Illicit Affair (Published With Etluxocpub)

11 - Misery Love Company

I woke up disoriented. I wasn't in a familiar place; this is not my bedroom. I am not home and then I remembered. I hurriedly look for my phone and checked the time. I am glad it is still before lunch I still have the time to set up for teleconference at 1pm. I took a bath and ordered heavy breakfast. I choose loose fit open neck red polo and chino pants. I just sleek my hair up with no intent to make myself look good. I know I have dark circles under my eye but I was beyond caring of my appearance. If I look half how I feel, then it's alright.

I received an email from the marketing dept telling me that the meeting will start at exactly 1pm as all participant is already ready. I looked at the floor-length mirror to check on my appearance once more. I myself open the link for zoom meeting and did some testing on my mic and video reception then the meeting starts.

The meeting went well, and the client is satisfied. I told them I am not part of the Chandler Comp already and I am on long vacation. I told the client that they can trust Noelle with their needs as he is competent enough to handle their needs. With that note I was about to log off when Noelle came in front of the camera and called my attention.

"Zander what are you up to?" Noelle asked me.

"Oh I decided to take my much-needed vacation. I think I deserve my rest and relaxation as I haven't taken any off for the last five years. So, uhm..." I trailed off.

"That's bullshit Zander. Going on vacation doesn't mean to go incommunicado. So how do we contact you, Connor said you don't have your own number?" Noelle angrily asked me.

"You can send me email as I open it every night. If you have any question about the company that you can't, find in the file folder I gave you, just ask Miss E or email me. No need to know my phone number." I told Noelle.

"Cut the drama Zander. You have to be here for the grand ball." Noelle said. I just shrugged and feigned disinterest.

"I'll see what I can do, I can't promise to be there, but I'll try." I answered him. "So bye for now Noelle."

"Wait Zander, you don't sound and look alright. Are you sick or something?" Noelle hurriedly asked me.

"It's nothing for you to worry about Noelle, I'm not a concern of yours. So goodbye." I disconnected from the meeting.

My heart is beating so fast, and my body is trembling. Seeing concern from Noelle's eyes trigger my sadness some more. I burst into tears again as I'm drowning once again in misery, I cried more as I look out of the window. It seems heavens knows how much I am hurting right now. The weather joining my miserable state, it is true misery loves company. I chuckled at my interpretation with that quote.

I stayed inside the whole day since its raining. I planned to go out when its not raining anymore and buy myself a scooter so I can roam around the countryside and visit my aunt.

The weather was just so perfect the next day. I was able to buy a scooter and drove off to my aunt's house. I was amazed with the big improvements around the countryside. Gone were the bumps, humps, and holes in the road but the traffic before leaving the city proper is a battle ground.

My aunt's place is in the middle of rice field, and it was so peaceful here. I ask her if she is willing to part with some of hard-earned lot and like a light bulb she sparks. There I learned that she needed the money for her daughter who is studying in the metro. And she is trying to sell a parcel of rice field to a good buyer, but it seems all proposal she got is way beyond her asking price. I told her I'll buy the said land on her price. I told her my plan to build a Bahay Kubo and my plan try on living in the countryside for a change.

I got so busy from that day on that I forgot about Noelle for a while. It's been 2weeks since I bought the land and been busy helping in building my Bahay Kubo. The house I'm building is the exact replica of Noelle's dream house. I have installed solar panel in the roof and some wind vane to gather electricity since I won't be consuming so much, it's an investment in the long run. We also drilled for artesian well that flows directly to the faucet inside the house that is powered either by the wind or sun. Even how much I want to forget Noelle; I can't get him out of my system. In everything I do it scream of Noelle and I just let it be. Maybe this way I can easily accept if that I have to learn to live with his shadow over my life.

I also found a job in one of hotel in the city as office worker in the marketing department. Salary is more than just enough for my cost of living and commuting is a breeze with my reliable scooter. This hotel is promising and is a good investment if Chandler comp wants to expand to other place, as Manila, Luzon, Cebu, Visayas is becoming overfilled. Chandler Comp can basically spearhead in growing their market way beyond to what is commonly done. This place has a lot to offer actually, and my business mind is at work on an instant.

I love the peace and quiet that this place has to offer me. Most of my neighbors are my relatives and they willingly help me in my daily living. I meet some of my cousin same age as me and we bond. I had fun time catching up with them. Little by little I'm having a life not revolving around Noelle. Ugg Noelle again. How do I escape this? In everything that I do it will always boils down to Noelle.

I have to go to Manila to attend the grand ball event of Chandler Comp for the inaugural turnover to Noelle of their company and finally cutting all my ties with them. The final straw that binds us, the final connection that links us. With a heavy heart I have to accept it that this is how my love story ends.

"Hey Connor, I'll be there for the inaugural turnover," I said to Connor without prelude once he answered my call.

"Fuck dude," Connor shouted, and I have to distance the phone from my ear.

"Do you plan to make deaf Connor," I shouted back.

"Oh I'm sorry dude. I was just so excited to hear from you. What time you'll be here?" Connor asked me.

"I arrive yesterday dude. You know I have to fix minor details about the ball. Dusit management won't have the changes without my presence, so I come in a day earlier. I have to cancel the flowers, the cakes, the musician, the lights, the fog, and bubble machine. There was lot of it that need my personal appearance to be cancelled. So yeah, I'm cancelling my failed proposal plan." I lengthily explained to Connor. "Cancelling is as much of a hard work as planning for it, so when you plan to propose to your girl make it simple, please." I advised to Connor.

I went back to manila a day earlier of the even to make some final arrangement with the ball. It is supposed to be my proposal night but sad to say that won't happen so a lot of last-minute changes has to be done and the marketing dept has been in contact about this with me. They are dismayed with what's happening and asked me to accompany them for a drink after the ball.

"Sir Zander, we are sorry that we have to do this. There's a lot of changes in the programme. The only time you'll be on stage with Sir Noelle is during the turnover. Other than that it will be his boyfriend with him all the time." Marketing Dept head sadly told me.

"It's alright. I have long accepted that, that part of our life is but my dream. A mere wishful thinking in my part. It was only me who waited, it was only me that stayed." I replied to them.

Most of them are so solemn as we pack up for the night and head home to rest and prepare for the next day activity.

I slept pitifully and I have dark circles under my eyes again. I went to buy a new set of suit to use for the ball. I don't want to use the suit that I prepared for my proposal. I might not be able to hold back myself and might embarrassed myself.

"Hello Zander, where are you? Why are you not here in pre-dinner conference?" Connor asked me.

I know there is a pre-dinner conference, but my name was not on list. The staff in charge of making the list even insisted to include my name but I refused.

"I'm not part of Chandler Comp anymore Connor and beside my name is not included in the list." I told him.

"What? Not on list? How did it happen?" Connor can't believe with what he has heard. "Noelle is too much already, he got to hear from me about this.

"It's alright Connor, I'm fine actually." I reassured him but actually I'm in the hotel bar drinking whisky.

Then I heard in the background, "Who are you talking to Connor? Is it Zander? How can he have stood us up now? A lot of investor in here is looking for him." that was Noelle. How come he doesn't know that he removes my name in guest list, how come he doesn't know that I'm not included in the list of person to be send with invitation for the pre-dinner conference.

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