Dianne's frustration simmered as she walked toward the mini-store right in front of her office building. She still couldn't shake off what had happened earlier. The memory of DJ in the elevator replayed over and over in her mind. She clenched her fists, annoyed not only at the situation but at herself too. Why, of all the people in the conference room, did he have to notice her? Was it intentional, meant to embarrass her in front of everyone?
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. "I'll just eat this and maybe I'll forget what happened," she muttered under her breath. Lunchtime, and she was already hungry.
A few minutes later, she found a spot near the glass wall and began to eat. But then her eyes caught sight of Kier stepping out of a car. Following him was a beautiful woman, and Dianne noticed how carefully Kier supported her as they walked. The woman's black bodycon dress hugged her figure perfectly, and her posture exuded model-like confidence.
"Girlfriend, maybe?" Dianne wondered, observing silently.
Moments later, DJ appeared, smiling as he greeted the pair and entered the building. Dianne stiffened. Fate seemed to be deliberately putting them in each other's paths.
"Hello, Dianne!" Kier greeted, his smile warm. The woman he was with followed.
"Hi, Kier," Dianne replied, forcing herself to keep her composure, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Kier continued, "Nice to see you again. Um… I'd like you to meet Gerlie. She's DJ's girlfriend, and Gerlie, this is Dianne."
Gerlie smiled politely at Dianne, eyes scanning her from head to toe. "So, you're Dianne? Nice meeting you," she said, her smile barely concealing its artificiality.
"Me too," Dianne replied quietly. Inside, she recognized the forced nature of the woman's smile. As much as Kier seemed charming, she thought, their personalities didn't match at all.
Soon after the introduction, Kier and Gerlie left, clearly in a hurry. Relief washed over Dianne as she realized Gerlie was DJ's girlfriend, and not Kier's. At least this clarified one concern, though her day had already been filled with emotional turbulence.
"Why is he here? Does he want to ruin my day? Is this stress meant for me alone?" she muttered to herself, attempting to calm the rising irritation.
Later that day, Athena was practically glowing with excitement as she spoke to their friends. "You know, guys, Kier and I ran into each other yesterday," she began, eyes sparkling.
"I told him about our plans for Saturday, and he said he'd love to join us," she continued, practically bouncing with joy.
The friends discussed their upcoming Friendship Date. Dianne listened quietly as Athena mentioned that Kier had even given her his mobile number to stay updated.
"So, that's the start of your communication?" Amy asked, her tone teasing yet curious.
"And this marks the beginning of your love story…" Dansel added, sweeping his hand theatrically.
Dianne froze, unsure whether to smile or sink further into her seat. She forced a smile, trying to keep up with the cheerful banter of her friends. She noticed Athena glance at her knowingly, sensing the conflict within Dianne.
"What about DJ, Dianne? How are things?" Amy asked, turning toward her. "Aren't you two working together?"
"We're not okay… and he has a girlfriend," Dianne answered quietly, choosing honesty but avoiding details.
"Actually, it's just a girlfriend for now. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe they're not meant to be," Amy said encouragingly.
"You know, girl, we'd be happier if you two end up together," Dansel said with a smile.
Dianne felt a pang in her chest. How could she tell them that DJ wasn't her type, while not complicating her friendship with Athena? She had always prioritized the happiness of her friends above her own feelings. The thought made her heart ache, but she knew it was a choice she had to make.
Saturday – Friendship Date
7:00 AM.
Dianne arrived with Dansel and his girlfriend. Amy and her boyfriend had already arrived earlier. They had agreed to bring their partners for the outing.
Shortly after, Athena, Kier, and DJ arrived together in the same car.
DJ.
Why was he here? Dianne asked herself silently. Did he deliberately come to ruin my day?
"DJ, we didn't expect you to join us," Dansel said as everyone gathered.
"Kier called me last night and invited me," DJ replied with a smile. "Well, I had nothing else to do."
"Why didn't you bring your girlfriend?" Dansel asked further.
"She had something important to do, so I came alone," DJ said, his expression briefly tinged with sadness.
"Perfect, the more the merrier," Amy said, shifting the focus of conversation.
"We're here to enjoy ourselves, so everyone should just be happy," Kier added.
"Agreed," Athena said with a smile.
They entered the resort, Athena's grandparents' favorite getaway, full of excitement and chatter.
That evening, Dianne sat by the sea, gazing at the starlit sky. The sky was dense with stars, one in particular seemed as if it could fall directly to her.
"…Someday, I hope I'll find a man who can shout to the world that he loves me and accept me even if others see me as ordinary," she whispered, her voice trembling with longing.
"Stop pretending like a star will fall and grant your wish. Don't be ridiculous!"
Dianne startled. It was DJ. He turned and walked away. The sharpness of his words, whether intentional or not, stung. Her mind raced—how long had he been behind her?
Their stay at the resort was extended by a day. On Sunday, with no work obligations, everyone agreed to linger a little longer. Dianne, accustomed to early trips, adjusted easily to the extra time.
That evening, they decided to have drinks before heading to the mini disco bar, where a live band performed every Sunday. They also planned a game of Truth or Dare while drinking. DJ didn't join, preferring a swim in the sea. Alone, he enjoyed the water while the others drank and played.
As the bottle spun, it landed in front of Dianne. Amy, a little tipsy but bright-eyed, announced, "DJ, Dianne wants to tell you something."
DJ turned toward her. "What is it?" he asked.
Dianne opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Amy: "She has a secret crush on you."
DJ paused, raising both hands. "Well, it's natural to feel attraction, we're all human. But… I have a girlfriend," he said, his tone calm but firm.
Dianne's words caught in her throat. She had wanted to confess her feelings, finally be honest, yet Amy had beaten her to it. And DJ—he might think she'd been chasing him all along because of the revelation.
Her thoughts stayed tangled and silent, the truth unspoken.
After drinking, they headed to the disco bar as planned. Dianne watched her friends dance and laugh. Their partners were with them, DJ and Kier included. She stayed to the side, feeling like a wallflower, unable to match their energy.
Then DJ whispered something to Amy and nodded slightly. Moments later, he approached Dianne. It seemed he only acted when their friends were watching.
"Dianne, come dance with me," DJ said, smiling but hesitant.
"Come on, we're here to have fun," Amy added, gently pulling her toward the center where the others were dancing.
Amid the music and laughter, Dianne could hear only the rhythm of her own heartbeat, pounding loudly in her ears. It was deafening, yet it was the only sound that mattered.