"Being normal is boring. I want my mind be satisfied. Yet I cant find anything to suffice this need."

                                                          -Brian

Jane is a College student in a top university in Canada. And one night she slept with unknown Man.

"Pag inlove ka, para kang nasa pelikula, minsan bida pero minsan kontrabida, pero anuman estado ng lovelife mo, lagi tandaan, ikaw pa rin ang bida sa pelikula ng buhay mo. Hawak mo ang script at camera at libre sumigaw ng "Cut" pag handa ng bumitaw."

Bata pa lang ako ay hopeless romantic na ako. As early as 8 years old, alam ko na yung gusto ko at hanap ko sa isang guy to be my partner, at dahil paborito ko ang mga Disney Princess at Prince, nangarap ako na magkaroon ng partner na malaprinsipe tulad sa fairy tales, mga knight in shining armor ika nga. Yung lalaki na handa ako ipagtanggol kapag may umapi o umaway sa akin, yung kahit ano mangyari, hindi ako iiwan.

I remember noong elementary years namin, uso ang slumbook, iikot yun sa buong klase at sasagutan mo. Isa sa tanong na paborito kong sagutin ay ang "What is your ideal guy/man?" Tapos excited akong isulat doon yung ideal man ko na "maputi, matangkad, smiling eyes, singkit na mata na kapag ngumiti wala ng makitang mata, killer smile, matalino, gwapo, mabait, at higit sa lahat maka-Diyos." Tapos lahat ng classmates ko alam agad sino crush ko kasi meron kaming classmate na lahat ng gusto ko sa guy ay andun sa katangian nya.

Nung nasa high school naman ako, same lang, uso pa rin ang slumbook, kaya pareho lang ng sinusulat ko dun, pero dahil nagdadalaga na ako noon, may isang guy na school heartthrob ang nahagip ng mata ko. Sa apat na taon ko sa high school, sya ung ultimate crush ko na naging first heart ache ko. Sobrang sakit nya. Hindi ko sya boyfriend pero sya naging unang heartaches ko, bakit? Kasi ang gusto nya ay ung close friend kong babae. Sakit no!

​So ayun nga, dahil naheartbroken, sinabi ko na "Cut" yung para akong director na gumawa ng script, akala ko ako at sya ang bida, pero ako pa pala naging kontrabida, kaya ayun, tinapos ko ung script sabay sigaw sa puso ko ng "Cut, move on."

​Hanggang sa graduation, then move to college, excited ako kasi malaking university, makakamove on ako, at nangyari nga, ginusto ko mag excel sa lahat ng bagay at dahil gusto ko ung course ko sa college, inenjoy ko, hindi ko namamalayan, andyan na naman si kupido. Ang makulit na pana.

​At first, natuwa ako sa guy, pareho kami ng hilig ang film, cinematography kaya naman sya ang partner ko at nagtuturo sa akin ng techniques sa filmmaking. Ahead sya ng batch pero naging close friend ko sya, pero dahil nahuhulog na puso ko sa kanya, bigla ko agad naisip ung heartbreaks ko noong high school kaya naman, bago pa ako tuluyang mahulog sa taong ito, tinawag ko na syang "kuya". Kuya ang naiisip kong itawag sa mga guys na nagugustuhan ko para maprotect ko ang heart ko sa upcoming dangers of heartaches. Hanggang isang araw, bigla syang nagtapat na he likes me raw, sa sobrang takot ko masaktan, pinanindigan ko ung tawag kong kuya sa kanya. Sabi nga nya "Kuya ba ung magic word mo sa pambabasted ng guy?"

​Then one day, I saw him with someone and introduced to me as his girlfriend. Ouch! Ang sakit beshy. Pero kailangan panindigan na kuya ko sya kasi hindi pwede ang pakikipagrelasyon noon dahil nag aaral pa ako.

​Many girls will probably relate to my stories while studying. Hindi naman kasi namimili ang pana ni kupido at ang pagiging broken hearted, kahit wala kang boyfriend o girlfriend, pwede tayo maheartbroken. Ang tanong lang eh kung kailan tayo pwede sumigaw ng "Cut"!

​Ang magmahal ay hindi masama, pero dapat alam natin yung boundaries para maiwasan ang broken hearted. Tayong mga girls, may mga standards, packages tayo na naiisip para sa relationships natin, even sa paghanap ng friends may package deal madalas. Pero ano nga ba ang mga package deals na ito? Eto kasi yung parang script guide natin sa relasyon. Alamin natin kung ano nga ba ang mga ito.

PACKAGE DEAL:  MY OWN IDEAL STANDARDS

​When I was young, I remember doing check list for my ideal man. May paborito akong kanta dati yung "Stay Forever" ni Joey Lawrence na lyrics na "I wanna stay forever with you, Feeling every heartbeat so close to mine, I wanna stay forever with you, Holding on to every breath, Stay forever with you" (grabe ang old na ng kanta, '90's song) pero yung kantang ito ung pinaghugutan ng standard ko sa quest for love.

​Isa sa standard or ideal character ko sa isang guy ay ung hindi ako iiwanan kahit ano mangyari. Sa kanta na iyan, feeling ko super kilig ako na para bang may prinsipeng hindi ako iiwan kailanman. Feeling ko lang naman na ganun dapat ang relationship, walang iwanan ika nga ng marami. Even sa mga friends ko, ayoko na may nawawala sa circle of friends ko. Ewan ko ba pero dahil siguro takot ako mapag isa. Ayoko ng walang group, I fear being alone. I'm scared of being left behind. So ang tendency, gusto ko nasa paligid ko lang sila. Ang selfish di ba?

Checklist #1: The Stay Forever Package

​Sino ba ang ayaw sa perfect relationship? Wala naman di ba? Ang gusto ko lang naman ay walang iwanan pero bakit kabaligtaran nangyayari. Marahil totoo ang kasabihan na "people come and go." Pero bakit nga ba? Siguro kasi need natin mag grow as an individual human being, hindi natin pwede ikahon sa mundo natin ang isang tao kasi may buhay silang dapat harapin din tulad natin.

​Madalas natin sinasabi "walang forever" pero sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga nawawala ung mga taong minahal natin, nandyan lang sila, in fact, sa liit nga ng mundo, pwedeng nasa kabilang dulo lang pala sya. Nasasabi natin na walang forever everytime we broke up with someone, pero sa totoo lang, need lang naman huminga para makita ang iba pang ganda ng mundo. Ang forever kasi ay yung mga memories na nasa puso at isip natin.

​Hindi man sila bumalik sa atin after break up, yung memories na iniwan nila ang magsisilbing lesson natin para tayo maggrow pa. At yung memories un ang nag-sstay forever sa puso at isipan natin. Minsan may mga masasakit na memories pero anuman yan, sigurado, naging matatag tayo after. Mahirap minsan maintindihan kung bakit kailangan natin umasa tayo sa staying forever idea nay an pero ganoon ang buhay, sabi nga dapat may pinanghahawakan tayo.

​Naalala ko may isang guy ang lagi nyang sinasabi sa akin na "I will be with you forever." Nakakakilig marinig pero eto ung isang line ng lalaki na hindi ko pinaniniwalaan kasi meron at meron time sa life natin ang need natin maging mag-isa kasi need natin maggrow, madevelop sa iba pang aspeto ng buhay. Madalas nga may nauuna pa sa death di ba? Tulad ng guy na nagsabi sa akin nyan, ayun nauna pa syang bumitiw kasi nauna syang mahanap ung right one for him and I'm happy for him, imagine close friend ko pa sya ngayon. Pero yung memories na nabuo, minsan matatawa na lang kami kasi minsan sa buhay namin, pinangarap buuin yung forever.

A Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said; "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."  

It is true enough that we can only understand things after it happened like sa nangyari, minsan after break up, saka natin marerealized na tama lang na bumitiw kasi kung hindi, wala tayo sa journey na meron ang present life natin.

Checklist #2: The Bestfriend Package

​'When you need a friend, that you can depend, you can count on me because, you're my best friend." One of my favorite songs about friendship. It's actually my song for my bestfriend. After my first heartbreaks, naisip ko ishield at protektahan ung heart ko, para bang ayaw ko nang masaktan. Kaya naman sa bawat crush ko na guy, kapag nahuhulog na loob ko, tatawagin ko na syang kuya. Malaki respeto ko sa kuya, kasi wala ako nun, naging panganay ako at walang kuyang kinagisnan kasi maaga sila kinuha ni God so ang tendency, I wanted to have an older brother. I longed to have someone na magtatanggol sa akin kapag inaway ako. A brother that can be a bestfriend to me.

​Noong college ako, may isang guy na sobrang close kami, as in walang araw na hindi kami nag usap, we treat each other as bestfriend, minsan, may report ako gagawin sa Philosophy class, habang nagrereport dumugo ilong ko, (well normal naman na nagdurugo ilong ko lalo kapag mainit), so my classmates were worried, at dahil kilala ng isang classmate si guy, nagdrop call sila (uso ang drop call dati sa cellphone). "Drop call ang tawag sa tawag na malatelegramang," So nang matanggap nya ang tawag, kahit nasa bahay sya kasi wala syang pasok nun, halos liparin ang byahe makapunta lang sa akin, he made sure na okay ako, dinala sa clinic, binantayan at hinatid pa sa bahay. Nakakakilig di ba?

​Eto yung time na naging crush ko sya at presto malapit na mahulog loob ko kaya isang araw nagtapat naman sya, mutual feelings ika nga, kaso tinawag ko syang "kuya". Syempre nasaktan ko sya. Pero buti na lang understanding sya at super bait, until now kaibigan ko pa sya. Sya kasi ung taong ayaw kong masaktan at itake risk ang friendship kaya I made him as my bestfriend.

​What I mean when I say Bestfriend Package? Isa sa standard or checklist na madalas magustuhan natin ay ung parang bestfriend lang natin si guy. Yung comfortable tayo na iexpress ang sarili natin sa kung anuman ang sitwasyon. Hindi tayo nahihiya sa harap nya. Tulad sa magbestfriend, Malaya kang maging ikaw kasi tanggap ka nya.
​Sa paghahanap ng makakasama habambuhay, kailangan natin maging bestfriend sa partner natin. We should learn that we can be a friend to him or her. Sabi nga di ba, special friend mo dapat yung taong mahal mo.

​Ang bestfriend hindi ka iiwanan nyan. My favorite classic author William Shakespeare once said, "A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow." So same thing with partner, someone who accepts me, understands me, knows me well, and allows me to grow individually. Parang hashtag sweetheart ko, bestfriend ko.
Speaking of having a bestfriend and being with forever idea, it means there is an unspoken bond with the person who knows us better than anyone in the world. The one you call on the phone at 3AM during a crisis; someone who knows what we are thinking before we say it; the only person who really, truly, 'gets' us. Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say.

​Aminin natin na minsan sa sobrang dali ng standards natin mahirap mahanap. Siguro marahil madalas ang standards na meron tayo ay iba sa standard ng mundo at ng Maykapal.

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened." -Lao Tzu
 
Checklist #3: The Prince Package

​As I said earlier, I grew up na ang idea about relationships ay malafairy tales. Yung ideal man ko since elementary ako until now na nasa late 30's na ako, yun pa rin sa checklist ko. Ewan ko kung weird ba yun?

​Bago pa man ako nahilig sa mga Korean drama at KPop, espesyal na sa puso ko ang mga may smiling eyes o chinito eyes, gusting gusto ko yung mata na nakangiti kahit hindi pa ngumiti ang tao. Yung mga killer smile na kapag ngumiti wala ng mata at super sweet ang ngiti, pati na rin ung kapag matalino at talented ung tao.  Mabilis makakuha ng attention ko ang mga guys na smart, matalino at super talented lalo sa music and arts plus factor kapag smiling eyes at may killer smile. Lalo na kung ang ugali ay malaprinsipe pa.

​Madalas sabihin sa akin, mahirap mahanap ung ganyan. I remember, may nagtanong sa Facebook ko kung sino ang guy na hanap ko. Sa sobrang kababawan, sinagot ko sya ng "utak ni Albert Einstein, tangkad at katawan ni Paul Walker, smiling eyes ni Song Joong Ki, killer smile ni Kim Rae Won, talented like Vincent Willem van Gogh and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at ung faith like David and Peter sa Bible." After I posted that, bigla trending ng comment na 'mahirap hanapin un at pagsama-samahin sa iisang tao, clone ba gusto mo?" Natawa ako at oo nga mahirap hanapin pero napaisip ako ng mahirap ba talaga hanapin at kung may nageexist ba talaga na ganung tao?

​Minsan nakakahon tayo sa idea na gusto natin pero paano kung hindi nageexist yung ideal na ganun kasi di ba nga may kasabihan "Nobody is perfect." Eh sabi ng iba, napakaperpekto naman ng hanap mo. Weh di nga? Perfect na ba un?

​May takot tuloy ako na parang what if hindi sya nageexist? Ano na mangyayari beshies?

"Love is a beautiful thing, yet it can be a monster that can break you. They say that when you love someone you never want to let them go and you will do anything to stay with them." Sabi nila "true love waits" pero paano kung matagal ang paghihintay? Or paano kung nakita mo na pero hindi tama ang tugtugin at tibok ng puso nyo? Ang sakit di ba? Minsan naitatanong mo kung maganda ka ba kasi parang walang nagkakagusto sayo.


At my age of 38 years old, most of my batchmates are all married and have their families na, dakilang ninang na nga ako ng iba sa mga anak nila. Madalas ayoko na tuloy pumunta sa mga okasyon kasi iisa ang tanong nila, "kailan k aba mag-aasawa?" "Wala ka bang boyfriend?" At madalas ko lang sagutin ng "Wait lang, darating din 'yan."


​Minsan tuloy napapaisip ako ng "Nasaan na nga ba si Mr. Right?" "Sobrang traffic na ba at hindi ako makita?" Pero kung nakita mo nga pero hindi naman pwede maging kami.


Being single is sometimes a controversial issue in our young professional society. Always remember that true love waits. Every woman is worth the wait. We don't need to rush things. It will come. Everything has its own perfect time.


Maybe God is still busy writing my love story.

Jo is working as an event coordinator, in a Commercial and Advertising Company. It deals with newly established buildings, restaurant and hotels, etc. The Company promotes and advertised the places by organizing an event and introducing it the new buyers and investors or something similar to that.



She is fully in-charge with respect of organizing parties, meetings and weddings. Just imagine how frustrating it is to organize a wedding event in her situation. She's always present in the wedding and sometimes gets to be the bride's maid but never had the chance to be the bride. Oh, but not for so long. At least we all have to be positive. Kapit lang mga kapatid at tiwala lang!



Jo is obsessive compulsive. She well organized and everything needs to be in proper order. Everything needs to be planned and what better way to start the Project of "Finding Big-O but to create a checklist. The Ultimate Guide in Finding Big "O" este Mr. RIGHT pala.



I: LOCATION - where to find Mr. RIGHT?



1. The GYM - before anything else lets begin with the OPLAN BALIK ALINDOG paano ka makakahanap ng ka-date kung walang alindog? At habang abala ka magpa-sexy at magpaganda samantalahing ang pagkakataon na maghanap ng potential boyfriend. Kung hindi niyo naitatanong madami ang naglipanang Fafa sa GYM. Malaking ang chance at possibility na makita si Mr. RIGHT.  Aside from physically fit, eh health conscious pa. Oha! Double purpose.



2. DATING Applications - with the modern age and new technology lahat pwede mo makuha online, trending ang social media nowadays. Kung wala ka mahanap na ka-date in real world why not try it in the virtual world. All you have to do is  just register or create an account. Fill in the blanks, update your profile, upload your photo, typed in your likes and dislikes, even your ideal man and in an instant the dating application will look for your perfect match your Mr. RIGHT. No sweat. Just one click away.



3. The BAR - a classic way in meeting someone is by going to the bar, coffee shop or any crowded places. You'd be surprise kung gaano karami ang katulad mo na naghahanap ng forever in those kind of places. Just sitting and waiting.. literally FOREVER..



4. OUTDOOR activities - theme park, malls, camping, sports complex, beach and ressort at kung saan-saan ewan ko na lang kung hindi ka pa naman makahanap ng ka-date.



5. ARRANGED MARRIAGE and blind dates - kung desperado ka nang talaga at kapit na sa patalim. Ito na ang last resort, kung hindi makuha sa santong dasalan daanin na lang sa santong paspasan. Classic pero still applicable pa rin naman ang ganitong style.



Habang abalang-abala sa  paggawa ng checklist si Jo, little did she know that Alex was behind her. He is watching her the entire time, curious and wondering why she is so fixated and focused on what she is doing.



Alex was a close friend of Jo since college. They graduated in the same school and now working in the same company. Dahil dala ng sobrang ka-chismosohan hindi niya maiwasan ang hindi magtanong kung ano ba talaga ang pinagkakaabalahan ng kaibigan.



"Uy, bising-bisi ah. Ano yan?" pilit na sinisilip ni Alex ang notebook kung saan sinusulat ni Jo ang kaniyang checklist.



 "Andiyan ka pala," gulat na sagot ni Jo. Sabay pasimpleng tinakpan ang notebook ng ibang dokumento sa trabaho.



"Anong  list iyong Big"O", bagong event ba natin 'yan?" kunot noong nagtanong si Alex habang pilit pa rin sinisilip ang tinagong notebook.



"Bagong project ko," iritang sagot ni Jo. Mabilis naman nakahalata si Alex sa kaibigan kaya minabuti na lang niya tapusin ang usapan.



"Ayos  iyan bagong raket! Sige pagbutihan mo at  inform mo na lang ako kung kailan natin sisimulan. Let me know if you need my help, since tapos na ako sa last project assignment ko," nakangiting sinabi ni Alex sabay kindat niya kay Jo.



Then Alex left and went back to his office table. Meanwhile, back to the checklist. Since she already finished the list for the places where she can find her potential date, the first part of the plan was now completed.  She then now proceed with the next part of the checklist.



II: THE TO DO LIST.. these are the possible things you need to consider when on a DATE...



1. The Looks -  the most essential part of preparing the looks is the hair sabi nga nila ito ang crowning glory ng mga babae. Lakas maka-mukhang mayaman kung nakapagpa-rebond ka ng buhok. Next is the make up, dito maitatago ang mga flaws sa mukha. Biglang lumilitaw ang gandang hindi inaakala.  Manicure and pedicure, ilibing ang mga patay na kuko it's time for you to move on.  Kung pwede magpa-derma at body massage na rin to relax the muscles and lessen wrinkles and the pores.



2. The Attire - next thing to consider is the attire. Of course you need to choose the appropriate clothes depending on the occasion. Mahirap naman na mag heels ka kung mag-mountain climbing ka or naka-corporate look naman kapag nasa beach.. It's a no no!



3. The Menu - while on a date, as much as possible iwasan ang pag-order ng pagkain na kinakailangang mag-kamay and avoid eating raw onions, garlic, seafood and anything with a strong smell or malalansang pagkain. You may never know when you will have your first kiss so always be prepared.



4. DATING KIT -  and speaking of being prepared, you must have a Dating Kit for dummies. It consist of toothbrush, toothpaste, lipstick and foundation for make up re-touch, brush or comb in case mahangin sa labas or mapasabak sa labanan, perfume or cologne, a box of condom. Well, it is better to be safe than sorry and emergency contact number.



And since the TO DO LIST for the DATE has been covered... The last part of the List is the...



III: PREPARATION FOR THE BIG "O". It's like playing baseball, you have to hit the ball then run through all the bases..



1. First base - kissing -  there are different categories of kisses. Kiss on the forehead sign of respect, kiss on the cheeks sign of friendship and kiss on lips sign of love or lust . Of course there are types of kiss on lips...for starter is the smack a short gentle kiss.. dampi lang muna, applicable sa first date. There is also lips to lips, french kiss and torrid no need to elaborate they are the intimate and passionate types of kisses... In short alam na this!



2. Second base - is direct physical contact on the upper portion of the body. It also includes other forms of petting, touching and groping. Papisil-pisil at patapik-tapik. Kung libre ang tsansing dapat lubisin at itodo na! 



3. Third base - may include manual or oral sex for either partner. Also known as otso-otso, you 8 him and she 8 you! 



4. Home run -  is also known as the sexual intercourse or the BIG "O".



Now that the checklist has been completed... Let the dating begin!

This is the story of Josefina 39, late bloomer. Never been touched. Never been kissed and her quest in finding the BIG "O" or should I say the Big OoooHhhhh... Ang tubig para sa natutuyong lupa na nagcracked na at natitigang na lupa dahil salat sa dilig.. Is it too late for her? Will she find love or lust??

Ang pahinang ito ay Rated SPG. Stricktong Patnubay at Gabay ng Magulang ang kailangan. Maaring may maseselang tema, lenggwahe, karahasan, sexual, horror, o droga na hindi angkop sa mga bata, feeling bata at isip bata

"Welcome to Dock 5. Please pick out the car assigned to you by swiping your card here."
	A door on Dock 5 opened.
	"Please proceed and drive your car home or to the home supply office. Proceed to Desk 17. If you need to gas up your car, just swipe your card a local gas station. The fuel is for free."
	Is this a dream? Everything's for free?
	"Thank you."
	"Stay here and I will get the car." Arodelf told me.
	"Hey,  give me the bag. It may inconvenience you while setting things up." He ran towards it.
	"Okay." A few moments later, the car was already near the dock. The car was a shiny blue with tinted glass. I thanked the man and I quickly opened the car door.
	He smiled at me with a debonair look and wicked smile, "Come on in." He licked his lips and revved up the engine. 
	"Supplies?" I demanded.
	"Yes ma'am." He sped up his driving.

	We were silent. The car aircon is cold. The whole car is squeaky and new. I could smell the leather and upholstery. I can assume that this is not a normal car.
	"This car is a..."
	"Maserati."
	"Yes." Inside my mind,  what I was about to say was bribe.
	"Ella."
	"Yes?"
	"What are your plans tonight? Are we?" He freed his other hand and held my hand.
	"I don't know yet. I'm pretty scared about that."
	"Are you still a virgin?"
	"You asked that before. Do you have memory gap or something?" I sighed, "I'm a virgin." I think the world stopped as I said those words because I could feel the tension between us getting too strong. I saw a little smile spread across his face as he continued to drive. He faintly whispered something. Just a fraction would render it silent, I heard it. I can hear it well. I heard it clearly.
	"Don't be scared about that." Arodelf looked at me and gestured me to lean on him.
	"Okay."
	We got to the supplies office.
	We parked the car outside and we got inside the office. We got to Desk 17 and the woman gave us a card to a storage room numbered 978 where all of our monthly supplies are located. The room is filled with unnamed boxes. These could be worth a fortune.
	"Are we going to check them one by one?"
	Arodelf asked while picking up the smallest box.
	"Yes. We have a checklist here."
	He opened it and gasped.
	"What is that?"
	"Nothing."
	"What is it?"
	"No."
	He showed it to me eventually.
	I felt my face flush red and asked him, "Are those things used for...?"
	"Yes. I don't think we need them. It's not like I'm and your are uhm... nevermind. Mark that out in the checklist already!" He was frantic, you can see it in his eyes.
	Arodelf put the box in the corner and started checking the contents of other boxes. He said proudly, "If these are just for a month, I think we cannot consume these stuff. Hand me the checklist." He started ticking off what's in the box he had opened.
	He handed me the checklist. "They told us that this ration is just for the two of us." I started ticking the boxes of the checklist.
	We checked the boxes and ticked all the things in the list. Some of the ration are not present in the room and there is a paper slip within the box stating that it will be given next week.
	"We don't need to go to the grocery with this heap. Okay, these are 27 boxes in total." He carried three large boxes in one lift and I carried two small ones. "Lead me so I won't stumble on anything okay."
	We placed some of the boxes one by one inside the car and I helped him put all of it inside. We left some of the boxes in the room since it will not fit inside the car.
	The first trip towards our designated home is a bit scary. I'm so filled with excitement and my smile would not budge. The Suppliea Office is not that far from our home.
	"What's with the smile?" Arodelf asked me. He may be creeped out since we know that this would eventually come with a price we have to pay.
	"I'm excited to see the house."
	He sighed and told me, "Get used to calling it Home, 136-1." His tone was furious.
	"What's with the..." We paused. His eyes were staring at something. I can see the little camera that is in the middle of the rear-view mirror. "Yes. I'm excited to finally see our home!" I leaned on his shoulder and he manuevered and stopped his driving. We were in the middle of the by-pass road.
	Arodelf quickly cupped my face, avoiding the scars of my operation, and kissed my lips gently. Two gentle streams rushed from his eyes and I felt them drop to my thighs. I quivered in his kiss as his hands reached the back of my ears and nape. He let go of the kiss once he felt it was too much to handle and kissed my forehead. He kissed both of my hands and wiped his tears away. He composed himself and started driving again like nothing happened. We were silent. It was just too fast.
	We got to the home designated for us. It's a two story house. In an awkward manner, I opened the car door and closed it as I got out. I immediately swiped the card and used the key to unlock the door. With no time to check the house,  we unloaded the boxes from the car.
	"Let's rest for a bit." Arodelf sat on the doorstep and told me, "I'm really not used to this kind of work you know."
	"Yes. I know." I smiled. We rested for a bit to look at the surroundings.
	It was very warm in this area but everything in this place seemed lonely. It's located far from neighbors.
	"This is very isolated you know." I saw him looking at the surroundings with a huge frown. His eyes were tensed. His body slightly quivered in an imagining.
	"I am getting scared already." I spoke out of the blue. He turned to look at me with a huge smile.
	"Don't be afraid of that." I get it, Arodelf.
	I smiled in return. I listened to his words, not missing anything. It was vivid and clear.
	"Crime rates are very low in our country. Don't be scared, there are things that are much scarier than that."
	A paradox.
	"I thought so too. You know what's scarier than that, Arodelf?"
	"What is that?" He stood up and leaned on the already closed door.
	"I don't want to lose you."

Vicerra and Aldred find themselves in a pinch. Will we detest the new world to have freedom? Will we detest our freedom for the safety of our family and friends?

A perfect world has a price to pay -- wait until it gets dark and twisted.

Su Chuanli, Su Rushi and Han Lixue came running out of the room and into the reception hall. Seeing them, Gu Meili put her checklist aside and walked up to them, wondering what made her three children run that much.

 " What happened? Did you see someone suspicious? What is the security department doing when the people they work for are obviously running away from something?!" Gu Meili frowned as she saw them and made a mental note to check in with her husband. Su Chuanli calmed down first and stepped towards his mother.

 " Mummy…" 
 " Hush child. Xiao Shi? Xue'er? Are you two okay?" Gu Meili walked past Su Chuanli and helped the two girls up. The son looked at his mother's back and suddenly felt like slapping his high school teachers. Didn't they say that boys were more favored in ancient families? Didn't they say that the fact still applied today? Wasn't the Su Clan ancient? Then why the hell was he being treated like the unfavored concubine here?! Was he even their son?! Su Chuanli was pretty sure that if it wasn't for the fact that he was born earlier, Su Rushi would have been made the heir, regardless of her gender. In fact, the Su matriarch and patriarch didn't want to part with her so much, that they basically set up a college in the Su Mansion for her!
 The girls had long gotten up and sat down to drink water when Su Chuanli came back to his senses. 

 "Now tell me, who did you get scared of? Is something wrong with security? Why did they not even ask when the Su children were running around with obvious fear?" Gu Meili was determined to get to the bottom of this. Especially since Han Lixue looked especially spooked. Poor girl. She just had to deal with all this stressful business of dealing with the media, and now she looked like her soul left her body.


 " Mama Su, We just ran from the room down the hallway. I doubt any of the security would see us." Han Lixue had pulled out her hair from her ponytail and again put it in a neat bun. With her blazer off and her white tucked shirt, she looked just as professional as she had been on stage. She slowly removed her earrings and switched them out for others. It's best to take as many precautions as she can to avoid recognition. She would change later, in the Su's room. "We weren't running away from something dangerous. Just someone acting very weird" Before Gu Meili could warn them about carrying proper protection from perverts, Su Chuanli spoke out in a pissed tone.

 " It was Yan Weizhe". Gu Meili looked at Han Lixue and inferred that she was probably hurt by Yan Weizhe's harsh attitude.

 "It's okay darling, he probably doesn't know who you are. Plus, why should you worry about a minor character like him?" Gu Meili thought about what she said. He was no minor character. But if he hurt her kids, he would be a minor character in any mother's view.

 Su Rushi felt that sometimes her mother's views needed a good shock. " Mummy, That sadist knows her. Like her real identity. Xue didn't recognise him, I mean why would she remember someone who she's never met? But, that's not the most shocking part. He actually bowed to her, called her my lady and said it was his honor to meet her! Honor? Bowing? He actually looked like he was possessed! That's not all. He kissed her hand, Mummy! If it wasn't for Lady Li beside him, I would have thought that someone was impersonating him!" Gu Meili felt light-headed. She had thought wrong about that boy. He was a bigger headache than those ignorant ones. These kinds of boys wanted to separate their kids from their mothers. Who would like them!

 " He didn't kiss my hand. He lightly brushed it! That's nothing compared to those stuck-up Cerranians who like slobbering their saliva on people. Do u remember that freak who looked like he was trying to tongue my hand? I washed it straight for half an hour! He was more English. Polite and not disgusting at all. What's so weird about it? Charles has done that a thousand times and you've never reacted this way, Rushi." Han Lixue spoke when she found the mother-daughter pair almost fainting.

 "...Hah?" Gu Meili felt a headache coming on. She had just assumed Rushi exaggerated when she talked about the kiss. So it actually happened?! Haizz… And did this Charles character think too much of himself?! Thousands of times? Didn't he have some limit. She should have a good talk with that useless Vice President later... 

The kids had made themselves at home in their usual meeting place- Han Lixue's house in the hills. Su Chuanli sat in the drawing room upstairs and scrolled through his phone, casually laying across the sofa. Su Rushi walked in with water and sat next to Su Chuabli, casually resting her head on his shoulder. Han Lixue came in right after and used a towel to dry her hair, standing in front of the both of them. Su Chuanli looked at her and smiled.
 
 "Today's events were interesting, weren't they, Xue?" Su Chuanli obviously meant the press conference, at least that's what he thought.

 " Right?! Can you believe Yan Weizhe was related to Lady Li? And who knew he was actually okay, like he knew how to respect his superiors?" Han Lixue said quite energetically. Su Chuanli and Su Rushi froze. The smile slowly dropped off their faces. 

" Xue, Yan Weizhe isn't something anyone should mess with. Power is not the issue, obviously. He has this aura that suppresses everyone. He's never acted like that before, bowing and talking nicely. Xue, watch out" Su Rushi talked in a low voice, a frown adorning her face. Su Chuanli cut in.

" He's obviously never interacted with you before, so he probably won't act like that on the first meeting. Xue, The Yan family is powerful. Even the Sus aren't a match for them. Nobody in Bylyn is."

Han Lixue considered what they were saying. If that fool tried anything, she could have him removed within a day. Even with the Yan family.
 " I know, but so far he hasn't tried anything, right? Plus, He was hot. Extremely hot." The moment Han Lixue said that Su Chuanli grabbed the accent pillows and threw them all at Han Lixue, trying to shut her up.

 " Xue! Stop saying that! He isn't normal. If someone you don't know heard you say that, they would probably either kill you or themselves!" Su Chuanli always worried about Han Lixue's stupid mouth. For some things, she was quite frank. 
Su Rushi sat and remembered the latest incident, eyes dead.
The last time they were at an award show, The three of them attended as the future CEO, the Su princess and Lady Rose. When the 'Best Actor' winner came and talked to them, Han Lixue had directly told him that he looked amazing and had an amazing body. Arthur Knox looked quite uncomfortable until she laughed and said she admired handsome men, but didn't get involved. Those two laughed for a while and Han Lixue left with a new number in her phone. That's it. She admired them. And sometimes liked looking at them, but that's it! It didn't mean that she was coming onto them! But still, if you didn't know her well enough, you would never know that! After finally convincing her not to say stuff like that, they all settled down to watch one of Han Lixue's favorite movies, E.T.  After all, their lives were about to get a whole lot busier...

She raised the greatest Business empire from the ground and controls half the world with her fingertips

He is the CEO of one of the  most established companies, passed down for generations in one of the greatest clans in history

Meeting in an odd and memorable way,
 Their story starts off weird, right from the start. 

What does Fate have in store for the two most powerful individuals in history?

INISA ISA ni Jillian ang mga sulat na nakuha niya sa mailbox nila. Napalabi siya nang mapagtanto na pulos bills iyon na kailangan niya bayaran. Sinipat niya ang kalemdaryo at nakita niyang malapit ma matapos ang buwan. Papasok na sa tinatawag ng karamihan ang ber months at mayroon na lang siya approximately two months para pagprepara ng kasal nina Joaq at Paola na gaganapin sa ikawalo ng disyempre.



Dinampot niya ang kanyang cellphone at tiningnan ang checklist na ginawa niya. All set na naman ang mga malalaking details. Ang focus niya ngayon ay nasa small details na.
Napukaw siya ng marinig ang ngiyaw ng pusa niyang si Benedict. Napangiti siya at binuhat ito. Dalawang linggo na ang lumipas mula ng iuwi niya si Benedict.



May mga araw na kasama niya ito kapag ka-date si Niko at may mga araw na 'yung dalawang aso naman nito ang kasama nila. Higit sa lahat may mga araw na si Niko lang kasama niya dahil nagdedemand ito ng atensyon niya. Muli siyang napangiti kapag naalala ang mga tantrums ni Niko.



"Shall I visit him in his house? Ano sa tingin mo, Benedict?" tanong niya sa pusa. Ngumiyaw lang ito. "Right, it isn't pleasant if I'm the one who will go there. Kung nasa Atlanta ako pwede since open minded lahat ng tao."



Isang tunog ang pumukaw sa pakikipag-usap niya kay Benedict. Nilapag niya ito at dinampot muli ang cellphone. It was a photo invitation sent on her Telegram account. SMU's College of Business Administration reunion, iyon ang nakalagay doon at may nakalagay na school year 2013, 2014, 2015. Tatlong school year ang magsasama sama sa iisang reunion. Napaisip siya bigla na parang ang crowded noon ngunit nasagot ang tanong niya nang makita ang venue. SMX Convention Hall A and B, malaki nga iyon.



"Gising na pala siya, eh." Napatingin siya sa nagsalita. Mama Tine niya iyon kasunod si mama Lorie at si Niko. "Anong ginagawa mo at ang nakakunot noo mo?" tanong nito sa kanya.



Nilapitan siya ni Niko at hinalikan sa noo. Nakita iyon ng dalawa niyang mama at kinilig ang mga ito.



"I've got a college reunion invitation." Aniya sa mga magulang.



"Puntahan mo." Tugon sa kanya ni mama Lorie niya.



"Isama mo si Niko para hindi ma-out of place." Dagdag ni mama Tine niya.



"Oo nga. Pag-usapan niyong dalawa. Doon muna kayo sa labas at magluluto lang kami."



Tinaboy silang dalawa ni mama Lorie niya at inabot naman sa kanya ni mama Tine si Benedict. Magkasabay silang lumabas ni Niko. Tinungo nila ang bench sa may garden at naupo roon. Nasa kandungan niya si Benedict at natulog ito doon.



"When is that reunion?" tanong sa kanya ni Niko.



"September 15." Sagot niya.



"You wanna go? If you don't want, then don't come." Napatingin siya dito saka ngumiti. "I'll go with you if you decided to come." 



"Why am I so lucky with you? You're sweet, selfless, and handsome."



Sinuklay niya buhok gamit ang kamay. Sinabi nito sa kanya na siya lang ang bukod tanging nakakahawak sa buhok nito. She's realy lucky to have Niko on her side.



"Binobola mo ba ako?"



Umiling siya. Tinawid niya ang pagitan ng kanilang mukha saka hinalikan ito sa pisngi.



"Good morning kiss."



Nakita niya ang pagngiti nito. Namula ang tenga nito dahil sa ginawa niya.



"So, I have a kiss in the afternoon and evening, tama ba?"



"Abuso hindi pa nga tayo."



"And who's fault is that?"



"Ahh so, kasalanan ko?"



"Oo." Simple nitong sagot sa kanya. Ngumiyaw si Benedict kaya natawa si Niko. "Even Ben, agrees with me." Nilagay niya si Ben sa kandungan nito at akma siyang tatayo. Pinigil siya nito at pinaupong muli.



"What?" Mataray niyang salita dito.



"I just want to look at you."



Mas lumapit pa ito sa kanya. Hinawi niya ang mukha nito dahil sa nararamdamang pagkailang. Kahit hindi niya tingnan sa salamin alam niyang pulang pula na ang mukha niya. Niko really knows how to flutter her heart. At bawat salitang bitiwan nito sa kanya at nagpapatindi sa damdamin niya para dito.



"Samahan mo ako sa Divisoria. I need your PA and driving skills today."



"Now, let's define the word abuso, Jillian Claire Smith." She laughed at him. Inaya na niya itong muling pumasok sa loob para mag-almusal.



~•~•~•~




AFTER BREAKFAST, umalis sila agad ni Niko at nagtungo sa boutique ng designer ng wedding gown ni Paola. Sa kanya muna daw ipapakita ng designer ang wedding gown bago kay Paola. Gusto kasi nito na makita niya muna ang mga kulang sa details ng design na gusto ng ikakasal. Doon muna sila dumirecho bago sa Divisoria. Malapit lang kasi iyon mula sa White Plains.



Pagdating nila doon, madaming wedding gown ang nakalabas dahilan para mapangiti siya. She dreamt off wearing that dress someday. Nahinto siya sa tapat ng isang long sleeves wedding gown na may Swarovski crystals na nagpa-elegante. Na-inlove siya sa design noon na parang sinunod sa gusto ng bride-to-be. It's a perfect gown for a bride who's conservative.



"Jill, my staff is now preparing the gown." Abiso sa kanya ni Shine, ang designer ng wedding gown ni Paola. "Do you like it?"



"Huh?" 



"This wedding gown. You like it?" Napatango siya. "Glad you do. I'll exhibit this in a wedding expo I'll be participating on. You want to try it?"



Umiling siya ngunit pinilit siya nito. Wala siyang nagawa kung 'di sumunod dito sa fitting room. Nasa labas si Niko at may kausap sa cellphone nito. Itinaas ni Shine ang buhok niya para madali maisuot sa kanya ang wedding gown. After a minute, she found herself infront of a mirror. Natuwa siya sa pagkaka-fit sa kanya ng gown na suot. Open iyon sa likod pero ayos lang din naman dahil natatakpan naman iyon ng belo kung sakali. The gown itself is beautiful especially when someone wears it. Bahagya siyang natigilan nang makita mula sa repleksyon ang gulat na expression ni Niko. Hinarap niya ito at matamang nilapitan.



"How do I look?" tanong niya sa binata. She smiled at him after fixing her hair. She can't read his expression. "Hindi ba bagay?"



"No. You look beautiful." Sagot nito sa kanya.



"I guess I have to reserved this gown until your wedding day, Jill." Ani Shine sa kanya. "Or you have your own wedding gown design."



"No I don't but I really love this one. Kaso mukhang matagal pa bago ako ikasal."



"I can marry you today."



Out-of-the-blue na sabi ni Niko sa kanya. She heard Shine chuckled and other staff start to make noise. Nag-init tuloy ang magkabila niyang pisngi. She decided to take off the wedding gown and start checking Paola's gown.



Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagchi-check ng lumapit sa kanya si Niko. "You didn't answer me awhile ago,"



Tiningnan niya ito. "Was that a proposal?"



"Yeah. So, what's your answer?" 



"Fix it. I want a memorable one."



"Noted on that, ma'am." Hinampas niya ito saka nginitian ito. "Where do you want to eat after this?"



"Ikaw bahala." Sagot niya dito. "At second thought I want Japanese food pala."



He chuckled. "I know you'll say that." Hindi sukat akalain na napapansin pala nito na palagi kapag sinabi niyang ito na ang bahala sa kakainin nila ay babawiin niya. "Okay. Magpapa-reserved na ako sa Japanese Restaurant na favorite mo."



Iyon lang at hinalikan siya nito aa kanyang noo. Tumalikod ito sa kanya at nang harapin naman niya sina Shine at mga staff nito ay mga nakangiti na ito. Niko is such a sweet guy. Mahirap para sa kanya na i-let go kung sakali 'man na may humadlang sa kanila.  At ang mga ginagawa nito at pinapakita sa kanya ay pantapal sa mga panahon na nasayang nila noonh hindi pa sila nagkikita na dalawa. The battle for their love to each other is about to start. She's hoping in the end, they'll end up together.

A series about the love stories of Dominguez's first generations. Join Niko, Joaq, Migs, Iñigo, Macoy, and Cali in their journey to love and finding the right person. They're all have that void that needed to fill in. Longing for a love that will last forever. Will society status be a hindrance?

1. Joaquin Jacob Dominguez - Me After You
2. Juan Miguel Dominguez - The Music In Me
3. Julio Nikolas Dominguez - Suddenly Its Love
4. Jose Ignacio Dominguez - A Lot Like Love
5. Marco Jose Dominguez - Begin Again
6. Aurora Calida Dominguez - Taming Cali


DISCLAIMER: 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2019 by Mary Ruth Oba

All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including typing, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Thea noticed how Jeru was in a good mood lately. It was as though he was the one with the symptoms of the first trimester of pregnancy. He had mood swings. Sometimes he was hot, and sometimes he was cold.
She also received a call from Jeru's assistant who inquired about her preferred color and design for the room she would share with Jeru. She was happy to know that Jeru had put effort into making sure that the new bedroom was according to her liking.
However, she was a bit nervous about meeting her father-in-law soon. She did not buy anything special as gifts at all. According to Chin, in all of his interviews, whenever he was asked about what kind of present he would like to receive from others, Senior Liu always maintained the principle of 'It's the thought that counts.' He preferred to receive simple gifts as long as it came from the giver's heart. 
For instance, he would appreciate to eat a good meal that someone specially cooked for him instead of receiving an expensive yet thoughtless gifts. He already had everything he needed, so why would he need, for example, another pricey wristwatch?
He always answered this kind of interview question lightheartedly, but Jeru confirmed that his dad indeed admired those with excellent cooking skills. Thea saw this as a good opportunity for her to please her father-in-law because if there was one thing that she could be proud of, it was her natural-born cooking skill, as Auntie Sheila had always told her. On top of that, she learned a lot of great recipes from her. 
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a message notification from her phone. She smiled to see it was Jeru.
[I have instructed them to transform the other room into a nursery. Tell me when you're free, so we can go and buy baby things together.]
She let out a soft laugh. 'Already? But we don't even know the gender of our baby yet...' she thought. But the message made her excited, and she was feeling that familiar tingling sensation in her heart again. It made her smile from ear to ear.
She contemplated whether to tease him because it seemed like he was in a hurry to shop for some stuff for their baby. But in the end, she only sent him her schedule.
"Oh, then I should already start making a baby checklist…" she beamed with a broad smile plastered on her face. She looked around and saw her buddy Gavin and decided to pester him about some baby things for her checklist.
"Huh? How would I know? I'm a bachelor, Thea, and I don't have a secret baby stashed away somewhere. You should ask one of the married women here..." Gavin grumbled.
Thea laughed and said, "But you're the only one who knows my secret… By the way, how come you and Brione haven't talked yet?"
Thea also knew Gavin's secret, and just like him to her, she had also become his counsel lately.
"Listen, I know a better idea for you, and I'm sure it will help you with your problem right now," Thea offered, with a teasing smile. Gavin's eyes widened and answered, "Alright, I'll ask my aunt about some baby stuff for your checklist. I'll send it to you later."
Thea laughed while Gavin sighed and rolled his eyes, "Why are women so complicated and meddlesome?"
...............….
Torin felt a bit awkward because even though Sheila said she was going to stay at Zach's place, but she had been staying in his apartment most of her waking time. He was not complaining at all because Sheila pampered him a lot. However, Torin knew that she was doing this on purpose to prevent Lyra and him from being left alone together.
"Mom, you look a bit sleepy… Why don't you go rest in the room first?" Lyra suggested when she noticed the sluggish expression on her mom's face while she was watching a TV-series.
They had just finished lunch at Torin's place, and Sheila decided to watch her soap over there instead. Her reason was simple; So that she could tend to all of Torin's needs efficiently.
Torin signaled Lyra not to continue, as he interrupted and said, "It's okay, mom, you can sleep on the couch. It's big enough, or I can carry you to the room later."
Sheila sighed and remained silent, but she kept her eyes wide open to focus on the television. She was actually enjoying the frustrated looks on the couple's faces.
She tried her best to suppress her laughter, 'Let's see how long these too can put up with my bullying.'
She was a light sleeper, so the slightest movement could wake her up with ease. Last night, she had felt Lyra move, and as soon as she had heard the clicking of the door, she had immediately instructed, "Get back in here…"
Lyra didn't have any excuse since the restroom was inside the room, and they had bottled water in the room. She couldn't say she was hungry either because Sheila knew how attentive her daughter was when it comes to her diet to maintain a pretty figure.
Sheila had almost burst out laughing when she had felt Lyra go back inside the comforter and hug her instead.
She did not plan to bully them long. Maybe just a few more days. 
"Torin, let me ask you something…" Sheila murmured in a sleepy voice.
"Yes, mom?" Torin answered, as politely as possible. He enjoyed calling Sheila 'Mom' very much. So his smile never faded whenever he called her by that name.
"If you ever come across a situation where both Zach and Lyra are in danger, and you could only save one. Whom would you save?" Sheila probed all of a sudden. 
"What is this, mom? Are you testing Torin or what?" Lyra was confused by the sudden question.
"Hmm, not really but I still want to know what he would do, just in case," Sheila said while yawning.
"Sorry, mom, but I would save Lyra first," Torin asserted. 
"Hmm, I guess most people would do the same for their lover. I should ask Zach whom he would save, Keira or Lyra," Sheila mumbled as she got up.
"Alright, you two, I'm going to take a nap for a bit. Don't you dare do anything naughty," Sheila whispered, to which Torin and Lyra's ears perked up.


She fell in love at first sight and did everything to conquer the man of her dreams... Her General...
---

Zacharias Lim was a loyal, diligent and persevering soldier. Despite his poor background, he had managed to rise steadily from the lowest rank of a Private to the youngest and one of the most respected Generals in his country. He was a principled man who always acted by the book and followed every rule. Because he had grown up in a poverty-stricken condition and having had to work extremely hard to get to where he was now, he detested people who didn't appreciate life just because they were lucky enough to have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth. 

That was until he met Keira Chan...

Keira Chan was a beautiful, bright, mischievous and confident young woman who always knew what she wanted. Having been born as the only daughter of one of the richest and most prominent families in the country, where gold was treated as sand, she had always led a carefree life and she could always get what she wanted without having to exert much effort. 

That was until she met Zacharias Lim...

It just so happened that she fell in love with the young General at first sight and was set to win his heart. And thus her laborious but hilarious journey to get him to be her man ensued...

======
Excerpt:

His forehead creased as his face darkened. Then he whispered, "Keira Chan! What are you doing to me?! Do you think I'm a toy you can play with any time you want to?"

"Huh?" Keira gasped as her lips slightly opened, she looked confused as she stared into Zach's eyes. She felt like his eyes were piercing deep into her bones.

She tried to open her mouth to say something but nothing came up. Zach lowered his gaze down to her slightly opened lips. Those lips had been haunting him and giving him sleepless nights…

Unconsciously, Keira bit her lip and heard Zach curse. Before she knew it, Zach abruptly pulled her towards him and kissed her lips. Her eyes widened and at that same time, she saw a falling star shining brightly in the sky.

[Warning: novel is r-18]
===========
Author's Note: 

Hope you enjoy reading this ORIGINAL novel of mine. I love romance with happy endings so this is a happy ending. If you like the story and would love to support the author personally, you could donate through:

Buy me a Coffee --
https://ko-fi.com/eustoma

Paypal Account --
paypal.me/eustoma

Many thanks in advance for your support.
With Lots of Love,
EUSTOMA_reyna

PS. My Other Hate & Love Series (Standalone Book) follows:

The CEO Who Hates Me (completed)
The General Who Hates Me (completed)
The Doctor Who Loves Me (completed)
Loving A Heartless Lawyer (in writing)

contact me at:

Discord Link:
https://discord.gg/PNGkTUy
Facebook Page: @eustoma.reyna
twitter: @EUSTOMA_reyna
instagram: eustoma_reyna

fyi, cover is mine (commissioned work by ShanArt)

Ms. Bass locked eyes with Carrie for a silent moment, then placed the CV on her desk. She picked up a checklist and began ticking boxes.

"You don't suffer any chronic illnesses, do you?"

"No."

"Mental illness? Depression?"

"No."

"Good. That's very good." Ms. Bass nodded. "We have enough of that around here as it is."

She ticked a few more boxes. Carrie leaned forward to read the list, but Ms. Bass curled the paper up and away from her, smiling tightly. "Excuse me a moment." She got up from her desk, taking the checklist with her, and went to her office door. She peered down the corridor towards the chairs where Carrie had sat, alone, while waiting to be called in. She left, leaving the door ajar, and a moment later her shrill voice echoed up the corridor. "No one else applied at all? Not even a phone call?" 

Carrie couldn't make out the reply but she soon heard footsteps thumping closer. Ms. Bass entered, sat and put on her glasses. Gathering up the papers on her desk, she fixed Carrie with a glare. 

"When can you start?"

Carrie's mouth fell open. "You mean I've—?"

"Yes, yes. What's the earliest you can start? Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Yes, I think I can start tomorrow." 

"Good. Nine o'clock. I'll put you on the day shift, but we're open twenty-four hours and at other times you might have to do the evening or graveyard shift. Okay?" It was more of a challenge than a question. 

Carrie opened her mouth. 

"We can sort out the details tomorrow. See you then, Ms...Ms..." Ms. Bass stood and held out her hand.

"Hatchett." Carrie shook the offered hand.

"Ms. Hatchett. Welcome to the team."

***

As she finished unpacking that evening, Carrie could see Toodles and Rogue were as excited about her new job as she was. Toodles was, admittedly, hiding under the bed and throwing out her claws to scratch Carrie whenever she walked too close, and Rogue was sitting in the corner of the living room staring gloomily at the wall, his normally waggy tail motionless, but Carrie could tell that, deep down, they shared her happiness. 

She removed newspaper wrappings from some glasses and put them away in a kitchen cupboard before starting on her mugs, bowls and plates. The kitchen in her new flat was a little poky and the door of the cupboard under the sink was stuck, but the flat would have to do for now.

On caterpillar tracks, the mechanical alien trundled to the ocean’s edge, where a sluggish liquid flopped onto the sand, withdrew and flopped again, under a deep violet sky. The alien inserted a tube beneath the ripples. Suction commenced, accompanied by a low vibration. As the extracted liquid gurgled and slurped, the mechanical alien transmitted a message to central command: Operation progressing satisfactorily.
Unnoticed, in the glimmering darkness beyond the shoreline, a wave appeared. Unnoticed, the wave approached slowly, silently, stealthily. Unnoticed, it loomed like a predatory beast. With a dreadful, dull splash, the wave fell. When it withdrew, the sand was bare. 
Central command’s communications went unanswered. It never heard from the mechanical alien again.

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