Everything With You

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Sumama ka na, Avery. Tayo-tayo lang naman doon, atsaka Christmas vacation naman, e. Tutal nasa London naman ang family mo, then why don't you tell them that you cannot go because something came up and you need to attend to it. Diba?"

"You really know how to persuade someone, Olivia!" I said after hearing how eager Olivia was in convincing me to join them at their plan trip at Palawan this Christmas. I am still reluctant because I originally had a plan to fly to London to be with my family, and to meet the man my mother set me up with---probably about marriage.

"Are you persuaded? If you are, then I might agree that I took a Masters degree in persuading people to do my bidding~" She replied followed by a consecutive hard laughs. Maging ako ay natawa na lang din dahil sa sinabi nito.

"I haven't decided yet, Liv." wika ko na agad naging dahilan ng paglukot ng mukha nito.

"Come on, Avery! Mas pipiliin 'mong pumunta sa London to just meet with a random stranger na gusto ng Mommy mo for you than to enjoy your vacation with us? Mai-stress ka lang duon, do you want that?"

I sighed. "I don't of course. But---"

"If you don't then just come with us. Kahit sabihin mo na lang na this is for work, maranasan mo man lang enjoyin ang buhay. We're not teenagers anymore, Av. We're getting real older and we're off to enjoy and be happy." Dagdag pa ni Olivia na siyang nakapagpahinto sa akin. For some reason, I remembered what Tita Maurice told me the other day. What she said and what Olivia said is quite the same, both urging me to move and start making my way to life. "Av, we're friends since High School, and I literally saw how hard working you are, how brilliant and good daughter you are. You've never been to the Guidance Office, and you never experience to be scolded by the teachers. Av, you are too good to be true, and I actually am happy for that but right now, I think you need some excitement in your life." She continued saying which made me smile a bit. She's actually right. I've been a very good person half my life, its fulfilling, but there's something missing. I was never happy by just being like that.

"Okay. Now, you can properly call yourself a professional persuader, Olivia! I am convinced." Sagot ko na agad ikinangiti nito na nasundan ng pagtayo at pag-wagayway ng mga kamay na animo'y nanalo sa lotto.

"Yes! Hello Palawan na this Christmas! Yehey! Oh wait, I'll give Erin and Shane a heads-up, and I'll finally booked a flight for us four and do some Hotel reservations," She said.

"Wait, what? You haven't booked a hotel reservation pa?"

"Of course! Hindi ka pa um-oo so it means na hindi pa sure ang trip. Hindi naman kami aalis without you, 'noh." wika nito, and all of a sudden, I just had the urge to hug Olivia. Not booking a hotel because I am not sure to g with them is giving me butterflies. I mean, they really am waiting for me to say yes. They really want me to be there.

"I'm lucky to have you, Erin, and Shane as my bestfriends." I whispered while hugging her from the back.

I noticed the trembling of her shoulders, a sign that she is laughing. "Oh come on, wag na tayong mag-iyakan dito, Av. Pag may nakakita satin, baka isipin we're having an LQ and that's the least I want. Paano na lang ako lalapitan ng mga boys kung akala nila may relasyon tayo?" She yelled which made me laugh hard and even made my hug to her tighter. Nuong una ay pumipiglas pa sya pero maya-maya din ay pareho na kaming tumatawa.

We're in the middle of laughing when the door to our office room opened showing our co-worker Adan, with his brown working attire. He looked flustered upon seeing us. Agad naman kaming naglayo ni Liv.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Uhm. Mr. Jones wants to hear from you, Ma'am Avery." He said.

My eyes widened. "Mr. Jones? Wait," I immediately looked for my phone and checked whether there's a missed call from Mr. Jones, pero wala naman. "No phone call. How will I---"

"According to Trina, Mr. Jones is in Palawan with some investors and colleagues. And based on what Trina also said, Mr. Jones wants to see you in Palawan as soon as possible, Ma'am." Adan continued saying which made me and Olivia look at each other meaningfully.

We're just talking about Palawan earlier, pero mukhang mapapaaga ata ang pagpunta namin duon.

"Uhm, in addition, Trina said that you'll receive an email about your flight and your hotel reservation, and you can bring your friends too. That's all, Ma'am. Excuse me," Adan finished then immediately turned his back and left my office. Patuloy kaming nagkatinginan ni Olivia, hanggang sa bigla na lamang itong nagtata-talon.

"OMG! We'll head to Palawan without letting go a lot of bills from our pockets, Av! Thanks to your admirer!" She added that made me roll my eyes.

"He is our boss, not my admirer!"

"But still, halata namang may gusto sayo 'yung pogi nating CEO pero manhid-manhidan ka lang talaga," dagdag na anas nito. "Anyway, I'll now give Erin and Shane a heads-up to pack their things immediately because we'll be off to Palawan before this day ends. We'll see each other later, Bye Av!" Olivia said her good bye with a wide smile on her face. Wala naman sa sarili akong napailing dahil sa tinuran ng kaibigan hanggang sa tuluyan itong makalabas. Balak ko na sanang simulang magligpit ng gamit sa office nang saktong tumunog ang notification bell ng phone ko. When I checked, I realized that it came from a social media app.

Marahang pumintig ang puso ko.

I only turned the notification on to a single person.

I slowly clicked and opened the notif, and a latest post welcomed me.

Rencis V.

Finally landed. ?

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