Chapter 3 Episode 3

CHAPTER THREE •••THE PREVIOUS DAY•••

KEVIN'S POV

I brought the car to a halt and stared at the apartment surrounded by cross-wood work to serve as a little wall. It was small, but I could tell from the exterior that it was comfy.

"Wow!" I whispered, staring at Camila's apartment.

Camila chuckled and seemed to get what I was marveled by.

"Thank you." she said and stepped out of the car. "I still don't know why you insisted on bringing me back home. Your driver could have done that, or better still, I would have gone home by taking a taxi." she said, unlocking the padlock that was bound by a heavy duty chain that was bind to the both side of the cross-wood walls.

I chuckled, still marveled at Camila's apartment. The white color could have faded or be stained by constant downpour and dirt from the main road which was just a few feet away.

"Oh please, don't try to sound so humble now." I chuckled. "The driver needed to … you know, take my kids home. I can't just let an old school buddy go just like that." I smiled, following Camila into her apartment.

Camila smiled, reaching for another key that I supposed was to unlock the door to her apartment. "You can always see me there. I mean, I am Kitana's class teacher." she smiled as she popped the keys into the door lock.

"You and your insisting self," I teased, laughing. "I don't really show up at their school; I always leave it to my driver to come pick them up. I only show up at meetings and … oh yeah, wait." I motioned for her just to call her attention to a question I was curious to ask. "I always show up for my children's school meetings and terminal school parties. How come I never got to recognize you?"

Again, Camila smiled widely, opening the door and motioning for me to get in. "I only resumed working in that school four months ago." she said, her footsteps beginning to sound distant.

I looked around the living room and was gob smacked. Caramel colored walls, complimented by a chandelier that had a twilight feeling to it. The chairs seemed to compliment the color of the walls;  red velvet sofa and couches with their heads and arm rests having the same color as that of the walls. The rug was a dim brown, and the center table? Quite exquisite. I was busy admiring the whole thing when I noticed Camila wasn't anywhere around the living room.

"Camila?” I called out.

"Coming!" I heard her yell from where sounded like her bedroom.

I smiled and sat down on the sofa, engulfing the comforting feeling I felt as my butt graced the succulent feel of the seat.

"I shouldn't get too distracted," I thought. I also had an important request to make from her.

•••

CAMILA'S P.O.V

My heart kept beating so fast whenever I heard Kevin calling out to me, and I realized that he had been saying something that I wasn't paying attention to. It's been over 12 years since we all went our separate ways from High School, and even when I was a class lower than Kevin's graduating class, I didn't stop fantasizing about him. He was the talk of the school, every girl was crazy over him. Thanks to the digital word and social media, we were able to connect after a school reunion, but I'd be immediately broken when I found out he was married. The disappointment, coupled with his absence from social media afterwards was difficult to cope with.

I was surprised by how sunken I felt; I mean, it was supposed to be a High School crush and obsession thingy and let the feeling die later on. No man has ever interest me after the bad thing happened. I couldn't tell.

"Camila!" Kevin yelled. "Are you even listening?" he motioned to his ears.

I immediately realized that I had zoned out again and bobbed my head rather nervously, tittering. "Goodness, don't mind me. I'm so sorry." I said, hoping he'd let my weird reaction go unnoticed by him.

He rolled his eyes and asked, "It isn’t like I'm gonna talk about my ordeals after High School, but then, I knew you intended to become a nurse. What then happened? How did you suddenly become Professor Camila?" he asked, pronouncing my name mockingly which made me laugh.

"Well, I wouldn't say you're completely wrong, but you aren't completely right either. It is a long story. No matter what, I became a teacher finally" I said, trying my best to avert his gaze.

I noticed Kevin's expression turn serious. I could sense he wanted to discuss something.

"Camila,"

"Yeah?" I quickly adjusted my emotions.

"I might just have offered to drop you home and stay behind for a while not just to revisit the old times and all," he sighed. "I also need your help, Camila."

I was already curious at this point.

"What is wrong, Kevin?"