A love so beautiful

Melbourne Experience

Elle Astrid's POV

"Hey, Elle How are you doing with those documents? We need it proof-read for the presentation this afternoon." Sarah. She's one of the team leaders in this branch. 

"Hey yes, It's all done I'll email it to you now," I replied with a smile.

I finish up and saved all the documents needed this afternoon and emailed it to Sarah.

"Thanks, darling, you don't mind helping us out during the meeting right? You just have to write the minutes." Sarah.

"No problem. I'm done with all my paperwork anyway." I said. 

"Thanks, darl, see you later." Sarah.

I went back and organized my desk. One of the amazing thing that happened while being independent is that I became more organized and clean with my things. 

My work desk is all organized, I learned how to clean my room, I do my own laundry, I cook more, etc. everything about me now organizes. 

When I was living with my parents not so long ago my mum was the one who cleans my room and does my laundry. We even argue a lot because I don't clean my room.

It's been 4 months since my company sent me here in Melbourne for work training and purposes. And ever since I seem to learn a lot. You know saving a lot of money like cooking and prepping a meal for work instead of eating out or buying lunch at work. 

I have fewer clothes as I barely shop for clothes anymore and if I do I usually put old clothes to eBay and sell them. 

I'm staying in a small room in a unit with 2 more people. Both of them are my friends. Xyrille Jane Garcia, Spanish/Filipino as well, my high school best friend and the other one is Seo Hye Jin, obviously a Korean we just met here when I moved in. We're all working in the same company.

We became really close even tho we work in a different department.

Seo Hye Jin works in the Engineering department. Xyrille works in Ground crew in check-ins area. And me as a Junior Data and Insights analyst. 

And also one of the best thing that happened with this independency thing is I became healthier and fit. Well the three of us are really health-conscious in a good way anyway.  We cook and prep meal for each other whoever gets the time.

Some will think moving away from home will make you unhealthy because of take-outs, pizza, microwavable foods, etc. but it didn't happen to me. 

I find cooking at home more cheaper and healthier that's why and I guess it's also because of Hye Jin and Xy, we all motivate each other to be fit. 

Anyway back to reality. 

I looked at the time. 11:30 am. The meeting is not until 2 pm. I could still go to the cafè downstairs and have coffee and my lunch. 

I saved all the files I've been working on. And turned my computer off. I walked to the elevator, there are few people waiting to go down already. I smiled at them and waited. The elevator came and we all came in. 

Had a glimpse of the pressed floors and saw cp4, where I'm going, is already pressed. So I just stood there and wait.

A few minutes later the elevator stopped at cp4 and I stepped out the elevator. I went straight to the cafè station and asked for Large long black with soy milk on the side. Coffees here are free for the staff.

There are 2 big fridges in here for the staff to put food in. And there are few microwaves. I walked over and grab my food from one of the fridges and put it in the microwave to heat it up. And then I walked back to the cafè station to grab my coffee.

I recently learned to like Long Black as it's healthier. I always get Dark Mocha or Chai Latte before which is full of sugar. 

Anyway, I grab my food and sat down, put my headphones in my ears and watched from my phone. There's a free WiFi down here so yay. Supernatural Season 5 Episode 8 playing. 

One of my favorite show. Sam and Dean are so dreamy. 

After an hour I went back to the office and prepare for the meeting. I set up my laptop, making sure it has a full battery. 

After a while, we were called to the conference room. All the big bosses are there. Gosh so intimidating. 

I sat down at the chair in the corner. Opened the laptop as they began their meeting.

Jot down all the important details in the laptop. Mostly about rankings, financial growth, liabilities, cash flows, and some other financial and business topics, etc. 

After 45 minutes as one of the big boss concludes the meeting. I jot down one last important thing and saved the file. I quickly went out of the room after everyone else. 

Someone poke me from behind when I was just about to get out.

"Excuse me? Are you new? I've never seen you before?" It's one of the suits and ties man in the meeting. 

"Oh yes, sir kind of. I was sent here about 4 months ago from Sydney's branch for training purposes. But actually, I'm only covering someone's shift today. I'm actually in Database Analyst department" I answered politely.

"Quit the sir. Matthew Dwight. Call me Matt. Interesting. 4 months that's pretty new, I guess it's because you work in a different department that's why I haven't seen you before. I usually observe and work with the engineering department. What was your name again? " He offered his hand.

"Elle Hernandez," I replied shaking his hands. He opened the door and gestured me to go out first. I smiled at him and walked out of the room. He followed soon enough

"Nice to meet you, Elle. I got to go. See you around." He said

"Nice to meet you too. Sure. Goodbye, sir." I bowed. He gave me a look "I mean Matt." I smiled. He smiled and winked, then he went his way. And so did I. 

I went back to my desk,  my mind got lost for a minute. That wink and dimple, so dreamy. I shook my head and opened my laptop. I proofread the minutes and fix it. It didn't really take long. After that, I sent it to Sarah 

I looked at the time. It's only 3 pm. I finish an hour early today. I grabbed my bag and laptop and started walking. 

My mind got lost thinking about that guy again. Whoo, he's a fine-looking man. Suit and tie, elegant looking, stable and matured. 

Matthew Dwight. The first guy I take interest in after Jeffrey. Could he be the one?

Woah I've only been away from home for 4 months and I'm already thinking about this?

Nah not yet. I wanna focus on work first. 

I continued to walk to the parking lot and started the car. Put on Turn it up by Planetshaker and started to drive. A few minutes later I was out of the building. 

The office is about 20 minutes drive from my place so not that far. 

After 20 minutes I arrived in our parking lot in our building unit. There's a restaurant just right next door in our building. We know the owner there, Jacob Diaz, he's also the head chef. 

I and Xy sometimes help out here when we have free time. For extra cash. 

I entered through the back way which leads to the kitchen. I can already hear the sizzling sound, water running, dishwasher running and yelling orders. They must be busy. 

Right, it's Friday. 

"Wassup guys!" I yelled to overpower the noises. I saw Jake and Xy. It's Xyrille's day off so she's helping out here.

"Babe! How are you? How was work? How's the meeting?" Xyrille queried. She's cutting onions and some other vegetables. 

Yes, we call each other babe since High School. I walked to her and reached forward and gave her a peck on the cheek

"It went great. It wasn't that hard, I just did the minutes. Pretty simple. And you? Is it busy? Do you guys need help?" Me

"No no, we're all covered. I have enough staff for tonight you go get some rest. You've been working for so many days straight now. Have a day off woman!" Jake said giving me a sermon.

"Alright." I chuckled. It's true tho I've been working 16 days straight no day-offs. Monday to Friday I work at Qantas 9-5 or 8-4 depends on what time I want to start, and that's a fix full-time hours. 

Saturday or Sunday I help out at the restaurant but for the past 2 weeks, I've been helping them both weekends. And sometimes I also help during weekdays after my work especially Thursday and Friday night. It gets really busy at the restaurant as it also becomes a bar at night. And Thursday to Saturday night is crazy! That's the party time, same in Sydney. 

"What time do u finish babe?" I asked Xyrille.

"In 2 hours. I started pretty early. I'll bring dinner. You go up now, Hye Jin's there." Xyrille

"Alright see you in a bit." I paused. I turned to Jake's area. "I'll see you tomorrow Jake?" I asked.

"No, take 2 days off honey. No work for you this weekend." He answered. Woah really? 

"Are you serious? You gonna be okay?" Me

"Yes, Astrid. Rest." Jake

"Thank you so much, Jake, you're the best!" I walked over to him and reached forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. 

"Imma make a drink for me and Hye Jin alright?" Me. I walked out of the kitchen into the bar.

This is Great I guess we girls can go out tomorrow and Sunday after church. 

I saw Miho in the bar making drinks for a customer. 

"Hey, girl Wassup?" Me. I walked over to her and pat her back. Miho's a friend of ours as well. She works part-time in this restaurant and in the hotel in the city. She's Japanese in working visa. 

"Hey don't tell me you're working again tonight?" Miho asked. She also knows. I started making a drink for me to take upstairs.

"Nah Jake won't let me. And hey you're the one to talk? You work so much as well." I chuckled. 

She turned around to give the drink to the customer. "Here you are. Have a great night." She said with a sweet smile.

 And she turned to me and said "Not as much as you, you're full time. I'm only casual in the hotel. I think you're working more than 40 hours a week. What are you making?" 

I finished up the drink. "Jane's and Astrid's special. Do you want? Have you tried them?" I said. 

Yes, I and Xyrille made up our own cocktail and introduced it to Jake and everyone working as bartender liked it so they put it on the menu.

"Yeah, it's great. They're very popular as well. Everyone loved it." She replied. I chuckled.

"Ok love I gotta go. I do need rest! It's nice seeing you. See you when I see you." I said and gave her a peck on the cheek.

I walked towards the back door again where the kitchen is. There's a way to our unit on that side as well. Xy gave me 2 take away containers full of foods. "I'll be out in an hour or so. Wait for me for dinner?" She said

I nod and went my way. 

When I reach our unit I saw Hye Jin lying down the bean bag and watching friends. I chuckled cos we all love friends. We keep rewatching it. 

"Annyeong unni." I greeted. She climbed out of the bean bag and walked towards me excitedly. "You're home, How's work love?" She asked.

She helped me with the food and prepared the table. "Everything's alright, the meeting went great. I was kind of anxious at first because it's basically my first day doing that but it went alright. No complains or anything." I said. "I'll quickly change." I continued.

I quickly went to my room and change to comfortable clothes. Didn't even bother removing my make up just yet. I'll do that before I sleep. I walked out of my room and straight to the kitchen. Jin's finish preparing our dinner. 

"So how's your day unni?" I asked. "Kind of boring. Just went to the gym, then stayed home all day. Cleaned my room and watched friends." She answered. I chuckled. It was her day off. That's what we usually do on our days off. Just chill home.

"Anyhow, I'm kind of torn between wanting to go out tonight or just stay in and drink here." She continued. We drink sometimes on our day-offs.

"We can just stay in, I'm pretty tired anyway. Do we still have bubbles here?" I asked. Bubbles is a term for sparkling wine. 

"Yea, I think it's better to stay in. Xy would probably be tired as well. And no I finished it when I had lunch earlier." She chuckled. "But I think we still have Grand Marnier and Baileys." She added. She walked over to the pantry and checked some stuff.

"What do you feel like drinking? Jane's finishing in like 40 minutes we can ask her to buy on her way." I suggested.

"Hmm, we have Grand Marnier, Margarita mix, Tequila, Rum, Bitters and lime juice." She said checking out the pantry. "Oh and a full bottle of baileys." She added

"Alright let's just mix those spirits up. We might be able to make a margarita or our own cocktails." I said.

"Let's just wait for Xy." Jin. We chilled on the lounge and replayed friends while we waited for Jane.

I couldn't help myself to drift to sleep.

To be continued