Chapter 7
"Oh, you're here Nick. I thought you asked for one week's leave to prepare for your thesis defense?"
“It was over yesterday, Sir Darwin. And I can't ask Walden to do double duty for me here in the bank. I am only finishing a few paper works and one last exam for me to graduate in April. ”
Nick is currently in the town's bank where he's been working for the last 4 years and in front of him, is the Bank President, Mr. Darwin Enriquez. Typically, it's the bank manager who gives him further instructions, but there are days he gets to see the main boss in the branch.
"I see. Good to hear that. Nick, you're wearing sunglasses inside the office. Are you okay?"
"Ah..."
"Wait, it looks like you have a lot of bruises on your face. What happened?"
“It's a long story, but I just interfered with someone's fight last night to save a girl.”
“Tsk Tsk...”
"Alright sir, I'll go now to deliver the bank's letters to your clients."
He was already at the door when he heard the president's last words. "Next week, that messenger job of yours will now only be for Walden."
“What? Why??? Am I fired?”
Mr. Enriquez laughed before answering, “And why should I fire you? We will talk about your new position here in the bank since you are also close to graduating."
“W-what? S-sir Enriquez?”
“Ella told me here that you helped them with the bookkeeping job last time. They don't want to admit it because it means they are not doing their own job, but still, I found it out. So, because you're about to graduate in a month, I'll offer you a new position as Junior Bank Accountant - on probation if I may add."
Nick's smile widened when he heard the good news. He could almost hug his boss with joy. "Thank you, Mr. Enriquez!"
“You’re so happy it looks like you’re about to hug my dad...”
Mr. Enriquez's door opened and his daughter Brooke entered. “Hi, Nick! Well, I caught up with you... I thought you were absent again today.”
“Courtesy Brooke, your courtesy.”
“Oh hi, dad! Sorry, my bad... I saw Nick first.”
“Hi, Ma’am Brooke. Good morning.”
"Drop the ‘ma'am.’ We're just of the same age, Nick. Anyway, I told dad to let me stay here a bit before going to Manila and then to the States, after all, my next semester won't start in Seattle until it's August."
"Oh."
"So...that one beach you told me last time that was undeveloped but has pristine sands, do you think you can take me there?"
“Hija, Nick is a working student - Busy and has a job unlike you."
“You’ll find time for me soon, right Nick?”
“I'll try Ma'am Brooke, I mean Brooke. But I can't promise. I gotta go, Mr. Enriquez."
***
“I like that man, Brooke. Smart and industrious.”
“He’s too cute for just your bank messenger, dad. I heard he’s going to graduate Summa Cum Laude.”
“He is, that’s why I’m offering him the job already. Numbers of financial companies will be offering him soon. Also, I can see what job he can do for me here in the bank. Don't ruin Nick's concentration, Brooke. ”
Brooke just flashed her smile before answering, “I didn’t. all I just said was he’s too cute. Right?”
***
“Five! Six! Seven...Eight!”
The Panther's cheer squad was in their early afternoon practice. It has been three days since they weren't able to do so because of their Semi's exams and now since most of them don't have any schedules after, they were able to have their practice. Say was sweating when she leads the practice with her team.
“...and One...Two...Three...Four!”
I haven't seen him for three days ... Did he see the medicine kit I left in the room of Aling Sabina? Say muttered under her breath. Three days ago, she left the medicine kit outside the maid’s quarter knowing Nick needs it after all the bruises he gets from saving her. But she hasn’t heard or seen him since.
“...Five! Six! Seven...Eight!”
Maybe he got even angrier, so he didn't want to see me anymore? Ahh …She wanted to say sorry again. She just wanted to see if he’s fine.
“Earth to Samantha Yvette De Plaza please...”
With too many thoughts, Say did not even notice that she was no longer following the routine steps and the music. She didn't even notice that Lilac had turned off the CD and there was no music anymore. Tori tapped her.
“Say! Hey!!!”
“W-what?”
"You're so engrossed with whatever thoughts you are thinking. You didn't even realize you're no longer following the dance steps. Are you okay?"
She moved about and sits on the lower bleacher before she talks. “Sorry girls...I feel like I still haven’t forgotten about that night...”
"Which one? The one where you hugged Nick tightly or the one when you rode on his motorbike where you're almost lying on his chest? ” Their smiles are teasing.
“Tori... you know what I’m talking about. You haven’t seen what those guys did to me before Nick came.”
They suddenly became apologetic. "Sorry, Say. We thought the circumstance just happened the same as we planned, and you were just playing along with it."
"’ Know what, I don't like to say this, but I felt like I should thank those trespassers last night. Because of that, for sure ... you and Nick now have a bit of a connection and so our plan should move along.”
Say suddenly looked at her friends. “About that...I just wanted to say that we should stop --
But Say's words were cut short when Tommy rushed into the gym. “Guys, Troy had an accident! ”
“What???!” Everyone surrounded Tommy, their Lifter.
"He's in the hospital now after he crashed his car with a tree last night."
“Is he okay? I mean does he have any injuries? Remember he is our main lifter-dancer, and we only have two weeks left before the Inter-University Cheer dance competition."
“That’s the problem. He is fine now but his hand is cast, and he has a bandage on his head. He can't lift anything or move too much for at least the next 3 months. ”
“Oh no... Without Troy, we would be short of a lifter in the team. Randy disappeared and transferred, so there was no replacement. And the competition is in the next two weeks! ” gasped Lilac, her assistant cheerleader.
“Say, what are we going to do now?”
Everyone was looking at her for a decision.
"Let's just think about it later ... We have to find ways ... otherwise, we will do a new choreography removing the part of Troy."
“Oh NOOO....”