I'm already twenty-five minutes waiting for Viern to pick me up in airport,but until now I still haven't see her silhouette. I dialed her number so many times,but no one's answering. I wonder what's going on? She never did this to me for the last fifteen years. But now,it's happening.

I've been busy studying and lonely my whole life. This is the first time that I will rest and chill for a month,but guess what? My good friend didn't showed up. Medical school kept me from dating nor entertain someone,little did I know that I'm gonna be an old lady,slash no boyfriend and husband next month! I'm turning 31 on October 17 and I'm still single.

At first, I never thought it gonna be my problem because I have no interest in having relationship with anyone,and medical school is my number one reason too. Because having a boyfriend is just a nuisance for me. And knowing myself,I hate nuisance. And I don't like investing my precious time and feelings on some boys,who doesn't even have a plan on marrying me in the future. So yeah? I'm enjoying my single life with my psychology books and work.

My family isn't rich and they can't afford to pay my tuition for medical school. I don't want to burden them because I'm a grown up and adult already. And the third reason too,is that I have three siblings and they are still studying at that time. My parents support us even if it's too hard because their salaries aren't big enough.

And I admired both of my mom and dad for that. For working hard so that all of us can go to school.

After I graduated as a BS Psychology student,I studied hard to take and pass the board exam. And thanks to God, I passed.

I worked my ass-off as a psychometrician while studying and getting my M.D degree for years. And you know what? It's been a years without having a proper sleep,and years of inducing my body with so much caffeine. To tell you the truth,after I graduated I avoided drinking coffee `cause my mouth will no longer swallow it. But it's worth it though. I achieved my dream job. And now,I am a psychiatrist.

I worked and worked. Then when I turned thirty years old last year,my mom started pressuring me to get myself a boyfriend so that I could get married and have kids. And it's kind of annoying,because I think having a boyfriend or husband isn't really necessary. I'm not marrying someone just because I'm old and ready to settle down.

Forming and starting a family isn't a game nor a play thing. If I'm going to marry someone someday,I'll make sure that I love him and he loves me. Because love is everything... enduring and understanding. We can face and defeat all odds ahead `cause we love each other. And If I'm going to marry for sake that I'm already old,it can only lead me to unhappy life. Thank you,but no,thanks.

As I've said earlier,I don't like investing my precious time on some boys who doesn't up to serious relationship. So if men comes to me just to ask me to be their fling and fuck bud,no thanks. I might as well die being a single.

I inhaled and exhaled loudly to vanish my frustration while dialing Viern's number. My forehead is already sweating and my eyebrows are creasing because of the heat and exasperation I am feeling.

Answer your damn phone,Viern Dominique Morgan!

"The number you have dialed is unattended. Please try your call later."

I've been hearing this line for how many times already. Did Viern plan on doing this to me? But knowing her for years,I know she won't do this. Damn it. That's why I took this vacation because she offers me a good place to stay on and relax. She said that she prepared everything for me,so I shouldn't be worried. She even stated during our video call,that I don't need to pay for my expenses because she knows the person who owns the resort and hotel in Sarangani Province.

I called her a hundred times,and she didn't answered me for a hundred times, too. Fine,I gave up.

I have a lot of money to spend for my first time vacation for so many years,so I don't need a free service from somebody named I don't know.

I grabbed my luggage and I took my step to reach the exit. I raised my hand to call a taxi. And just before the taxi arrive at my direction,my phone rang loudly like a bomb. I refrained myself from assuming that it might be Viern. As I expected,it's not her. It's an unknown number and caller. My intuition tells me that I should answer it. And before I could even utter a single word,my heart flutters.

The butterflies that have been quiet for a long time,escape from its den just because of a certain cold and deep voice.

It couldn't be him,right?

"Is this Alyhanzen Genova?" The caller asked.

I coughed to compose myself and to get back my rationality. "Who's this?" I answered his question with a question, using the voice I usually use to my patients. I held my left chest using my right hand,and I inhaled deeply to erase what my heart is beating. I just wish that this person isn't the one I'm thinking he is.

Well what if...this person is him,Aly? What would you do? End the call and ignore him? Like a scared kitten? You're such a darn coward. You don't even know if he still remembered what you said to him.

My cracking conscience just won't shut up.

Well what if he still remembered my words and ridiculous confession? I'm just 16 years old and idiot back then. I've been driven by my silly and naive thoughts.

Then act like you didn't remember saying those cringy words. Play like it's nothing and it isn't big deal for you. That's the only solution. And what,Aly? Do you still have a thing for that guy?

Hell,no. It's been a freaking fifteen years I didn't saw him,why would I have still an infatuation for that guy? And seriously, I bet he's married and not single. And even if he's not married and single,I'm not interested on flirting with him. I can't even recall his name from my memory anymore,so that's it. I'm not interested, period.

"Hello? Ms.Genova,are you still there?Hello?" I almost forgot that I'm talking to someone. But damn,his voice is just so cold and deep—in short very seductive. It's like hearing his voice can make me strip my clothes anytime. And that's absolutely a rated red flag for me. I should probably hinder this lustful desire. I may be a single my whole life,but I'm not innocent.

"Y-yes? W-who's this?" Darn it. I stuttered twice.

"I'm Ryledon Sederick Morgan,cousin of Viern Dominique Morgan,your friend. For some reason,she can't pick you up at the Airport. Viern also said to me that she can't accompany you,during your vacation in Sarangani."

R-Ryledon?! Ryledon?! Ryledon S-Sederick Morgan?!

I thought I didn't remembered his name.

But now,I just did.

What a son of a worm and my intuition is right. Yeah I know I could do this. I could face him. It happened fifteen years ago and it isn't a big deal to me or to him. I could just simply use my best acting skills and just act simply that I dont give a F on him.

"Why? Where is she? Is there something bad happen to her?" I asked calmly.

"Nothing bad happened to her. She's just somewhere far away." He answered and I can vividly hear his amuse voice. Woah. What's amusing to my question? I have a feeling that I should book a ticket right now,and just go back to Manila. My gut is telling me to refrain from meeting Ryle, because I might fall from a deep ocean. And there's a possibility that I might drown.

I trust my intuitions. I should probably avoid that man.

"There's one more thing Viern told me..."

Before I could ask him what is it,he ended the call. "What is he up to? Hanging words,so that I would predict what he's going to spit? Tss." I shrugged and face the chauffeur of the taxi.

"Someone's going to pick me here,sir. Thank you and I'm sorry for the inconvenience I've caused." I smiled to the chauffeur to exploit my sincerity. And after that,he just nodded and proceeded to find other customers.

I sighed. Maybe I could take my beloved vacation next time. There's a saying that if your voyage isn't good from the start,just go home to avoid any unexpected circumstances. What's happening right now is indeed an unexpected circumstance itself.

So I booked another flight,all I have to do is to wait for five hours. Five hours won't hurt,right? I'm at the waiting area,sitting and massaging the bridge of my narrow nose. Is there anything else,destiny? Yeah I know,I'm such a bad luck. I'm so disappointed but I'm not mad at Viern. She has her own life to take care of too,and she even asked Ryle a favor--to pick me here. It's my own issue and problem that my vacation is not going to happen. I just couldn't meet Ryle. It happened fifteen years ago,and I admitted to myself that I'm still embarrassed about what I did.

Destiny sucks and I'm such a coward.