I
Hearing those voices, Atty. Yher smiled and glanced at Seigfred. “You really know, how to make me happy, Sweety,” she quipped and gave him a quick peck on his right cheek.
Seigfred just made a hearty laugh and pulled her closer again to his side.
“Buddy! Tony! Goodness, you two are here,” she joyfully said as they approached her two best buddies.
“Of course! We have been following up Seigfred time and again of his promise to bring us to his beach resort here in Batangas,” Buddy replied winking.
“Oh, so he is your best friend now and not me anymore?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at her friend, Buddy, teasingly.
Then their waves of laughter mixed into the breezy, salty air on the beach.
“Girl, Tony and I are so happy seeing that you are well again. Take good care of that happiness. By the way, I will be leaving for Australia already next week as my vacation leave filed in the office could not be extended anymore. I will be missing you and Tony again.” They were in the treehouse when Buddy informed him of such sad news.
“Sad, but of course, you need to return to Australia for your work. Be safe there and we will always call each other. You have to come back during our wedding; I will send you your ticket back and forth,” she said as she hugged him and patted his back.
“Hey, don’t hug me like that, someone is looking at us and I might be dead in a second,” Buddy said teasingly as he looked at Seigfred down the tree and waved at him.
Seigfred waved back but with a little frown on his handsome face.
“Look at your man, overly jealous and possessive, goodness, as if you are Helen of Troy,” Buddy whispered to Atty. Yhera that made her giggled with laughter.
“Shhh, he is coming up, stop laughing now and we will be dead meats,” Buddy said again as if so serious.
“What’s funny?” Seigfred asked furrowing ass he approached Atty. Yhera and Buddy.
“Oh, Sweety, we just remembered some funny moments before,” it was Atty. Yhera answered as she automatically clung to his arm and wrapped her arm around his waist.
“Hmm, I thought I was the object of your laughter,” Seigfred said again looking at both of them with narrowed eyes.
II
They had a wonderful day at the beach. Tony enjoyed the most amongst them. He even joins some divers in diving and came back with some fresh seaweed, which they included in their meal.
In the afternoon, Tony and Buddy suggested going to the nearby market to buy some native gifts that Buddy will be bringing to his officemates in Australia. Seigfred did not think twice to agree and even offered to drive for them instead of letting his driver do it.
Yhera could not help to admire more her fiancee, who is always willing to serve her and even her loved ones, considering his status in life. She could really say that she just found the most wonderful man on earth.
She gave him a glance while he was driving and tenderly looked at him. She is a strong woman but she knew that she cannot afford to lose Seigfred again.
They were at the market and Buddy was completely satisfied as he was able to find native, elegant products that will surely capture the hearts of his officemates especially the ladies.
“Yher let’s try that native store, I could see jeepneys and tricycle miniatures there; hmm, some of my foreigner friends were actually curious of our jeepneys and tricycles, so I will buy them the miniature ones.” Buddy walked towards the native store and started checking the jeepney and tricycle miniatures. He was about to take hold of that one red and black jeepney miniature when another hand reached for it ahead of him to his surprise.
“Hey!” Furrowing, Buddy looked at the person who got his choice of gift too. His world however stopped as his eyes landed into two deep-seated drown eyes and the sweet face of a woman.
The woman looked at Buddy with surprise also on her pretty face. “I’m sorry, do you want this too?” she asked Buddy, who was still looking at her.
Buddy cleared his throat before answering. “Oh, it's alright if you want it. You can take it.” He smiled at the woman trying to gain her trust.
Atty. Yhera’s eyes squinted when she saw the woman in front of Buddy. “Ms. Shandall, right? Nice seeing you here,” she said smiling at the woman, who looked at her surprised.
Atty. Yhera saw that Shandall’s eyes seemed to be looking around and she could guess that she was looking for Seigfred.
“Seigfred is with us also Ms. Shandall, they are just inside the other store with one of our friends too.” Atty. Yhera said.
“Ahhmm, Yher, you are friends?” Buddy interrupted, wanting to let her friend remember to introduce him to the woman, she called Ms. Shandall.
“Ey, by the way, Buddy, this is Ms. Shandall; Ms. Shandall this is my friend Buddy.” Atty. Yhera got the hint and she smiled secretly at Buddy.
Buddy quickly handed his hand to Shandall with an ear-to-ear smile. “Hello, Ms. Shandall, nice meeting you.” He said while giving her, his most captivating smile.