Chapter 4 4

Chapter Four

"Hey, did you bring your gift for Yves?" Tanya asked while they were still unattended at the receptionist desk.

"Of course, I did," he replied, turning to her before taking a seat. "I got it covered! You know Yves means a lot to me."

She smiled. "Good! Because our celebration later is a go!"

Nena just supported her friend's excitement. It had been a while since Tanya had a chance to unwind since starting a family. Somehow, Tanya deserved to have some fun occasionally, as a reward for being a diligent employee, a good wife, and mother to her children. Besides, Tanya's husband, Keith, would also join Yves' birthday celebration. So, it wasn't a big deal for the couple. Yves was fine with Tanya bringing her husband; whoever their friends or partners were, Yves considered them all as friends.

Yves used to be a messenger at Salvadores Law Firm. Two years ago, he resigned to work abroad as a factory worker. Coincidentally, he was on vacation in the Philippines this July. He messaged their group chat, inviting everyone to a bar to celebrate his birthday.

By six o'clock, Nena and Tanya sneaked to the firm's restroom. As receptionists, they made sure no clients were left waiting.

Nena returned to the receptionist desk first to gather her belongings. She rested her hand on the desk, staring into space.

Because of yesterday's discussion with Clint, they were not on speaking terms today. In the morning, he simply walked past them, heading straight to the elevator. Tanya wondered, but Nena assumed he was in a hurry to start work.

She let out a sigh. Why did she feel regret now?

She shook her head.

No. You did the right thing, Nena, she reassured herself. You're not cheap. You don't easily open up to someone just because they show interest.

"Hey," Tanya called out to her. Nena realized Tanya was behind her, already shouldering her bag. "Let's go."

"Ah," she snapped back to the present. "Let's go!" she said enthusiastically, following Tanya out of the building. They greeted the guard near the door before passing through.

Tanya and Keith squeezed her onto the motorcycle, but they could only take her to the waiting shed. Going beyond that would risk being caught since riding three on a motorcycle was not allowed. She was quickly dropped off.

"Oh," Tanya turned to her after lifting the visor of her helmet. "You'll message when Yves picks you up, right?"

She smiled. "Of course."

"Alright, see you at the bar!" Tanya waved before lowering the visor and securing herself to Keith.

Nena uneasily adjusted her shoulder bag strap. Though comfortable in her fitted low waist jeans and v-neck shirt, her bag now bulged due to the uniform she replaced and the flat shoes she wore. She took a deep breath while waiting at the shed. It was a bit out of the way from Yves' route, but being friends, they couldn't skip picking her up. Yves wouldn't allow her to commute alone to the bar either.

Finally, a red car stopped in front of her. The shotgun seat's door suddenly swung open. Yves peeked from inside, giving her a broad smile.

"Wow, Yves!" Nena hurriedly approached him.

"Come on," he tapped the seat energetically before settling into the driver's seat.

Nena got in quickly, and the door closed with a solid thud. Yves started the car without further ado.

"Wow, Yves," she admired the seemingly brand-new car. "Working abroad really does make a difference, huh?"

"Just persistence, Nena," he chuckled, with curly hair and deep dimples. He was a more robust man now compared to his messenger days at Salvatorre Law Firm.

He sat beside her in a simple green shirt and jeans. Nena was pleased to see that success hadn't gone to his head despite him now earning more than her and Tanya. She was happy that upon returning, he didn't forget about them.

"Did you get to celebrate with your family?" she asked, looking at him as his eyes focused on the road. "They might wonder why we're the first ones you invited for a celebration."

He laughed. "Nah, we already celebrated this morning. Almost all my nieces and nephews were at the house earlier. It felt like a children's party, but that's even more enjoyable. Watching the kids having fun with the games."

"Wow," she leaned back in her seat. "You might end up spending more on us tonight, Yves."

"Don't worry about it," he glanced at her, smiling. "You guys have treated me countless times when we hang out before. And it's my birthday tonight."

She looked ahead.

"How have things been since I left the firm? Any updates? Is Jeric still around?"

Jeric replaced Yves as the messenger when he resigned.

"Yeah, Jeric is doing fine in his job," she turned to Yves. "Too bad, right? If he didn't go home to his family in Bicol every end of the month, he'd be with us tonight."

"It's okay," he said, a relaxed smile on his face. "At least, it saves me some expenses."

They both laughed.

"You're still quite thrifty, aren't you!" she teased.

"Well, with the difficulty of working far from the family and not being fluent in Tagalog yet, I have to be frugal. I'm saving up for a house now. After renovating my mom's house, I'll have more saved up for my own place."

"Lucky you," she admired him. "I've been with the firm for five years and still living with my aunt."

"You could look for another job, you know."

Nena lowered her head. "Yes, but you can't be sure if the next one will be any better."

In Salvatorre, the environment is beautiful, and I can feel the benefits like SSS. Besides, I also like my job."

The man nodded appreciatively. "That's what's admirable about you, Nena. You're humble."

"Humble? Seriously?" she smiled at him.

As they reached the bar, Keith and Tanya were waiting outside. The two men exchanged a cheerful hug, and Yves hugged Tanya too. Afterward, they all entered the bar together.

"You should have entered first!" Yves teased them.

"We're not shy!" Tanya replied. "It's risky to enter without knowing if someone's treating us!"

After finding seats, they collaborated on choosing items from the menu before the waiter left them to enjoy their bonding time. The alternative rock band on stage also started performing.

"Are you sure about the beer tower?" Yves asked Nena.

Next to Nena, Tanya was with her husband, both wearing matching colors. Keith had a black shirt, while Tanya wore a black spaghetti-strap blouse.

"Let her have it," Keith said to Tanya. "She's been craving alcohol for years."

"You're too strict, bro," Yves laughed.

"I have to be! I'm just taking care of my wife."

"Oh, please, Keith," Tanya rolled her eyes. "Stop being jealous."

"Yeah," Tanya pushed him playfully towards Yves. "Look at Yves! Don't be bitter!"

"Are you okay with it, Yves?" Keith joked, hugging him.

"Of course not! I'll go broke treating you!" Yves grinned.

Nena released herself from Yves, sat up straight, and lightly hit him on the arm, trying not to burst into laughter. She looked genuinely disappointed.

"Excuse me! You better spend on me! I'll make you happy, and you'll still make me pay?"

Laughter erupted from their group.

"How will you make Yves happy when you don't even know how?" Tanya teased.

"Oh, you're a rude woman too!" Yves laughed along with them.

"Teach her, Yves!" Keith gestured towards Yves.

Yves playfully put his arm around Nena and pointed at her cheek. "There you go, I've taught her!"

Laughter echoed.

Nena was the first to stop laughing when she noticed someone approaching their table. The lighting in the bar made it difficult to identify the newcomer immediately. Tanya seemed to notice Nena's surprise and followed her gaze to the person who startled her. Yves and Keith also looked in the same direction.

As the figure got closer, Nena could finally see Clint Guillermo's face, touched by the colorful lights. She observed his thick brows, thin lips, and furrowed eyebrows.

"Attorney!" Yves immediately moved away to shake hands with him. "Come, have a seat!"

"Wow!" Tanya smiled. "You're on a different level now, Yves! Even Attorney is your buddy!"

Nena just watched Clint following Yves. He sat next to Yves with Tanya in between them. Yves confidently leaned on the lawyer. Clint briefly glanced at him before his eyes met Nena's. She lowered her gaze shyly.

Nena realized she shouldn't have done that, but her reaction took over.

Feeling uneasy.

Whatever this feeling is.

"Of course!" Yves faced their friends. "Do you know that Attorney encouraged me to leave that previous employment company?"

"Oh, really? Didn't you resign to work abroad?" Tanya asked.

"Yes, but I just thought of going abroad because when I asked Attorney about it, he said the employment company I applied for was unfair in terms of salary. So, I decided to work abroad."

Clint just nodded, smiling. "It's your birthday; don't make me the highlight."

"I'm just sharing, Attorney!" Yves, with his arm around Clint, dismissed him. He seemed a bit uncomfortable because even though he was sitting, Clint was still taller. Clint also had to adjust to sit comfortably beside Yves. "If not for your help, how could I treat you all today?"

He chuckled and shook his head. His smile was light but captivating. Even in the dim bar, Nena couldn't help but notice his attractive smile.

"I'm getting thirsty."

"The order is coming, Attorney," Yves assured him.

"You're different, Attorney," Tanya said. "Glad you agreed to join us!"

"I thought he wouldn't come," Yves explained.

"I just said I'm not sure," Clint raised the corner of his lips. "I have appointments." He avoided eye contact when Clint caught his gaze. "Hey, you're quiet there."

Oh no. Everyone was now looking at her.

Nena awkwardly smiled. "I'm just listening," she explained.

Clint grinned playfully. She couldn't understand why he reacted that way, considering what he said in the car yesterday. He seemed fine, which puzzled her. She, on the other hand, felt awkward. She would understand if Clint distanced himself from her because he might feel embarrassed by what he openly said to her, only to be rejected.

Being with Clint presented two possibilities for Nena-either he was shameless or he simply didn't care about what happened yesterday, unaffected enough to casually appear at Yves' birthday celebration.

Or perhaps, Yves was just that important to Clint?

Honestly, she felt a strange excitement upon seeing him. She didn't expect it. Yves didn't mention that he invited Clint. She didn't want to think that she was thrilled by his presence. She needed to remind herself that she rejected Clint's offer. She chose to hold on to her decency rather than succumb to his words. She would be foolish to let her mind be swayed by the longing in her body when she saw him.

Her heart raced as she looked away from the stunning man.

"So, are we exchanging gifts now?" Keith separated from Tanya to prepare for the gift-giving with his wife.

"Ah, you can give it later!"

"No, now, so we can all do it together. We might forget later when we're already drunk!" Keith joked.

Yves extended his hand, "Okay! Give it to me; we might forget!"

Laughter filled the air. Yves bent down to pick up the paper bag he placed on the floor. Clint's eyes returned to her. Nena should have moved to hand Yves the gift, but she felt like she was stuck in quicksand, pulled by a penetrating gaze from Clint. She sucked in a breath, feeling her heart throb.

"Ah! Damn it!" Nena sharply inhaled and turned to Tanya. Her eyes widened, focusing on the person beside her while Tanya pinched her side.

The witch really timed her pinch on the exposed skin of Nena's hip because of the low-waist jeans.

She laughed at Nena. "What's wrong with you? Where's your gift for Yves?"

Panicking, she reached for her seat, but no matter where her hand landed, she only felt leather. She looked at Yves, pleading with her eyes.

"I left my bag in your car," Nena explained. "Can I get it?"

"Right now?" Yves smiled understandingly. "It's okay if you give it to me later. I'll even drive you home."

"Isn't that a little bit out of your way?" Clint interjected in their conversation.

She felt nervous when Yves turned to look at Clint. Yves seemed so clueless, smiling as he responded to Clint.

"Well, it is, but who knows what time we'll get home. I don't want Nena to commute; she might have a hard time finding a ride."

"We live in the same direction," Clint confidently leaned back in his seat. His gaze met hers again, causing an unexplainable excitement and tension in the pit of her stomach. "I can take her home."

"Oh, how did you find out where Nena lives, Attorney?" Tanya teased, nudging him with her foot.

It made him yelp. "Ouch! I was just asking Attorney!"

"Why are you mad at me? What did I do?" she pretended.

They really were good friends with Tanya.