Love Is Second Best — Chapter 20: MY KIND OF 'ALWAYS'

Hope's POV

I looked at my screen, really confused right now. Why would Carmella cancel my calls all of a sudden? I sat down near the window of my room as I looked at the trees around the house from the second floor where my room is located.

I tried remembering what I have done wrong but I never recalled any. That's why this sight is giving me a headache. I dialled her number twice and I can see that she kept on cancelling it over again. I tried to dial her number for the third time.

'Please answer it...Carmella' I murmured as I put my phone on my left ear. I can't help but to worry because of what is happening.

"The number you are calling is out of coverage. Please try your call later."

What? I looked at my phone screen and attempted to dial but I am hearing the same alert over again. It is weird that I can't reach her out without even knowing where she is right now. Usually, she'll tell me where she will be going but now? I am not sure...

"Elise? Dear? Please go down now. Time to eat."

I looked at the time from our wall clock. It was exactly six in the evening. Hearing it from my father made me hungry all of a sudden. I decided to go downstairs because it is already our time for dinner as well.

I looked at our table and as usual, it is full of delicious foods. There's fried chicken, some slices of pineapples and melon. There's sauteed vegetables and marinated steak too.

"Good evening, dad."

"Good evening, my lovely daughter. Are you alright?"

I sit down beside him. He started to get the bowl of rice and put some on my plate.

"Thanks, daddy."

"You looked weary. Are you alright?" My dad asked as he gently put the bowl back to its place. He touched me gently on my forehead.

"You're not having a high temperature as well. What happened? How do you feel right now?"

"Daddy, I am okay. I think I am a little tired because I swam almost the whole day."

"You should invite Carmella to swim with you."

"Hmm...that's quite impossible dad. She can't be contacted as of the moment." said as I smiled at him. I started getting my own steak and placed it on my plate. I started eating quietly as I chewed my food very well.

In my peripheral vision, I can see that dad is still looking at me as if waiting for something that I will tell him.

"I guess she's just busy, dear."

"Yeah. I think so too, dad." I said as I smiled. When he noticed that I was concentrating on my food, he slowly got his spoon and fork back to his hands as he started eating, too.

I don't want to tell my dad. I don't want him to know that Carmella cancelled my calls. He might think of this as a big deal. Growing up, I was used to having my dad as my guardian angel. I am used to him protecting me always. For him, I am still his precious baby after mom died.

I smiled as I glanced at him eating our dinner in a delicious manner.

Don't worry, dad. I might not tell you what's happening right now but I hope you'd also understand. Someday, I will be forced on my own to the point of solving my own problems and worries without dad knowing it.

----

I finished dinner and spent a few talks with dad. I also told him that I will go to Carmella and I will not last for more than thirty minutes.

"Okay. Please don't stay there for so long. You got to sleep early." He reminded me one last time as I went outside our gate.

"Yes dad! I will be right back real quick." I shouted back because I am already far from our house. Good thing there were a lot of streetlights to the sidewalk where I am walking right now. It added to my confidence that nobody will do me harm, ever.

I held my cellphone with me as I saw Carmella's house. I inhaled slowly as I knocked on the door. Carmella said that if the light from her mother's window is still on, it means her mom is still working. Good thing, I noticed Carmella's mom is not really busy as of the moment. I may not be a great disturbance for her if ever.

I knocked again and I felt some steps going near the door until someone opened it from inside the house.

It was Carmella's mother that's looking at me right now. She's not having any facial expression that scares me.

"Hi, ma'am." I smiled in a very awkward manner that made her look at me so intently.

"I just want to know if Carmella went home already." I added, trying to hide my nervousness. I don't know but Carmella's mom is really hard to please. She can't hardly smile which made the fine lines from her face visible already.

"She's not yet home." She dryly replied, standing still on the door while putting her hands on her hips while looking at me. She's only wearing a plain T-shirt and khaki shorts with that messy bun hairstyle. However, despite all of it, I still find her beautiful.

"Oh, I see. Thank you so much, ma'am. I just want to check on her."

"Did you send her a chat or text message? I'm sure she'll send a lot to you when she misses your call."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Yeah, thanks ma'am, I will do it right away."

"Okay. Do you need anything to say? I still have work to do." She said. I guess that's only a simple message of actually telling right in front of my face. That's how she usually tells me to go home in a polite manner, at least.

"Oh, no ma'am. I'm sorry for disturbing you. I will be going now. Have a great night, ma'am." I nodded. After two minutes, she gently shut the door in front of me. One thing I noticed about Carmella's mother is she didn't know how to smile. She seemed to be stressed all the time. She even looked old for her age. I don't know but something in me pity her too much. I think there's a reason for her to look like that. I sighed as I walked back to our house.

Usually, Carmella is already inside their house at this time. I am wondering why she's not home yet. Her mom seemed to not care, either. She didn't even know where she was. It was when I attempted asking her about her daughter.

“Did you see her?"

When I opened the door, my father greeted me with a worried look.

"No, dad. She's still not home. I wonder why."

"Maybe she hung out with her other friends that's why."

I sat on our sofa as I kept thinking about Carmella. Something is going on without me knowing it.

"Maybe she misses them so much. Remember, some of her friends aren't your friends. It is just normal for her to spend time on them, too."

"I think so, dad. I guess overthinking really sucks."

"Try again tomorrow. Maybe she doesn't want to touch her phone for a while. She may be enjoying the company of her friends as much as possible."

"I will dad. Thanks." I slowly went upstairs as I realized dad's words. It may be true. I am not only Carmella's friend. There are lots of students who were there for Carmella first before I did.

I lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I have to accept that not everyone could be there for you at all times.

----

Carmella's POV

We went outside the restaurant at quarter to seven in the evening. I attempted to go where buses usually pick up their passengers when Adrian stopped me. He held my hand all of a sudden that I faced him with a confused look.

"Aren't we going home now?"

"I got my car with me. I also told my driver to drive me home because it is getting late."

"Oh, I will go ahead then." I tried pulling my hand out of his when he tightened his grip.

"Where are you going?"

"Go home?" I answered him by asking a question. Until now, I did not get what he meant. He chuckled as he looked at me.

"I will not allow you to go home unless I will be the one to drive you there."

"Oh, I see." I giggled as we walked near his car. I can't help but to smile as I looked at him holding my hand as if I am his. By the sight of it, he has no intentions of letting my hand go. He has a red car and a handsome-looking driver five years ahead of his age, I should say.

"Hi, sir. Shall we go home?"

"No, not yet. We will go to my friend's house first. I need to drive her home safely."

My heart fluttered so much because of his sweetness. I can't seem to get enough of it. I wish this will be the usual routine that we will have. This is the 'always' that I have been wishing for.