END OF THE ROAD
“I’m going out for a company dinner,” I told my parents who were looking at me wearing a blue body-hugging dress that ends two inches above my knees.
Mom and Dad smiled at me. “Sure, honey. You should go and have fun with your colleagues,” Dad said. I bet they are happy now that I have got accepted in their company of choice.
I smiled and turned to leave.
“What time are you going home, Nique?” Eurick asked me before I could close the door.
“I don’t know yet. I’d meet with the girls after.” I replied.
He pouted and nodded. “I’ll try to wait for you,” he told me.
I shook my head. “Don’t wait up. I might go home late.” I replied.
He frowned at me. “You better not go home later than two in the morning…” he warned me.
I laughed at my overprotective brother. “I’ll try,” I beamed before closing the door and running to my car.
I revved the engine and started to head out to Hotel McBride.
It wasn’t a very long drive. In fact, I reached the place in fifteen minutes. I gave my keys to the valet and let him park my car.
A receptionist came to me the moment I stepped my foot on the hotel.
“Good evening, Ma’am.” I looked at her name plate and saw her name, Raquel. She’s smiling widely at me with her pink lips and blushing cheeks.
I smiled back. “I’m here for Nildex’s Company dinner,” I told her.
She nodded and gracefully led me to the hall where the company dinner is happening. “Here you go, Ma’am. Have a nice night.” She bowed at me as she motioned me to get inside.
I smiled and got in the hall. The hall is very wide but there are a lot of people in it. I could see some familiar faces but I am not close to them. I tried to look for my members in the Human Resource Department but I couldn’t find them in the sea of people.
I was busy looking for familiar people and stopped when someone bumped into me from behind. It was too strong because I almost landed on my face.
I looked at the person behind me with an annoyed look. I’m sure I look really annoyed. Can he watch where he’s—
“Sorry, Miss…” A handsome-looking lad with wide eyes appeared on my face. “Someone pushed me. I didn’t mean to push such a pretty lady.” A smile crept out of his face.
Damn. He has a beautiful smile!
“It’s okay.” I tried to gather my cool and my composed face.
He chuckled weakly. “Your face when you turned to me didn’t look fine, though,” he told me. “You look annoyed.”
I pursed my lips in a thin line. “That’s because I was so shocked with the impact of the push.” I replied.
He smiled at me. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let you fall flat on your face.” He assured me.
I fought the urge to blush at his remark. I don’t even know why I am fighting this feeling…or why I am blushing.
He chuckled. “By the way, I am Juneau. Juneau Portman.” He extended his hand. “I am the head of the finance department.”
I looked at his hand in front of me. After a few seconds, I took it for a handshake. “Eunique James. HR Head.” I introduced myself.
He looked at me and smiled before letting go of my hand. “Are you new here? I have been here for over four years now but this is the first time I have seen you.” He commented.
I nodded. “I just started this week.” I replied.
He smiled again. “What are you still doing here? Won’t you sit?” he asked.
I sighed. “I don’t really know anyone. I couldn’t find my members as well.” I bit my lip. “I’m actually shy to just sit with just anyone.”
He laughed and nodded. “You know me now. You can sit with me until you find your members…” He offered with a huge grin.
I stared at him, giving him a look.
He nodded. “Come on. I won’t bite.” He winked and led me to the first empty table we could see.
He pulled a chair for me and made me sit. “There you go,” he said as he sat at the chair beside me. He looked at me and smiled. “Do you want any drinks?”
I nodded. “Water would be fine.” I replied.
“Water? Seriously?” he asked. “I’m getting you an iced tea at least,” he told me as he called the waiter.
This dinner isn’t just a dinner. I am so glad that I went home to change for formal clothes. Or else, I would’ve looked like a lost kid in a sea of elegant people. Why is Nildex holding such great event at no occasion?
Juneau was staring at me as I roamed my eyes around the hall. He smiled at me when I laid my eyes on him. “Nildex holds this kind of dinner every last Friday of the month,” he told me.
“Why?” I asked.
I think they’re just wasting money. The money for this dinner should’ve gotten into a better cause.
He laughed at my reaction. “Because Mr. Bennett says so…” he replied like it’s a standard operating procedure once the CEO orders.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “For real?” I asked.
He nodded. “It started about four years ago? I don’t know…” he started to spill.
I paused and swallowed. Four years ago? Does this have something to do with me?
My heart started to race fast as I waited for Juneau to continue his story.
“Kaisser Bennett was so heartbroken,” he continued. “He didn’t have time to be happy so his parents started to launch a monthly company dinner ever since. There. And now, it has become a tradition.”
My world started to stop. Juneau’s words were knives that cut through my heart. I couldn’t move thinking that this whole company dinner is about me and Kai and our ruined past. I am the reason why we’re having this monthly dinner. I am the reason for this extravagance.
Juneau sighed. “That girl must be so important to him. It took him two years to finally live a normal life.” He said.
I looked at him, trying to hide the devastation from my face. “But he has a girlfriend now, right?” I asked.
Juneau nodded. “Yes. Rachel Grey. They’ve been dating for over a year now.” He replied. “I don’t really know how it happened because I’m so sure that Kai isn’t into her the first time they met.” He paused and placed his chin on his palm. “I was there. I saw how they first met. It was only Rachel who was so into him. Kai didn’t care about her.”
I am so interested at what he’s talking about right now. It’s torturing me but I still want to hear their story.
“Rachel is the daughter of one of the board members in Nildex.” Juneau looked at me. “Maybe that’s the reason why they got closer and eventually, fell for each other.”
My heart aches every time I hear how in love Kai is with his new girlfriend. But then again, I wouldn’t complain. I love him. And I want the best for him. I want him to be happy—even though he would only be when he’s not with me.
“Sure. A perfect match.” I could choke on my words but I tried so hard not to. I need to be strong. Hell, I need to be stronger.
Juneau smiled and nodded. “Indeed,” he said when the waiter came with our drinks. “Thank you.” He nodded at the waiter before giving me my iced tea.
I smiled weakly. “Thanks,” I told him and immediately sipped on my drink. I am so thirsty. Too much information made me feel so thirsty.
“Woah! I didn’t know talking to me for minutes would make you feel so thirsty!” Juneau beamed and chuckled. “You need more?” he asked.
I shook my head and wiped my mouth with the napkin on the table. “I’m just really hungry…” I told him and smiled weakly.
He nodded and smiled. “How about you? No boyfriend?” he asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him but I shook my head.
His eyes widened. “Really? No boyfriend?” he asked in disbelief. “Since birth or you just broke up?” he asked.
I gulped and smiled weakly. “We broke up years ago,” I replied.
“Years ago and then no other man after him?”
I shook my head. How can I date other men when I’m still so in love with him after all these years? I couldn’t get myself to even if I wanted to.
“Wow! That jerk must be really lucky to be loved by you even after years.” Juneau beamed.
I smiled. Lucky? Yes. He must be really lucky.
We both stopped talking when a song was played in the background.
Although we’ve come to the end of the road, still I can’t let you go.
It’s unnatural. You belong to me. I belong to you.
Juneau looked at me and grinned. “The song suits you, Eunique.” He laughed. “But really, you should let him go. Sometimes, holding on to a person is a lot harder than letting go…” he said it so seriously that I felt it straight to my heart.
“If it’s the end of the road, there’s nowhere else to go. Would you rather hold on and face nothingness, or let go and start a new life?”