Chapter 3

“GOOD morning, Lola Paula,” Eunice greeted the old woman when she met her in the yard. She was about to go out to look for Gladys because when she woke up, Gladys was not in their room.

“Are you like this in Manila? You wake up around this time?” her grandmother scolded her.

“Mamita, it is too early for you to scold Eunice,” her father said. He just came in from outside, he was carrying a woven sack.

“Your daughter wakes up really late,” Lola Paula said with an eyebrow raised. “While her friend woke up early and accompany Anita to feed the pigs.”

“I’m going,” Eunice said and excused herself for her grandmother to stop scolding her. She was used to the old lady’s treatment to her. She just walked out of the yard. She will return to the beach because she did not enjoy it the other day because of Billy's presence.

Eunice looked around as she reached the shore. When she confirmed that Billy was not there, she contentedly sat on the sand. She did not want anyone to interfere with her musing.

“Good morning,” said a familiar voice. Eunice closed her eyes tightly. She already knew who was behind her. She ignored him thinking that he would leave her alone when she ignored him. But instead of leaving, the man sat next to her.

“What do you want this time?” she asked. She did not even try to look at him.

“I want to be your friend,” he replied immediately.

“Haven’t I told you that I won’t accept your friendship unless you are no longer related to your stepbrother?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why do you want to befriend me in the first place? My friend told me that you are not naturally friendly. In fact, no one in this place is your friend.”

“Wow! You really asked around about me?” Billy teased her.

“Don’t be silly, I didn’t ask around. They gave me that information voluntarily,” she lied.

“Really? I didn’t know I am popular here,” he said. It seemed that he wanted to laugh.

"If you are approaching me because your stepbrother, who is as crazy as you, you better stop," she said seriously.

“I am not making friends with you because of Neil. Maybe my stepbrother wanted to talk to you but he did not order me to approach you. It's my decision. Every time I see you, you are alone. I kept thinking you were sad so I approached you.”

She stared at him badly. “Not all people who choose to be alone are sad. Can't we just meditate?”

“Fine. You are right,” he said then quietly looked at the sea. When no one spoke between the two of them, she felt awkward. It seemed like it was even better when they argue. She took a deep breath and faced Neil.

“Can you just let me be? I am here because I want peace and silence,” Eunice said, irritated.

“But I’m silent here,” he insisted.

“Leave me alone, Billy Cernades.”

“I am just afraid that you’ll drown yourself in the sea.”

“And why would I do that?” she asked. She was more than irritated this time.

“Because you are brokenhearted?” he replied as if teasing her.

“Brokenhearted? From whom? Your stupid stepbrother? Oh, please! It's been five years since that man cheated on me and I've moved on. I feel nothing for him but anger. And I will never drown myself because of him. Why would I waste my life for someone like him?” she angrily told Billy.

“Oh, that’s how a moved-on person reacts,” he said, nodding his head. What a moron!

“Did I do something wrong to you?” she asked him with a frown on her face. He shook his head. "In that case, why are you pestering me?"

“That’s too much! I just only want to be your friend.”

“You—”

“Eunice!” She did not have to turn around to find out that Rejoice was calling her. Both Billy and her turned around to see Rejoice. "Hi," her friend greeted Billy sweetly when he approached them.

“Hey, what’s up?” Eunice asked her friend.

“Oh, nothing. I saw you so I approached you,” he answered, grinning. Why was she even asking? Of course, she knew the answer. Rejoice approached her because Billy was there. “I’m Rejoice,” he introduced himself to Billy.

“Billy,” said Billy who even offered a hand shake to her friend which the latter did not refuse. Rejoice almost fainted in pure bliss. "I will leave the two of you," Billy finally said goodbye.

“You’re already leaving?” Rejoice asked Billy sadly.

“I remember I needed to do something important.”

“If you are not busy tonight, come to our house. It's my sibling's birthday,” Rejoice invited Billy.

“Sure. No problem,” Billy said then he faced her. “I am going.”

“Go!” She drove her away. But instead of being annoyed, he just smiled at her. A smile that was enough to froze her. Why did he have to smile like that?

“Stop being dumbfounded, girl. He already walked quite far away,” Rejoice said. It was like someone was tickling her friend.

“I’m not dumbfounded!” she defended herself then pinched her friend on his side. "You should not have invited him, he won't go."

“You’ll never know, ‘kay? Come on, help me grill in our house since I know you won't be comfortable in your house. Let's just fetch Gladys so we can chat with her,” Rejoice said excitedly then pulled her away from the beach.

IT WAS SEVEN in the evening, there were many people in the yard of Rejoice's house. Eunice and Gladys were grilling for hours already. They seemed to be grilling everything that can be grilled but they cannot be finished because of the crowd. The ones they were roasting can no longer reach the buffet table because people only take them when they see that they have cooked something.

“It was really nice here. Everyone is friends, Joan is not allowed to be here,” Gladys said while fanning the barbeque.

"You said it. The people here are kind, the fights are not frequent. I really don't know why my grandmother and sister behave differently from most of the people here,” she replied with a shudder.

Eunice and Gladys were busy chatting when Rejoice rushed to them. “What happened, 'girl? Is anyone chasing you?” she asked her friend jokingly.

“W-We have a visitor,” he replied, panting.

“Please breathe first, Rejoice. We are having a hard time understanding you,” Gladys told Rejoice, smiling.

“She’s right. And what do you mean there’s a visitor? Of course, there are visitors, it is your sibling’s birthday,” Eunice said.

“Si Billy!” he said, almost screaming, and then pointed to a man who was about to enter the yard.

"Seriously, he's more handsome in person," Gladys said, stunned. She paused fanning the grill, she just stared at Billy. Eunice also noticed that it was not only Gladys who reacted that way, but also some women and girls who were in the yard.

They seemed to have been starstruck by Billy Cernades. Eunice couldn’t find what was attractive in Billy, there was nothing different about him, he was even wearing house clothes. He just looked like a foreigner, that was what made him different from everybody.

“Good evening,” he greeted when he approached them. "For your sister," he turned to Rejoice as he handed him a paper bag. Rejoice was stunned to accept that. His friend was speechless.

“T-thank you,” Rejoice stammered thanking Billy.

“No problem. Tell her happy birthday.”

"Come on, let’s go there," Rejoice said while pointing to an empty table. He turned to her. “Eunice, go with Billy first. He will be out of place if he is alone there.”

“Gladys should go with him,” she refused. “I am busy grilling here.”

“You go, Eunice. I can manage here,” Gladys said then snatched the barbeque she was holding and almost pushed her away.

She cannot do anything but accompany Billy to the table. "I haven't done anything yet but you seem to be annoyed with me," Billy said as they sat down.

She looked at him. "I'm not annoyed," she said then forced a smile.

“You’re forcing yourself too much. You’re fitted to a commercial,” he said, smiling slyly.

“Commercial?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, a vinegar commercial. You have a very sour smile.”

In annoyance, she slapped him on the shoulder but it just made him laugh. The next thing that she was supposed to do was yell at him but she was dumbfounded by his laughter. After a while, she averted her eyes.

"Why did you come here?" she asked Billy. She was having a difficult time in silence whenever he was around.

“Because it is Rejoice’s sister’s birthday,” he replied immediately.

“You are not close to Regine.” Regine was Rejoice’s sister, the celebrant. “So, why are you here?”

“Because Rejoice invited me. I just passed by anyway, I’ll go home soon.”

“You’re going home soon?”

“Yes. Why? You don’t like it? If you don’t want me to leave early, I can stay here a little bit longer,” he teased her.

“Why would I stop you from leaving, right? Are we close?” she coldly asked him.

"Well, maybe you like my presence too," he replied with a smile. If she could only cover his face when he smiled, she would have done it. When he smiles, his eyes also smile. And because of that, he seemed to be especially handsome in her eyes. Billy possessed one of the most beautiful pair of eyes of all the people she has ever met. And that kind of asset was her weakness. "Can I ask you something?"

“What is it now?”

“If I am not Neil’s stepbrother, will you accept my friendship?” he seriously asked her.

“Maybe,” she replied. Honestly, she did not really know.

"But don't you think I have nothing to do with you and my stepbrother's issue so you are becoming unfair to me now?" he said, his chin was resting on his palm while staring at her. She just averted her gaze.

“So, you want me to feel guily, right?”

“No, I’m not,” he said, smiling.

She put her elbow on the table and rest her chin on her palm but she did not explicitly meet his eyes because she was afraid. Afraid of what, she cannot tell. "It just doesn't seem good to see that I'm getting closer to my ex-boyfriend's brother," she said afterward.

“We’re not related in blood. And even if we’re blood related, what could be the problem? We’re not the ones who broke up, right? So, there shouldn’t be an issue between us,” he reasoned out. He has a point.

"You are rich, we do not deserve to be friends," she said because she cannot think of anything.

“We are not in a soap opera,” he replied.

"You have all the justifications in everything that I say" she said to him while holding back a grin. Gradually she began to feel happy with his presence. She already enjoyed talking to him.

“So, if I were you, I would not torture myself. You better accept my friendship,” he said.

“Fine,” she surrendered.

"Hey, guys, eat first," Rejoice whispered to the two of them. Rejoice pulled Eunice towards the buffet table and forcibly gave her a plate. Billy cannot do anything but follow them.

"I HAVE a strong feeling that Billy likes you, Eunice," Gladys whispered to Eunice. They were together at the table and she took advantage whispering to her because Billy was at the buffet table to get them a drink.

“That is only your imagination, Glads. I don't think that he will make like me because he knows my ex is his stepbrother,” she whispered in response.

“So, what? Your sister hooked up with your boyfriend before, righ?”

“Stop it, Glads. Your mind is clouded with romance novels that is why you think like that.”

When Billy returned to their table, they stopped gossiping about him. "You know I admire you," Gladys told Billy. She, on the other hand, was just quietly listening to the two. "You are a very simple person even if you are the CEO of a large television network."

“I was really just like this when I was here in Alfonso. I don't want people to mislead me so I adapt. But it looks like they are still uncomfortable with me,” he said then shook his head softly.

“I guess it is in your aura,” Gladys commented. “Your aura is telling everybody that you are not just anyone.”

“Stop complimenting each other,” Eunice told the two.

“Don’t tell me that you didn’t notice that?” Gladys turned to her.

“She is not mindful of her surrounding, Gladys,” said Billy. Eunice frowned at him but he just smiled.

“You looked good together,” Gladys said, smiling from ear to ear.

“Stop it, Gladys,” she scolded her. “I’m sorry about my friend, I think it is because she is a romance writer, she’s a little crazy,” Eunice turned to Billy.

“She doesn’t really like me,” Billy told Gladys instead.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure, she’ll change her mind,” Gladys replied, grinning.

"You know, you two, you talk like I'm not around," she complained to them.

“Okay, before you walk out, I’ll go,” laughing, Gladys said, then stood up. “I’ll go so you can talk and have a moment.”

“I’m sorry about her,” Eunice told Billy when Gladys left. Gladys went back to the grilling station.

“It’s nothing. Gladys is kind and observant. It was fun to talk to her,” Billy said, smiling.

“How about you talk to her instead of me?”

“Don’t be jealous too easily,” he teased her.

“Abnormal, I do not mean anything to what I said. Oh, no, there is. I mean go home because I don't want to talk to you.”

"You're being grouchy again," he said then poked his finger in her side. Fortunately, she was not ticklish on that part.

“Sorry, you can’t tickle me just like that,” she teased him.

"I can find that spot soon," he said, winking at her.