Chapter 3: Reminiscing

Xifeng stopped for a while but shrugged me off. She proceeds to open the door then I asked...

JIWOO: how about 3 months? Please... I can't do more than that... We'll just quit together if that's what you want.

I sighed while sitting down on the chair with my hand on my face. I'm just too stressed right now. I can't deal this shit too... I've got much work and this problem just adds to it.

XING: 3 months?

JIWOO: yes 3 months, no more...

Still with my hands on my face... I can barely move to see her. I'm just fed up. Then I felt a hug. Xifeng's arms around my arms while she rests her head on my shoulder. It took her a few seconds before she spoke

XIFENH: thank you Jiwoo.

I turned my head to face her but she didn't budge so I just let her hug me while I asked...

JIWOO: why are you thanking me?

XING: because you finally understand how we are worried about you. We need you as much as you need us Jiwoo. Hurting yourself hurts us too. You and Jae are my best friends. We can't bat an eye when we see each other suffer because of some old reasons. I and Jae just want you to be happy. Not like this, indifferent and careless.

JIWOO: I understand...thank you for caring so much for me. You and Jae are the only people I can run to. Without you, I don't know where I will be. So I'm the one who's supposed to say thank you.

Xifeng breaks out of her hug and turned around... I see glistening eyes before she completely turned.

I'm so lucky to have them...

I was lost when we were kicked out of our house a month after. Where can anyone get that much money in just a month?! That's unbelievable!

My family was forced to live in an even smaller house with a bad heating condition... We have to search in dumpsters just to find something to sell. We had to eat one meal a day. Good thing mom found a job cleaning the streets while dad manages to get a contractual job in construction.

I, on the other hand, was supposed to quit school and just join my dad in his work, but they stopped me. But they eventually gave in, in the condition that I will stop going to school for a year to help them. I ran around selling newspapers, cleaning tables in restaurants, and help deliver fish in the market. It was when I was working on the fish market when some people in my high school noticed me.

Person1: Jiwoo? Is that you?

Person2: Oh my, where have you been?? We were looking for you!

JIWOO: Miss Cha? Principal Song? H... Hello... (I was shy letting them see me like this)

MISS CHA: well, it has been a month now that you didn't go to class, I tried getting in touch but your phone service isn't available anymore. We had someone go to your house but no one is living there anymore. We had to drop you because of attendance.

PRINCIPAL SONG: what happened Jiwoo? We need to talk, you have so much potential.

JIWOO: I... I'm sorry, I have to deliver this now. It's nice seeing you both well. Bye.

I was about to leave when Principal Song got a hold of my arm.

PRINCIPAL SONG: no. Jiwoo, we need to talk now. Take me to your employer and I'll excuse you from them.

JIWOO: but... But!

PRINCIPAL SONG: NOW

Principal Song and Miss Cha talked to my boss and he gladly agreed. So we went to this nearby restaurant and ordered some food and we talked.

MISS CHA: it's ok Jiwoo, you can eat whatever you want.

JIWOO: t... Thanks.

We ate silently after that then when we finished eating...

PRINCIPAL SONG: I don't want to assume and I don't want to intrude. But is there something wrong Jiwoo?

I couldn't answer her. I'm too ashamed of my condition.

PRINCIPAL SONG: it's ok Jiwoo, you can talk to us. Don't be afraid, I'll help you the best I can. You are the best in class, no... the best in our school. You were doing great but all of a sudden you just went AWOL. We looked for you but we can't find you.

I looked at them and told them what happened. Well not exactly, I didn't go into details. I told them though that my parents lost their job and we need to move immediately we were kicked out of our home.

PRINCIPAL SONG: Oh my. I'm so sorry to hear that Jiwoo, So... How are things now for your family?

JIWOO: we're doing fine. I had to resort to work because my parents' salary isn't enough for us to live by. I'll figure things out eventually, then ill get back to school. I don't know when, but eventually...

Principal Song looked at me intently and then

PRINCIPAL SONG: Miss Cha, we have vacancies in our school right?

MISS CHA: yes, Jiwoo? We have an offer for you...

They proposed that my parents can work in our school as a driver and a property custodian. And they also mentioned that they can increase the salary a bit also. In exchange, I have to ho to school. I won't be paying anything because Principal Song offered me a scholarship.

After that, they came along with me to meet my parents. They discussed what's going to happen and they both agreed. I've never seen my parents smile for more than a month now. This means I can go back to school to continue my studies!

We all thanked Principal Song and Miss Cha and they left after that. I have to go back next week so that I can catch up on the lessons I missed. And my parents will be working there as soon as possible.

I managed to get through a day in class because I applied for a part-time job in school which the principal also allowed since it's not that hard. I was happy I was accepted as an assistant in a library and was offered a daily allowance.

I kept most of my allowances as savings and some of it, I gave them to my parents. It'snot much but great help. Of course, they wouldn't accept it at first. But eventually, they obliged... Life is hard as it is, and no space for pride and drama.

Hu Jae and Mao Xifeng came into my life when I was in college a year after I graduated in high school. I moved to a different place away from my parents. After graduation, I was offered another scholarship in one of our universities so I don't have to worry anything with regards to studies. On behalf of free tuition and miscellaneous, I am tasked to work for the school as an assistant, so I chose to work at the library since I'm already k ow how it works there... I get to work and study at the same time!

It was when I saw Xifeng being bullied by some senior who accused her of stealing her boyfriend. So she had a beating on one of the "quiet" corners of the room. I came to her rescue just before she was kicked in the stomach. I yelled for help and everyone looked in my direction and swarmed over them. The bully almost gave me a swing when Jae blocked it and pushed her instead.

The funny thing is, we were all sent to detention... Jae for hurting a girl, the bully for beating Xifeng, Xifeng for I don't know what reason... And me... For yelling at a library! Can you believe that?! We became instant siblings that day!

After graduation, we formed a team and established a small company that caters to marketing strategies and inputs in businesses. We were known in a short period and after a year of hard work, we moved to a bigger area because we hired a couple of consultants to join our team. Then another year passed we have so much going on that we initiated to join constructions.

The rest is history.

Today we are now one of the major Enterprises that work in restaurants and resorts. Most of them company-owned now and still in developing. It has been 3 years since we established the Hearthfire Summit Enterprise. Our home...

Going back...

I promised them I'll take the 3 months off on one condition, I'll be managing temporarily one of our restaurants in the area where I'll be staying at. Of course, to keep me busy. They hesitated at first but agreed eventually since they can't keep me away from working after all and also it's not that hard.

So here we are... Packing my things... With them making sure I packed 3 months' worth of clothes. Haha, stupid friends, I got right? But I won't change them for anyone else.

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Mao Xifeng's Point Of View

XIFENG: Goodbye Mr. CEO

I left after that... I was at the back of the door listening to what Jas was saying to Jiwoo.

I waited for several minutes when Jae opened the door. I made sure jiwoo didn't see me by leaning on the wall next to the door.

I followed Jae to his office... And as I closed the door...

JAE: holy shit! Ahahaha omg, I thought he would flip out and kick us out!

XIFENG: was I on cue?! Omg is he angry at me??

JAE: nope. I see dissatisfaction in his face. Not with us though, but to himself... (He sighed)

XIFENG: let's wait for tomorrow, he'll have that decision and come to us... I know he can't help but give in.

Next day...

XIFENG: he didn't even call us... He's a stubborn fucker.

JAE: what are we going to do then?

XIFENG: watch me.

I left Jae's office and thought of a plan...

Three days have passed and he still won't budge. I had to do something...

So I wrote a resignation letter... I called on my team to the conference room and just keep them there in case Jiwoo comes barging in my office. I have to think through this. He's smart. But I'm cunning

After a few minutes. Angela told me Jiwoo's coming so I motioned my team to stand up and as soon as Jiwoo enters the room they make it sure it looks like we just finished having a meeting... Perfect!