On the next day, her group mates finally arrived a little later than the said time. But Kezia didn't mind, she didn't want to stress over it as much as possible.

But as soon as he arrived, that guy named Dino, she felt like he took her breath away. He sported casual clothes but for some reason, he looked ethereal.

Kezia flinched with her thoughts, she shook her head in disbelief. She can't believe the train of thought she has.

No! Stop-stop! That is the most disgusting thing ever!

They settled in the living room and started planning for their project.

While they were minding their own business and doing their tasks, Dino's throat suddenly felt dry. He checked if there was water at the coffee table but there was none, he wanted to put up with his thirst cause he was too shy to ask but on the other side.

Kezia must've mastered multi-tasking, cause while she's focusing on her work, her peripheral vision does the opposite, it is focused on Dino. She noticed how Dino subtly cleared his throat and how Dino's hands touched his throat.

Kezia immediately knew that Dino was thirsty but she was too shy to offer. Since she's claiming that her crush is her nemesis, she can't easily show care, also probably because she wasn't taught to care. Kezia has to play her last card, which is to play pretend.

She cleared her throat loudly. "Ah, I'm thirsty. I'm going to grab some water. Does anyone want something?" she turned her head.

She tried to hide her smile when she saw how Dino perked his head up and his eyes twinkling in anticipation. "No thanks, Kezia. We're not that thirsty." her groupmate, Aleena said.

She wanted to laugh when Dino frowned at Aleena, she saw how Dino wanted to oppose but he remained mum. "Oh, ok then. I'll just grab a pitcher just in case. Dino, help me carry the glass."

Dino's ears wanted to clap. Finally! Water!

Since he doesn't want to let everyone know his true feelings, he just silently follows Kezia. Kezia who is aware of his feelings, can't help but shake her head at Dino's strong façade. For someone thirsty, that's quite a strong will to hide a thirst.

They both made their way towards the kitchen. Before they could reach the kitchen, they would pass by a veranda. The veranda door is open, yet there is a white see-through curtain blocking the view outside. Yet Dino saw a glimpse, of an old man sitting in a rocking chair who seemed lost in his thoughts while staring at the flowers that were blooming in the garden.

Dino paid no heed, thinking that maybe it was Kezia's Grandfather who was just resting.

When they finally arrived at the kitchen, Kezia grabbed a pitcher and filled it with mineral water. She looked at Dino who was meekly waiting patiently for her. "Can you grab the glasses there in the drawer?" Kezia asked.

Dino didn't respond but did what he was told.

While Dino was doing his business, Kezia smirked and placed a glass of water in front of him.

"Here. Good job pretending that you're not thirsty." then smiled smugly.

Dino paused and his stare lingered at the glass of water for a while before looking at Kezia's face. He blinked and squinted his eyes, "Thank you." he said sarcastically before grabbing the glass and chugging down the water.

Kezia grimaced. He's so ungrateful. Yet Kezia paused when she saw Dino's Adam's apple move as he chugged down the water. Her irritation vanished into thin air. He awkwardly cleared her throat as she avoided looking at Dino.

Dino carefully placed the empty glass of water on the kitchen counter. "Good job pretending that you didn't know." then he wiped the excess water that was left on his lips with the back of his hand. Kezia avoided looking at him again and shifted her attention elsewhere.

He is dangerous, very dangerous to the heart.

She pretended that she was busy with something on the fridge. While Kezia is doing that, a thought occurs in Dino's mind.

"Should we give the old man a glass of water?"

Kezia closed the fridge. With a frown on her face, she tilted his head at Dino. "Old man? What do you mean?"

"You know, that old man at your veranda?"

"What the hell are you talking about? We're the only ones in this house. My parents are at work." Kezia points out a fact.

"Then who-" Dino suddenly paused. He finally knows exactly who is that man. It is someone that normal eyes can't see. A ghost. He suddenly felt a gush of wind, familiar. When he turned to look at the entrance door of the kitchen, he saw a man, wearing a white shirt that was bigger than his size and black slacks.

Dino became alert. He's still unsure if this soul or ghost is bad or not. It's fine if he's the only one here now, but that's not the case at the moment. Kezia is with him.

The man's face is full of wrinkles and his hair is also white. Dino let his guard down when he noticed how the old man looked at Kezia. It was affectionate, not in a lewd way but in a genuine way. It's a gaze full of love and worry, lazed with sadness and yearning.

Dino slowly followed the old man's gaze. He then unconsciously observed what Kezia was doing. She is placing the cookies from the jar neatly on a big serving plate.

"My granddaughter is very beautiful right?" because of what the Old Man said, Dino's gaze went back to him.

Dino is surprised. His hunch was right after all, that it was indeed Kezia's Grandfather. He tried to remain composed, afraid that Kezia might think he was crazy.

"I'm very lucky that I was still able to stay on earth and witness how she has grown beautifully with my own two eyes. It's just sad that I can't let her know that I'm here with her, that I'm right by her side all this time."

"Dino, look I have pretzels. Do you want some?" Dino turned his gaze towards Kezia.

He does' n't know if it's because of what the old man said but he can't help but agree when he says that Kezia is beautiful. It must've been because of what the old man said. Why does it seem like she is extra pretty at this moment?

Kezia beamed at him. Her lips spread widely revealing her gums because of her smile and her eyes sparkled in anticipation of what he was going to say.

"We can eat that together with the whole group. Just put it in the bowl."

"Okay. . ." then Kezia enthusiastically opened the box of pretzels and poured it into a bowl.

"My granddaughter is very bright, isn't she? But would you believe me that that is not the case, that all of her positivity is just a façade to hide her true emotions?" Kezia's Grandpa paused.

"The truth is, my granddaughter is very sad and miserable."

"Is that why you're still here?" Dino can't help but ask, he was expecting the old man to answer.

"Me? Here?" When she turned to look at Kezia, she was already looking at him in confusion. Dino blinked, a scratched the back of his head. "Nothing, I was just talking to myself."

Kezia's brows furrowed. "The hell?" then shook her head and focused on what she was doing again.

"Partly yes, I'm here because I still can't leave her behind. I'm afraid that once I go to the light, she might follow me afterward." Kezia's Grandpa answered.

Dino went silent as his gaze lingered on Kezia's face. He can't imagine that a bubbly girl like Kezia would even have such thoughts. Dino sees Kezia as someone who lives an unproblematic and carefree life, hearing what this old man is saying is so unreal for his ears.

Don Antonio's gaze lingered on Kezia as well. Something tugged in his heart, he doesn't know if it's pain, sadness, anger, or emptiness but one thing for sure is that he wants to talk to her Granddaughter for the last time.

He has a lot of things to say and honestly, he doesn't even know where to start. If only he was given a chance.

Then, it's as if a light bulb dinged at the top of his head.

His gaze immediately shifted towards Dino who was also stuck staring at Kezia. Maybe it won't be impossible, now that the young man is here.

"Dino, help me carry this one." Dino immediately went to Kezia's aid and assisted her in carrying the bowl that contained a lot of cookies.

Don Antonio's brows furrowed. His eyes never left Kezia's face.

The Kezia in front of him seems different in a lot of ways. Her smile seems different, somehow it looks wider and more genuine while her eyes seem to hold a lot more depth, shining more brightly, different from the eyes that were full of sorrow last night.

Dino and Kezia made their way back to the living room. Don Antonio slowly followed them while maintaining a safe distance from the two.

Dino who noticed such actions acted ignorant. Now that he knows that it's not something evil, he just lets the old man do whatever he wants.

"Everyone, I've brought some snacks!" Kezia's voice boomed the whole living room then it was followed by cheers of delight.

"Yey!"

"Thank God! I was starving."

"Ooh!"

Don Antonio continued observing the two. He saw it again, he saw how different Kezia was at that moment. He can't help but flash a smile.

So this is what she's like when she is with her friends. He can't help but thought.

He thanked God for seeing such wonderful scenery in front of him, seeing his granddaughter laugh heartily and flashing her beautiful and carefree smile is something that he would treasure forever even in heaven.

Dino smiled in secret. ­That Old Man must've loved her so much. He noticed the affectionate gaze of Don Antonio towards Kezia, it's just sad that Kezia is unaware. He shifted his gaze towards Kezia.

Silly girl, your Grandpa is here. Guiding and loving you still.

Don Antonio's eyes never left Kezia, thus what Kezia was doing secretly never escaped his sight. The way she steals glances at Dino, the way she smiles secretly when Dino is doing something amusing for her, and the way her eyes admire Dino's every move.

The same goes for Dino, he noticed how Dino unconsciously does something for Kezia; like opening a water bottle for her, helping her with her tasks, and tidying up her mess that Kezia doesn't know.

Don Antonio smiled. It seems like I was worried for nothing.