Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

**Lisa’s POV**

A week after the lunch out we had with Archie, I was busy with another project with our recruitment affiliate abroad so I was not able to eat my lunch outside. I just ordered my food so I can eat at my office while working. I haven’t seen Archie or heard from him anymore. Lily stopped pestering me about Archie. I went home late and I am not expecting anyone to be hanging around the lobby since it is late. But to my surprise, when I was getting out of the lobby, someone called me. When I looked back, it was Archie.

“Why are you still here? It is already late. I assumed that the second floor was already closed.” I asked him.

“Yes, I know. I am really waiting for you.” He answered.

My eyebrow is arching up a little because of his answer. “Maybe you got the wrong person. Lily has already gone home, and I am not Lily.”

“Are you jealous?” He asked, smirking.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Me? Jealous? Why should I? We are not even friends, why would I be jealous?” I was annoyed.

` “What about the guy that sent you to the bus station? Who is he, your boyfriend?” He asked, staring at me.

“That’s none of your concern since you have lots to answer to Lily when she sees you. I don’t have the answer to her question about you. She is pestering me about you. You two should talk so you can get to know each other.” I told him.

“Why push me to Lily?” He questioned me.

“What right do I have to push you to Lily? It’s just that she keeps on asking me about you. What can I say?” I explained.

“Then, can I take you home since it was late.” More like a statement that question.

“What can I say, since you are here already.” I answered.

“Then we can get to know each other more. Have you had your dinner?” He asked.

“I can have my dinner at home since I am going home already.” I answered him.

“Then why don’t we have our dinner first so we can talk, at the same time you can just rest after you arrive home.” He suggested.

I don’t see any problem with his suggestion. Since it is already late and I am already dead tired to have my dinner at home. I just go along as he told me. We have our dinner at a fast food chain nearby. While we were eating, he asked me some personal questions which I don’t know if I should answer or not.

“I’m sorry if Lily’s query about me makes you annoyed though I don’t have any control about her grumpy questions about me. I just wanted to make it clear that what we talked about when we went out for lunch was nothing more than a simple conversation. There’s nothing for you to worry about.” He narrated.

I immediately interjected. “Me? Why would I worry about you or her?”

“I just wanted you to know that I am not interested with Lily since she made all the conversation going while we were having lunch. I am just being polite to answer some of her questions. But actually, I wanted her to stop talking.” He narrated.

“I don’t see any problem with that since we were just friends. It was just awkward to join your conversation wherein I don’t know what you are talking about.” I explained.

“Don’t you see my point?” He asked.

“No, I don’t. Then tell me.” I wanted to clear his point.

“I’m interested in you and I wanted to pursue you. It is not Lily or anyone, it is you I’m interested in. I am not rushing you to make your decision. I am good at what you can extend to me as of now. I am good with friendship first, if that makes you feel better. As long as you know my full intention.” He clarified his point to me. I was so stunned by what he directly said, but I definitely get his point. What more was shocking when he asked me his next question. “Do you have a boyfriend, because you’re so aloof.”

I don’t know how to answer his direct question. But I answered him just the same. “No, I don’t.”

“Why is that so?” He added.

I stared at him before I answered him, contemplating if I should answer his question or leave it as it is. But I choose the former. “When I was in college. He was the captain of our university varsity team. We broke up before we graduated because of a big misunderstanding. Then after three years, our paths cross again. We reconciled, then after six months of our reconciliation he just disappeared. Since then, I haven’t heard any news about him. Now, I don’t know if I wanted to hear anything from him. Maybe the thought that he just disappeared made me cringe about what may have happened to him. Nevertheless, I just wanted him to be good.”

He just listened to my story. I don’t know what was running to his mind right now. At least I tell myself to him what really took place in my previous life. It is better that he knows what he is getting at with me.

He extended his hand and held my hand. “I won’t just disappear in your life unless I die. That is a promise.”

I just looked at him. I hope he is right. But I don’t want to depend on just promises. Because many promises have already been broken. Many lives and relationships have been destroyed because of broken promises. I won’t bet my life on it anymore.