Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN: NO TURNING BACK

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Luis wanted to see his mom before his big day but according to the nurses when he called for his visitation appointment, his mom was already asleep because of her medications. It was a bummer but he just made sure he’ll be able to meet his mom this week.

His phone vibrated reminding him that he had less than two hours before his official first day at The House of Kings. Never in his life has he imagined working for that company but here he is now—all ready for his big day.

“Erika is already sulking when she realized that you only just become cubicle partners and now you already need to leave her.

It was Sir I and what he said made him smile.

“Do you think I can do this, Sir I?

Instead of words of encouragement, his boss gave him a kind smile and a pat on the shoulder before leaving him to get their Ma’am Tin. That was enough for him. At least he knows that his boss assured him that he can do this. He came back with their always scary-slash-sophisticated-looking Ma’am Tin in her red suit and red Channel shoes.

“Why does this feel like I’m about to throw you at a lion’s den.

He chuckled at that. “You really are throwing me out there, Ma’am Tin, but I’ll be okay though. I’m trained by a lioness, too.

That earned him a slap on the arm from Ma’am Tin and a laugh from Sir I.

It’s one thing that he’ll miss for the next three months. It might not be the most obvious thing but their bosses are like his older brother and sister—they are his family in the most unobvious way possible. He didn’t want to be too sentimental because he knows he’ll be back in no time but thinking that he won’t be seeing these two for while would need time to get used to. He’ll also miss checking what could be their Ma’am Tin’s outfit each day for sure.

“Take care of yourself out there and even if you’re unofficially fired from this company, make sure to tell us if you need anything and report regularly.” Ma’am Tin reminded him for the nth time this week. “Do your best, okay?

“Listen to your Ma’am Tin, Luis, because she’s been saying to me that this feels like she’s sending her son on his first day of school.

“Ion!

He’ll definitely miss the bickering with these two.

His phone vibrated again and it was time for him really go now.

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[Flashback…]

“Are you avoiding me?

That’s the question that Luis is really “avoiding”. He’s already having an internal panic attack because he doesn’t really know what to tell Miguel because he perfectly knows that he can’t lie when it comes to this guy.

He was avoiding him. He was straight-up making excuses on why they couldn’t meet. Though they were both really busy with their academics and being in the different colleges made it more impossible for them to meet—it was never a hindrance before. But because he’s really avoiding Miguel, being busy was his actual excuse that wouldn’t seem to be an excuse.

And now, this guy already knows what he has been doing for the past week.

What is his real excuse? After knowing his feelings for Miguel, as much as he wants to be as normal as before, it is harder than he has thought. The constant fear of Miguel knowing what he hides from him is something he can’t win against. Just thinking what could be his reaction shatter him. He doesn’t want to even think about it now.

Today was just the end of their hide-and-seek because Miguel had already cornered him back to their usual spot.

“Luis, are you avoiding me?

He didn’t even notice that Miguel looks really pissed right now. That made him swallow the lump on his throat. “I-I was…”

His immediate honesty softened Miguel’s expression but he was taken aback when it was replaced with a sudden anxious gaze.

“Did I do something then? Was it something I said? Was it something that I did that made you want to avoid me? I’m sorry, Luis…” For the first time in forever, Miguel looked so unsure of himself. “Please forgive for whatever I did.

He couldn’t believe this guy! He didn’t even know the real reason why he was avoiding him and yet… He now felt guilty. He didn’t mean it for Miguel to feel like he did something for him to avoid him. It was nothing like that—only if he could tell him the real reason.

“Y-You didn’t do anything. I just wanted to surprise you…”

Okay, he’s really not good at making these excuses and he thought he just threw himself into something dangerous. But with that being said, he’s glad he’s finally able to meet Miguel eye-to-eye again like this.

Miguel’s lips slowly curved into a grin. “Surprise me? My birthday isn’t even anywhere close.

He punched him in the arm. “Not that kind of surprise. I just wanted to tell you that during our survey of whom to feature in our newspaper project, without a doubt, you won the survey and I’ll be the one writing that article to be fair for everyone.

Okay, that wasn’t bad at all because what he just said was still a complete truth. Though he wasn’t really allowed to tell Miguel that for a multiple of reasons. He also kept forgetting that Miguel was already a second-year student and, of course, all his college department ladies would want to be the one who interviews the campus sweetheart. He’s not sure how he became the solution but their publication leader, Ion, decided that he would be the one who writes the article.

“And I’m also planning to go to the gym now since I’m tired of hearing you complain that I’m too thin.

That was just something he blurted out so Miguel’s attention would be focused on that instead of his article that he needs to write about him.

He knows it himself that he has the physique of a girl because he’s too thin and is often bullied by it. He never really cares nor shows any reaction to people who always have fun targeting him to bully because he has been so used. He also has Miguel to always tease him about it. Now that he said something about, just like what he expected, Miguel’s attention went on that way to tease him.

That made him internally sigh in relief. At least he got Miguel’s mind out on the real issue here and he hoped it would last long.

“Please don’t ever try to avoid me again.” Miguel finally said after all of his teasings to him. “I thought I was going to lose a friend—I thought I was losing you for whatever reason that I didn’t know.

Luis wanted to say that that would never happen, that if there was someone who was most afraid of losing their friendship—it would be him. He’s afraid of the thought that he could never be friends with Miguel anymore and that made him regret the week he spent avoiding him.

He wished he never really avoided Miguel that week because the next day Miguel transferred out of their school and he never saw him again.

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[Present…]

“Welcome to The House of Kings, Mr. Manalo. I’m sure you remember me during our interview, I’m Sixth.

Luis doesn’t know where to be amazed first. Is it on the real beauty of this company’s interior design or to the fact that he is again face-to-face with this man who looks younger than he is? They’re here in a conference room and like his every first day—he is distracted as hell.

“I-I’m sorry, Sir Sixth, but can I ask how old are you?

The secretary laughs at his sudden out-of-the-blue question. “Is that why you’re a little distracted, Mr. Manalo.

“Please, just call me Luis, sir. I’m sorry for asking such a weird question on our first official meeting.

“Oh, it’s okay! I get this a lot. Do you mind if I just call you Sir Luis then?

He nodded and he couldn't really help but to be mesmerized by how young this man looks.

“I’m already thirty-six, Sir Luis.

“What?!

He didn’t mean to be so surprised and react this way but he had Sixth laughing with his reactions. They are supposed to be having his initial orientation but here they are—breaking the ice instead.

It still feels unreal for him that he would be finally working as himself and in a real company set-up like this. Of course, the most unreal fact for him is that he is now going to work at the company of the person he dreads to meet.

Will Miguel remember him?

He doesn’t want to boastful for what he looks like right now but it is really far from what he looked like during their college days. He has learned to be healthy and makes sure he’ll look his best every time for his mom—and it has become something he does for his every day. Ma’am Tin would always tease him about his glow-up just because she is a victim of not recognizing him with his pictures before.

He should really not be thinking about it now and listen to Sixth’s lecture.

He already knows about what his job would be and now Sixth is discussing some of the company’s important rules and regulations. Nothing too new for him but when it sunk into him that Sixth was the executive secretary to the big bosses of this company and not simply someone from the HR should be giving him this interview—

What this man has been trying to explain to him really sunk into him slowly but surely.

Sixth is the one orienting him for his work because not only that he is officially employed in this company but he is going to be working directly to the big bosses. He’s literal job is to work side by side with the big bosses!

“Sometimes you would be with the madams since they will tend to ask for your opinions about everything. Don’t be surprised anymore when they do and just give them what you honestly think about the things they would ask your opinions to. Most of the time, though, you’ll spend your working hours with Sir Miguel because he is the one who’s really hands-on with the promotion of the clothing lines hence the usage of all the social media platforms. Your work would revolve around what he tells you.

Did he just hit the jackpot or did he just dig his grave?

For his real purpose, this is the best thing he could ever ask for. For his heart? He doesn’t want to think about this yet.

‘Eyes on the goal, Luis, eyes on the goal. Be professional. This isn’t about you. Eyes on the goal, Luis.

He has to remind himself about the real reason why he is here. He needs to really keep his eyes on his real goal but as much as he wants to keep it all that way… Who is he kidding? This isn’t merely because of his work anymore. It involves himself and the ten years that have passed. He’s been both looking forward and dreading this day and this is really happening right now.

“Speaking of the big bosses, they will here any moment now to meet you. Congratulations and thank you again, Sir Luis, for being a part of our company.

“T-Thank you, too, Sir Sixth.

He wasn’t nervous a while ago thanks to Sixth’s warm and kind welcome but not that they’ve reached the reality where he’ll meet the big bosses—

The doors opened and Kings has entered the room.

For the ten years that have passed, he’s again eye-to-eye with nonother than Juan Miguel King.

This is it. There’s no turning back anymore.

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