When everything felt so wrong, make everything right
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15
"What about the venue?" My brother has been bothering me about the venue of the event.
It's been a month since the dinner we had. Good thing, I was able to finish my work on time.
I just finished the proposal for the venue and here we are, he keeps looking for it.
"Fine. Let's eat now," Aside the venue, he has been nagging me to eat with him "Here. You look so fucking thin," he said annoyed as he tried to scoop big portion of rice on my plate.
"I'm not thin, I'm fucking sexy brother." I said, to annoy him even more. Overprotective!
"Watch your word!"
"How unfair? You are allowed to say it, while i'm not." I rolled my eyes and pick up the utensil to get my own food.
He just smirked at me, as if that would answer my question.
I just shook my head and started eating. If I won't eat now, I don't think I have the time later for that.
I'll be busy looking for the venue that will fit my brother's taste. I'm not sure about Ian-- uhm I mean Mr. Romualdez' taste tho. We haven't talked to each other about this event.
"So what are your plans? Aren't you still going to work in our company?" my brother suddenly said. I stopped cutting the meat and looked at him.
"Soon," I think that shocked him that he stopped himself from eating.
"R-really? You're not bluffing? When is that soon? I'm gonna throw a fucking party!" I've been thinking about this a lot. I can't be selfish for a long time.
"I'm still not sure when. Can you hang a little more?" I said. I just can't leave Lea alone in that hell.
"Be honest with me Alice," I gulped hearing my brother calling my name. "What's bothering you?" As much as I know my brother, he knows me too well too.
I suddenly couldn't speak. "I don't want to leave Lea there, alone. I know Marco is there to support her but..." I said. I didn't want to admit the other truth. I was just scared of admitting the other reason.
"I see. Tita Olivia is hard to deal with," My brother was just silent after that. I think he knew what the other truth is. He just wouldn't dare to say that in front of me.
"I'll go now!"
"Can't I just dropped you off?" he said, insisting to drop me off in front of my office.
"My office is just around the corner," He looks like a kid.
"I'll go ahead now," I turned to him and gave him a soft peck on his cheek. I kissed him on his cheek. He looks stunned that I did that.
Well, it's been awhile since the last time I did that.
"Lou can you help me to search a good venue that can handle diverse event,"I have few venues in my head but I'm still looking for other places. I wanted something else other than the venues I had in my mind. I'm not satisfied with the places I found.
I went inside my office to call a few friends I have in the industry who might help me with the venue.
"Hey! Margie this is Alice,"
[Alice! Omg it's been a while!] Margie is also a PR specialist. She has done a lot of event organizing and they're all amazing and satisfying.
"I had a lot in my plates recently. How are you by the way?"
[Come on Alice] She laughed after that. [I'm a PR specialist too. You won't call just to ask my well being. So any thing I can help you with?]
I just shook my head and chuckled. She really knows how our industry works.
"I know. I know but can't I ask how have you been?" She chuckled after saying that. "But since you've already asked, I'm actually looking for a venue. Baka you have suggestion,"
[Hmmm... Is your email still the same?] She suddenly asked.
"Yes, why?"
[I'll email you the good venues where I held my events,]
"Oh my, I knew I could count on you."
[I'm just returning the favor. You helped my last event, you don't know how helpful you were.]
"Stop flattering me Margie. It's good to have a friend in the industry,"
Yes, even though Margie and I don't work in the same company, we're good friends. We've helped each other a lot in the past. That's why I'm comfortable to ask for her help.
It has always been like this in this industry. Keep the people you can keep. Don't keep them as a colleague, as much as possible keep them as your friends.
It's actually hard to do that, unless you have the same way of thinking.
Margie and I have found a friend in each other. That's why whenever I have a problem and she has one, we never failed to help each other.
Just like what she said, she emailed me a compilation of the venues where she held her events. It's all good I must say. Lou also sent her venue research to me.
I have a lot of things to consider in choosing a venue. The number of people attending and the shows that we are trying to prepare.
My brother wanted a venue with an open and closed environment.
I couldn't understand what he meant at first, upon explanation I was able to get it somehow.
I found that kind of place in Lou's research and the compilation that Margie has sent to me.
I think I'll create a proposal regarding these two after researching more about the venues I chose.
They're quite similar to the venue that my brother wants.
I didn't have to do extra research because of what Margie gave to me. It's not just a portfolio for venue but also contain every bits of information and even suggestions and her own remarks on it. Every detail that I will be needing is already there.
I printed out the picture that Lou sent me and went to her.
"Lou can you help to research everything about this place? I need information like this," I even showed her the sample that Margie sent to me. "I'll be needing it today,"
"Sure Miss Alice. I'll send it to you right away," She immediately accepted the paper. I nodded and thanked her before I went inside my office.
Lou as a secretary is very efficient. She's also one of the reasons why I didn't want to leave this company. I was actually planning to offer her a job in my brother's company.
Anyway, I started typing about the venue I saw from Margie. I'm creating a proposal about the venue, so I could present it to my brother.
If I could send it around five in the afternoon then we could have a meeting tomorrow, if our schedules won't conflict.
I chose to propose three venue. I want our client to have options but of course, these aren't the only options. These are just our venue proposal to them. If they happened to not like the venue, then we'll immediately research more. We still have plenty of time so it's not really going to be hard.
Do I have to mention that this is a six-month project? If I haven't mentioned it yet, then there you have it.
Lou sent me the details about the venue around four. It made me cram the details about the venue. Thank goodness I didn't create the whole proposal.
It was around five thirty in the afternoon when I got to send the documents for the venue.
My brother, instead of sending him direct email, I should just send it to his secretary instead. His secretary will also be the one to send Ian--- I mean Mr. Romualdez the update on this.
My brother knew what happened. Clara also knew.
Lea and Chesca weren't asking but I think they knew too. They aren't just asking to respect my silence. Even Clara didn't ask a lot.
Flashback
Five months ago...
"Where did you sleep?" That's what Clara said to me as soon as she woke up. She looks messed. I wonder what she did last night.
Last night...
"Here," I said, trying to sound casual. I sipped on my coffee to avoid her eye contact.
"Nothing happened?" She curiously asked and dropped her body again on the bed.
"You didn't sleep?" It's kind of early too.
She cleared her throat. "Nothing happened?" Did she just avoid my question?
"Something happened," I said casually. She immediately stood up and held her head.
She must be still feeling hungover.
"What? Here?" I shook my head. "Where? bitch," she's obviously excited.
I know what she meant. She must be thinking we had sex last night.
"He apologized and said, he won't bother me anymore." I looked away when her brows furrowed, she probably still doesn't get it.
"What? You had sex?" She asked casually but still looking shocked. I almost choked on my own liquid with her bold question. I stopped myself from coughing but couldn't contain it so I coughed hard.
"No Clara. Why do you think we'd have sex? Geez," she probably did it last night. There's a certain glow around her that I just can't explain.
"Well, you left last night early. I thought..."
"Yeah, I actually thought we'll..."
"You'll have sex?"
"What the heck? You keep saying sex and sex. I thought you know we'll have a moment together. Something intimate but not that intimate," I probably looked annoyed as she keeps repeating that word.
"I'm sorry! Are you uhm--- okay with that?" She carefully asked. She looks concern now.
"I'd be lying to you if I say I didn't feel any disappointment," I put down the cup of coffee. "But how can I stop him?" I smiled bitterly, remembering how he dropped those words last night.
"I still don't get it! What does he want from you? I mean, he must have wanted something from you that you can't obviously reciprocate. So instead of pursuing you, he just stopped."
"This," I showed him my engagement ring. Her brows furrowed as she looked at the ring on my finger. She hasn't understood yet. "He wanted to remove this,"
Her lips opened but she shut it again, still thinking of what she wanted to say. "Correct me if I'm wrong," I nodded "He wanted to remove the ring as a sign of you accepting him in your life. That's it right?" I nodded again.
Her lips opened again but decided not to speak.
"You're probably wondering, why can't I just remove the ring?" I chucked when she nodded. "I've been asking myself a lot too Clara,"
"He's no longer here," she stated a fact.
"I know but Clara, it felt like a sin," I couldn't help myself and tears started streaming down. "Even those times that I was with Ian, it also felt like I'm sinning!" I can't help but to sob. I'm trying my best not to make it too loud or I'll worry Clara even more.
"People have been telling me; Alice, he's gone and you're still here. I know that Clara. I know that more than anyone and it hurts so much that I know that." I wiped my tears away as my vision gets blurry. "I do still wish that he's still here. Every time, every time I'd be reminded of him, I'd be wishing that he's still here. You know why? Because I feel like if he's still here, I wouldn't feel any of these."
I know Clara wanted to say something too. She just opted not to and just listen to me instead.
"You know what, it should have been fine if I lost her because we broke up but I lost him in the most unforgettable way. Every morning and night, I would wish that I lost him in the most easiest way so that I wouldn't feel this. It's too painful to think that I'll never get to see him anymore. That I won't be able to bid goodbye the way I wanted. No matter how much I asked and prayed, he's gone, forever."
I started punching my chest as it got too heavy inside. I didn't know how I was able to say those words.
Clara immediately stood up and held my hand to stop me from punching my own chest. I gave way and let myself cry on her shoulder.
End of Flashback
I covered my eyes with my palm as my vision started getting blurry again. Everything just went blurry as I felt my tears on my cheeks.
My sobs were silent, afraid someone would hear it.
I stop myself from crying. I have no one to wipe my tears. I just have to stop myself.
I pulled myself together and went home.
It was around eight in the evening when I got home. I also received a message from my brother's secretary, asking if we could meet tomorrow to talk about the venue.
I was able to sleep early that night and prepared for the meeting the next morning.
I wore my normal suit. It's just a meeting with my brother, so I don't need to prepare much. After all, I know every part of the proposal I created. I have prepared an answer to every possible question my brother could throw.
My brother's secretary also sent me the place where we are going to meet.
It was in my favorite coffee shop. It wasn't that far to my house and the office.
When I got inside the coffee shop, I badly wanted to step out of it.
Why the fuck is he here instead of my brother?
Just when I thought of my brother, my phone rang and caught his attention.
I felt like I was showered with cold water when our eyes met. I immediately turned around to answer my brother's call.
"Why aren't you here and he is here instead of you???" I emphasized every word I dropped. Although it was almost a whisper, afraid that anyone would hear me.
[I'm sorry na! I had an urgent meeting and I had to fly here in Singapore. I had no choice but to send him instead,] he quickly explained, not giving me time to continue my rant.
"Can't you just send your secretary?" Right? He could just send his secretary instead of him. He knows that I'm avoiding Mr. Romualdez' presence.
[I can't. I'm with my secretary and he has a lot of things to do for me.] He explained again.
"Fine. Fine. Bring me home something!"
[Fine!] but then I remembered that Clara is also in Singapore.
"Anyway, I know Clara is also in Singapore right now" he was silent for a second before he spoke.
[Really? I didn't know.]
"Yes, she had a business meeting there. Anyway, I'll go now."
I noticed that Mr. Romualdez has been eyeing me direction, he looks impatient as he keeps glancing at his wristwatch. So I immediately dropped the call and walked towards his direction.
"I'm sorry I'm late Mr. Romualdez," he stood up when I reached beside his table. His eyes never leave my presence and his mouth twitch as if he wanted to say something but instead, he chose to nod. "I had to answer my brother's-- I mean Mr Alcantara's call." I took the seat as well.
"It's fine. You can call him your brother." He doesn't sound interested at all.
"Before we start, do you mind if I'll order my coffee first?" He looks shocked that I asked him that but his expression immediately went back to stern and he just nodded.
Probably looked and sounded casual to him.
I took my wallet out of my bag and left it there. I didn't bother to turn around and just went to the counter to oder my coffee. I have also decided to wait my coffee there, instead of waiting it to be delivered on our table. I don't ant to wait with him, awkwardly.
"I'm sorry. We can now proceed." I took out my laptop and placed it on the table.
He watched me impatiently as I set up my laptop.
"Did my brother send you the documents?" I asked without looking at him.
"No." What? He came here without knowing what we are going to talk about?
"I see." I nodded and get the spare documents inside my bag. I placed it on the table and pushed it towards him as he watched me do that. "I prepared an extra copy of the proposal. Uhm, if you want you can read that first,"
He silently accepted the proposal. "Explain it to me while I scan the paper," he suddenly said.
"But I have a presentation to show," I said in my small voice. His brow arched and it made my nervous feeling heightened. "But I'll just uhm, present it while you're reading."
He sighed and closed the proposal before he crossed his arm.
"You can now present," I didn't really know what to do. I feel like I'm always guessing whenever he's around.
"Okay then,"
I turned my laptop so he can see the screen. I also leaned forward so I can see the screen as well as I present.
I decided not to feel bothered even though it really felt awkward that he's in front of me, listening to my words; again.
"The venue I personally chose was based on my brother's suggestion. He ask me to look for a closed place where we can turn it into a museum and an open place where people can have a gathering or where we can conduct our main event,"
He nodded as I tried to explain the slides.
"I chose these venues based on the number of our guests, staff, and media personnel we are inviting; the budget; and of course the event itself." He picked up the proposal and browsed it again.
"This is the first venue I chose. It's the private garden of Haruka Hotel. The garden is adjacent to a private conference room. It's perfect for the number of guests but it somehow exceeds our budget."
The venue looks good however, it's a bit expensive. It exceeds the allotted budget but not too much. We can actually work on that.
"This is actually my first pick among the three," He looked at pictures of the venue intently and wasn't planning to speak.
I sipped on my coffee as my throat started to get dry.
"This is the second venue from the Grand Palace. They have a huge open place that we can use as an extension to the conference room. It can fit our number of guests and fit our budget as well,"
It's almost the same with the first venue but more affordable.
I moved the slide so I can continue.
"Stop," I looked at him, confused. "Can't we visit these venues?"
"Uhm-- we can do that of course. I'm just proposing these venues so I would have an idea if you'd like it or you'd want me to research more."
His lips formed a thin line.
"Then schedule a date where we can visit these venues together,"
"Huh?" My brows furrowed "I mean we'll visit these together?"
"Why? Is there a problem?"
What? Just the two of us??? Visiting the venue alone?
"If you're thinking about your brother, don't worry about it. He asked me to choose for the venue," I couldn't answer. How can I agree if we will be left alone?
"Fine." He suddenly said. His brows furrowed and couldn't understand what I'm saying. "I'll visit them alone,"
He suddenly stood up without saying a word.
What?