บท 35: His Birthday
A young five-year-old boy with bright blue eyes is anxiously yet unknowingly waiting for his mother to return. He recalls his mother taking him out of the house dressed in winter clothes to prevent him from freezing in the snow. As she continued to pull his fragile hand, Everest is confused but internally happy because it's the first time his mother is willingly taking him to a store.
Everest had no idea it was his birthday. It was odd enough for his mother to take him out to buy him a birthday present voluntarily. In a way, it excited his heart because he rarely saw her.
Though as they reached the store's district, they met a large crowd of people swarming them whole until they made their way out. Everest notices the anxious look on his mother's face as if looking for something or someone.
He curiously pulls on her arm, "mama, mama…where, are we going?"
She sighs, unable to hide her troubled expression, "wait for mama here, I will buy toy. Wait here," she says in a thick Russian accent.
But as she turned her back to him, Everest insecurely pulls on her coat, "mama," his voice quivers almost ready to cry. She coldly sways her arm away from his grip running into the endless crowd, disappearing from his sight as if swallowed up by a typhoon.
Everest does not remember how long he's been standing there as his little body cannot stand the coldness of the snow. He begins to whimper anxiously, coughing, glancing sideways at the people walking past by him uninterested.
Who knows how many hours passed by, it seemed like a never-ending wait, as his legs became tired, he crouches down on the freezing snow. He sniffs, trying to contain his snot, "where are you, mama?" tears silently run down his cheeks.
A snoozing alarm wakes Everest up from his deep sleep.
He haggardly grabs his phone to turn the alarm off. Yawning, "mhm…shit. Ugh! I don't want to work today," he turns, as his eyes widen in shock of what he just said, "ha! Well what do you know, I never thought there'd come a day when I'd hear myself say those words."
He forces himself out of bed half asleep but wakes up bumping into the wall on his way to the bathroom, "what the?" he furiously stares at the wall, glancing the room, he sighs, "that's right, this isn't my room. I'm staying in a fucking motel," he groans, heading into the bathroom.
Within a few minutes, he's changed into his appropriate attire, ready to head out.
While driving to A Star, he's somewhat bothered by the dream. It's as if trying to solve the first few pieces to a puzzle. The images are beginning to blur, instead of focusing on the details, he gives up.
***
After the morning inspections, Everest was reading to Belen her schedule when she can't help but notice his haggard expression and constant yawning. This irritates her so much that she sent him away to walk through the mall and inspect the basements unloading.
Everest can't help but yawn, trying to keep his eyes open, "fuck, I'm sleepy" he shakes his head.
An employee asks, "didn't get much sleep last night?"
He cracks a smile, "yeah, I fell asleep late." He was telling the truth, he couldn't sleep last night because of the constant noise the people next to him kept making. He also couldn't sleep because of the uncomfortable bed.
"it's only been a week since secretary Noah left for vacation," the employee comments.
Everest nods, "yes, now we just have to wait one more week before his return. I'll take this to the Madam, see you" he exits the basement into the elevator.
He daydreams recalling the night he found Belen outside her house crying. "Again, he came to the rescue" he unconsciously grips the manila folder. As the elevator doors open, he mumbles angrily under his breath, "what is he? A superhero who knows when a woman is in distress or something? Does he have a radar when she's in trouble?"
"Hi Everest!" a female employee waves, he snaps back to his senses, and smiles, "Hello, how are you all doing this morning?" he leans on the counter of the jewelry department.
A handful of average-looking females circle him, "same as usual! What about you?"
"I heard through a couple of birds that it's your birthday today! August 1st, right?"
Others gasps, "no way! Are you serious? Happy Birthday!"
"Oh, come on! Tell us! Do you and Madam already have plans to celebrate tonight?" they flutter their eyelashes.
He can feel their aim, "ah um, actually I don't think she knows today is my birthday," he says shyly, rubbing the back of his head with a timid smile.
His timid expression captures their hearts when they gasp, "you're kidding!"
"How does she not know her own fiance's birthdays!"
"I'd cut her off if I were you!"
"Maybe she does know but is trying to surprise you?"
"But isn't that strange? That she does not know? I mean, you're officially a secretary, right? Then technically, you're an employee here!"
He raises an eyebrow, unable to understand her point.
Another explains, "what she means is that it doesn't sound like Madam President at all."
He asks, "what do you mean? Why does it matter whether she knows my birthday or not?"
"because! Employees receive a bonus on their birthdays!"
"oh, that's right! Someone who's been working for more than three years is allowed to pick anything from your chosen department as a gift paid by the Madam."
His eyes widen, he never would've thought the cold-hearted Madam he serves has a sweet, sincere side to herself. Especially for her employees, he actually knew how much she cares about them, but to this extent. It only amazed him, even more, when he asks, "but I thought you guys didn't like her?"
They stay silent, "that is depending on her mood swings!"
"ugh! Especially when it comes to morning inspections, it's unfair when she fires someone out of the blue."
"but like I've always said, this job is not for the faint of heart."
They all roll their eyes, including Everest making them laugh.
As he left, Everest continues to think about what they said, "she's the last person I ever thought would be like this with her employees. Hmm, I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover. At first, she looked and acted all arrogant, but I thought wrong. That's probably just how she was raised. Is this the difference in social class? She was born into a wealthy family compared to our middle-class families?"
Buzz, buzz! His phone vibrates. He internally sighs, "hello," he answers dispirited. When he quickly pulls his phone away to hear Leena shout, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE BROTHER!!! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVEREST~!!!!" in a childlike tone.
He brings his phone closer to his ear, "thanks Leena," he lets out a chuckle, "like always you manage to turn my ears def."
"Well, you sure sounded off, what are you doing?"
He confusedly stares at the caller ID,
"Leena?"
"Yes?"
"oh, I thought I was talking to someone else."
"what?"
He laughs, "you dumbass, what else would I be doing. I'm working, of course!"
"Hey! Excuse~ me~ for asking!"
"anyways, what's up, why did you call me?"
"How can you be working on your birthday?!" she asks shockingly.
"why is it surprising? For the past years, I've done nothing but laze around here and there. Be happy that I'm finally working."
"Yeah, well, I guess I was expecting to hang out with you today, at least, say for dinner?"
He stares at the time, "I'm swamped right now, I don't think I'll be finished in time for dinner, maybe we can reschedule?"
"aww~ well if you're really busy, then I guess next time."
"Sorry, Leena," he apologizes.
She happily shakes it off, "it's alright, just be on the lookout, though."
"Why?"
"I'm going to send you a basket of your favorite snacks. Who knows if your eating, so makes sure to eat those snacks to fatten you up!"
They both laugh, "okay, thanks, bye."
"Wait! Everest!"
"yeah?"
"SMILE~!"
He chuckles, "right, oh! Wait before I forget, Leena," his voice turns serious, "did I ever get lost when I was I don't know young? In the snow? Around the time of my birthday?"
Leena freezes upon hearing him ask, "ah um n-no I-I think you probably had a nightmare. You shouldn't listen to your nightmares. It's very dangerous," she nervously laughs, "well, I got to go, bye."
He tilts his head, thinking, "but I'm sure it was real."
***
Meanwhile, as Leena hung up, she frantically taps her fingers against the desk, "don't tell me he's starting to remember…not now. And on his birthday. Shit, I have to do something," but she quickly realizes, "oh, who am I kidding!? I can't stop memories from coming back! Argh! This is all your fault, dad!"
***
It's been a week since the confirmation of their engagement news has spread all over the media platform. Surprisingly, people responded positively because of the beautiful ever enchanting picture and video of their dancing. Many fell in love and labeled them the 'Sleeping Beauty Couple' though a bit cliché Belen gained the most love because of her dress.
Many began to question Belen, dragging her into their world of choosing religion and that the dress represents her political views. But her fans were quick to protect her and invalidate their assumptions.
On the other hand, many fell in love with Everest as they witnessed his amazing dancing skills, and experts even went on to compliment him. The world was falling for someone who, in their eyes, was a nobody. However, the one who benefitted from this was Fox theaters. Once people discovered that Everest is always at A Star, many began shopping there just to stare from a distance.
His popularity is only in the beginning stages. There is no need for security measures, unlike Belen. When she steps out of her office, she can't walk around without at least one of her secretaries or security.
Everest has no idea that he is becoming well-known and talked about favorably among social media platforms. His life continues, as he's been staying in the same noisy, thin-walled, cheap motel. It wouldn't make any difference even if he knew because all that mattered to him right now was trying to survive without the help of his father.
***
Its afternoon and awfully a slow one too, when he decides to take his break heading to the lounge room on the second floor.
He spots an employee on their way, "hey! Are you going on your break too?"
But the employee turns in panic rushing to the lounge as if it just saw a monster, Everest turns around to check if perhaps Belen was behind him.
"why else would she give me that look?" he wonders, walking closer to open the door to the lounge. It's dark, he steps inside as the door shut, when he turns on the light a handful of employees shout, "SURPRISE!!"
He shakes, keeping in his shriek, "fuck!"
Everyone's laughing seeing his scared expression and hearing him cuss for the first time too. He looks around confused when an employee brings out a cutely designed cupcake with a candlelit, suddenly the lights turn off and everyone starts singing, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR EVEREST~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~!"
The cupcake is brought closer to his face when they turn the light back on, and he notices all of the employees holding out their phones as if they've been recording this whole time. He can't help but sincerely smile when they shout, "make a wish!" and chanting, "come one! Make a wish!"
He complies, blowing the candle, everyone bursts out in cheers rushing to hug him, all at once congratulating him, "Happy Birthday Everest!!"
"Thank you! Seriously, thank you all for doing this, I-I'm shook!" he laughs as they pass around the yellow cutely designed frosting cupcakes.
He stares at it, noticing, "a Lion?"
They explain, "yeah! We looked up your birthday and found out you're a Leo! So we decided to have the cupcakes designed like a lion."
As he took a bite, his eyes widen, "this is good!" they all laugh at his cute expression.
"Where did you get these?" he asks.
"Oh, um well, from that bakery in Hollywood."
His eyes widen, "you mean that famous bakery? The one only celebrities are allowed to buy?"
"Yes…" they reply quietly.
"How did you guys manage to buy them? From what I know, they're usually sold out."
"well, we asked Madam for a favor, and she put the order for us."
"B-But we paid for it! So in a way, it's a gift from her too. Though I'm sure she'll give you something else far better."
He shakes his head and stares at them. Sincerely, "thank you all, its cute. It's the first time I've had a Lion themed party" he laughs innocently.
"we're all fans of the zodiac so," they shrug.
He fascinatedly asks, "oh! Really! That's cool. I've never really paid attention to them before. What does my sign mean?"
Someone comments, "it says you're compatible with the Madam!"
They all swoon, "that's right! The Madam is a Sagittarius. I read that Sagittarius is usually compatible with Leo's and Gemini's!"
"bleh! Gemini's are toxic, though!"
"Not as sensitive as Pisces!"
"feel lucky! Cause we don't do this for just anyone."
"Yeah, she's right. We don't do this to secretary Noah."
"why not?" he asks honestly.
"because…" they hesitate.
But another speaks up, "secretary Noah scares us!"
He snorts, "he scares you all? How if you outnumber him?"
"True, he is the one who makes the final decision when a person is fired."
"How?"
"well, for example, Madam fires someone from the VIP floor, he is the one who either fires them or just degrades them to the lower departments."
"Or Or Or!!" another interrupts, "he'll give them a chance to work in the basements in re-stocking."
"Yeah! That too! He's too scary. We can't be casual with him right, everyone?"
One comment, "he is handsome, respectful but at the same time scary. He smiles all the time, and I feel like he knows everything about my family background too! It's chilling asking for a day off because I have to give him a clear reason, or else he'll think I'm lying!"
"to be fair, you do be lying, girl! So chill! He's just doing his job."
"there was this one time when we asked him about his birthday, all he said was, 'I'm a Pisces' with a deadass expression. I almost choked on my saliva, thinking I could've gotten fired from just asking for his birthday."
"See, that's why we don't try to do these kinds of things with him. He's even a headache to the older employees who've been working here since Edilberto, Belen's father, left!"
Though as they continued to share their stories, Everest puts a stop to them, "hey! Can you all get close to take a picture? I want to send it to my sister."
At that instant, they fix their make-up and hair, getting close to Everest to take a selfie. He poses, smiling, "1...2…3!" click!
***
Everest received the leaders of the department's daily reports, which are often required by the end of the day. A Star is a few hours away from closing, and many are clocking out. He notices this and decides it time to head up to see Belen.
Though on the elevator, he thinks, "ah! Why can't I shake off this dream? It's been bothering me this whole time. I wish I can just go to sleep and dream it again, but it does not work like that." He unconsciously yawns coming out of the elevator greeting the receptionist, "hey there…" he sighs, "is-is that for me?" he points at a large basket.
"Yes! This arrived for you downstairs, but because I was unable to get ahold of you, it was sent up here."
"Thank you for looking after it," he offers, "do you want one?"
She nicely declines, "oh no, it's fine! I'm on a diet," she laughs.
"Oh! My bad, then have a good night, see you tomorrow" he waves carrying the basket into his office.
He comes back out, noticing the security team about to head downstairs, and the receptionist was gone. "Oddly enough, I don't want to leave yet," he sighs, fixing his posture, ready to enter Belen's office.
Knock knock, he enters politely but is taken aback to see Belen concentrated in the computer monitor screen. And countless papers swamped on her desk pulled out from file holders and more documents scattered all over the sofa.
"Madam? Sorry to interrupt, but" he twitches, hearing Belen heavily sigh as if his presence made her lose her concentration.
She turns to him, "yes? Did you finish rounding out the reports I told you to gather?"
He nods, "yes, I have them here, but where should I put them?" he looks around her desk for an empty spot, but she grabs them out of his hand, "mhm," she lays them atop of the many scattered papers on her desk.
"anything else?" she asks grumpily.
He's taken aback by her cold attitude but tries to understand her when picturing himself in her position. He thinks because Noah is on vacation, her workload doubled, no, tripled if anything.
He hesitates, "I-I was wondering if we can go over your agenda for the upcoming days, there are some add-ins, and secretary Noah forwarded me emails for you to read."
"well? Are you going to read them to me?" she asks annoyingly, "why haven't I received the emails?"
He shakes, "I printed them out for you," he pulls out a folder placing it on her desk.
She bewilderedly stares, "you printed them?"
He firmly nods, "yes, is there a problem?"
She scoffs, "this is the first time I've ever had to read emails on paper. Why couldn't you have sent them to my email? It's easier than going through the process of printing them."
"But reading them on your phone would only damage your eyesight!" he confesses worriedly—something Belen was not expecting, grinning, feeling pleased by his answer.
"my, how caring," she mocks him scanning the emails, "you read them, right?" she stares at him, raising an eyebrow.
He blushes stuttering, "y-yes, I did."
She smiles, "hmm, so what do you think?"
He's embarrassed by her sudden question, "e-excuse me?"
"don't act coy, you read them. Why else would you be ignoring my gaze right now?" she boldly stands up, walking near him.
He admittedly nods, eyes closed, "yes! I read them! I did! I know what they are about!" like a sinner, he confessed. Though it's not as if he denied it either, Belen just wanted to tease him.
Her footsteps stop, when he opens his eyes, he's impressed to see her beautiful brown eyes under the lights staring intently at him. "If you read them, you could just summarize them instead of going out of the way and printing them."
She clears the papers off the sofa, "sit," she says coldly.
He obediently listens like a dog. At the same time, she sits across from him, tying her hair back into a low ponytail. Revealing her smooth neckline, "now then, add these into my schedule, the day after tomorrow I have three photoshoots, a meeting with the…" their conversation continues into the night.
Belen notices Everest dozing off on the sofa while she's looking over some documents on her desk. She peeks, seeing him slowly falling asleep but trying his best to stay awake, a smile unknowingly forms on her face.
The emails aren't all that important to her because while glancing at them, she knew right off the bat what they were about, requests, favors, and invitations to appear on live television shows for an interview. But not just her as she expected, they asked for both her and Everest. She's used to these kinds of issues because this is only an arranged marriage from their parents; they have nothing to prove to the world about their relationship.
In her mind, they were nothing more than boss and employee, that's all, or at least that's what she thinks since Noah is the same. Wait! Noah is different, yes he may be an employee, but he is also her best friend. Something Everest can not come close to becoming in Belen's life.
After a few minutes, she sighs, noticing the time, "it's about to be midnight," she stands up from her chair to see Everest has fallen asleep.
She wonders, staring at his face, "why did you fall asleep here? You should've gone home," she covers him with his blazer as a blanket.
Meanwhile, sleeping, Everest finds himself back to his dream, seeing his five-year-old self shivering in the snow, waiting for his mother to come back.
Suddenly a policeman asks in a different language, "are you lost?"
Everest, scared because he is unable to answer them, asks, "mama, I lost my mama!" he begs the officer crying. He takes him to the police station, hoping to find someone who can speak English.
"Where are your parents?" another police officer asks nicely, Everest eventually tells them the whole story when he notices the police exchanging a few uneasy glances.
"Do you know your father's phone number or name?"
Everest shakes his head, "I-I don't remember," he manages to mumble out, "but I know my sister's, she's Leena Fox."
All of a sudden, their expressions grow pale, "is your father, Reuben Fox?"
He nods quietly. The officers assure him, "don't worry, we'll call you father to pick you up."
After an hour, Reuben enters the police station breathing heavily with a red face from the chilly air, "Everest?!"
At that moment, Everest rushes to his father's arms crying, Reuben tightly hugs him patting his head, "what are you doing here? Where is your mother?!" he asks urgently.
"she went to buy me a birthday present."
Reuben sighs, clicking his tongue, "thank you, everyone" he speaks in an unknown language confusing Everest when they stepped outside. He sees Leena getting out of the car, "Everest!" she shouts.
He wiggles his way out of his father's arms running to Leena's embrace. Meanwhile, Leena notices the look on her father's face. "Papa, where is mama?"
He grunts, biting his lips in nervousness, "take them to their nanny!" he shouts at the driver.
"Papa, where are you going?" Leena asks, almost wanting to cry, holding onto Everest.
Reuben gives Everest a disgusted expression as if blaming him for something he did not know he did. As they got in the car, Reuben quickly disappeared.
Everest wakes up to the sound of constant clicking and clacking and doors shut. He groans, turning aside, thinking he's in the motel but suddenly jumps up awake.
Belen is combing her hair across from him near the bathroom, "Good morning," she grins, "I guess you slept well?"
Everest rubs his eyes to make sure he isn't dreaming, yawning into a stretch, "I...fell asleep?"
She turns, "yes, you did. It's early. You still have time to get ready."
"huh?"
"In Noah's office, there is a bathroom beside it with a shower," she points, "I also picked out your clothes for you to wear."
He stands up, confused, holding onto the clothes.
He hurriedly exits her office, still trying to process what she meant, "Am I dreaming?" he notices something poking out of his blazer.
"hmm?" he pulls out a white envelope, with Belen's artistic cursive handwriting, "Happy Birthday, Everest Fox" upon opening it, he freezes in place, "this is a check! For me! The bonus thing wasn't a joke, but when did she?" he puts it back inside his blazer pocket, unable to hide his pleasant smile happily skipping.
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