Chapter 5 This is Levi

"Auntie, find me someone else."

"Why? What's wrong? Have you gone yet? I've already set an appointment-"

"Yes, just find another."

I narrowed my eyes as I leaned on the head board of the bed here at Lourd's condo. I felt the soreness of my body, I didn't do any activity all day but I felt very tired.

"But hija, that's the only company that I saw who's capable of handling--"

"Please! Lourd's brother is the CEO of that company!"

I sighed. The line is quiet. I didn't mean to shout at her. He was not at fault because most likely if he knew Levi was the CEO of that company he wouldn't have suggested that to me. She doesn't know anything about me and Levi, all she knows is the issue of my brother in that family.

"Sorry, I didn't know. I'll send another address."

What he said calmed my mind. I massage my temple while talking to her about my errands today and my issue. He just preached to me and said goodbye afterwards. There are also some text that I haven't replied yet, so I have already answered them. I've caught my brother surprisingly because I'm not bombarded with calls or texts.

I was about to say that I met his brother today but I think It will be better if I don't say it. I will also look for another company and we will not meet again. I don't want to exaggerate that thing anymore. My only prayer was that the news would not reach his mother because I did not know what could have happened. I lighted a candle to help myself ease the stress I'm feeling.

I tried to concentrate on good things, I repeatedly mentioned the things I was grateful for. Whenever I'm feeling sad and being eaten by anxiety I always do this routine. It is true that if you are sad, no one can help you but yourself. That's why it's important to find happiness within yourself and not to other people. For the latter you also know what will make you happy whenever sadness engulfs you. After a few minutes of relaxing I decided to search for the address that Aunt Matilda sent me.

I already know the backgrounds of the companies and maybe I can see another Vidalio in them. Gladly, I didn't see any Vidalio. VREC I went back to the name of the company I had gone to earlier to answer the questions in my mind. I searched for it and some results came out there. I close my eyes emphatically when I see what those letters mean.

Vida Real Estate Company. Great. I'm so dumb. Only a few letters were removed and Vidalio meant it. My lips are twitching reading some of the articles about that company. VREC, it was launch 3 years ago. Some of the statements I read were just all about how this company is rising and climbing to the top in just a span of years. It is new but it is well known and looked up to.

No wonder, the Vidalio group of hotels are one of the well known estates of this day so if Levi is the owner of this new company it is no wonder. Some of the articles about him are wholesome. Thrifty and just about often he manages his established company. I tried to dig more into it, but I also didn't find what I was looking for. I can't believe I'm just seeing it all now, a few years ago. He's an intimidating successful business man before but now, he's out of reach. The more he couldn't reach. And in those past years, it's obvious that he probably had someone in life while I'm away.

Damn, I was never a part of him probably, I'm just assuming. Why do I even need to know if he has a girlfriend or is he married? I shifted my gaze to the cellphone next to me. He said he'll call me, or maybe his secretary. Yeah, I should stop expecting anything from him. Whatever we have you have long since finished. He seems to be happy with what he is achieving in life, I'm ... happy for him.

I woke up late the next day, what time did I fall asleep again last night, I was just rolling around in bed and didn't know what to do, my eyes just hurt because my mind was wide awake. I visited a few units I was scheduled to visit. Life is not hard in New York, I've earned just enough for my needs because I can't spend money there. I also receive a lot of financial support from the company, and of course all my hard work from tons of projects are paid for. I never know that I could have that much on my bank.

Then a simple life was enough for me, it's still the same today. So now that I have something to provide for what I have worked for, maybe it is not bad to reduce it a little.

"This is nice."

Out of all the units I've visited, the latter is the one I liked the most. It's not that grand for a single person, it has 2 rooms and it was simple and fully furnished, the walls are white, the. ceilings are high and it's modern. The masters bedroom has its own glass walk in closet.

The accent are touch of dust pink, the furniture are gray. One thing I realize is the interior is not that common, can't help but to admire the interior designer of this building. There's no veranda but I'm happy with the large wall windows, anything as long as I can see the size of the city is fine with me. I can imagine the look of this unit with plants, definitely more comfortable to the eye. We had a good conversation with the agent, I just have to wait for a week and I can move in.

This is how fast when you hold the ace, unlike the island back then. Mom and Dad still have to kneel down just so we won't be sent away, they still have to disappear ... just to fight for that island.

They might look like they've lost because they lost without winning the match, but they're together. There is no equal there. I was in the middle of contract signing when my phone rang. It was from an unknown number. My forehead furrowed, unknown number? I don't just give my number because it's my personal number. If it is a client, it will contact Aunt Matilda. I excused myself from the agents and answered the call. I looked at the entire city in the tall and wide mirror of the unit.

"Hi, this is Cyreese Suarez speaking."

I heard a sigh from the other line. I looked at the screen again because I didn't hear anything from it. I went back to my ear.

"This is Levi."

My cheeks turned cold hearing his voice. My jaw dropped when I realized that I had given him my number yesterday. But I thought her secretary will call me?

"Just ... About your internship."

He cleared his throat. My spirit was awakened by what I heard.

"U-uh, yeah! Yes? W-why?"

Why can't I even do this right?

"We have an available position for your application."

I close my eyes tightly, it is very difficult for me to hear his voice. It sounds deep and husky, just like how it sounds before. It feels nostalgic and it's digging deep into my soul.

"Do you have time? You can drop by to our building and settle this matter."

I bit my lip.

No! I just gave my number because I want to get out of there and not to enter his company. What do I do now that he's the one calling me and confirming my application? I searched for the words and I didn't know what to say, would I refuse? I just let him think that I'm going but I won't really show up? I heard some breathing and shrug from the other line. I went back to trance.

"I have a schedule."

Schedule? Where did that come from? You have no job! The other line was quiet, my teeth bit my lip hard. Liar Ava! Liar!

"Then when is your free time? We can just meet and ..."

My heart boom real hard. Definitely no! I refused because I didn't want to go to his company, clearly because I didn't want to see him. And now that I've lied for that is even worse what he wants to happen? Now I know why it is bad to lie. Karma returns to you worse.

"I'm not sure yet ..."

I turned to the two agents who were talking. I smiled at them as if I wasn't buried because of what I was talking about.

"Oh." I just nodded. All I could hear was breathing.

"Okay ..."

"Thank you."

Fast forward to 4 o'clock I turned off the call, did I sound rude? No? But what he said was okay- ending the conversation, isn't that also goodbye? And do CEOs really have the one to call their intern? Ugh! I settled all the paper works for the unit, before I went home to Lourd's unit I went through the company again to hear any updates regarding the issue.

"Are you free this Friday? Join me at the salon, Jade is kind of- you know, busy with her man."

Sorry Olivia said. Olivia is a good friend of mine. Not only is Lucy and I close but we're pretty close, I also know her best friend Jade. Which I find amazing, because I remember back then that he and his wife went to Mar De Vena. I only realized that, because he looked so young then. I just didn't tell him because it didn't matter anymore.

After some updates from her mother, here she is, teasing me. Earlier, Ma'am Evangelista reprimanded her because she was completely mean to me while I was also talking to the IT who was hired for this matter. Olivia is two years older than me, the same age as Lucy. When she's in New York they would always pursue me to come with them whenever they have night outs.

I'm going but I just can't, that's not the night out I had in mind. There was even a time when I just locked myself in the rest room of the bar we went to. They would always make me drink liquors, I tasted it once and I never did it again. I'm fine being alone and enjoying tranquility. Lucy and I have a good temper.

"All right, I still don't have a job and classes."

She cried and even hugged me as if that was the happiest thing that had happened in her life. Her energy, I can't argue with that. He told me a lot more, as well as other models we both knew that he hated, he told me. I just nodded at what he was saying, I'm used to the two of them and Lucy, if it was here now the story of the two of them would probably be eternal again.

She laid the plans she has for Friday, she invited me to go to the salon too, as well as her other skin appointments. I just said that I will think about it because I am not the type who likes to give time to my external appearance. I don't even know if I have something to enhance, besides I'm fine being simple.

"Tell that bitch to come back here! She's been out for 4 months already!"

"She's with Lourd." I moved a few pages of the magazine I saw here in her mommy's office.

"Lourd, Lourd, Lourd! Lourd again! They're just the same as Jade, so thirsty for dcks !." She made face.

My eyes widened at what he said and looked at the people here, I don't think he heard. Her mouth ...

"That's why I'm not in the thought of falling in love. You won't even realize that it's slowly changing you. I don't like the thought of surrendering your all just because you love that certain person. Duh."

He struggled in the air. I stopped at what he said. He knows the story of his friend trying to chase after a man who is also known here in the country. Lucy the Lourd? They are fine now but just like her friend Jade, Lucy also chased after Lourd when she was young. Like ... she just hit some point on that.

"If that's true love, why are you the only one who loves?" She aked.

"If that's true love, why are you the only one hurting? Its 21st century. They're too outdated to be martyrs."

Straight from the heart it hit me. She just spoke all my unsaid thoughts. That love, changed me a lot, I didn't even realize that it had changed me. When you love, there is a feeling that you are willing to give up everything because you think that is the right thing to do. You surrender everything even you have nothing left anymore.

You will give wholeheartedly, the trust and emotion you have spent. But love is not a one way street. If that is true love, why are you the only one who loves? Why are you the only one capable of surrendering yourself and resisting? Why would you settle yourself alone in a battle? Is your sacrifice worth to die for? Is that battle worth to fight for? Or maybe you're fighting the wrong person.

It's hard. Our creator surely knows how to discipline his children. You have to know if it's the right person or just the wrong time, or the wrong time and then just the wrong person.