Chapter 30

Joshua found Ria at the grocery store. He was amazed at how accurately the Cupid phone pointed to her. It even showed what isle she is at the moment. She is currently on the fruits and vegetables section, selecting the best apples on the display. 'Ri." She looked up to him. 'Hi." He smiled at her. 'Hey." Ria continued picking apples. 'Are you still mad at me?" She looked at him once again. 'What?" 'During the outreach program the other day." That is the primary reason he went to her right now – to apologize about how he acted during their lunch. And, well, he has other reasons that is quite related to that. But he will tell that to her later. Ria looked at him for a while before asking, 'Where are my tulips?" Joshua was quite surprised at what Ria said. He wasn't able to answer and just gaped at her. Ria smiled. 'That was a joke." Then she continued with what she was doing earlier. 'It's fine, you know. I'm not that immature to keep a grudge just because you took my place and my shrimps and crabs!" Joshua smirked. 'And you're not mad at me, huh?" Ria smiled at him. 'Nope. Promise!" Joshua smiled. 'I'm sorry. It won't happen again, promise. I won't take your sea foods ever again." 'But why did you act like that the other day? You could have just taken the spot next to Carla." Joshua did not answer. He doesn't know what he could say that Ria will not know that he feels awkward so he didn't want to stay beside Carla. For sure Ria will not stop teasing him. Or maybe not? Maybe he's just assuming that without any basis? Whatever… He just kept quiet. Ria didn't say anything as well and just continued shopping. Or maybe, she's just too busy to care? Joshua looked at her half full grocery cart. 'I didn't know you buy your groceries." Ria looked at him. Joshua smirked. 'I though you're just this spoiled child who doesn't do any household chores." Ria glared at him. Joshua chuckled. In response, Ria left him and proceeded to the chips and snacks section. Joshua followed her. 'Can you give me the plain salted one?" Ria pointed what she's talking about. Joshua took the plain salted version of the chips and showed it to Ria. The latter nodded, and Joshua put the packet on the grocery cart. Then he got a good look at the cart's contents. 'I take it back." He looked at Ria. Ria looked back at him, then frowned. 'You're not buying groceries for your house. You're buying supplies for yourself." The cart is full of food. Fruits, drinks, snacks, and even chips and other junk foods. Surely, that's not the usual grocery supplies of a household? Unless it's a bachelor or bachelorette pad, where only one single person lives. Ria didn't bother hiding the truth. 'What do you think I do whenever I sleep late?" '…Write?" Joshua answered. 'And eat," Ria said as she continued her shopping. 'Don't tell me you have a kitchen in your room," Joshua said. 'Not really a kitchen," Ria said. 'It's a small pantry, but yeah. I guess you can call that a kitchen." Joshua shook his head as he followed Ria. This time, they went to the toiletries section. 'By the way. I need to ask you a favor," Joshua said. 'Can you hand me the with wings one?" Joshua looked at what Ria is pointing at. He then realized they are in the sanitary napkins section. Different brands and variants are on display as well as panty liners. 'The all night cottony soft one," Ria said as she pointed on a certain sanitary napkin variant. Joshua did not understand what she said, so he just gave her whatever he grabbed. 'The pink one," Ria said pointing to the napkins again. Joshua looked back at the shelf. He took the first pink package he saw. This time, he got it right. 'One more, please," Ria said. Joshua gave her another one. 'Thanks." Ria pushed the cart again. Joshua noticed the direction they're heading to. He saw a familiar brand of feminine wash, and he kind of felt the urgency to do something that will prevent Ria from asking him to hand her something again. He took the card from her instead. 'I'll push this for you," Joshua said, thinking that if he does that, Ria would be able to choose whatever she wants to buy. 'Thank you." Ria smiled at him. And so, Ria chose the feminine wash herself, and Joshua realized why he kind of felt relieved. 'You said you wanted to ask me a favor?" Ria asked. 'Right. Ahm, can you take Edmalyn to Pure Act? I want to set her up again with Carlo." Ria nodded. 'Okay." 'I noticed during the medical mission, they kind of got closer together. So, I want a follow up," Joshua explained. 'Okay. I'll take care of Tats. But…" Joshua frowned. 'But…?" 'It's better if Carla will also come, so that Edmalyn won't be suspicious. It would seem like we're just having some girls' night out," Ria explained. 'Okay… But how can Tats and Carlo have a moment together?" 'Well, you think of a way," Ria said. 'Oh! What if we ask Mayor to come?" Joshua frowned. 'Are you sure that would be okay?" 'Of course! I will take care of Mayor. I also want to ask her something. You take care of Carla," Ria explained. 'Or… you're still not okay talking to her?" 'Why did you say that? We're okay already. Whatever happened before, we already settled it." 'So, are you saying that you're friends with her now?" Joshua looked at Ria. He was about to tell her about what happened with him and Carla two days ago at Brgy. Loria. They literally spent the night together. How can they not be close after that? But again, that might result to more questions and teasing, so he decided to not mention it. 'You can say that. So yeah, I could take care of Carla. Also, that would be better because if it's just the two of us, Edmalyn might choose to hang out with us rather than with Carlo." 'Exactly!" Ria said. 'You've learned, huh? I'm proud of you." Joshua smiled at her remark as Ria continued shopping. 'So, what time did you go home the other day?" Ria faced Joshua. 'Well, we went home the following day," Joshua answered. 'We were stranded because it rained." 'Really?" Joshua frowned. Why does she seem so surprised? 'It can rain during summer, right?" Joshua asked. 'Well, technically, it's not summer because the Philippines does not have summer. Only dry and wet season. But, yes, it can rain during dry season," Ria explained. 'But it didn't rain here." Joshua was surprised. It didn't rain? 'We were able to go back early, so we decided to hang out at Pure Act. James didn't tell you?" Joshua now understands why Ria was surprised upon hearing that it rained in Brgy. Loria. 'I haven't visited Pure Act yet. Yesterday, I just stayed home," Joshua answered. 'Oh, well… So, it didn't rain here," Ria said. 'I guess that's what they call scattered rain." That, or someone made it rain in Brgy. Loria. Joshua looked at Ria because he can't stop himself feeling suspicious. Is it possible she made it rain in Brgy. Loria the other day? 'Why are you looking at me like that?" Ria noticed. 'You know, you can be honest with me," Joshua said to his friend. 'It's okay if you're that mad at me that you made it rain for us to get stranded." Ria analyzed what he said. 'Oh! So you're accusing me?" She sounded offended. 'How can I make it rain, Joshua? I'm not God." She's not God but she can ask the angels to make it rain. Wasn't she the one who taught him that? 'You know, you are really very, very offensive right now. Give me my cart!" Ria grabbed the cart handle from Joshua. She pushed her groceries away. Joshua followed her. 'It's just weird that it suddenly rained in Brgy. Loria just like that." Ria turned to face him. 'You saw it that time, when the sky darkened just because it's about to rain." Joshua remembered how Brgy. Loria looked that afternoon. Ria was right. 'And Joshua… Okay, why would I make it rain? Just because I was pissed because of how you acted? Do you think the Guardian would agree with me and do as I wish?" Joshua realized Ria's point. Guardians will not follow someone who just wants her revenge. 'Okay… I'm sorry," he said to her. 'Joshua, Joshua…" Ria said. She pushed her cart again. Joshua grabbed the cart and pushed it himself. Ria just allowed him to do that. 'So, you were stranded?" Joshua nodded. 'The residents let us in for the night." 'That's good… So, that's why you and Carla are close now." Joshua looked away and pretended he was choosing whatever he was able to grab. 'We're not really that close, you know? Just the right amount of close." Ria giggled. 'What?" Joshua smiled upon realizing what he said. 'I mean, we're okay now. We can joke around each other. It's not too awkward anymore." 'So, you're friends now." Joshua nodded. 'You can say that." 'That's good. At least, you're now at ease with each other's company." Joshua nodded again. 'Yes." 'So you can ask her to help you with Carlo and Edmalyn. So that you will stop bothering me about it." Joshua frowned. Ria grinned at him. 'I have other missions, too, you know." Joshua nodded. 'Well, let's see." 'But I'm definitely helping you with the girl's night out thing. What you mentioned earlier." Joshua smiled. 'Thanks." Joshua helped Ria with her shopping until she was done.