SERENDIPITOUS LOVE

CHAPTER 4: Robotics World

In the hospital parking lot where they already planned to leave for Pinnacle Tower, his smartphone rang. He set it on speaker while telling her, “I’ll just take this call before we leave.”

He answered, "Yes, Arthur. Have you already set an appointment with Callix Valderama, Quen Ibañez and Zachary Belmonte?"

Jacqui heard a man’s voice responding, “Yes, Boss. They all told me that you had already mentioned to them all of your robotics plans. They have already read your formal proposal regarding the Robotics Camp this coming school break as well as the Robotics Competition that you have in mind for K to 12 students. Your formal meeting with them had all been scheduled separately. I have already sent you the schedule. But I still have not received any confirmation from the JADE Technology section of JADE Company regarding their participation. Miss Avila's secretary told me that her boss has yet to read and decide on the proposal by Monday. The entire JADE Company does not operate on Sundays except for their stores, and Miss Avila did not come to her office today."

He responded, "I will then talk to Miss Avila personally about the proposal when I can. Perhaps she is just too busy."

The man replied, "Okay, Boss. That is all. Enjoy your weekend."

He ended the call with, "Okay, thanks, and bye."

As he started to drive, Jacqui then asked him about the robotics proposal that she had heard of, "What is that robotics proposal all about, Jac? It seems that you are in the process of cooperating with all the top tech firms in the country. And why ask JADE Technology to be part of it? It is just but a section in my company."

Jac told her, "It is not about whether your company is big or small, Jacqui. The main goal of the proposal is to provide avenues for K to 12 students to learn more about robotics. My tech firm produces electronics and electrical components. Our firms' specialties are in the engineering and production areas. It is the same for i Industries of Quen Ibañez. Although the focus of his company is more on different types of aircrafts and watercrafts, he also applies the concepts of automation and artificial intelligence in his systems. As for the V+ Tech firm of Callix Valderama, they also had promising engineering, production and programming experts. With ZING Technology by Zachary Belmonte..."

She finished for him, "It is involved mostly in programming, software and game development and is now venturing into robotics development. It also launched Shadow, which is a very useful gadget. Zach is my godbrother. His Mom is my baptismal godmother. Our mothers are the best of friends."

Jac acknowledged it, "I see," and then said, "As for JADE Technology, you are a genius at coding and you also have a promising tech team. Thus, your participation will be very beneficial to all those students. I just want the best mentors for them so that we might be able to compete in the robotics field internationally. I have already coordinated with the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Education regarding this proposal. We have already started to distribute posters regarding the Robotics Camp."

She asked, "When will it be held then?"

Jac responded, "I had a facility specifically built for such in the compound of Zenith Technology Processing Plant, which I called Zenith Robotics Base."

She uttered, "I see," then said, "I need to read the proposal first before I can give you my final answer. Your intentions on this proposal seem to be very good. I am likely to agree."

He answered, "That is nice to know. If you want, I can also tour you around the base some time."

"Yeah, that will be nice. We can do it once I am not that busy anymore. I want to see it." Then she asked, "Anyway, do you also plan to form a robot combat team? I recalled that you used to participate in robot combat competitions, and robot car racing internationally. You even won several championships."

His response was, "Yes. As a hobbyist, I did form a team back then and we competed in international invitational cups. But when I returned to working for JI Pinnacle Corporation, I had to give up on competing. So I had a fallout with Filbert, the co-captain of our team. He founded D' Kings after our fallout and formed several e-sports teams in different fields, including robot combat, robot car racing, and most recently the three online games launched by Callix when he returned to the country. The professional league is being dominated by the team of your godbrother. D' ZINGERS has remained undefeated since the professional league of those online games was launched. Arthur is actually one of my former teammates, as well as Yuri, who is currently the e-sports club manager of D' ZINGERS. Yuri had been kicked out by D' Kings due to his old age and declining performance level. He did not approach me or Arthur for help when he had been faced with a very tough financial situation. Good thing your godbrother had employed him. Yuri and his son live at ZING E-Sports Club Base. His son is also one of the promising younger players of D' ZINGERS. I heard that your godbrother and his other four original teammates would already be retiring towards the end of this upcoming season of V+ Tech E-sports Professional League."

She reminded him, "You still have not answered my question."

He said, "Well, to answer your question, I have no plans to form a team. Perhaps, I can suggest it to your godbrother. I made a promise to Filbert that I would not be joining that sort of competition again. He was so mad at me back then and, up to now, he still has not forgiven me for leaving the team because of my filial duty."

She then asked, "But do you still play them even as a hobby?"

He confirmed, "Yes, I still do. Actually, I have a robot car racing circuit as well as a robot combat arena at my private residence. In addition, my cousin, Axel Lim, is also very interested in robot combat and robot car racing. He is planning to have a team just to compete for some international invitational cups this coming school break. He also asked me to train the team that he will form for robot combat and to check the plans of the robots that he would be developing for both robot combat and robot car racing."

She commented, "That is very nice," and then shared, "Actually, Alyanna is also interested in robotics but more on the coding aspects."

He then had an idea. "Is she already 18 years old? I can recommend her to be on my cousin's team. He will be recruiting his teammates here from Filipinas and not from China."

Her answer was, "Yes, she just turned 18 last December. But I really cannot decide for her in terms of joining your cousin's team as a programmer. But I can ask her and her parents about it."

He responded, "Well, she is your protégé and she is also from FESL, so she must be a genius like you."

She said, "Yeah, that is a safe thing to say. She will be graduating from senior high school in early June, and will be taking up Computer Science starting August at UF – Vienburg."

He informed her, "Axel will be coming home here as soon as he graduated from college by mid-July. He will be living with me at my private residence. The robot car racing that he will participate in is slated for the last week of July while the robot combat is slated for the first two weeks of August."

Once they reached the basement parking of Pinnacle Tower, he asked her, "So what will be your activities for tomorrow?"

She told him, "I had to go to JADE Company Building. I have scheduled meetings in the morning and runway show rehearsal in the afternoon. We have a Pre-Valentine's Runway Show on the 12th for the launch of our new line of intimate apparel. The models are only available on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday for the rehearsals, so I got to work this time on a Sunday."

He said, "Then can we go out for dinner after the rehearsal?"

She inquired, "Is it a date?"

He confirmed, "Yes," and then asked further, "So will you agree to go out with me on a dinner date tomorrow?"

She felt so overwhelmed by how things were going so fast. Nevertheless, she responded with, "Okay. The rehearsals will end by 5 PM."

He said, "I will be there at your building at exactly 5 PM."

She already unbuckled the seatbelt and so he rushed to the other side of his car to open up the door for her.

When she came out of the car, she expressed her gratitude to him, “Thanks for the ride.”

He smiled and said, “I used to live in the same building anyway, so no worries."

As they walked towards the entrance door side by side, she asked, "If you are not living anymore in the penthouse unit, then is it unoccupied?"

His answer was, "Yeah, but I usually have it rented out for a short-term lease to some of my foreign friends whenever they decide to visit the country for some R and R. Some of our relatives, whenever they visit, also preferred staying here for more privacy than in my parents' home or in one of our hotels."

"Good evening, sir. Good evening, ma'am," The security guard had greeted them and had pressed the elevator for them. As it opened, they went in. He pressed her floor, confirming, “18th right?”

She was not surprised anymore why he knew. He really seemed to be interested in her anyway. He already seemed to know a lot of things about her.

From the basement, the elevator stopped and opened up at the ground floor. Atty. Maynard Castillo, Madison’s brother, came in and joined them.

Maynard talked to Jacqui, “Oh Jacqui! Did you just arrive from the family dinner?”

Jacqui responded, “Not exactly. I had already dropped by at the hospital,” and then asked, “So what is the status of Manang Alma's case?”

Maynard replied, “The driver wanted to settle. He was drunk and clearly did not stop at the time when people were crossing the road. I have already talked to Manong Rod. He agreed to settle.”

Jacqui reminded Maynard, “Just send the bill to my office for the legal fees,” then she recalled Jac, so she made the introduction, “By the way, Kuya Maynard, this is Mr. Jacob Ivan Tan. Jac, this is Atty. Maynard Castillo. He is the brother of my sister-in-law, Madison. He also lives in a unit on the 18th floor.”

With his observation, Jac felt that the lawyer was romantically interested in Jacqui. Jac extended his right hand for a handshake.

Jac said, “Nice to meet you, Atty. Castillo.”

The lawyer responded, “Same here.”

Then there was an awkward silence. Jac broke the silence surrounding them. “Lola just messaged me, checking on us.”

Jacqui responded, “Lola messaged me as well, checking on us too.”

The elevator stopped and opened at the 18th floor. Maynard came out first after gesturing his leave. His unit was in the middle part of the east wing.

Jacqui said before stepping out, “No need to walk me to my door. You must be tired already from all the driving.”

Jac stepped out too, “It would be rude if I didn’t walk you to your door.”

Maynard already went ahead of them, not knowing how to react. It was clear to him that the lady he was attracted to was very familiar with the billionaire beside her.

Jacqui’s condominium was at the end of the west wing.

When they reached her door, Jacqui was surprised when Jac asked, “Did Atty. Castillo pursue you in the past?”

Jacqui answered, “Nope. He is just like an older brother to me. Madison is not only my sister-in-law. She is also my best friend. She used to live with her parents and brother here. Kuya Maynard was a CPA before he became a lawyer. We were actually classmates in law school. Ever since their father got paralyzed waist down, Kuya Maynard took responsibility for their family.”

Jac voiced out, “I am saying this as a man who is very much attracted to you. That lawyer is definitely romantically interested in you in the same way that I do.”

She just laughed it out. She felt good deep inside that Jac seemed to be jealous. It really felt good to hear that the man she was attracted to was indeed attracted to her as well.

She decided to tease him, “Threatened?”

“Yes, I feel threatened,” he admitted, “I wasted so much time not pursuing you in the past. And now that I already have your Dad’s permission, it would still be a tough competition because you are a very much accomplished lady with so many admirers.”

She responded, “Didn’t I agree to date you already? So you have got nothing to worry about. I had never agreed to date anyone before," then she found the courage to say, "I am also attracted to you. Is it not obvious?”

He did not expect those words from her. So he reached for her right hand with his right hand, held it up, and lightly kissed the back of her palm. “Initially, I wanted to take things slowly because this would be your first time to actually interact with a man romantically. You keep on surprising with your kindness and honesty.”

She replied, “I am not a child anymore. We are both adults anyway.”

That had made him laugh, “You should go in now.”

“Okay. Good night,” she cheekily expressed.

He smiled and answered, “Good night.”

She entered the door, and locked it.

She looked at the security camera monitor on the wall next to the door. He was surprisingly happy with her confession. He was still all smile.

In her mind – Yes! He really likes me. He is romantically attracted to me as well. Making his grandmother happy was not his intention indeed. He is just a perfect gentleman! He did not take advantage of my confession and just opted to kiss me by my hand. That is so sweet and gentle of him. I almost melted as he looked at my eyes with so much passion in his eyes. I thought he would already be kissing my lips. He is so handsome! And his lips are so soft. Gosh! Will I be able to sleep tonight? I just feel so ecstatic! My crush also likes me and he is already courting me. Shall I agree to be his girlfriend right away? No! That is way too fast! I should not appear to be too eager to be his girlfriend. Dad is right! We must get to know each other very well first to see if we are indeed compatible.

Jac had already decided to go home to his private residence.

On his way home, he was thinking – She also likes me! I really did not expect such a confession from her. But I need to be mindful of that lawyer. I do not feel good about him. That lawyer is indeed romantically interested in Jacqui. Even if she only sees him as an older brother, that man sees her differently, even if his sister is Jacqui's sister-in-law. I must do my best to win Jacqui over. It is not just enough that she likes me too. She needs to feel secure about me so she will agree to be my girlfriend and eventually to be my wife. I also need to make her feel so much loved by me. I also need to earn her trust completely so that she will feel assured that my intentions for her are real and serious. I also need to show her my world and I hope that she will be able to fit in to such. Well, she is from the upper class as well, unlike Anna. I really hope that Jacqui and I will work out as a couple. I really like her a lot. But then she is unpredictable. I thought at first that she didn't like me. But as it turned out, she just wanted to be sure about my real motive for asking her parents' permission to court her.

On the other hand, Maynard was thinking – Why does Jacqui seem to be familiar with that billionaire? They both even mentioned their grandmother checking on them. I used to see that billionaire here in this building when Jacqui was still in Paris. I just recently acquired my condominium unit here just to be closer to Jacqui. Is she dating the billionaire already? I have not made my moves yet on her and here she is already chummy with that billionaire. Well, it is still not too late for me to act. Jacqui had declined all her admirers. That billionaire might just be an acquaintance or a friend. The Tans were from the State of Sorocon. Perhaps their families have known each other from way back then. I must already act as soon as possible. I should not waste any more time. I need to confess my feelings to her immediately. If this billionaire intends to pursue her as I suspected, then may the best man win! I cannot let myself just be defeated by him without a fight.