C8 Good Samaritan - B

Meanwhile, in Jay's place.

"Good afternoon, granny," Cissie greeted. "What are we cooking for dinner tonight? I'll do it," she volunteered.

"Oh dear, The maids are in their off. I haven't bought anything yet. I'd just cook rice while you go and buy food in the market. You walk faster than I do. Let's just cook Sinigang. Here's the money, it's up to you what you want to include. By the way, where is Jay?" the old lady curiously asked.

Well, Sinigang is a Filipino dish, either fish or pork with sour soup.

"He's in his room, granny. I'd go ahead," Cissie bid goodbye.

"Right, so you could return early as we're going somewhere important later."

Cissie was overwhelmed when she was buying fish. She really picked the freshest and the cheapest she could find. It's obvious that she's the princess of stinginess. It could be due to her being raised up from a poor family and every cent was important to her. After shopping, she hurriedly went home as she remembered that she had to go somewhere with Jay's grandma. After dinner, Cissie couldn't help her curiosity regarding where they were going.

"Granny, where are we going later?" she asked while washing the dishes.

"We are going to your old boss. I will talk to him about you," the old lady responded.

"Huh? What for? He doesn't really want to believe me. Your efforts will just be wasted."

"I know that family. Don't you worry, they are our family's friend. I admit that they really have that attitude, but they could be enlightened if I myself will go there to explain. Don't be frightened, I am on your side," the old lady insisted.

"It's all up to you then."

Cissie then just let the old woman do what she wanted as she didn't want her to had any bad impression. When she got to her old boss' place, she couldn't help but felt nervous. She's confident that she didn't do anything wrong, she just didn't want to be the reason of disagreement between the two families.

"Good evening, kumpadre. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Granny Nancy greeted Cissie's former boss who was sitting on the terrace.

"Oh, kumadre! What brings you here? Wait, why are you with this woman?" Cissie's former boss had a sudden change of voice upon seeing her.

"That is why I am here for, kumpadre. I am here to clear things up. The guy you saw in the photo with Cissie was actually my grandson. It was all a misunderstanding as my grandson just came from Manila. They have this intermission number in school and he has to perform with Cissie. The person who took their photo could have bad intentions as it was done when they were eating chocolates. But there was no malice there at all. My grandson said that they got hungry after their practice but that doesn't mean they are in a relationship, right? I will be doing an investigation to know who sent you the photo and what his or her real intentions are," Jay's grandma explained.

"Oh, kumadre. Apologies if I disturbed you because of it. Since it was you who went all the way down here to tell me that, I will also try to know the truth. Get in first," Cissie's former employer invited them in.

"We appreciate your invitation but we have to go as the kids have to go to school early tomorrow. By the way, Cissie will stay with us while things haven't been cleared yet. She is such a kind young lady, she wouldn't cause any problem. So, I think we're going," she looked at a Cissie found out that this poor little young lady was uncomfortable, Grandma Nancy bid goodbye, "Have a nice evening, kumpadre.

"Goyong, we're leaving now, and have a good night," Cissie just had the strength to speak. She didn't expect that her former boss would treat them well as she knew his real color. He only believed what he wanted whether it was right or wrong. The saying "first impression lasts" applied to him. Cissie didn't bother to wait for the old man to reply. She left right away with Jay's grandma.

"I told you granny, his impression on me wouldn't easily change. I served him for four years, I know his attitude really well," Cissie told granny when they got back home.

"Don't mind that, hija. We'll eventually know the truth. It may not be now but soon. Go upstairs to rest as you have to go to school early tomorrow."

"I'll go ahead granny. Goodnight," Cissie smiled to granny, afterwards, she went to her room.

Cissie had tons of schoolwork to do so she started doing them. Afterwards, she reviewed her lessons. While she was busy, she was startled when someone opened the door.

"Holy cow! You scared me! If I would have a boil with what you're doing, you're doom," Cissie said when she recognized who went in her room. She even tapped her forehead.

"You're overreacting again. How can you have a boil with that? Stop what you're doing. We haven't practiced since you came here. This is our chance to practice without hassle," Jay said while pulling Cissie out of her room, so she didn't complain. While walking towards the hut, Jay put his arm on Cissie's shoulder. She couldn't breathe due to nervousness. Nervousness that she didn't even know why.

"We already went through a lot of things, Ciss. We have only known each other for months yet I've already seen all your ups and downs, even how you went through a lot of humiliations. Maybe we can call each other best friends. Is that okay with you?" Jay sounded serious when he asked Cissie. He faced her and stared at her eyes.

"Huh? Uh, well.... sure! It's embarrassing for me that you have witnessed all of those. You do know a lot of things about me so I guess it's okay for us to be best friends," Cissie replied while avoiding Jay's stare. She couldn't look straight to his eyes. Her heart was beating so fast. She couldn't explain why she was nervous when he only saw her as a friend. Not unless he was more than just a friend to her.

"Ehrr, what would we call each other?" Cissie still couldn't look straight at Jay. And the guy really finding what's best to call to each other.

"Ah! I know what is cool. Bezzie, yes, sounds cool!...Oh wait, I'll get us something to drink," and Jay turned around and ran to the nearest grocery store to buy drinks. He left Cissie in the hut. Cissie remained without uttering a single word because her brain was slowly processing.

And when everything was synching in to her brain, she was smiling while hugging her guitar. She couldn't explain the happiness she was feeling. One thing was for sure though, that she was in cloud nine. Her imagination had brought her to places that she didn't notice that Jay was back. He had been calling her several times but got no response from her. She's just smiling, staring at nothing. So Jay put his face near Cissie's and blew on her face.

"Oh cow! I mean, bezzie. Were you already here for a long time?" she blushed because Jay's face was so close to hers.

"It seems like your brain is scattered. Is he that handsome that you didn't realize that I'm already here?" he smilingly said.

"Of course not, you guessed it wrong! Anyway, what do you got there?" Cissie was acting like nothing happened.

She quickly changed the topic.

"I bought red wine and pizza."

"I haven't had that yet. I'm afraid I could easily get drunk.

"Hello, red wines don't have that strong effect," Jay said while handing a glass of wine to Cissie.

The two sipped red wine in between practices. Eventually, Cissie liked it. She drank as if it was water. Later, she started to become talkative. Her cheeks were all read. She talked a lot that she already didn't know what she's doing.

"D-did you know that....." she hiccupped due to drunkenness, "I would have liked you if you weren't rich?" she even pointed at Jay then smiled.

"Anyone who wouldn't like you is stupid. You're so kind and..." she hiccupped again, "and you're handsome!" Cissie confidently said those as she was drunk. She was even tapping Jay's cheeks and poked his nose while smiling.

"Yeah, right! How come you're drunk when it's just red wine?" he tried to stop Cissie when she wanted to take another glass.

"Perhaps I was drunk with your handsomeness!" she said out of her senses. Cissie laughed loud that she lost her balance and fell on Jay. As she was heavy, Jay also lost his balance and fell on the floor while hugging Cissie. Cissie's and Jay's eyes met when Cissie opened her eyes. Suddenly, time stopped for the two of them. Cissie broke the silence.

"S-sorry bezzie, I was clumsy..." Cissie awkwardly said. She couldn't hide her blushing face.

"No problem bezzie, as long as you are fine. I, uh.... I am very sorry as I didn't know that you can't tolerate alcohol that well. Let's go inside, it's already getting late," he even helped Cissie to stand up.

"Okay," she simply said. She couldn't find words to say as her mind went blank with everything that happened. It was as if she suddenly got sober when their eyes met. She also wanted to just disappear when she realized what she told Jay. She had wished the earth would swallow her up just to escape the embarrassing moment in her life. She hurriedly ran upstairs to her room. If only she could teleport with too much embarrassment. On the hand, she couldn't explain why there was this little happiness hiding in her heart.