In His Kiss

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Sixteen months later

Laure Ri Daza's Point of View

My keys jingled in my hands when I stepped inside my flower shop. It's already seven in the morning, and I have a lot to do inside. Lalo na at maraming customer ang nag advance order ngayon araw.

When I handed in my resignation sixteen months ago at the company, I didn't know what I was going to do next. Matagal kong pinagisipan kung ano talaga ang gusto kong gawin. And then, scary as it might sound, I did have a career change. It's been a dream of mine to manage my own business, and with some guts, I started creating one.

Who could have thought that I would become a florist? I took a bank loan and some of my savings to start the flower shop. I even took classes and seminars to learn how to arrange flowers.

Little did I know that my team was gradually becoming big. When I started this business, it was only me. Hindi naman ganoon kahirap kung ang gagawin ko lang ay magprepare ng bouquet ng mga customer at inventory. But then, I expanded my business by accepting event styling. We provide floral arrangements for weddings, engagements, and birthday parties. Kaya naman kailangan ko ng mga tauhan. My work is challenging but rewarding. Minsan ay hindi ko na namamalayan ang oras. I didn't know how much I enjoyed the autonomy. There is no one to please, especially since I have already learned to set boundaries. Sometimes, I am spending my time with Cass and Mirage. But most of the time, after work in the flower shop, I will walk to my apartment and watch my favorite variety show while hugging my favorite giraffe plushie.

I cut ties with my parents sixteen months ago because I didn't want them to hurt me again. It's been sixteen months since the last time I saw Hiro Stanislaski. There are times when I miss him. Hindi ko naman makakaila ang bagay na 'yon. At sa tuwing namimiss ko ang binata ay tumitingin na lang ako sa kaulapan. His presence has a big impact on me, and so I will bring all my memories of him to my grave.

When he told me he was part of an organization, I researched it on my laptop. The results say that no one really has a way out of it. I worry about him. I hope that he's doing okay.

"Hello there, Laure! I'll have a dozen of carnations, please. I hope I'm not too early." Tinaas ko ang tingin ko at nakita si Mirage sa tapat ng cashier counter. Sa lalim ng iniisip ko ay may pumasok na pala sa loob ng flower shop. Mirage is wearing a corporate attire. Mukhang dumaan lang siya dito bago pumunta sa kangang office.

"Want me to arrange it for you?" I smiled at her direction.

"Hindi na kailangan, kahit ibalot mo na lang sa newspaper. Ilalagay ko lang ito sa office table ko." What I appreciate about Mirage and Cass is that they are my first customers. They also recommend this flower shop to their peers and occasionally buy flowers in the shop.

"Laure, I am aware of what happened to you in the past. And it's been over a year now. Gusto ko lang sana itanong kung handa ka na bang makakilala ulit ng bago? We're almost in our thirties," Tanong ni Mirage habang binabalot ko ang isang dosenang carnation. I stopped mid way.

"Do you remember when you went to my mom's birthday?"

"Of course, is there something wrong?" Mirage invited us to her mom's birthday party last week, and it was such a fine party. She even hired me to do flower arrangements for the venue.

"My cousin, Oliver, asked me if I could set you up with him. You know, the last one to arrive at the party since he just came out of his firm." I glanced at her, surprised.

"Your lawyer cousin?" I asked, and Mirage nodded her head. I only met him at the party. And I had a little conversation with him. Tinanong niya ako kung ako raw ba ang nag design ng mga bulaklak at sabi ko naman ay oo. I only smiled faintly at him when he told me the arrangement was good. But that's it.