Oneil thought that his mother's visitation outside his workplace would remain as the recent one. In every time that he goes out from the build of the Oda Infrastructures, it feels like going out from a fortress and what lies ahead of him is the wilderness of the urban life. His visitors are hiding behind the range of lampposts and mists. As he would walk by the pavement, he has no escape since they would not let him have a peaceful out. Unlike the previous one that was serious and quite unnerving, the current visit offers him the best convenience.
"Hey," Oneil breathed out with excitement and amusement because it was Gwyneth, looking at her reflection on the puddle next to the lamppost. "It's night now. You should have waited in the shed."
"I was not waiting that long," Gwyneth said and hopped her way to cross the pavement.
"Are you getting primitive that you would not choose to send me a message?" Oneil asked after checking his phone. Gwyneth didn't even drop a
The world is already bustling in itself. Love requires to slowly burn and business to operate continually as Essi settles with the rush hours in Paris. When at work, her mind is attuned to it. The experiences at the APC Conference Complex are but bound to be written on her soul's journal for work."Essi, won't you be going home tonight? You know what's on the next day," her mother reminded her."I still have a conference to attend at that time. I might not be able to go home in time.""Are you going to celebrate it on your own again?"The last time that Essi couldn't meet them for this special event was also due to her work. They had a belated celebration at Macau with her grandfather."We might just celebrate it later," Essi suggested. "I'm just getting old for this thing, ma. Instead of getting a grant event, a simple dinner will do.""We should at least make a difference for your birthday this year. Some people want to meet you."
Essi's life remains as a series of meetings. Except that Oneil makes the difference. The memory of travlling from Paris to Bordeaux together with him lingers in her mind. She could even insert Pachelbel's Canon in D to indulge in the reminiscence that time allows her to do. But the song from her music got interrupted by the call through their residential landline."Is this Essi?" a voice of a familiar woman emerged."Yes, speaking. Who is this?""I'm Niana Mercator. Can I have a time to talk with you?"Essi barely remembers Oneil's distant relatives. The name remains familiar. But the intention was still unspoken."May I know for what is this about?""Somehow concerning Oneil. But I also like to meet you."It wouldn't hurt her time if she has to spend it with some of Oneil's family members. She might as well just take it as a reason to go downtown and wait for Oneil after his work."Sure, where do you want us to meet?"N
Oneil’s signature of attitudes is always about paying attention to details. Indeed, he had good times with Essi and it is also good to find out that she is fine. But since Niana’s intrigue to Essi remains unanswered, he couldn’t help it but try to find out if his mother directed Niana for that meet. It was supposed to be pleasant talk. He arranged his time good according to his mother’s preferences for a tea in the afternoon. He invited her to visit him in his house so that she would feel better. After all, this is not about his life that he has to talk to Latifa. “I’m glad that you finally invited me to your house, son,” Latifa said after taking the seat Oneil prepared for him. “Now I see why you’re somehow hesitating to return. You got a good place.” “This is for Essi and I,” Oneil sincerely replied. But even with a sweet intention of his response, Latifa’s smile begins to flat out. Latifa was only stirring her tea carefully but with the halt she ma
The news about the missing trade secret made the Mercators think that Grant would interrogate them one by one. But they are rather called together to surround the long conference table for a very important meeting. Grant wouldn’t want to start as long as he is sure that everyone discerning enough have already joined. Grant stares blankly at leather document holder that ironically doesn’t hold any piece of paper. Everyone waited more for Oneil since the holder was known to be residing in his office. When Latifa and Oneil arrived at the manor, the Mercators immediately prompted them to get in the meeting. Grant finally proceeded to his announcement after long minutes of being silent. “Someone tipped me that there will be a negotiation next meeting. Someone will sell off our trade secret to another hospitality company. It bothered me who else have access to our trade secret when it wasn’t meant to be stored in our computers to be compromised.” The secret
Gwyneth has been a ready substantial help for Essi’s desire to make sure that Oneil is doing fine. But after Gwyneth’s information that the entire immediate Mercators needed to return to the manor didn’t follow up further development, Essi felt sad for Oneil. She always knew the kind of temper that reigns over the old man and how a little disappointing thing could already affect his trust to other people. Essi believes that Oneil has nothing to do with the issue but the possibility to be treated as a scapegoat by other people in that house remains at a higher possibility than the last time she figured it out. She stands carefully, as if the special mosaic tile on the pavement of the public park outside the Amyrgia Holdings remained as the only life line across the urban escapade. While tapping the heel of her shoe on the tile, her thoughts remained directing towards Oneil. That is why upon hearing his voice, her heart skipped a beat. As if it is just the first time that Essi
When good things come, our past desires also reborn. It has been Essi’s hobby to stroll the Bordeaux market and find good deals there. Her stroll towards the inner parts of the market feels like her fresh meandering in the market of Bayanihan as well. From there, she learned that the best stalls are often at the hinter parts of the market and the best products are often hidden or covered by the old supplies. She happily picks up oranges and other fruits. A special stall offers fresh buko as well. She thought of preparing a buko salad as a special dessert for Oneil to enjoy. While she was waiting for the vendor to pack her items, some fruits rolled towards her feet. She looked around to find out where it came from and saw the familiar figure of Oneil’s mother, struggling through the destroyed paper bag where the other items she bought kept coming out. She took a reusable bag for the fruit vendor to additionally charge to her purchase. She placed the fruits in it and gave to O
Most of Oneil’s life is in Bordeaux. But his childhood is built with the memories of living in the commune of Saint-Céneri-le-Géreiin Normandy. In the gladness of Latifa’s heart, she decided to give the key to him with her sincere sorry. “I hope that you won’t hate your mom for hiding those things,” Latifa said. She couldn’t do anything when it is Oneil who volunteers to get it. Although she assures him of traveling there to get what Oneil needed, her son refused. Oneil shrugged to the negative assumption of his mom. “I don’t,” he added words as well. His mom still feels an insecurity about their distance with each other although Oneil is already restoring it by simple appreciations and interactions. “ I also missed your special dish.” It is different if it is his mom who would prepare La potée lorraine. Latifa has been visiting Oneil’s house for some time already. Oneil’s mother didn’t bring her own car and was only brought by a chauffeur to ar
Latifa pushed herself for another meet with Essi. It might be a shame to use this as a reason but because of Essi's wound, Essi and her can be prompted to meet again. Right now, inside the private hall of the Grand Mercator Pavilion, it is just her, the dead air, and her sole purpose of meeting Essi again. Waiting for her feels like returning again on her serious work inside the Mercator Group where she needs to wait for the bigger investors from international companies to meet with her. But now that she retires from that kind of work and focusing on handling the entire foundation organizations of the Mercator Group, it felt only familiar but nostalgic. Her assistant finally came around with a good news that her special guest is already checking in towards the dine hall she specially prepared for this time. Essi arrived like any other ordinary day of work. She is still in her corporate attire, except enhanced by her sense of passion and the lilac brooch t