Chapter 33

When Carla returned to their table with Jovie, Mark, James and Jeralhd are already gone. Joshua is already sitting beside Ria, but Edmalyn and Carlo just remained where they were when they left. 'Where are they?" Jovie asked as she sat beside Edmalyn. Carla has no choice but to sit opposite Jovie. There are no vacant seats on that side, so she had to sit on the other side of the table alone. 'They went to the bar area," Joshua answered Jovie. 'They refilled their drinks." 'You want to join them, Mayor? I'll go with you," Ria offered. 'You just want to gossip," Jovie said. 'Well, I was thinking of buying you a drink, but since you don't want to…" Ria said. 'Come on!" Jovie stood up. 'Let's go." Ria is giggling while standing up. 'Hey! Your mom might get mad if you drink," Joshua said to Ria. 'I'm not going to drink. I'll just eat their pulutan," Ria said. 'You're a glutton," Joshua commented. Jovie and Ria proceeded to the bar area. Carla followed them with her gaze. When they disappeared from her sight, her attention went back to Carlo and Edmalyn. She frowned when she saw the two. Since when did those two become close? Joshua noticed Carla's silence. He decided to come and sit beside her so she won't be alone. Carla looked at Joshua as he suddenly approached her. Joshua smiled at her. She smiled back as he sat down beside her. 'So, how's the restroom of Pure Act Café?" Joshua asked. Carla laughed at his question. 'You're really asking me about your restaurant's comfort room?" 'Of course," Joshua answered. 'Customer satisfaction survey." Carla giggled. 'Well, the restroom is okay. It's clean, it looks nice, and it smells good." 'It has to be," Joshua said. 'The CR reflects the owner of the company. That is why they have to share the same quality." Carla laughed again. 'So, you mean to say that you are also clean, you look nice, and you smell good?" 'Of course," Joshua answered. 'I'm a very good-looking guy, am I not?" Joshua leaned on the backrest so that he can distance himself from Carla a bit more, for her to have a nicer glimpse of him. He even crossed his arms on his chest like he's posing for a photo shoot. Carla grinned at what he did. 'I am clean, inside and out." Joshua laughed at what he said. That made Carla laugh as well. 'And I smell very good. Try it." Carla knows that Joshua is just joking, but she can't help but feel like it was something else. It feels like he's flirting with her. She felt awkward with that thought, making her slowly look away. She then saw Edmalyn and Carlo, and the flirting mood came back to Carla. She frowned as she saw Carlo whisper something on Edmalyn's ear that made her giggle. 'Is there something wrong?" Carla looked back at Joshua. 'Huh?" 'You seem to be thinking something beautiful," Joshua answered. 'Oh… No, I just…" Carla looked back at Edmalyn. 'How did they become so close?" She looked back at Joshua. Joshua looked at Edmalyn and Carlo. 'I don't know. We have been hanging out pretty much lately. Maybe that's how it happened." 'I'm always there when they meet," Carla said. 'This is the first time that I saw them… like that…" 'Well, you don't look after Tats every minute, every second that you're together." Joshua looked at her. 'But, so what? I mean, what's wrong with her being close to Carlo?" 'I'm just worried." 'About what?" Carla let out a sigh. 'That history will repeat itself." Joshua frowned. 'Edmalyn always falls in love with a guy who does not love her back," Carla explained. 'She is always broken-hearted. I'm just worried that might happen again." 'Maybe it won't?" Carla just looked at Joshua. 'Maybe this time, it's for real, you know. Carlo might be that one guy who will love her back." Maybe. It could be. Maybe it could happen? Maybe things will be different with Carlo Reyes. Maybe he's the Mr. Right that Edmalyn has been waiting for? Or maybe not. Who is she to tell? She can't say that Carlo is really the right guy for her friend based on what she's seeing right now. Isn't that what also happened to her? Yes, she thought her ex loved her so much. But it turns out he doesn't love him enough to understand her situation. She suddenly remembered what Jovie said earlier. Truth is, Carla suddenly thought about her ex-boyfriend when she heard Jovie's words. That is also what he told her back then. I tried to hold on to you… but you were never there, Carla. You were always on your own world that I am not part of. It's hard because I don't seem to be one of your priorities. Do I even exist in the future you were trying to attain? She suddenly felt sad with that memory. She looked down at the glass in front of her. Surely, that's not hers since she switched place earlier. Maybe it was better if she went with Ria and Jovie to the bar? 'Are you okay?" She looked at Joshua. He just stared at her, waiting for her to answer. 'Yeah, I am. I just… remembered something." Joshua did not pry, much to Carla's relief. The last thing she wants right now is for him to bother her about her thoughts. Past eleven PM when everyone decided to go home. 'It's too early to go home!" Jovie said, obviously drunk. She can't even stand on her own anymore. 'Let's continue next time, Mayor," Joshua said. 'After your victory in the elections, you have to treat us." 'Why not do it now? For sure I will win," Jovie said. Everyone just smiled at what Jovie said. 'Come on! Let's go back inside. Mark?" Jovie said. 'Next time, Mayor," Mark said. 'I'm a bit drunk as well." 'You're too lame! Let's drink some more!" 'Mayor, you need to go home," James said. 'Or else, I'll ban you on my bar." 'You're too serious," Jovie told James. 'He's like that when he's drunk," Joshua said, pertaining to James. 'So Mayor, you need to go home. James' temper is getting bad." Jovie scowled. 'Can you drive?" Joshua asked Jovie. 'Of course I can!" Jovie answered. 'I can take Mayor to their house," Ria said, standing beside her car. Jovie smirked. 'Whoa! Now I'll get to experience Madame's car! Let's go, Madame, so that I could ride on your fancy car already." Jovie went ahead and got inside Ria's car first. The latter said her goodbyes to the others for the two of them before going in as well. After that, Edmalyn and Carla also said their goodbyes before riding on to Edmalyn's car. Mark told Jeralhd he's going home with him. 'I can't drive anymore," Mark said. Jeralhd smirked. 'That's what you get for competing with Mayor." 'You're right. I didn't know she can drink that much!" Mark said as he held his head. The others just laughed at him. Jeralhd and Mark said goodbye, and James followed after. Joshua and Carlo were walking to their cars together, when Edmalyn and Carla approached them. 'My car just won't start," Edmalyn told them. The four went to the car and Joshua examined it. 'I don't know what's wrong," Joshua said. Carlo also looked at the car. 'It seems okay." 'But why won't it start?" Edmalyn asked. Carlo and Joshua looked at each other. 'Maybe there's something wrong that we can't see," Joshua answered. 'You might need to bring it to the mechanic. But do it tomorrow. For sure all the auto repair shops are closed at this hour." 'Okay…" Edmalyn looked at Carla. 'Guess we have to take a taxi." 'Do you need to?" Joshua asked. 'Carlo has the same way home, right? He can take you home. Right, Carlo?" Joshua looked at Carlo. 'Yeah," Carlo answered. 'There you go," Joshua said. 'Carla's house is on the opposite way," Edmalyn said. 'I can't let her take the taxi alone." 'It's okay," Carlo said. 'I can take her home as well." 'No, it's okay, Carlo," Carla said. 'Thanks for the offer, but we can manage." 'I'll take Carla home." Carla looked at Joshua. 'We might not have the same way home but it is closer than Carlo's. Besides, that way we can all go home faster, right? " Joshua explained. He then looked at Carla. 'Also, that's safer than you taking a cab." Carla wanted to decline the offer, but however she looks at it Joshua's suggestion is better. She can't do anything but accept it. And so, Carlo took Edmalyn home, and Carla was forced to go with Joshua. Because she's still worried about her friend, her mind is still with Edmalyn, making her very quiet at Joshua's passenger seat. Joshua is also silently driving his car. It's just now that he realised the mistake he has made. Yes, it seems like his plan is not a hundred per cent polished. He remembered what Ria told him earlier. As long as you're sure you planned everything, then go! He seems to have made a mistake on this part. Never mind. The situation is already there, so he has no choice but to go with the flow. He'll take Carla to her home, and then he'll go home after. His plan is done and hopefully, something good will happen with Carlo and Edmalyn. Hopefully.