Rise Up

CHAPTER FOUR

Should I just kill my best friend for requesting such a thing to my boss? Me? Eating with him? Seriously? She doesn’t need to do that just to make sure I take my lunch. I don’t think my food is being digested.

            We ate in silent. AWKWARD.

“Aren’t you cold?” I looked and shoved his stare at me

            Now that he mentioned it. I feel a little cold. The air conditioner in this office must be on full blast comparing in ours. My back felt the sudden cold breath inside the room.

“Why do you have to dress like that?” He stands up and removed his coat. He walk towards me and placed his coat on top of my shoulders. I looked at him the whole time.

            What is the problem with my dress, Yes, I know that I have nothing to wear but I still made sure that I dress appropriately.

“Next time you wear things like that make sure to cover your body.” He said as he took a sit again in his swivel chair.

“And why are you quiet? Am I even talking to a person?” You looked at me intently.

“You are my cousin’s friend and I also want to be your friend. Can’t you do that? Raise you head woman, I’m not a king or what that you always need to bow or keep your eyes on the floor.” He finished his last bite. He placed his chin in his locked hands.

“So? Can we be friends at least?” He said and smiled at me.

“I don’t know how to respond sir. I mean how can we be friends if in this office you’re still my boss.” At last I finally found my voice

“You can just casually call me by my name, if it’s just the two of us. Like today?”

            My conversation with him, arguing on keeping our CEO-Intern relationship last for 30 minutes but in the end. I suddenly found myself agreeing on his term. I don’t see any reason not to be friend the CEO after all he is my best-friends relative. I returned his coat before I leave his office.

“What took you so long? What did the boss tell you.” One of my co-intern, the one who received the inter call, asked me as soon as I arrive at the room office.

“Nothing much.” I shrugged and walked past her

“I’m sure it is more than that. Anyway, Your lucky to stare at him so close and you stayed there for almost an hour. He is so handsome. He’s pointed nose, those kissable lips, those piercing eyes.” Her iris formed an imaginary heart. She must be so in love with our boss hahaha. I just laughed at her portrayal to our boss especially when she clasped her hands and day dreamed in the corner.

            Day three of eating lunch with my boss. Cara is still out that is the very reason why I still eat my lunch at the CEO’s lounge. She really makes sure I eat my lunch and I eat with her cousin. Patrick always requests me to his office. In three days’ time, we became closer than before.

            I learned some things about him. Patrick is 3 years older than me. I’m 22 so that makes him 25 years old. He build the company at the age of 22, right after he graduated engineering and his friends are his first investors, how supportive aren’t they?

“Hey, do you want to come with me later?” I’m currently packing my finished food

“Where?” I asked

“Site visit” he casually said then he lean to his chair waiting for my answer

“I can’t sorry, maybe next time. I have really have a lot of things to do. By the way, where did Cara go?” I really can’t join him and I’m worried on what others will say. I’m starting to hear rumours that we are dating.

“She’s trying to save their restaurant business.” He stands up

“Chai, I need to go. I don’t want to arrive late in the site. If you’re done just leave, okay? Just leave those, my secretary will take care of that” He opened the door and left

            I was left in his office alone. As soon as he left his secretary entered.

“Are you two really dating?” She asked with teasing eyes

“No.” I plainly said as I packed the boxes and handed her as she place it in the plastic bag

“Are you sure? How about courting? Is he courting you? Or you are courting him?” I let a soft laugh

“You and your imagination. Nothing is happening between us. We are just friends and he just wants to make sure that I eat my lunch or else his cousin, my best friend, will scold him.” I explained but the teasingly look in her eyes did not change at all

“Really? No monkey business?” this time I laughed really hard

“What? You know. You and Sir Patrick looks good together and I want you better than those girls who comes here and say ‘I am you boss’s girlfriend’.” She imitated one in a irritatingly flirtatious way

“But in the end, they are thrown out because their statements are not true. They are just obsessed bitches who are after Sir Patrick’s attractive face, luscious body and tons of wealth. So please, can’t you just be her girlfriend to end this never-ending disturbance in my work?” she showed me her pleading eyes

“What? Those things happen here? Wow. It must be fun watching.” I faced her and mockingly smiled

“No, it’s not fun at all. I am catching those piercing nails, I need to keep my hair short, and it is always pulled. I always get to fight because of them. I’m not even the girlfriend, why do I need to deal with those bitches?” I can really sense her grudge at those mean girls maybe even a grudge at her boss for putting her in that situation.

“I’m sorry Mae, but we are really just friends. Let’s do this, if someone is here again claiming to be your boss’s girlfriend acting like a b***h you can call me anytime. I’ll help you.” I smiled and left.

            It’s Saturday and I’m planning to visit Cara, she’s gone for more than a week. She rarely calls and sometimes she sounded so tired. She even stopped her internship program. Their business problem must be really heavy. I hope she can surpass it, they can outdo it. I’m planning to buy her favourite turon at the SM first. Turon is Filipino delicacy, a banana with langka fruit are wrapped in what they call lumpia wrapper.

“Chai?” I was waiting for my turn when someone called me.

“Oh Hi Patrick, what are you doing here?” I asked. He stood beside me. I suddenly felt that everyone is looking at us. Just like others usually describe him, he is such an eye-catcher type of a person.

“Just strolling around, I was bored. How about you? You want turon?” He looked at the stall I’m lining.

“It’s actually for Cara, I want to visit her and bring her favourite food.” He nodded as if he just understand everything

“Can I join you? You know I’m bored. I’ll drive you. Do you even know where she is?” He asked and I just remembered. I FORGOT TO TEXT HER.

“Come on, I know where she is. She’s not at their house right now maybe one of their restaurants.” He said