill the beans anytime and anywhere.

"Ma, please. I don't want to date anymore. "He answered, defeated. "Yes, I know that you are just concerned about my future. But I am still not ready to have one, okay?" said Lance, who was trying to explain himself over and over again.

"We just want you to find your happiness, and I already want to see my granddaughter. I am scared that we might die without seeing it. We are worried." His mother retorted, a worried expression being shown.

"Mom, you are too young to die. What is the point of taking any healthy regimen when you do not trust it at all," he reasoned out. "Stop taking those if you are not even trusting it." he added.

Lance's mother cannot help but pout at his own son. She can't win over him when it comes to something like this, aside from being able to force his son to go to the blind dates she set.

"This is the last time? Try to ask Mikaela," Lauren insisted. "Should I talk to her about it?" she added.

"Ma, please no," he answered quickly. "She might find it uncomfortable and it might affect our work in the future. I won't say no whenever you want me to date someone you talked to, but not her. How awkward it can be after that, I might not be able to communicate with her properly and it's the last thing I would do." he added, almost sounding like he is pleading.

"Then who should you date?" his mother asked.

"Ma, I don't want to date anyone. I just want to work quietly." Lance replied.

His mother stomped her feet. "And I can't just let you overwork yourself and do nothing," his mother retorted. "I prepared you dating than working!" she added.

Instead of answering his mother, he walked out to go to his room.

"We are still talking, Kevin Lance Guevarra. Is this how you ignore what your lovable Mom had suggested?" his mother added, following him to his room. "I just want you to meet your future. How can I work silently if you are still single? You are―"

"Yes, Mom. I am in my 26 years already, if you are worried about my future wife, it is still early for that. You don't have to worry about it too much. I will find one at the right time." Lance interrupted, trying to catch his mother's mood.

"But I want you to have one right this instant." his mother retorted.

He is not tired of his work in his office, but talking with his mother about marriage or dating really exhausts him. Big time.

"Ma, let's talk about it next time. I want to rest for a while, please." he said. He opened his drawer to find a change of clothes.

"Do you like someone else?" his mother asked again. "I will make her date you. Name her." she added.

Pulling out a white shirt and black pants, he faced her mother and said, "I still don't have one, Ma. I will tell you right away if I find one." he answered.

"Just tell me if you found her, okay? Do not hesitate to tell me, whoever she is, I will make her say yes to dating you. I will make you guys marry right away," Lauren said excitedly. "Please, do not let your little sister date earlier than you. Are we clear?"

Lance's forehead creased. "No one will let her date. She is still early for that thing." he answered.

"If he is the one for her, If she likes someone, we should make some moves. I don't want her to―"

"I won't let you let her date this early, Ma," he interrupted his mother again. "Why are you thinking of dating already? Lizzy is still young. She should enjoy her youth and study to have a better future." he added.

"If she ends up studying like you? I don't want that to happen." Lauren can't help but worry.

"Ma, you are insulting me indirectly. I did study hard. I would not be like this if I hadn't. Before, you were mad at me for not studying hard and just playing computer games with Bricx. Now that I studied hard, why are you still complaining? "

"That is not what I meant, Son," said Lauren, appeasing her son. "I am happy and proud that you studied hard. Now that you have your own company and it is doing fine, I am really happy! I will always brag about my friends to you. I know you went down a hard path and it made you too serious. I am just worried that you might not think about your happiness and just work." she explained her side.

Lance approached his mother and embraced her with a warm hug. "Ma, I have a plan. I want to get married and have my own family. I really do. But not now. The someone who is meant for me is not yet here. While she's not here, I will just work to secure our financial matters," he said. "If she is here already, I won't let it slide or let her slip away." he added, assuring his mother.

His mother sighed in defeat. "Okay, I understand you. I will go out now, so that you can rest." His mother gave up.

Lance felt relieved after what his mother had said. He thought that her mother had a lot of bullets to shoot back at his answers. That is why he was trying to cut the talk down. Before his mother could leave his room, she looked back.

"Will you still let me set up some blind dates? Once a month? Can I?" his mother retorted.

Lance thought he had made himself free from blind dates. But it looks like it is not done yet.

"Okay, Ma." he answered unwillingly.

Lauren jumped out of happiness as she went out of his room excitedly.

"At least it ended up being once a month," he muttered. "It is much better than the last time." he explained.

When Lauren finds someone who is a good match for Lance, she will definitely set them up. It's like his mother has so many aces in her hands that Lance can date every day. If Lance does not complain about it, there is a big possibility that he will end up going on a blind date every day.

That is how his mother is so eager to get him a girlfriend. She will do everything for Lance to have one.

Because of the blind dates, all of his business partners or people he knows, they will ask about his status, whether he has a girlfriend already. If not, they will help his mother set some blind dates. It's not like his own mother is thirsty about his love life, even the people around him want to know about his relationship status.

They are more worried about him, thinking he will get old and still single.

Lance lay on his bed after changing his clothes. He feels tired after talking with his mother. As much as he wanted to avoid it, his mother would definitely bring it up whenever they talked. He wants it to end, but he does not know how.

He only has one way to make it stop, and that is to find a girlfriend.

Looking at the ceiling, thinking about whether he should hire or ask some people to be his fake girlfriend. He badly wants to stop this dating thing, but what can he do? It was his mother's plan all along, and he does not want to hurt her.

He picked up his phone and looked again at his wallpaper.

Vivid memories flashed into his mind.

He has memories where he is still able to see the person he is looking for.

Where he is still able to touch and talk to it. Stare at the person and teach it some important things.

"Where are you?" he asked, longing evident in his eyes. "Can you just find me?" he added. "I want to know if you are doing fine. I want to know if you are able to eat properly or have your meals three times a day."

"How I wish I had taken many pictures of you. It was a bad thing that I only took one and did not bother taking more pictures of you. Look what happened. The most not so photogenic photo was being used on my phone, and it's really my bad."

"How I wish I had not run away. In that way, I know where you are. I can still reach and talk to you. I was able to tell you stories you might find interesting and more. I should have done everything with you, but I was too stupid at that time. I was not able to think of anything that was better and safer for you."

"Do you even still remember me right now? Do you hate me or what? Is that why I can't see you? It's been years, but still I can't see any signs of you."

"I am also losing hope. That... that... you are not here anymore... that is why... I could not... see you."

"Would you mind letting me help you again next time? Will I be able to recuperate and make you smile like you always give me?"