Immediately, Denzel apologized for waiting her companions that long. He left so early but still get caught in traffic.
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“I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for such a long time,” He said.
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After a few seconds, Gabriel interrupted their conversation. "Are you joining us?" His eyes sparkled that wanted to hear Denzel's response.
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"Of course, I invited them for an outing," he replied instantly.
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Katherine would stop Denzel from uttering any words but it was too late that she made him curious.
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He stared at the young woman with confusion and asked her, "Why?"
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Gabriel was angry as glaring his eyes to Katherine because she lied to him.
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The girl leaned close to her friend's ear and whispered, "I didn't tell them that you're the one who invited us on a trip except for Arianne."
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Denzel is grinning about it which turning his gaze towards Gabriel. He mentioned, "Oh, your bodyguard looks very mad at you. Why didn't you tell him about this instead?"
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"You think we will be here if I don't lie?'" Katherine retorted to Denzel, defending her decision as she wouldn't have the presence if she hadn't lied.
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"Okay, fine," the young man accepted the situation. “I am determined to ask him," he pointed to Gabriel, whom they had been observing in a moment. "Are you still interested in going for this outing?"
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"Do I have a choice since everyone is already here?" Gabriel answered, still displaying his frustration. He only shifted his attention to those things they need to be settled in the car compartment.
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"Thank you anyway. I thought we weren't going anymore," Denzel said with a mark of regret from his voice.
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"It's your fault, Kath. Why didn't you just say it?" Arianne scolded her cousin. To avoid being targeted, she acted as if she didn't know anything..
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"We still going, right? Maybe, he is just being a killjoy here," Katherine replied with joy and sarcasm.
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"Of course, hihihi," the two of them are simply laughing.
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"Oh, are we leaving for now?" shouted Denzel to his companions, while Gabriel had already gotten to their vehicle.
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Katherine and Arianne joined him in the car. A young man is trying to start the engine when Gabriel and Alfred, Katherine's personal bodyguard, appeared themselves outside in a sudden.
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Katherine exclaimed in surprise and confusion, “Hey!”
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Without delay, Denzel opened the door for them who were outside the car.
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"We'll ride here," Gabriel stated as they were sitting alongside of Arianne.
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"What?" asked Katherine with bewilderment on her face.
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"Why are you riding here?" She interrogated Alfred and Gabriel.
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"Mr. Villarosa, right?" Gabriel mentioned to Denzel. "I'm just forgot that the two were supposed to come with us."
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Katherine sighed and couldn't help but sit next to her strict bodyguard, Gabriel.
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"Okay, I don't have a problem with this since I know you need to watch over Kath," Denzel said, saliva pooling in his mouth due to the way things turned out.
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"Denzel won't kidnap us. You two are just too strict," Katherine is complaining again.
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"Sir Gabriel gave the order for this, Ma'am Kath. I'm just followed him," Alfred clarified Katherine's statement as pointing out to Gabriel.
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"Okay, fine," the young woman's reply with a hint of humility, realizing that argument will be a waste of time.
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Once they arrived at the destination, Arianne and Katherine were getting out of the car in a quick. Several trees and plants covered the place with a stream that they could bathe in. It all seems look like a forest, nestled between the mountains.
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Katherine's face showed full of amazement of what she saw. "This is nice, Haze," she described then. However, immediately covered her mouth when realized she slipped up and mentioned a wrong name.
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"Tsk!" her friend, Gabriel murmured. "How many times do I have to tell you, uh?"
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"Sorry. I've probably used to call you Haze," Katherine defended herself.
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After a few minutes, they have managed to set up their tent. Katherine and Arianne shared one tent, while the rest stayed with another, and Gabriel was opting to be alone.
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"Let's go hiking!" Denzel announced in a startled voice. "Can you do this, Kath?"
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"Of course. I did this during my elementary and high school days," Katherine is replying with a smile as still gazing to their destination. She had full of confidence in herself to manage hiking.
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"I will try this out for the first time. I never been participating in school camping or any field trips like this," Arianne as stating about her uneventful teenage days as leaning to her cousin.
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"Alright, game?" Denzel quickly interjected, feeling the excitement building up. "Let's warm up first."
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They started the ascent after a few seconds. Katherine was very cautious with each step, as there were rocky paths, large roots from the trees, and some potentially poisonous plants along the way. Finally, they reached a far distance from where they are earlier.
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Katherine and Arianne were gasping for breath and covered in sweat as they continued climbing above. Their faces showed exhaustion, but with a hint of enjoyment.
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The young man immediately handed them some water, saying, "Drink up first! I saw tiredness in your eyes."
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Gabriel also caught up with them shortly after.
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"Wow, Ma'am Kath and Sir Denzel seems like a couple!" Yael commented with a smile after he noticed Denzel drinking the same bottle which Katherine had used.
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"Yeah," Patricio agreed. They were both happy, but Gabriel was on the lookout for any suspicious behavior from Denzel..
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"How long have they known each other?" Gabriel interrupted with a question of his two fellow personal bodyguards.
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Yael, the one who answered first, "Since they were in college, Ma'am Katherine and Sir Denzel have been friends. He used to visit their house frequently."
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Gabriel staring in a brief at Yael as continuing to share more information. "Also, he became close to Ma'am Solemn, Katherine's mother."
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Katherine told everybody that they were just friends. It had only mistaken them as a couple because of Denzel's being thoughtful and kind towards his friends," Patricio added.
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For Gabriel, their opinions were not enough to make him feel comfortable about and keep trusting. He must stay alert and being observant because which was his primary duty.
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"Take it slowly," Denzel reminded and tried supporting Katherine as they were climbing. Arianne followed them.
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"Wow, it's tiring!" Katherine commented, and they paused for a while after an hour. "But I miss doing this!" She grinned as she recounted her thoughts.
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Denzel smiled as he looked at Katherine. Arianne noticed it too.
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"If you want and if you will allow to do this again, we can go horseback riding or other activities here," the young man suggested.
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"I hope so," Katherine said, wishing for another opportunity because it made her happy.
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"Me too, just to try something different," Arianne chimed in. "And because of Katherine's situation, I get dragged into these things. We're cousins, and I'm her personal assistant too, so wherever she goes, I have to be beside her."
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After two hours of ascending the mountain, they descended and went back to their original spot. It was almost evening, and the surroundings were getting dark. Some of them made a fire to have some light and warmth in their surroundings.
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Eight of them were sitting now together, huddling in one spot and eating their dinner.
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"Wow, excellent cook!" Yael commented while tasting the food. "Who cooked this, anyway?"
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"Kuya Denz cooked it," Arianne answered that turned Katherine into distracting her meal.
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"It tasted delicious!" Patricio exclaimed. "Can I have some more?" Laughing while pointing to the dish in front of them.
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Gabriel have stopped and reminded him, "The five of us haven't eaten yet."
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Patricio frowned in disappointment because he wanted to eat more of the grilled chicken.
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After having dinner, some of them dispersed and the remaining five ate their meal.
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Denzel picked up the guitar and tried to play it. Katherine immediately recognized the sound of the instrument that had caught their attention from the tent.
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"You can't sleep?" Katherine is asking the young man.
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"No," Denzel paused briefly and invited the girl to sit next to him. They used to do this whenever their professor was absent—playing the guitar while singing along.
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Arianne have seen them and left the tent temporarily to join where Denzel and Katherine were. Alfred, the young woman's assistant bodyguard, have sensed it too. He sat near to them for listening to their music and also tried to engage in a conversation.
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Others followed suit and Gabriel, who was sitting at the far end joined them where not being easily visible.
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Katherine and Denzel were singing the song "You Are The Reason" by Calum Scott.
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_I'd climb every mountain
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And swim in every ocean_
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The young man gazing at her while mentioning each line of the song. It was his way of expressing his feelings to Katherine. He would do anything to win her over. He liked her since their college days.
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_Just to be with you
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And fix what I've broken_
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Yes, sometimes he regrets that they get separated as friends after graduation. He went to America to work with his family. Now, he had this opportunity not to let it passed.
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_Oh, 'cause I need you to see
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That you are the reason_
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Katherine's eyes is opening widely as she listening to Denzel which he is awaring of the message he wanted to express. He knows that he willing to do anything to make her fall in love with him. Since their college days, she had been simple as his friend, and now she saw him now a different light.
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They sang the next chorus together, harmonizing at the end of the song.
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"Wow, nice! So romantic, dude!" Patricio shouted, applauding them with others who were also watching. Gabriel was examining them attentively. His gaze fixed on Denzel that kept his every move for anything suspicious.
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"They seem like a couple, Ma'am Kath and Sir Denzel," Yael commented with a smile.
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"Yes, they do," Arianne agreed, clapping her hands excitedly. She couldn't help but tease Katherine and Denzel. "Are you two a couple?"
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"What kind of question is that, Arianne?" Katherine just laughed. Whenever they sang that song, people always mistaken them for a couple. "We aren't."
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"Really?" Arianne replied with a disbelief.
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"We are just friends. We simply have a strong chemistry," explained Denzel, with a wink. "Isn't that right, Kath?"
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"True!" The girl nodding in agreement.
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The evening became filled with full of jokes and random conversations until some of them fell asleep.
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The next morning, they went to the nearby spring, where the water was clear and so extensive.
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They all splashed around, including Katherine. Gabriel and a few other boys barely stayed behind to keep watching. The young man sat near the spring, holding a book.
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"Boss Gabriel, won't you join us to swim? The water is so refreshing," Yael called out, inviting him.
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"It's so nice to dive in the water!" added Patricio that others agreed too.
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"Go ahead and I'm just stay here." Gabriel declined, glancing at the book he had been holding and then to Katherine where she was.
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"Oh, I wanna swim down here guys!" Katherine bid to her companions with goodbye for a moment.
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"Sure, just be careful, okay?" Denzel reminded her quickly.
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"You cheater, Kath," Arianne scolded Katherine. "We were still talking here, uh!"
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"Later! I'll take time for this and later, we will go home," the girl replied with a pleading tone from being about five meters away from the crowd.
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"Okay, take care," Arianne reminded her cousin once again.
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"Alright," Katherine said before submerging herself in the water.
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The others also started swimming after a brief conversation. Several minutes have passed, Arianne couldn't see her cousin, so she quickly resurfaced to call out, thinking she might be nearby.
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"Kath, where are you?" she shouted, causing Denzel to notice her. "Kath?" she shouted again, but there was no response.
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Arianne immediately dove underwater to find Katherine, as she had been missing for a while. She was searching her for three minutes but nothing have found. So, she resurfaced once again.
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Denzel approached her and asked, "What's happening, Arianne?"
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"It's Kath that haven't seen her for a while now!" the girl answered anxiously.
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"I'll look for her," Denzel dove himself under the water to save Katherine and Arianne continued to find her cousin as she was getting closer from where Gabriel and their other companions.
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"We can't find Katherine!" she informed them as her face showing fear and concern.
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"Let's go now to search her," Patricio suggested, and they hurriedly went into the water.
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A few seconds later, Gabriel also dove underwater to search for the girl.
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In a moment, Denzel spotted Katherine unconscious, and he carried her through his arms towards the edge. Gabriel who still far from where has he was and he just saw how the lady survived through her friend.
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The young man, Denzel have laid her down and immediately do a first aid for Katherine. Gabriel had also gone to water with a hint of disappointment on his face for not being the one to save the girl whom his responsibility was to protect.
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Denzel's hands trembled as he applied first aid to Katherine.
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"Kath, please wake up!" shouted Arianne.
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"Come up, Kath," Denzel said softly but with deep concern in his voice.
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After a few moments, Katherine suddenly breathes, spewing water from her mouth.
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Arianne patted her back and said, "Thank you!" She embraced her cousin.
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Denzel's face lit up with joy as he noticed Katherine have opened her eyes.
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"Where have you been, uh?" Arianne scolded her. "You said you knew how to swim, didn't you?"
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"I had a cramp in a sudden, Rian when I reached a slightly deeper area," Katherine explained, still feeling weak.
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"Geez, Kath. Good thing that Kuya Denz have saved you." Arianne glanced in a brief expression to Denzel, who only showed nothing but a concern.
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Denzel hesitated to hug her as he looked at Katherine's face, despite of his deep worries.
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"I hope Mr. Rodelio won't find out about what happened," Gabriel interrupted. "Otherwise, we'll be in trouble."
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Katherine agreed because Lolo Delio would probably become mad to her.
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"That's not right, brad!" Denzel argued with Gabriel. "Her grandfather has the right to know about this."
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"Do you think he will get angry on us if he finds out? You don't know him when it comes to his granddaughter," Gabriel as trying to conclude, raising his voice. "It might be better for us to get ready to leave now."
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When they went back towards the mansion, they all proceeded to their respective rooms.
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"Are you sure you're okay, Kath?" Arianne asking her with concern
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Katherine nodded, "Yes, Arianne. I probably just need to rest. My body hurts a lot," she replied then walked to her room.
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The next day, Katherine's body still aching. She groaned in pain while stretching her arms. She was feeling unwell so decided to take her bath momentarily.
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After she took her bath, Arianne knocked unexpectedly to her door.
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"Rian, what is it?" she replied, still feeling weak.
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Arianne's head bowing down as speaking, "Grandpa wants to talk to you right now."
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Through cousin's appearance, Katherine didn't ask further questions and simply left her room. She knocked on Mr. Rodelio's office and entered.
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"Someone said you want to talk with me?" she asked.
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"What's this I heard about have an outing with that male outsider?" Mr. Rodelio's face as clearly showed his displeasure.
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"He's my friend, Grandpa. He just invited us to go out," Katherine explained in calm expression since she didn't have yet much strength left.
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"Invited? And joined with someone you barely know?" Mr. Rodelio said with anger. "Katherine, how many times do I have to tell you-"
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Katherine cut him off, "I've known Denzel for a long time, Grandpa. He's my college friend."
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"How can I believe that? I'm only heard his name for the first time, and I've never seen or met him!" the old man persisted, doubting Katherine's words.
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"We've just been apart because we have our lives to settle, Grandpa. People have priorities and goals that they need to achieve and same as them," Katherine as pursuing to justify hers but it wasn't enough to convince Mr. Rodelio.
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"I still don't believe what you're saying, my granddaughter!" Mr. Rodelio disagreed.
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Katherine sighed and rationalized herself once again to the old man, "Maybe, I don't need to argue on this anymore. If you really want to assure about him, I'm begging you to investigate him as soon as possible." Katherine's voice was now very serious. "Whatever the result will be, I accept it willingly. I'll avoid him. Isn't that what you want, right? So this could be the best way to do, Grandpa so that your doubts you think I'm lying to you will probably disappear."
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Afterwards, Katherine turned her back to his grandfather and tiptoed away to his office.
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"Katherine, come back here!" yelled Mr. Rodelio, but she didn't even look back.
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