JASMINE'S POV
I woke up excitedly today. I'm excited to see my friends again. It is so nice to have them around after a very long time and it's overwhelming. I am now getting ready for the training and Savannah is already downstairs with the kids. Having Savannah is such a great help and I'm very lucky to have her around. My kids have the best godmother ever!
*PHONE RINGS*
I wonder why she called me this morning. I picked up my phone and answered my boss' call.
"Good morning Ms. Daisy. How can I help you today?" I looked in the mirror and fixed my hair.
"I need you to open Zoom later around 11:30 a.m. It's an urgent meeting. Can you attend?" she said on the other line.
I wondered what urgent meeting I had to attend and I had no choice she was my boss after all.
"Sure! No problem with that Ms. "We bid our goodbyes and ended the call. I guess I have to do it while I'm on the road. I can access Zoom on my phone but I have to bring my laptop with me just in case they need a report to anything.
Wait! Did I do something wrong with my performance at work? Am I getting fired? It's my off and they are reaching out to me so suddenly and I don't know what else to think. Maybe, just a question about my report last Thursday.
I grabbed my stuff and went downstairs still thinking of that urgent meeting.
"You are bringing your laptop with you?" Savannah asks. I nod and grab a cup of coffee.
"Why? You never bring your laptop with you."
I sighed. "I don't know as well. My boss called and asked me to attend this urgent meeting later and I need to get a grab so that I can hear them better."
She nods, "Well, don't forget your headset." Oh yeah! My headset I forgot about it. Damn! "Well, thanks for reminding me. I guess I forgot because my mind is preoccupied with this urgent meeting and I'm nervous." And I sip my iced coffee.
"Why are you getting nervous? if you know you didn't do anything wrong. Maybe it is something positive, like a raise?"
"I already got a raise early this year."
"Well, it's maybe something amazing. Just don't think too much. You will be fine." Savannah holds my hand. I sighed and nodded.
I went to the playroom and saw the kids before I left. I'm browsing through my phone trying to book a grab. But Savannah entered the room and snatched my phone before I hit the "book" button. "What the – Savannah! I will be late to give my phone back."
"You can't book a grab. You have someone who will drive you there."
"huh? Who?" she pointed to the door and then I saw Echo smiling and waving at me. The kids saw him and ran towards him. He hugs them and talks to them a bit.
We walk outside and bid our goodbyes to the kids.
"What are you doing here?" I don't know why he is here. He didn't inform me that he was coming today.
"Well, let's go to the office together. I'm here to fetch you."
"You know that you don't need to do that right?" he opens the door for me and guides me inside.
"I know but I love to do it. So, please let me." His eyes are begging and I can't help but nod.
We are now on our way and my boss tells me to be ready so I open the Zoom app on my phone and and get my headphones on. I also prepared my laptop just in case.
"I'm sorry, I have a meeting is that okay with you?" I ask him while we are waiting in traffic
"Yeah, just go and do your thing. I will be here for you." I smiled at him. Of course, I have him here. Somehow, it helps me to feel at ease and lessen my nervousness. He even offers a phone stand for my phone.
Minutes pass by, and here I am talking to my boss and the two operational managers. Oh my gosh, my heart is pounding. What did I do? I felt Echo's hand on my left hand holding it. And his face gave me assurance. We drive-thru Starbucks to get something to drink.
"Hi Jasmine, Good morning! We appreciate you for coming today. Even though it's very short notice."
"Good morning everyone and No problem at all Ms. Daisy."
"Are you in a car?" My boss said
"Ahm, yes ms. I'm sorry I have an appointment today."
"Oh, we apologize for the inconvenience this won't take long," she said
"That would be fine, Ms" giving her an assuring smile.
"Well, we just need to ask a couple of questions and we are hoping that you will give your best shot."Mr. Copper said one of the operational managers.
"Sure, sir! I will do my best."
"Alright! Well, I'll get started. What do you like best about working in your current position at the company?" Mr. Jacob asks if he is one of the operational managers.
Why are they asking me these questions?
"Oh wow! I mean there's a lot but the company opens a lot of good things and opportunities to me. My current position gives me a new set of skills and makes my old skills more advanced. Something that I don't think that I can do but the help of the team and my managers show me that I can do it."
"Awesome, If we were going to ask your teammates in your department to describe you. What do you think they will say?" Mr. Copper asks
I smiled, "Maybe, they will say I'm a crazy teammate. That I always make jokes and make them laugh. But honestly, I don't know what they think about me because people have different opinions about someone even though you have been kind to them or unintentionally hurt them. But all I know is, that I did my best to help and be friends with everyone on my team." I smiled. Echo is still driving and holding my hand all throughout.
"Great! Last question Jasmine! How will you handle rejection?" Ms. Daisy asked.
I stopped, remembering all the rejections I received in my whole life. I shrug and try to smile.
"I will learn from it and try again. I will not let one rejection hold me back from reaching my goal. I will use that as an inspiration to do better and to be a better version of myself." I smiled feeling proud of my answer. I saw them nod.
"Why? Have you been rejected before?" Mr. Jacob asks.
"Yes! and I think I handled them pretty well for me to reach where I am today. I fought in life and got past those rejections in life, by a person, and in work. I learned from them all and I thank those experiences because they make me stronger, wiser, and braver. That's all thank you."
I smiled at them and they clapped. Even Echo looks so proud.
"Well done. No more questions Jasmine." Ms.daisy
"And I guess, we made a decision already." Mr. Jacobs said. Wait? What? What decision?
"Yeah, no more doubts. The interview is for formality but upon seeing your performance with us for 2 years and being on top of your work it has always been appreciated by the company. Good words have been spread about you Jasmine. We are listening and here we are now, congratulating you for your new journey!"
"I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused and lost Mr. Copper."
They laughed at me, "Well, congratulations you have been promoted as a manager as well."
Wait for what? What just happened? Did I get promoted? Really?
"I- I – I don't know what to say. Ahm, Thank you. I mean thank you for trusting me for this and for believing in me. " I got teary eyes. I don't know what to say. All I know is they bid their goodbyes and they said something about they will email me for my promotion, raise, and papers I need to sign moving forward. They also said that starting tomorrow is my training as a manager. Thank you dear God for this blessing. I just can't believe it.
I can't hold my scream anymore. I need to let this out. I saw that we are in an area where you can see no buildings at all which is just grass. "Echo can you pull over?" my heart is pounding for too much happiness.
"sure" and we stopped on a freeway. I get out as soon as I can and scream at the top of my lungs. "Thank you so much, Lord!! Whoooooo" Echo just laughed at me.
"Would you mind sharing this happiness?" Echo asked.
"I got promoted." His facelift up.
"Wait what? Really?"
"yes! It's so sudden and I can't believe it as well. I think I'm dreaming. What if I can't do this?"
Echo holds my shoulders, "Hey, hey! Stop thinking about what-ifs. You deserve this. You have been waiting for this since then. And now someone saw your potential to lead a team and it's worth the wait. You got this!" I hugged him.
"Thank you. Thank you echo!" he smiled at me.
"congratulations jas! You deserve it. Okay?" I nodded and hugged him again.
Wait- Omygosh! "I'm sorry. I just got carried away." I pulled myself away from the Echo. Now that is embarrassing.
"It's okay. I understand. Should we go and celebrate with the rest of our friends?" Echo asked.
"Yes!" We continue our travel to the office.
We reached the building in no time and went up to the 7th floor to meet Tom and his girlfriend Alexa.
We greet each other, "Jas has good news." Echo said as we sat down.
"Ooh! What is that?" Alexa excitedly said.
"I got promoted today." Tom and Alexa screamed and hugged me.
"Oh my gosh we are so happy for you bud," Tom said to me. "Thank you so much!" I replied.
"I think we need to celebrate this. C'mon, let's order my treat." Echo said.
"You don't need to do that. I pay."
"No, it's my gift for you. Okay? What do you want to eat?" Echo asked.
"Such a chemistry right babe?" Alexa asked.
"agreed. I can feel the spark here." Tom said.
They really love to tease us. "Are you guys ?" Alexa stopped and looked at us suspiciously. I looked at her- confused. "What do you mean?" I'm confused.
"You know," Alexa said.
" I think I need more than that." Tom and Alexa laughed. I frowned at them.
"Weirdos!" and they laughed more.
"No. We are not a couple. Yet." Echo looks at me at the last part. Is he going to pursue me?
No, I can't. I don't think I'm ready for a relationship. No, I think I'm afraid that this is not going to work. He can't be serious.
Nobody wants a single mom of two. I don't want to be cruel to him. I got lost in the thought and I didn't even notice that Tom and Alexa offered to order for us.
"Are you okay?" Echo said that brings me back to my senses. I looked at him. "Yah"
"Is it because of what I said?" He knew me really well.
"N-no."
"Jas, I want to be frank with you. I still like you." With that, I looked at him again.
"What do you mean?"
"I haven't moved on from you. I still hope that one day I get my chance to love you." Like what I said, he is honest and straightforward.
"Whoah, whoah. Stop right there, mister. You can't love me."
He looked at me with a confused look, "Said who?"
"Me?"
"I mean why? why can't I love you? You deserve to be loved." I sighed.
"Tell me what's wrong. Tell me what's on your mind, Jas" as he continues to ask.
I let out a sigh for the nth time. "Look, I know I already rejected you before and I am happy that we still remain friends. I - I just don't think you deserve someone like me."
"Why?"
"Because... Because I'm a mother of two kids and no one likes to be an instant dad."
"Jas, don't overthink too much. I accept every part and piece of you. I know this is not the right place to talk about this. But please, don't push me away. Even if you do, I will still come running back to you. Because you already captivated my heart ever since." We stared into each other's eyes. I can see and feel his sincerity. Should I give him a chance?
We heard someone's clearing throat, which made us look away.
"I didn't know we have a staring contest today," Tom said.
"So. who won?" Alexa teasingly asked
"I guess me?" Echo said while he prepared the food in front of me. "Right, Jas?"
I sit properly before I speak, "R-right, Thank you for the treat, Comfy." I said without thinking. "Oohh, someone is blushing," Tom said.
"H-huh?" I said. I saw them giggling while looking at Echo. So, I looked at him as well. I see him smiling but his head is looking down hiding it.
"Anyway babe, what's with the nickname Comfy?" Alexa said.
"Well, you know Me and Jas have a code name of Bud to each other right because it means best buddies. Well, Jas and Echo have their own version of it with deep meaning." Raising his eyebrows up and down teasing us. Alexa is so excited to hear it. "So?" waiting for us to speak.
"I call her light. I mean My Light." He looked at me, "She is the sunshine and light to any darker days. Her warm presence and joy give me hope and happiness."
"Awww, that is so unique and sweet. My gosh," Alexa said and he looked at me.
"Ahm, I call him Comfy. From his name ECHO, CO-mfy. He is my Comfort zone and safe place. I mean they both are my safe place. " I shyly said.
"In other words, their connections are deeper than best friends babe," Tom said so I kicked his legs and gave him a death glare.
"What?" He innocently said.
"You guys are so cute. I am really shipping you guys, Go Ja-Cho for the end game!" Alexa said.
"Why Ja-Cho babe?"
"Omg, Babe, like you are so slow. JA- from Jasmine and CHO from Echo. So, Ja-Cho, Duh?"
"Ahhh, gets! Go, Ja-Cho!" We just laughed at their craziness. We just ate and talked about some random things until my class started.
Once again, I got lost in the thought of giving Echo a chance. Should I?