Pumasok ng opisina si Jessie at nagpalakpakan ang kanyang mga office mate. They were surprise about the whole thing. Even Mr. Brooks was surprise.
"Ms. Jessie Houston, I need to speak with you in the office please." Sabi ng kanyang boss.
"Oho Mr. Brooks." Dali-dali naman siyang sumunod sa office ni Mr. Brooks.
"Sit down Jessie." Again he is searching for his eye glasses.
Jessie reminded him again where it is. "Mr. Brooks nasa ulo nyo po."
"Oh thank you. By the way, have you heard the news? ofcourse you did. What do you think about it?"
"About what sir?"
"I don't know, you tell me. Hindi naman ako si Jessie Houston, hindi rin naman tayo magkamukha. Kaya yes, you tell me." Katwiran ng boss niya.
"I don't know sir."
"Really, nag-speech na ng mahaba yung tao and still you don't know?"
"I don't know what to say. I know what I'm thinking."
"Then tell me whats in your mind."
"I'm sorry sir it's confidential."
"Okay make your mind unconfidential." Pilit parin ng sir niya.
"I can't sir."
"May locked ba yang ulo mo o may alarm somewhere?"
Natawa si Jessie sa sinabi ng boss niya. "Wala po."
"I see, so I guess hindi ko maiibigay ang promotion mo."
Biglang lumaki ang mga mata ni Jessie at ngumiti ito. "Talaga po sir? I'm being promoted." Sabay yakap sa kanyang boss.
"Baka mademote ka niyan at makita ka ng ka-office mate, baka sabihin nilang may M.U. tayo."
"Sir naman."
"M.U. Maraming Usisa tayo."
Natawa ulit si Jessie pero sinabi niya. "I will give you my report tomorrow so that you can publish it the next day sa magazine natin."
"Ah, your smart woman. Your not a girl anymore. Gumagana na ang utak mo. I like the side effects of Barlow. The remedy works for you." Ngiti ng boss niya sa kanya. He knows na kapag umamin si Jessie ay tataas ulit ang sales nila. "GO BACK TO YOUR WORK NOW!"
"Sir naman, kailangan niyo pa ho bang sumigaw?"
"Remember the M.U.?"
"Opo sir."
"Then I suggest you go back to your desk." Utos ulit nito sa kanya.
Pagdating niya sa desk niya ay nakita niya ang bulaklak na nasa table niya. Two dozen of roses. Kukunin na sana niya pero inagaw ni Franchesca.
"Sorry my bf, but the flowers was for me from Gary." Nagmamayabang na sabi ni Franchesca habang tinitingnan ang kanyang reaction.
"Ah I see." Malungkot naman itong umupo sa silya niya.
"Do you want to join us for dinner tonight?" Alok ni Franchesca.
"No kayo na lang. Busy ako ngayon. Our boss just promoted me."
"REALLY?" Nabigla si Franchesca. "I'm so happy to hear that." Niyakap siya ni Franchesca.
"Thank you Franchesca and I'm so happy for Gary and you."
"I know, it has been the happiest days, weeks months of my life. I don't know what to wear for our dinner tonight."
"Must be a special date night."
"I don't know nga eh. Sabi niya surprise. Ang bait niya talaga. He calls and say good night to me all the time. Kahit nasa out of town siya. Sobra ang sweet niya."
"Sabi ko saiyo mabait yan." Ngumiti siya sa saya na nakikita sa kanyang best-friend.
"Hi Jessie." Biglang bati ni Josh sa kanya.
"Hi."
"Hoy, taken na yang bf ko kaya do not attempt to ligaw her." Banta ni Franchesca kay Josh sabay irap.
"Huwag ka ngang makinig diyan. How can I help you Josh?"
"I was wandering if you could help me take pictures of which I'm working on right now." Ipinakita sa kanya ang iba't ibang picture ng bulaklak.
"Oh my Josh, I did not know you like flowers. I love it too. When do you want to do it?" Sabi ni Jessie.
"I was wandering maybe tomorrow?"
"Okay, tamang-tama. I don't any plans for tomorrow." Agreed Jessie while Franchesca is giving her a weird look.
"Have time tomorrow... Isumbong kita diyan." Pabulong ni Franchesca.
"Ano? Anong sabi mo?"
"Sabi ko, I'm glad you have time tomorrow for Josh." Sabay ngiti pero buwisit kay Josh sabay belat.
"You see this Josh?" Itinuro ang dalawang finger galing sa kanyang dalawang mata papunta sa kanya at bumulong ito na... "Im watching you."
"Tumigil ka na diyan Franchesca." Pigil ni Jessie habang nagtatype ito sa computer.
Pagka-alis ni Josh ay nag-ring ang cell phone ni Jessie. She recognize the no. and it's been awhile since they last talk. She answered the call.
"Hi iha, this is William's mother. Do you still remember me?"
"Opo naman. Ano po bang maipaglilingkod ko sainyo?"
"Kase we wanted to renew our vows and we figured, we can invite you and your family together to celebrate it with us."
Hindi kaagad makasagot si Jessie dahil the last time her parents said they do not want to deal with the Barlows family anymore. "Eh Mrs. Barlow, pasensya na po kase hindi ko pa po kayo mabigyan ng sagot dahil sa parents ko. Remember po the lasts time?"
"Ay oo nga, I hope mapatawad kami ng mga magulang mo Jessie. Siya nga pala your Father-in-law wants to talk with you."
"Hello iha, we miss you so much here. Kahit sa sandaling panahon nating pinagsama ay napalapit ka na samin lalo na kay William. Has he talk to you yet?"
"Hindi pa po."
"What? I'm going to have a chat with that son of mine. Please come and celebrate with us. Please?"
"I will try po."
"Thank you Jessie. We love you and we miss you so much." They both hang-up their phone and Jessie went to the bathroom kase napaiyak siya. She misses them too. They were too nice to her.
Just around the corner is the guy from The Business Magazine. She was taking pictures of Jessie. They caught him inside the building. Bawal ang ibang reporter sa loob ng kanilang company. Against policy code daw. They are only allowed if its by appointment only. Then sinabi ni Baltazar kay William na hindi siya pupuwedeng mag-picture kay Jessie dahil it's against company rules. So William decide to take the matters into his own hands.
Inihatid siya ni Josh sa kanyang apartment ng gabing iyon. Magpapa-alam na sana siya kay Josh , but Josh insisted on asking for some pictures of her flowers. Pumayag naman si Jessie. Hindi niya alam na sa may kanto ay nakaparada ang kotse ni William. He started taking pictures of Jessie and Josh.
"Nawala lang akong sandali may kapalit na kaagad ako? Humanda ka Jessie Houston. Lagot ka sakin." Naghintay si William kung kailan aalis ang lalaki. "Aba limang minuto na hindi pa lumalabas sa apartment niya." It was after seven minutes ng lumabas si Josh sa apartment ni Jessie pero hindi na niya nasilayan si Jessie.
Tinawagan ni Jessie ang kanyang magulang that night. Hindi pumayag ang ama ni Jessie sa imbitasyon ng mga magulang ni William. Nalungkot tuloy si Jessie. She started to type her article that night and once in awhile she would turn on her stereo and started playing Katy Perry "If We Ever Meet Again"
Sa may labas ay kitang kita ni William ang nagwawalng si Jessie. Lumapit ito sa bintana at nag-take ng pictures. Kitang-kita niya sayaw ito ng sayaw. Pinipigil lang niya ang pagtawa dahil ayaw niyang mahuli siya ni Jessie. Nagkaroon tuloy ng idea si William. Tinawagan niya si Franchesca at si Gary. If there was thing to do ay gagawin niya na para hindi na mawala si Jessie sa kanya.