Bayanihan has also become the Town of Smiles. People are beaming sweet glances to Essi while she is leading her horse to the race track. There is no need for her to join. But here she is, standing with the strange beating of her heart, with Aggresso. The same excitement. The same thrill. Familiar feelings churned in her stomach as she looked around and knew that the people were watching them, ready to pay off their stakes for the horse of their likes.
This race has become a battle for herself. A rebirth of her passion long-buried in the reality that new and young racers have come before her, willing to learn at the expense of her retirement. The only time that she was defeated was in an accident. Other than that, the podium is always her finishing place.
This equestrian activity will always have a special place in her heart. Not because memories are joining i
That convention day is too short to be ordinary. But Oneil stands between the relativity of time to only exist as is. He cannot recall his speech. And he can no more explain his feelings to extended details. Speaking to unfamiliar people and smiling faces grant him no myriad of mixed excitements and anxiety at all. Perhaps, in his attempt to suppress his stage fright, he lost excitement and delight. He smiles and nods to those who greeted him after the forum. But he only felt empty inside. It could have been his defining moment for others to see that he is the standard-bearer of the Mercators. It should have been. All of them are convinced. Oneil can say it. Yet, it is himself he found the hardest to persuade. He got through that day. But what about another more to come? It is inevitable to not make that appearance the last one. So his thoughts rumbled at second's length to preclude his notice of time pas
Oneil is living in the feeling that Essi might come around anytime. Such a thrill, feeling chased and getting used to it. At first, it seems like running in circles. But later on, it has become part of his routine, a habit of his heart he cannot deny. He was waiting for her to be in the building. He got up earlier than usual. Arrived at his station at 6 AM. Prepared another cup of coffee in case Essi does not have one.The building of Gautarza is unusually silent. With about 500 people as their staff, and a fourth of them are on the first day of the seminar series, something inside the building is indeed empty. But Essi is passionate about making her employees updated on skills and knowledge systems. She once mentioned to Oneil that a lecture on work management and the dysfunction of alienation brought her to this motivation. But, perhaps, what makes Essi’s fresh handling methods on the company effective is how she strategically chooses the opportunities around her. Her
From when did it start that Victor is suddenly losing details about Essi? He knew what she was up to and where she was heading. He knew her business and could feel her thoughts through her silence. But suddenly, he does not have any idea why Essi went out with Oneil without telling him the purpose. He should have received updates since he will be left to deal with those who might look for Essi. He cannot withhold information all the time especially if it is Arlelle Paulsson. Essi’s grandfather.Victor keeps on dialing Essi’s number while negotiating with time to be patient with him.“He is here,” Victor almost whispered when the other end finally responded. He gets secured to the assurance that Essi and Oneil are almost near to the building. Victor returns to Essi’s office where Grand Paulsson is waiting for Essi.The Grand Paulsson is in his typical corporate attire, a new hat, and a watch of a sky-rocketing price. He waits in sile
Essi returns to the scene that Mr. Arlelle’s hand is on Oneil’s shoulder. A sign of blessing and acceptance. But the old man leaves the words of challenge to Oneil.Essi’s grandfather has always been like that. His words may seem to be counterproductive. Yet, from it, Essi found stronger motivations.It is a call of duty, an intense heat of challenge for Oneil whether he should show up to the golf course with Mr. Arlelle Paulsson. The time is too short for him to think of anything else, be it dread or questions. Essi came in to disrupt the intense situation.“So what did I miss??” Essi asked as she closed the door. The clacks of her stilettos fill the sound of her walk while getting near to the two. “When would you like to play golf with Oneil, grandpa?”The old man returned to his seat without a smile. “I don’t think that it would be best for us to join the golf course,”
Gwyneth assumed that her task was already done. Anytime sooner, she might be able to return to Bordeaux to continue her equestrian passion. She keeps talking to Paco about the small little things happening between Essi and Oneil. She counts every interaction they have made the progress she had been longing to see. “Don’t you feel your heart fluttering too? They are sweet to each other,” Gwyneth said while returning the horse to the stable. “Just like how they are meant to be.” Paco is walking next to her, only silent and having thoughts afar off. He couldn’t keep up his attention to Gwyneth because of the sensitive request he received from her. He didn’t even notice that they were already in front of the grand gates of their ancestral house. “Why are we here?” Paco asked. “I told you, we will be buying some tickets for the two,” Gwyneth replied. She noticed Oneil always passing by in this street to look at the ancestral house. It seems like it has som
Planned things often do not happen. Their date at the Mariano Ancestral House didn’t go through. Puzzled by Gwyneth’s disagreement for Essi and Oneil to go there, Essi is running out of choices to spend time with the man. If she would say how worried she is that Oneil’s plan will not happen, Oneil might find out that Essi has been observing him these past few days. She can only have these kinds of secret thoughts while walking from her house to buy a late-night coffee mix to a sari-sari store. While waiting for the store clerk to give her the coffee mix, the electricity went out in the entire Bayanihan. It is all dark and night has become eerie at the people’s sound of awe. People are in a rush to plug out their appliances to avoid complications when the electricity returns. “Are you okay, miss? Please wait for a bit, we have to prepare the emergency lights,” the clerk said since he was still not able to find Essi’s preferred coffee mix. “It’s alright,”
Essi has liked the reflections of Oneil and herself on the surface of the dark waters. But she never thought that there is more joy in seeing her image in the eyes of Oneil, looking with care at her. His hands are in front of Essi, waiting for her to hold. It is time now to leave the boat that separated them for a while from the worries of life. Essi sets her feet again on the soil of the riverside. The sense of security accompanies her at Oneil’s reminder for them to get Essi home.While on their way, they saw the curfew station staying active with an emergency light at the corner of the street. Paco’s mother, Minerva, is staying at the station with her barangay volunteer vest. She has her friends at the station, spending their time for random conversations once more. They noticed Essi and Oneil turning to their street.“Essi?” Minerva recognized her after moving the flashlight towards them. “Where have you been? It’s dark now,&rdqu
Minerva has a cozy garden-themed house ornamented with string lights accompanied by simple music. Visitors are coming in and out. Some of them are wearing their casual dress and others are keeping it civil. As for Essi, she arrived at the event’s place with her green blazer and white wrap dress. She had no extra time to change her corporate attire. Now, she is earning people’s attention for wearing a rich woman’s dress, although she managed to purchase it at 50% off. People made way for her to get inside, stepping themselves aside while their eyes were on her. They are whispering if they are seeing it right. They thought that Essi was coming to crash the party. But she has a gift in her hand. Minerva has also greeted her and led her to a special table for Paco’s friends. The birthday boy and Gwyneth are nowhere to be found until they arrived with additi