Her smile brightens my day and make my problems lighter

Her smile soften every part of me,it gives strength to do everything just to see her smile and my heart belongs to her. 

(Harrish)

Seven years ago…

"You need to let her go, son, or she will be in danger," he said softly, gently patting my shoulder. His words struck me like a dagger, cutting my heart into pieces.

"But it isn't easy to do," I replied, my voice trembling as tears filled my eyes.

"I know it's hard, son," he sighed. "But this is the only way to protect her."

"She is my everything!" I pleaded, knowing that living with her was painful for me. Life without her feels like a death sentence, but I must let her go. It will break her heart, but I will do everything I can to win her back.

The Meeting

I was fourteen years old when my father passed away due to an illness, and since then, my youth has felt forgotten. At such a young age, I took over the family construction firm as the chief director, assuming his responsibilities as the head of our family. I've faced many challenges in life, and giving up is not an option for me. I have to be strong for my family and for myself. Fortunately, I succeeded in managing the company, transforming it into a great success with the help of my younger brother, Cielo. Those years have marked not only the beginning of my new journey but also a time of growth.

"Good morning, sis!" a warm yet deep voice greeted me. I was enjoying the beautiful sunrise from my balcony, holding my favorite cup of green tea. Cielo barged into my room without knocking, disrupting my peace.

"I've already booked our tickets back to Manila," he announced happily, which saddened me.

I will miss the fresh air and breathtaking scenery of this place.

"What?" he innocently asked, noticing my expression.

We're taking a two-week vacation in our hometown, where our parents built a wooden house when they got married. This house is one of my favorites. It may not look like much, but it holds a wealth of cherished memories.

Cielo's protest was evident, "It's already been two weeks." Frustration was written all over his face as I faced him.

"And thanks for ruining my vacation!" I blurted out, my frustration boiling over.

Why does time fly so quickly when you're trying to savor special moments? Can it just pause for a while so I can enjoy it more?

"We both know that we have a lot of work to do, and I have a client to catch up with," he explained, and his tone didn't sit well with me.

"Fine! But I sense something's wrong," I muttered. His expression turned serious as he looked at me.

"I know you won't like this, but I have to do it," he replied, which made me wonder why he seemed anxious about this matter. But I trust him deeply and believe he would never make a decision without considering my feelings.

"I've got a new project under Mr. Talledo's son, and he will be attending the project meeting."

"And you made this decision without asking me?" I almost yelled, my anger flaring at his thoughtless action. It infuriated me to the point where I wanted to smack his face, if only he weren't my brother.

"I'm so sorry, but I need this project for my promotion. Please consider this just once," he pleaded, his expression making it hard for me to refuse. He knows he's my weakness and my everything. "I'll make sure that you'll meet him tomorrow, and the rest is on me," he promised.

However, it doesn't change the fact that he'll still come my way, no matter how much I try to avoid him. "What a small world."

*******

We arrived in Manila as scheduled, around eight in the morning, and made our way to the company in the main city.

"Good morning, Miss Heron!" greeted my personal assistant, Miss Kim, as she opened the door of my car after I parked it at the main entrance of the skyscraper. I smiled slightly at her as I stepped out of the car, and we both headed to an empty elevator.

"Mr. Talledo is in the lobby with the board members, and there's a dinner meeting at seven with Mr. Choi and his family," Miss Kim quickly updated me on my schedule. Ding! The elevator chimed as we reached the fifth floor, and I started to feel a coldness in my feet, making it hard for me to move.

"Are you alright, Miss?" she asked worriedly when she noticed me standing still in the corner of the elevator.

'I need to compose myself,' my brain shouted, but my body wasn't cooperating.

"There you are!" a warm yet deep voice said from Cielo, who was standing at the elevator doorway. He looked casual in his royal blue suit with his hair combed back.

"I've been waiting for you for years," he added, sounding impatient, but it didn't bother me at all. "We need to hurry; they're waiting for us," he said, taking my hand and leading me to the lobby where the committee was waiting, along with Mr. Talledo.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Cielo apologized to the men in their business black suits.

"No, no need to say sorry," a familiar gentle yet deep voice replied.

"Agreed! Besides, our meeting starts at nine, so we're still on schedule," the plump man, Mr. Curtis, chimed in. If I remembered correctly, he was one of the board members and a close friend of my uncle Choi.

"Indeed, and we have some spare time to hear about your vacation," the familiar voice added cheerfully.

I remained silent, but my mind was buzzing.

"We really enjoyed our vacation, thanks to you, Tito," Cielo replied joyfully.

"That's great!" the older man responded with a wide smile on his mid-fifties face. "I wish my son and I could join you next time," he added while wrapping his arm around the younger man standing beside him. The younger man looked like a younger version of him and was wearing a well-fitted dark blue business suit that accentuated his masculine build.

"Hi! It's been a long time since I last saw you," he greeted me with a slight smile, and I couldn't help but gaze into his eyes. They captured my heart, but I noticed something was missing. "You look just the same," he added, furrowing my brows in confusion.

"W-who, me?" I stammered in a low voice, loud enough for us to hear, and the whole place fell silent, creating an awkward atmosphere.

"Maybe we should head to the conference room," Miss Kim suggested, breaking the silence.

"My apology hija" The old man sincere voice said "Harrish might have jet log"

"Maybe we should head at the conference room." Ms. Kim break the silence.

and all of us agreed.

Miss Kim led us to the conference room. I followed, not fully prepared to face the man I had hated for the longest time.