Bobby gave me a sympathetic look before I get off his car. I knew he wanted to say sorry to me but that would be too much. I should be the one telling him that apart from saying my gratitude for being my hero in many instances that happened in my life recently.To say that he saved me from Quim is accurate. If he didn’t come, there was still a chance that I would tell Quim to drive the car back to his garage and I would stay with him all night. I could have done all the crazy things that any love struck young lady would do in a place shared by only two people. Now that I’m back to my senses, I realized that I wasn’t really ready to be crazy in love.“Thanks, Bobby. As always,” I told him.“Call me…only if you want to,” he said putting no pressure on me. My mother shouted my name when she saw me. “I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it before the curfew,” she said.“I’m here already,” I told her.“Why was he here? Where did you two go?” she asked. My father is just watchin
Time is either our ally or our enemy. In my case, it’s both. I am not sure how much of it works to my advantage and how much is not.Another two months in this pandemic situation had gone by. I couldn’t say I was at my loneliest as I am still able to get my share of blessings amidst this crisis.“So, you’re really doing it regularly,” Ally, my dear big sister said. It’s so early in the morning for her nagging.“I have to do it. I can’t just stay home and do nothing,” I told her.“And whose fault is that?” she asked.Here we go again. We always start our conversation like this. “I admit it’s my fault. I should have not left my first job. It was not doing anything wrong to me. I was treated well. I got everything I asked. It was a dumb decision to leave it especially during this time. Satisfied?” I answered.“Audrey, our parents are so concerned. Are you even thinking about your future?” she asked.“I live for the moment, Ally. That’s what I do,” I said.“I don’t know what
The sunny but breezy weather calls for an afternoon nap. “Guys, you know the drill,” Uncle Rex said. It’s time for his favorite past time.“Go ahead, old man. I’ll follow,” Auntie Blessy teased him.“Why don’t you join him now?” I asked.“After I put these aside,” she said.“I’ll take care of the dishes, Mom,” Bobby said.“Are you sure?” she asked.“We can both take care of this,” I said like a true family member. “You can stay in the living room if you want while I put these dishes in the washer,” Bobby said.“Of course not. I will help you,” I said.“You’re our special guest,” he said.“Special? I always come here so what’s special about me?” I asked.“I’ll leave you two here. I need some rest. We’ll have a full night later,” Auntie Blessy said. “Does your sister look like her?” I asked Bobby.“Some people say they look alike,” he said.“She must’ve missed her a lot. Maybe she thinks of me as her temporary replacement,” I said trying to give a reason why his mother likes
When I was a little girl, I would picture myself as a married woman in my late thirties starting a family with my husband in a nice and comfortable house that is both beautiful and functional. I never dreamed of a mansion where I could get lost or spend the day without seeing my family because our house is too big.I want a close family where we gather on weekends from doing chores in the morning to relaxing in the afternoon and capping off the night with some games and late night drinks. Today, I am seeing the possibility of that dream life.“Stop staring. I can’t concentrate,” Bobby said. He’s mixing a bowl of pancake batter.“You’re so into it. If I was the one doing that, I’d only give it a few mix and it’s done,” I said.“I’m after consistency,” he said.“Consistency? You’re not in a cooking show and it’s just us eating it,” I said.“This is the first food that I learned to cook. It’s special to me and now it’s your time to try it,” he said.“It’s your special dish?” I as
Not everyone has a chance to experience quality family time in the midst of this scary pandemic. I guess I have to sincerely savor every minute I am in this moment for those who’ve been missing it and wanting to be in my place.“I don’t think I can still eat dinner. These pancakes are so fluffy and I had three,” I said.“Just walk around and soon you’ll burp. After that, you’ll feel hungry again,” Bobby said.“Yes, you need to make room for dinner. We’ll have barbeque featuring my special marinade,” Auntie Blessy said.“I should’ve taken a nap this afternoon so I could skip these pancakes and eat a lot later,” I said.“It’s useless. Once you’ve tasted your Auntie Blessy’s barbeque, you will surely ask for more whether you still have space in your stomach or none,” Uncle Rex said complimenting his wife’s signature marinade.“How long have you been married?” I asked.“Good question. Dear, what do tell anyone who asks?” Auntie Blessy said.“We’ve been married in civil for thirty yea
“Don't you know that you have to keep your eyes on the road when driving,” I reminded Bobby as he drives the car while constantly looking at the mirror to see me.“What’s there to watch on the road? We are the only one driving here and the most beautiful spot is there at the back,” he said.“Seriously,” I said.“Alright. I will. So, I’ll pick you up this Wednesday?” he asked.“This Wednesday already? I’ve not even reached home,” I told him.“Much later then?” he asked with less enthusiasm in his voice.“Let’s say…Saturday again?” I suggested.Bobby’s eyes grew bigger as I saw them on the mirror.“Really? I’d love that!” he said. He got excited.“But I’m going home in the evening,” I said. I realized that we are now in the stage when we are getting to know each other better. Coming to their house is no longer just a friendly visit.“Is it because we are dating now?” he asked. He thought the same way.“Yes, Sir,” I said.“In some countries, when they say that their status is ‘da
The cable program started with a live quick recap of previous featured young corporates then proceeded with the recorded profile discussion of the latest featured young corporates. They featured Quim and Bobby side by side as if they were opponents in a boxing match. It’s a good thing that in boxing, the winner is determined by scoring or by knock outs, and not by feelings or whoever is nicer. They’re big boys so I just let them play.“Gentlemen, I don’t need to ask but your credentials tell us that you have known in each other from way back,” the host started.He’s correct. Quim and Bobby have almost similar credentials except that Bobby has other fields where he excels while Quim focuses more in developing new software where he is really good.“From schools to sports, you’re almost the same. Was there some kind of a competition while growing up?” the host added.“He’s my boss so if there was any competition, he surely was the winner,” Bobby said wittingly.“I don’t play any sports
“Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the show! Last Sunday, we featured two gentlemen from IT & S, a start-up tech company led by its president and CEO Joaquim Balaguer and vice president and head of marketing Jose Roberto Alonzo. We call them simply by Quim and Bobby respectively,” the main host said.“And oh boy, didn’t we get tons of inquiries about those two guys? We couldn’t believe we would get that much attention by having them on the show,” the co-host said.“And the questions were more on their personal lives,” the main host said.“Some even complained that they don’t have socmed accounts,” the co-host said.“I could feel their frustration. Imagine our viewers wanting to know more about them but couldn't find those cute details elsewhere,” the main host said.“That’s why they bombarded us with lots of questions about those two,” the co-host said.“So, to save time, we chose the top 3 questions we received and the corresponding answers that we got straight from Quim and Bo
A year after ending an old era in my life and facing challenges in my corporate life while still working on my channel, I feel so tired but my mind refuses to surrender.“You had a delivery,” Mom said while pointing at the white square envelope on the table.I got curious about it but I have a feeling that my parents know or at least have a hint of what it is about.“An invite?” I asked but she ignored me.The invite is for the wedding of Bobby and Rocio. It's no surprise that they would begin liking each other after going through their company’s ordeal but it still surprised me that it has reached this point already.“It’s for Bobby and Rocio’s wedding,” I said to my parents.They look at me without reaction on their faces. They knew it.“I know you won’t attend it,” Bobby said on the other line but he’s not mad.“But you did send an invite anyway,” I said.“That’s my way of telling you,” he said.“I wanted to call you last year when I saw you on the magazine cover but I thought it
Needless to say that my parents, especially my father, are not happy with my split from Bobby. They’ve been giving me the cold treatment since that night that we broke up. He was my first serious boyfriend that they met and they were really rooting for him. I try to act normal every time I am working from home. I film my videos when they are already in their room. They thought my newfound interest was one of the reasons why I split from Bobby. Until now, they still believe that I still don’t know what I want in life and this cooking and filming interest is just another phase.“I’m glad you agreed to having additional one day working in the office,” Trevor said.“It’s fine. It’s starting to get boring at home. I see many are back to the usual set up,” I said.“Well, hybrid is the best. I won’t last the entire week working here,” he said.I smiled. It’s the first time I heard him say about his dislike about working in the office. “Anyway, your views are getting higher,” he sai
“Behind every successful man, there is a woman,” Rocio started her introduction.I feel the cringe as many eyes are looking at me like I’m the luckiest girl in the world.“How does it feel to be the wife of the youngest CEO and billionaire in the country? Not to mention – a very charming man?” a guest asked me.I can’t breathe. I don’t know what to say but I know what I want to do and that’s to run away from everyone.My phone has been ringing nonstop. I saw two missed calls prior to the current one.“You’re still awake, aren’t you?” Ally asked on the line.I checked the time. It’s still Saturday night. I fell asleep while uploading my latest videos in my online channel.“What do you want?” I asked.“Congratulations!” she said.“What? No! I’m not getting married yet!” I screamed.The dress that Auntie Blessy bought for me a few months ago is finally out of the closet. It’s simple yet very elegant. I’m still hesitant to wear it to my lunch with Bobby tomorrow.“Are you sure yo
The sight of Bobby eating with so much appetite is refreshing. But if my observation was right, he’s in need of something he couldn’t find just anywhere even with the power and money that he has.“Hey, join me. I’m sorry for devouring your food,” he said with a noticeable sad smile on his face.“It's alright. We had heavy snacks this afternoon,” I said.“Do they come here often?” he asked.“Just today. I wanted them to taste my desserts and……,” I said but couldn’t finish.“And then?” he asked.“I am also filming my cooking,” I said shyly.“You’re vlogging,” he said.“I want to try. It’s Trevor’s idea,” I said.“He’s got a great idea,” he said.I regret telling that to him. “You’re surrounded by good people,” he said.I’ve been wanting to ask him why he suddenly arrived but I recalled what my parents said that he’s not required to call in advance to let me know he’s coming. “I missed you. I missed being around you,” he said.He holds my hand while he continues eating. He looks
I spent the rest of the evening going through my old recipe notebook that contains all my imaginary recipes that I never get to try and have remained unfinished up to this day.Thanks to Bella for reminding me that once upon a time, I dreamed of becoming a chef or even just a cook. I realized once again that I spent so many years in college trying to figure out what I wanted to do in my life only to graduate, find a job, and still continue figuring out if what I’m doing now is the one that I really want.“Audrey is not with us yet,” Gelly said in the video call.I tried to open my eyes immediately. “I’m sorry. I was having a hard time sleeping last night,” I said an alibi.“We can proceed now,” Trevor said.“We will be needing your team’s assistance in our next project. Basically, we will be requesting data from your end,” she said.“Sure. We are happy to assist. Just send us your requests,” I said actively.Trevor hides his smile but I could still see it from the screen.“I sen
The sound of people talking inside our house was what I instantly heard upon opening our gate.“Where have you been?” Bobby asked as soon as I entered our house.My parents look happy being reunited with him.Is this my punishment for sneaking out to meet Quim? I completely forgot to think of an alibi before returning home. “Why are you here? Did you call?” I asked Bobby defensively.“What kind of question was that?” Dad asked as Bobby looked surprised as well.“If I knew you were coming, I would’ve not met with my colleagues,” I lied.“He doesn’t need to call to announce he’s coming. He’s welcome here,” Mom said.“It’s fine, Uncle, Auntie,” Bobby said.“Please bear with her, son,” Dad said to him.“I completely understand. I know she’s enjoying her colleagues’ company lately,” Bobby added.“We’ll leave you two here,” Mom said.“I’m also leaving in a few minutes, Auntie. I just waited for Audrey to arrive,” Bobby said.Mom shook her head. She’s probably disappointed.“Feel free t
I don’t have money, not even impressive credentials to have confidence to request to visit a property but I have the magic number.My heart beats faster as I wait for Quim to answer my call.“I know it’s kind of late….,” I started talking as soon the call got picked up.“Audrey?” a woman asked me. “Oh…I’m sorry. I dialed the wrong number,” I said.“Are you looking for Quim? He’s just getting something from upstairs. Would you mind waiting?” she asked.“Is it alright, Ma’am?” I asked carefully.“Luisa, It’s Quim’s mother. Don’t you remember me, Audrey?” she said.“Oh my God. I’m sorry, Ma’am. I wasn’t able to recognize your voice,” I said.“Ah….my voice is different from video calls. That’s fine. Anyway, here's Quim,” she said.“Thank you, Ma’am,” I said while my hand is shaking.“Auntie Luisa,” she said to me.“Who’s this?” Quim asked.“Audrey,” she said to him.“What does she need?” he asked.“Talk to her,” she said.My heart now skips a beat. I never thought I would talk t
I’ve been waiting for Leila’s call since yesterday. I want to send her a message but I am embarrassed to do so. So many things are running inside my head and they’re all confusing me.“Audrey? Hey, I’m sorry. I haven’t called you yet,” she told me on the line.“It’s fine. I was just…you know….,” I couldn’t tell her exactly what my intention for the call is but I am hoping that she has the slightest hint.“It's about my meet up with Quim, right?” she asked.“More likely to check on him. He’s in a very challenging time right now and I want to know how he’s coping,” I continued to hide my true intention.“We are flying back to the US tomorrow. Do you have time today after work?” she asked.I invited her to meet me at the nearest coffee shop to my office. I only had one cup of coffee the whole day but I feel I’m already shaking.Leila really looks prettier than when I first met her in Quim’s house but unlike the other day, her eyes look a little sadder this time.“Sorry that I bot
I was in the shower when my phone rang. I had to rush to pick it up. Manifesting is real.But we sometimes confuse expecting with manifesting and expectations always lead to disappointments.“I’ve a big favor you to ask from you,” Bobby said.“Sure. Is everything okay? What is it?” I asked.“The events are really happening one after the other. I can’t keep up anymore,” he said.“I told you that you don’t have to attend every event. You have people to represent you,” I said.“But clients want to see me there,” he said.“How did you know that?” I asked.“My marketing team is doing some sort of a survey before each event,” he said.“Well, what is the favor that you want from me?” I asked.“Can you attend an event in my behalf?” he asked.“Me? Attending alone?” I asked with obvious nervousness in my voice.“Yes. Our companies are not competitors so you could be my representative there,” he said.“But are you sure? I’m not good in business matters. I haven’t read the current event