"Ah, since when did she start to be this secretive?" Teresa frowned as she drove the car. 

"Hmm," Her best friend groaned in the passenger seat. 

"She went on a blind date and we didn't even get a whiff about it," Teresa clicked her tongue. 

"Hmm," 

"And when asked about it, she says she wanted to tell us when everything was sure, she's not sure when aunt has started the preparation in full swing? Just who is she kidding?" Teresa complained. 

"Hmm," 

"She's definitely trying to hide something, why hide it from us? I hate it when you guys try to hide things from me when I always share everything with you," She pouted sulkily. 

"Hmm," She heard Rina moan in her side. 

"Girl, are you even listening?" Teresa looked at her bff who was enjoying her choco mint icecream. 

"Yes, yes," Rina replied as she finished the last bit of the icecream, "ah it's finished," She hung her head in disappointment. "But I'm craving for more," She licked her lips. 

Teresa shook her head, heaving a sigh she stopped the car and turned back to grab the plastic from the back seat, "Here," she passed the ice cream tub to her friend, "Aww, I love you," Rina screamed as she grabbed the tub with a huge smile. 

"Love you too, bestie," Teresa replied as she resumed the drive. "No one understands the icecream cravings more than me," She added as a smile played on her lips as she reminisced how much she had troubled her husband during her pregnancy, she even kicked him out in the middle of the night in his sweatpants to get her the said flavor of the ice cream. 

"I never realized I loved this flavor, I hated it before," Rina told her as she gobbled it up. 

"You don't say, the crazy hormones change your taste buds like anything," Teresa chuckled in response. "Anyway, here we are," She announced as she took a turn and entered the hospital, "even if Ai doesn't tell us anything, we can always find out from here," She added as she turned off the engine. 

***

"Dear aunty!" Teresa opened the door to the cabin with a cheerful voice but she stopped at the doorway when she didn't see anyone there, "ow!" Rina rubbed her nose as she bumped into her head, "Why did you stop all of a sudden?" She complained. 

"No one's here," Teresa replied as she gestured at the empty room. 

Rina then turned around and called out to the nurse who was just passing by. They then came out to the garden searching for their friend's mother, "there she is," After spotting whom she wanted, Teresa ran like the wind, "Slow down!" Rina followed her at her own pace. 

"Hey, hey, aunty," Teresa ran to her and hugged her from behind, "Oh my, nice to see you too, dear," Olivia Spenser, smiled as she leaned behind. 

"Oh, you were with someone," Teresa acknowledged the presence of the old man who smiled at her in response, she bowed to him respectfully, "Hello," She greeted him. 

"You came alone?" The lady asked her as she scanned her eyes behind her, "You didn't bring the twins?"

"You know what happened when I brought them last time, they disturbed the peace of the hospital and drained all my energy, so this time it's just me," Teresa shrugged, "I'm here too," Rina added from behind. 

"oh my, what a pleasant surprise," The lady smiled at Rina as she greeted her. She then turned her attention to the old man, "they're Ai's best friends, also my second and third ones." 

"Hello," Rina greeted the man. 

"And he is Ai's would be grandfather-in-law," As soon as the words left her mouth Teresa screamed out, "Ehh? Wow! We came here for the name of the guy but we get to meet her in-laws, this is so great!" she clapped her hands together,  "You're very lucky, grandpa, Ai is such a sweet girl...." 

After half an hour of singing the praise of her best friend, Rina nudged Teresa finally bringing her to halt, "And that's that, yeah," Teresa nodded. 

Just then the ringtone of the phone disrupted their talk, "that's mine, just a second," Rina excused herself as she attended the call. 

The old man smiled at Teresa fondly, "You must love your best friend dearly," he commented. "Of course, bring me one man who doesn't get charmed by my best friend, few minutes with her and you'll be in love with her," Teresa grinned at him.

"I know," The old man nodded, "that's why I coveted her for my grandson as soon as I got the chance," he winked at her. 

"Ooh , smooth," Teresa gave him a high five. 

Rina returned after making the call, she then whispered to Teresa, "We gotta leave."  

"But I'm not done yet," Teresa protested. 

"Sorry," Rina apologized, "I had a meeting today and it totally flew out of my mind," She heaved a sigh. 

"That's okay," The lady smiled at her. 

"And here I was looking forward to having some more talk about Ai, sorry grampy," Teresa pouted sulkily. 

"that's fine, you can visit me the next time," The old man replied with a smile. 

"Really?" Teresa's eyes sparkled in delight. 

"Of course, I found someone I want to sing the praise of my daughter in law too," The old man chuckled in response. 

"Okay, I've got a lot more praises to sing, don't get tired of it later," Teresa warned him as they took off. 

On their way, Teresa remembered something, "Wait!" She shouted. Rina flinched in surprise, "What?" She looked at her bff.  "We forgot to do what we came here for," Teresa reminded her, "Ah, yes," Rina nodded, "What do we do then? Go back and ask? That would be awkward," She replied. 

"We missed the chance but no worries, I know who can give us the information," Teresa wiggled her brows as she grinned. 

"So? What's his name?" Teresa asked the little girl in front of her. 

"Name, huh?"  Alice crossed her arms and tapped her feet. "What will I get if I tell you?" 

"huh?" Teresa blinked at the girl. 

"Information comes with a price, dear Tessa," A mischievous smile played on her lips. 

"uh-huh? playing smart huh?" Teresa narrowed her eyes at her. "Forget it, we got other sources too," She stuck her tongue out. 

"Not done," Alice pouted sulkily. 

Her face broke into a smile as she watched the little girl sulking, "okay, fine, what does our Alice want in exchange?" Teresa asked. 

"The imported chocolates you got me for my birthday," Her eyes sparkled as she answered. "2 packets." 

"Hmm," Teresa laughed out, "Okay, you can have 5," She replied. 

"yay!" Alice jumped with joy. 

"Now, information," Teresa inquired. 

"Aaron Falcoreini," Alice answered. 

"hmm, Aaron," Teresa nodded, "wait, I've heard the name before," She tilted her head to the side. 

"Aaron Falcoreini," Rina repeated the name, they both then looked at each other, "hey, now way, right?" Teresa shook her head, Rina shrugged in response, "it's not the same Aaron, right?" Teresa wiggled her brows. 

"ofo," Alice shook her head, "Give me your phone, I'll even show you his photo," Alice extended her hand, "okay," Teresa handed hers, "But I'll take extra chocolates," She added with a grin as she surfed the net. 

"You're already getting 5, you'll get caries," Teresa scolded her. 

"But-" 

"5 or none," Teresa narrowed her eyes at the girl. 

"5! 5!" She made her choice, "good girl," Teresa smiled at her. 

"Here," Alice handed her the phone, "Don't forget my chocolates." Saying that the little devil dashed off. 

Both best friends looked at each other and nodded, they then slowly shifted their gaze at the screen, "Heh?" Their eyes widened at the familiar face in front of their eyes.