Traizle
"Zarsuelo, you are invited to a party." I told him, handing him the pink envelope that I had just received a while ago.
He walked towards me. "A party? It's been a long time since I went to a party!" he replied excitedly as he opened the invitation letter. "Can I go to the party?" He asked.
"Why are you asking me about that? If you want to go, then go." I answered.
"Oh, it is not just an invitation letter. It is a business party." he replied while reading the letter.
"Business what?" I asked.
"We should get ready." Zarsuelo beamed.
"We?" I asked back.
Why 'we' sound like I am going with him to that party?
"Of course! I am my company's representative and need you to go with me because you are my secretary. In that way, we can also find some investors or future customers," he answered, smiling widely. "You will be my date on Saturday. I can't wait for that day!" he added excitedly.
I hate that kind of party. "Do I really have to go there? I don't think I can go with you." I asked, wondering if I could not go.
“You must. They would look down on me if I went there alone on Saturday," he replied. "They already know that I have a secretary. They will probably go with their secretary as well." he added, pouting.
Looking at him pouting in front of me means he is really looking forward to the party. "I have been good for a week already. Will you please go with me on Saturday?" he asked, giving me a puppy-dog look.
After I started working here again, Zarsuelo never did something to trouble me. He never called me endearments again, but always tried to tease me when we were alone.
Overall, he is following our rules, so I don't have any complaints about him. He has been serious about his work as well. Although chocolate can't be removed from his lifestyle, he is still doing well.
"Okay, I will go with you," I told him. "But I don't have anything to we—help me buy things I needed to wear on Saturday." I continued.
I don't have enough money to buy my own and I will just use it for one night. I will just waste my money if I buy one for a one-time event. Zarsuelo has enough money to buy me, and he wants me to go with him, so he needs to buy me everything I need for the said party.
"If you are just a different woman, you will get shy about saying that you don't have the money to buy a dress. But you are different. I like the chilled one," he replied, eyebrows waggling. "I am about to tell you about that, but you talked about it first. Don't worry about it, I will prepare everything for you. After work, we will go to a shop to look at their designs." he added excitedly.
I agreed. "Let's just be quick, I still need to work at the Snack Bar." I responded.
"And you will use the bike you rented at the bike shop? look at your arms, they are getting skinnier than before." he commented angrily, forehead was creased.
"I still need to work," I answered. "We still have daily expenses. My money is not enough for our monthly budget. So, I had to work at the Snack Bar." I added.
My salary is good enough to pay our monthly bills, monthly groceries and Layzen and Lyndon's allowance.
"Why didn't you tell me already about that? You should have told me," He replied. "I can help you with that." he continued.
"I know you can, but it is my family problem now. It's not like a while ago that you had to be responsible for the dress I was going to wear." I answered. I know what my limitations are. I will ask what I need if he is responsible for it, if not, I won't ask him. "Unless I really need some help." I added, looking at him directly.
"Okay," he replied, raising both of his arms to say he lost. "I can't change your mind, but don't forget that you can ask for help from me. I will surely help you whenever and whatever it is." he added.
I can't help but to smile at him. Sometimes he can really speak normally. Normal in the sense that he isn't his oddball self.
"There is your sweet smile again," he commented, pointing at my lips. "I suddenly want to kiss you. Don't do that in front of me, you are being unfair. I am being a good one here and there. You are showing off your charm." he added, grinning at me.
And he is back to his oddball self after a few seconds. "I will go back to our office. Go back to your work." I told him, heading out from his office.
"Okay, I will see you after work." he replied.
I went back to our room. As usual, the four are waiting for me. They will always wait for me whenever I go out, wherever it may be. "What do you want to hear now?" I asked as soon as I sat on my chair.
"Where did you go?" Claire asked.
"Cafeteria with Tyler?" Sonia asked.
"Or at the marketing office to see Aeron?" Alessa asked.
"Sir. Zarsuelo's office?" Alex asked.
That is their question every time I go back to our room. This is all because of Zarsuelo.
On the days when I didn't go to work, Zarsuelo stayed here and did his work at my table. Why? because he said that the files he needed were on my table. So, he had to stay here.
They also told me that Zarsuelo was panicking when they found out that he had a meeting to attend outside, because he had forgotten about it.
Lastly, they told me that they were making a list of Zarsuelo's competitors over me. Yes, over me. They already know that Zarsuelo likes me. That is why I deal with them daily.
Tyler and Aeron are on their list. Alex is not included anymore, according to them, because he has a girlfriend. He even needs to give proof to Zarsuelo to make sure he is telling the truth that he doesn't like me romantically. And I, the center of their topic, know all these things as if I am not the one, they are talking about. If they are not my friends, I will do my best to punch them.
"Zarsuelo. We need to go to a party on Saturday. He said that it was a business party invitation." I said, answering their questions.
"Omg! Will you be his date on Saturday?" Claire asked excitedly.
I sighed and nodded weakly. "We need to for business." I answered back.
Sonia patted my shoulder and said, "Cut him some slack, Traizle."
"Can you cut me some slack as well?" I asked back.
They all shook their heads altogether. "Never. We want him for you, and we want you for him." Alessa beamed.
This feeling is something I lost years ago when I had some high school friends. Now that I am old, have friends whom I can always talk to while walking, I can feel them again. Where they will make the decisions for your life even though it is not theirs. That kind of feeling.
“You guys are compatible with each other. That is why we are suggesting that you date him soon." Alex added wickedly.
"You dimwit," I said as I was pinching him. "Add some fuel, I will pinch all of you hard. Hard enough to make you avoid me." I added, warning them.
They immediately went back to their positions quietly. Quietly, as in whispering to each other quietly with their new plan, I guess.