Chapter 20

Madelyn picked her up from their house at 6PM. She told her where they will go, so Carla knows who she is about to see on their meet up with their former classmate Ria. Who else will she see in Pure Act Café but the members of the former dance group Pure Act Dancers? It's fine with her. She and Joshua are now okay. They have talked multiple times, right? They had a date just last month. So, what's the fuss over meeting him again? They arrived at the said restaurant after thirty minutes. As usual, the place is jam packed. Edmalyn called Ria on her cellphone to inform her that they have arrived. A few moments later, their classmate came to get them. 'Sorry to keep you waiting," Edmalyn said as she greeted her former classmate. 'I just arrived as well," Ria said. 'Ahm… your dress is there." She pointed at the direction where she came from. 'I'm with the Pure Act." She looked at Carla. Carla felt like being put on the hot seat. She knows why Ria looked at her like that. 'Let's go there," she said to Ria. Ria smiled. 'Let's go." Ria took them to where Joshua and the gang is. They were welcomed by their former classmates. Everyone was quiet when it was Joshua who's greeting Carla. It's like everyone's at the edge of their seats. 'Hi…!" Joshua smiled. Carla smiled back. 'Hello… Congratulations on your new channel." Joshua felt glad of that acknowledgement. 'You watched it?" 'I had no choice. Everyone in the ER is watching it," Carla said. Joshua chuckled at what she said. It was a genuine chuckle, and Carla giggled as well. That's when everyone felt relived. 'Subscribe on my channel, okay?" Joshua told Carla. 'Promise, it's not just about drama." Joshua looked at Edmalyn, and because of that he remembered his mission again. 'By the way, we're having a celebration because of the channel. It reached a hundred subs," Joshua said. 'Really?" Edmalyn asked. 'Wow! Congratulations! You'll now have a… ahm, a silver button plaque, right?" 'I think so," Joshua said. 'So, feel free to order anything. It's on the house." 'Wow!" Edmalyn was obviously glad. Joshua smiled at her. 'And, have you met Carlo Reyes?" He pointed at the videographer, and Carla and Edmalyn looked at him as well. 'He's the one responsible for my videos." 'Of course," Edmalyn said, obviously delighted. 'I'm a fan." 'Wow! Thanks!" Carlo said, then smiled. Joshua is quite glad about that. Edmalyn seems to adore Carlo Reyes, which makes his mission a lot easier, he thinks? At least, that's a start. He continued with the introduction. 'This is Edmalyn, my classmate in high school." The two exchanged 'Hi" and 'Hello" while shaking hands. 'And this is Carla, another classmate of ours," Joshua continued. Carlo shook hands with her. 'Hi, Doc!" 'Oh, you remember," Carla said as she shook hands with him. 'Of course. How many medical missions you did that I've covered?" Carlo asked. Carla smiled. 'Yeah. You are very good, that's why the organizers always get you to cover the event." Joshua suddenly remembered that Carlo covered a medical mission that Carla attended. He knows that, because Carlo told him about it when he saw Carla's photo on his exhibit. 'The photo!' Joshua suddenly panicked. He bought Carla's photo from Carlo's exhibit! Joshua looked at Carlo and Carla who are talking about a medical mission that Carla is attending and Carlo doing the documentation again. He needs to think of a way for them to stop talking to each other because Carlo might mention that he bought Carla's picture from his exhibit. 'Carla! Tats! This table is for you." Everyone looked at Joshua. He said it out of the blue, so sudden that Carlo is still talking. 'I mean… that table is already crowded. It's better if you stay here," Joshua explained, who obviously is quite agitated. 'We can still accommodate them on this table," Mark said. 'There is still enough space." 'No! I mean… it's better if they stay here on this table because… so that they will be more comfortable, right? More space for them," Joshua said. 'Ria, stay with them here." He took the garment bag that Ria was holding earlier. Joshua looked at Ria, who is quite confused with what he is saying. She frowned at him. 'Ahm… Tats, why don't you try your dress first?" Ria asked Edmalyn. She took the garment bag from where Joshua put it. 'Oh yeah!" Edmalyn said. She looked at Carla. 'Besh, come with me." Carla nodded. 'Hmn…" 'Right! You can do the fitting in the office," Joshua suggested. 'Sure. Can you take us there?" Ria asked. The three ladies followed Joshua to the office of Prue Act Café. Joshua pointed the bathroom to Edmalyn where she can try the dress. 'You might need some help to zip the dress up," Ria told Edmalyn. 'I'll help her," Carla volunteered. The two friends went inside the bathroom. Ria and Joshua were left outside. 'What were you doing?" Ria whispered to Joshua. 'Huh?" Joshua faced her. 'Why do you seem to keep Tats and Carlo away from each other? You even transferred us to another table," Ria explained. Joshua grimaced. 'Carla… you know…" 'I'm talking about Carlo, not Carla. Are you confused?" 'No!" Joshua is shaking his head. 'Do you remember that photo?" Ria contemplated on what Joshua said, remembering the photo he gave her. 'That photo that you bought from Carlo's exhibit? Carla's photo?" 'Exactly," Joshua said. 'Carlo might mention to Carla that I bought it. Can you imagine what might happen because of that? Carla and I just reconciled. She might think that I'm obsessed with her again just like in high school." 'That's what I was saying," Ria said. 'You should have thought about that before you did that." 'I know! I was stupid that time," Joshua said. He felt frustrated not only because Ria blamed him for what happened, but because of his foolishness that time. 'Okay, I'm sorry," Ria said. 'Let's try to fix it this way. Why don't you go back to Carlo now and try to find out if he still remembers that you bought Carla's photo from him?" Joshua liked Ria's idea. Carlo might have forgotten about the photo, so why is he worrying about that already? Why does he always panic instead of thinking of a way to get out of the situation he's in first? 'Okay, I'll go now." He got out of the office and went back to the bar area where his friends are waiting, including Carlo and his team. He sat down beside Carlo. 'Josh! Where are the girls?" James asked. 'I left them in the office." He then faced Carlo. 'Do you always cover medical missions?" 'When someone hire me to do the documentation," Carlo answered. 'And Carla is always there?" asked Joshua. 'Mostly," Carlo answered. 'I think they always invite her to join." 'I guess you have a lot of pictures of her." That sounded weird. Joshua could feel that the others felt odd with his question. What does he care if Carlo took a lot of pictures of Carla? He sounded envious, like he wanted to be photographed by Carlo himself. That or he sounded like an overprotective boyfriend who is jealous of the photographer documenting her girlfriend's outreach programs. 'Not really," Carlo answered, not sensing the absurdity of Joshua's question. 'She's not the only one present during the medical mission." 'Maye Joshua wants to have a picture of Carla," Mark said. Joshua looked at Mark. 'Why would you think of that?" He suddenly felt anxious because Carlo might tell them about the photo he bought. 'Because you seem so interested," Mark answered. 'I'm just curious," Joshua said. 'Because they always see each other in medical missions. You know? So I just asked." The three ladies came back to the bar area. 'Join us here on our table," James told the three. 'It still has enough space." 'That's right," Mark said. 'Don't listen to Joshua." 'I just thought they want a spacious table," Joshua explained. 'It's fine if they want to join us." The three ladies sat with the boys. 'Carla, Joshua has been asking some questions about your medical missions," Mark said. Carla looked at Mark, then she turned to Joshua. Who at that moment is panicking inside that he does not know what to do with what Mark said. 'He seems so interested," Mark continue. 'Well, you know… ahm…" Joshua can't think of an excuse. He can't even look at Carla. 'Maybe he wants to join." Everyone looked at Ria. Joshua felt glad that his Mentor saved him. He smiled at her. 'Exactly!" Joshua said. He looked at Carla. 'I feel like it's a nice thing to do." 'You're right about that," Carla said. 'Do you want to help, or donate or organize your own medical mission?" 'Hmn…" Joshua contemplated. 'Do you have an upcoming mission?" 'Yes," Carla answered. 'Actually, the mayor is organizing a medical mission two weeks from now. You can join if you want." 'Mayor, as in Mayor Jovie Agustin?" Joshua asked. Carla smiled. 'Yeah. Mayor Jovie." Joshua grinned. 'Who would have thought that Jovie would become a mayor?" All of their classmates laughed at what Joshua said. 'We all have our mischiefs back in high school," Carla said. 'But that doesn't mean we can't change." 'The medical mission seems like a nice idea," Ria said. 'Let's all join in." 'What are you thinking again?" James asked his friend. 'That would be fun, right?" Ria said. 'It's just like high school… although, it's just…" She counted her classmates who are present. 'Seven, plus Jovie… Eight of us. Actually, it would be more fun if we invite our other classmates… Is that okay, Doc?" 'Of course," Carla answered. 'That would be better. Although, I suggest we invite the others on the next mission. We don't have much time, so it's better if it's just us here. We don't know if the others can accommodate us on their schedules." 'How about us? Aren't you going to ask if our schedule is free?" Mark said. 'Well, it's on a weekend," Carla said. 'Do you have work during weekend?" 'Sometimes, I do," Mark answered. 'Oh, come on, Dude," Joshua said to Mark. 'We all know what you are ‘working out' during weekend." James and Jeralhd laughed at what Joshua said. 'You're so mean to me!" Mark said, pretending to get offended with what Joshua said. 'It's just one day, Mark. Can't you fix your schedule for that?" Ria asked. 'Wait. You're asking us to come, so you should make sure you also come," Joshua told Ria. 'I will come," Ria said. 'I'll try to wake up early. 7AM." Joshua laughed at what she said. 'I'll come, okay? So you should, too," Ria told her classmates. 'Of course," Joshua said. He looked at his three friends. 'I'll go," Jeralhd said. 'Me, too," James said. The three men looked at Mark. 'Okay, I'll come," Mark said, as if he was forced to. 'There! So, count us in," Joshua said. He then looked at Edmalyn. 'You'll come too, right?" 'Yes. I have no choice," she said. 'Hey! You also want to come," Carla said, acknowledging her friend's joke. 'How about you, Carlo? Do you also want to come?" Joshua asked. 'Well, we were hired to cover the event, so we really will come," Carlo said. Joshua was glad to hear that. At least he can do something to get Edmalyn and Carlo closer to each other. 'We should do a Facebook group or something," Ria said. 'Can you believe it? Our class seems to be the only one that doesn't have a Facebook group." 'Maybe because no one took the time to do it," Joshua said. 'And maybe because our group fell apart," Carla agreed. 'But it's not yet too late, right?" Ria told them. 'Maybe this medical mission is the beginning of rekindling our friendship." Everyone agreed to what she said. After dinner, the three girls decided to leave ahead of the guys. Joshua ushered them to the parking lot, since that party was held because of him. 'So… let's chat on Messenger?" Joshua asked Carla and Edmalyn. 'Yeah," Carla said. Joshua smiled. 'Okay." Carla smiled back. She and Edmalyn left first, as Ria is still waiting for her driver to come. 'You know, you should learn how to drive," Joshua told Ria. 'You should learn how to not be lazy to drive." 'I kind of not told you the real reason," Ria said. 'I cannot drive because of that accident I had in college. I kind of had a phobia." Joshua was dumbfounded. 'I can't look in front of the car," Ria explained. 'So I have to be in the backseat all the time." 'But during that time we did Tati and Billy…" He remembered she was in the passenger seat. 'That's why I constantly look at you." The surrounding suddenly felt awkward. Joshua regretted saying that joke about driving. 'I'm sorry…" 'It's okay," Ria said. 'Bad things happen in life, you know." Joshua changed the topic to change the mood as well. 'Thanks for coming tonight. I know you did this to help me." 'I was given a One-shot. Probably Recurring, but we'll see," Ria explained. 'That's better, so that I could help you." 'And, thank you for saving me earlier." He is referring to when Mark teased him on being curious about Carla's outreach programs. 'You know, you really need to take back that photo, and come clean about it," Ria said. 'See? If you didn't try to find out if Carlo still remember Carla's picture, then you won't ask Carlo about Carla's medical missions. Mark should never have heard it, and he should not have teased you." 'You actually have a point," Joshua agreed. 'But, how would I do that without looking obsessed with Carla?" Ria shrugged. 'I don't know. You think of a way. My driver is here." Joshua just waited for Ria to leave before going back inside the restaurant to continue the celebration tonight.