A week has passed by and now, I'm busy surfing the internet for more aesthetic ideas for our branch in Siargao.

It's hard to find equally beautiful pieces of art as the island itself.

The beach itself is as serene as the sky on a bright and sunny day.

How can the resort even compare?

Our main branch here in the North is already adorned with Greek pillars and lights. Having the same style would probably result to plain lazy eyes of the resort-goers and beach enthusiasts.

I am thinking of a Western styled paradise in the southern part of the country.

I'm not that confident with my proposal but Mr. Park still has yet to approve of it before it will come to a decision to be made by the board members.

"Oli, can you come here for a sec?" I heard Mr. Park said from Mr. Lim's place.

Yup. He took over my former boss's position and we're close enough for him to address me on a first name basis, let alone, my nickname.

"Just a minute, Sir." I answered and grabbed my steno pad and my pen before walking to his table.

I saw him with his hands over his forehead. He was massaging it thoroughly as if he's in a lot of pain and stress.

Couldn't blame him, he practically almost lives here for two weeks straight.

It's almost ber months and technically, no one ever booked a resort lately since the climate automatically changed from being as hot as an iron to cold as an ice.

"Oks ka lang, Park?" I asked in a worried tone.

The mother feels in me was immediately channeled seeing as I often see my son, Oliver, complain about his head lately.

"Kinda. Grabe. Parang ang bigat bigat ng ulo ko." Mr. Park groaned and coughed twice before ordering me to sit across him. "Listen, the love of my life will be applying in one of our HR branch at the city. Can you do me a favor?"

I sighed. Mukang alam ko na san patungo to.

"What do you want me to do, Park? In case you don't know, I have kids to tend to." I said as-a-matter-of-factly.

Mr. Park lightly chuckled and coughed again.

Before he can even say anything, I stood up for a moment and get his mug from the coffee table and filled it with water from the dispenser inside our office.

Finally, nagkaroon na kame ng dispenser sa opisina namen. Matagal ko ng inuungot to kay Mr. Lim dati pero sabi nya, it's nice to mingle with others every once in a while.

I got no reason to complain since he's my boss and he has a point.

Nagkataon lang siguro na pareho kameng bagets pa ni Mr. Park kaya nagets nya ang suggestion ko ng inulit ko to sa kanya when asked kung ano want ko idagdag sa opisina namen.

"Uminom ka muna. Mukang masama na lagay mo." I said and placed his mug in front of him.

"Thanks atsi." Mr. Park teased and drank as he was told. "So, will you please?"

"Ano pa nga ba.. Okay pows." I nodded in defeat. "Ano plano?"

Mr. Park narrated to me the situation and we almost argued when he didn't get my point until we finally settled with an agreement.

For two months, I will be staying in the city and get myself comfortable around our branch there. Eventually, I'll get to meet the love of his life there and hopefully, we'll be friends.

That might sound scripted but all is fair in love and war, right?

When I ask him what might be my setup there with my children, he offered his house a few kilometres away from the office.

The offer was good so I accepted it.
I will start to move my things and my children's this weekend.

I also instructed him to take a day off and reschedule his meetings next week for him to rest well and recuperate.

At first, he argued but this time, I won, when I threatened him that I will not go with our deal.

Akala nya ha!

I grinned to myself and went to the kitchen downstairs and cheerfully greeted Chef Arman and Sir Toff, our patisierr.

"Magandang tanghali po, Itay!" I exclaimed when he automatically placed a plate of beef brisket. Its yummy aroma filled the air. I can almost sniff the scent on my blouse but I chose not to complain and enjoy the food in front of me.

Mas ginaganahan akong kumain pag may nakikita akong pamilyar na mga tao sa paligid ko kesa mag-isang nagmumuni-muni sa paligid.

I was chewing on my food when one of our receptionists, Trina Dolopeo, came into the kitchen and greeted them as well. She
came with her friends, Paul Quintal, our valet boy, and Tamara Jalova, one of our housekeepers.

They placed their belongings on one of our round tables and went to the kitchen and chose their food.

"Ganon talaga pag malakas ang landi.. Kung saan saan na nakakarating."

"Beke naman kasi, talagang nasa lahi na ang pagiging maharot?"

"Tumigil na nga kayo. Andyan si madam oh!"

I watched them walk to their table with their hands on their tray. Ngumuso pa si Paul at pinandilatan sila para patigilin.

Tamara became shy as if hindi sya nagsalita ng kakaiba patungkol sa akin. Trina plastered a fake smile on her face before they passed me at the kitchen counter.

I raised a knowing eyebrow when I sipped on my orange juice.

Mukhang kailangan ng magkaalaman sa mga susunod na araw ah.