The next day, Aziel Luke hurriedly walked around the office, searching for his hardworking employee, Ashleigh. He had an important meeting to attend and he want his secretary to come with him but his secretary she was nowhere to be found. As the Chief Engineer, he relied heavily on Ashleigh's skills and dedication, and her absence was starting to worry him.

He checked her desk, but it was empty. He asked her colleagues, but they had not seen her either. Aziel's mind raced with different scenarios - maybe she had an emergency to attend to, or she was stuck in traffic. But as he continued his search, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

Just as he was about to give up and call her, he dialed the number of Ashleigh. It was Ashleigh's landlady, who answered the call. “Hello, sino po ito?” tanong ng landlady sa kabilang linya.

“This is Aziel Luke, Ashleigh’s boss, where is she?” tanong agad ni Aziel sa Ginang.

“Nandito po siya sa kanyang kwarto hindi po siya makakapasok sa trabaho dahil sa sobrang taas ng kanyang lagnat,” kita sa mukha ni Aziel ang kanyang pag-aalala kay Ashleigh.

“Kagabi pa po mataas ang kanyang lagnat,” dagdag ng landlady ni Ashleigh.

“Saan po ang boarding house ninyo?” tanong ni Aziel.

“Hmmmm, Nay!” sigaw ni Ashleigh sa kabilang linya. Natataranta ang landlady kaya dali-dali niya itong pinuntahan ng marinig ang malakas na sigaw ni Ashleigh.

Naputol ang tawag at walang nagawa si Aziel.

After informing him that she had a high fever and couldn't come to work. Aziel felt a pang of guilt wash over him. He had been so caught up with work that he didn't even notice Ashleigh's absence.

Hindi niya alam kong saan niya hahanapin ang tinitirhan ni Ashleigh kaya wala siyang magawa kundi hanapin ang kanyang resume para tingnan ang address ni Ashleigh.

Nang makita niya ang resume ni Ashleigh ay agad niya itong binuksan upang tingnan ang address nito. Bagsak ang kanyang balikat ng hindi pala sa Manila ang kanyang address.

Napatigil siya ng tumunog ang kanyang cellphone tiningnan niya ito at nakita niya ang mensahe gamit ang numero ni Ashleigh.

“205 E.Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City” From:  My Beautiful Secretary

’Yan ang pangalang nakaphonebook sa cellphone ni Aziel.

He immediately rushed to her boarding house, determined to take care of Ashleigh.

Dumaan muna siya ng supermarket para bumili ng prutas, gatas at mga kailangan ni Ashleigh. Bigla siyang natigilan sa kanyang ginawa at iniisip na lamang na para ito sa kanyang empleyado na si Ashleigh. Pagkatapos niyang mamili agad siyang bumalik sa kanyang kotse at mabilis niya itong pinatakbo.

When he arrived, he found Ashleigh lying in bed, covered in blankets and shivering. She looked pale and weak, and Aziel's heart clenched at the sight.

“Buti na lamang po at dumating na kayo, kagabi pa po siya mainit at hindi po siya umiinom ng gamot kagabi pa,” malungkot na sabi ng landlady ni Ashleigh.

“Maraming salamat po sa pagbabantay ni, Ashleigh.” pasasalamat ni Aziel sa landlady ni Ashleigh.

“O, siya, sige maiwan na muna kita may gagawin pa kasi ako,” pamamaalam ng Ginang sa kanya.

“Sige po, maraming salamat po ulit sa pagbabantay kay, Ashleigh.” ngumiti ang Ginang at lumabas ng kuwarto ni Ashleigh.

Paglabas ng Ginang ay agad pinagmasdan ni Aziel ang mukha ni Ashleigh.

“Ashleigh, what do you want to eat?”
He gently woke her up and helped her take her medicine and to eat.

Hindi sumagot si Ashleigh at nanginginig ito sa lamig. Tumingin-tingin si Aziel sa buong silid para maghanap ng ibang kumot pero wala siyang makita. Hinubad niya ang kanyang suot na coat at ginawa niya itong kumot kay Ashleigh.

Namangha si Aziel sa tinitirhan ni Ashleigh dahil maliit lang ito pero iba ang kusina, banyo at kuwarto.

Nagtungo siya sa kusina para ipagluto si Ashleigh ng lugaw at para na rin makainom ito ng gamot.

Kinuha ni Aziel ang rice cooker upang lagyan ng bigas at hugasan ito. Hindi alam ni Aziel kung paano magluto ng lugaw pero magluluto siya para kay Ashleigh.

Nang mailagay niya ang rice cooker sa lalagyan nito ay pinindot niya ang button pababa para mag-cook. Habang naghihintay siya na kumulo ang lugaw naghahanda siya ng prutas para ipakain kay Ashleigh.

Binalikan niya ang niluluto niyang lugaw nang makita niyang okay na binunot niya ang wire ng rice cooker.

Naghain siya ng lugaw sa mangkok para makakain na si Ashleigh at makainom na ng gamot.

“Ashleigh, wake up...you need to eat to get your energy back,” gumising si Ashleigh, kahit nilalagnat ito ay nagulat siya ng makita niya ang kanyang boss.

“Don't talk anymore, eat this porridge that I cook for you and then you can take the medicine after you eat.” utos ni Aziel.

Kumuha ng lugaw si Aziel para subuan si Ashleigh. Aangal sana si Ashleigh pero wala siyang nagawa kundi ibuka ang kanyang bibig at kainin ang lugaw.

Pagkatapos kumain ni Ashleigh ng lugaw, pinakain siya ni Aziel ng apple at grapes. Agad siyang pinainom ng gamot ni Aziel. Pagkatapos pakainin ni Aziel si Ashleigh ay niligpit niya ang mga kanyang pinaggagamitan at dinala sa kusina para hugasan.

Pagkatapos niyang maghugas ay bumalik si Aziel sa kuwarto para tingnan si Ashleigh. As Ashleigh drifted back to sleep, Aziel couldn't help but admire her bravery, even when she was clearly unwell.

Aziel stayed by her side, monitoring her fever and making sure she was comfortable. He even called the office to inform them that Ashleigh would be taking a few days off to rest. As he sat by her bedside, Aziel realized how much he valued Ashleigh's hard work and dedication.

The next day, when Ashleigh woke up feeling much better, she was surprised to see Aziel by her side sleeping.

Dahan-dahan siyang gumalaw para hindi niya magising si Aziel pero huli na ang lahat.

“Are you okay? How are you feeling?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Aziel sa kanya.

Tiningnan siya ni Ashleigh sa mukha dahil nahahalata kasi ni Ashleigh na wala itong tulog kakabantay sa kanya.

“Sir L-Luke, o-okay na po ako, maraming salamat po,” binigyan siya ng matamis na ngiti ni Aziel.

He had stayed the whole night, making sure she was okay. She thanked him for taking care of her and apologized for missing work.

Aziel just smiled and told her that her health was more important than work. He also promised to give her some time off to fully recover. Ashleigh couldn't help but feel touched by his kindness and concern.

Ashleigh and Aziel's relationship changed. They became more than just boss and employee, they became friends. Aziel learned to appreciate his employees more and Ashleigh learned to take care of herself better.

“Sir, maraming salamat po talaga. Hindi ko po alam kong paano ko po kayo babayaran sa pagaalaga niyo sa akin at pagbabantay, Sir Luke,” malumanay na sabi ni Ashleigh kay Aziel.

“No need to repay me, sobra lang akong nag-aalala sa'yo dahil wala rito ang pamilya mo para alagaan ka kapag magkakasakit ka katulad ngayon wala sila rito dahil malayo sila,” napangiti naman si Ashleigh sa sinabi ni Aziel sa kanya.

“Maraming salamat po ulit, Sir Luke. Papasok na po ako sa lunes.” hinawakan siya sa balikat ni Aziel at ngumiti ito sa kanya.

“Don't push yourself to go to work if you're not ready... you'll end up stressed.” Aziel said in a concerned tone.

“Okay na po ako sa lunes, Sir Luke dahil biyernes naman ngayon eh, may dalawang araw pa ako para magpahinga,” sagot niya at ngumiti.

Nagpaalam na si Aziel sa kanya at naglalakad ito pababa ng kanyang boarding house.

Aziel couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn of events. He realized that sometimes, it takes a fever for one to realize the value of someone's hard work and dedication.

©iKnowImNewbie