Beyond His Cold Smile

Chapter 5: The Name That Lingers

Three months slipped by in a steady blur. Xavier's days were filled with back-to-back flights, photoshoots, travels abroad with friends, and quiet moments with Elara. No matter how busy he was, he never quite forgot the girl from the Duty Free store. She stayed in the back of his mind, a quiet memory he could not shake.

One afternoon, he returned to the store with James and Laurence to buy supplies for their upcoming beach party. He walked through the aisles, his eyes scanning every face he saw all familiar ones from before, except hers. A sharp wave of disappointment settled in his chest. He had hoped to see her again, and now he realized just how much.

They lined up at a checkout counter. As the cashier processed their items, Xavier spotted Aurora walking past. He stepped forward and blocked her way gently. She looked up, and recognition flickered in her eyes.

"Sir, it's good to see you again," she said with a smile.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I need to ask, where is the woman who was here before? I don't see her today. Is she off?"

Aurora's smile faded briefly into sadness before she regained her professional composure. "You mean Fenella, Sir? She doesn't work here anymore. She took a better job in Manila."

Xavier's shoulders dropped. "Oh. I see. Do you know where she works?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, I don't. Happy shopping." Aurora nodded and walked away as another staff member called for her.

Laurence leaned in and whispered, "Who's Fenella?"

Xavier looked at him. "Just someone who used to work here."

Laurence raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What about her?"

Xavier just shook his head and said no more. He paid for everything, and together they loaded all the food, drinks, and beach gear into his car. Then he picked up Elara from her office, and the two of them set off toward the coast together, with James and Laurence following in their own vehicle. Elara chatted softly about her day at the bank, but Xavier only nodded and smiled faintly, his thoughts elsewhere.

Meanwhile, inside a tall glass high-rise in Pasay, the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows, casting a soft light over Fenella's orderly desk. Spread out before her were neatly arranged ledgers, stacks of receipts, and a computer screen filled with rows of numbers. She worked steadily, her fingers moving quickly over the keyboard, focused and calm. This new job as a bookkeeper paid far better than her old one enough to cover her younger siblings' school fees, help her mother with medical bills, and finally fix the leaky roof on their small family home back in the province. Every peso she earned felt like a victory, and she threw all her energy into doing well.

She rubbed her eyes gently and leaned back for a short rest when her phone rang. Seeing Aurora's name light up the screen, she smiled and answered right away.

"Girl," Aurora started, her voice bright and buzzing with excitement. "Remember that really handsome guy from before? The one who just handed you his whole wallet and walked off?"

Fenella let out a small huff, rolling her eyes even though no one could see her. "Oh, you mean that rude customer? The one who didn't even say a word?"

"Yes! Exactly him! He was here today! And guess what? He was asking for you. Straight up asked where you work. Should I have told him?"

Fenella sat up straight, clutching her phone a little tighter. "God, no! Why would you? What if he's some kind of serial killer?"

Aurora burst into loud laughter. "Don't be silly. That's Xavier Rios!"

Fenella frowned, tilting her head in confusion. "Xavier who? Who is that?"

"Xavier Rios! The famous commercial pilot and airline model! Girl, don't you ever turn on the TV or open social media? His face is everywhere billboards, magazine covers, adverts, he's practically the most talked-about guy right now!"

Fenella laughed out loud, shaking her head as she looked at the piles of work on her desk. "No, I don't. I leave home before the sun comes up and get back long after it's dark. Between work and helping my family, I barely have time to sleep, let alone scroll through social media. I don't know any famous people, and honestly? I don't think I need to."

"Geez… you really need to come out from under that rock once in a while," Aurora teased warmly. "You'd be shocked how many people know him."

Fenella smiled softly, glancing out the window at the busy city below. "Well, it doesn't matter to me. Whether he's rich or famous, he was still rude that day. And anyway, I'm happy here. This job is exactly what I needed."

They chatted a little longer about old coworkers and plans to meet up soon, then Fenella hung up. For a moment, she sat thinking back to that quiet, odd encounter at the checkout counter but a flicker of irritation started to rise in her chest. Shaking it off, she turned her attention back to her work, letting the thought quickly fade away.

Hours later, the sun began to dip low as Xavier's car pulled into the sandy parking area by the shore. Elara stepped out beside him, and they walked toward the group together. The rest of their friends had already arrived; tents were pitched, music played, and the smell of grilled food drifted through the air. Everyone laughed and called out greetings as they hauled the supplies onto the beach. Coolers were popped open, cold drinks passed around, and plates were piled high with barbecue, fresh fish, and ripe fruit.

As dusk turned to night, a large bonfire was lit, casting a warm golden light over the gathering. People sat in circles around the flames, singing along to songs and sharing stories. Xavier smiled and joined in when spoken to, clinking bottles and cheering with the rest, but his mind felt far away. Eventually, he wandered quietly away from the crowd and sat down alone on a piece of driftwood near the water, watching the dark waves roll in.

Elara noticed him slip away. She grabbed two cold bottles and walked over, sitting down gently beside him. She leaned her shoulder against his, warm and familiar, and handed him one.

"You've been so quiet all afternoon," she said softly. "Is everything alright?"

Xavier looked at her, at her kind eyes and the genuine love he saw there, and felt a twist of guilt deep inside. He gave her a tender, faint smile and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Everything's fine," he said quietly. "It's just so peaceful here. That's all."

Elara smiled happily, resting her head on his shoulder and lacing her fingers through his. "It really is perfect. Especially being here with you."

They sat together in comfortable silence for a long while, listening to the crackle of the fire and the rhythm of the sea. He held her hand firmly, grateful for her kindness and her steady heart yet somewhere deep inside, he still felt a quiet, aching pull toward a girl he had already lost the chance to find.