The Story Of Us

6: YOU CAN

"Tell me I'm not on my own. Tell me I won't be alone. Tell me what I'm feeling isn't some mistake. 'Cause if anyone can make me fall in love, you can." ~David Archuleta

~Jade~

"Hurry up, sis!" I called out to Victorique as soon as I heard the schedule of our lunch and departure time. "They are already carrying their baggage to the bus—"

"—relax. They won't leave us," she giggled while putting blush on her cheek.

"But Sir Rey said—"

"Sir Rey? Practicing your honorifics now?"

"It's not that—"

"—I knew it! You're more than willing to have a position in the company, aren't you?" she said, checking herself out on the full-length body mirror.

I leaned my back to the door as an answer. I had been thinking about Victorique's job recommendation. Perhaps if Dustin were here, he would agree with me having a job in the city. But then, I have to live with Victorique if that would happen. I knew Victorique would want the two of us living together like real sisters so the lodging would not be a problem. Narrowing down the complexities of not agreeing to the job, it all boiled down to me not wanting to leave my old house and the memories that came with it.

"Oh, come on. Sulking gives way to wrinkles and unwanted fractures on the face. Come here, sweetheart," she pulled me to the dresser and began tying my hair up into a bun.

"Your hair was always this unruly but a bun will do the trick!" she chuckled lightheartedly.

"Why dress up? We'll be on our way home anyway."

"You will never know what will happen so you must always be ready to dazzle people."

I didn't know what Victorique meant with that until we joined the rest of the Flamel's employees in the Luncheon Hall. I spotted Lawrence right away in the corner talking with his friends. They were exchanging laughter and banters when one of them signaled the time.

"Sir Ence, eh?" Victorique chimed beside me. "I wonder how's he doing," she added as she led me to the buffet table.

"He looks perfectly fine to me," I shrugged my shoulders once while getting a little bit of every dish available in the menu just like what Victorique was doing.

Now that I thought of it, he sure bled a lot that night. Was he sick? Ugh, why bother worrying about him? He didn't even answer me when I asked him if he found my missing necklace as if he did not hear me. Always the jerk! Times like this made me think of my perfect Dustin. He would look like an angel beside this demon. Oh, how I miss my Dustin!

I followed Victorique to a round table with two vacant seats available. She introduced me again with these eight people she said were from her department. They were nice, with bright smiles and all, but I felt a tinge of bitterness with the way they glanced at me sideways. Were that even possible—to look amused outside but hating inside? Our attention was rented when the lights in the room turned off. A few gasps filled the air. The singing of a birthday song followed it.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you," a man in maroon shorts and white shirt sang carrying a chocolate cake with a lit candle in the middle. "Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday, Sir Ence!" the lights turned on upon the mention of the name.

Wait—did he say sir Ence? Was that Lawrence? Lawrence Bailey? Their company President? Was his birthday today? My questions were answered when I saw him went on stage laughing while scratching the back of his head. He looked younger in his blue shirt and brown six-pocket pants. The crowd joined in the singing. He blew the candle as soon as the song ended and the hall was filled with whooping and greetings.