Rise Up

CHAPTER TWELVE

            I’ve been standing in front of the gate for a couple of minutes now. Patrick already left after he walked me home. I seriously don’t understand what is happening with me and to his actions lately. I shook my head and headed inside.

“You better take a rest. Don’t go to the office tomorrow.” I was about to close my eyes when I received Patrick’s message. I ignored his message and I completely closed my eyes.

“I thought you’ll be absent today?” Sir Mark said as I just arrived at our office. My forehead automatically wrinkled. I don’t remember saying that, not even thinking about that idea.

“What? I just received a call from the CEO himself. He asked for a favour to do your jibs today because you will be absent.” I became more confused at his statement.  Why did Patrick say that?

“Well, I’m already here so I better work right, Sir?” I said and sat in my table assignment.

“If you say so. But why did he say that you will be absent today? You are quite close with the boss. He even did the call himself.” I don’t know how to answer Sir Mark’s questions, I just smiled at him and focused on preparing the presentation again.

I was so focused in typing data in the laptop. I didn’t even had the chance to notice Patrick in the door and strictly looking at me. I only felt his stares when I realized that the office became suddenly quite, I looked around and met his gaze. I stand up immediately. His stares made me scared but I felt my heart beat erotically. I looked below to avoid his eyes.

“Miss Lucas a word please.” He turned his back after he said that. I looked around as I can see the worriedly look from other people. I think I will have an earful this time. He is my friend but I this office he is still my boss. I sighed and followed him

            I followed him and he stopped at the elevator. He’s not talking. He entered the elevator, the employees inside greeted him but he just nodded. He pressed his floor number. Great he will scold me at his office. My eyes remained at the floor for the whole time. The employees are getting off in their individual floor until we are left alone. Again, he’s no yet talking. We reached his floor. He went straight to his office. Before I enter his office, Mae grabbed me

“He looks like in the bad mood. Why?” She asked me

“I don’t know?” I said and inhaled deeply before entering to his office.

“I think I made myself clear in that message to take a rest and not attend office today?” My forehead curled again out of confusion.

            What message? When did he? I stopped at my self-interrogation when I remembered the message I received before I close my eyes. Right, he did send me a message and I totally forgot about it. When I wake up I went to do my things regularly that I really forgot about that? But why is he so angry? It’s not like something fuss about? What is wrong with him?

“Just because of that?” I finally found my chance to speak

“What do you mean just because of that? Can’t you see I’m worried? Any minute you can just faint out of exhaustion. You’re not having enough sleep you know. You even sometime skip meals.”

“Why are you even worried? Why do you even care?” I calmly asked him. I don’t know why I even asked him that. I think I’m starting to understand, this feeling I’m recently having.

“What do you think? You are my employee, even though you are just an intern. You are still part of my company. I just don’t want to make complications. Also, I don’t want my cousin to bombard me here thinking I’m over working you.” My heart felt an unexplainable pain.

            So, to him I’m just an employee and a kid needs to be baby-sitted because of his cousin’s favour. I sighed. I’m trying to suppress the pain I’m feeling right now. Being friend is not even a reason for him to worry. His words are painful but I don’t want him to see my pain. This feeling right now in my confirmation to everything I felt the past few days. But before I even confess to myself I already felt rejected. I laughed in pain.

“Okay” my face turned blank. I turned my back opened the door to leave. When did I even started to like him? It’s easy to like Patrick. He is good-looking, gentleman and a caring person. Maybe I started to like him because of the way he treated me, it’s so full of care and love. But it’s because I am his employee and his cousin’s friend.

            I went home that day. It’s a good thing I already finished the report before Patrick called me. I have already passed the softcopy to Miss Patricia before I leave the office. I sleep all day trying to forget the pain I just had. It’s my way of stopping the tears waiting to fall in my eyes.

            I waked up. It’s already dark inside. I checked the time in my phone. It’s already 7:47 in the evening. My phone vibrated, Cara is calling.

“Hey.” I said in groggy voice.

“Hey, are you okay? Do you feel sick?” she asked me.

“I heard everything from Patrick. Did you already sleep? Did you really rest?” Her questions are never-ending huh

“Cara, I’m fine already. I already slept and I already gained my strength. I’m fine now.” I said

“About Patrick, Just know that he just cares for you that’s why he scolded you.” She feels sorry

            I’m in pain again. Yes he cares for me. Because I’m his ‘employee’ and your friend Cara. I want to say that to her but I don’t like to sound like a bitter hoping girl to be noticed by her crush.  I laughed at what I thought of myself. Why do I even feel this? I just realized my feeling, the person don’t even know how I feel for him.

“He cares for you so much that he thinks of your well-being.” She continued to comfort me but she is like hammering the nail in my heart causing pain. For me, she is like slapping the truth that I’m just his employee. I can’t blame her, she don’t know how I feel. I’m not yet ready to tell my feelings about Patrick especially that they are cousins.

“Thanks Cara, but you know I’m already hungry I need to prepare my dinner.” I don’t want to avoid her but the more we talk the more pain I will feel.

“Okay, take more rest.” She said and ended the call

            I was about to leave the bed when my phone vibrated again but this time I received a text message.

“Good evening Ms Lucas. I already reviewed your power point representation. It’s so perfect. I think we are already ready for the presentation. “

“You can have a rest tomorrow. But please keep on studying the possible questions.”

            The message was from Ma’am Patricia. It’s good to hear that there are no corrections needed. I want to make sure that everything I do is in its perfect and good form. For a moment I felt happy and proud of myself.