We Broke Up

16 - Step 5

Step 5: Focus on rebuilding your life

The whole week went by like a breeze. Jay adapted well with his work in the head office. He got along well with everyone and he was as reliable and trustworthy as I expected. 

And after that little afternoon we spent over coffee and the almost 3-hour drive to our home in Bulacan, Jay and I also got to know each other more and the working relationship... the professional working relationship between us has been... well... pleasant. 

I wasn't surprised by how quickly Jay gained everyone's respect, it's very easy to like him. Not that I like him, LIKE him. More than his good looks and his charm, his polite demeanor and natural inclination to help others, Jay was someone you would love to have as a friend. The only hurdles to that claim would have been Tatay and Kuya but even their concerns were easily addressed over dinner. 

That evening when he drove me home from Santa Rosa, I invited him in to meet my family as instructed by Kuya Nico earlier that day. 

Jay as usual was polite and gave them his warmest smile when he shook their hands which usually worked for him like a charm except for those two men who looked at him like he just committed a crime. 

"Mr. Ferguson, join us for dinner." Tatay's suggestion came unexpected but Jay did just drive three hours and would have a longer commute back so I was relieved my Dad offered. 

"Hindi na po, Sir. Uuna na po ako. Mahirap na din pong masyadong gabihin sa biyahe baka mahirapan po akong makasakay ng bus. Maraming salamat po sa pag-imbita." Jay politely declined. 

"I insist." Tatay said. "Take the car back with you para di ka na mag-bus. Isasabay naman namin si Naeve sa Lunes at wala naman siyang lalakarin this weekend kung ano man may kotse din naman siya dito. Sa opisina mo dalhin ang sasakyan sa Monday."

"Pero, Sir..." 

"Before you say anything else, let me tell you that Tatay will be very offended if you say no again." Kuya told Jay before the latter could speak any further.

Jay nodded his head. "Sige po pero hindi din po ako pwedeng magtagal, Sir." 

The two men frowned at his statement. 

"He has two younger sisters, Tay, Kuya. Ang concern ni Jay is that their helper will be going home for the weekend and it won't be ideal to leave two girls at home alone at night, right?" I explained. 

Tatay and Kuya nodded in agreement then turned to Jay with an expression far different than they had just seconds ago, respect. 

"Wag kang mag-alala, Jay. This won't take long." Kuya said. 

The meal s***h interview with Jay started with the usual questions, his job before this one, where he studied, where he's from. When they started asking about his family and he told them the story, I saw how he gained their admiration too for the dedication he has for his sister. I remained quiet as I listened to the gentlemen's conversation until the questions started involving me, how we met, how much he knows about me, what he thinks of me.

"Kuya, bakit naman ganyan na ang mga tanong?" I chuckled nervously and timidly glanced at Jay who might be getting offended by their questions but his reassuring smile told me he was okay. 

"Kasi naman... Masyadong gwapo itong Assistant mo, Naveah." Tatay said directly which was followed by Kuya's boisterous laughter and Jay's coughing sounds.

"Akala ko ba subtle lang tayo, Tay?" Kuya asked while still in a fit of giggles. 

"Di ko matiis, Nak. Dalang-dala ako sa tisoy." Tatay chuckled.

Poor Jay was blushing and sweating profusely as he struggled to keep his composure from the joshing of my father and brother who also happened to be the CEO and COO of the company he worked for. 

"Tay, Kuya..." I called in a serious tone which made both men stop chuckling and look at me like naughty kids called to attention by their mom. "If you must know, I didn't hire Jay because of his looks, wala namang kinalaman yun sa trabaho. He is hard-working, dependable and very qualified for the position. Also aside from you two and the girls, he is the only person that I can trust with my life."

I turned to Jay with a soft smile and he smiled back, his eyes sparked with warmth, as Tatay and Kuya nodded quietly. 

"I know he would do great in his job and would be a wonderful addition to the Montefrio Corp workforce." I continued as I gazed back into his eyes where I saw the spark of warmth flicker off.

I felt a pang in my chest as I remembered the look in his eyes that night and the coldness of his goodbye as he went on his way. Whatever something we both felt before has been successfully obliterated into nothing. 

That moment as he drove off and our eyes met on the side view mirror, we mutually agreed to keep our relationship professional. 

I thought that was for the best because in hindsight I realized that everything that went wrong with my relationship with Fred started from the beginning. I fell too hard, too quickly. I was so obsessed by the idea of my very own Prince Charming who would defy all odds to be with me that I was blinded from seeing that our relationship would never work out because what we had was not true love, it was an idea of what true love must be.

I can't make the same mistake now, I'm not 16 anymore. I should be wiser, more careful, and I should start putting myself first. "Ako muna." I sighed as I watched Jay listen intently to Sam's proposal on our social media campaign plan for the Santa Rosa project.

My heart skipped a beat when Jay's eyes turned to me and the entire meeting room fell silent. Our gazes locked for a few moments until I was startled by Sam's voice. 

"Miss Naveah, your phone." He winked. It was then that I realized why everyone, not just Jay, has been looking at me in silence. 

I internally cursed myself in my embarrassment as I answered my phone.

"Hello, Ate Ches. Yes. Mga ten minutes pa tong meeting. What? Martin is here?" I asked. The team's surprised and intrigued expression did not escape me, even Jay's unreadable one. 

"But why? To pick me up? Di ba we'll all meet na lang sa coffee shop? What do you mean you and Francis can't join us? You said... Fine. It's just coffee anyway." I sighed and in my periphery I saw Jay draw a deep breath with his clenched jaw. It was a small meeting room, okay? Not that I was constantly conscious of his actions. 

"Okay. Ingat kayo. I'll see you and the girls tomorrow, okay? I'm not upset. May magagawa ba ako na mas priority mo ang wedding plans niyo?" I chuckled. "Okay na. Love you too. Bye."

"Date, Ma'am?" Sam giggled.

"Not a date. A friendly meeting. And are you not presenting your plan?" I asked.

"Tapos na po, Ma'am. Here's a copy of the proposal for your review and approval." He answered as he handed me a folder. 

"Okay. Thanks, Sam. Anybody else have any suggestions or questions for the campaign?" I asked as my eyes scanned the room. 

Everyone shook their heads in response with a chorus of  "Wala na po, Ma'am."

"Alright, the meeting is adjourned." I declared. 

I stood up, gathered my things and walked to the door. "Jay..." I called as I looked over my shoulder. 

"Miss Naveah?" He asked as he stood from the table.

"Let's go." I said and turned to the door again but not before I caught his surprised expression and the grin that came after.