Chapter 8

• I KNOW WHAT TO DO
• I stared at him upon hearing those words. I don’t know if I should be happy or not. I’ve been wishing for this moment to come, the time where I can be with him in one workplace. But would I still want it now that I can see how happy he is with someone else?
• “You just hired me,” I said, repeating what he just told me, in disbelief.
• He stood up and crossed his arms across his chest. “Yes. I did. So, don’t waste your time and energy applying to some other companies,” he replied. “You said Nildex is the best company for you to exercise and apply what you learned, right? Now that you have the best, would you even look for something lesser?”
• I was stoned at his question. I don’t know if he’s still talking about the company or about something else.
• “Why did you hire me?” I couldn’t help but ask. I’m so confused. Does he really want me out of his life? “Is this some sort of a test?”
• He narrowed his eyes at me. His jaw clenched. “What? I thought you wanted to work in my company? Now, you’re asking me why I’m hiring you?!” He laughed weakly.
• “You wanted me gone, right? You said you wanted me out of your life. That hug is the last time. That was the last time you would ever look at me.” Tears are brimming at the corner of my eyes. “But why are you hiring me?”
• He unclasped his arms crossed against his chest and balled his fists. It was like he’s about to tell me something—or yell at me even—but he’s trying to keep himself composed.
• I swallowed the forming lump in my throat. “I’m so confused, Kai. What do you really want?” I asked with my voice cracking.
• My heart is breaking and ripping into millions of pieces. I want to hug him. I want to kiss him. I want to beg for him to be with me again. But how can I do that when I know that his girlfriend is waiting for him out there? If I could only order my heart to stop beating for him, I would have done that. But I can’t. And that’s what I hate the most.
• I hate the fact that I am hurting. I am hurting because of the things I have done. I hate that no matter how painful it is, I still want to fix everything that I have caused. I still want him back. I still picture a life with him. I still picture my future with him.
• This shouldn’t be. I shouldn’t be thinking of these impossible things. I should be moving on. But how can I do so when he’s here, looking deep into my soul with those same pair of eyes that I missed—with those same pair of eyes that I could never get tired of?
• He let out a deep sigh. “Look, I’m not the only one who decided about it,” he started. “My cousins are the ones who decided upon it. And if you don’t want to—”
• “Give your cousins my gratitude then.” I cut him off. I don’t want to hear anything from him now. He’s just going to tell me that he had no choice but to hire me because his cousins said so. “I better go to my friends.”
• And I left him standing there with the sound of my heart breaking.
• Janice and Martin looked at me when I got back from the rest room.
• “Are you alright?” Janice asked me the moment I sat beside her.
• I nodded. “Yup, I’m fine.”
• Janice pursed her lips in a thin line. She looked at the direction of the rest rooms and I’m pretty sure that she saw Kaisser walking out of there. She turned back to me with a narrowed look. “What happened? Did he say some rude things again?” she asked, mad and frustrated. “I swear I’m going straight to him and confront him now!”
• Martin held Janice’s hand to calm her down. He’s also staring at me with angry eyes. “Eunique, if you have explained your side to him, that’s enough,” he told me. “If you still love each other, then, it’s fine. You can just get back together but, you see, he has someone else now. Don’t think it’s wise to stay away?”
• I swallowed and nodded. “I know. I want to stay away,” I replied and bit my lip. “But he just told me that he’s hiring me.”
• Both of their eyes widened in shock.
• “What?!” Janice’s voice was a little louder that some of the customers looked our way. “What did you say?!” she asked not minding the people who turned to us. “He hired you?!” she hissed.
• I nodded.
• She let out a deep breath. “Don’t tell me you’re going to accept it?” she asked with a raised brow and crossed arms. “Eunique, don’t kill yourself, please,” she sounded really worried and concerned.
• I nodded. “I’m not really planning on accepting the offer anyway,” I replied with a faint smile.
• I don’t want to. No matter how I want him to be with me, I know my limit. If he has a girlfriend now, then that only made it easier for me to stay away from him.
• Janice pursed her lips in a thin line. “You better,” she told me in a warning tone.
• I sighed and nodded. No, Eunique. Don’t give in.
• The dinner went by fast and I excused myself to go home straight after. I can’t be in the same restaurant or building with him for another minute. I don’t ever think I could ever be in one room with him.
• I walked home and saw my parents smiling at me the moment I stepped inside the door.
• “Congratulations, Eunique!” Mom ran to me and hugged me. “We knew you could make it to Nildex!”
• My eyes widened as I heard what she said. What?! She knew about it?
• “A letter came to the mail. It’s from Nildex. We were so excited so we opened it for you. Congratulations, Eunique!” Dad told me.
• I couldn’t move. It’s like a bucket of ice is being poured on me. Now, I can’t tell them I don’t want to work in Nildex. It’s their dream job for me. I’m sure they would not like it if I told them that I don’t want to work there.
• “They said you’ll start tomorrow! You need to sleep now so you won’t be late on your first day.” Mom said as she pushed me to the stairs to my room.
• I pursed my lips in a thin line. Now, there’s no escaping. Damn it!
• I took a deep breath and threw myself on my bed. I’m tired of getting this treatment from my parents. When can I become independent, too? When can I do what I want without thinking of what they will think of me?
• I’ve been their pet since I was born. When will I graduate from being a slave for my parents?
• I’m not mad at them. I understand where they are coming from. They just want the best for me. They just want me secured. Who am I to even complain?
• My phone rang. It’s Hannah.
• “Janice told me…” she started before I could even say hello.
• “I’m sorry. I think I’m going to work there.” I sighed and turned.
• I heard her harsh breath from the other line. “Why? I thought you agreed on not killing yourself?” she asked me in a mix of disbelief and disappointment.
• “I did!” I sighed once more. “But my parents knew about it and you know…”
• She let out a heavy sigh. “So, there’s no escaping it?” she asked.
• “I guess,” I sighed and shut my eyes. “Don’t worry…” I tried to calm her. “I can handle it.”
• She scoffed. “The last time we were in a club, you told us that. But, in the end? He dragged you out of the club and you couldn’t do anything!” she exasperated.
• I bit my lip, trying so hard not remember those scenes in my head again. “It won’t happen again.” I told her. “I know better now. He has a girlfriend. He’s off limits now.” I could hear my heart breaking with every word I am saying. “I’m still going to stay away…as far as I can.”
• She let out one last sigh. “I trust you, Eunique.” she told me. “If he does something bad, you better tell your parents about it. We’re all just one call or text away. Remember that…”
• I nodded. “Thank you,” I said with tears brimming in my eyes. “I’ll sleep now…” I told her. “Good night.”
• “Alright, Eunique. Everything will be alright. Good night.”
• I sighed when she hung up. Whatever may come, I should just be happy that I still have my friends and even my family. I lost Kaisser. And even though it’s so hard to live without him, I’m going to get through this pain.
• I’m going to work hard for myself.
• “Good morning, Ma’am!” Jessica greeted me the moment she saw me at the reception. “I hope you would have a great first day!”
• I smiled and nodded. “Thank you. But where’s my office?” I asked.
• Jessica motioned Irene to come over. “Irene, please lead our new HR Head to her office,” she ordered.
• Irene looked at me and smiled. “Let me lead the way, Ma’am,” she said as she started walking to the elevator. She told me that the office is in the fourteenth floor, a floor below the penthouse where the executive’s rooms are in.
• When the lift stopped at the fourteenth floor, Irene motioned to the right side of the way. We walked and I counted four doors before Irene stopped. Human Resource Office was written at the top of the door. “Here’s your office, Ma’am.”
• She opened the door and I was shocked when I saw the interior design of the room. The walls were made of classic hard wood. The floor was even carpeted. Was this necessary? There are about five cubicles before a main desk which said Human Resource Department Head.
• I stopped when I saw a figure in the swivel of the main desk. Kaisser is there, sitting with a smile on his face as he stared at me. “You can leave now, Irene,” he said as he stood up.
• I stayed on my post. What is he doing here?
• He walked towards me. “This is your office,” he was stating the obvious. “Your members are going to be here soon.” He looked at me. I still don’t get what he’s doing here.
• “I bet you know what you’re supposed to do,” he said. “As the head, you’re in charge—”
• “I know.” I interrupted him. “I know what to do so don’t lecture me, Mr. CEO.”