His Elusive Antidote

"Skye, please," I could hear the intense pleading in his voice, but I didn't know how to look at him after finding out everything that happened. "Listen to me first, baby."

"What is there to explain, hmm?" Each word I uttered tasted as bitter as bitter gourd. "Why, if I hadn't found out now, were you planning to tell me, or were you planning to keep it hidden until the grave, huh?" He didn't respond, so I released a mixture of sobs and laughter. "See?"

I could clearly see the confusion in his eyes, but I chose to feign ignorance. I didn't care about how he felt right now; my own pain was doubled.

"Skye, please. My situation right now is very difficult. All I'm asking you is to give me a chance to explain my side. Please give me a few days. I have too much on my plate right now."

I shook my head as tears continued to stream down my face. "No, I don't need to hear any of your lies."

"Is it that hard to make it easier for me, Skye? I always listen to you, but why, when it's you, is it so easy for you to let me go like this?"

It felt like a slap to my senses to hear that. "Are you blaming me? Sorry, again? Easy? And, come on, Jaxon. Admit it or not, this setup is exhausting. I tried to understand everything. You showing up late on our dates, almost not coming, not to mention those times you stood me up because you forgot you said yes to me, while I waited for you. I'd be lucky if you arrived five hours after our meeting time, and I'd still be grateful that you came. It's not just that. You weren't there when I needed you the most, when I struggled with my depression, when I flunked my major subject and had to take a remedial exam. You weren't there, Jaxon. I carried it all alone as if you didn't exist. I tried to reach out, to communicate my feelings to fix us, but you were too busy with things you wouldn't tell me. So I was left alone like I was nothing."

I could see a mix of emotions in his eyes-emotions I couldn't fathom, emotions I saw for the very first time after we started a relationship.

"So, I'm sorry Jaxon, if it's just this simple, I want to let go. But please remember, I tried so hard, I tried my best, I tried until I couldn't anymore. I'm sorry that I need to let you go because this time, I'm choosing myself. And you know what became my last straw? I discovered that the man I loved the most is actually one of the reasons for the death of my dear friend. I never, ever expected this from you. I will take this to my grave. I trusted you so much. I hate you-no, I loathe you! You stole the only friend I had!"

As I started to open the door, my heart swelled and broke into pieces. "Baby, please. Don't give up on me. I love you."

"I can't feel it, Jax. I'm too drained to deal with this shit, so I'm sorry." I fully opened the door and stepped outside the room. "And I hope not to see you again."

"Miss Callista, you're assigned to interview our new applicants tomorrow, so be here on time. Please don't you dare to be late even for a second." The woman nodded in response to her head's instructions, holding some papers.

"Yes, sir," she replied before excusing herself and heading to her table, which was filled with folders. She took a deep breath, looking at a stack of application forms in front of her.

She needed to review them carefully to select suitable candidates to hire this month. She was assigned to interview the applicants because it was August, and unfortunately, the company had openings during this time.

She was a psychology graduate who passed the board exam in her first year. However, finding a job was not as easy as she thought. She was often asked for experience, which led her to the HR department in Quezon City. It wasn't bad, though; she had joined a good company with decent salary and friendly people.

But of course, she still needed to get along with everyone, as not everyone was kind to her, including their department's OIC, who always seemed to have a grudge against her for reasons she didn't understand. Since she started working there, the OIC's attitude towards her had been consistently unpleasant, even though she hadn't done anything wrong.

She adjusted her hair and rolled up her sleeves slightly to start reviewing the applicants' overviews, as she planned to speak with them directly tomorrow and had limited time to read through them.

-

"Oh, how was your first day as an assigned interviewer?" her friend Alex asked, standing near her cubicle with a cup of coffee in her left hand.

"Not enjoyable. Why did they have to do the hiring in August? It's so inconvenient," she replied irritably, adjusting her glasses, which were almost falling off. She was busy reviewing the applicants who would be coming tomorrow for the two vacant positions in their company.

Her friend just laughed before gently tapping her shoulder. "Don't worry,

"Mars, you'll get through it," she said, tapping her shoulder again and continuing to drink her coffee, which she had been doing since earlier. "But wait, I heard you're being scolded by your grumpy head again." As she resumed their conversation, she pulled the nearby swivel chair closer, as there weren't many people in their department due to the lunch break, and most of their colleagues had already left. Meanwhile, she still had work to do and needed to stay late to finish it.

There are so many people looking for jobs nowadays, but the offer here is good. She thought to herself as she continued to separate the calls for tomorrow.

She didn't answer but shook her head, then laughed softly. Her colleagues at work were used to hearing them every day. She didn't really know why she was being scolded by their head; she hadn't done anything wrong except being late all the time.

"He hasn't gotten used to it yet; he starts lecturing me even before I can take a sip of my coffee. I haven't even sat down at my desk yet, and my ears and heart are already hurting from what he's saying," she laughed softly, placing the folder she had just finished on the other side of her desk. She would call them tomorrow to come in because they met the company's criteria.

"Oh, come on, haven't you ever experienced being loved and adored by someone?"

A sudden thought about Zander crossed her mind, her ex-boyfriend from their distant past. The image of their last encounter lingered-a cold and silent room, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air, and the distant look in Zander's eyes. The breakup had happened a long time ago, yet the residual ache still lingered, adding an extra layer to her already challenging day.

"Oh, by the way, his voice only reaches the accounting department now, right? Before, it was the whole fourth floor, right? So weird! And hey! Slow down on your coffee; you might get a stomach ache again and turn pale! Then you'll have a pile of work again, and Miss Witch won't let us touch your work because she says it's your job." Her friend chattered away, as this had happened several times before.

She had been overwhelmed because she got sick, thinking she wouldn't have anything to do, but she was wrong because when she arrived, she was scolded and saw the pile of work. Almost everyone in her department apologized to her because they couldn't touch her work.

She tapped her friend because of what she said. "Crazy, someone might hear you, and stop using that gay lingo of yours; you're starting to look like a gay person, just a little bit, and I'm having coffee again now," she said, raising the mug she was holding. They were currently in the pantry, taking a short break.

"I'm beautiful enough to be gay!" She almost shouted in response, raising her eyebrows, before standing up and fixing her skirt, which was only above her knees, and her yellow long sleeves, which she had folded. She wasn't wearing her coat anymore because it was their lunch break.

"Okay, just be quiet, please. I have a headache," she replied, her tone showing irritation.

Her friend didn't say anything and just stayed quiet. It was true that she had a headache because of her migraine; she hadn't had a proper rest because of the amount of work she had.

"Here, drink this. I've told you many times to stop staring at your damn computer for hours. You know you're weak in that aspect. I'm not mad; I just care about you. I love you, okay?"

She opened her eyes wide, startled by the sudden intrusion into her thoughts. Elara blinked for an unknown reason, suddenly remembering a voice and a person she had long forgotten.

Damn it.

The following day, she arrived at work early, hoping to avoid another lecture from her department head as her headache was pounding fiercely. She spent the morning assisting her youngest sibling, who was now in fifth grade, with a school project.

Her other sibling, a college student studying HRM, was also busy with studies to support their youngest. She had only returned home the previous day, as her mother had requested, after nearly six months away.

She settled into the designated hiring room, one of two interview rooms, alone at a long table with two chairs in front. Besides the flower vases and glass windows on each side, she adjusted the AC to alleviate her headache and brought a cardigan in case she felt cold.

At eight in the morning, her coworker informed her that the interviews were starting soon. She finished her water to ease her headache, realizing that conducting interviews in this state wouldn't be ideal. She regretted not eating the breakfast JC had brought her; maybe that's why she had a headache.

One by one, the applicants for the vacant positions arrived. Most had impressive credentials, often graduating with honors. She enjoyed speaking with the applicants, but some seemed unprepared. Instead of just interviewing them, she found herself encouraging them, almost counseling them, more than conducting a job interview.

As the interviews neared completion, with only one folder left, she called in the next applicant.

"Good morning, Ma'am," greeted the applicant as he entered. She looked at him for a moment; his face seemed familiar, like she had seen him before but couldn't remember where.

"Good morning, you must be Mr.-" she quickly opened his folder to read his surname. Vanth.

"It's Vanth, Zander Jaxon Vanth," he replied. She stared at his resume for a moment. His name wasn't just familiar.

Jaxon.

It had been a long time since she had heard that name, a name she never thought she would hear again. In this vast world, it seemed impossible for two people who had parted ways to meet again. And he was the last person she wanted to see, as she remembered her friend who was lost because of him, and she would never forgive him.

"Ma'am?" She snapped back to reality when she felt a gentle tap on her arm.

"Ah, yes. I'm sorry, alright Mr., please take your seat," she said, as the man was still standing in front of her. He nodded and sat down.

She felt a familiar fluttering sensation in her stomach, as if butterflies were flying around. Damn it. Stop it, don't betray me, can't you?

"So you came from the US, why do you want this job?" she asked. She tried to be casual in front of him; she needed to be professional. If he was what the company needed, then so be it, but she hoped not.

"I just want a job," he replied. She waited for him to say more, thinking he might be contemplating, but it seemed he had nothing else to say. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow as she wrote down his answer, even though it seemed pointless. It was needed for evaluation and as a reference in case something happened.

"That's it? You just want a job?" He nodded and smiled.

"Yes, is there a problem with that?" She almost wanted to pull her hair out because of his answer. Some things never change.

She put down his folder and looked at him.

"Mister, were you not informed about the vacant position? Did you not bother to read? Countless people want this job that you're applying for, and you came here, telling me that you just wanted a job? You're wasting our time. If you're not serious about this, then leave," she said calmly with a smile.

"Ah, yeah, sorry, this is my first time applying for a job."

She almost laughed at his answer, but she held back. She returned his resume copy; this conversation was going nowhere, especially with someone who was useless. Disha couldn't help but think to herself.

"Okay, we'll call you if you're chosen. Thank you, have a nice day, Sir."

"Really? Why don't you tell me now if I'm accepted or not? So I won't have to wait?" He arrogantly replied, raising his pressure, figuratively.

Instead of engaging with him, she just smiled. "Mister, I have a question."

His left eyebrow raised, an indication that he was waiting for what she was going to say.

"Have you ever been promised something, held onto that promise, then all of a sudden, the promise disappears?"

The man was puzzled by her question, but nevertheless, he answered.

"Not yet."

Her interlocutor nodded. "Well, you'll experience that if you're looking for an answer from me right now."

She saw amusement in his face at what she said, so she smiled and nodded in response. "Okay, okay, I get your silly point miss, and I love the idea. Well anyway, I'll wait for the call then," the man said, standing up and heading towards the door to leave the company, but then he remembered something to ask her. "Anyways, what's your name?"

The woman just smiled. "Elara, long time no see, Jaxon."