Have You Ever

First Kiss

I always feel so excited going to work every day though I have tons of tasks to do especially that the Sports Fest will be held in two days. Arranging the schedule for the entire factory workers is a big headache. I have to do a great job in scheduling or else it will affect the entire production calendar for the second quarter of the year.

By the way, we decided to keep our relationship with anyone in the meantime. I am too busy to telltale the details to whoever would ask about us, especially from Victoria and Mara. I am pretty sure that they would never let this thing pass just like that. They will bug me until they get what they want. For now, I have to focus on the things in front of me. Forget about the paper works and just focus on this two-week work schedule.

*1 message received*

“Wanna grab lunch with me?”  

As much as I want to have lunch with him, I can’t. Aside from I don’t have enough time, I don’t want us to be caught this way. Better be safe than sorry.

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have a lot of stuff to do and need to submit before going home.”

 I replied. I feel sorry for declining his simple request but I’ll make it up to him after this d*mn Sports Fest.

“No worries. Don’t skip your meal, though.” He replied.

“Yep. I ask Victoria to grab some food for me and we’ll eat later while working. Eat well.”

“Hey! Have you seen the list of players per team?” Victoria asked while preparing the food for our lunch. Chitchatting with these ladies while eating and working is such a relief. Or else I’ll feel burnout with the volume of tasks I need to accomplish today. Late lunch at 2:30 pm makes me feel so irritated but they still choose to assist me though they don’t have to.

“I’ve seen Marc, Kree, and David being in the same team,” Charlotte added.

“That’s why it’s giving me a headache. How can I fill up their schedules with the newbies? I’m afraid this schedule will be disapproved. I guess one of them has to stay.” I ranted.

“It’s okay, Enzey! Let’s hope for the best unless they’ll make it to the finals. That would be a great problem on your part.” Victoria added.

“Let’s just hope that they’ll approve the schedule and let tomorrow be tomorrow,” I replied.

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It's past 7 pm. Thank God they approved the schedule but Sir Raffy has to stay to supervise the new engineers, just to be sure.  I gotta go home and take a good sleep to recharge from all the energy I’ve used in brainstorming and scheduling. As I was shutting down my computer, the security guard called in the office’s telephone informing me that I have food delivery. I never ordered anything and I’m about to go home.

As I opened the paper bag, there is a caramel macchiato with whipped cream and a slice of blueberry cheesecake. There is a small note on the paper bag, it’s from Kree.

“I’m sorry. I have some errand to do for my sister that’s why I can’t be with you right now. I hope this will help. Call or text me immediately when you arrive home. Take care.” –Kree

He’s the sweetest. I love how he knew what to do at times like this. Maybe this is the perk of having someone who cares about you and what you do. It's 9 pm and I don’t have the energy to eat dinner and do my usual night routine. But I still have to wash my face or else it will rot from all the make-up and dust. Good thing I’m still full of the sweets that Kree has given me.

I immediately texted him as soon as I arrive but still hasn’t received any reply from him. Maybe he’s quite busy. Maybe he’ll just call me after I prep to bed. It's 10:30 pm but still haven’t received any message from him. I feel so exhausted and I doubt I can wait for him any longer. I’ll just leave a message.

“I hope you’re doing fine. I’m sorry but I have to sleep. I feel so drained from all the things I’ve done today. Just text me when you’re done and I’ll just reply first thing in the morning before going to work. Goodnight.♥

The next day, I received a message from him that they went home late last night. He also asked me for a date night to make it up with me since he made me wait for so long and wasn’t able to reply to my text messages. Thank God it’s Friday so I agreed immediately for the said date.

I saw him working diligently on a certain machine but he seems not okay. It’s not the same vibe I feel when he’s okay. I guess something happened last night. As much as I want to ask what’s bothering him, I guess it would be better if I just let him tell the story. There are times that we don’t want to talk about things that bother us or that might ruin our mood. I came near him and he looked at me. He smiled forcibly and I smiled back at him. And that made me sure even more that there’s something wrong. Maybe that’s why he wants to go out.

David arrived and checked the machine that’s malfunctioning near where Kree is working. He looked at me as if he’s asking what’s wrong but since I don’t have any idea, I just shrugged my shoulder. So I just go back to my working area and do my pending tasks.

“Where are we going later? Any plans?” Mara asked as she walked towards me.

“I don’t have any idea. Besides, I have a prior plan so if ever, I’ll pass for today.” I replied. I hope she won’t ask where I am going.

“Ah, date. Alright. I guess it’s just me, David, and Stephy.” She said nonchalantly.

“Date? Of course not!” Trying my best to deny it.

“Of course not?!” She mimicked. “You can hide it from anyone but not to me. Kree went somewhere last Saturday and you also had a prior engagement that day, right? And remember when waited for you at the back gate, Kree told us to wait for you there. We never knew that you would be there unless Kree told us. My gut feeling never fails. The puzzle fits perfectly.” She said with full of arrogance. I hate that she’s so quick-witted at times like this.

“Think whatever you think. Even if I explain it to you, you won’t even bother to listen. But still, I’ll pass for today.” I replied while acting like I’m concentrating on what I am doing. She won’t stop unless I’ll show disinterest in what she’s blabbering.

“Alright. Enjoy your date.” She said then walked away.

Good thing David has a prior plan as well so I don’t have to make any excuses. Kree and I decided to meet at the mall near the office. But we’ll be having our date somewhere in Manila to avoid meeting anyone from the office. I don’t want to be paranoid while walking around instead of enjoying our date.

We are now in a restaurant that offers unlimited Korean pork barbeque. While waiting for our order, I started the conversation by asking how his day was. He answered short and simple. Unusually, he’s not as talkative as he used to be.

“How about you? How’s your day? How’s the preparation for the Sports Fest tomorrow?” He asked, trying to change the topic.

“Oh, right. I’ve been busy thinking about you that I forgot about the opening of the Sports Fest tomorrow.” I answered.

“Thinking of me? Why?” He asked, looking concerned.

“It’s just that I am wondering if I should ask you or not,” I replied. I know I said that I won’t bother asking him but I can’t help it. I want to do something for him to lift his mood.

“You’re so cute. Stop pouting your lips. I might lose my control and kiss you right here, right now.” Then he smiled. I feel like my blood rushes throughout my face with that statement. It is the first time I saw him smiling today. I don’t even see him smirk the entire day. He’s been serious throughout the day. It’s quite refreshing to see him smile that way. That’s my Kree.

“I-I’m not.” Fortunately, the beverage has arrived so I sipped to quench my thirst but it made me cough.

“Are you okay?” Then he handed me his handkerchief.

“Y-Yeah, I’m..I’m okay.” I stuttered out of embarrassment. What a mess Enzey.

“Thank you.” He said out of nowhere.

“Huh? Thank you for what?” I’m puzzled.

“Thank you for the concern and for being considerate. I know how much you wanted to ask but you chose not to, you chose to wait for the right time. Thank you for considering how I might feel even you know I won’t mind answering your question.” He explained.

Well, I guess it comes from being the only girl and having two elder brothers. Girls would prefer venting out their problems to set free themselves from those concerns but boys wouldn’t. They prefer keeping it to themselves or maybe, they don’t even know how to share their thoughts especially when it will make them look weak.

“Thank you, for knowing how I feel,” I replied.

While I was grilling the meat, he was wiping the utensils. He was smiling as I was busy grilling all the meat. I was in a hurry to put all the meat in the grill pan so we can order another portion since they only allow three kinds per table at a time.

“I didn’t know you are a pro when it comes to grilling. We should go out more on a date to discover a lot of things about you.” He said while beaming. Good thing he’s smiling now. But still, I’m worried about the story behind that smile.

As he was wrapping the meat on the lettuce, he started talking about what happened yesterday. He went to a family gathering with her sister. In a resort rented out by a relative who came back from Canada, they had a mini-reunion. As they arrived, they saw his eldest brother with a woman who seems like pregnant for five to six months. And seeing him bringing a stranger to a family gathering like this made him furious. He brought a pregnant woman without introducing her to their family but he had the nerves to introduce it to their relatives. Or maybe he’s afraid that they’ll be against it since it will be his third wife-to-be. He already had a partner before but left him because he’s way too immature to provide for her and their two children at the age of twenty-one. Then he had another lived-in partner at the age of twenty-three and it didn’t work out as well. Now, he’s expecting his third child at the age of thirty-one.  In Kree’s perspective, it is a big-time humiliation for their parents. So after the occasion, he argued with his brother.

His fury rose once more as he was telling me what happened last night. I sit right next to him and hugged him. I was patting his back to calm him down. Fortunately, our table was covered by a wooden wall like a cubicle so no one will see us aside from the waiters who walked around the restaurant. But I wouldn’t mind, all I know is I have to comfort him to ease his rage. I might not fully understand why he feels that way but I feel like I need to be on his side.

“I don’t usually talk about this matter, especially when it’s about my family, but I don’t know why I don’t feel shy or awkward sharing this with you.” He said while caressing my hand.

“Good to hear that I can be part of your comfort zone. You don’t have to feel shy or anything if you want to open up something sensitive that you can’t share with anyone. I can be your secret box.” I told him while leaning my head on his broad shoulder.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

“What did you say?” I turned my head and looked up at him. Then our eyes met as he looked at me too. The space between us is too small. We’ve never been this close so I feel quite nervous being this way. But before I moved away, his lip touches mine. It was just a smack on the lips but it gives shivers down to my spine.

I never imagined we will have our first kiss this way, in this place.