Chapter 9| Childhood Friend vs. Best Friend

Clark’s POV

"H-hi..." she stammered while looking at my face. Looked like she was surprised by my sudden appearance, right here in front of her after seven years ago without seeing each other.

"C-Come—come in..." she added and shyly bowed as I entered their humble home.

"Sir Clark!!!" Maymay suddenly showed up like a mushroom and jumped up to hug my waist. I laughed a little and smiled while looking at her innocent face. I glanced in Angela's direction who was now confused by the scene.

"Sir Clark..." Kokoy called me from the kitchen and greeted me. I just nodded and smiled back in response.

After a minute, Maymay finally let go of the hug and play her toys on the salas.

"How?" my gaze shifted to Angela.

"I came here yesterday," I explained and smiled sweetly at her. She was surprised by what I said.

"Since when you came back?" she asked in confusion while her forehead furrowed.

"It's not important anyway. What matter is now," I answered and smiled for the nth time.

"You wouldn't take me on a seat?" I jokingly asked with laughter just to break the awkward silence.

"Oh! Yeah, right... Let's have a seat.” She took my hand and pulled me towards the dining.

"Sit down there," she pointed to the wooden chair.

"I'll make something to drink," she added and hurriedly went to the kitchen cabinet. I could see the nervousness in her movements. Tension was visible on her body. I smirked and placed my hand on my chin as I put my elbow on the top of the wooden table.

"Why are you stuttering? Since when have you been like that?" I teased and laughed softly.

"No! I'm not stuttering! It's just...It's just..hot. The weather is hot," she answered defensively and her cheeks started to turn red like ripe tomatoes.

"You're blushing," I commented while glancing at every detail of her face. She threw the towel that had been hung on her shoulder in my direction just to hide her embarrassment. Right after that, she ended up laughing.

I smiled at what I was seeing. I guess, the shyness and embarrassment she'd felt were finally gone.

You haven't changed, Angela. You are still my angel that makes my heart happy.

(Darn it, Clark! You're crazy!) I talked at the back of my mind.

(Yes, I am!) I answered back.

I mentally facepalm.

"Angela?" our moments suddenly cut off after someone called her name. I turned my gaze to where the voice came from and right there...I see a woman standing in our direction. She looks around twenty-three to twenty-seven, good physic, has honey tanned skin, short black hair, and indeed has a beautiful face. She was looking at us, curiosity was evident on her face.

"Bel! Come here!" Angela spoke excitedly to the woman named Bel. Angela put three glasses and juice in the jar on the wooden table. Bel immediately approached our direction.

"Bel, the man right here *pointing in my direction*, he's Clark. My childhood friend went back seven years ago," she happily exclaimed to Bel then shifted her gaze to mine.

"And Clark, she's Bel. My best friend," She said and smiled.

Bel and I stared at each other. As a humble guest, I was the first one to speak. I got up from my seat and took a step forward in Bel's direction.

"I'm Clark. Nice meeting you," I formally introduced myself and extended my hand to her as if I was asking for a handshake. But in this case, she did not bother to move a little. Looked like she doesn't have a plan to shake my hands. She looked at me first from head to toe and back to my face. I frowned.

What's she thinking?

I was about to put down my hand but suddenly, she took it and made a handshake.

"Bel, always by Angela's side at all times," she introduced herself wearing a serious face. I couldn't help but rose my eyebrows at what I saw and heard.

What does she mean?

I shrugged off the idea forming inside my head. I didn't want to think anything bad about her because she's Angela's best friend. So, I composed myself and took a deep breath. I released it slowly to make myself calm then afterward, I smiled at her. When the handshake was over, Angela invited us to sit down and drink the juice she had made for us.

She was about to sit next to me when Bel suddenly spoke.

"Angela, sit beside me. The wood there is already fragile. You might fall," Bel warned her and looked at me straight. I couldn't imagine how I felt from what I heard. I sighed.

Is she jealous or what?

"Is that so? Maybe, I'm just sitting here on the other side," Angela said and sat down next to me—on my right side. I secretly rejoiced at what happened.

"Tsk!" Bel hissed in a low voice but then it didn't escape from my ears.

Angela poured orange juice into the glass. She was not even aware that this best friend of hers was supposedly staring straight at me. I couldn't read what was running through her mind. Her expression is blank.

"Here..." Angela offered a glass of juice and put it on the table.

Perfect! I was already thirsty from a long ride!

I immediately took the glass filled with cold juice but another hand was also clinging to the glass. I looked at the owner of the hand. It's Bel. I insisted the juice was mine. I didn't let go of the glass as well as she didn't let go either. We stared deeply at each other.

What's her problem?

"Uhmm, Clark? There's another glass. Take this," Angela handed me another glass filled with juice.

"No. I want this," I firmly said and looked at the glass that Bel and I were holding.

"Guys, there's another one," Angela informed us. I didn't bother to look at her because I was really busy measuring the intense stare of Bel to mine.

Why do I have this feeling she's trying to hit my red button? Does she like Angela?

"Clark..." Angela called softly, which woke me up and calmed my feelings.

I blinked a couple of times and I slowly let go of the glass of juice—letting Bel take it.

"Here... This is yours and there's more," Angela uttered while pointing to the other glasses and smiling sweetly at me. I smiled too and reached for it.

"Thank you," I thanked her and looked again at Bel. She smirked at me which surprised me.

Seriously? What's her problem with me?