What choice of name? Who sent it to her? She hurriedly clicked the email to read its contents. Her imagination ran wild again and fantasy realm unfolded where Romeo, of Romeo and Juliet epic story, sent her a letter and confessed to her his love and devotion. Alas, the email opened unhurriedly due to the slow internet connection.

Just imagine of an image will slowly unfold in front your computer monitor and you will glance on your clock while its second hand ticking from 1 to 12 while waiting for the whole thing to totally show itself. Well, her internet connection was just a little bit faster than that but still took half a minute before the email showed and it was just a short message.

(Hi there,

How are you? I felt bad that you didn't go back to school after we met each other at your cla.s.sroom door. I wished I was able to help you at that time. You were crying a lot that you were not able to hear me speaking.

Don't give up. You're an intelligent girl. I believe in you. I'll be here to support you if you need any encouragement or in any way I can. Btw, I got your email address from your school file.

Your Romeo)

"What the heck is this kind of email? We met there at exactly the same time I was bullied? Was he the guy I b.u.mped at the door? Does he know me? It seemed he was not my cla.s.smate for he stated that incident as if it was his first time meeting me." Beauty was really baffled. How could he console and advice her when they might be had not known each other?

"To use such name, 'Your Romeo' What did it mean? It meant 'My Romeo', my lover, right? Of all names, he chose Romeo with the 'Your' that represents possession. Is he my Romeo?" The a.s.sumed name was really misleading her fantasies.

Her mind was running in circles now as if it was going to short circuit soon for over thinking on who was this guy. Was he one of her cla.s.smates? Would she get the chance to meet him personally?

She giggled thinking of how it might feel dating someone for the first time.

She hurriedly replied the email but not sure what to say so she just wrote a simple message to him.

(Dear Your Romeo,

I don't know how to call you but just left it as that. I felt bad to read your letter just now even you sent this a long time ago. I'm fine now, still trying to move on with my life. Thank you for your concern but honestly can't remember you.

Were we cla.s.smates? Can you tell me your name? It will be unfair if I don't know you while you know me.

Thank you for writing.

Happy,

Beauty)

She thought of asking a picture but she can't make herself to do it. To inquire if they were cla.s.smates and for his name was already a great challenge for her. She wrote then erased and rewritten the whole line and the process happened five times before she strengthened her heart to include it in the email.

This was the starting point of their vague relations.h.i.+p. They sent correspondence a lot of times and became one of her source of enjoyment in that silent and peaceful island. He did not tell her his true name and she tried not to ask again since he wanted it that way.

She even daydreamed that one day Your Romeo will ask to meet her personally. She tried to draw beautiful matching clothes she imagined she will wear for that day. She even thought of asking Grand Mommy to ask a seamstress to sew it for her then she would buy matching shoes. Youthful hearts could make one foolish sometimes. Could also be accounted as a folly if not careful.

(Your Romeo,

I liked cooking and making dishes presentable. How about you? What are your hobbies?

Beauty)

(Beauty,

Really? I like to cook but I like eating the most. Can I ask a favor? Can you cook and send a photo of your finished product? Or even old photos of your cooking.

Your Romeo)

--------------

"Hmm, will I send him or not? Hmm . . . well, OK, I'll just send him those photos."

(Your Romeo,

I was reluctant to send at first but I changed my mind. But these are not new anymore. I made some cooking experiments when I was in junior high school. Here, three of them. Hope you understand what I mean. Reminder: I don't want anyone to copy my designs and photos without my approval and make a fortune out of it.

Beauty)

She shamelessly used the number three with a meaning("I love you") in mind. Since she could not express openly what's in her heart she just used her actions reasoning that her thoughts would pa.s.s through Your Romeo's mind like current believing the man received the electromagnetic signals then accepted them. No one can easily understand her thought process.

Unfortunately, it really did not get through the guy.

(Beauty,

Wow, these photos are nice. I have an uncle who is an owner of a restaurant. Can I show these photos to my uncle? I a.s.sure you that this uncle of mine is trustworthy. He might even pay you for your photos. Come on, just agree. Please trust me.

Your Romeo)

------------

(Your Romeo,

OK, I agree. Remember I trust you. Don't break your promise.

Beauty)

(Thanks, Beauty, you're the best!)

-------------

In a big office of Fancy and Elegant Food Ltd. 10-story building in Manila, a handsome youth was sitting in front of a large table with a middle-aged man in his forties was sitting on the opposite side, who surely was the owner of the office, who was looking on Beauty's photos. On the table, there's a golden two-dimensional rectangular one-foot long plate with the name, Clyde Peres, Chairman. The man and the youth almost had the same features but the latter had the sign of youthful complexion. He was more like the younger version of the former. They were apparently father and son.

The older version was bigger in body structure while the younger one was medium in build. They have the same height, 186 cm. with deep black eyes and aquiline nose on well shaved manly face with a strong jaw that emits dominance.

To differentiate the two, as one glance at the father, surrounding him was an aura of authority and wisdom and knowledge full of the wealth of experience. In comparison, the son was like a subtle tree not as authoritative, but his charm was in his posture and manner of speaking enchanting others to submit and accept his every word, making others to elect him as president in every club he joined.

At the black cus.h.i.+oned sofa near the large table, a lady with long black flowing hair up to the waistline was sitting elegantly wearing a formal black blouse and skirt. Her height was a little bit shorter than the middle-aged man but her slim figure and long legs fool others to make her look like she was taller. She wore a face that showed she was a trophy beauty when young. Those facial features would also make one believe she might still be in her thirties but actually already in her late forties.

"Clarence, these are good photos. Such an artistic mind and intricate designs of food presentation. There are some parts that need to be changed to make it more elegant and inviting. For the whole, I give a 90% pa.s.sing grade. Where did you get these?", the man asked the youth, who was obviously Clarence. He was the same age as Beauty and he was wearing a uniform of a prestige school, Broad Ridge School of Arts. A well-known school from preschool to the university that covered courses for arts.

"Dad, these are designs made by a girl, one of the cla.s.smates of the son of our delivery man. Do you like them? You can pay for them."

Clarence became Beauty's salesperson that had paved the road for her with this conversation. This also made his parents more curious about this unseen lady's ident.i.ty that their son was giving his attention.