Chapter 32
“ARE you sure that you’re coming with Benjamin to Bohol?” Hyacinth asked Caroline when they went straight to the building’s food court after Benjamin left.
“Yeah, why not? Didn’t you hear him? He invited me to come with them,” she said as her eyes find an available table. “Maybe that was reason also why he called me twice last night.”
Hyacinth rolled her eyes. “He’s calling last night because he found your necklace.”
“He even brought me lunch—”
“He brought us lunch,” Hyacinth corrected. “Stop putting colors on those simple actions that he did, you’ll end up breaking your heart hard.”
“Still, he invited me,” she said and took a seat in front of the food stalls. She excitedly opened the thermal bag and squealed upon seeing the bento boxes. “I should post these on social media.”
“Probably, Anastacia insisted on inviting you. That girl is so fond of you, and I don’t know what she saw in you to like you that much,” Hyacinth commented. “I’m sure Benjamin was left with no choice but to invite you.”
Caroline glared at her friend. “I don’t like the delivery of your statement, it was if you’re saying that I’m just pushing myself to them.”
Hyacinth folded her arms. “Aren’t you?”
“Fighting in front of the food is a bad table manner.” Lucas occupied the vacant chair beside Hyacinth. He peeked inside the bag and raised his brows when he saw the two bento boxes. “What about me?”
“You’re a billionaire, but you can’t buy your own food?” Hyacinth frowned at Lucas, who just arched his brow to her.
“Who told you that fake news?” Lucas asked. “What the two of you are fighting for? The food?”
Hyacinth rolled her eyes ceilingwards. “Why are you here? You’re not supposed to be seen here, right? Where’s your butler?”
Lucas knotted his forehead as he stared at her friend. He turned to look at Caroline when Hyacinth’s expression didn’t change. “Do you have a lot of romantic fiction novels in your house?” he asked her.
“We have a couple of local romance pocketbooks and some English novels, and Hyacinth has read it all,” she replied. “Why?”
“I think those books have gotten into her mind,” Lucas said and laughed. But, he stopped immediately when Hyacinth remained serious. “Well, I’m here because I own this building.”
“What?!” Hyacinth asked, surprised—or somewhat devasted. “And, you deny that you’re a billionaire—”
Lucas covered Hyacinth’s mouth. “If I were you, I’d keep my voice low, or else you’ll be dragged outside this building by my so-called butlers for an act of putting my life in danger.”
Caroline shook his head. “If you have plans on dating her, you should explain to her your life status,” she said and looked at her shocked friend, whose eyeballs looked like bulging from its socket. “And, by the way, I’ll be gone for three days, can you look for Hyacinth for me?”
Hyacinth swept Lucas’s hand over her mouth. “I don’t need somebody to look for me. I’m not a kid, Caroline.”
“But, I don’t think Lucas will let you stay alone in our apartment,” she said and grinned. “How’s your sleep on the couch?”
Lucas leaned back to the chair. “Well, I got a backache in the morning. Hyacinth believes that I’m a billionaire, but she made me sleep on the couch without pillows and blanket.”
Caroline gasped. “Is that true, Hyacinth?”
Hyacinth smirked. “Served him right. I didn’t ask you to stay anyway.”
The man shook his head. “I don’t understand how the two of you became friends,” he commented. “I often see you argue, just like now. You’re fighting over food—”
“We’re not fighting over that food!” Hyacinth shouted. “I’m trying to change her mind of going to Bohol with Benjamin and his kids.”
“The coffee shop owner?” Lucas asked. “What’s wrong with it?”
Caroline studied Lucas’s facial expression, he seemed to be okay now. He must have accepted that everything that happened between was just temporary. And, that she’s not the girl destined to be with her.
Hyacinth rolled her eyes again for the nth time that Caroline has lost count. “Can’t you get it? Our friend—wait, let me rephrase that—my friend, who was your ex-girlfriend, is trying to make that single dad fall for her.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “He hasn’t fallen for you? How could that happen? I must have to befriend that guy, he got the virtue of a strong man.”
Caroline laughed at Lucas’s half-meant joke. “Hyacinth’s right, Tim. I’m trying to get his heart, that’s why I will go to Bohol with them.’’
“Then, go on. But, if he breaks your heart while you’re in there, just give me a call. And, I’ll fetch you using a multi-million chopper,” he said intending to intimidate her best friend. “Of course, I will bring Hyacinth with me, you need a shoulder to cry on while we flew home.”
Hyacinth snorted. “Now, I’m starting to get doubts that you’re really a billionaire. Your lines are so… eww,” she said and fake nausea.
“Such a KJ,” Lucas muttered.
Caroline chuckled. “I’ll go get bottled waters. How about you, Tim?”
“I’m good,” he said. “I’ll just eat Hyacinth’s food—”
“Don’t you dare? What mine is mine,” Hyacinth said with a warning look.
“Whoa, I didn’t expect that you’re that territorial when it comes to food.”
“Hyacinth loves food,” Caroline said with a chuckle before she went to the food stall behind Tim and Hyacinth’s chair.
She’s in line for about five minutes when she noticed that her purse wasn’t with her. She walked back to their table. But, just as she was a couple of meters away from them, she heard Lucas telling her best friend something about her assumed disorder.
“What if that guy fell in love with Caroline, and then, her personality disorder strikes again? Will the cycle continues?” Lucas asked Hyacinth seriously. “I found out that he lost his wife, and that horrible experience causes depression to people who have experienced it. I don’t think he can handle it if one day, Caroline will just leave her.”
Her best friend heaved a sigh. “Well, it’s for us to find out. But, whatever happens, I will be on Caroline’s side.”
Hyacinth’s statement warms her heart, but they’re right, Benjamin can’t handle another pain. That’s why she’s making all these efforts because she wanted him and his kids to be happy. Caroline won’t do anything that could hurt Benjamin… She’ll do anything to make her nightmares stopped from haunting her.
***
