Their families have been friends for years and so were they. They have been looking at each other’s back, especially if one of them falls in a mischief since they were kids. Nathaniel and Helena proved themselves as best friends even if they are already grown-up and matured. Each of them has their own separate lives; shared laughter and cries about their respective heartbreaks and disappointments at work. They always thought that it would remain that way. Until …
 
They’re both nearing their late 20’s and none of them have expressed of settling down. Both are still enjoying the life of singlehood. Nathaniel’s father and Helena’s father decided to ask their children a favor. Despite, the two being wayward at times still they are an obedient son and daughter. They’ll do anything for their parents….
 
“Nathaniel, Helena; Manuel and I have thought over this.” Don Antonio, Helena’s father paused, “You see were thinking of a merger to make this company stronger to ebb the fluctuating economy. We need to do something to tide over the poor sales lately.”
 
“I agree to that sir and so is Helena.” Nathaniel nudged Helena who seems bored with the imminent business talk. He turned to Don Manuel, his father. “So dad, when do you propose to start the merger? We better start the ball rolling!”
 
Don Manuel smiled at his son’s enthusiasm at the same time bracing himself as he look at his friend Antonio readying himself for the announcement. “As soon as you and Helena engaged…”
Helena was now suddenly aware of her surroundings; wrenched away from deciding what kind of concept to use in her paintings inside her head, sat up and said. “That would be impossible Uncle Manuel, Nathaniel and I don’t have steady dates. Besides, none of us has really given it much thought.” She glanced to Nathaniel who is nodding his agreement.
 
Her father, Don Antonio cleared his throat. “Hija, we’re not talking about you and Nathaniel engaged to someone else but to one another.”
 
“What!” Nathaniel and Helena both gave a sound of incredulity at the same time and punctuated it with standing-up from where they were seated. Nathaniel reacted first. “But Uncle Antonio, that would be impossible, we’re already like brothers and sisters. How could you and dad have ever thought otherwise?”
 
“You are both the only ones among our children who are not married yet and shown a little interest in our company.” He was cut, when Helena came to stand beside him.
 
“Dad, you can’t mean that. True, we don’t seem interested but we do care. It’s just that I’m more artistically inclined and Nathaniel has his own business.”
 
Don Antonio looked over to Don Manuel and both exchanged enigmatic smiles. “Ahem, we’re not forcing you, we’re just suggesting. It’s not a bad idea after all, just like Nathaniel implied you’ve known each other well enough. So, would you spend your lifetime with a man you know or you don’t know at all?”
 
The discussion ended when Helena’s mother called them for dinner. On their way home, Nathaniel broke the continuing silence, “Helena, what do you think of the idea, the two of us…?”
 
“I find it absurd! I couldn’t believe my dad and your dad would ever contemplate that kind of idea. As if they don’t trust each other and they need us to bind it by getting hooked to each other…” Helena would have continued but when she saw Nathaniel’s serious _expression she paused. “Not that I don’t find you attractive and admirable… you know I’m your number one fan.”
 
“Don’t worry, I’m not offended. It is just that, come to think of it. We both know each other well; we are always there for each other…” He gazed at the attentive Helena. “We’re not seriously involved with anyone and it’s unlikely that we will be in the near future. And we hang out a lot. Sometimes I would sleep over your place and sometimes you would be in my place looking things over for me. In fact, if we to share the same household, it would be more convenient for both of us… less cost… more manageable… ” Strange that he now only noticed how pretty she is …
 
“Now just wait a minute! Hold your horses! Do you feel fine?” Helena put her palm on Nathaniel’s forehead. “No, you don’t have a fever. Are in you in drugs or simply lost your wits?” Hands on her hips, she’s now glaring and hoping to shake some sense in Nathaniel’s head.
 
Nathaniel didn’t argue anymore. He just dropped Helena to her home, gave her a peck on the cheek and drive away still pondering. For Helena’s part, she’s actually in panic. She doesn’t want to admit to Nathaniel that he has a point. He’s been her best friend for a longtime. She never thought of changing it and it scares her. Helena unconsciously touched her cheek, where Nathaniel’s lips have been moments ago.
 
Months passed, the two old men who started Nathaniel and Helena’s predicament are talking again. “So, how’s Helena? I heard from one of Nathaniel’s maid that she no longer drops by to check on things for my son? Did they have a fight?” Don Manuel is very concerned.
 
“You know, your son is not showing either in Helena’s painting exhibits lately. He’s always there to give moral support for my daughter. He never missed any of her exhibit or book launching before. I’m beginning think that we ought to have let them be and fend for themselves. Now they aren’t even talking to each other.” Don Antonio gave a long sigh akin to regret.
 
So they thought. But what they don’t know, that last night their children had a big fight. Nathaniel dropped by in Helena’s gallery inviting her for a dinner. Unfortunately, she has other plans for the night. Not wanting to make Nathaniel feel slighted, she allowed him to share a snack in one of her new favorite café, reminding him that she have to be home early to change for her date. Nathaniel agreed but instead of bringing her home early, he made a detour.
 
“Now what have you done? What Vincent would think? That I stood him up?” Helena furiously pummeled her fists on Nathaniel’s upper arms. At first Nathaniel didn’t react but when she continue to scream at him, he caught her wrists.
“Why? What he is to you? Your boyfriend?” When Helena didn’t answer but tried to tug her wrists. Nathaniel suddenly drew her close to him and kissed her lips. She slapped him hard and got out of his car. He followed her but wasn’t quick enough; she was able to close her house door. However, it didn’t deter him; he banged the door over and over again. Until a sudden outburst of the skies immediately drenched him and drowned his cries, “Helena open up! Let me explain! Please! I didn’t know what overcome me but please hear me out.”

Helena wasn’t able to sleep the entire night. She felt guilty leaving Nathaniel outside in the rain. Next morning, she cautiously opened her door but he was already gone. She’s confused, torn between angry and worrying about Nathaniel.
 
“Hija! Helena!” Don Antonio tapped his daughter’s shoulder. This is one of the rare occasions that Don Antonio would just visit Helena without calling her first. It looks like his daughter is distracted. He has been standing just inside her gallery a few minutes ago but she was just staring into a space, as if she’s seeing or hearing nothing.
 
“Dad?” She looked surprised. Helena gave her father a mystified look as if she couldn’t comprehend why her father just suddenly materialized by her side. “Dad how long have you been here? Why? I didn’t notice you.” She got up to kiss him on the cheek.
 
Instead Don Antonio embraced his child, “Is there something bothering you? Is it your Uncle Manuel and my ridiculous idea? Then don’t, we just want you and Nathaniel happy and we just thought wouldn’t it be nice if the two of you ended together?” Helena gave her dad a ghost smile. He sighed, “Do you know that Nathaniel is in a hospital? The doctor said it must pneumonia, poor kid.”
“So you decided to show-up. What are you doing here?” Nathaniel in his hoarse voice managed to sound accusingly. “Go away, I don’t need you. Go back to that boyfriend of yours.” But Helena seemed rooted to where she’s standing, all she could see is Nathaniel’s sunken cheeks and pale lips. She’s beginning to feel guilty again, when “I don’t need you. I already asked my dad to call my girlfriend to look after me.”
 
“You ungrateful swine! It wasn’t my fault you got soak in the rain and landed here. You’re the one who’s misbehaving lately. I don’t know you anymore. You’re not my best friend Nathaniel, you’re different, a monster!” Nathaniel turned his back to Helena and pretended to sleep but was alerted when he heard sobs and a closing door. He saw his dad and Uncle Antonio shaking their heads.
 
Two weeks after, Helena was trapped in her gallery with the sudden onslaught of the torrid rains; she insisted to close-up on her own and sent her staff home early. She likes to stay-up late, so when she goes home all she would do is go straight to bed. Helena has been burying herself at work to forget Nathaniel. But she can’t avoid thinking about him and how hurt she was, when he told her about the girlfriend.
 
Is somebody knocking at the door? It’s already late. Muttering to herself, she peeked behind the window blinds. Nathaniel! And he’s thoroughly wet. Helena quickly opened the door, “What do you think you’re doing? Trying to kill yourself?” She pulled him out from the rain and searched her belongings for a towel or extra shirt and started drying Nathaniel. He kept looking intently at her. When she’s done, “So?”
 
“Why are you here on your own? Uncle Antonio said you’ve been doing this for weeks now. Aren’t you afraid that some robbers would just break-in while you’re still here?” Helena snorted and looked away. “Come on, I’ll bring you home.” She twisted away from him. Nathaniel grabbed Helena around her waist and turned her to face him. Her mutinous look, soften his tense handsome feature “Choose, would you cooperate or I kiss you?”

“Hello Antonio? Manuel here, do you have any idea where could my son be? He’s supposed to be recuperating still …” Don Manuel paused to listen then laugh. *****