Glue

The moment Julie walked into the company the early that morning. The first person that greeted her with a smile was Katie.

Good morning," Julie said.

Then an awkward smile settled on her lips when she saw Katie approaching her with a weird grin on her face.

"What's today's gist?" Julie asked, knowing exactly what the look on her friend's face meant.

"Okay, you didn't hear it from me. But the company is in chaos even though it seems calm." Katie said, barely able to contain her excitement for gossip.

At this point, Julie didn't know what to expect, seeing how nervous and thrilled Katie looked. But she remained calm and asked, "Really? What's going on?"

"Mr. David quit." Katie excitedly said before losing the smile on her lips and sadly staring at Julie when she realized what she had just said.

"He did what?"

"Oh my gosh, Mr. David quit!"

Both women felt a rise in their chest as shock held them hostile for a while.

"What happened?" Julie absentmindedly mumbled.

"There's news going around the company about Mr. Manson finding someone else for the position right after firing the other guy because he believed that Mr. David was going to come back to work. But yesterday, he turned in his resignation letter...." Katie explained, making sure that she was telling every detail.

For a moment, Julie lost focus on what Katie was explaining as she wondered, 'Why didn't he tell me.' Then it hit her that she and Steven weren't together anymore.

"Julie… Julie!" Katie softly shouted when she noticed that she had lost her friend's attention.

"Uh uh!" Julie absentmindedly mumbled before focusing on the annoyed expression on Katie's face.

"Are you even listening?"

"Yeah, yeah. But I think I missed some part."

"I was saying that Mr. David is in his office, clearing out his stuff. And Mr. Manson has been grumpy all morning. Now he's in his office personally interviewing the new employee. Can you believe it?"

"No, I can't. Please excuse me, and thanks for the information."

"Oh, okay. No problem. Anytime!"

A quick smile appeared on Julie's face when she stared at Katie. But the moment she walked past her, it quickly shifted into a frown.

"Mr. David, I am done packing your things," Ben said as he lifted the box from the desk.

"Thanks, Ben. Let's go." Jackson lively replied.

Then his eyes swayed away from his driver and focused on Julie when she walked through the door.

"Are you here to tell me goodbye?" Jackson jokingly said as he stood from the chair.

"Where do you think you are going? Do you know how messed up Steven was when you were in a coma and now you are going to walk out on him just like you did with Jennie?"

"Look here Julie, I know you are worried about your boyfriend, but…"

"My Ex,"

"What?"

"You said Steven is my boyfriend. He's not. He's my ex. Have you forgotten? I…"

"No, I have not. I just wanted to remind you that you were the first to walk out on him, so why are you painting me like the devil when I followed your lead?"

The room grew awfully silent as Julie stared at Jackson in disbelief with mixed emotions, brimming in her eyes.

"Why are you being this way?" Julie mumbled, holding back her tears.

"What? It's the truth, isn't it? You left him willingly, and now, you want me to stay. Why is that so? Why does everyone get their way with me, but it can't be the same for me?" Jackson boldly said with calmness in his tone.

Those words gave permission to Julie's tears to fall, and before she could get a hold of herself, her eyes were already watery and her cheeks were wet with salty liquid.

"Because you are the glue that keeps us all together!" Julie childishly and yet angrily shouted, knowing that her words sounded selfish.

"Well, this glue doesn't stick anymore, so you guys are on your own." Jackson calmly said.

When he saw the confusion on Julie's face, he let out a loud growl of annoyance, and frown.

"What does that even mean?" Julie asked, feeling a sudden dryness in her mouth.

"You know exactly what I said, Julie. Don't play dumb with me." Jackson stated with the least patience in his tone.

Then without giving Julie a second glance, Jackson walked past her with Ben following closely behind him.

"He's not going to handle this well. Next to his birth mother, you are the person closer to his heart." Julie said while staring at Jackson's back.

"We both know the next person in Steven's heart is not me. Chances were made when you walked into his life. If you are so worried about his well-being, then maybe you shouldn't have broken up with him in the first place." Jackson replied.

Then he and Ben left the office while Julie stood still, completely paralyzed by shock.

"Thank you for this chance, man. I promise to do my best for this company." Alvin said as he and Steven walked into the lobby.

At first, Steven had his attention completely focus on his thoughts. But when his sight rested on Jackson and Ben holding on to the box, he finally got drawn back to reality.

"No problem, bro. I am sure you will be an excellent employee. Like Jackson said, 'you are just as good at him." Steven firmly said without taking his eyes off Jackson and Ben.

For a second, Jackson's index finger gently rubbed against his nose. Then a mocking smile crossed his lips as he stared at Steven and thought, "How childish?"

When Julie's sight rested on Jackson, her fingers folded into a fist, and she angrily shouted, "You are right, I shouldn't have broken up with him. But I love him so much that's why I was scared to give him back my heart. Just in case he breaks it again, I don't think I would be able to live through it!"

"Well, I think you should be telling him that instead of me! Oh wait, you just did." Jackson replied without turning around.

"What?"

"Look to your right!"

The embarrassment on Julie's face when she gazed at Steven was intense. Then her face suddenly went cold and terror took over.

"Alvin?" Julie mumbled, clutching her blouse while tears settled in her troubled eyes.

"You know him?" Steven asked in confusion, staring at Julie with concern in his eyes before questionably staring at Alvin.

"Julie," Alvin muttered as he swallowed back his saliva.

Suddenly there was a look of disgust on Julie's face. Then her eyes narrowed, and her teeth clenched together.

"Interesting," Jackson whispered beneath his breath.

Suddenly the tension in the atmosphere became comfortable as everyone stared at each other.