“EMBARRASSMENT is the sense of self-consciousness that arises from shameful, awkward, or humiliating experiences.”

In the most embarrassing moment of Georgia San Juan’s life, there was one person who stood by her, ready to rescue her from shame. This someone was her unwavering source of comfort, assuring her that everything would be all right and that he would always be there whenever she needed saving. This someone, in essence, is the kind of person we all long for.

 ***

Georgia lazily opened her eyes upon waking in an unfamiliar room - white ceiling, walls, blanket, and pillows. Her head throbbed, and she groaned, clearly not feeling her best. Her eyes widened as she scanned the room once more, a hospital crossing her mind briefly until she noticed a picture frame on the desk. Yet, her wonder and shock deepened when she realized she was in someone else’s room, and that someone was Walter.

She quickly sat up, her back against the headboard, her butt on the pillow. How did this happen? Why am I in his room? Massaging her temple, she closed her eyes, trying hard to recall the events that led her here.

As her eyes fluttered open once more, she caught sight of her bag and a familiar shirt neatly placed on a nearby chair. Recognition dawned when she realized it was the same shirt she had worn yesterday. A surge of panic coursed through her as she scanned herself, fearing she might not be wearing any clothes. She heaved a sigh of relief when she found herself clad in a plain blue T-shirt, still in her pants from the previous day.

However, her heart raced at the unwelcome thought of Walter undressing her. She shook her head, a profound desire to disappear engulfing her. At that moment, she almost wished she could transform into a lizard, anything to escape the intense embarrassment.

“This can’t be real! What on earth happened last night?” she groaned, her fingers threading through her messy, knotted hair.

Suddenly, the door swung open. “Rise and shine, sleepy drunken head!” Walter entered, striding towards the bed and taking a seat on the edge.

Startled, Georgia jerked upright, retreating hastily to the corner of the room. “D-don’t come any closer!”

Walter laughed, smacking the bed as the pillows and blanket bounced in response. “This feels like something out of a rom-com! Why does it feel that way?”

She swallowed hard, her arms wrapping around herself. Nervousness had taken hold, making her voice tremble as she warned, “Don’t you dare make fun of me, Walter!”

“All right, all right, I get it.” Walter finally managed to stifle his laughter, though it threatened to bubble up again. She shot him a pointed glare. He straightened up, raising an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t worry, it was my sister.”

Georgia relaxed slightly. “Your sister?”

He nodded and sauntered toward the door, leaning casually against the jamb. “Go ahead and freshen up, don’t keep breakfast waiting.” He winked, earning a sour look from Georgia. He chuckled before adding, “Oh, and in case you’re wondering, your shirt is clean now. You can wear it if you prefer, but I must say, my sister’s loose T-shirt is probably more comfortable.” With a final wink, he gently closed the door.

With the realization that it was not Walter but his sister, Georgia’s unease began to subside slightly. However, despite the reassurance, the fact that she was being cared for by her friend’s sister, someone she had never met, still managed to stir up embarrassment. Her knowledge of Walter’s sister came from his stories - tales of a strong-willed, independent girl named Senthie with striking dark green hair and a penchant for loose T-shirts.

Georgia’s sense of shame deepened as a forgotten memory resurfaced. She recollected the events of last night, how she had ended up vomiting all over the house, even staining his shirt during a piggyback ride. Another memory flowed back: her candid confession about being rejected by Jimhuesh spilled during their drinking session after the rain. She sighed. Her secret was now out in the open.

Walter must have been forming opinions about her, perhaps considering her overly focused on Jimhuesh, given she had spoken her feelings, from her childhood crush to her current unrequited love. Georgia had hoped that Walter would either ignore the revelations or, better yet, forget everything about last night, even the smallest detail, like her compliment about Walter’s looks. Although that detail held no real significance for her, she feared they might become another point of jest for him. He might not take it seriously, but the prospect of endless teasing loomed, and that was the last thing she wanted.

Georgia decided to wear her own shirt, neatly folding the borrowed T-shirt from Walter’s sister and placing it in her bag. She felt too embarrassed to face Walter’s sister.

What if she’s irritated with me? What if she harbored resentment over the mess I’ve caused in their house? What if she asks me to stay away from Walter, thinking I am a bad influence on her brother? These thoughts swirled relentlessly in her mind, a product of her tendency to overthink and overanalyze, forgetting that not everyone viewed situations negatively. However, she was in for a pleasant surprise, as the same person she had worried about hating her gave her an unexpectedly warm welcome.

“Georgia, you’re finally awake! I bet my brother got you drunk last night; he’s a real jerk! He’s too much, right?” Senthie exclaimed while placing a plate of fried hotdogs and eggs on the round table.

She stared at Senthie in starstruck awe, momentarily wishing she could look like her. She chuckled nervously, readily agreeing with everything Senthie said about Walter.

“Ouch! How could you say that? And Georgie, you too?” he reacted dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. Well, he might have been just hamming it up, given that it was Walter.

He had a knack for keeping his true feelings well-hidden. He was forever the joker, able to find humor even in the darkest of moments. Even though his expression right now may not be funny to a stranger, it still felt like he was just putting on an act. In all the time Georgia had known him, she had never seen him vulnerable or sad, unless he deliberately did it to appear dramatic and exaggerated. Nevertheless, that perpetually goofy smile was practically his trademark.

“Sen, you’re being tough on your brother,” remarked the woman with curly hair, her locks neatly tied in a bun. She was already seated, skewering a hotdog with her fork and chuckling.

Senthie’s laughter filled the room, and everyone joined in, creating a warm atmosphere. She then asked Georgia, “Anyway, have you rested well? Come join us for breakfast!”

Mustering a smile, Georgia made her way to the dining table. She took the chair Walter had pulled out for her, sitting across from the woman with curly hair. Walter settled in the seat beside Georgia, mirroring Senthie on the opposite side. The dining set, with four seats, seemed perfectly tailored to their group.

“Feeling better now? Or do you still have a bit of a hangover? I was half-convinced you were going to empty your entire stomach last night!” the woman teased before munching on her hotdog.

Georgia’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she lowered her gaze. “I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I caused last night. I feel ashamed and embarrassed by my behavior. . . . I’ll make sure not to drink with Walter again.”

“Oh, why say that? It’s not like they were the ones who cleaned up the mess,” he interjected. “It was me, Georgie, and honestly, it’s no big deal. Just promise that next time, instead of drowning your sorrows in alcohol, you’ll talk to me about what’s bothering you.”

Georgia glanced at him, still feeling flustered. She couldn’t quite decide whether to be grateful for his understanding or to feel embarrassed and offended by his comments. It was a whirlwind of emotions, but she chose to express her gratitude with a simple, “Thank you, Walter.”

“Of course! I’m your best friend, aren’t I?”

She simply nodded. “Right.”

“All right, then. Let’s eat!”

As time passed, everyone relaxed and enjoyed their breakfast. Georgia grew more comfortable with their company by the minute. Their conversation flowed easily, making it hard not to like them. They chatted away, and Georgia was taken aback when Cecilia - finally knowing her name - mentioned that the house belonged to Senthie and she was only allowing Walter to stay out of pity.

They were nearly finished with their meal, and Georgia was leisurely sipping her coffee when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Cecilia volunteered, heading for the door. A few minutes later, she returned with a bouquet of yellow lilies.

“Flowers for you, Ms. Senthie Salvador,” she announced as she handed the bouquet to Senthie. Her giggles bubbled up as Senthie checked the dedication card. “I’m sure he’s the one. He keeps sending you flowers, are you sure he’s not courting you?”

Senthie shot her a sharp glare. “I swear he’s not. This is just a--”

Her words were abruptly cut off by Walter’s swift swipe of the card from her hand. He jumped to his feet, evading her retaliatory move, and began to read aloud what was written on the card. “To Ms. Senthie Salvador. Thank you for meeting me last night . . .”

Senthie eventually surrendered, allowing him the freedom to finish reading. “. . . and for accepting my offer. This is a great opportunity for you. I’m sure you won’t regret it. From Ji--”

Walter abruptly stopped reading, his face draining of color as he glanced at Georgia, who was eagerly awaiting the sender’s identity. An awkward laugh escaped his lips as he returned the card to Senthie. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

Cecilia rolled her eyes and sighed. “Jimhuesh, right? The card says it’s from Jim--” Walter swiftly covered her mouth. However, it was too late; Cecilia had already said the name. The flowers were indeed from Jimhuesh.

So, he hadn’t come to see me last night because he had been with Senthie, Georgia thought. She rose from her seat, causing the chair to scrape loudly against the floor. “I’m sorry, I have to go. I just remembered I have to be at work today. I’ll grab my bag and--”

“I’ll go get it, stay here.” Walter rushed to his room to retrieve her bag.

Senthie asked, “Are you okay?”

“Are you sure you have to work? You’re still not feeling well, are you?” Cecilia chimed in.

“I’m totally fine.” She forced a smile as she glanced at Senthie. Insecurities welled up within her, her eyes threatened to fill with tears.

Walter returned in a hurry. “Here!” he exclaimed, extending the bag towards her. “Here’s your bag. Let’s go.”

She took it, draping it over her arm, and nodded. She then lowered her head slightly in a gesture of apology and gratitude toward Senthie and Cecilia.

Walter gently took Georgia’s hand and led her outside. Once they were just beyond the fence, she could no longer contain her emotions and she sobbed. “I’m sorry. I’m so pathetic. I don’t want to cry, but I can’t help it. Please, don’t hate me.”

Walter tried to soothe her, wrapping his arms around her and gently stroking her head. “Shh, shh, it’s okay. Of course, I don’t hate you. I’ll never hate you. It’s okay to cry; it’ll help ease the pain. Let it all out. I’m always here for you, Georgie.”

After a few moments, Walter booked a taxi for her and instructed the driver to take her home, stating her address - he likely knew where she truly wanted to go. Coming to work on a Sunday was merely an excuse, and Walter was aware of it. He had insight into her feelings for Jimhuesh, even though she wasn’t entirely certain about her emotions anymore. If she wasn’t in love with Jimhuesh, then why did Senthie’s presence make her feel hurt and jealous? Maybe she was upset because he hadn’t chosen her.

Jimhuesh had opted to see Senthie instead of her, and that hurt because, it often seemed like no one ever chose her. She was frequently the last choice, which left her questioning her own likability. Is there something inherently unlikable about me? Suddenly, Walter crossed her mind, and her worries evaporated in an instant. He would always choose her. A warm smile spread across her face.

Thirty minutes later, she arrived back at her home. She pushed open the door and softly announced her presence. As she made her way to her room, she noticed that her brother’s door was slightly ajar. She heard his voice, causing her to pause by his doorway. A frown creased her brows as she listened to what sounded like an argument. “We can’t keep hiding it, Mom!”

Georgia’s curiosity got the better of her, and she eavesdropped Jacob’s conversation with their mother. She couldn’t see them, but she could picture her brother’s determined expression. “No, Mom, you have to understand, she’s old enough to know the truth. She’s not a little kid anymore! Georgia needs to be told.”