Chapter 1

It was a horrible first meeting. That's what I called it, but to my mentor, it seemed like it was nothing!

After he discussed everything to me earlier, to what I will do and some of my expecations, lahat na, ay sobrang awkward para sa akin. I stayed on my designated table, trying not to see his face again. The only thing I could remember was him kissing me yesterday.

I though we won't be seeing each other after that moment pero hindi ko naman inaasahan na siya pa ang magiging mentor. Bakit ba kasi nabuntis pa si Miss Saunders? Hindi sana magiging awkward ang sitwasyon ko if she was only here. Pero may magagawa nga ba ako? Hindi na ako pwedeng bumalik sa Pilipinas at mamili ng bagong kompanya. I had to move forward with it kahit gaano pa kalala ang mangyayari.

But one thing I can assure, everything will be kept professional.

Mister Macek didn't even mention a thing about our moment yesterday. I'm not also sure if he does remember it. Kasi ako, tandang-tanda ko pa. No one would kiss someone like him. Para niya akong jinowa sa paghalik niya sa akin. I know that feeling kasi gano'n humalik iyong ex ko. Parang hihigopin to the max ang labi ko. But I should also remember that Sir Macek was there to save me.

Siya na nga ba ang Knight in shining armor ko? Does that even true? Kung totoo man, I would call myself a princess—and not a damsel in distress—or if that was me yesterday, it'll be fine then.

My first assignment was to sort out all the documents he had given to me. Hindi naman mahirap for the first day. Sinabi niya rin sa akin na sa mga susunod na araw ay idadala niya ako sa iba't ibang tasks at field events. It would be a good experience for me to go through all those things pero sa ngayon, I need to be comfortable around him.

I shouldn't make his kiss a big deal, right? Why would I make it a big deal? Nakakaloka.

A moment later, Sienna checked me in by lunch and told me that I can leave my work at the moment so I can eat. When she left the area, huminga muna ako ng malalim saka ko dinala ang bag ko patungo sa elevator. Bumaba naman ako ng first floor at tumungo sa likod kung nasaan ang company cafeteria.

I had to ask a guard pa para alamin ang direksyon. I was given a building map naman pero nalilito pa rin ako lalo na sa kung saan mag-drive ng sasakyan ang mga Briton. Nasanay akong nasa right tapos pagdating ko rito ngayon ay nasa left side na. Bonggang alog ng utak. Culture shocked talaga.

I walked inside the cafeteria and obviously, everything here wasn't free, but I believe there were free foods from snack time at the afternoon on the pantry.

I lined up and bought some foods I thought would make me full. Walang rice, but sausages, Sheperd's pie, fish and chips, salad, and shrimps, and other dishes na nagpapatulo ng laway ko pero hindi magpapabusog ng sikmura ko.

I grabbed some sausages, salad, fish and chips dahil iyon lamang ang kakayanin ng budget ko. Kahit may allowances akong tinatanggap mula sa Mercondia's Sponsorship ay once a month ko lang 'yon matatanggap so I need to make tipid-tipid for all of my spendings for the whole month.

Almost eight hundred pounds wasn't enough though. If I could convert that to peso, fifty thousand lamang iyon and London was one of the expensive countries, so a bit of money would save a lot.

I looked around to see some vacant seats and there were a lot of it. Pumwesto naman ako sa table na malapit sa isang malaking glass window. I took the opportunity to update my story on Instagram as my first day.

When I'm satisfied on what I shared, I started eating my lunch though it didn't really make me feel yum at all pero choosy pa ba ako? I think everything that has been served was new and freshly cooked.

While I was painfully eating my salad, someone joined my table when I thought she was sitting on the wrong table. I looked at her and she's very sophisticated. Her blonde her compliments with her Caucasian skin. Napalunok naman ako ng laway at naisip kong baka nagkamali rin ako ng kinauupuan. Hindi ko rin maalis ang tingin ko sa kanyang putok na putok na red matte lipstick. I think that kind of shade I can't afford—kahit siguro gamitin ko pa ang allowance ko mula sa Mercondia.

"I'm sorry, but not to be rude, but who are you?" I asked.

She smiled and settled herself on her seat. "I'm Amanda and I just followed you on Instagram."

"Oh—huh, what?"

"Check your notifications," she demanded. I hesitated at first, but then I check my phone and found out that she had followed me—for real! "Follow me back. You know? Follow to follow means much more to people these days. It could get you famous."

Her name's Amanda Hoover and she was quite famous with a thousand followers—or so I believe she was famous.

"Uh—why did you follow me?" I asked, creasing my forehead. I didn't expect someone will come at me during lunch and tell it to my face that she followed me. I was nobody and clearly, people wouldn't even bother to come at me. But I was hoping she has good intentions.

"I saw your IG story," she said then took a bite on her tuna sandwich. I guess that's her lunch? Mabubusog kaya siya r'on? "Today's your first day, right?"

Tumango naman ako, though I'm not sure if I'm going to be friendly enough pero dahil gusto ko rin naman magkaroon ng kaibigan, I think wala namang mawawala.

"Same," tipid nitong sagot sa akin. "Where's your department?"

"Oh, it's on the tenth floor, I'm in the marketing department. What about you?"

"I'm on the production floor. You know where they usually covered everything about commercials or any kind of production digitally or not. Get it?"

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi naman ako slow not to get her point. "I think your departments was interesting. What's your course?"

"Business Communication," she answered. Hindi ko na naman inabala na tanungin pa kung anong major niya sa course niya 'yon at inintindi ko na lang by mself. Baka pinagsamang business at communication 'yon. Baka 'yon nga ang tinutukoy niya. "You're probably a business student as well?"

Tumango ako sa kanya. "I'm a major of marketing management and I'm from the Philippines."

"Oooh," she swooned as if something I said got her common interest with me. Hindi ko mabasa 'tong babaeng 'to. She looked like someone na nakakatakot kausapin because of her strong aura, but maybe because of the way she dress herself. She looked like the wife of the CEO. "That's lit, girl. That is so lit!"

"Yeah..." napangiwi naman ako sa kanya. I really don't know how to talk with a foreigner. Masyado akong na-iintimidate sa kanila. Mabuti na lang din ay malakas ang loob ko paminsan-minsan. "Is that all you're going to eat?"

"Absolutely. Why do you asked?"

Umiling naman ako. Parang gusto ko ngang bawiin kung bakit ko pa tinanong 'yon sa kanya. I feel like I'm weird as hell sa harap niya ngayon kaya minabuti ko na lang na itapon sa iba ang usapan naming dalawa. I follower her on Instagram. I told her about it so her attention and eyes fell on her phone. She smiled upon seeing then. It was moment of relief when I did that.

"I added you to my close friend's story," she said.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "But we don't... know each other? And we just met now. Why—I just don't understand."

"You'll be fine," she said. "I think I'm going head back to my floor now."

"But you haven't finish your sandwich yet," I pointed it.

She shrugged off. "That's fine. I'm on a strict diet as well so I don't bother eating too much."

"I see..." iyon na lamang ang nasabi ko. I watched her clean her side of the table with a napkin and then she left me, leading her way to the bin at tinapon niya ro'n 'yong halos kalahati pa niyang sandwich. She looked back at me at kinawayan niya ako saka siya tuluyang umalis ng cafeteria.

Kinuha ko ang bottled of water ko at napainom na lang ako na halos malunod pa ako sa pagtungga ko ng tubig. Sinubukan kong intindihan kung para saan 'yong ginawa ni Amanda kanina, and I wanted to see it as a good intention of making friends dahil bago pa lang din naman ako at wala siyang mahihithit sa akin.

I quickly finished my lunch and decided to go back to my desk. Para pa akong tiklop na tiklop sa bawat galaw ko. Palinga-linga lang muna sa paligid hangga't sa makasanayanan na. I was just observing before I do what I should be doing. I mean, mukhang magiging komportable naman talaga ako sa CM Enterprises and if the CEO didn't mind about kissing me yesterday then I should be fine.

As I got back to my desk and continued sorting out all the documents, I got startled when someone peeking his head on my cubicle. Muntik pa akong makapagmura at mabuti na lang ay napigilan ko pa ang sarili ko dahil si Sir Macek pala ang nasa likuran ko.

Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ako at napayuko.

"I apologized sir, I didn't notice you were there," aniko at paulit-ulit na pagyuko.

Naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa balikat ko. Literal na nanigas ang buo kong katawan. Nakayuko ako at nanlaki na lang ang mata ko.

"You're doing extra, Miss Gillespie," ngisi pa nito kaya dahan-dahan kong binaiw ang sarili ko. Para akong tanga sa harap niya pero pinilit kong ngumiti para hindi awkward. I clasped my hands together. I looked straight at him and he really stood tall when he's in front of me. Nakakaliit. "Have you had your lunch?"

Mabilis naman akong tumango. "Yes, sir. I just had mine. What about you, sir? If you don't mind me asking."

"No, I just took a quick break. We're still on a middle of lunch meeting and I thought I might check you here. Is everything great for you or do you need something?"

Umiling naman ako. "Everything's perfectly fine, sir," ngiti ko pa. "I'm already getting the hang of what's going and I think I'll be more comfortable enough in the next few days or weeks."

"Brilliant. I'm eagerly anticipating for that, Miss Gillespie."

I smiled. "Yes, sir."

"I should leave you with your work then," he said. "I'll be getting back to my meeting."

"Sure, sir. No problem," I smiled pampaalis ng kaba sa dibdib.

When he was about to leave me alone ay babalik na sana ako sa kinauupuan ko nang balikan niya ako ng tingin. Napaayos kaagad ako sa pagkakatayo ko at naging ewan ako ngiti ko nang lingunin niya ako.

"Yes, sir? Do you need anything?"

He shook his head and smiled. "Zilch."

Napakunot noo naman ako sa binanggit niya. Hindi ko siya na-gets and he just left me wondering about it. Literal na nabobo ako kung ano 'yong sinabi niya kaya nang simulan ko ulit ang pagta-trabaho ko ay hindi pa rin iyon maalis sa isipan ko.

Mabilis ko rin namang natapos ang unang ipinapagawa sa akin ni Sir Macek. Wala naman akong ibang ginawa until four in the afternoon para pumunta sa pantry kung saan may free foods. Nang tumungo ako ro'n ay may ilang mga empleyado namang kumakain.

There were a lot of foods there. Mostly brownies, cakes, sweet candies, and ice cream. Kumuha lang naman ako ng kaunti dahil ayoko namang masita na kabago-bago ko pa lamang ay halos mukhang mag-sharon na ako. I seated right on the corner when someone called my attention.

Nang lingunin ko sila, good thing Amanda wasn't with them.

The girl wave her hand so I can join them on their table. Nilipat ko ang plato at sumama sa kanila.

"Hi," pagbati ko.

"You're new, right?" the girl asked.

I nodded. "Yes. It's my first day today."

"Wow," the guy said. "You must be shocked to what was happening around."

I chuckled and nodded. "Yes, I am. Everything's new to me."

"You'll do great here. Anyway, where you from?" the girl asked.

"I'm from the Philippines, but I stayed in Newham right now."

"That's so far away," the girl said. "That's in Asia, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's near Indonesia and Taiwan."

"Really?" the guy said, raising a brow. "I thought it was Philippines was in Africa?"

I chuckled. "I'm afraid not."

"But you live closely so that's good," the girl said. "Anyway, I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Arden and I work here as a content specialist."

"And we closely work with each other," the guy said. "I'm Berkeley, I also work here as a content specialist. What about you?"

"Oh, I'm just an intern and I'm Kiersten Ceeria, and people mostly called me like KC."

"I like KC," Arden said, Berkeley nodded, agreeing. "Yes, it's easy to call you KC though."

"That's fine," I smiled. "People tend to mispronounce my name so I guess there's nothing wrong with that."

"How old are you then?"

"I'm only 21."

"So close, I'm just 23," Arden said. "And he's just 22."

Berkeley giggled. Natawa na lang din naman ako.

"Who's you mentor?" Berkeley asked.

"Oh, it's Sir Macek."

"Woah," sabay nilang usal. "Woah!"

"Seriously?" hindi makapaniwalang tugon ni Arden. "Are you sure?"

Hindi ko naman alam kung anong i-re-react sa kanila dahil parang ang big deal?

"Did you mean the CEO? Connagh Macek?"

"I'm not sure though..." I muttered."

"KC?! How didn't you know that Sir Connagh is the CEO of this company."

"Miss Sienna mentioned earlier that he's the CEO, and honestly, I don't have any idea at all. I guess, I should've done my researched then. But Miss Saunders was supposedly to be my mentor and they told she wasn't around, Sir Macek took over the position by mentoring me."

"Wow," usal ni Berkeley. "You're a lucky woman."

Arden nodded. "He had never done it, you know? I think you were the only one he would be mentoring. But now that you know him, don't stress yourself out because Sir Connagh is a great person and a boss."

Napahugot na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga. Hindi ko sigurado kung anong gagawin ko sa sinabi nila sa akin. Tinawanan naman nila akong dalawa at 'wag daw mabahala. Sir Macek won't make me hard stuff kaya ngayon pa lang ay nananalangin na rin akong sana nga totoo ang sinasabi nila sa akin.

When we all left the pantry to give way to the new people who will eat, bumalik na rin ako sa desk ko. Nagtataka naman ako kung anong sunod na ipapagawa sa akin ni Sir Macek pero naghintay ako hanggang uwian ay hindi na kami nagkita. Naintindihan ko naman dahil siya ang CEO at busy ito. Siguro ay natagalan lamang ang meeting nila kaya hindi na niya ako na-check.

But Miss Sienna checked me before I left my area and she told me I'll be fine that Sir Macek didn't meet me before I leave. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong aabangan ko bukas, but I believe I'll be fine. When I reached the first floor, nakita ko si Amanda na picture nang picture palabas ng building.

Hinayaan ko pa siyang makalabas ng tuluyan saka ako lumabas ng building.

Heading to the bus station, a second later, I received a call from an unknown number kaya sinagot ko kaagad ito.

"Uh... hello? Who is this?"

"Miss Gillespie," pagkabanggit pa lamang niya ay nakilala ko na kaagad ito dahil sa accent niya. Bigla namang kumabog ang dibdib ko dahil umalis na lang din ako ng area ko ng hindi nagpapaalam sa kanya.

"Uh—sir. I'm sorry I left my desk without telling you."

"That's what I'm going to talk about," he said. Mas lalong lumalim naman ang kaba sa dibdib ko. "I was wedged in by my meetings so I failed to check on you there. I apologize for doing that. I checked you on your area and Miss Sienna told me you left and that's alright, Miss Gillespie. If wasn't around, you're good to leave your area if you have finished your work then."

"I did sir," sagot ko naman sa kanya.

"Brilliant," he replied. "You'll be going hands-on tomorrow on your duties, okay?"

"Yes, sir! Noted!" I responded.

"Great! Are you going home now?"

"Yes, sir," sagot ko.

"I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Take care, Miss Gillespie. Cheerio."

"Bye, sir," I said and he then ended the call.

It was at that moment I felt relieved. Maybe Arden and Berkeley was right. Hindi naman siya mahigpit pero hindi dapat ako maging kampante. I need to do my duties and I need to pass my internship para sa pagbalik ko ng Pilipinas, I would finally getting my degree. Hopefully.

Nang dumating ang bus at sumakay ako pabalik ng Newham, hindi ko maalis ang ngiti sa labi ko. Maybe everything will be fine here.

Everything is now falling into the right place and let it happen 'til the end.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

#FallingInLoveInLondonChapter 1 #FILIL1 #WT4

Interact with me on Twitter >>> @Imjacobxoxo