Chapter 21

Connagh and I never talked about the dress and shoes he left in my room. I didn't even send him a message confirming that I got what he gave for me. I really don't think it's necessary for him to give me a lot of stuff. Just because we happened to be together in Vegas and there were a lot of quirky and fun moments, it doesn't mean I'll take advantage of him. That I'm not going to mind that he's my boss and I'm just an intern.

Amanda's right. I might hate her, but she's quite right in some ways.

I kept doing my tasks and that's the right thing for me to do. Ayon din sa napagkasunduan namin ni Berk, we wouldn't be so intimate with our actions or anything that people would mind our relationship. We're still dating anyway. I'm still getting to know Berk more so I think being boyfriend and girlfriend is still far from our mutual understanding.

But it's nice. It's cute. Berk's funny and a gentleman. I've imagined myself with a prince or whatever—but I guess, Berkeley Jones is a fine human being as well. He's quite endearing. Such a personality coming out of him.

I'm heading to Connagh's office now. I'll be reporting my tasks to him and I'm not expecting we'll talk about what happened last weekend because it was kinda awkward. Not just for me, but I guess for him, too.

I knock on the glass door, announcing my presence then when I heard him giving me permission to walk inside his office, I greeted him a smile. Dahan-dahan din naman akong naglakad papunta sa kanyang desk at umayos ako ng pagkakaupo sa upuan.

"Have you had your lunch?" he asked. Tumango naman ako. "Great. Because I will be discussing things with you. I only have an hour before my next meeting so if you ever have some questions, please do ask, alright?"

Tango na lamang muli ang itinugon ko sa kanya. Umayos naman siya ng kanyang pagkakaupo at iniharap niya sa akin ang screen ng desktop so he can show to me what he'll be discussing with me.

Good to know that this is work-related. I don't have to worry about some other things—and by means of that, it's about me, Berk, and Connagh. And how did it became triple trouble? I'm not sure.

"This maybe our little assessment a few weeks before your final assessment," Connagh said. I swallowed as if my throat's getting dry in this kind of situation. "You're the first intern I handled ever since I became the CEO and my mentoring is quite rusty, but this is our relationship in work, of course. You'll learn from me, I'll learn from you."

"Yes, sir," I nodded.

"So, from the past few weeks, you've been doing great at the tasks I have been given to you. You're quite a fast learner, too. I admire your determination and hard work. I can really see that on you. Your ethical and work behavior is what I was looking for in an employee. If you happened to be an applicant in my company and I was the one who interviewed you, I might hire you. Not because of your credentials, but because of your personality. Though aside from those things, I might need to see an improvement from you on other things."

"Like what kind of things, sir?" I asked.

"Like on how you engage with people," he pointed out. "I see how you make friends around here and I noticed some things that needed some improvement. I'm not judging how the way you approached or communicate with other people, but because I'm training you and based on your course as a marketing student, engagement is the core itself to have a successful relationship with your clients or your buyers."

"I will try my best, sir. I know I'm still lacking at some areas, but I'm going to try my best."

He shook his head as if he's not agreeing to my statement. Kinabahan ako sa respond niya. "Don't try, Miss Gillespie. Do your best. Always, alright?"

I was relieved from the moment he said that. Akala ko may malaking kapalpakan na naman akong nagawa. I know he's trying to uplift my self-esteem and my motivation and he really had a good job doing it.

"And just like what I said, engagement is what you need to improve. This coming Friday evening, the trade event will happen and we'll be there as VIP guests. At that event, you can practice your skills and communication with the other professionals. Can I expect your utmost skills and behavior on that event, Miss Gillespie?"

I aggressively nodded. "Yes, sir. You have my word."

"So, sure, we'll discuss, some of the things that'll happen at the event," Connagh said and there he started presenting some slides. I put my eyes on the screen and my ears to every word he said. Inintindi ko naman ang bawat sinasabi niya kahit gusto kong paulitin sa kanya dahil sa bilis ng pagsasalita niya at sa kanyang accent. In the end, I've got to learn what the event all about is naman. "Are you sure everything's clear to you now?"

I nodded determinedly. "Yes, sir."

Connagh slowly nodded his head and leaned his back against his chair. "Now, let's get to the fun party or maybe for me." He grinned.

Napakunot-noo naman ako sa sinabi niya. "Ano po 'yon, sir?"

"Assess me as your mentor—not your boss, but as your mentor," he demanded.

"Hala, sir! Does it have to be? Nakakahiya naman."

He chuckled. "No, it's not and it's okay. Just like what I've said, it's my first time to handle an intern and I wanna know how did I do as a mentor and your insight would be the key so I can also improve myself. Take your time, no pressure..." he said and then looked at his wristwatch. "I still have fifteen minutes before the meeting."

"Sige po, sir... but is this really okay lang talaga?" I wondered. Tumango naman siya sa akin para kumpirmahin iyon. Umayos naman ako ng pagkakaupo ko at lumunok pa ng laway dahil sa tingin ko'y nanunuyo na ang lalamunan ko sa tensyon.

"Do you want to drink some water, Miss Gillespie?"

Napatingin naman ako sa tumbler sa gilid ng mesa niya. Hindi na ako nakasagot kung hindi ay inabot na lamang niya sa akin 'yon.

Umiling naman ako. "Hindi, sir. Okay lang..."

"No, it's fine. I'm not sick, so you won't be sick by drinking from my tumbler."

Nanginginig ko pang kinuha ang tumbler. I know the tensions rising dahil tinititigan niya akong uminom from his tumbler. I slowly open the lid of his tumbler and then I drink from it. Nang umiinom naman ako, alam kong pinapanood niya ako kaya itinuon ko na lamang ang atensyon ko sa ibang bagay. Halos ilang lagok lamang ang nagawa ko at inilayo ko na ang tumbler sa bibig ko at ibinalik na kay Connagh.

"You okay now?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes, thank you."

"Splendid. So please, what do you think of me? We have 12 minutes left, Miss Gillespie."

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. "I don't know why this is hard for me... but you're not a bad mentor—I mean, you taught me a lot of things that I consider that I would use in my experiences. You're approachable. When I asked you some questions, you then will provide solutions for me. You're nice and kind to me. Our work relationship is something special—not special-special, but because it's your first time to handle an intern, everything we shared and did together was something I would always mind. I believe in the next few weeks, I would still learn a lot from you."

"Is that all, Miss Gillespie?" he asked, arching his brow.

I nodded. "Yes... I think so, sir."

"Then alright," he said. "Thank you for your insight. We'll do this once again for your final assessment, understood? I'll be going to my meeting now. You can continue your tasks."

"Thank you, sir."

Tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan ko and I was about to leave his office when he called me once again. I turned around to see him and wait for what he will say. "I'm—whatever. I'm sorry. Thank you for your time, Miss Gillespie. See you around."

I walked out of his office when he said that. Buong pagtataka naman ang naiwan sa akin ni Connagh. I'm trying to guess what he was about to say pero hindi niya itinuloy. Was it about the dress and the shoes he gave to me? We never talked about it, as in. It never slipped out of his mouth and I never spoke about it as well. Gustuhin ko man, but I believe he'll take that in another way and I'm afraid what his reaction would be.

I spend my day just like any other day that I would finish my tasks and all. Ang kakaiba lamang ay hindi mawala sa isipan ko 'yong nangyari kanina. I'm trying to sway it out of my head pero hindi talaga maiwasang sumagi sa isipan ko iyon.

I would be at the event, but I'm not even sure if I'm going to wear the stuff he gave to me. Hindi alam ni Berk ang tungkol do'n. I didn't tell him because I thought it would be personal and he might get jealous because of it. I'm trying to save Berk's emotion so I'm trying not to always put Connagh in our conversation.

Because Berk and I are dating and it should only be the both of us and not adding other people into the scene or to our conversation. But sometimes, I thought Berk became my option to stay out of Connagh's way.

Ginawa ko 'yon para lumayo rin siya sa akin at para hindi na niya ako pagtuunan ng pansin aside sa pagiging intern niya. I also thought of Berk's feelings and thought that he might've felt that way. I don't wanna hurt these boys feelings and thinking it now... I really don't know if I made the right decision.

Dating Berk means staying away from Connagh, but means of dating Berk, am I just using him for my escape from Connagh's relationship? I really don't know now. I think I should find an answer to this and it won't help if I keep crashing through these boys.

And in the first place, it wasn't my priority, but it became second right after my internship. Shit just got real.

When the day in the office is finally done, I told Berk that I'm going to withdraw some money. I just received my monthly allowance from Mercondia's sponsorship. I would then send half of the money to my parents back home because I believe they needed it more than me. I'm getting salary from the company and it's enough for me to suffice all of my needs, the sponsorship allowance was just a big help to compensate everything that I needed on my first few weeks. But I'm already adjusted to my routine so ang sobra-sobra kong pera ay ipadadala ko na lang instead gastuhin ko sa ibang bagay.

After getting my money and transferring it to my parents account, Berk and I had dinner outside and I was so quiet the whole time that when we went back to our place, he asked me because he noticed how quiet and timid I was when we're out earlier.

"Is there a problem, love?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, nothing. I was just... tired."

"Oh, you should get some rest now. See you tomorrow, alright?"

"Right..."

What I didn't expect the next thing he would do was when he leaned closer and kissed me. On my lips. I was surprised and had my eyes widened open. Nagulat din naman siya sa naging reaction ko.

"Was it wrong? Should I haven't done that?" he asked worriedly.

Dahan-dahan naman akong umiling. "No... that's... alright."

"I see," he smirked. "Good night, love. Give me a call if you needed something okay?"

I nodded. And before we separated our ways, I called him. "I have a quick question..."

"Yes, love?"

"What's Connagh's ex-girlfriend's name?"

He chuckled. "Why are you interested? Is it because of the same dress before?"

Tumango na lamang ako. "Yes."

"Oh, okay. Her name's Rebecca. I forgot her last name, but I only remember her first name. Why do you ask though?"

Umiling ako para alisin ang pagka-curious niya. "Nothing. See you tomorrow, Berky. Good night."

He waved at me and then I headed inside the building pero hindi pa man ako nakakarating sa kwarto ko ay ilang malalalamin na hininga na ang pinakawalan ko. if I keep worrying about these things, kung ano-ano na lang ang iisipin ko.

Our kiss was just a normal thing for him now. And mine with Connagh, we never talked about it. He's such a reserved person and I couldn't distinguish who he really is. This is just so hard and I know this won't make any sense at the end of the day.

Because I'm not even a princess who can choose a knight over a prince. I'm not even a damsel in distress, and who I really am? And who they could be for me? So much confusion and I just hope answers would come in my way like a speck of fairy dust. I wished.

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