Then There Was You

24

Den's POV

Aly gets better now. He's now back to his work. Since he's been absent for 3 days, he needs to catch up with the paper works. He's been sick for a week but he still manage to go to work for 2 days. Buti nga at napilit kong wag ng pumasok at magpahinga nalang.

"Knock knock!" I lift up my head then saw Yeye.

Oh god, I missed him so much! I ran to him and jump, luckily he manage to catch me. We became really close with each other since I woke up in the hospital. He's been visiting us in Calgary. Aly never gets jealous of him. I know he trusts Yeye and I. He knows Yeye since they were toddlers.

"You missed me that much?" Yeye ask.

"Yes." I said.

I can tell that Yeye's my bestfriend.

"Are you busy today? Let me take you out on a lunch date."

"Sure. Let's go." I said then cling on his left arm.

Yeye never took advantage of me, I'm really clingy when I'm with him. I'm comfortable with him. He's like an older brother to me.

"So, where should we eat?" Yeye asks when we entered his car.

"Hmm. Wala na kong alam na shop dito bukod sa Moncharte."

Yung Moncharte, isa sa napakaraming restaurant chain ng ARVLDZ. I'm really amaze with Dad.

"Hey, may bagong bukas na restaurant si A. Maybe we should surprise him." Yeye said.

Yeye stayed here in the Philippines he became a Surgeon.

"Sure." I agreed.

He started driving heading to the location. I leaned my head on the window.

"I'm really amaze right now." I said.

"Why?"

"You know, Philippines used to be a poor country. There are beggars and street dwellers everywhere. But now, wala na akong nakikitang ganon. The buildings are tall, yung EDSA hindi na congested kapag rush hour." I said.

"Valdez's played a big role in here. The street dwellers, the company made sure to give them a job according to the skills that they have, they gave them free shelter and foods on the first month until they're able to stand on their own feet. Everyone here has a job now, even Senior Citizens, if they still want to work and their still capable of working, the Government allows them to do so." Yeye said.

"How about the healthcare?" I curiously asked.

"Yeah, about that the Government gave us the salary that we deserve. Every Filipino Citizen may health insurance covered by the Government, monthly check ups, free vitamins, free maintenance medicine, so, yeah? I think that's better than before, right?"

"Glad to hear that." I said smiling.

As Yeye's friend, I'm really really worried about his own safety, lalo na noong nagkaroon ng Covid outbreak. Yeye works on the ER. I even ask Aly to check on him from time to time. Luckily, hindi siya nagkaroon ng Covid.

"We're here." He said when he park his car on the vacant area.

We both got off of his car and entered the restaurant. ADzi that's the name of this establishment. A got married last year with his long time girlfriend. I'm sure that Aly and I will end up like them, we'll get married soon.

"Woah, Yeye, Den!" A greeted when he saw us.

He pulled us on a vacant table. Yeye and I sat across each other, A chose the seat beside Yeye.

"Wow. Long time no see, Dennise!" He happily said.

"Yeah. Kamusta naman buhay may asawa?"

"Oh, it's fun Den. Waking up, she'll cook breakfast for the both of you, takes care of each other." A.

"Whipped." Yeye and I both said.

A chuckled.

"So, what will you guys eat? It's on the house." A asks then he gave us a menu.

I scan the menu.

"I'll have bagnet with rice." I said.

"Uhm. I'll have the same, give us sprite too." Yeye said then gave the menu back to A.

A told our order to one of his waiter then he stayed seated with us, I know he wants to catch up.

"So, how's the company, Den?"

"Culture shock, grabe. It started with my Secretary." I said.

"Why?" They both asked in unison.

"You know? She called me Den! Good morning, Den. I'm your Secretary Jema. Of course I was shock. Aly and Dad never mentioned me that it's first name basis in here. In Canada, they call me Miss Dennise or Miss Lazaro, but in here, it's just Den." I said.

They both laugh while listening to my rants. Our food arrived, A also ate with us. While eating, we're still talking about the things that shock me in here. I told them about my office. That I own the whole 21st floor, I decided to put some sofa in there so that it will serve as a waiting area. In Canada, yung buong floor is for ARVLDZ Malls and my office is located in that floor too, together with the marketing team, planning team and other teams. My office is not that huge compare here, just enough for me to work comfortably. So, yeah?

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A/N: wassup wassup! Sorry. Kababalik ko lang galing sa Zambales and sobrang hirap ng signaaaal!