Least expected

Eya slammed her body in her couch after returning in her office after Zick left her alone in his. With all her frustrations and confusions her closed her eyes and covered her face with her arms and tried to recall what might be the reason for Zick treatment with her.

She stayed in that position for a while until someone knocks on her door. "Eya? You here?" a man's voice called out her name. Eya sat up straight and tried to fix herself before she replied to that man. "Yes, in here Dennis."

Dennis, her most favorable suitor, entered her office with take-outs on his hand. He heard that Eya arrived in the hospital earlier than her schedule and thought that she might miss her breakfast due to some reasons.

"My secretary mentioned that you went here too early. Why?" He asked as he lay down all the food he bought for them.

"At first, I wanted to have breakfast with Zick but he seems too busy to join me." Although Eya and Dennis' relationship flow smoothly, Eya still has this restriction wall whenever she shares to Dennis. It seems like she likes him but hasn't trust him yet.

"I see. Good thing I bought you food. Come on let's dig in." The two enjoyed their breakfast and started their own days together.

Nickel remembered that he still has a surprise party to plan for the four days. He told Zoey last night that he already got his next week's schedule and as per his timetable, he told her that he has a scheduled to attend a convention in the other city that will finish before the night strikes.

"You wanted to have dinner next Monday, right? Have you heard about Valley hill? I read a lot of good reviews on it and I liked to try their cuisines. Do you want to try?" Nickel overran whatever plans Zoey had because he already told his guest where will they going to surprise Zoey on her day.

"Sure, why not? I heard it and saw it on the Internet but isn't it expensive there?"

"This will be our official first date so money shouldn't be an issue for us, my love. I wanted to make all our first special as possible."

---

Monday, April 15, 20xx

Zoey woke up like her usual day except that Nickel won't be able to drive to ASC because he told her that he had a meeting and that he will be busy for today. He also planned not to greet her a happy birthday to make her believe that he didn't know the occasion for today.

As per Zoey morning routine, she always sends her parents and brother a good morning message some reminders to not strain themselves from work. Usual both her parents will reply to her immediately, it today became different. Even a seen icon didn't appear in their respective chat rooms. She thought that they are busy and preoccupied for today and that she will wait for them to greet her on her special day.

Zick, on the other hand, replied to her with a simple 'tnx' in which she somehow felt disappointed.

Zoey takes everything aside and starts preparing herself for work. Even her friends didn't have the thought to message her on her day in which makes her upsets very much.

All except the people in ASC, due to that they have a birthday corner at the HR lounge area, everyone will see who are going to celebrate their birthdays every month. Zoey already received tons of greetings from all her staffs and colleague from other departments. She also got a gift from Michael in which she put aside after receiving.

Suddenly Manong Rick knocks on her door with two pieces of gumamela flowers on his right hand and three pieces of choco-nut on the other. "Hi Ma'am Zoey, I have seen your name at the HR department that it says that it was your birthday. Sorry, I didn't know about and I didn't prepare anything. Here is my simple present for you." When Zoey heard his sincere words she immediately felt overwhelmed and appreciated. Moreover, she didn't expect a simple housekeeper to spent his money to give her a present.

"Oh my God, Manong Rick you don't have to do this. Simple greet is fine with." Zoey reply made Manong Rick's expression looked bitter, he thought that she didn't appreciate his effort because it wasn't the same as of what she had received from the other. With Zoey's incredible empathic skill she easy sense that Manong Rick interprets her words into another meaning.

"Anyway, thank you so much, Manong Rick. I love it. Did you know that I love choco-nut so much? You hit the right chocolate for you. Thank you so much." Zoey took the gifts that Manong Rick offered and then ate one bar of the chocolate.

Zoey wasn't a big fan of expensive chocolates such as Cadbury, Toblerone, and Hershey's and etc. what she likes was the local chocolate brand from her country, which is choco-nut. This was the reason that she always gifts to her staff all the sweets she received from Michael.

"Really? Good thing that was what I bought for you. Happy birthday young lady." He bid his last greeting to her and then left the room.

Zoey least expect that a mere Manong Rick would exert his effort for her like that unlike the friends she had since childhood who didn't even use part of their time to compose her a birthday message. Let us not forget that her family also forgets her day.