A man in a monochromatic tailored two-piece suit massaged his right temple as he look at his vibrating phone. With his eyebrows knitted, he picked up the noisy phone and look at the messages his mom kept on sending him. Upon reading a few of her messages, he sighed.
"I guess I am a single old dog." He muttered under his breath.
He didn't know when he started thinking about his personal life - his love life or lack thereof.
He pondered if it was the result of his parents pestering him for grandchildren - especially his mom. Or maybe, subconsciously, he was envious of his friends that are already settled down or are getting married.
He's already turning 35 years old this year and still a bachelor since birth. Don't get him wrong, he stayed single, not because he's gay, asexual, or unattractive, it is just because he has yet to find that one person.
He does get attracted to some ladies sometimes, but not to the point where he feels there's a connection - a spark that can be fostered into something. A memorable moment, where it can be a bridge between two people.
In addition, he didn't try hard enough to look for love or to be honest, he never thought of love. He thought love can wait and that he have all the time in the world, but now that he is in his mid 30's... sometimes…the thought of finding a companion crossed his mind now and then. Maybe loneliness is catching up on him, or maybe, he's just getting sentimental with age.
Time goes by so fast.
He was so focused on his work that he neglected his personal life, but he did not regret it. Because of his hard work, he has successfully catapulted their company to new heights. And besides, to him, love has its timing like everything else is. It comes when it wants to, without any warning.
"President, your luncheon meeting with the marketing team for the Captivated at First Sight Campaign will commence within an hour."
This bespectacled man in a typical monochrome suit is his secretary - Rod Sy. He has been working for him for eight years. He is what you call a loyal and a stickler for rules and regulations.
"Hmm, remind me to go within 20 minutes. Can you send me the development proposals for the recently bought land? And Rod, can you please notify the marketing team to not be late again."
His company's marketing team is what you can call a group of talented oddballs. Most of them have eccentricity. He guessed that comes with being a genius in their own right. He has gathered them from all over the world, as much as he and the company can afford to pay.
He was busy reading the proposals when Rod reminded him that twenty minutes is up. And so, they drove to Clover - a 2-star restaurant that he owned. They arrived there with ten minutes to spare, so he decided to go to the lavatory.
While he was relieving his bladder, he started hearing two men's voices. He thought he was the only one in the lavatory because he didn't see anyone when he walked in. He heard muffled voices and some type of metal clinking. It took him a few seconds to realize what is going on in the cubicle at the far right. He hastily zipped his pants and washed then dried his hands before bolting elegantly as if he did not hear anything from the lavatory.
It was an unexpected experience.
He was walking to their private room when his phone started ringing. It was his mom again. He rejected the call. He does not have the desire to hear another matchmaking talk from his mother. His phone started constantly beeping. She kept spamming his messenger, indicative that she is really mad.
He does not get how his parents' mind works - his mother, to be exact.
When he was in grade school to high school, they constantly reminded him to study first before thinking about relationships, and he understand their mindset. It was too early for romance. He followed them to a T. Even when he was in college, he have never gotten into a relationship. He burned his brows and poured all his attention into his studies. He thought he was being a filial child. They praised him for being a role model son. Not just them, even the people around them thought he is a good son.
When he graduated and started working, that is when relatives and his parents - especially his mom, switched her usual sermons of 'studies first' into something else.
He would often hear his mom nagging:
'When are you gonna introduce a girlfriend?'
'When are you gonna get married?'
'When are you gonna give me grandkids.'
'I know this nice lady, go and meet her.'
'Do you remember so and so? What a nice lady she has become. You should meet her.'
'How old are you this year? Most of your classmates and friends have already had a child they can hug and pamper with. But look at you, you don't even have a girlfriend.'
Most of the time he would ignore her nagging but she has this talent of twisting his own words to make him feel guilty. And if that isn't enough to make him agree to what she says, she would use her all-powerful 'filial piety card.' You know, the usual talk of not showing respect to your elders kind of thing.
In the beginning, he found it hard to understand. Before, they do not want him to be in a relationship and now all of a sudden they wanted him to get married and have kids. It is not that easy. And even after experiencing years of nagging from his mom, he is still not sure about his parents' logic in general.
He was too busy reading his mother's messages when he heard a lady's voice. It sound sensual that it somehow sent shivers down his spine. When he looked up, he saw a mesmerizing woman. Now, he is not known for giving praises, especially superfluous ones, but if there is an angel or a goddess, then the very woman in front of him might be one.
The moment he has locked gazes with her, it is like his world started moving in slow motion. His heart started beating fast and he feel like all the sounds in the world started fading.
All his focus - all his senses, singled her out. She is breathtaking.
She has this hazel eyes that almost look like a grey colour, a high nose, pinkish plump lips and high cheekbones that are all contained in an egg-like shaped face. How can someone's face be this small? Her silky long wavy black hair complimented well with her skin. Her bangs frame her face to perfection. She has a beauty mark on the left side corner of her mouth, which added to her charm. Her mouth is just too tempting even just by opening and closing as if saying sweet nothings to him... it was.. huh?
"Hey, Mr. can you hear me? Hello? Mr.? Yo..." Her voice is just so good to the ears.
"Huh?" that is the first word that he managed to utter.
"Mr. your fly is open." The lady chuckled. He can't seem to wrap his head around what she has just said.
What is open????
"What is open?" Angelo asked, wanting confirmation that what he thinks he has just heard is some 'ear fart' on his part, as his friends describe such events. But when she pointed down his crotch area and chuckled, he can feel his face start heating up. That yes indeed - to his utter embarrassment, his zipper is open halfway.
At that moment, he knew... his dignity just went out of the window.