Mr. Unpredictable CEO

Miss Intervention

Regina put her phone back where it was. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of her friends.

She meant what she said. She didn't need a man to be happy. She's got a loving family, great friends, a good career. What else could she ask for?

Her friends meant well. She was sure about that. But they shouldn't worry about her when they have things to worry about in their personal lives. She hated the idea of being a bother to anyone. And she’s perfectly capable of handling her own troubles.

She's content. That's important.

With this thought, she fell asleep.

TOOT TOOT TOOOOOTTTT

Regina was awakened by the sound of the alarm. It was five in the morning and she was meeting her friends at six. She quickly showered and changed.

Because she was in a hurry, she settled for the first thing she could get her hands on from her closet; black skinny jeans and a white tank top. She wore white Nike sneakers and took her peach knitted cardigan. As she walked out of the door, she grabbed her handbag. And after a few minutes, her ride arrived.

As soon as she got into the car, she texted her friends to tell them she was on her way. She had half an hour left, so she didn't waste any more time and did her makeup inside the moving car.

She arrived at their meeting place in Uptown BGC at exactly two minutes to six. She was getting out of the car when she spotted KC's blue SUV. Waving her hand at them, she stopped the SUV and the window from the passenger's side opened.

It was Ayvs! The sleepy version of Ayvs! She quickly opened the back door and got on.

"Hi, pretty ladies! Good morning!" She greeted them gleefully.

“Hello birthday, girl!”

KC greeted her back without taking her eyes off the road. When she was properly parked, she slightly pulled her oversized sunglasses down and turned the music up.

She looked like a fashionista in her high-waist jeans, black racerback cropped top, and hoop earrings. Her skin looked flawless in her dewy makeup.

"What did the biatch say?"

Ayvs was referring to Mel who was, again, fashionably late. He had a cup of coffee in one hand. He was clearly still trying to wake up.

"I wish I could've slept some more."

He said in a low voice while he was looking at his smartwatch. He looked sporty casual with his black dri-fit t-shirt, black joggers, and rainbow-coloured sneakers. Ayvs almost only wore black because it's slimming, as he would say. He wasn't obese, he was just a little chunky in places.

If he wasn't wearing pink lip gloss and laminated brows, he would look like a straight guy. At 5'9", he's quite attractive.

Strangers would always mistake him for either Reg's or Mel's boyfriend. Sometimes, people would even mistake him as KC's partner, KC who also looked like a natural-born woman.

"She says she's along Kalayaan now and about to turn right to Philplans," Reg reported as she was looking at her phone relaying a text message from Mel.

"Oh sweetheart, can you please tell her to wait for us in front of the cafe? We need to drive around so they don't make us pay a fine." KC asked and started to step on the gas.

"Okay!" And she relayed the instructions to their friend.

By the time they were about to drive back in front of the coffee shop, Mel was already there waiting. She could be easily spotted with her mom jeans on and a tucked-in pink t-shirt, a white fanny pack over it, and pink flat sandals. She was carrying a large tote bag which could be assumed as their snack bag filled with crisps, sweets, drinks and other goodies. As the car stopped, Reg was in a hurry to open the door and help her out with the bag.

"Are we back to the ‘80s or something?" Ayvs was about to start with the teasing. The other two lightly chuckled. It seemed as though Ayvs' coffee was kicking in.

"Whatever!" Mel ignored the comment and rolled her eyes at him.

"Hey darling, I love the Stranger Things vibe!" KC was quick with the compliment, which made Mel smile.

"That's exactly what I was going for! You see Ayvs, unlike KC and I, you haven't got an eye for fashion." And she high-fived KC.

After a three-hour drive filled with singing, bantering, and laughing, they reached their destination. They ended up in a restaurant with a nice view overlooking the Taal Volcano.

Mel and Ayvs took charge of ordering food. They prided themselves as foodies. That or they were just always the hungry ones.

It was a feast. The food was enough to feed a village. As Filipino tradition dictates, the birthday celebrant must have something long for a long life. The two ordered pancit canton for Regina.

KC looked suspiciously at the platter of pancit with its crispy lechon toppings.

"I don't think this is for a long life. It's more like the end of life." She was trying to remove the pork skin toppings with her fork.

"Biatch, that's the key to eternal youth!" Ayvs passionately defended the sinful pieces of roasted pork skin. He took one into his mouth and...

"Hmmmm uhmmmmm." He was intentionally making s****l sounds as he chewed on the piece. The girls were just shaking their heads. That was very typical of Ayvs.

"Regina, taste my... lechon..." He made awkward breathy sounds that made the birthday girl giggle. If she didn't know him, she would be offended, but over time, she got used to her friend's antics.

"Stop it! That's food!" Mel was acting like the strict mum and lightly flicked the misbehaving child on the forehead. To which, he reacted in a very exaggerated way and screamed like he was helpless.

"Mother, please stop abusing me!"

These two were slapstick!

They laughed together and started enjoying their food. They chatted as they ate. They laughed as they chatted.

"Now, let's talk about you, Regina." KC adjusted her seat to face her.

"Uh-oh!" Reg could tell what was coming next.

"Sistah from another mother, you know we love you and we're just concerned." KC continued.

"Is this a continuation from last night? Seriously, girls, I don't need intervention!"

She raised both her hands to signal her surrender.

"Regina..."

Mel was dying to say her piece too. Reg knew something serious was going to go down as her friends started calling her "Regina."

"You're young, beautiful, kind and hardworking. You are such a catch! But you have to allow yourself to try..." Mel continued.

"Just put yourself out there and see what happens, right?"

KC was begging her to agree but she just stared back at her with her arms crossed.

"Can you please just stop there?"

"Regina my dear. You’ll never know unless you try. And it could be fun!" It was Ayvs' turn to encourage her.

Reg sighed. Smiled. Looked at her friends and said,

"Girls, I'm all good. I like my life. I like being single and free to do what I want."

"Biatch, you seem to forget your egg cells have an expiration date. Next thing you know, it's the last train and you still haven't got a ticket!"

Reg and Mel started to giggle at Ayvs' entertaining analogy.

"Wait! Are we talking about dating or about the Metro Rail Transit?"

KC wanted to clarify and smiled mockingly at Ayvs.

"Exactly! It's like MRT! And the worst is if you get there during the rush hour. I mean, the queue is a nightmare, biatches!"

He continued to elaborate.

"You know Ayvs, sometimes, I can't tell whether you are the cleverest or the most brainless person I know." Mel chimed in.

"But Regina, please promise you will think about it."

And she held Reg's arm.

"Whenever you're ready, we're here to support you."

KC put her hand over her shoulder.

"And guide you through the hoops and loops."

Ayvs placed a hand on her head.

"Great! Is this a pray-over or something?"

And their laughter filled the room.

Reg could tell her friends meant well. All they wanted was for her to find happiness. However, they could be a little too much sometimes.

Single by choice. That's what she is.

Men? Who needs them? I don't!

They would just bring a complication to her quiet, simple life. She didn't need a headache.

No, thank you!