Solana Project

"Wow. I can't believe I'm going to work on the Solana Project." Elise blurted out, still in disbelief as soon as she put down her lunch tray on the table. "Am I in a dream?"

Fil chuckled as she picked up her cutlery. Just then, two other male employees joined their table. 

"If you know you're in a dream, you should wake up now," Kenzo quipped. "You'll be late for work."

"Do you want me to slap you?" Oliver inquired enthusiastically, earning a glare from Elise. 

"Do you want to die?" Elise hissed. "Come here and I'll beat all the math in your head."

"Hah! Is this how you treat your senior? Oy, Elise, I might've been kind to you, but you're pushing your luck too far."

"You're only hired an hour early before me."

"Meaning, I'm still your senior!" 

Elise scoffed, continuing her banter with Oliver, who never failed to get on her nerves. Fil could only shake her head, used to these two and their banters. 

"How was the leave?" 

Fil snapped her eyes to her right, smiling at Kenzo. "It was… okay."

"I can see that."

"I had a good sleep," she answered.

"I bet you had." Kenzo wiggled his brows playfully. "You look nice."

Fil raised her brows, pressing her lips to refrain from grinning. "Thanks," she expressed, only to receive a wink from Kenzo. 

Kenzo was one of the few friends back in college who stayed in contact with Fil. Well, not that they had a choice because they somehow ended up working in the same company. Therefore, she could say he was a good friend of hers who always looked after her back. 

"I'm a bit surprised." After a minute, Kenzo spoke again. "I mean, with all this attention you've been getting since morning. I'm surprised you hadn't fled and hid yourself. Look around you."

Fil looked around the cafeteria, and much to her dismay, even some employees from other departments were talking while looking in their direction. 

"Tsk. Look at them." Oliver clicked his tongue in irritation. "They always acted as if Fil is invisible, but now, they all want to get to know her."

"Talking about yourself?" Elise replied sarcastically, moving closer to Fil and hugging her protectively. "She's off-limits, alright!? I'll protect her from jerks like you."

Fil chuckled, gazing down at the adorable Elise. Elise had always been like this; she was like a protective little sister from then and especially now.

"Tch." Oliver rolled his eyes and when his gaze fell on Fil, he cocked his head to the side. "Fil, what happened to you?"

"Hmm?"

"You only had a day's leave, but you came back like a totally different person," Oliver pointed out, more curious about what pushed Fil to doll up other than asking her for a date. "Did you break up with your fiance?"

Elise snapped, remembering her initial theory. "Fil, did that jerk break off the engagement? Or did you hit your head and see what kind of jerk he was?"

Kenzo, on the other hand, raised his brows curiously. 

"Why would you conclude that?" Fil laughed awkwardly. 

"Tss. It's obvious!" Elise hissed. "I mean, I've been in this company for three years and I've worked with you since day one! But I never saw this fiance. Some colleagues even doubt you have one."

"That's right. I never saw him." Oliver chimed in while chewing his food. "If not for Kenzo, I wouldn't even believe you have a boyfriend. It's not like he has to introduce himself to your colleague, but I've never seen him pick you up in the past three years. It's always you who goes to him."

Hearing their comment about her relationship with Vincent, a subtle smile turned up on Fil's face. She never saw their perspective in the past, nor did she care if others called her a liar. Vincent was always busy; he wouldn't have time to pick her up or do menial things like that. 

"That's enough." Kenzo sighed, shaking his head. "You two should mind your own business. Fil didn't make a fuss when you had your haircut or had a change of style. Why care about her? Moreover, she would never break up with her fiance."

He slowly veered his eyes to Fil. "She had her reasons, right, Fil?"

"We didn't break off the engagement." Fil nodded with a smile. "As I said, having a day's leave gave me enough sleep."

"And you went shopping in that sleep?" Oliver scrunched up his nose. "You think I believe that?"

Fil only answered with a smile. "Let's eat. We still have a lot of things to talk about after lunch. Don't forget, you're all in the team and we can't screw this project." She then shifted her eyes to Oliver, giving him a knowing look.

"Especially you. I heard what happened yesterday and that you're blaming me."

Oliver gasped, looking at Kenzo, only to see the man shrug. "Bro!"

"It's not me. The boss probably did."

"Either way, this project is important. Let's eat and get back to work. The Solana's representatives will come today, so we should at least be prepared."

*

*

*

After the quick lunch break, the four of them were about to return to the office to prepare when Kenzo asked Fil for a minute. Stepping out to the building's premises, Fil looked at him curiously. 

"Don't tell me you're going to ask what compelled me to buy new clothes and doll up a little?" she remarked, squinting her eyes suspiciously. "You'll just get the same reason I already gave."

"Did you really think our friendship is that shallow?"

"No, but I'd be disappointed if it is."

Kenzo chuckled. "That's not why I asked you to step out. I was worried."

"About what? The project?"

"About you, silly." He sighed. "Is everything alright? Are you okay?"

"Of course." Fil smiled. "I'm more than okay."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, still smiling, as she looked away from him. "With this project landing on my lap, I'm more than okay." Her lips stretched to her ears. "To be a part of this project is already an honor, but for me to lead it? It's a big opportunity."

The past several days were torturous; it felt like a tunnel where she couldn't see the light. However, coming back here and having this opportunity come her way was akin to earning a candle in this long, dark tunnel. It would help her keep going.

"I missed a lot of opportunities in the past because I was too busy helping others fulfill their dreams or fix their problems," she muttered, looking up at him. "I don't want to miss this one."

"I'm glad you finally saw that." He smiled in satisfaction, before arching his brows as he saw some figures in the building's driveway. When he turned, he furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes. "Are those the representatives from Solana? They're early."

Fil hummed as she also looked in the direction Kenzo was looking. There, marching to the entrance of the building, was a group of men and a few women. She squinted her eyes, and then her mouth fell open as her eyes landed on a familiar — a very familiar face walking in the middle. 

"Jack?"