Chapter 12: Refuse

Yannie Ace Ruiz

"I'll leave on the 23rd. My parents are sending me to Samar province to represent their company's foundation mission. I'll be there for ten days, and the signal there is quite weak. I hope to see you before that."

I quickly opened my eyes, the repeated words echoing in my mind. It was already 1:00 a.m., yet I couldn't sleep as Josh's words kept replaying in my head. He mentioned in our chat that we should meet. When I first read it, I felt a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. I was both thrilled and scared. That's how I felt, which is why I didn't immediately respond to him. Instead, I changed the topic. However, before he went to sleep, he called me and uttered those words that are now troubling my mind.

He'll be gone for ten days. For ten days, I won't be able to talk to him because there's no signal in the place he's going. And he wishes to see me before he leaves—something I don't know how to decide on.

It's not that I don't want to meet him; I'm just he