In the cozy confines of the school cafe, Yvette and Cassy sat with their coffees, hearing the usual hum of student chatter around them. However, the ambiance couldn't mask the concern Yvette felt as she observed Cassy's uncharacteristic appearance. Cassy's usually meticulous presentation was replaced by disarray; her hair was unkempt, her makeup minimal, and the shadows under her eyes were pronounced.
Yvette, with a gentleness born of years of friendship, broached the subject. "Hey Cass, is something bothering you?" She inquired, her voice soft but laden with worry.
Cassy, momentarily lost in thought, offered a dismissive wave. "Oh, it's nothing, Yvie," she attempted to assure, her gaze still distant.
But Yvette, knowing Cassy far too well, pressed further. "Come on, Cass, we've been best friends for ages. You can't hide behind 'nothing' with me. What's going on?" Her tone was insistent yet caring, a testament to their bond.
Cassy finally met Yvette's gaze, a mixture of resignation and relief in her eyes. "You always see right through me, don't you?" She acknowledged, a weak smile touching her lips.
Yvette's smile was warm, though tinged with concern. "That's because I care about you, Cassy. Now, come on, tell me what's troubling you," she urged, her words a gentle nudge.
With a deep sigh, Cassy's defenses began to crumble. "Well, it's about the meteor shower," she began, hesitance in her voice, hinting at the depth of what was to come.
Yvette's interest was piqued, and her surprise was evident. "The meteor shower? The one I wanted us to watch together, but you said you couldn't make it?"
Cassy's admission hung heavily in the air, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I'm sorry, Yvie. I thought it was the perfect moment to reveal my feelings. But then, Altair... he surprised me by confessing first."
Yvette's response was a mix of surprise and curiosity. "He confessed? What exactly did he say?"
Cassy, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, confessed, "He said he thinks he's in love with me. It was so unexpected, it completely threw me off balance."
Yvette, taken aback, pressed further. "And how did you respond? Did you manage to say anything?"
Cassy's gaze drifted to the window, her sadness resurfacing. "No, I panicked. Considering my situation and the potential fallout, I just said, 'I can't' and ran off."
Yvette's shock was evident. "You didn't offer any explanation?"
With a heavy heart, Cassy shook her head, her voice filled with resignation. "No, I didn't. And now, I'm questioning whether I made the right choice."
Yvette leaned in, her concern palpable. "Is there any way to fix this? Perhaps a conversation might help."
Cassy's response was laced with a sense of defeat. "It feels like we're moving in opposite directions now, Yvette. It's like everything that brought us together is pulling us apart."
Yvette sighed sympathetically. "That sounds really tough, Cassy."
Cassy's frustration was clear. "You have no idea. It's consuming me."
Noticing the change in Cassy, Yvette inquired, "Have you noticed any difference in Altair since then?"
Cassy pondered for a moment. "He's become more reserved, barely engaging beyond what's necessary."
Yvette, sensing the depth of the issue, asked, "Do you think he's hurt by what happened?"
Cassy's irritation was evident. "Of course he's hurt, Yvette. Anyone would be after opening their heart and being rejected."
Yvette apologized, sensing her friend's turmoil. "I'm sorry, Cassy. I didn't mean to make it worse."
Cassy, though frustrated, acknowledged Yvette's concern. "No, you were just trying to look out for me. It's just... Altair brought so much joy into my life recently. I got lost in it and forgot about everything else."
In a moment of tenderness, Yvette embraced Cassy, offering solace in her warmth. "It'll be okay, Cassy. We'll figure this out together."
[Back to Allaine and Altair]
As Altair and Allaine stepped into the opulent club nestled in an exclusive Tagaytay condo, they were immediately struck by the stunning vista. The nearly setting sun bathed the sky in a kaleidoscope of colors, setting the perfect backdrop for the evening.
At the bar, the bartender—Tyrone, a towering figure with a gleaming bald head and a row of gold teeth—beamed at Altair's arrival. "Yo! If it ain't my favorite customer in the whole hood," he bellowed, his wide grin infectious.
Altair, visibly pleased by the warm welcome, clapped Tyrone on the back. "My man," he greeted, the camaraderie between them palpable.
Tyrone's gaze then drifted to Allaine, who was gracefully linked with Altair, his eyebrows arching in playful surprise. "Dang, Altair, man, bringing a shawty to the crib? And a fine one at that! You're stepping up your game, huh?" he teased, his tone light and jovial.
As they took their seats at the bar, Tyrone shifted into host mode, his charm effortless as he gallantly kissed Allaine's hand in greeting. "Welcome to the Assassin’s Bar. I'm Tyrone, the king of this castle," he declared with a flourish. "And this guy," he said, nodding towards Altair, "isn't just any regular Joe. We've got history. It helped me turn this place from a dream into a reality. I owe him a lot."
Altair, ever the joker, couldn't resist a playful jab. "Just friends, huh, Tyrone?" he quipped, a twinkle in his eye.
Tyrone's laughter filled the space with a rich, booming sound. "Man, can't a brother joke around?" He retorted, shaking his head in mock dismay. "Me and Altair, we're like family, you know?"
Allaine, catching the friendly banter, chimed in, "I'm just a friend of Altair's as well."
Tyrone, still sporting a cheeky grin, teased, "Just friends, you say?"
Allaine's laughter joined the chorus; her spirit was infectious. "For now. But who knows what a few rounds might lead to, right?" she suggested, her eyes dancing with mirth.
Altair, seizing the moment, added, "Easy there, Allaine. You'll have Tyrone drafting his best man speech before the night's over."
Tyrone, all smiles and brimming with enthusiasm, reached behind the bar for some glasses and a bottle of Macallan 25. He poured generous shots for each of them, declaring, "I've missed you, Alty. This first one's on the house."
Allaine, without hesitation, downed her shot and turned to Tyrone, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. "So, Tyrone, tell me something about Altair."
Altair, caught off guard by the request, questioned, "Why ask Tyrone?"
Allaine, mischief twinkling in her gaze, explained, "I'm interested in seeing you from another perspective."
Tyrone, his Brooklyn accent more pronounced as he spoke, began his tale while absentmindedly polishing glasses. "Altair, he's a true inspiration. Started from the bottom, really. He's a self-made man through and through."
He dove into his own backstory. "I was scammed when I first came to the Philippines and ended up homeless. That was until Altair came along."
Tyrone took a moment, the gravity of the memory weighing on him. "He didn't just throw money at me; he gave me a chance to stand up again. I was his first client right after he got his Certified Financial Planner certification."
Altair joined in, a note of nostalgia in his voice. "You were skinny as a rail back then, Tyrone."
Tyrone's smile softened as he continued. "That's true. But Altair stuck by me. It helped me until my food cart started turning a profit."
He reflected on those early days. "Back then, Altair was just a regular at my cart, but his early clients were folks who genuinely needed his help."
Altair's reminiscence brought a smile to his face. "I remember this cab driver who couldn't afford my fees, so he'd drive me around for free. He saved up his first million in just two years."
Tyrone brought up another memorable client. "What about that sex worker who wanted a fresh start?"
Altair, with a proud grin, took another shot. "She made her first million within a year and is now a multimillionaire. It brought me some of my first high-end clients."
Tyrone, his respect for Altair clear, added, "He's always been sharp with money. It helped me kick my drinking problem too. Kept me on the straight and narrow."
The stories painted a vivid picture of Altair's character, his generosity, and his knack for turning lives around, deepening Allaine's understanding of the man beside her.
Allaine listened in awe as Tyrone continued to sing Altair's praises, detailing how Altair's guidance had been instrumental in his journey from a struggling entrepreneur to the proprietor of a flourishing establishment.
"With Altair's help, I saved up enough to start a real business. He even introduced me to investors who turned this place into what you see now." Tyrone gestured around the upscale bar, a note of pride in his voice. "This place? It's all thanks to him. It's become a high-end haven."
Allaine, intrigued by the exclusivity of the establishment, probed further. "What exactly do you mean by 'high-end'?"
Tyrone explained, "This bar operates on a membership basis. You can't just buy your way in; you need a referral from an existing member, and even then, there's a lengthy waiting list."
Altair, chiming in, added, "Don't worry, though. I might not be an official member, but as a friend of Tyrone and a contributor to this place, I—and my guest—are always welcome here."
Tyrone nodded in confirmation. "Exactly. So, no stress. You're both more than welcome to enjoy everything the bar has to offer."
Sensing an opportunity to enhance their experience, Tyrone inquired, "Would you like me to reserve the bar for you two? Give you some privacy."
Altair, with a considerate glance towards Allaine, declined the offer. "No, that's alright. Keep it open. Allaine might enjoy mingling with some of the folks here. It's part of the experience, after all."
The scene painted a picture of a tightly-knit community, with Altair at its center, his influence and generosity having touched many lives. Allaine's respect and admiration for him grew, not just for his financial acumen but for his commitment to lifting others up with him.