CITY ENCOUNTER SERIES #1: WHEN THE RAIN FALLS

"Every dream has an inspiration, and you need to determine how you can reach them by striving towards those inspirations. Don't just promise but fail to take even a single step toward your dreams. Dreams are like stars in the sky; they may seem too high to reach, but there are many stars, just like there are many plans you can start. Embrace failure as a part of the journey toward success, and never stop dreaming. Learn from your failures and let them fuel your determination to continue until you reach your dream.Remember your failures so that you remain determined to continue. Let failures be lessons that guide you on your journey toward your dreams. Reach for your stars. This is Aleeza Zinn Deogracia, a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and this is the beginning of me reaching my star."

After my graduation speech everyone clapped their hands. I looked at my parents, and they were almost in tears. I smiled at them and mouthed, "I already graduated!"

We returned home after graduation. We lived in the province, where the air was fresh and life was vibrant. As I awaited my examination, I decided to assist my parents on the farm. I always had a strong desire to help them, and I took great pride in the fact that my parents were farmers. Their occupation revolved around feeding people, and it was because of their hard work that I was able to pursue my education.

"Momma, I've already cooked our lunch. Let's eat!" I exclaimed with excitement.

"Sarah, you're so lucky to have a beautiful daughter like Aleeza. I bet she'll marry a billionaire someday," my momma's friend remarked, and my mother chuckled.

"My daughter has no plans for that. She will help her siblings, Anna and Arra, finish their schooling," my mom quickly defended me. I felt a deep sense of responsibility towards my younger siblings. Anna and Arra were currently studying in a public school in town as grade 10 students. They had excelled in their junior high and were determined to continue their education.

"Aleeza, we're home! Papa is waiting for us," Anna announced as we entered the house.

I had prepared *adobong manok* for lunch, and we happily enjoyed our meal together. Once we finished, our parents returned to the farm, while Anna and Arra helped with the dishes, and I cleaned the dining area.

"Which school are you two planning to enroll in next year?" I asked my siblings.

"I think we'll enroll in the same school. They offer a STEM strand, and the tuition fees are affordable," Anna replied.

"Yes, Ate Aleeza, Anna is right. Plus, we can save money," Arra added.

"I promise both of you will reach for the stars soon," I assured them with a smile.

After tidying up the house, we brought some food to our hardworking parents and decided to help them on the farm. We planted rice and various vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, and onions. As I worked alongside my family, I couldn't help but contemplate my situation. The wait for the exam was tiring, and I needed to earn money for the examination fees. I knew I had to find a job, but I wasn't sure how to discuss it with my parents.

I constantly prayed for the confidence to share my plan with them. Finally, I felt that tonight was the right time to do so. It was already 6:30 in the evening, and we were having dinner. Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and spoke up.

"I've noticed that you seem tense, Aleeza," my momma said.

I braced myself and began."I have decided to find a job in Manila," I stated directly, without wasting any time.

"Of course, you can. But remember, you also need to help your siblings," my father replied. I breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across my face.

"Are you sure, Papa?" I asked, unable to believe that they would allow me."Of course, Aleeza. You're old enough to make your own decisions," my momma reassured me. I nodded gratefully, and we continued our meal.

After we finished eating, Anna and Arra washed the dishes while I cleaned the table. As soon as I finished, I hurried to my room and opened my phone to search for suitable job opportunities. That's when I came across a job posting from Gustavo Empire.

I couldn't contain my excitement. The timing was perfect. I immediately prepared my resume and sent it to their email address. To my surprise, they called me back just half an hour later, informing me that the CEO wanted to meet me on Monday.

My parents were aware of the meeting scheduled for Monday. Since it was still Saturday, I decided to travel to Manila earlier to search for an apartment to rent. After packing my things, my parents handed me some money for my allowance. I felt a twinge of embarrassment but knew I had to accept their support.

"Take care of yourself, Aleeza," my father said."Of course, Papa. The two of them also want to reach for their stars," I said, referring to my younger siblings. I bid them farewell as the tricycle arrived, and I headed to the bus terminal to embark on the long journey to Manila.

The rain poured heavily as I reached the Pasay terminal. People were scrambling to catch a jeepney, and it was already late in the evening. Hungry and exhausted, I found myself in a waiting shed, contemplating how I would find an apartment at such a late hour. Shivering from the cold, I decided to cross the road and buy some food from a nearby convenience store. Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice the oncoming car, and it stopped just a few meters away from me.

"Why the heck didn't you watch where you were going?" a voice shouted from the car. I ignored the outburst and continued walking, not wanting to waste time arguing.

However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was following me. When I turned around, I saw a man holding an umbrella. I couldn't see his face clearly because of his face mask and hat.

"Come to this address. I can sense your restlessness," he said, insisting I take the umbrella."But what about you? The umbrella is yours," I protested, feeling a sense of guilt."It's alright. It's yours now," he replied, then walked away."Thank you," I murmured, touched by the stranger's kindness. I continued on my way, walking to the store.

The shrill ring of my alarm jolted me awake at 5:00 AM, reminding me that it was Monday, the day of my important interview at Gustavo Group of Companies. I felt the weekend's exhaustion still clinging to me, but there was no time to waste. I rushed through my morning routine-taking a quick five-minute shower, cooking breakfast, and eating swiftly.

As I stepped out of my dorm and waited for a cab, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Luckily, it didn't take long before a cab stopped in front of me.

"Where to, miss?" the cab driver asked.

"Gustavo Empire main office," I replied, sliding into the back seat. During the ride, I texted my sister Anna, letting her know I was on my way to the interview.

By 7:30 AM, I stood in front of Gustavo Empire's impressive building. I smiled with anticipation as I approached the main door, where a middle-aged security guard greeted me."Good morning, ma'am. Do you have an appointment here?" he asked. I handed him my ID, and he checked it against the master list.

"Aleeza Zinn Deogarcia," he confirmed.

I nodded, and the guard let me pass. I made my way to the elevator, feeling my nerves intensify as I thought about possibly meeting the CEO. As the elevator doors began to close, a woman about 5'5" slipped in. I wondered if she might be another applicant, which only made me more anxious. When the elevator reached the tenth floor, the woman walked briskly to an office. I took a seat in the waiting area, trying to calm my nerves. Soon, someone called my name, informing me that the CEO was ready to see me. I took a deep breath and entered the office, surprised to find the woman from the elevator seated in the CEO's chair.

"Good morning, ma'am," I greeted her, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Aleeza Zinn Deogarcia," she read from my resume.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied.

"Why did you choose our company?" she asked.

"I chose your company because I believe it offers opportunities for me to develop my skills. I've heard that you treat your employees well, which is important to me," I answered honestly.

"You're an engineering graduate. How can you contribute to our company?" she inquired."I plan to contribute by doing my best and handling my responsibilities with dedication and excellence. I want to use my knowledge to help improve the company," I explained.

"Why should I hire you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You should hire me because I believe I have the skills and dedication you need. I also really need this job to support my family back home," I said, my voice faltering slightly with emotion.

To my surprise, she smiled and said, "You're hired! You can start now."

Tears of happiness filled my eyes, but I managed to smile. "Thank you, ma'am. I owe you so much," I said, overwhelmed with gratitude.

She handed me a tablet. "This is my schedule for the day. But first, report to the HR department to complete your paperwork."

"Okay ma'am, thank you so much," I said, standing up.

"Call me Aminah," she said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Ma'am Aminah," I replied before heading to the HR department.

As I walked to the HR department, I greeted everyone I passed, trying to make a good impression. The head of the HR department, a woman in her late thirties, greeted me with a firm voice.

"So, you're the new employee," she said.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm Aleeza Zinn Deogarcia," I replied nervously.

She chuckled. "Just kidding. I'm Rhiyan Suarez. Sign this," she said, handing me a paper.

It was a contract confirming my employment. After signing it, she gave me my employee ID. I couldn't believe how quickly everything was happening.

"Thank you, Miss," I said and left her office to begin my first day of work.

My new office was filled with paperwork to organize and review. I dove into my tasks, feeling a mix of excitement and exhaustion.

I returned home that evening feeling drained but grateful for my new job. After taking a refreshing shower, I cooked dinner and called my sister Arra to share my good news. After a long conversation, I opened my sketchbook and began to draw, capturing the day's experiences.

"First day as an employee""Though it made me nervous, it was all worth it.""I'm hired.""But it was tiring. I'll adapt soon enough."

I prepared my outfit for the next day, carefully ironing a gray blouse, a royal blue skirt, and white two-inch heels. After drying my hair, I climbed into bed, ready for a good night's sleep.

At 5:30 AM, I awoke to the city's sounds-the honking of cars and the distant chatter of people. I cooked a quick breakfast of sunny-side-up eggs and rice before taking a shower. By 6:00 AM, I was dressed and ready, waiting downstairs for a cab.

"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.

"Gustavo Empire," I replied, settling into the seat.

After a 45-minute ride, I arrived at the office, greeted the guard, and headed straight for the elevator to the tenth floor. Once at my desk, I checked the tablet for today's schedule. The day was packed with meetings, keeping me busy and on my toes.

At 3:00 PM, Ms. Aminah called me into her office, where I found her with some friends-gorgeous women who exuded confidence.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," I greeted them.

"Good afternoon," one of Aminah's friends replied warmly.

"Aleeza, can you pick up the kids from school?" Ms. Aminah asked.

I nodded, though unsure of how I'd manage.

"Do you know how to drive?" she asked.

"I don't, ma'am," I admitted, feeling embarrassed.

"That's fine. Ask Jun to drive you," she instructed.

One of her friends, Caleigh, commented on my appearance. "Oh my, your secretary is quite pretty, Aminah!"

"Shut up, Caleigh. You're making her uncomfortable," Aminah scolded playfully, and I appreciated her understanding.

One of her other friends suggested, "Maybe Alyx should pick up the kids."

"It's okay, ma'am. I'll do it," I assured her, curious to learn more about Ms. Aminah's life outside work.

I left the office, grabbed my bag, and took a cab to De Castro Academy. Upon arriving, I was impressed by the school's grandeur. I approached the guard house, knocking gently on the small door.

"Who are you looking for?" the lady guard asked.

"I'm here for Ms. Aminah Celestine Elloren's kids, Ms. Krystal Claire Fajardo's kids, and Ms. Caleigh Sheen Salvador's daughter," I explained.

"And who are you?" she inquired, making me pause. Just then, a baritone voice behind me said, "She's the babysitter for those kids."

I turned to see who had spoken, but the mysterious man had already disappeared, leaving me puzzled yet intrigued.

The guard let me enter so that I could pick up the kids. The kids quickly recognized me and came with me. We waited for a cab, but suddenly a black car stopped in front of us. The door opened, and the kids recognized the man inside, calling him "Uncle."

We entered the car, and I remained silent during the whole ride. The kids eagerly told their uncle about their achievements that day. We even stopped at a drive-thru to buy some snacks, which I allowed. We rode the elevator together with the five kids and their aloof uncle. I pressed the button for the tenth floor.

After a few minutes, we reached the tenth floor, and they all ran towards Ms. Aminah's office while their uncle repeatedly told them to take care. Once I knew they were safely in the office, I returned to mine to finish my work. I arranged Ms. Aminah's appointments and prepared the presentation for tomorrow's conference.

Ms. Aminah texted me to go to her office, so I obliged. As I opened the door, I saw nine girls sitting on the couch and the man who had picked us up earlier sitting beside a girl that Ms. Aminah called Caleigh.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," I greeted as I entered the room.

"I called you because I want you to clear my schedule for tomorrow and also review this file with the finance department," Ms. Aminah said, handing me a folder. I felt uncomfortable as the man looked at me from head to toe as if inspecting me. To avoid his gaze, I nodded to Ms. Aminah and quickly left the office.

I went to the finance department to find Mr. Salcedo, the department head, but he was not around, so I returned to my office to review the folder myself. I checked for discrepancies in the report and found some calculations were incorrect and didn't match my records. The company had nearly lost three hundred thousand pesos. After finishing my review, I returned the folder to Ms. Aminah's office.

"It's done?" Ms. Aminah asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I reviewed it myself because Mr. Salcedo was not around," I replied. When she opened the folder, she was shocked by what she saw.

"Call an emergency board meeting," Ms. Aminah said. I nodded. "Who do you think could have stolen the money?" Ms. Aminah asked me while her friends watched silently.

"I think it was Mr. Salcedo and you, ma'am," I said, causing one of her friends to smirk.

"How can you say that? This is my company. Why would I steal from it?" Ms. Aminah asked.

"I just think it's possible, ma'am. You and Mr. Salcedo are the only ones with access to the company's funds," I said, as one of her friends joined the discussion.

"You've been caught, Aminah, so stop. You've got a good and smart secretary," said the friend who had smirked at me earlier.

"Fine, Krystal, she figured it out," Ms. Aminah admitted.

"I have to call the emergency board meeting as you request ma'am and the report is ready," I said. Ms. Aminah nodded, and I left the office, eager to avoid the man's unsettling gaze.

Once in my office, I quickly prepared the report, calling all the board members and department heads to an emergency meeting starting in thirty minutes. I announced it twice before heading to the conference room to set up my report. Some board members and department heads had already arrived. Mr. Salcedo, the finance department head, was present, which shocked me since I hadn't seen him in his office. Everyone was surprised by the emergency meeting, unaware of the topic. I shot a cold glance at Mr. Salcedo, who looked back at me. The room fell silent as CEO Ms. Aminah and her attorney, Ms. Krystal, entered the conference room. Ms. Aminah sat in the center, with her attorney, Ms. Krystal, on her right. Tension filled the room as Ms. Aminah gritted her teeth, her angelic demeanor gone, revealing her darker side. Ms. Krystal remained calm as ever.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The CEO has called this emergency meeting to discuss a pressing matter," I said, and my report was displayed on the projector. Ms. Aminah nodded for me to continue. "The issue we'll discuss this afternoon is the loss of almost three hundred thousand pesos from the company's funds," I said, glancing at Mr. Salcedo. The board members started to murmur about pulling their investments.

"Shut up! Those who want to pull out their investments can go to hell!" Ms. Aminah exclaimed, and the board members fell silent. "Continue," Ms. Aminah instructed.

"We, Ms. Aminah and attorney Krystal, have identified the thief," I said, looking at Ms. Krystal, who nodded for me to proceed. "The company's expenses this month were only 1.7 million pesos, but the finance department's report claimed they were 2 million pesos. Did the finance department calculate the company's expenses correctly? What do you have to say, Mr. Salcedo?" I asked, directing my attention to him.

"Are you accusing me of stealing nearly three hundred thousand pesos from the company?" he shouted, walking towards me.

"As I said, sir, you must explain why this happened. You should know about this, right?" I replied calmly.

"How dare you, woman!" he shouted, raising his hand as if to slap me, but I swiftly kicked him, leaving his face red with anger.

"Let's see," I said, playing the video. As the footage played, Mr. Salcedo's accomplices among the board members became visibly scared.

"In conclusion, you've been the head of the finance department for almost five years. During that time, you've stolen over five million pesos," I said, nodding to Ms. Aminah.

"Mr. Salcedo, I know you won't admit it. Of course, I'm the one who uncovered the theft of the three hundred thousand pesos. Guess why? Because you've stolen five million pesos from the company, but you won't get away with it, nor will your allies, Mr. Agashi, Mr. Mercado, and Mr. Dumas. We're done with you," Ms. Aminah declared, and attorney Krystal stood up.

"The company will file a legal case against those involved, and we ensure everyone involved in this case will face the consequences," Ms. Krystal said before leaving the office. She returned with the cops, who read a subpoena and arrested those involved in the case.

"The meeting is dismissed," Ms. Aminah announced, and we all stood up.

"You, woman!" Mr. Salcedo shouted at Ms. Aminah.

"Yes?" Ms. Aminah turned to face him.

"You'll find your weakness soon!" he threatened.

"I already found it," Ms. Aminah replied, then walked away. I followed her and entered her office.

"You did a great job, Aleeza. You impressed me. I was right to choose you," Ms. Aminah said, walking towards her swivel chair.

"I just did my best, ma'am," I replied, looking around and seeing the man again, leaving the private room in the office.

"Do you want to sue Mr. Salcedo for what he did to you earlier, Aleeza?" Ms. Krystal asked, noticing my wrist.

"No, ma'am, I'm fine," I said, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was already six in the evening.

"Ma'am, I need to go home. It's already six," I said, and she nodded, looking at the man who had picked up the kids and me earlier.

"Alyx, drive Aleeza home," Ms. Aminah ordered.

"No, ma'am, it's okay. I'll commute," I said.

"No, Aleeza, I insist," Ms. Aminah insisted, so I nodded. I left Ms. Aminah's office to retrieve my bag and the documents I needed to finish at home.

As I was about to leave my office, Mr. Gustavo pushed the door open, causing my head to hit it. I almost screamed in pain, and the man knelt to check on me.

"Are you okay?" he asked. His voice sounded familiar. I had heard it earlier at the kids' school. I looked at him and asked directly, "Are you the man who said I was the kids' babysitter?"