Her Memories

CHAPTER 6. The Invite

Asia, Lily, and Joaquin had fun talking about a lot of things in the cafe, especially Lily. She talks a lot about everything. She even tells the story of how she and Asia met. Also, Asia never thought that Joaquin would be that fun to be with. They are both only children of their families, and Asia just thought of what Lily said, that they might already be destined to be brother and sisters.

"Asia, are you okay?" Maggie asked her friend.

They are in the school garden, sitting under the tree with chips and soda while waiting for their next class, wherein Joaquin is their classmate.

"Yes, why did you ask?" Asia asked her back.

"Because you suddenly just smiled," Stephy commented.

"Me? No way." She denied.

"Come on, I really thought that you might be so miserable because of what happened at the club that night, but it seems that you're okay?" Maggie confusingly remarks.

"I just don't have time to be pathetic, but if ever I see that bastard again, I would love to hit his face really hard, as in super!" She said while she punched her fist through the air.

"I'm just being friendly, and then he took that advantage. How dare him," Asia added with gritted teeth.

"Yeah, even though he's cute, I will not tolerate that act," Stephy added.

"But thank God that the bouncer guy came on time and nothing happened to you," Maggie said.

"Yes, he's really my savior," Asia said, smiling sweetly while remembering how Joaquin patiently looked after her that night.

"So, tell us, what does that smile all about?" Maggie asked again.

"What smile?" Asia asked, trying to hide her enjoyment.

"That," Maggie said while pointing his index finger to her face near her mouth.

"Hmm, maybe because my dad is planning to propose to aunt Angel?" She said, but she sounds like asking.

"Really!?" Her friends both cried together.

"Yes, in summer." She said.

"I'm so happy for you, my friend. Finally, you'll be having a mommy," Stephy said while hugging Asia.

"Well, I am more excited for my father." She replied.

"Best wishes to them, just tell uncle Albert not to forget to send us the invitation." Maggie reminded, and Asia chuckles and said,

"Of course."

After a few minutes of passing their time in the garden, they already decided to go to their classroom. While walking, Asia is busy scrolling on her phone, and when she looked up, she saw Joaquin from afar looking at her with a smile. Luckily, her friends didn't notice it because they giggled about something she didn't know, so she secretly smiled back at the man.

"Asia!" Stephy suddenly cried and looked at her with wide eyes.

"Oh my God! What's happening to you? You've been smiling like crazy the whole day." She unbelievably told her.

"Just don't mind me, okay? What's wrong with smiling?" She asked with annoyance.

"Because it looks creepy, just so you know," Stephy commented, shrugging her shoulders.

"You're so mean," Asia said, frowning.

They are a few steps to their classroom with Stephy, and Maggie is ahead of Asia, and when she is about to step inside the room, someone pulls her wrist. It's him, Joaquin. He put something in her hand and fist it, she looked up to him and saw him smiling down at her, she smiled back and held the unknown thing in her hand tightly.

"Asia!" Maggie shouted her name and abruptly pulled her hand off him and quickly ran to her friends.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"No. Nothing, I. I just dropped my book." She reasoned, stammering.

"What book? It's a notebook you're holding." Stephy remarked.

"Oh! Yeah! A notebook!" Asia corrected.

"Come on, girls, don't make it a big deal." She said and sat on her desk.

"How couldn't we? You've been acting so weird the whole day." Stephy said again.

After a few seconds, Joaquin gets inside the classroom as well, and before he can sit on his desk, Stephy greeted him.

"Hi, Joaquin!" And he smiled at her.

Stephanie giggled and excitedly turned to her friends.

"Girls! Did you see that? He smiled at me! Oh my God!" Asia just smiled and remembered the thing that Joaquin gave her. It's a tiny piece of paper with a message. She secretly read it,

~In the Sweety Cafe, at three~

She smiled and felt her cheeks heating up.

"Asia! He smiles at me!" Stephy cried excitedly.

"Yeah! I know," Asia's only response.

"I told you, he will wake up one day looking up to me, and he will be mine," Stephy claimed dreamily.

"Come on, stop dreaming, maybe he just had a wonderful weekend, so don't hope too much. You might end up disappointed." Maggie warned her.

"Stop it, don't ruin my mood." Stephy stopped her.

While Asia's friends are mocking each other, she suddenly thought of him.

'Is it possible that it is because of what happened in the cafe? Maybe? And why does he want us to meet there?' She inquired herself.

After their class, Asia bid goodbye to her friends immediately and went straight to the cafe. She quickly saw Joaquin sitting in the same spot where they had their coffee yesterday.

"Hi," She greeted him, and he stood up.

"Hi, thank you for coming. I hope you don't have anything to do this afternoon." He said while scratching the back of his neck.

"Uh, nothing, actually," Asia said.

"Sit first. I'll get you something, what do you want? A coffee and donuts?" He offered while smiling warmly.

"Yea.Yes! Thank you." She said, stammering because of the sudden chills she felt inside her.

A few minutes later, he came back with a coffee and donuts.

"Thank you."

"By the way, I tried looking around to see if I can see Lily, but I can't find her." He told her.

"Oh, maybe she's busy with her homework, that's why," Asia explained.

"I see."

Asia is feeling strange because her heart is beating weirdly, and she doesn't know why.

'Maybe I need to reduce my coffee intake.' She advises herself.

"By the way, why do you ask me to meet with you?" She finally asked.

"Nothing, I just want to have coffee with my sister," Joaquin said while smiling warmly. Asia softly laughs at his words; she can't believe that he would say that.

"Really?" She asked unbelievably.

"Yes, really, and also, I just don't want to go home yet. I felt bored alone, so I thought that maybe I could ask my sisters to hang out with me again, but it seems that the center of attention isn't available." He said, referring to Lily.

"Are you also living alone in your house?" Asia asked.

"Unfortunately, yes, but what do you mean? Do you also live alone in your apartment?"

"Yes," she said, looking down.

"But I saw someone come out when I drove you the first time, remember?" He asked, confused.

"Oh! It's Lucy. She's not living with me, actually. She's only there that day because dad asked her to check on me."

"I see, but why are you living alone then?"

"Honestly, I don't want to be alone," Asia said, sadly looking down.

"Of course, no one likes to be alone. Anyways, do you want to come with me?" He asked, smiling at her, hoping she would say yes.

"To where?" Asia asked.

"Do you trust me?" He playfully dared.

"Well, since you saved me, maybe I can trust you?" She answered with hesitation but was willing to accept the invitation.