Sometimes, it's not bad to be selfish if it's about ones happiness
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10
"It's freaking 7:30 in the morning," I said and yawned.
Lea wake me up early to rehearse for our meeting. We will present points and I have to teach her on how she will communicate with the investors.
"I'm nervous Alice. I can't help it," she pouted and sat on the couch. I wanted to go back to bed to sleep again but I knew Lea wouldn't let me.
"I'll just take a bath," I said.
"You want coffee? I'll call for room service," I just nodded and immediately went into the bathroom, carrying the clothes I took from the suitcase.
I even heard her ranting about my stuffs on the floor. I took a quick shower with a hot water. It's a bit fast because I took a shower last night.
I wore a black straight maxi dress in a spaghetti strap. I paired it with a cream three-fourths top underneath the dress. I dried my hair and just let it down. I think we'll stay the whole morning to afternoon here in my room.
I will change the formal later when we need to go to the meeting. It was scheduled here in the hotel where we are staying. Lea chose that for our convenience.
"Your phone keeps on beeping,"
Lea said as soon as I got out of the bathroom. I was skeptical to face her with the thought that she might have seen Ian's name on it.
I quickly checked it. I felt my heart throbbing when I saw Ian's name on it. Did she see it? I mean, I know she'll support me like what she did when I told her I'll attend the blind date but I'm not sure how she would feel about this. I know I'm overthinking but I'm just really concerned with Lea.
I know she had been suffering with the loss of her brother and I didn't want her to feel like her brother had been forgotten. I know it will be painful for her. I know that.
I was so careful when I opened Ian's message on my instagram.
@RomualdezIan_: Good morning!
I bit my lower lip to refrain myself from smiling. I slowly typed my reply, hoping she wouldn't ask whom I was talking to.
@Alice_Al: Good evening!
I immediately closed my message with Ian and opened Clara's.
@Clara_Al: We will fly tomorrow morning.
I almost screeched when I read her message.
"What happened?" Lea asked curiously. I didn't answer Lea's question and type a reply for Clara.
@Alice_Al: Like tomorrow there? Or tomorrow here? I'm confused, enlighten me.
I can't help but to sound excited.
@Clara_Al: Tomorrow morning there. So we'll arrive there at night.
"OMG! Hey! Clara and Chesca will fly here," Lea's eyes widened and she jumped excitedly.
"I knew the two of them will follow!" she even screamed with the thought that they would follow. I immediately typed a message for them.
@Alice_Al: OMG! Lea and I are screeching HAHA See you soonest! Don't reserve your own suit. Stay in my room the whole trip.
I felt so excited knowing our friends will be here with us.
@Clara_Al: See you soonest!
After my short conversation with Clara, Lea and I started working on the proposal. I didn't bother to check my phone the whole morning. My friends are probably asleep.
"God! I'm so tired," Lea said. "Do you think it will be enough for them?"
She really sounds nervous.
"Yes don't worry. The fact that we flew over here just to present our points is already a huge factor for them," I said, trying to calm her.
Since Marco told me about Lea's plan with Oliver, I have come to an end that I would support Lea no matter what. I'll do my very best for us to succeed in this business venture.
The whole afternoon, Lea and I were just rehearsing our lines. I've also thrown her random questions that may or might be thrown by the representative of the Sia and Co. to us, especially to her. She was the one who will negotiate and I'll be there to moderate the negotiations.
Of course, we've come prepared.
"Should I wear this?" She seems frantic over her dresses on my bed. It was already four in the afternoon and we are starting to dress up. We can't be late as we have to be there first.
"I think this is the best one," I showed her the caramel colored suit. It was fitted and it would definitely look good on Lea as she's also tall.
I guess I'm just two inches taller than Lea.
"Wear the black suit too," she suddenly said.
I was actually planning to wear a pencil skirt but I just nodded to make her feel more calm.
The black suit was a bit over-sized but it's totally fine since I'm tall. It won't look too heavy on my body and it would look fine with my build.
Lea started doing her hair after she wore the suit. She just straightened her hair and parted her hair with the ¾ style. She put hairpins on both sides to put her hair in place. She sprayed a lot of hair spray to make it more intact.
I watched her silently as I tied my hair into a messy bun. I let some strands of hair a bit loose to make it more dramatic yet stylish.
"How about for make up?" she said while showing her makeup palettes.
"I'll do something bronze or natural,"
She nodded and started doing her own makeup. I didn't apply much since it's just a meeting.
We ended dressing up around six-thirty. We familiarize ourselves with the representatives that we will meet later.
It was around seven-thirty when we went down to the restaurant. The representatives we had been talking with wanted to meet us here. They didn't really want something too formal.
"We have a reservation under Sia and Co," Lea said to the receptionist. She checked her data before she smiled and spoke to us.
"This way ma'am,"
She guided us to the reserved table. The company representative was not there yet so we were a bit relieved. It was at the far end and a bit far from the occupied tables.
"I'm nervous," she really looks nervous. I can't help but to chuckle. "Aren't you nervous?" she asked me in astonishment.
She must have noticed how calm I am.
"I'm just here as the moderator," I said and chuckled. She just pouted and started mumbling words, probably rehearsing on her own.
We also waited quite a long time because we arrived too early.
It was exactly eight when a man suddenly approached us.
"Miss de Guzman?" he said while looking at Lea.
We immediately stood up because we immediately recognized the man in front of us.
"Mr. Sia," Lea said and offered her hand.
We thought we'll have a meeting with a representative but we're currently in front of the heir of the company.
"I'm sorry you must not be expecting me to be here but unfortunately our representative was recently kicked out," He said casually. He sounds so cool in a different manner.
Lea and I looked at each other, both nervous.
"No, no, it's--it's fine." Lea said, trying to maintain her cool.
"My bad, let me introduce myself properly. I am Nicolai Sia, currently the vice-president of the Sia and Co. Corporation. I'm also the representative."
He held out his hand again to Lea and me afterwards.
"I'm Ovelea de Guzman, currently the president of the de Guzman group of companies. I am with my Senior Public Relations consultant," Lea eyed me
"I am Alice Alcantara," he smiled at me and slowly narrowed his eyes.
"Are you related to Aviel Alcantara? Because I know Miss Lea here is the only sister of Hakeem de Guzman right?" he asked carefully.
It's not really a shocking matter to me anymore. I know my brother is a quite known person.
"I'm actually Aviel's younger sister." he chuckled when I said that.
"What a small world right?" He sounds so casual to us. To which I think made Lea a bit less nervous. "I'm so sorry. We should be talking about the business,"
We all chuckled when he said that.
"That meeting drained me,"
We just got back to my room. The meeting ended pretty well. We did not expect to meet the heir of the company but we have come prepared so we were able to adjust immediately.
But I have to say that we were shocked BY Nicolai. I thought the whole meeting would be casual.
He didn't look serious at the beginning so I thought the whole meeting was just that atmosphere but when Lea finished presenting, he had a lot of serious questions.
"My feet hurt," Lea said while massaging a bit of her insole through her heels. "Alice,"
I stopped removing my sneakers when he suddenly called me. "What?"
"Thank you for joining this business trip. I don't know what I would do without you," I smiled at her genuinely.
"You're always welcome," she nodded and smiled. For a second her mouth was twitching, she probably wanted to say something. She pursed her lips to stop herself from speaking.
Lea and I have known each other for years. Again, she's not just Henri's sister for me, she's also one of my greatest friends. I know a lot about her more than she ever thinks.
I was removing my coat when Lea suddenly spoke, "Are you dating Ian Romualdez?"
I couldn't move when she mentioned his whole name. "N-no," Did I stutter?
I tried to act casually and placed the coat above the table near me. I'm only left with the tube top I wore underneath the black coat.
"Then why is he sending you good morning messages?" I gulped when she said that. She saw it. I knew it. She just remained silent earlier so we can focus on the meeting. Now that the meeting ended, she can freely use our time well to discuss this matter/\.
I sighed. I should be honest with Lea. Even though I was nervous I forced myself to face Lea. She sat on the bed and waited for me to say something.
"He was the guy I met on the blind date that I told you I was going to," her lips formed an 'o'
"And you're getting to know him?" I didn't answer. I remained silent to signal that it was a yes. Her lips slowly formed a smile when she stood up and went to me.
Her eyes leveled mine since she's still wearing her heels and I'm only barefoot.
She grabbed both my shoulders and smiled before speaking again.
"I'm not my mom Alice," she looked away for a second before she looked straight in my eyes again. She said that as if it was the only that matters. "I won't stop you from trying to move forward and you know, slowly allowing yourself to be happy again; without my brother." I noticed how her smile turned gloomy when she mentioned her brother.
"I'm sorry," I didn't know why but I suddenly burst out. She welcomed me in her arms and allowed me to cry myself out. She was just caressing my back the whole time I was crying.
I pulled away after a minute of crying. I've never cried in front of Lea for years now. This is the first time again I cried in front of her.
"Alice, it's your life. You don't need to be sorry for living your life. I'm the one who should apologize to you," She said while tucking the free strands of my hair behind my ear. "I wish I had told you these words before. You wouldn't have been trapped in your love for my sister for a few years. I could've helped you to free yourself,"
"It's hard Lea. It's hard to forget Henri. There are still nights that he would haunt me in my dreams," she caressed my cheek and wiped my tears with her thumb.
"I don't think my brother would be selfish and let you live like this," She sighed "I know my mother has been caging you. I know you're trying to understand my mom's feelings as a mother who lost her child but Alice," she paused a bit before she continued again. "But Alice, how long? How long will you understand mommy about Henri's disappearance? Alice, Henri is gone but you're still here. We have lost Henri and we don't want to lose you too."
Lea's words were too strong for me to conceive at that very moment.
"Live your life Alice. It's yours. So if Ian is the man who will show you how to live again, I will support you even if mommy gets mad at me."
Those were Lea's words before she left my room. I tried not to think hard about Lea's words. However, the whole night, I was just thinking of Lea's words. It hurts because it's all true. Her words scream truthful. But it wasn't her fault nor Auntie Olivia's fault. I don't want to blame anyone for all the pain that I have felt.
No one wanted that. Lea didn't want that to happen even so Tita Olivia. Blaming someone won't make me happy nor will make me move forward. It will only cover the things I have failed to do to make myself happy.
Maybe it's time for me to be happy, again.
I woke up a little late and my eyes were puffy. I received a text from Lea saying that she left the car and I can use it to pick up Clara and Chesca as she had already left early in the morning.
The whole morning I stayed in my room. I just called a room service for my lunch. Clara and Chesca were sending me pictures of the two of them in the plane. They told me to leave around six so I can pick them up just right on time.
I slept the whole afternoon and woke up around four. I checked my phone to see if Clara and Chesca message me but I found my notification empty.
Come to think of it, Ian hadn't messaged me since yesterday noon. The last time he messaged me was when Lea and I were eating our lunch.
I just ignored that. He may be doing a lot of things. He's a freaking businessman after all.
I went inside the bathroom and took a quick shower. I wore something casual since I'll just pick them up. I wore a white tee tucked in a pair of high waist jeans. I paired it with the white sneakers I wore last night. It's a bit chunky but just right for my look.
I dried my hair and just lit down. I was too lazy to move. I'll pick up Chesca an Lea at the airport.
I only applied tint on my lips and cheeks then powder. I just wore a black sunglasses and left the room.
I asked the receptionist for the key since Lea left it there for me. It was a bit early for me to pick them up at the airport, so I stopped by in the nearest drive thru and ordered a burger. I was a bit hungry so I ordered the big one.
I was eating the burger while waiting for them in the parking lot.
@Clara_Al: Where u at? We're almost at the entrance
That's what Clara said. I stopped eating and went out of the car. I was just holding my phone and car keys and walked inside the airport, waiting for them.
I'm still wearing sunglasses because my eyes are still a bit puffy from crying last night.
I smiled automatically when I saw Clara and Chesca walking towards my direction. I waved at them and then smiled immediately when they saw me. They were wearing tracksuits which made me laugh the hardest.
Good thing I didn't try to dress up.
Clara ran to me and left her luggage to Chesca. I laughed when she hugged me, almost making me carry her.
Chesca went to us holding Clara's luggage too.
"You just saw each other last week," Chesca said and started laughing too.
"I missed you guys" I said and laughed as I hug Chesca. "I'm so happy that you went here," I'm actually teary-eyed.
"Why are you wearing that?" Clara asked me weirdly while pointing out my sunglasses.
I wore my sunglasses like a headband.
"You cried again?" Chesca sounded sad as they saw my puffy eyes.
"Lea made me cry last night," I admitted. Clara was just staring at me, standing beside Chesca in front of me, and then she looked at Chesca.
They eyed each other, as if their eyes were talking. I just looked around at the two of them, wondering at them.
"Actually," Chesca looked behind her before she giggled. I was really weirded out with their expressions.
They stepped away from each other, to give space their middle. My eyes widened when I saw Ian walking towards our direction.
He's wearing a white button down shirt and ragged jeans, pulling his small black suitcase.
"What is he doing in here?" I asked Chesca curiously
Did they invite him here?
They were both just laughing and didn't want to answer me.
"Girl we didn't invite him ha!" Clara's defense.
"Right, we just caught up with him. He said he had a business trip here." Chesca replied.
Ian gradually came closer in front of me. He smiled at me when he stopped in front of us.
"Hi!"
Clara and Chesca started screeching like teenagers supporting their friend in front of her crush.
"H-hi," did I freaking stutter? How am I supposed to stay calm when he is right in front of me?