"I also want to focus on having a career for myself. My Mom said that my studies might be affected if I have a boyfriend. . . "

"You are the famous Clarence Peres. A lot of girls wanted to become your girlfriend. When the time comes that you'll find me boring you might look for another girlfriend and leave me."

Once started all her doubts just flowed out from her mouth and were now laid open to him.

"Hush, I already said I'm serious with you. I mean it. I'm a man who is not after a girl for just a momentary relations.h.i.+p. In fact, I always believe that if a man would say 'I love you', then expect he will marry that girl. For me, a relations.h.i.+p is not a game. I'm not the same as other men."

"I will also support you in every endeavor you engage. I won't be a hindrance to you. Did you get it? I'm a person who will commit myself to the woman I love." If he could swear to heaven and earth for her to be a.s.sured then he would.

"I understand but is it really good to have a relations.h.i.+p now? You also live in Manila and I'm here. Is it alright to have a long distance relations.h.i.+p?" More doubts were spilled out.

"Beauty, I intentionally went to Camotes just to court you, so if I can do that now then I can also do the same in the future. Do you understand what I mean? Distance isn't a hindrance for us. Why are you still hesitant?"

"Do you really love me, Clarence? Can I trust your words?"

"I seriously love you, Beauty. What else must I do to make you believe me?"

"Oh my, I don't know. It's just. . . I really don't know how to respond to you. I've never had any boyfriend before so you'll be the first." She suddenly realized what her last words meant. The saying, 'out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks' was proven true.

"Is that a yes?" Clarence excitedly asked her. Beauty wanted to hide if there's a hole that she can hide in. She felt awkward facing him after saying that.

"Don't take it back. You already said it. I'm now your boyfriend. You're not allowed to take it back." He was so happy that he wanted to hug her tightly. "Can I hug you?" He said it at last.

"Ha?" Beauty was dumbfounded by that question. Those words reminded her hugging him out of joy at Leonard's place.

"Just this once."

Without delay, he hugged her tightly. He heard her gasped a little and stiffened. He loosened his hold but didn't let go. He whispered in her ear, "I'll make sure I'm the first and last man in your life."

She loosened up then rest her head on his chest and softly said, "they said a conservative man is a novelty nowadays, are you?"

"Yeah, I'm a novelty borne just for you."

They silently stood like this for an indefinite amount of time or maybe until Clarence would let go. However, there was someone outside the door who heard all of their affectionate conversations from the start that couldn't wait to go in to respond the call of nature.

Ronald ran in without shame and said, "just continue being lovey-dovey there while I'll go to the bathroom. Just make sure you're done when I'm out. And Boss, did you eat my burger?"

Time would be the witness if Clarence's promises could withstand the trials and pain they're going to face in the future.

. . . . .

At the airport, a beautiful girl wearing a fas.h.i.+onable hat and dress arrived. She was like a model doing a catwalk. After her, was a coolie walking with a trolley full of luggage. A car stopped in front of her when she walked out the door.

"Bernard, you're supposed to be working in the restaurant, why are you here now?" asked the girl.

"Mother said this is part of my work. Do you think I'll be glad to come here? You left on your own, then you should come back on your own."

"You're still irritable. Let's go." She paid the coolie and sat in the car.

"By the way, I met Clarence at our restaurant days ago."

"Really? Did he look for me?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, he didn't but he was with a pretty lady at that time."

The girl was fl.u.s.tered hearing what Bernard said. "So he was really angry at me at that time."

"Who won't be angry with what you did? You went with another man when you knew he would visit to confess to you. I was also angry at you. Clarence is a good man but you played with his heart."

"Let's stop talking about past."

. . . . .

At the hospital, Dr. John Rivera newly came out from the operating room when he received a call from Grandma Julianne.

"John, any progress with Beauty?"

"Grandma, I'm still tired from doing an important operation. Can we talk about this later?"

"Was there any problem? Haven't you met yet? You said you'll invite her for dinner."

"Grandma, Clarence is her Boss for now. Do you think he would allow me when he knew my intention to court Beauty? I would have done so If I could. Please let me rest for now."

He was dazing after putting down his phone.

He was confused. He didn't understand why he was irritated whenever he thought of Clarence keeping him from seeing her. He's not supposed to get serious with her. This was only to appease his grandma, but why did he want to see her badly?

A thought came to his mind: he was falling in love with her. He couldn't believe this. Girls were not important to him, only his career. This was crazy. He shoved such thoughts away from his mind. He believed he should focus on more essential matters, his career.

"Doctor Rivera, are you okay? You're blanking out here. Please move aside I need to bring this patient to the operating room." An attendant woke him from his stupor.