Begin Again

Chapter 8

The last few seconds of the commercial played on the screen and when it was over, cheers and clapping erupted in the room. Leah stood up in front of the screen.

"Okay, here we have it. The completed final version of the Pop! Cream Soda commercial. I know we didn't have the typical process of making this commercial. Naging madugo ang processo. Napuyat tayo, nagkasakit...Parang lahat ng malas na pwede mangyari sa paggawa ng commercial nangyari sa atin." Everyone laughed. "But we pulled through. And we made a product that I'm really proud of and that I will be happy to present to the Pop! executives. So thank you everyone for all of your hard work."

"Ma'm, wala bang bonus diyan?" Someone called down the table.

"Oo, ma'm, ang dami namin overtime." Someone else put in.

"Walang bonus." Leah smiled at the chorus of disappointed 'awws.' She held a hand up. "But it's Friday and you can all have the rest of the day off."

Cheers erupted in the room once again. "Sige na, umuwi na kayo sa mga pamilya niyo," Leah continued. "No emergency calls this weekend."

Everyone stood up and started gathering their things, chatting happily with one another.

"Ma'm Leah, labas kami mamaya sa Videoke bar para mag-celebrate," Ellie, one of the junior copywriters, said. "Join kayo, Ma'm!"

"Oo nga, Ma'm!" The others echoed.

"Videoke bar? Hindi na." Leah gathered up her folders and laptop. "Thank you sa invite, pero uuwi na lang ako sa asawa ko." She smiled.

"Wow!"

"Yee..."

"Uy, blooming si Ma'm!"

Their teasing followed Leah out the door and she shook her head good-naturedly at their antics. She couldn't wait to get home and surprise Clark.

~

He'd had a long day. Mrs. Uy, having been an interior designer herself, was being very hands-on on the hotel and Clark had spent the entire day meeting with her as well as her old colleagues, who all had their own opinions on Clark's designs. Between the hotel and his work on Mr. Remy's resort, Clark hardly spent time in the warehouse anymore. He knew that meeting the clients and being the face of the company was important but sometimes he missed just spending time in the shop and actually making the furniture. Clark's hands itched to do his own woodwork but he's been having less and less time for it lately.

Clark climbed up the stairs to the apartment tiredly. He thought he might take a nap before picking Leah up from work...that train of thought stopped when he opened the door and saw Leah herself bent over the kitchen table, wearing an apron, and lighting two candles in the middle of the table.

"Clark!" She smiled at him. "Tamang tama ang uwi mo."

He took off his messenger bag and set it down on the couch on his way to the kitchen. "What's going on?"

Leah gestured to the table, which was perfectly set for a romantic dinner for two. Two plates were set with steak, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. Leah removed her apron, revealing a tight fitting black dress that hugged all of her curves, and took Clark's hand, guiding him to his seat. She picked up a bottle of wine and poured him a glass.

"Leah, what is all this for?" He asked.

"Tapos na ang commercial namin. Finally! So I thought we could celebrate." She poured wine into her own glass and took her seat across from him.

Clark looked down at his perfectly cooked steak, the plating that was just like a restaurant's. "You didn't have to do all this..."

"Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa mo para sa akin ngayon nakaraang linggo? It's the least I could do. Thank you, Clark," she said, her voice heartfelt and sincere.