CHAPTER FIVE: MAYBE TODAY

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[Flashback…]

“You’ve gotten very close with that journalist student.”

Miguel grins. He won’t deny nor confirm anything especially his friends who are good at making issues. Besides, he doesn’t want to share his newly found friend to anyone just yet. Surely enough, he can guarantee it that whenever he tells them that someone has become his friend, they’ll want to meet that person, too.

Call him selfish but he doesn’t want to share Luis Ashley to anyone. At least, not yet.

In all the most unexpected things that could happen to him, catching someone in the library is on his top of the list. Who is clumsy enough to fall in the library ladder given that it even has a safety handlebar? Only Luis Ashley Manalo.

Even saying his full name is enough to make him smile and his friends have already told him about his unconscious smiling for no reason.

No one could blame him though. He really found an actual person, except for his close friends, who is also a complete stranger at first, that he could be with as himself. No judgment, no expectations, no anything. What’s even more surprising was that he immediately trusted Luis and befriended him because he genuinely wanted to.

At first, it was only because he was intrigued by him. He has never seen someone as clumsy as Luis, let alone that he needed to save him from falling in the most unexpected moment.

Then he actually met and knew him. It was expected that Luis didn’t trust him at first nor wanted to become friends him. He didn’t want to be boastful but it was the first-ever time that someone actually questioned his intentions of becoming friends with him. Or to put in simple words, it was his first time being rejected. He really tries not to be boastful because he was so used to getting what he wants the moment he wants it but when it really comes to Luis? He experiences his firsts and it was actually refreshing for him, even if at times, it hurts his ego.

And his name! Damn. It is the first time he encounters a guy named like a girl and it amuses him big time. Of course, it is regardless of his name’s spelling. It is just so amusing to him that if he didn’t know Luis and if someone would call him in the crowd? In the back of his mind, he knows he’ll expect him to be a girl. Fortunately, he knows Luis.

Luis is also the first person who has ever asked why hasn't he taken other courses aside from medicine. Usually, anyone would ask why he TOOK his course but Luis was really different that way.

He is really witty and funny. He likes those about him.

He likes teasing Luis for his tiny frame and eyeglasses. He should really teach Luis to eat more.

He likes Luis.

“See, I just mentioned that journalist student and now you’re smiling all to yourself. Damn. Maybe I should just ask Ion about that kid.”

Miguel only laughs and welcomes the endless teasing of his friends.

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[Present...]

Miguel sighs.

He doesn’t really remember the last time he got no sleep because of someone but he did just now. What was more frustrating for him was his dream. He’s sure that it wasn’t just a dream. It felt so real that it perfectly seems that that happened before. But the most frustrating part? He can’t remember who or what that person with him in his dream looked like.

He’s already cursing early in the morning and he doesn’t know if this day would be any better.

After getting ready for office, he already had three voice messages from his secretary.

“Reminder One, sir. The meeting with the Korean investors would be today at 10 AM sharp and they have requested to also meet Madame Via today.”

He hated those arrogant investors. Not all of their Korean investors were this arrogant and it’s actually his first time to encounter arrogant Koreans in general. Does he still want to meet them for this meeting? He remembers his secretary’s effort with putting up with these people—well, okay. He wouldn’t waste his secretary’s efforts just because he felt like it.

“Reminder Two. The HR, sir, is following up their offer about you joining us later in the interview for the applicants.”

He still didn’t tell them that he’ll be there? Damn. He kept forgetting to tell even his own secretary about his answer. He wants to be there.

He’s not sure when his prior meetings will end but he wants to meet their applicants. He will make sure to make time, especially that his gut has been telling him to go the moment he saw that applicant’s resumé.

Luis Ashley Manalo.

Why does it feel like that he knows that name? Not only that name, he feels like he knows that man who owns that name.

The last reminder of his secretary for that morning was about him taking his own vitamins and having his breakfast. He requested that to his secretary to remind him that every morning because he does tend to forget about them.

After eating, drinking his meds, and checking if he has everything he needs for the day, he was off to his office.

He doesn’t have anything to look forward to today except for seeing their applicants.

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“You haven’t been answering my calls, Miguel.”

This is one of the things Miguel hated the most. He hates unexpected visits from anyone—, especially from his mother. There’s a reason why he does not answer calls and he hates it when someone doesn’t get that the first time. Call him an asshole but it was common sense. If he doesn’t answer your calls, it’s probably because he doesn’t want to talk to you, let alone see you.

He is an asshole but, of course, he wasn’t straight up disrespectful especially to old people. He let his mother sit down first before talking. “I was busy and I didn’t really want to answer your calls.”

His mother didn’t seem surprised anymore with his answer. “Your father would want to see you there, Miguel. You’re our only son. What would you expect?”

He wants to grins with his mother just said but he remained stoic with his expressions. “That’s the truth then. If it’s dad who only wants me to be there, please stop making an effort to make me come to our reunion. Let dad call me or tell me he wants me to be there.”

He sounded like a fucking child but he can’t stop now. He knows he needs to act his age and be mature with the situation but whatever it is that involves his mother? He loses himself with self-hatred and, at the same time, with his loathe for this woman.

“Miguel…”

It was a story for another time and, in all his honesty, he didn’t want to remember nor even recall what happened—but whatever happened between him and his own mother? It was enough to scar him for life and it was the biggest reason why he is here.

He wanted to become a doctor. Never in his life did he pictured himself inside an office like this. Yes, he learned to love this job because of his auntie and his cousins but it doesn’t mean this is what he really wanted for himself. It was his biggest dream that he lost. It was something he wanted to become all his life… Now, it seemed like a distant memory. All because of this woman in front of him.

“Please don’t waste your time like this, mother. We both know that you’re only doing this just because you want to please dad.”

“You’re the only one thinking that, Miguel. I want you to be with us.”

Miguel was already of this conversation and he didn’t want to prolong it.

He simply smiles. “If auntie would come home for our reunion then I’ll go.”

His mother sighs in defeat. “I’ll have your father ask that for your auntie then, but please try to consider going.”

When his mother finally left, it was as if all his energy has drained off his body.

But then he remembered about going to the interview. It was late now and the interview might have ended already but he can still come. He knows he needs to be there.

He called his secretary and informed him that he’ll be there right now.

Luis Ashley Manalo.

Maybe today. Maybe today he can finally see whoever owns that name.

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“Was that Aunt Jane who just left?”

Miguel nodded to his cousin Via’s question. He didn’t elaborate on why his mother was here nor she didn’t ask for details. It was a silent agreement between him and his cousins that he doesn’t really want to talk about his mother.

The employees greeted them as they walk past them. The other two Kings were out early for the day and they are the only ones who’ll meet their applicants and, hopefully, their future social media manager. They need to find their replacement as early as they can because the launch of their newest line is coming by next month.

“Sixth said he might have found us our new social media manager.”

“He did?”

That would be a great news for them. That’s at least good news after he lost his strength and mood just now. He trusts Sixth’s judgment and when he said he might have already found what they’ve been looking for then they have themselves their new social media manager.

The elevator doors just opened just exactly the moment he stepped out of it…

Never in years he felt the rush inside of him and have his heart beating this hard. He knows he saw something—someone.

He immediately looked back to the elevator but it was too late. The doors were already closed.

“Are you okay, Miguel? You suddenly look pale.” Via asks, worried.

He tries to smile but his chest already hurts for his heart’s wild thumping inside of it. “I’m okay. I just thought I saw someone familiar.”

Someone too familiar that his own heart recognized it.