There are many ways that people can say they are okay. Essi has recovered her health. But she still doesn’t feel good. She will have the need to face herself to the Paulssons and she does not have the right to plead to her family to excuse her. Essi intended to focus herself on the tablet with the aim of keeping up with her business. Her mind is already gearing back to the systems of her company and how she can help PHYGIN while Oneil is away.
“Essi, you should take a rest first. You just got discharged. Don’t get yourself too busy.”
“I can’t,” Essi replied while her eyes were fixed on the large screens to skim many emails and appointments.
“Your father has dealt with them. He explained that it will be a private matter that we will not discuss with them.”
Essi stopped from her work and glanced at her mother. Is she telling the truth? Essi had it hard to believe because the Paulssons are known to be passionate about knowing the business of their
A sound of the earth being tilled, a farewell of the wilted leaves, and the sprinkling of waters against the sunlight, creating iridescent overlays on the garden Essi is working on. It is another work in silence, where deliberate freedom of her reflections comes away from considering that today is Oneil’s flight with the Mercators. She keeps on sweeping the leaves without noticing the arrival of her guest. She almost shrieked on seeing Paco’s face behind the chicken wire.“Gwyneth’s flight is at 3PM,” he stated after greeting her a good morning. “How about going with me to see her off? In that way, you can see Oneil.”Essi refused. “Oneil’s family will have a separate flight. They will take a private plane while the other Mercators join the commercial flight.”“Wow, how do you know that?”Paco asked while getting inside the lot. He sat next to Essi, already starting to rid the weeds.
He can only look from afar and stay behind while his friend deals with sadness internally. Her professional smile may tell the investors that she is glad and cheerful. But it cannot lie to him. He can only stay to make sure that she has support. No, it doesn’t matter to him if she could notice his simple gesture or not. Essi keeps up her strength amid a friendly meeting with a group of stockholders, the league that she was considering joining while aiming to diversify her personal investment portfolio. Essi could notice Victor staring at him, with a worried face. She never watched him smiling. He may beam at her but that’s a different thing from his usual expressions. His long face has intimidated the kids roaming around the restaurant. One kid has spilled his glass of water next to Victor. Victor wanted to help already standing up with the charging of his leather boots. But the little boy cried, frightened by Victor's military gesture. Mannerism and military training combin
Everyone who knows Essi very well can be confident of the reality that it is impossible for her to just settle in the Bayanihan Town without another purpose. This is not because Oneil seems not too important for her to even take the course with a single goal. The reason is obvious. She is a Paulsson and she is trained by Mr. Arlelle to focus on other possibilities while facing such an ordeal. Unlike her grandfather, she couldn’t handle it perfectly yet. Her purpose to see business and investment prospects in Bayanihan Town was compromised in her pursuit for Oneil. Yet, although Oneil has returned to Bordeaux, she didn’t place it in her mind to think about this plan until the time would say so. However, as her parents returned from roaming around the barangay, her purpose is now reviving in itself, calling for Essi to suspend her sentimental flashbacks with Oneil. But Essi would refuse. Her eyes would rather focus on staring at the festive drone show than to give her consciou
Essi has a crazy idea. Who would believe that she can think of that? She had just thought about it well after noticing how Victor would somehow look after Jillian. He does it better now than the last time that he would just reply in short words. Maybe, this is the fruit of relentless pursuit. Victor would now even consider having dinner with Jillian after work. So when Victor asked Essi if she would like to join them, she politely declined. “You can go ahead, I’m fine here. Bodyguards are everywhere anyway,” Essi assured after telling him that she can wait for her. “My work’s done, Victor. You don’t have to worry about anything here. You two can enjoy your dinner date.” “If you need anything, just call me,” he reminded Essi before leaving. But Essi only giggled after noticing how clumsy and excited Victor was. He excused that he was just hungry as if Essi would buy it. After Victor leaves, her bodyguards in their suits are surrounding her closer than
She’s just a kid and everyone is old enough to allot more patience to her. But sometimes, she is more aggressive. Essi almost ran out of ways and negotiations in herself to remain tolerant. She must not drive out that girl from her house. The best thing that she can do is to excuse herself for work. Paco followed her towards the car, still surprised that Essi’s guards would allow him to talk to Essi. They kept talking inside the car about the young racer.“Isn’t it weird that she is still angry at me for winning the race?” Essi cannot recall any reason for Charlotte to dislike her that much, Charlotte is making ways to annoy her.“Maybe you have done something against her.”“We only met at the racetrack,” Essi defended immediately. But she halted after recalling how Charlotte was hateful about rich people.“She hates you because you have money?” Paco can somehow catch up with the logic beca
Bringing Victor was supposed to have an ally in case her parents would insist on taking Charlotte into the House of Paulsson. But Charlotte took him wrongly as if he has a secret relationship with Essi. “I’m sorry, I’m just surprised that you allow yourself to be surrounded by men when you already have a fiance.” Charlotte speaks as if she is already old enough to initiate this kind of conversation. Having this kind of participant within the discussion somehow reminds Essi why elders would rather wish that the young ones have their own circle and not mention controversies with irresponsible words and heavy intentions around them. “We’re dealing with things professionally here. So I don’t see any reasons why I have to set him out of the picture.” Essi glanced back at her parents. “Ma, Pa… you know how straightforward I am in discussions. What kind of refusal do you want me to say?” Charlotte wimped to gather other people’s attention
Accident news around Bayanihan is often uncommon. When they hear one, it often lasts for such a long time that many theories are born out of it. Paco could clearly remember that it happened in the first week of June. His mother was almost hysterical at a heightened worry that her son might have been in danger. Paco used to walk home instead of taking a tricycle after school. However, as much as the people would invest in knowing more about it, information flow is somehow constrained. They can only have a hint that among those who are involved in the accident was Charlotte. “Essi, is it possible that during this accident, Oneil was there?” Paco cannot help but connect the pieces of information lingering in his mind. He has no other business to deal with. His purpose is now smoothened out. He just wanted to be with a familiar friend because Gwyneth is not calling him back. Ever since Gwyneth followed his social media account, his notification box exploded with ma
She always knew something about Essi. And looking back, she knows that Essi was telling the truth. She didn’t bother herself to reveal it on her behalf. The truth came out anyway, although it is late for Bayanihan. All that she have to do is to avoid her and do her own business. But things are inevitable redirecting her towards Essi. She keeps pushing Essi away. And yet, Charlotte cannot believe herself that she have to find her again. “I know that you have done much to my family. But why are you doing this? You know that we are not in good terms.” She made herself bold enough to enter Essi’s territory with her school journalism asset. Charlotte is aware that security inside the Gautarza Build is stringent. Getting allowed to enter might involve Essi’s approval. “What do you really want? And why are you doing this?” Essi decided to play with her for a little while. “Because I’m a businesswoman. I’m doing it for profit. And helping your family promises me a great retu