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Alphose cleared his throat uncomfortably.

The two women looked at him.

"I'll just...uhm...wait outside." He revealed before he turned and walked out of the door.

When the door closed behind him, the two women looked at themselves. Sandra continued, "What I mean is..."

"No, Sandy, don't." Ismena interjected, "This is all a misunderstanding. There's nothing going on between Alphose and I."

Sandra shook her head, "You don't have to lie to me, Mena, it's okayI understand—"

"No, I'm not lying. I mean it. Sincerely."

Sandra looked at her friend carefully and realized that she was serious. It made her confused, "But, when he came in here, he said the both of you have to start going back. I figured it to be back to his place. It makes sense because you haven't been at your place for almost a month now. Your house was completely destroyed and—"

"Wait, wait, wait. You knew?" Ismena cut in, completely taken aback.

"That your house was destroyed completely? Yes, I do. I went looking for you one day but your landlord told me everything. I was waiting for you to tell me yourself... but you didn't." Sadness laced those last words.

Guilt flashed in Ismena's eyes and she lowered it. "I'm so sorry, Sandy. I have had a lot going on for me these past few months... I'm so sorry."

Silence descended.

"I don't know what is going on, but you know I'm always here for you, right?" Sandra said softly, at last.

Ismena almost teared up. She blinked back rapidly and gave her best friend a watery smile. "Yes, I do. Thank you so much, Sandy."

They hugged each other then.

"And, it's truly not what you're thinking." Ismena continued, "The truth is... Yes, I know Alphose but there's nothing going on between us. The person I'm dating—No, the person I'm sleeping with—" She corrected, "...is his friend. Not him."

That pulled Sandra away from her so fast. Her friend's gray eyes popped out, "Really? You're BANGING his friend!? Does he know?"

"Yes, he does." Ismena blushed, "Alphose and I are just...uhm...friends. Anyway, the bottom-line is that you have nothing to worry about because Alphose likes you too and—"

"Wait. Really?" A smile so bright lightened up Sandra's face, "Really?"

Ismena returned her smile. "Yes, really. But, that's not the point now. The point is..." she took her friend's hands then, "... Sandy?"

"Mmh?" Came the enthusiastic response.

She squeezed Sandy's hands, "Would you like to go with me where I've been all these while?"

"Yes. Oh, yes. Yes, I'll go." No hesitation. Nothing. Her eyes were just filled with trust.

It made Ismena emotional and she shook her head, "But, Sandy, you don't even know where it is."

"Don't care. What matters is that you're there—wherever 'there' is—and you're going there with me, and we're going to spend more time together."

"But Sandy, what about your work?"

"I can always take a break. Remy, that dog, knows I'm long overdue for now." She smirked then.

Ismena smiled too, at the reference to her boss. "Well, that's true. Oh, Sandy, I'm so happy you're going with me—"

The door opened and Alphose entered again. "We don't have much time left, Ismena. We have to go now."

Ismena nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay."