Sean and I finished our conversation before he dropped me off at my apartment another day of discussing things between us and and about George's sudden visit. He had no issues with anything I said—not even with the part where I told him I needed to talk to Georje first. He didn't demand anything from me. As long as I didn't distance myself from him, he said there wouldn't be a problem.
We weren't officially together. There was no "us." But we understood what we felt for each other, and we agreed to talk about it again once I had sorted everything out on my end. He said we should just enjoy whatever we had right now, and I agreed. At least there was no pressure.
But because of an emergency at the office, we were made to work overtime and even had to go in on Saturday. That's why I never got to visit Ainee.
On Friday evening, I was supposed to call Ali as I had texted him the day before.
Me: Ali! How are you guys? I miss you all so much!
Ali: Lui! I miss you too! Jed isn't here yet, and Georje is in the restroom for a bit.
Me: That's fine! This way, I get to talk to you first. How have you been?
Ali: Just busy with the business. It's a shame! I had some shrimps and prawns harvested recently, and I immediately thought of you because I know it's your favorite.
Me: That sounds amazing! I miss eating your shrimp dishes, along with your grilled milkfish and your kinilaw. That kinilaw you make is the best, Ali. Now I'm craving it!
Ali: Come over, and I'll cook all of those for you!
Me: Maybe someday. I'll have to hold off for now. But I'll definitely come home eventually.
Ali: I thought you weren't planning to come home anymore. I was about to get upset.
Me: Heh! That doesn't suit you, so stop it!
Ali: How about you? How are you holding up there? I hope you're not drinking too much!
Me: You've got it all wrong! It's the opposite—I haven't gotten drunk at all here because I rarely drink. And when I do, I don't have much. Just enough. I only go out with my office mates when we make plans, and none of them are heavy drinkers. It would be embarrassing if I got wasted. Plus, I don't feel comfortable getting drunk around them since I don't know them as well as I know you guys—like Mitch and the others.
Ali: Very good! Keep it up!
Me: Oh wow, that sounded like a teacher praising a student for high grades!
We both laughed.
Ali: Hold on, Georje is here. I know you want to talk to him. Let me pass the phone to him.
Me: Thanks, Ali!
Ali: You're welcome. Go ahead and talk.
I could hear the noise around him, a clear sign he was handing over the phone.
Me: Hello.
Georje: Hello. How are you?
Me: I'm okay. Just busy with work, so I haven't been able to call often. Plus, I've been trying to save money. And the reason I didn't meet you at Ainee's when you were here was that something unexpected came up.
Georje: It's okay. I understand. Lui…
Me: Georje, can I talk first?
Georje: Go ahead. I'm listening.
Me: I know we haven't talked for months, and that's because I intentionally didn't reach out to you. The truth is, I was really hurt by what you did to me, Georje. You denied me multiple times—right to my face. And now, you deceived me just for money. So, you can't blame me for wanting to forget about you completely after everything you've done. It hurt me so much.
He didn't say a word, so I continued. I needed to let everything out.
Me: It was already humiliating enough that you denied I was your girlfriend. But to make things worse, you fed me lies just so I would send you money? What do you really see me as, Georje? Just money? Is that all I am to you? Because I can't take this anymore! You knew exactly what I went through before I moved here, right? You knew why I left! Wasn't that enough reason for you not to deceive me? So, I'm sorry, but I can't trust you anymore. This is where it ends, Georje. I just don't understand you anymore. Enough. I don't think you can even blame me for anything—I did everything for you. But I can't do this anymore. We're done. I don't want this anymore. And I'm sorry, but I won't be supporting you financially anymore either.
Still, he remained silent. I waited for a response—for a minute, then two.
When he didn't say anything, I ended the call.
I felt a huge weight lift off my chest, like I had been freed from something heavy pressing down on me.
Strangely, I didn't cry. I just sat there in silence, staring blankly into space, still holding my phone in my hand while sitting on my small sofa. The quiet around me was almost eerie, with only the hum of the electric fan making any noise.
I didn't even realize I had dozed off.
I only woke up when my phone rang.
Text message received.
From Ainee:
"
"Are you at your apartment? I'll be sleeping there tonight because I still have work to finish at the office. But don't wait up for me—I'll be arriving late. I'll also be eating here."
I typed a reply before heading to my room to continue sleeping. It was only past eight, meaning I had just dozed off for a few minutes while sitting on the couch.
Morning came.
"Morning! Come eat. What time did you get here last night" I asked Ainee as she stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from a shower.
"I think it was almost midnight. We had to finish everything for the quarterly report, so we couldn't leave until it was done. Hold on, I'll get dressed."
While waiting, I prepared coffee for both of us. Since I had woken up early, I had plenty of time to procrastinate. It was only six, and our work started at eight, so we still had an hour before leaving—or, in my case, before Sean picked me up. Usually, when I'm alone, I rarely cook breakfast, but since Ainee was here, I decided to cook. Eating alone is just too boring.
Of course, breakfast wouldn't be complete without some conversation. I told her about what happened the night before, and she was happy that I had finally done something I should have done long ago.
Three days had passed since my last serious conversation with Sean. But I wasn't ready to talk to him again about what happened between me and Georje. I'd let it be for now. After all, we both agreed to just enjoy what we had. I would tell him eventually—when the time was right. What mattered was that we understood our feelings for each other.
Just as we finished getting ready and cleaning the kitchen, I received a text from Sean saying he was almost there. Ainee and I went down together, but we parted ways since her office was in the opposite direction. We just walked her to the stop where she could catch a ride.
Sean had become more affectionate and expressive in the past few weeks since our deep conversation about us. But despite that, I still tried to keep my distance from him during office hours. Even so, we still became the target of teasing, no matter how hard I tried to avoid it. It was as if he enjoyed the teasing, which only annoyed me more.
Lately, he had developed a habit of suddenly dropping by my cubicle, leaving random snacks or drinks. And my colleagues—the encoders—were quick to notice. It was as if they looked forward to whatever Sean would do next, as if it were part of their daily entertainment.
On weekends, he would make it a habit to disrupt my sleep by showing up with food—or even ingredients to cook, depending on his mood. He would then spend the whole day hanging out in my apartment. Even when I was doing laundry or ironing clothes, he always had something to say or do to get my attention. It was fun, and I was happy, but sometimes, especially at the office, I couldn't help but get annoyed—mostly because it was embarrassing.
"You're waking me up this early again?! Sean, come on! I'm still sleepy," I grumbled as I opened the door. It was barely five in the morning!
"Sorry! Just sleep on the way there. Now, hurry up and get dressed. Bring a change of clothes in case you feel like taking a dip later," he said in his usual playful tone.
And that's exactly how he gets me to go along with whatever he wants—he's just too good at being sweet and charming.
"Where exactly are we going? Why didn't you tell me last night? At least I wouldn't be so surprised, and I could've prepared," I snapped.
"Ga, check your phone. I called you multiple times last night and even sent messages. You didn't answer. I almost came over if I hadn't stopped myself."
"Huh?"
"Huh?" he mimicked, then playfully pinched my cheek.
He took me to Lava Mountain River Farm, driving nearly two hours just so we could have breakfast there. He wanted us to enjoy the view of the place because, according to him, it was beautiful, and he knew I would love it since I liked nature.
As it turned out, he really had called and texted me, but my phone was on silent mode, so I didn't notice. I forgot to turn the ringer back on after coming home. I always set it to silent at work to avoid distractions, and I usually change the setting once I get home. But for some reason, I forgot to do it that night before falling asleep.
So, I couldn't really be mad at him—it was my fault.
Another working weekday came.
"Sean Philipp!" I shouted the moment I got into his car.
"Oh! What now? Why is my palangga so grumpy again?"
"You've been at it for a while now! Are you really not going to stop?" I was almost yelling in frustration. I knew that by this time, my face must have been bright red from embarrassment because of what had just happened upstairs.
How could I not be? That fool suddenly showed up at my cubicle carrying a huge bouquet of white roses—because, according to him, he couldn't find any blue ones, which is my favorite color.
Of course, the entire office erupted in noise—teasing, cheering, and all sorts of reactions. And then, during lunchtime, he went the extra mile by setting up a table for two, as if the bouquet incident in the morning wasn't already a big enough scene. The entire cafeteria went wild with teasing and shouting. I wanted to disappear on the spot out of sheer embarrassment.
No matter how hard I tried to keep his so-called courtship from becoming a spectacle, he insisted on being overly showy in public. My heart was on the verge of a breakdown from all his grand gestures.
Even the General Manager seemed to find it amusing. He said he had no problem with it since we were both single—as long as our work wasn't affected and we maintained our good performance. He even mentioned that workplace romances were normal, and after all, he himself had married a former colleague.
Five months later, Sean remained consistent in his pursuit, and eventually, we officially became a couple. It happened after we attended our General Manager's birthday party, which was held at his home in an exclusive subdivision in Talamban Hills.
After the party, a few of our colleagues suggested heading to a bar for an after-party. Sean and I each had only two shots of tequila since he had to drive, and I didn't want to get drunk because I wasn't used to drinking much anymore. Back in Mindanao, I used to drink more, but it had been a long time.
After dropping Jessy off at her place, Sean and I sat on the hood of his car, drinking coffee and enjoying the breeze. We were just talking about random things, as we often did. Eventually, the conversation turned to the two of us. That was when we finally admitted our feelings again. I told him about my conversation with Georje over the phone, and we agreed to take our relationship to the next level. Since then, we've been officially together.
"Ga, December is coming soon," Sean suddenly said one day while we were grocery shopping. We were in the meat section, and I was picking out some choice-cut chicken while he was looking around at the Christmas decorations.
"Yeah, it is. So what? December comes and goes every year," I replied without even looking at him, focused on what I was doing. He was pushing the cart where we had placed our groceries.
"I mean, where are you going to spend Christmas Eve? It's your first Christmas in Cebu, right?"
"Oh, of course, I'll be spending it at Ainee's place. Her family has been my family ever since I got here. Auntie Azon and I already agreed on it, so I promised her I'd go home for the holidays. Even on weekends, I promised to visit sometimes." I finally turned to look at him, but he was still distracted, scanning the decorations around us.
"Oh, right! You did mention that before," he said, finally looking back at me.
"And you? Of course, you'll be at your place too, right? But before and after that, we'll still be together, so it's fine. We can just call each other—it's no big deal, right?"
"Of course! I was just asking because I thought you might go home to Mindanao. You always mention how much you miss your close friends there."
"Of course, I miss them. I used to spend all my time with them. But I'm not going home—it's too expensive, and it wouldn't be practical for just a short visit since I have work. Besides, I'm not ready to go back yet. It's only been a year since I left. We still talk on the phone sometimes, so it's okay."
"Are you really okay, Ga? Are you happy here in Cebu?"
"Of course I am! You don't even have to ask. Isn't it obvious? Especially since I'm always with you."
"Really?" he asked, wanting reassurance.
"Of course! If I wasn't happy with you, do you think I'd spend time with you? Do you think I'd bother calling or texting you to ask if you're coming over? Or do you think I'd let you come grocery shopping with me like this? Don't you feel it?" I teased him. He stepped closer and kissed my forehead.
"I do feel it, Ga. That's why I'm happy—because I can tell that you need me too. I thought I was the only one who always wanted to be with you since you always act so grumpy with me!"
"I'm sorry! You know I've always been like this since you met me. So, take it or leave it! I'm not going to change myself just to please you."
"Ga, come on! I never said that. Let's go before this conversation turns into another debate. I only asked about Christmas, and now we're arguing about something else entirely!"
Thankfully, our grocery trip ended peacefully, and we made it back to the apartment. We decided to get takeout for dinner since we knew traffic would be worse than usual because it was payday.
Our relationship has always been mature—probably because Sean is naturally mature, and he helps me be the same, even though we both have our childish moments. We're each other's second serious relationship.
According to him, his first girlfriend broke up with him in college because she didn't want any distractions from her studies. She was so focused on school that she figured she'd have even less time for him when she started medical school. Even though he didn't want to break up, he had no choice. He let her go because he didn't want to stand in the way of her dreams—he didn't want to be blamed for holding her back later on.
Sean has the typical Filipino-Chinese look—fair-skinned, with slightly slanted eyes that become even smaller when he smiles or laughs. His nose is well-shaped, not too sharp, and his black hair is slightly wavy but always kept in a clean-cut style. He's not that much taller than me—he stands at 5'5", while I'm only 5'2".
His style is simple. On weekdays at work, he wears slacks and long-sleeved polo shirts, paired with either black or brown shoes. But when we go out, he prefers wearing t-shirts and shorts, along with his favorite Sperry topsiders. Though his outfits may seem simple, you can tell they're all expensive. Sometimes, I even feel a little self-conscious next to him because while he looks effortlessly put together, my style is much more basic, and my clothes aren't as pricey. For me, jeans, a t-shirt, and either espadrille flats or sandals are enough. At work, I stick to jeans and simple blouses since we don't have an office uniform. I also like wearing three-quarter sleeve polo tops and flats. I'm not into makeup, and my long, straight, shiny black hair is always worn down. They say I inherited my hair from my grandmother's sister.
Sean once told me that he actually prefers women who don't wear makeup because he appreciates natural beauty. His sister told me the same thing when we met again after Sean and I dropped her off at the airport. She said Sean isn't into high-maintenance girls, so she wasn't surprised when she found out he liked me. I was happy when she told me she was glad to know I was her brother's girlfriend. At first, I thought she wouldn't approve of me for Sean, thinking she might have high standards for him, especially since they're Filipino-Chinese. Even her husband is Filipino-Chinese.
I haven't met their other sibling yet—the one between Sean and his eldest sister, Leigh Margaux. That sibling is based in Manila, focused on their family business, and recently got married. In short, Sean is the only one in their family who isn't married yet.
Sean is also the only one not involved in their family business because he wants to be independent. That's why he works at a software company—to gain experience—because his ultimate plan is to start his own software company someday. At first, his parents didn't approve of his decision, but Sean was stubborn, so they eventually gave in. Even when he decided to live in a condo, his parents couldn't stop him, especially after finding out that he had bought his unit with his own money.
That's one of the things I admire about Sean. Aside from his office job, he also has a sideline that he works on when he gets home. He even set up a dedicated home office in his condo as his permanent workspace, separate from his bedroom. But despite being busy with both his full-time and part-time jobs, he always makes time for us.
I'm content with our relationship. We're happy even with simple things—like when he just hangs out at my apartment and cooks for the two of us. I don't like going to his unit because I feel nervous about his family finding out that I visit him. Thankfully, Sean understands my point, and it works out better this way since he has a car, which he takes great care of. You'd think it was brand new, but it's actually been with him for a long time—it was a graduation gift from his parents when he finished college. It's his first car, so he considers it his baby.