"DID YOU EVER think of pursuing a higher education?"

I was so caught off my guard at Laetitia's abrupt question that I dropped the files I was holding. "Pardon?"

"Lissa told me about you. You don't mind right? It's just that we're sisters that share literally everything. We have no secrets among us, so I know all about you all."

"I... I don't mind. Not really." I really don't mind. I'm not ashamed of being a college dropout. I'm doing well despite having secondary school as my highest education.

"But I heard you got As for English Lit and History right? Why didn't you go to college and work hard from there onwards and get into an Ivy League school? With your secondary school grades, it's obvious that you can go to OU like Lissa did." Laetitia states all of these in a matter-of-fact tone, and I like the novelty of it.

People seldom discuss the reasons for my not pursuing a better educational path and avoid it like the plague. For some reason, it's a taboo topic, which honestly is something I could never really comprehend.

I mean, is being a college dropout such a big deal?

"Well, Laetitia, I just preferred working over studying. It's my life after all, so it's my own choices that matter. If I don't want to do something, then I shouldn't. Working paid off anyways- I have enough money to pay rent and the bills, purchase groceries that I need, and even have ample money to buy whatever I desire. I am content with my life."

"Wow, I can never follow in your footsteps. Don't you hunger and thirst for more knowledge from your favourite topics back when you were in school? I bet that you could have been the top student for both humanities, languages and Mathematics if you didn't drop out." Laetitia pops a gum into her mouth and chews on it as if this kind of topic is a typical conversational one for her.

"I do miss it. But I don't need it." I pick my files up and move on to the candle aisle. "I have more work to do, sorry. Great talking to you though. Have a wonderful day, Laetitia."

___

This time, Pat and I met up for my lunch break at a newly-established restaurant called 'EN&D'. Apparently, it's short for 'Exciting Night and Day'. 

"I guess the owner wants his customers to have an exciting time regardless of the time of the day when they visit. It's quite a quick-witted move to use the word 'Day' as it can imply both afternoon, late-noon or morning." Pat theorised as she touched the curve of the 'D' with a sort of envy in her hazel eyes.

I looked around and found myself agreeing with wise old Pat. 'EN&D' was located at the corner of an aptly named street called 'Wealth's End' as the particular stretch of where it was designated was notorious for being the most spendthrift and costly shopping centres of Songjiria. For the most part, people on velvet would frequent 'Wealth's End'.

The only reason why Pat and I are there in the first place was to treat ourselves to a fantastic lunch as we had not really spent much time with each other these days. Pat, who was long over Caden, was now occupied with her work as an interior designer which resulted in her having less time for herself.

"There are an insane lot of people who want to renovate their homes." Pat informs me as we dig into our pasta. Pat ordered a mentaiko pasta with a cream base while mine was la pasta verde with a pesto sauce. "Mmm, this is real good. Doesn't this restaurant make you think of someone?"

I feign an impression of insouciance and coolly reply, "It does ring a bell." Joaquim will absolutely love this place. One picture from him and the owner will be bombarded by customers just like Raeli from 'Don't Judge Me by My Cakes'.

"Libby will do anything to get her hands on this recipe. She's a maniac when it comes to delectable and aesthetically-pleasing food."

I drop my fork at the mention of Libby's name and flush uncontrollably. "Oh, yes. Libby. Speaking of her..." I relay what Laetitia told me today in an attempt to divert Pat's attention from my red face. 

"What? Doesn't that violate whatever boss-employee Songjirian law if she tells her sister that?"

"Well, I don't know. In all truthfulness, I don't really care. She is her sister after all. I mean, you know why I didn't go to university or continue my college schooling." I wipe my mouth and laugh when I see the green sauce on the tissue paper. "Look, even my food agrees that school is disgusting."

"Oh, you." Patricia laughs and smacks my head lightly. "Speaking of disgusting, you know what grosses me out?"

"Erm, yes? Horror movies that have an unnecessary amount of gore?"

Pat rolls her eyes and grimaces. "Ugh, yes. But there's a new thing that grosses me out nowadays."

"Oh, really?" I lean forward and clasp my hands in anticipation. "Do tell!"

"You and Joaquim flirting like there's no one else in the room. It's so obvious that he has feelings for you. Just go for it, girl. You have nothing to lose. It's been going on for a nauseating prolonged period of time. If you don't want me to perish by gagging or lose your chance with him, ask him out."

___

"Ask him out."

I thought I had been discreet when it came to my display of affection for Joaquim, but apparently, I was far from it. Even the obtuse Pat had caught me in the act!

I had at first tried to refute Pat's claims of my tiny infatuation of the soigné Joaquim Korl, but the more she wore me on, the more I started to give up on gainsaying it. 

But the mere thought of actually confessing it to him... what if it destroys our friendship and cause its demise?

"It's been going on for a nauseating prolonged period of time."

"You have nothing to lose."

Pat's right. I have nothing to lose. Joaquim isn't the type to stop befriending me just because of doltish Irina Pan's trifle confession.

"It's so obvious that he has feelings for you."

Does he though? I think he does... I mean, why else will he kiss my right cheek and cook hangover soup for me? Why else would he comfort me whenever I am upset? Why else would he be bothered about my having a sprained knee because of my own carelessness?

He must have feelings for me.

"Ask him out."

Alright, Pat. You're right. I'll ask him out. 

So, with shaky, trembling fingers, I muster my courage and send him a Whatsapp text.

Hey, Joaq. there's a new high-end restaurant at Wealth's End. you interested?

Wow, a new restaurant? lol theyre always building new things.

i'm down to check it out!

okay, great! Meet you there at 10?

sure. See you. Dress warmly- it's cold outside lately.

___

"I... Irina. I have to tell you something."

We're currently at 'EN&D' and the... date? Outing...? seems to be going well up until now. Even though he's been devouring his pizza like a starved man once it came, he has suddenly set his eighth slice down.

For some reason, he looks strangely nervous, and it's as if our roles are reversed. I'm supposed to be a stuttering, nervous wreck but I'm oddly composed and taking it easy- the wine must have calmed me down.

However, thanks to his restless demeanour, my own palms start to sweat too. Why... what does he plan to do, to say? Actually, he looks more like he's going to confess something... oh no.

My unhelpful, paranoid brain thinks back to the times where I have had countless mood swings in front of him, and to the times where I have either beaten him up and accused him of being a robber or scammer.

As if it isn't demoralising enough, my brain forces me to see things from his perspective. A romantic relationship with me, Irina Pan? A young adult who has more mood swings than a teenage girl on her period? A young woman who's close to being a sociopath and practically heartless? A young woman who doesn't care about her family?

Does he want to end our friendship because of my mood swings? Does he want to end it because he knows me too well? No, please no. OH MY GOD IRINA PAN JUST CONFESS ALREADY! You can't do it if he ends the friendship! Seize the moment!

Pressured by myself, I straightaway make a 'timeout' sign, motioning him to stop. He obeys, and I find myself trembling due to panic. "Joaq, I have something to confess. Let me speak first."

"Okay. But, are you alright?"

See, he's always considerate of your feelings. Joaquim is not the type to laugh in your face if you admit your feelings. He must care about you.

Think about the times he cared for your hangover; about the times where he has always stuck by your side. You can do this Irina!

"I'm fine. Joaquim... I..." I keep on stumbling over my words and even though I yearn to say the words 'I like you', they can't seem to get out of my mouth. They're stuck at the tip of my darn tongue, which is really irritating.

"I..." Ah, to hell with this.

Actions speak louder than words right?

So I tiptoe and kiss his right cheek.

At first, I'm worried that I made a mistake because Joaq freezes and his cheeks are a vivid pink. Initially, I thought he was angry that I kissed him, but he proved me wrong when his brown eyes met mine.

They were shining with such fervent longing that that was when my gut feeling told me that my feelings for him are not a one-sided love.

It is real.

Joaquim confirmed it by kissing my right cheek back and shyly taking my left hand in placing it in his right hand. He looks into my eyes and confesses, "Irina, I like you a lot. I like you as more than a friend. I want to be something more with you."

His earnest confession touches my heart and I kiss his hand as a way of response. "I like you too, Joaquim, as more than a friend."

"Can I date you? I mean, will you bestow me the honour of making me the luckiest man on Earth and date me? Will you be my girlfriend?"

I nod my head and tears unexpectedly fall from my eyes. "Yes, Joaquim, yes!"

I jump into his arms and he embraces me tightly. "Thank you so much for coming into my life, Irina. You make my world brighter, and you make me want to become a better man." He wipes my tears of joy away so gently as if I was something incredibly precious and delicate to him.

"Thank you."

THEY ARE FINALLY TOGETHER!!! HOW HAPPY ARE YOU RIGHT NOW??

Do you like the way Irina and Joaquim confessed their feelings to each other?

In your opinion, who did the confessing?

What do you think will happen to these two lovebirds now that they are dating? Will they last? Will they break up? Or will they even possibly be engaged?

Let me know your thoughts by commenting! 😉😊