There's One Thing I Like About Him

Chapter 2

Trisha

"What took you so long?" Alexa asked as I sat down beside her. She had arrived ahead of me at the new Korean restaurant and had already ordered our food because, as she put it, she was starving.

"Ethan wanted to talk to me. He's still offering me the Senior Project Manager position," I replied.

"And what did you say?" she pressed.

I hesitated, trying to find the right words. Alexa never runs out of questions.

"Well," I began, smiling slightly, "I didn't get a chance to answer. His girlfriend showed up out of nowhere, so I just excused myself and said I was going to eat. But he said he'd still wait for my decision."

Finally, the food Alexa ordered arrived, cutting off any further probing about Ethan. She'd ordered my favorite dishes: spicy beef galbi jjim, stir-fried pork with spicy sauce, and mixed vegetables, along with, of course, kimchi. Alexa knew me well—my love for spicy food was no secret, and this Korean restaurant served all my favorites. She ordered spicy steamed monkfish and bulgogi hot stone bibimbap for herself. The restaurant, owned by a real Korean, delivered an authentic taste that was hard to find elsewhere.

"Yum! This looks delicious," Alexa commented as we began to eat.

But I couldn't shake off what had happened earlier. He was so close, and I could smell his scent—so intoxicating. Ethan smelled amazing; it felt like I was in cloud nine. I never expected to fall for him this hard. I mean, he's my boss, and I'm just an employee. To him, I'm probably just an asset to his company, not a woman. But why does my affection for him keep growing deeper? No, this can't happen. I'm only setting myself up for heartbreak.

"Trish to Earth, Earth to Trish. Did you hear what I just said?" Alexa snapped me out of my thoughts by waving her hand in front of my face. "You know, if I didn't know you better, I'd think you were crazy with how often you zone out. Are you okay? Or were you daydreaming again?" she asked, her tone a mix of concern and amusement.

"Alexa," I reached out and took her hand. "I can't stop thinking about Ethan. I don't know why, but I think I'm really starting to like him," I confessed.

"I already knew that," she said with a knowing smile.

"No, I mean I want to tell him. I can't sleep well because I keep thinking about whether I should or shouldn't tell him. It's been three years already; maybe it's time to confess my feelings," I said, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me.

To my surprise, Alexa burst out laughing, drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant. I quickly covered my face in embarrassment.

"Are you out of your mind, Trish?" she asked seriously after her laughter subsided. "We're talking about Ethan Clyde Alvarez here. He's the CEO of A Tech Group of Companies. He's a multimillionaire. And you're just an employee. He doesn't see you as a woman; he sees you as an asset to his company, a tool for his success. So stop being delusional, Trish. He only values you because of your contributions to the company," she said, her words blunt but hitting home.

It felt like a slap in the face. Alexa had never spoken to me like this before, but she was right. Besides, Ethan already has a girlfriend, Isabelle, whom he's been with for eight years. There's no way he would leave her for me. Isabelle is wealthy, the daughter of one of the richest CEOs in the food industry in the Philippines. And me? I'm just an associate . It's hard not to feel completely outmatched. My mother is a teacher, and my father is a liaison officer. How can I compete with that?

"Ready to go?" I asked Alexa once we finished eating. She simply nodded, gathering her things before we stood up and walked out of the restaurant together.

۝

As we were walking, we suddenly ran into a familiar figure.

"M-Markus?" I stammered, barely able to believe my eyes. Alexa and I both stopped in our tracks. He looked just as surprised, his face a mix of shock and something that almost resembled fear.

"T-Trish?" he stuttered.

"What are you doing here? It's been a long time," I said, managing a small smile despite the awkwardness.

Markus Javier Morgante was my ex. He was the reason I have trust issues and why I'm hesitant to enter another relationship. It's not that I haven't gotten over him, but he was the source of my deepest hurts and emotional scars. Three years have passed since then, and I've moved on. I promised myself I wouldn't settle for less again.

"I-I came here to see you," he said, stumbling over his words as he reached out for my hand. "I missed you, babe," he added, his voice low.

I was at a loss for words. It had been a long time, and I had already moved on from him. He had deceived me and left to pursue his dreams. And now, out of the blue, he shows up, saying he missed me? Wow. Just wow.

Alexa stepped in, slapping Markus's hand away.

"Get lost, Markus! You have no place here anymore, and you definitely don't get to be near her. Trisha has moved on, and now you suddenly show up? For what? To hurt her again? Remember, you left her!" Alexa's voice was tight with anger, and I could tell she was holding back. I couldn't blame her. She was there when I was heartbroken, and now she was here, standing up for me once again. She's a lifesaver.