Cereus
The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the red and white checkered tablecloth. The air in the quaint Italian restaurant was thick with the aroma of garlic and herbs, but my stomach churned with a different kind of nervous tension.
Across from me, Matthew tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear, his usual playful glint in his eyes replaced by a seriousness that mirrored my own. We hadn't spoken much the entire dinner, the forced conversation about the weather feeling like a flimsy band aid on a gaping wound.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. "Matthew," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "we need to talk."His hand reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. The touch sent a familiar spark through me, momentarily disarming me. "About what, Cereus?"
"About us," I said, the words catching in my throat. "Lately, things haven't felt…right."
He squeezed my hand gently. "Yeah, I know." His voice was laced with regret. "I've been acting like a jerk lately, haven't I?"
Confusion clouded my mind. Was he apologizing? Had I misinterpreted everything? Maybe the stress of school and the internship was getting to both of us.
"It's not just you," I mumbled, feeling a flicker of hope rekindle within me. "We've been arguing a lot, and you seem…jealous."
Matthew's jaw clenched for a moment, but then he sighed. "Look, Cereus, I know I've been overstepping lately. This whole internship thing…the thought of you spending so much time with Leo…" He trailed off, his gaze dropping to his lap.
My heart hammered in my chest. So, it was about Leo? Relief washed over me, tinged with a touch of annoyance.
"Matthew," I said, my voice firmer now, "Leo's just a friend. And besides, this internship is a huge opportunity for me. I can't just throw it away."
He looked up, his eyes searching mine. "I know, I know. I'm just…being an idiot."
A slow smile spread across my face. The familiar spark was back in his eyes, the playful glint I knew and loved. Maybe, just maybe, we could work through this.
Suddenly, Matthew reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. My breath hitched in my throat.
He opened the box, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a tiny sapphire pendant. "Cereus," he began, his voice husky, "I know things have been rough lately, but I want you to know how much you mean to me. You're my everything."
Tears welled up in my eyes. This grand gesture, so unlike the Matthew I knew, left me speechless. Maybe the distance had been a wake-up call for him, a reminder of what we had.
"Matthew," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.
He took the necklace from the box and gently clasped it around my neck. The cool metal sent a shiver down my spine."
This isn't an engagement ring," he chuckled, his nervousness momentarily breaking. "But maybe someday…"
I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. Relief and joy mingled with a newfound sense of hope. Maybe our bumpy ride wasn't the end. Maybe it was just a detour, a chance to appreciate the journey we were on together.
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of whispered promises and stolen kisses. The tension that had hung between us earlier had vanished, replaced by a renewed sense of connection.
As Matthew dropped me off at home, the gentle glow of the streetlamp cast a warm light on his face. He leaned in, his kiss lingering on my lips a beat longer than usual.
"See you tomorrow?" he murmured against my skin.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," I replied, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
As I watched him drive away, a giddy smile plastered on my face, I couldn't help but feel a surge of optimism. Maybe, just maybe, our love story wasn't over yet. It was just beginning a new chapter.
__ __ __
Cereus
The air crackled with nervous energy as I fidgeted in the plush armchair of Leo's brother's office. The Wusan Conglomerate. The name itself held a certain mystique in our city – a sprawling empire encompassing everything from luxury hotels to tech startups. Leo had mentioned his brother worked here, a senior manager or something, but the opulent décor surrounding me screamed CEO, not middle management.
My stomach churned. Had there been some miscommunication? Leo had assured me his brother was expecting me for the PA position under Assistant Wang, who was on paternity leave. Three months, that's all I needed to get my foot in the door, some real-world experience under my belt.
Two days before summer break officially started, the weight of looming exams temporarily forgotten, I found myself here, feeling like a fish out of water. The receptionist, a woman with a perfectly sculpted smile and a nametag that read 'Ms. Lee,' had ushered me into this waiting area fit for royalty. Hours had bled into one another, punctuated only by the soft murmur of conversations filtering through the closed office door and the occasional clinking of teacups.
Finally, frustration gnawed at my patience. Surely, even for a senior manager, a four-hour wait was excessive. Pulling out my phone, I dialed Leo's number.
"Hey, Leo," I began, my voice strained, "is everything okay? It's been a while…"
"Cereus!" Relief flooded his voice. "Hold on, I'm putting you on speaker."
A different voice, smooth and authoritative, filled my ear. "Leo, what seems to be the issue?"
"It's my friend, big bro," Leo explained. "She's at your office, but it seems there's been some confusion. She's been waiting for, like, four hours."
A beat of surprised silence, then a sharp chuckle. "Four hours? My apologies. An urgent meeting ran long, and completely slipped my mind."
Leo's brother. The CEO of Wusan Conglomerate. My mind reeled. All this time, Leo had been casually dropping the name of the city's most powerful businessman, and I, clueless, had assumed he was just another office drone.
"No worries," I mumbled, feeling a hot flush creep up my cheeks. "These things happen."
"Nonsense," Collin's voice softened. "Tell you what, skip the interview altogether. Consider yourself hired. Report directly to work tomorrow, same time."
My jaw dropped. No interview? Hired on the spot? This was a dream come true, a stroke of absurd luck.
"Big brother, are you sure?" Leo's voice sounded hesitant on the other end.
"Absolutely," Collin replied firmly. "You can thank Leo later. In the meantime, get some rest. You start bright and early tomorrow." He told me.
The phone call ended, leaving me speechless. From a four-hour wait to a no-interview hire – the day had taken a spectacularly unexpected turn. A giddy thrill bubbled in my chest. Working as a PA at Wusan Conglomerate, under the CEO himself…this was an opportunity beyond my wildest dreams. But why does Leo's brother's voice sound so familiar? I must be hallucinating. There's no way I'd know the CEO of Wusan Conglomerate.
With a nervous flutter in my stomach and a newfound sense of purpose, I stepped out of the opulent office and into the bustling city, the weight of the Wusan Conglomerate logo gleaming on the skyscraper a constant reminder of the extraordinary day I'd just experienced.
__ __ __
The front door slammed shut behind me, the echo bouncing off the walls of our modest apartment. Relief and excitement bubbled within me, threatening to spill over.
"Mom! Dad!" I called out, my voice laced with barely contained glee. "I got the internship!"
My parents emerged from the kitchen, their faces etched with concern that instantly melted into relief at my announcement.
"Really, Cereus?" Dad boomed, a wide grin splitting his face. "That's fantastic news! Where will you be working?"
"At Wusan Conglomerate!" I declared, puffing out my chest with a newfound sense of importance. The name still held a magical allure, even after just a few hours of being associated with it.
My parents exchanged a surprised look. "Wusan Conglomerate?" Mom echoed, a hint of awe in her voice. "That's a big company, honey. Are you sure you're qualified?"
"Apparently," I said with a wink, "because they hired me on the spot!"
The evening flew by in a flurry of excited chatter. I regaled my parents with tales of the opulent office and the kind-yet-powerful Mr. Leo's brother careful to omit the detail of his actual title. There was a certain mystique to being a PA to a high-ranking executive, and CEO just seemed a bit…much to process right now.
Just as I settled into bed, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. Leo's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey," I answered, the day's events replaying in my mind. "Thanks again for everything, Leo. I can't believe I actually work at Wusan Conglomerate now!"
"No problem, Cereus," Leo chuckled, a nervous undercurrent to his voice. "Listen, there's something I need to ask."
"Sure, shoot."
He hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "Promise me you won't tell anyone about my elder brother, okay? Not Molly, not Matthew, no one."
Surprise momentarily stunned me silent. "Why not?"
"Look," Leo sighed, "it's a long story. I didn't mean to keep it from Molly, but things just…happened. And now, well, I don't want her to find out from someone else, you know?"
I did know. The weight of keeping secrets, of navigating the sometimes murky waters of friendship, was a familiar burden. I mean, I still don't dare tell Matthew about my ex boyfriend Collin, as much as I want to, I really can't fathom how he'd react to it.
"Okay, Leo," I said softly. "I won't tell anyone. You have my word."
Relief laced his voice. "Thanks, Cereus. I really appreciate it."
We chatted for a few more minutes, the earlier excitement of the day tinged with a new layer of complication. As I ended the call, a strange mix of emotions swirled within me.
Excitement for this new chapter, a thrilling internship at a prestigious company.
Anxiety about keeping Leo's secret, a secret that felt like a ticking time bomb.
And a flicker of uncertainty about Matthew. Would the distance between us grow even wider now that my life was about to take such a dramatic turn?
Burrowing deeper into the covers, I squeezed my eyes shut, the weight of the day's revelation pressing down on me.
Two more days, and a new adventure awaited. But tonight, all I could do was sleep and dream of a future as bright and dazzling as the Wusan Conglomerate logo that now seemed to illuminate my path.