"Clarize, maybe your boyfriend will find out." The man stopped Clarize from kissing her while they were inside the vehicle owned by Raymart.
"He won't, he's busy right now. Please I want to play Harold," Clarize added with a moan. She started unbuttoning the shirt of this guy she called Harold.
"I know you like it."
They kissed again, passionately and without knowing, a pair of eyes were just staring at the infidelity they were committing.
***
Raymart stacked the folders handed to him by his secretary, Terry, on his own table. He is not in the mood right now. What he saw last night is so unfair and that makes him cry a river, he actually witnessed the infidelity of his girlfriend Clarize and she was still flirting with another man and it happened inside his car. And he still figured out why they were still able to do that. He saw his car parked near Clarize's house. In the middle of the night, Raymart still thought of going to it because it was their anniversary as a couple. After all the three years they had been together, he didn't think she would fool him anymore.
He couldn't focus hard on work while thinking about that, he would have liked to be absent first but Howie, his superior, might get even angrier with him. If he did not come in, he might think more of what the bride did. His brain returned to reality when Terry suddenly entered his office.
"Sir, you have a meeting with Mr.—"
"Just cancel, I'm not feeling well, then leave first Terry, I might pour my anger on you!" Raymart's sour answer and cutting into what the secretary wanted to say. Terry frowned, perhaps she had changed what his boss was up to now. Raymart is not a strict boss and he is very considerate when it comes to employees who interact, especially with Terry. She just shook his head then took a deep breath before speaking. "Okay Sir, in case I need the documents in the folders—"
"Go out! Go shopping, go on a date with your husband, pay attention to him first before anything else. Don't be like me who focuses too much on work, so he won't have a reason to cheat on you." Raymart himself handed over the leave form for Terry, his voice became calm. Terry looked at his boss's face, he didn't look like he was joking.
"Fill up immediately then I am going to sign it without hesitation, three days leave is okay."
"Sir, I don't have to leave. I have to work for my son," Terry added.
"I'll still pay you, it's easy. Fill up the form after you leave my office. Okay?"
Terry complied. "This is it sir, thank you very much."
Terry neatly laid the leave form on Raymart's desk. Raymart immediately signed the form.
"Sir, I'm leaving," Terry said.
"Wait a minute Terry, I have more questions."
"What's that, sir?"
Raymart stood in his own swivel chair. "Rate me from 1 to 10."
"10 over 10 Sir"
"Justify your answer"
"You are the kindest boss here at SLI, you are thoughtful to your colleagues, very professional and very kind. That's it."
"Are you saying this because I gave you a break?"
"No Sir. I'm just telling the truth."
"Wait, rate me from 1 to 10 but in personal matters. Am I okay as a friend? As a boyfriend?"
Terry thought before speaking.
"Sir, as a friend, I know you are reliable and true so I will give you a 9 out of 10 rate but as a boyfriend I don't know that anymore, unless you have a relationship with me but I'm married sir, so I won't allow it but if you forced me to change my mind in case then I'm willing to be with you but of course it's just a joke. I'm loyal to my husband, "Terry replied with a sound of giggle from her mouth. Who doesn't want to have a relationship with Raymart who resembles a perfect leading man in every romantic movie? Clarize was really lucky to have him as her boyfriend.
"All right, go away." He glared at Terry. "Thanks for your rate. I hope it's not a joke."
"Okay sir. Bye"
***
"Sorry miss, we're only accepting fresh grads right now, we don't have an opening for you yet. I hope you understand." Marigold just nodded when the HR Manager told her that. She has been applying since he was fired from his previous job. She just shrugged as she left the company's building. She was still preparing for the job interview but the outcome wasn't good despite her impressive resume. She just wasted her time. It was such a total disappointment. She sat down on the empty bench. She also heard the ringing of his cellphone. Jack's number registers on the screen.
"Hello? What prompted you to call me?" sighed Marigold on the other line. Her frustration with this man increases.
"Marigold, I would like to invite you to Georgia and I's wedding next month and I also want us to have a proper closure," Jack said.
Shelet out a mischievous laugh. "You still had the audacity to invite me, for what? Aren't you touched by shame? After you break me up because I can't give myself to you? Are you rude to me huh? What do you want to hear? Do you want me to beg for you to come back? Stupid! I won't do that, don't worry, just like you, I'm also getting married next month!"
She ended the call. She suddenly thought of words she never thought would come out of her mouth.
"I think I sounded desperate." She took the purse because he planned to buy something to eat first. Instead of money, the calling card given by the old woman popped out of her wallet.
"Uh oh? I still have it."
She looked closely at the calling card named Raymart Javiera of Serenity Life Inc. Her eyes widened, she focused on the company's name. Did she read it correctly? Serenity Life Inc is a big and stable company, which means that Raymart Javiera is not just an ordinary type of employee there. She suddenly remembered what the old woman who handed her the calling card had said to her.
'That he was looking for a wife.'
"Oh really? How old is this man? Can I call him? What if he's just the same age as my father? No way! But what if we're just the same age?"
Marigold was about to dial his number, just to know his age based on his voice. She was curious, whether it was an old man or not because the move by the old lady made a bridge in finding a mate seemed desperate. She could not continue because his cellphone suddenly rang again. Her cousin Ethel is calling, it was unexpected.
"Oh Ethel? You got called?" she began.
"Huh? I can't drink, you know I don't drink liquor. You know me."
"All right Ethel, I'm still working. If you really want to take me with you, ask my mom for permission, okay?"
***
Marigold was reluctant to enter with Ethel into a high end bar in Taguig. It's her first time going to this kind of place and she doesn't really want to. Ethel already asked Marigold's parents to come with her. Because, she's not a party goer so she doesn't want that kind of setup where people gossiping and dancing hilariously is what she sees right now. She never tasted alcohol. She was always ridiculed because she was old fashioned.
"Come on Marigold, let's order something to drink, I'm gonna treat you whatever you like for tonight because it's my birthday!" Ethel said to her. Then she brought her by Ethel to a table with two lovers sitting.
"Hi guys, I would like to introduce you to my cousin, Marigold."
"Marigold, this is Trina, Jace, Yna and Romeo," Ethel proudly introduced her friends.
"Hello," Marigold greeted sparingly. She sat in the vacant seat to partake.
"While waiting for our order, why can't we have a stupid dare? Game?" said Ethel as she glanced at Marigold.
"I don't drink Ethel, it's just you who is really persuading me to drink." Marigold frowned and tried to avoid her cousin's stare at her.
"Such a joy killer, just drink only now and think that it won't happen again."