Chapter 19

I initially texted Felix to explain my reason—vacation and distraction—but when he didn't respond, I called his number right away. It took a while before he finally answered, and he said he was talking to someone, so he couldn't answer my call. It was around 11 p.m. when my mobile phone rang, and to my surprise, he asked for my assistance. He needed help to assist him in the project they were going to start. The project was rushed, and he wanted to ask me before finalizing everything. He only had files that could be copied with the designs that Pretzel picked, and his staff would come the next day. I got used to working on spot projects because that was my job when I was in England. I am a double licensed engineer and architect, and sometimes I also work on interior design. I got hired as his assistant, and since I didn't know the location, I asked him to pick me up at the hotel. I woke up early and waited for him at the hotel lobby, but after almost half an hour I got bored and decided to just wait for him outside. He was a few minutes late from the time he told me that night. I immediately waved my hand when I recognized the guy wearing Hawaiian shorts and a plain white t-shirt. I got thrilled right after seeing him. I almost ran towards him. 'Good morning!" I greeted him. 'Good morning," he answered coldly as I got closer. After he answered, he turned around and walked away just like that. The smile on my lips disappeared because of his behavior, but maybe I got used to that. That was him ever since—nothing new. I followed him. I saw a gray van where he was heading. The first thing I thought of was that it was the car he drove. When he turned to the other side, I tried opening the door, but it couldn't open. I was about to knock on the window when I suddenly got stunned when I heard the honking of a vehicle from the other side. I walked towards it, thinking he had bought a different car, but there was no other car there, aside from a colorful Jeepney. I couldn't believe Felix brought a Jeepney to pick me up—the one that is mostly used as public utility vehicles, not the owner-type. 'D-Do you even know how to drive this?" I asked him right after I got in the front seat right next to him. He gave me a frown. 'I do," he replied, and we drove off. It was my first experience riding a jeepney. He didn't even inform me! I wished he did so that I could at least tie up my long, loose hair in a bun or a ponytail. Because right after we got onto the road, the wind became strong, and it blew my hair in all directions. I tried holding the strands with one hand, but some were still blown by the wind. After a few minutes of driving, I noticed a signboard we passed saying we were 2 kilometers away from the port. 'I thought you and Felicity were far from the port. Why are we going to the port?" I asked him with a frown. He was so focused on the road that he didn't even bother talking to me. 'Yes, it is. We're just going to pick up some people," he replied. 'People? Who are those?" 'My men and I are going to get some equipment." 'I-I see," I uttered, but in my mind, I knew the next trip was a long way, and I was going to smell like a dried fish from being under the sun and on the hot road a lot. We picked up more than ten men in the port, and they were carrying a lot of stuff. It looked like their project on the island would take a long time with the amount of equipment and tools they brought. One by one, they boarded the jeepney. Some of them noticed me, and those who didn't—were stunned when they were already inside the jeepney. 'Sir, sino po kasama ninyo?" I heard someone ask in Filipino, asking Felix who I was. I saw amusement on their faces as they tried to look at me in the long, thin mirror just in front of me, right above my head. 'She is the engineer who will assist us," Felix answered, and the silly smiles on his men's faces vanished, and most of them suddenly got scared. 'P*tay, mapapasabak pala tayo sa English-an," one of them said. I didn't notice who said it, but what he meant was that they would be dead because they would be challenged to speak English when talking to me. I wanted to chuckle and act like I couldn't understand what he said, to force them to speak in English every time they approached me. 'Yes, so practice English so she can understand whenever there's anything you want to ask her," he told them in Filipino. I saw him smirking. It seemed he just read my mind. The reaction on his men's faces was priceless. They all seemed so worried right after he informed them about it. While I was there, I wanted to laugh so hard, but I thought of going with the flow, so I looked away and pretended I didn't understand anything they were talking about. When we left, the jeepney was nearly full. Everyone remained silent, too afraid to speak. We were on the road for more than an hour. 'E-Ellie!" A shrill call of my name greeted me as I stepped out of the jeep. 'I thought my brother was joking when he said you'd be coming here! I can't believe it's true!" he said in Filipino while clutching my left arm. 'I thought she couldn't understand our language; why did Ma'am Felicity speak to her in Filipino?" I overheard one of Felicity's men, who were still inside the jeep with the others. 'You're such a killjoy," Felix muttered to his twin as he went to the back of the jeep to help his men carry all their equipment. Felicity looked at him clueless until he disappeared from our sight. 'W-What's wrong with that man?" he asked me, and when I told him why, he laughed out loud. My attention was drawn to a woman sitting in front of the small store while Felicity laughed. She was with an old woman, and both of them were staring at us. I was pretty sure she was Pretzel. She appeared to be pregnant, but her belly was not yet visible. I could tell right away that she was pretty, but not as pretty compared to my beauty. 'Leave the other stuff in the jeep. Let's build a tent first so all of you can rest today, and we'll start working tomorrow," Felix said loudly from the back of the jeep. 'Okay, boss!" A few answered in unison, and they quickly followed him. 'Come with me! You're not going to work yet, I think, so I'll introduce you to Pretzel!" Felicity exclaimed excitedly, and she didn't wait for me to respond before pulling me towards the store where the two I had seen earlier were. 'Auntie Cora! Pretzel!" Felicity called at the two women while dragging me. I was right; she was Pretzel. 'I'd like you two to meet my lovely best friend Elyana, whom my brother mentioned earlier," he said as he introduced me to them. ‘Let's start with nice girl mode. There's no reason to act like a brat today yet,' I thought to myself. 'Hello! Nice meeting you, Auntie Cora and Pretzel," I said with my sweetest smile. I chose to speak in their language because Felicity had introduced me to them in Filipino. I also didn't want them to judge me because I still use English, even though I'm fluent in it. The two kept complimenting me. They agreed on Felicity when he introduced me as a lovely woman. Pretzel commented and complimented me, but I didn't agree with everything she said. I remained polite and responded sweetly, masking my annoyance with a fake smile. The old lady began telling jokes, and the two continued making fun of Felicity. They eventually started laughing. I smiled bitterly as I stood there watching them. They seemed to be having a great time, and I felt my heart getting broken. I couldn't believe I had been so concerned for the past few days because I didn't know where that gay was, but based on his appearance and what was happening before my eyes, he appeared to be in good health. He was happy, and having fun, and I was not aware of it.