Excitement.
"A feeling of enthusiasm towards something that you are looking forward to. It makes your heart beat faster and sometimes you may even lose sleep."
Just like how Walter Salvador woke up with eagerness to see her crush.
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"This day is terrible," WALTER mumbled as he brushed Nana's hair. It meowed at him and he felt a smile on his lips. Nana was his stress reliever.
If only Senthie could appreciate Kenzo more, he thought. Kenzo was really hurt, he saw it in his best friend's eyes, but Kenzo would never get mad at Senthie, so Walter did it for him. He wondered what Kenzo saw in her that he'd foolishly devote himself to her. Well, Walter would admit that Senthie was pretty, but it was more than that, Kenzo loved all of her.
When Walter got home, he saw pink luggage in the living room and it was obviously not his sister's. Walter knew that Senthie didn't like girly stuff. He wondered whose it was so he took a peek inside--but he zipped it back quickly when he saw pink underwear. It was probably Cecile's, he thought.
It was past 10 pm when Walter heard voices in the living room. He was right that the pink luggage was Cecile's. Walter pulled himself up from his bed with Nana in his arms and decided to say hello to Cecile when Senthie raised her voice. "Have you gone mad? Don't sleep, we will finish the design tonight!"
Walter looked over at Cecile who was sitting straight and saluting when Nana jumped out of his hold and hopped on Cecile's lap and ran away.
"Roger tha–hell?!" she yelled. “I almost had a heart attack!”
"Oh, sorry about that. Were you two fighting?" Walter asked and they said "no," in unison.
Cecile asked Senthie why Walter was in her house and she just answered, "because I am kind-hearted enough to let him live in my house."
"Yes, she is," Walter replied, it sounded sarcastic but it wasn't his intention to. He squatted and called for Nana. When his cat responded and jumped on him, he muttered, "good girl," to it and headed back to his room.
Walter went to bed and set an alarm for tomorrow. He was summoned to GMC's head office and he thought that his gut feeling was correct--that they would be transferred to Sta. Rosa Branch.
Walter tried to fall asleep but couldn't. Senthie and Cecile were too loud.
What in the world were they doing?
They were even louder now. Walter didn't know if they were trying to annoy him or what, but they sounded like an ambulance.
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Walter woke up earlier than his alarm. Though his sister and her best friend were loud last night, it ended abruptly. He was guessing that they went upstairs and decided to sleep. Walter thanked himself for waking up early.
He was excited to see her--always. And he was lucky that his timing was perfect. He was now in the elevator with her.
Walter glanced to his right and chuckled. "I knew it! We are meant to be!"
She turned her gaze to him and made a face. "What are you talking about?"
Walter crossed his arms over his chest and smiled at her. "I mean, this is the third time we were summoned together by the vice-pres. What is more amusing is that we ran to each other in the elevator, like right now."
She raised her brow and said, "so, what?"
They stepped out of the elevator when they finally reached the floor they were heading to.
She was walking fast so Walter took big steps to keep up with her pace. "Hey, wait for me, madam."
She made a face that Walter thought was cute. Georgia San Juan was his manager and he was her assistant. She had small brown eyes and a mole under her right eye just above her cheekbone. She had a small nose and lips. Her hair was pixie cut and her bangs were swept on the left side. She had an angelic face. She was smart, beautiful, and kind. She would always do well in her job, too, but she was always thinking that she could do better. She was hard on herself, so Walter was always there for her as her support.
When they were nearing the office of the vice president--the one who summoned them--his secretary approached them as if he had been waiting for them for a while now.
"Good morning, Georgia, Walter," he said, greeting them, respectively, and the two did the same.
The VP's floor was like a fancy hotel. The floor was covered in red carpet and the golden door of the elevator was exquisite--it had a complex pattern that couldn't be explained. It was something that could never be seen in another building.
Liam told the two to wait for a moment. After he informed the VP that they had arrived, Liam let them in.
The VP's office was big. Upon opening the door, there was a black sofa set that was used for meeting multiple guests, and at the opposite end of the room was the desk of the VP. Behind him, there was a huge rectangular painting of trees with different colors of leaves, and on the right side, the sky and clouds were in view through the glass walls, while on the left side, there was a cabinet full of books.
They walked toward the VP's desk and said their greetings to him.
"Please, have a seat," the VP responded with a smile.
They took their seats across from him on both opposite ends of the table and thanked him. The VP was now facing Georgia.
"Since this is not the first time, I'm assuming you already know why I summoned you here," he began as he leaned his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together. They nodded their heads and he continued. "To save time, I'll just get to the point. You two will be transferred to our newly opened mall, located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna."
He paused and looked at Georgia then at Walter. "Don't take this as an inconvenience. You know that I'd only assign this kind of work to those who've already proved themselves."
That was satisfying to hear from a boss. Walter truly respected Jimhuesh because he was competent and a good boss. He could recognize and appreciate his employees. Despite his young age, he already knew how to manage their company, although he was only 22, much younger compared to Walter's age of 28.
The two stayed silent as they nodded their heads occasionally to let the VP know they were listening to him. "A new branch needs to be managed by our top assets, and obviously, I'm talking about you, Ms. San Juan," he extended his hand to point it to Georgia and then to Walter with the other one as he mentioned his last name, "Mr. Salvador."
The two flashed their wide smiles and thanked him.
"Understood, sir. We will do our best not to disappoint you," Georgia said.
Jimhuesh clapped his hands once and leaned his back on his swivel chair. "That settles then. Tomorrow will be your first day there. You may leave now."
Walter thanked him and stood. He waited for Georgia to head out with him but she just stayed seated.
"You may go first. I have something to discuss with the VP," she informed.
"Okay, see you around." He agreed and headed outside. Walter waved his hand to bid goodbye to Liam who was in his office. He didn't need to go inside because they could see each other through the glass walls. His office was the only one that had no privacy--the front of his office was made of glass--everything else was concrete.
"O'right! I knew it! My gut feeling is correct! I won't have to pay for rent now that I'm living with Sen," Walter muttered to himself as he walked with hops. He was carefree since he knew that no one would be watching him.
**************
**************
Meanwhile at JIMHUESH's office...
Mr. Salvador had already left and Georgia stayed. "What do you want to discuss with me?"
"Have you made up your mind?" George said as she turned her gaze down.
Georgia and Jimhuesh were childhood friends. They were neighbors and they always played together back then until she suddenly moved out and transferred to another school. They hadn't seen each other since then, and they only met again in college. She enrolled at the same university that Jimhuesh had attended and they became friends again--and that was the only thing Jimhuesh could offer to her. He only thought of her as a friend.
"My answer remains the same," he replied.
She straightened her back and closed her eyes as the creased on her forehead formed. "I knew you would say that so I'm giving you more time to think. But if this is because of my parents--"
"Look, George. My answer will never change," Jimhuesh said apologetically.
She finally looked him in the eyes. "Please, don't say that. It sounds like you're telling me that I'm unlikeable."
"No, that's not what I meant," he said. "You're amazing and I know you'll soon meet the man that will love you back."
She was shaking her head as he continued, "however, that man is not me."
Georgia stood and slammed the table with both of her hands. "No! That should be you!"
"I'm really sorry, George."
Her tears were now streaming down her face. He made her cry again.
"I have to go," was the only thing she said as she turned around and disappeared outside.
"How can she like me? She's crazy," Jimhuesh mumbled and sighed. "I really can't handle this."
He shut his eyes and leaned the back of his head on the chair. He put his hands on the armchair to relax his shoulders as he breathed in and out. A few minutes had passed when his phone vibrated.
He sent a message earlier to Rychie to ask if he still had his high school yearbook, and now he was calling.
Jimhuesh let him speak first. "Why do you need my high school yearbook?"
"Just let me borrow it. Come to my place tonight."
"Wow, I never thought you're straightforward, babe," Rychie teased.
Jimhuesh gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Stop that. You're grossing me out!"
He chuckled. "Oh, sorry about that, babe. Sure, I'll come to your place tonight."
Jimhuesh could feel his skin crawl at what Rychie just said. "Gross," he mumbled and ended the call.
'What's wrong with him?' he thought.
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Hello, Noomiells!
Thank you for reading this chapter. Hope you liked it. :D
Do you guys have a stress reliever? How about a pet?
Why do you think Jimhuesh asked for Rychie's high school yearbook?
I would like to know your opinion. Please, let me know! :D