text:
**Spark Books** is an imprint of Anvil Publishing, Inc.

**The Problem with Being Laura**

Copyright to this digital edition © 2017 by

Ava Feliz

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher.

Published and exclusively distributed by

ANVIL PUBLISHING, INC.

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1550 Philippines

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www.anvilpublishing.com

Book design by Miles Tan (cover) and Ysa Garcia (interior)
E-book formatting by Arvyn Cerezo

ISBN 9786214201860 (e-book)

Version 1.0.0

#### Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

#### Chapter 1

LAURA BAYANI HEARD their whispers but almost ten years of shrugging off rumors had made her capable of looking like she didn't give a damn. She ignored all the whispers and not-so-subtle fingers pointed towards her direction that started almost as soon as she entered the room at exactly half past seven that evening. But just because she was showing her I-don't-give-a-fuck face didn't mean she wasn't affected by it.

Still, she felt unnerved by the attention, so she smoothed down her clothes carefully, taking comfort in the fact that she knew she looked okay and that nothing was stuck between her teeth (she checked it thrice before getting out of the car).

She had come straight from work to attend her colleague-turned-close friend Mikaela Perez's twenty-third birthday party. The party was already in full swing when she arrived, and she felt a little out of place. She bit the inside of her cheek as she looked around for Mika.

"You came!" Mikaela greeted Laura, suddenly appearing beside her.

Laura's lips barely even twitched even though she was amused by Mika's outfit. After working with Mika for the past six months, Laura didn't get surprised anymore by any of her friend's outrageous getups. Mika's black hair with pink streaks was complemented by her black lacy three-fourth-sleeved top and dusky rose tutu. Her boots with spikes on the back completed her ensemble.

Mika grabbed Laura's arm and introduced her to the other guests. "Knowing you, Laura, you would have stood near the wall, with your back ramrod straight, where no one would look your way," she muttered as they flitted from one group to another.

Finally, Mika led her to a group of girls, whom the birthday girl introduced as her college friends. "Girls, this is Laura, my wonderful officemate I've been telling you about!" she announced enthusiastically.

Laura watched as Mika's college friends eyed her slowly from her chignon and eyebrow-length bangs, to her white long-sleeved blouse buttoned up to her neck, to her gray cardigan with a thick black belt, to her black knee-length pencil skirt, to her black three-inch heels. She had always preferred function over fashion.

"Oh, you're Laura," one of the girls said brightly.

Laura wanted to grab Mika back to her side but her friend darted away to the other side of the room to talk to another guest. She knew Mika didn't mean to abandon her; it was her party after all, and a lot of people were clamoring to talk to her.

Laura was about to turn away when one of the girls in the group spoke up.

"Mika's told us all about you. It's so nice to finally meet you!" one of the girls gushed, while the others snickered behind their fists.

"Yeah, you look so..." another said, and then burst into giggles.

Laura took all their laughter stoically as she eyed their identical short denims and wavy hair and cropped tops. "Thanks," she said quietly then turned and walked away.

"Hey, where are you going? We're still talking to you," one of the girls shouted at her retreating back. The other girls laughed hysterically.

"That's enough, Ish," said a sharp male voice behind Laura.

Immediately, the girls sobered up and turned to complimenting her savior instead.

"Thanks," Laura said over her shoulder without pausing to look at whoever thought she needed saving from a gaggle of girls she didn't give a fuck about.

She walked over to the drinks table calmly, poured herself some iced tea, and stood in a dark corner. She started mentally itemizing the things she needed to buy from the grocery on her way home.

"I save you from a vest of vipers, and you don't even look at me?" said her savior, who had snuck up on her yet again.

Startled, Laura inhaled sharply but didn't jump. She took deep breaths as she stared at her savior. He looked to have come from work as well, in his white polo, unbuttoned at the collar with a smattering of curly black hair peeking out, and gray pantsuit.

A sliver of light from the rotating disco ball enabled Laura to see his moussed up curly hair, closely shaven mustache framing pink lips and a strong jaw. His brown eyes were sparkling with mirth, and possibly due to alcohol.

"I said thanks, didn't I?" she asked simply. She threw her now-empty glass in the trash can beside her.

The guy clutched at his heart comically. "Such a cold thanks from so fair a maiden!"

Laura was about to walk away again when Mika bounded up to them. "Kuya, stop messing with Laura!"

Mika handed Laura a plate filled with Asian noodles, a leg of roasted chicken, and garlic rice. "Here, I got you food. Ignore him. I keep telling him he missed his calling at the carnival."

Laura thanked Mika before she started eating.

"Not a salad lady?" Miguel asked Laura.

Laura looked at him. "What's a 'salad lady'?"

Miguel gave her a quick onceover. "A female who only eats salad, to keep her figure in shape."

Laura shook her head. "I eat enough every day to keep my energy up. Advertising is a highly competitive industry, and I always have to be on my toes. A starving stomach won't get me anywhere."

Miguel nodded seriously. "I like a woman who eats," he said, winking at her.

"Don't wink at me. And I don't care what kind of woman you like," she said matter-of-factly before she resumed eating.

"She shoots, she scores!" Mika said, laughing at her brother, who looked confused.

"I told you, kuya, she's not that kind of woman," Mika explained patiently, as if she was talking to a five-year-old. "She's not going to put up with your bullshit."

"How can she be friends with you and not be swayed by flattery?" Miguel asked Mika mockingly, to which she responded with a sharp jab to his arm.

Laura continued eating, looking for all the world like she was ignoring the siblings' friendly banter.

"Be serious," Mika warned Miguel.

Miguel only grinned at Laura unrepentantly. "But where's the fun in that?"

Mika sighed. "Laura, this buffoon, unfortunately, is my brother Miguel whom I told you about before."

"I kind of got that," Laura said dryly.

Then Mika smiled and continued proudly, "Don't let his behavior fool you, he's actually a branch manager with the Equity Savings Bank."

"Miguel, 28, single, and ready to mingle," Miguel said smoothly, holding out his hand.

Laura looked at him stoically as she shook his hand, her grip firm and confident. Then she dropped his hand and resumed eating.

Miguel looked at Laura then back to his sister. "I still can't see how you and Mik-mik became friends, Lor."

"My name is Laura, not Lor, I'd thank you to remember that," Laura rebuffed.

Mika guffawed. "I knew it. I knew even you wouldn't be able to work your charms on her. I'm telling you, brother, let Laura be for the rest of the night. She doesn't deserve to be the butt of your jokes."

"Ah, but I was hoping to be the butt of your jokes," he whispered to Laura.

Laura took one step away from him and finished eating. She threw her plate in the trash can. "Mika, this has been most...enlightening, but I have to call it a night." She fished out of her bag a small neatly-wrapped gift and handed it to her friend.

Mika accepted the gift with another squeal and hugged Laura tightly before escorting her to the door. "Thank you! I'm sorry. I know my friends and Miguel can be overwhelming in one dose. But I'm glad you came. See you on Monday!"

Laura exited the door and was already a few steps away from the house when Miguel called out to her.

"But it's only eight thirty. On a Friday night!"

"Yes," Laura responded without turning back.

"You have work tomorrow?" Miguel asked. She felt him following her to where she had parked her old gray sedan.

Normally she didn't use their family car to save on gas, but since she was doing the groceries tonight, she decided to drive to work.

"No," she said. She unlocked her door and was about to open it when Miguel beat her to it.

He opened the door with a flourish and gestured for her to enter.

"Thank you," she said primly. She started the engine then looked at him, then at the door.

But Miguel continued to hold her door open. "That's it? No goodbye kiss, no sweet thank you, no flutter of your eyelashes?"

Laura looked at him like he was an idiot. It was the first emotion she had showed all night that deviated from her stoic-I-don't-care-about-you look.

Miguel looked surprised for a second. Then he sighed and held up his hands. "Okay, okay, I—"

Laura shut her car door and drove away.

#### Chapter 2

"LOR, I NEED five thousand pesos and Tato needs milk," was the very first thing Laura heard when she walked through their door that night.

Her older brother Jasper held her two-year-old nephew Tato in one arm as he retrieved the groceries from her hands. He was wearing a white sando and ratty shorts, and didn't look like he had taken a bath all day.

Laura wearily brushed a few errant strands of hair out of her face as she placed her shoes by the door. "There's milk in one of the bags."

She put on her slippers and got Tato from Jasper. She breathed in his baby milk scent. Holding him always calmed her down and reminded her why she worked as hard as she did every day. As the breadwinner in their family, she was the financial provider of her nephew since Tato's mother left him at their doorstep. Her brother was still unemployed and had not been successful in retaining any job.

"What do you need the money for?" she asked, following Jasper into the tiny kitchen.

He stopped putting away the groceries and glared at her. "Why do you keep asking?" he asked angrily. "Just give me the damn money!"

Laura's jaw clenched. Tato squirmed, and she realized she was holding him too tightly. She eased her hold on him. "I told you I'm not going to give you any more money for your gambling problem. I'm not going to pay off any more of your debts."

Their mother, dressed in a flowered blue and yellow smock, chose that moment to walk into the living room. "Don't talk to your brother in that tone!" her mother snapped. "You have no right to talk down to anyone in this house!"

Laura wanted to argue but she knew it would be futile. Her mother would side with Jasper, as always.

Laura thought it was a good thing she went to Mika's party and ate dinner there before going home because she couldn't stand to be in the same room as her family any longer.

With a quick kiss to Tato before she set him down on the couch, she went to her room and slept.

Except for Tato, she didn't speak to her family the whole weekend, and ate in her room. And when she went to Church on Sunday, she was alone.

"Laura, Kathleen wants to see you in her office," said Ana, their senior executive's secretary.

Laura put on her black blazer over her white long-sleeved blouse. She carefully looked over her clothes to make sure that her black knee-length skirt did not have any lint and that her shoes had no smudges. She looked into the mirror to check that not a strand of hair was out of place, that her teeth were clean, and that her faux pearls were perfectly flat against her neck before she went to her boss.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked, once Ana opened the door to Kathleen Jacob's office.

"Please, have a seat, Laura," Kathleen said, gesturing towards the chair in front of her desk.

Laura dutifully sat down and waited. She watched as Kathleen clasped her hands together and just looked at her without saying anything. Laura gazed back at her passively.

Finally, she spoke. "If you had been any other employee," Kathleen mused, "you would be fidgeting by now or asking if anything was wrong—but not you, Laura."

Laura didn't know if that was a compliment or an insult so she didn't say anything.

"And that's part of the problem," said Kathleen. She sighed. "You know that with Isaac's impending departure, there's an opening for one of the team supervisory positions in our company."

Laura nodded once. "Yes." Inside, she was burning with excitement. She had been working so hard the whole year just for this exact opportunity.

Smith & Guerrero, while a small outfit, was the first company she worked for after college because they were the first one who hired her. She had been desperate for money, for a job, and so she jumped at the chance. The pay was, unfortunately, just the standard wage rate, although the benefits were good.

After learning the ropes, she had started aiming for a higher position in case there was a vacancy. Smith & Guerrero never promoted anyone unless someone in management resigned, retired, or was fired.

Kathleen smiled gently. "I've been watching your progress and the way you handled many of our clients from the moment you were hired, and I—and the other managers—are impressed. I just wanted to let you know that you're the strongest contender for the supervisory position. I think you have what it takes to even be an account executive here someday."

Laura's only reaction was to blink several times. Then she said evenly, "Thank you, ma'am."

"I had hoped that telling you this would inspire you to do something different. Like, maybe, laugh?" Kathleen said. "In all the time you've worked here, I had never heard you laugh, or even see you smile. Or mingle socially with your colleagues." She sighed. "All you did was work, work, and work. It was good for the company, but not so good for your relationship with your colleagues, which is also important too."

Laura knew that Kathleen had been wary to have her do presentations to their clients but to everyone's surprise, all the clients loved Laura and took her solemnity as part of her professionalism.

After realizing that Laura was a little different, Kathleen was relieved that her co-workers, Steve and Mika were easygoing and that they were able to work well together.

But then again, working with Laura had also boosted Steve's status as a graphic artist. Laura was detailed when she described her ideas to him, and he always managed to make her ideas come to life. Mika, with the help of Laura, was improving, too.

"But being a leader means you need to play nice with the team you will handle, and from what I have been hearing, your other colleagues are wary of you," Kathleen said. "They even call you the Ice Queen."

Laura knew about her office nickname but it still hurt every time she heard it. She just learned not to show how much it did hurt her, and her expression didn't flicker when Kathleen mentioned it.

"Laura, one of my reservations with you is that you come across as forbidding. Unapproachable. Cold. Unsympathetic. Being the supervisor means your team should not be afraid to work with you, to talk to you about their problems," Kathleen said, laying her palms on the edge of her wooden table.

"What would you have me do to become the supervisor?" Lauren finally asked.

Kathleen broke out into a smile. "This is precisely what I had been hoping you would ask. I still have a month left before I finalize the candidate I'm going to endorse. You already do your job so well, but I need to see how you'll do with other people, Laura, with your colleagues. That's all."

Laura lowered her eyes as she sat unmoving for a few seconds. Then she looked up at Kathleen, her lips forced into a semblance of a small smile.

Kathleen wanted to laugh but she didn't want to discourage Laura.

"I'm going to try my best, ma'am." Laura said simply, as was her practice. She went out the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Kathleen finally grinned once she was alone. "I know you will, Laura. I know you will."

#### Chapter 3

"HOW WAS YOUR meeting?" Mika asked once Laura was back at her desk. She eyed the cup of water that Laura was holding—a sign that she had been to the pantry. She glanced at Laura's filled tumbler on her table. Something was going on here.

She saw Laura look at her up and down, taking in her gray statement tee, black leather jacket, red and green tartan mini skirt, and gray felt booties.

"You look nice, Mika," Laura said before sitting down.

Mika eyed her in turn. Laura was dressed in what Mika silently referred to as Laura's uniform because she always had on the same outfit. She always wore a long-sleeved white polo, a black or gray knee-length A-line skirt, patent black heels, pale pink pearl necklace, and pink pearl stud earrings. She alternated between a black blazer or a gray sweater, and she definitely never commented on Mika's outfit before. Something was definitely afoot.

"Okay, spill," Mika said, her black and silver bracelets jangling as she popped almonds into her mouth.

"What do you mean?" Laura asked, her eyes trained on her computer as she typed. Working with Mika had taught her to multitask because her colleague loved to chatter.

"Something's bothering you," Mika announced. "You looked—and I mean really looked—at my outfit and complimented me."

"You always look nice to me," Laura protested.

Although her tone didn't vary, Mika had come to learn that Laura wasn't all that stoic inside like other people thought she was. She just didn't express herself like other people usually did.

Mika rolled her eyes even though Laura wasn't looking at her. "Yes, but you have never complimented me before. This is, in fact, the longest conversation we have had where I and my love life are not the topics."

Laura turned to look at Mika, her lips contorted, with one end up as if she was sneering. It kind of scared Mika, to be honest. "What are you doing?" she asked Laura worriedly. "You look weird."

Laura stopped trying to smile and put on her usual expression. "You're amusing, Mika. Now shut up and let me work."

Mika knew Laura was kidding even if she said it in her usual deadpan way. But others who didn't know Laura like she did usually took it the wrong way. And it was too bad that that was the time Kathleen passed by their cubicle, who raised her eyebrows at Laura.

Mika was alarmed to see Laura slump a little. Laura never slumped. It was like she had a steel rod in her spine that prevented her from having anything but a perfect posture. "Okay, that's it; we are officially on coffee break. Coffee's on me."

She didn't know much about Laura's family life, but she guessed that her friend wasn't well off because she almost never wore new clothes, always brought packed lunch, and never bought coffee or snacks.

Mika grabbed her purse and tapped Laura's shoulder until the latter saved her work and put her computer on sleep mode. She was the only friend Laura had in a long time, and she put as much effort as she can into their friendship. If it meant occasionally accompanying Mika to the nearest coffee shop even when she was busy, then so be it.

Ten minutes later, the two women nursed their cold drinks while Mika gabbed about her latest suitor, Adam, from the HR department. Laura was content to let her words wash over her while she strategized how to tackle the road towards promotion.

"Oy, Laura, so are we going to talk about your problem, or what?" Mika interrupted her thoughts.

Laura tapped a beat on the wooden table. "Kathleen said I was up for promotion to team supervisor but my seeming indifference towards people is getting in the way," she said, looking Mika in the eye.

Mika usually had something to say, but she didn't know how to respond to that. "Well," she finally said after a few seconds, "you do come across as icy to our colleagues, but I'm sure you already know that."

"Yeah."

"Is there a reason why you're that way?" Mika asked. They had never discussed it before as Laura never brought it up, and Mika thought it wasn't her business.

Laura just shrugged, her face still expressionless. "I don't know how to...socialize anymore, I guess. The way you do. I don't know how to act and I can't find the right words to say," she admitted.

Mika was about to speak up when Laura held up a hand. "It's been thirty minutes, Mika, and I do have to get back to work. But I appreciate the coffee and the talk." She stood up and waited for Mika to gather her things.

Mika huffed. "We barely even talked! But I'll think of a way to help you, don't worry."

If Laura felt any gratitude or worry, it never showed.

"I got it!" Mika announced excitedly as soon as she sat down beside Laura the next morning.

Laura blinked once at seeing Mika's outfit, which was a far cry from her usual bubblegum pop-meets-goth explosion. Today Mika wore a white boyfriend polo with the cuffs rolled to her elbows, black fitted slacks, and a gold bracelet on each arm. She completed her look with white loafers and a black felt hat.

"What did you get?" Laura asked, eyeing Mika's hands.

Mika flopped down and took off her hat. "You're going to Boracay with us! Well, with me, kuya Miguel, and Adam."

"What do you mean? I didn't book anything."

Mika waved her hand in the air. "I took care of it last night so you can't back out. I'll email you the plane ticket later. Don't worry about the cost; it has all been taken care of."

Laura would have frowned if she could control her facial muscles into a proper frown. "How did you even get my complete details—oh never mind, you got it from Adam. That was supposed to be confidential."

Mika ignored her. "This weekend, Friday to Sunday. We'll fetch you on the way to the airport. It's a good thing it's not summer yet so I was able to get a last-minute hotel and tickets. You're rooming with me. Adam's freaking out about rooming with my brother but he's determined to win kuya over."

"You shouldn't be spending so much on me," Laura patiently pointed out. "I should reimburse you...but give me a few months?"

Mika pouted. "Never mind the cost. Consider it my advanced Christmas gift to you. Don't you see? This is your chance to practice socializing again with a small select group of people from the office, namely me and Adam."

"And why is Miguel going with us?" Laura asked, finally accepting the idea that she was going to Boracay. She mentally calculated the money she had left and realized she couldn't buy a new swimsuit. It was a good thing she hadn't put on weight so she could still use her bikini from three years ago.

"To chaperone, silly. He wouldn't let me go to Boracay with just Adam." Then Mika grinned. "So I said I could bring a friend to keep him company, and he said the only friend of mine that he could tolerate spending time with was you."

Laura just nodded as she resumed working.

She didn't see the sly grin that Mika didn't even bother to hide.

#### Chapter 4

"I AM NOT jumping off that cliff, Mikaela Perez!" Miguel half shouted as his sister pushed him towards the rocky slope where Adam and Laura were waiting.

Mika wanted to go cliff diving. To no one's surprise, Adam agreed to jump off with her.

"How about you, Laura? I dare you," she said, grinning.

Laura shook her head.

But Mika was stubborn as youngest children mostly were. "The problem with you, Laura, is that you're afraid to take risks. You have to be brave. Get out of your shell. Think of it as our end-of-trip finale. The culmination of your first step towards that promotion."

But Laura didn't respond and just looked out to the glistening blue sea. She had already refrained from holding the bat for a photo op—well because it didn't feel right putting an animal through such a thing and because she was afraid to hold a bat.

But oh, how she burned with envy when she saw how Mika and the other tourists lit up with every activity that she had stayed by the sidelines to watch.

"A woman with my same fears!" Miguel announced theatrically, holding a hand out to Laura. "A woman after my own heart."

Laura took a deep breath and turned her head towards him slowly then looked at Mika. "Okay, Mika, I'll do it." She wanted to fight her own fears. She wanted to enjoy this. She wanted to let herself enjoy this, despite the what ifs.

Mika jumped, pumping her fists up in the air. "I knew you weren't some chicken shit like my brother."

They both ignored Miguel when he protested his manliness. Then they walked towards the jump-off point, with Adam and Mika leading the group.

"I don't understand why Adam has to be topless throughout most of this trip," Miguel muttered to Laura. "I don't begrudge Mika finding love with Adam, but damn it, did the man have to be topless and display his six-pack for everyone to see—and my sister to admire?"

"You don't have to be jealous. You're not so bad," Laura said mildly.

Miguel stopped walking in surprise. "If you were any other woman, I'd say that was tremendously flirtatious," he said to Laura, taking two quick steps to catch up with her.

"I don't flirt," she replied calmly, her eyes straight ahead.

Miguel threw back his head and laughed. "I admire your wit," he said once he sobered up. "And the fact that you can tell these zings with a straight face."

He quickly stepped in front of her and turned around so they were face-to-face. "Do you realize that you haven't laughed at any of my jokes since we fetched you from your house?" he asked, his eyes boring into her own.

"That still hasn't stopped you from cracking bad jokes though," Laura said snarkily. "And I don't flirt."

"I know you don't. I could kiss you for being so...original," Miguel said, bumping his shoulder against hers.

He knew it was a line—and it wasn't even a good one—but he was feeling out of his element. Most women laughed at his jokes, or at least laughed at him. Laura was proving to be a tough customer.

Making her laugh was a challenge—one that he accepted and relished. It also didn't hurt that Laura looked stunning in her teeny red bikini that showed off her lithe curves and height, although she was currently covered up.

"You could try, but then I'd slap you with a sexual harassment suit in the blink of an eye," she replied, but she didn't move away from him.

He was about to respond when Mika joined them once they reached the bottom of the slope.

"It's just a short drop, kuya, you wouldn't even notice it," Mika said, smiling at him sweetly.

Miguel thought he heard Laura mutter chicken as she walked past them and onwards to the jump-off point where Adam, other daredevils, and the guides were standing.

"For the last time, Mika, I am not going to jump off the cliff! I am also not going parasailing, skydiving, or even ride a Ferris wheel," he said angrily, yanking his arm away from his sister.

She stuck her tongue out. "You are such a killjoy sometimes." She sighed dramatically. "Well at least walk with us up there. I promise I won't push you. Let's just support Laura, okay?" she said, tugging on his arm again.

Miguel sighed and walked as slowly as possible.

"Who's going first?" asked the cliff diving guide. The other groups had already finished, and aside from them, only those who didn't want to jump were left.

It was proving a popular past time in Boracay. Miguel watched as more and more tourists walked up the slope to jump off, too.

They agreed that Adam will go first and wait for Mika at the beach. Last will be Laura, then Miguel will walk down to the beach, too.

Adam took a deep breath as Mika took pictures of him excitedly. With a quick sign of the cross, he was off the cliff. Miguel swallowed as he waited for Mika to announce that Adam made it. The other tourists cheered and clapped loudly when Mika triumphantly announced that he was safe and resting at the beach.

Mika walked back to where they waited at a safe distance. "Don't you just love guys who aren't afraid of heights, Laura?" she asked slyly, smirking at her brother.

Miguel ignored her. Laura didn't respond.

"You don't have to jump, if you're scared, Laura," Miguel said quietly. "Don't let Mika persuade you into doing something you don't want to."

Laura looked him in the eye, her face giving away nothing—as usual. "What makes you think I don't want to jump?"

Miguel stuttered. "Well, you did say no the first time..."

Laura watched as Mika jumped off with a cowabunga! "Mika's right. I have to be brave. Take more risks. I want that promotion. I need that promotion."

"But what if you die or you get an injury when you jump?" Miguel argued.

Laura gave in to the impulse and reached out, caressing his chin. "You're voicing all the fears in my head but my heart is screaming for me to jump. It's not like I'm going to do this again, you know."

With that, she took off her white t-shirt and black shorts, which the guide said would just weigh her down especially since she wasn't a strong swimmer. She was glad there was a lifeguard at the bottom waiting, just in case things went awry.

She squeezed his hand briefly, and then she jumped.

There were few things that Laura regretted in life.

On her way down, she regretted that she never tried jumping off cliffs before. As soon as she had jumped off the cliff, the quick descent into the water made her feel as if she was flying. Weightless. Problem-free.

It was a feeling she hadn't felt in ten long years.

When she finally jackknifed into the water, she regretted that she didn't swim as often as she could have in the little lake in their province on those rare summers when they visited their grandparents.

When she resurfaced, she stayed where she was, bobbing up and down, reveling in the water. She wanted to throw her head back and laugh if only her muscles remembered how to do it.

Then Mika's scream broke through the calming sound of the water slapping against the rocks. "Laura, your top!"

And that's when Laura noticed that her bikini top had come undone, and that her breasts were on display for everyone to see.

#### Chapter 5

MIGUEL NERVOUSLY TOOK a closer step towards the edge and watched as Laura jumped. He admired her bravery. It seemed so uncharacteristic of her, and he liked her even more for that. Then he noticed a red triangle patch swimming away from Laura, and Mika's scream confirmed his suspicion.

Immediately, the crowd around him whipped out their cameras and phones and trained it towards Laura, who was trying to paddle towards the shore while keeping one hand over her breasts.

Running on pure instinct, Miguel took off his shirt and jumped into the water, much to the surprise and dismay of the guide.

He quickly swam over to Laura. "Laura, trust me, okay?"

"You jumped," Laura said, gaping at him, almost forgetting her plight at the moment.

"Laura," Miguel repeated. He handed her his t-shirt.

Laura nodded.

Miguel quickly took her in his arms and tried his best to ignore the fact that her naked breasts and cold-hardened tips were rubbing against his own naked chest. Focus, Miguel, focus, you lecher!

He tried his best to shield Laura from the crowd, and to not look down her body, as she struggled to put his t-shirt on. When she was sufficiently covered up, they swam towards the shore.

Miguel was startled to see one of the guides swimming near them. He had completely forgotten that there was a lifeguard on duty. His only thought had been to save Laura.

He nodded at the worried lifeguard, signaling that Laura was okay.

"Laura, are you okay?" Mika cried as soon as they reached the beach. She quickly threw her arms around Laura, who had started to shake.

"Do you want me to take off my top, too, as a sign of camaraderie?" Mika asked her solemnly.

"No!" Adam and Miguel both shouted at the same time. Adam looked angry while Miguel looked horrified.

Laura felt her face contorting. She wanted to laugh at Mika, but she had forgotten how. It had been too long.

Then to everyone's surprise—including hers—Laura broke into tears.

Miguel scooped Laura into his arms and ran straight into the awning of the nearest fruit shake stand that he saw. He sat her on his lap, but Laura immediately scooted away from him.

"Shush," he said, caressing her nape with his thumb, soothing her. "It will be okay."

Laura just hiccuped until her breathing slowed and the tears stopped coming.

"Hey," Miguel said, tipping her chin up with his finger, "there is nothing to be ashamed of."

Mika finally caught up with them. "Christ, kuya, you ran so fast!" she panted.

She squatted down in front of Laura. "Hey, I'm sorry. If it wasn't because of me, you wouldn't have—"

But Laura interrupted her. "No, don't say sorry, Mika. The only thing I regret from the whole experience is that I didn't tie my bikini strings tightly before I jumped."

Adam handed Laura a freshly squeezed mango shake. "It was a good thing kuya Miguel here acted quickly to cover you up. I'm sure no one was able to take a picture or video of you that quickly."

Laura paled, and her eyebrows were starting to form into a frown. "I would hope so," she murmured.

"I think I'm done with adventures for a little while," Laura said quietly. She thanked Adam and drank the shake.

Mika squeezed her shoulder then turned to Miguel. "I'm also surprised that you jumped, kuya!" Mika exclaimed.

That made Laura look at him.

He had jumped after Laura without a second thought. It seemed that he had forgotten his own fears just to help her out. She was starting to see him in a whole new light, other than just the teasing brother of Mika.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"I can't believe we have to go back to Manila now," Mika said, pouting, as they sat in the airport lounge.

After cliff diving, they only had time for some last-minute shopping and photo ops before they had to go to the airport.

"Are you sad, too?" Miguel asked as he sat beside Laura.

Laura shook her head. "It was fun, but the idea of going home, back to my comfort zone, is always appealing."

Then Laura had pleaded that she had a headache so she was excused from participating in their conversation while they waited to board the plane. Sometimes, her standard face (or what others would call her 'resting bitch face') came in handy.

She made a mental note to treat Mika to her favorite—and cheapest—drink to thank her for the trip. Laura did have fun, and while she couldn't show it, she found her three companions to be hilarious.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Miguel whispered in her ear while she looked out the airplane's window. They were seated in front of Mika and Adam, and Miguel had insisted that she take the window seat so she could see the clouds.

Laura turned her head and found that Miguel was mere inches away from her. He was so close she could smell his minty fresh breath and see the tiny scar on his eyebrow.

She looked down from his scar to his eyes and she forced her facial muscles into something that resembled a smile.

Miguel's gaze dropped down to her lips before slowly, grudgingly, went back to her eyes.

"I don't think you could afford the sum total if I tell you everything," she teased in that straight face and flat voice of hers.

Laura stopped breathing when Miguel put his thumbs on each side of her lips and pushed the ends to widen just a little further.

"For you, Laura, I would try anything," he declared exaggeratedly. Then he released her lips and winked at her.

Laura had never wanted to smile so much.

#### Chapter 6

FRIDAY MORNING, LAURA walked through the door. Queenie, the snotty receptionist who always made snide remarks about her appearance, was blocking the doorway.

"Excuse me," Laura said, trying to edge past Queenie.

Queenie's jaw dropped when she finally recognized Laura. "You're shitting me. Little Ms. Uniform is wearing jeans!" she announced in the empty lobby.

Laura ignored her. It was all she could do to contain the panic bubbling in her. She had woken up late that morning, and she had to finish one of her presentations for a meeting on Monday since she wanted to rest over the weekend. It had been a tough week at work since she got back from Boracay. One of her clients had decided that they wanted to rethink the concept of their upcoming advertisement for the rainy season, and they wanted it done yesterday. Another wanted hourly updates to a commercial they were about to shoot. And on top of that, another fight with her mother that morning about money hadn't helped her mood.

Laura finally managed to open the door to go to her cubicle, but Queenie seemed to have nothing better to do than dog her steps.

"Laura's wearing jeans!" she announced shrilly to the room.

It was almost comical, and Laura would have laughed if she could, at how almost everyone swiveled towards her direction and ogled her. She supposed her outfit was a far cry from her usual getup, but she had to make do with what was available from her meager wardrobe. She was just thankful that it was a Friday and that she had no meetings.

"Oh my gosh, Laura!" Mika exclaimed as she rounded the corner to their cubicle.

"All my clothes are in the wash," Laura said as she turned on her computer.

"You look different," Mika said.

Laura didn't say anything.

"Beautiful different," Adam said as he walked over to them and handed a mug of hot coffee to Mika.

Laura looked down at her outfit impatiently. She had grabbed her usual white long-sleeved polo and blue blazer. However, her mother said she hadn't washed their laundry yet, and the only thing left for Laura to wear was her skinny jeans. She was in such a mad rush to get to work that she had forgotten to smooth down her collar. She subconsciously patted her messy bun and was about to straighten out her clothes when Mika grabbed her wrist.

"Don't you dare!" Mika admonished. "This looks good, Laura!" she whispered furiously. "You look casual. Human. Dressed like everyone else does on a casual Friday. It will be good for Kathleen to see you like this."

But Laura ignored her and shook her wrist free of Mika. She patted at her hair, but Mika grabbed her wrist again.

"Mika, maybe you should—" Adam tried to intervene.

But Mika didn't hear him. "I'm telling you, Lor, don't—"

"Quit telling me what to do, Mika!" she finally exclaimed, yanking out of Mika's grasp, which made Mika spill her coffee all over Laura's carefully prepared client presentation.

Adam's eyebrows shot way up his forehead.

"Fuck!" Laura grabbed tissues from her drawer and wiped off the mess on her table before it reached her computer.

Mika clapped a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Laura. I'll clean this up and—"

"Laura," Kathleen said, suddenly appearing from behind her. "Can you come into my office for a minute, please?"

The whispers and snickers from her officemates rose into a deafening noise as Laura stood up to follow her boss.

"Is the stress of the workplace finally getting to you, Laura?" Kathleen asked as soon as Laura sat down.

"No," she said as calmly as she could, but a frown marred Laura's normally smooth face.

Kathleen looked taken aback, but slowly, a smile spread across her face. "You're frowning," she marveled.

Laura schooled her features back into stoicism.

"No, no," Kathleen said, waving her hand, half rising from the seat in her haste to stop Laura. "This," she said, motioning to Laura from head to toe, "is a good thing. You're showing your true self. You're showing you're human. You're frowning. Bravo."

Laura looked at her steadily. "In my anger, I spilled Mika's coffee on the visuals for our presentation on Monday."

Kathleen shrugged. "Laura, knowing you, I'm sure you have virtual backups of your visuals. It won't be a problem for you to print them out again."

Laura nodded. She did have a backup on her computer's hard drive, one in her USB, one in her phone, and another one in the cloud. And those were just aside from the one that Steve had on his computer. One can never be too careful in this industry.

"So whatever you did between the time we had our talk last week, until today, just keep on doing it," Kathleen urged.

Laura stayed silent, feeling bewildered that Kathleen was reveling in her mistakes.

"And your style is so chic. I like it," Kathleen said. "For casual Fridays only, of course."

"Of course," Laura murmured.

"By the way, a new potential client asked for you specifically to lead his upcoming team. He'll be meeting with you in a few days, Ana will give you the details. That would be all."

Ana intercepted her at the door to give her the time and date of her meeting, but wouldn't tell her the name of her client. Laura just nodded and left. She went back to her desk, ready to mop up the mess, but found that it had already been cleaned up.

"I'm sorry, Lor, you were right," Mika said sheepishly, throwing a soggy tissue into the trash bin under her desk. "I've been nagging you too much."

Then Adam arrived, carrying a stack of papers. "Here you go, fresh off the printer," he said, handing them to Mika.

"Huh?" Laura asked, somewhat in a daze. Her meeting with Kathleen had left her mind in turmoil.

Mika finished cleaning up her desk. "I'm going to help you remake them, you see." She pulled out a few illustration boards from Laura's stash and sat down on her desk to get to work. Adam went back to his desk.

Blinking, Laura sat down, bent her head over to the task and pasted her visuals onto one of the boards.

After a beat, she said, "No, Mika, you were right. I've been thinking about it the whole week, and I feel different. A good kind of different."

She took a deep breath and attempted another smile. Smiling still felt surreal to her but she practiced it every day in the mirror until she felt like she didn't look like she was constipated.

"I just had a bad morning," Laura continued, taking a deep breath. "If you have another activity in mind for me, I'm game."

Mika hooted in joy and hugged Laura, who stiffened at first but slowly patted Mika on the back.

"Go-kart. You. Me. Adam. Miguel. Tonight," she said triumphantly. "I've got four coupons."

Laura frowned. She had been frowning a lot more the past week. It had terrified some of the interns. "It's a Friday night. Is your brother that strict that he has to chaperone your every date?"

Mika grinned slyly. "I think it has more to do with his wanting to see you than Adam and I sneaking off somewhere to do the nasty."

Laura didn't know how to feel about that revelation but it made her feel warm inside. Her decision was made. She was going go-karting.

#### Chapter 7

OF HER THREE companions, Mika was the only one who had experience with go-karts.

"It's easy," she said, pushing Laura toward the little car. "You drive, right?"

Laura nodded then glanced at the track.

"This is just like driving, only more fun!" Mika said excitedly.

"Maybe I should take you for a ride first," Miguel offered to Laura.

Laura just silently nodded.

"You're sure it's safe?" she asked the guy who was assisting them.

"Yes, ma'am. Hardly any accidents unless you purposefully careen towards the wall or tires along the track," he said.

"That's not reassuring," she muttered under her breath. But still she slid down the seat and waited for Miguel to sit beside her.

Miguel tried his best but he couldn't maneuver with Laura beside him. He took up too much space.

Mika rolled her eyes and marched over to them. "I'll be the one to take you for a spin, and then when you're feeling more comfortable, we can switch," she told Laura.

Miguel sighed and got out of the kart. "Drive safely," he whispered.

Mika grinned and winked at him. "Get ready!"

After strapping in and making sure Laura was not going to ask her to stop in the middle of the track, Mika eased off the dock and pressed on the pedal. Hard.

Laura couldn't help but scream as she clutched onto the side of the kart.

She was not the only one who hollered after them.

Mika laughed and eased her foot on the pedal. "Relax," she said, taking a turn smoothly. "I'm not going to let any harm come to you."

They rode for a minute in silence, with Laura breathing a little easier as Mika drove confidently and took the turns carefully.

Then before she knew it, they were back at the bay of the starting point, and Mika was unbuckling her seatbelt. "Your turn!" she said gleefully.

"You gave me a heart attack!" Miguel shouted from behind them.

Mika looked back at the two men and waved. "You should change your pants, kuya, you seem to have wet yourself!"

Laura trembled. Remembering her jump off Boracay and how disastrously that ended, she slowly approached the driver's side.

"Having second thoughts?" Miguel asked from behind the wired fence. He and Adam had come to stand closer to the girls.

Laura shook her head slightly. "I'm just nervous but I do want to try this. I'm too uptight, I know, and I feel like doing these things—things I've been thinking about trying anyway—are helping me unlock parts of myself one step at a time."

She took a deep breath and sat down. She strapped her seatbelt on and looked up at Mika. "Well, are you getting in or not?"

"Sassy," Mika said, grinning. She sat beside Laura and put her seatbelt on as well. "Ready when you are."

Laura made a quick sign of the cross and stepped on the pedal.

Nothing happened.

"You have to step on it harder, Lor," Mika said, laughing.

So Laura put on more pressure on the pedal, and the kart sped off. She took a sharp turn.

"Slow down!" Mika said, sounding a little uncertain.

But Laura was having the time of her life. This was fun. Now she knew why people like to do drag races, or spend thousands on go-karts. Feeling the wind in her face and speeding down the track made her tilt her head back and smile.

"Hold up!" Mika said, alarmed. She grabbed the wheel from Laura as they came to another turn. "You're going too fast!"

Instinctively, Laura turned the steering wheel the other way.

Panicking, Laura unthinkingly pressed on the gas pedal.

Then both girls' visions turned black when they crashed into the wall.

"Laura, Laura, are you alright?"

A hand on her shoulder finally broke Laura out of her daze. She opened her eyes and saw Miguel peering at her urgently.

She turned to find Mika, whom she found to be rather ardently making out with Adam.

"Oy!" Miguel said when he turned to look as well. "You're in public!"

Adam pulled back but Mika only latched on to him harder. Down his resolve and inhibitions went.

Laura shook her head slowly. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up on wobbly knees.

Miguel caught her just as she was about to slide down to the floor.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" asked the guy who helped them earlier. But he was too busy inspecting the kart to wait for her reply.

"Whew," he said, wiping at his brow. "It's only a scratch. It's a good thing you didn't hit the wall so hard, ma'am." He scratched his head. "But I'm afraid you have to slow down next time."

Laura shook her head. "I think I've had enough driving for one night."

The guy nodded and slowly rolled the kart to the dock.

She realized Miguel hasn't let go of her yet. More importantly, she didn't want him to let her go. "I'm sorry," she said shakily. "I put Mika in danger."

Miguel was silent, but he held Laura closer against him. "That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life," he said.

Laura sobbed. "It's like every step I take towards being different is met with failure." She straightened up and tried to move away from his embrace, but Miguel only held her tighter.

She wiped at her tears. "And I'm always crying now, apparently. I never cry," she said, grimacing.

Miguel handed her his handkerchief. "Don't worry, it's clean," he said when she hesitated.

Laura took it and blew her nose. "I'll wash it for you. No, I'll just buy you another one," she said.

He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. You can keep it."

Adam, holding Mika against him, walked up to them. "Shall we call it a night?" he asked.

"You are not driving my sister home alone," Miguel said sternly as they walked towards the exit.

Mika rolled her eyes. "He's just driving me home. You should bring Laura home, too. She can't commute right now."

Laura shook her head. "I can go home by myself."

And that's how she found herself sitting in Miguel's car as he drove her home.

#### Chapter 8

"YOU PUZZLE ME," were Miguel's first words as soon as they sat down after having ordered coffee and pastries.

They were almost at her house when Laura realized she didn't want to go home yet, and Miguel remembered that they hadn't eaten dinner. The only place open near Laura's was a hippie coffee shop, and Miguel just wanted to eat anything he could get his hands on in the next ten minutes.

"Why do I puzzle you?" she asked.

There were only about five customers left, since the rush hour crowd had already thinned out.

Miguel leaned back, eyeing her carefully. "I thought you were just some stuck-up miss, you know. I had fun the first night we met. But in Boracay, I realized you weren't stuck up. You just controlled yourself too much." He smiled although his eyebrows were quirked. "On our first day in Boracay, you made all this snarky quips but your face never changed. But today you've been...frowning at me."

Laura bit her lip. It drew Miguel's eyes to her lips, and she felt warmth flood her body from head to toe. So she did it again. Miguel's eyes seemed glued to that spot now.

A small smile broke free, one that she didn't have to force. Miguel looked at her in surprise. "You're smiling," he said, his voice held a tone of wonder.

"At least you recognize it for what it is, rather than thinking I need to do my business in the bathroom," she said.

He threw back his head and laughed, the sound reverberating throughout the little café. Laura was pleased that she was able to make him laugh.

Their conversation paused when their server brought their orders. They both had hot chocolate but Laura only ordered salad with chicken fillet, while Miguel had a Parma ham and cheese sandwich, carbonara, and tuna turnover.

"So...why?" he asked, picking up where they left off. "Were you this serious-looking all your life?"

Laura looked away, and at that moment she seemed so far away as she reminisced. She took a deep breath. "When we were young, my father came home from work earlier than expected and found my mother in bed with his best friend. My father, you see, he's a pacifist, and he loved my mother so much. He was so upset he ran out to the street and was hit by a passing jeepney. He died when we got to the hospital."

He didn't know what to say to that so he just stayed silent.

She trailed off as if lost in her memories. "The gossip in our neighborhood was overwhelming. I used to lash out and fight back, but they just got nastier. The more they saw that I was affected, the more vicious they became. That's when I learned to not show my feelings."

She sat there, frowning, lost in thought.

Miguel reached out and covered her hand in his. "I'm sorry."

Laura looked at him mildly. "My neighbors used to gossip about our family and my mother's affair all throughout high school and college, until I stopped reacting and defending my family. Ma and Jasper just ignored everyone, and they'd admonish me whenever they found out that I'd talked back to our neighbors."

She paused then took a deep breath. "Wow, you're the first person I opened up to about that. Not even any of my exes know about it."

"Exes?" He stopped eating.

"Seven," she said. "No, six. The last one wasn't official."

He pointed to his jaw. "Did you see that, did you see my jaw drop?" He looked around the coffee shop. "Six exes? Are you kidding me?"

"I was a challenge to them, I guess. I didn't take any of them seriously though."

"But it was official, all those six exes?" he asked, still disbelieving.

"Why do you find it so hard to believe? Should I be insulted?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

He shook his head. "No. Just that I didn't peg you for a relationship type."

"I wasn't."

"So why six?"

She shrugged. "They gave me free lunch," she said matter of factly. "And, well, hanging out with them helped to distract me from the things going on at home."

Miguel nodded slowly. "Okaaay..."

"How about you? How many relationships?" She looked at him from head to toe. "Ten?"

He looked taken aback. "No! Two serious relationships."

She gave that small smile again. "So why two exes? No current girlfriend?"

"The first lasted for two years, the second lasted for four." He hesitated, then, "We actually just broke up last year."

"Imagine that. I didn't peg you for a relationship type," she said, throwing his words back at him.

He raised his hot chocolate as if in mock salute. "You said 'I wasn't'," he suddenly said.

Laura finished her meal and drink and wiped her hands on the tissue. "I wasn't what?"

"You weren't the relationship type."

Laura nodded slowly. "Yes."

"But now you are?" Miguel asked, leaning across the table as if he was eager for her answer.

She looked him in the eye, a small smile playing on her lips. "Maybe. Possibly. Could be."

They sat there smiling at each other until Laura finally yawned, and Miguel had to drive her home.

The office was finally coming to terms with the idea that predictable, stoic, boring Laura was changing. They had been so used to her look that any subtle change was noticeable and created a buzz in the office. Suddenly, she was the topic in the pantry, but this time the whispers were quite different.

Such as when she came in to work on Monday morning. She was wearing her usual white long-sleeved button down, and a black skirt and blazer, but the pearls were gone. In place were dangling turquoise earrings that made many of the office fashionistas turn and stare.

Then on Tuesday, she wore the same look, but the pearls were back. Instead, her hair was down and ended in soft curls. They had an office bet on how many hours it would take for Laura to put her hair back in a bun. She didn't.

"Okay, spill," Mika had finally demanded that day. "What happened between you and my brother that Friday? I haven't heard him whistling that much since," she faltered, "last year."

Laura shook her head. "We ate dinner, he took me home, then he went home."

"Well something must have happened because your hair is down, and you're the office topic again. I've heard that Mitos from accounts is gathering all his bravado to talk to you. And Adam is being besieged by requests from his basketball buddies in the finance department for an introduction."

Laura rolled her eyes. She had come to do that again, too. "I don't know why they're all agog. You look way better than I do," she said, gesturing towards Mika's outfit.

Today, Mika was resplendent in a loose bun, hot pink sweater with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and matched it with a pink monochromatic A-line skirt, and pink shoes.

"Complimenting my outfit won't get you anywhere, Laura," Mika retorted. She stuck her tongue out but she looked pleased anyway.

Laura rolled her eyes again. "I told you, nothing happened." She stood up and gathered her visuals. "I have to go. My client will be here any minute."

"Details, Laura, details!" Mika called out to her retreating back.

#### Chapter 9

HER CLIENT ENTERED the meeting room, so Laura stood up, her hand extended. "Good day, I'm Laura—"

"Laura Bayani," the client said. He whipped off his sunglasses, and Laura was surprised to come face to face with her Mr. Number Six.

"Peter Andovar!" she greeted. "Well this was unexpected."

Peter ignored her extended hand and embraced her instead. "I can't believe it. It's been what, four years?" he said when they broke apart.

She gave him a small smile and motioned for him to sit down across her. "Yes."

But he sat down beside her. "You look different," he said.

If she was surprised by his positioning, she didn't show it.

She smiled coolly at him, professionally, and brought out her visuals. "Thanks." She looked at her watch. "If you're ready to get down to business, I hope you'll find that our proposal is just what you're looking for."

After Peter praised her proposed advertisement, he escorted her out of the meeting room and they bid each other goodbye.

Laura sat down and read the emails that had arrived in the hour it took her to wrap up their agreement.

"So I was thinking," a voice said beside her table divider.

She looked up and was surprised to see Peter. "You're still here."

"I'm still here," he repeated, smoothing his fingers through his hair. "I'm thinking the last time I let you go was a mistake," he said, eyeing her from head to toe. "I don't want to repeat that mistake again."

Laura sighed inwardly. Peter was nice, and now he's very successful, but he had been too in love with himself for her to take him seriously.

She gave him a small smile and took a deep breath. His startup was on its way up, and she didn't want to lose him as a client. She stood up and discreetly maneuvered him towards the entrance.

Of course everyone was all agog as she and Peter passed by. She was perpetually single Laura, and he was handsome, obviously rich, and had huge shoulders that women just wanted to lay their heads on.

"It has been nice seeing you again, Peter, but I'm not the type to mix business with pleasure," she said softly.

"So that's a no, then?" he asked. His tone conveyed disappointment, but he still gave her a self-assured smile.

Laura gave him her best professionally polite smile. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Mr. Andovar."

He threw back his head and laughed, and Laura knew he wasn't stung by her rejection. She knew he could get any other woman he wanted. She was tired of having men date her just because she posed a challenge. She was tired of having men wine and dine her just to be able to say they were able to get through to her.

They shook hands at the exit.

"Whatever it is you're doing, or whoever made you be this way," he said, gesturing to her outfit, "is good for you. Keep at it. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something different about you. I can see it in your eyes, you know. In the way you hold yourself. In the slope of your neck as you look me in the eye and gently rebuff my attention." He hooked his hands through the pants of his pockets.

Laura wasn't surprised by what he said. He didn't get to where he was by being stupid or by lacking in perceptiveness. Of all her exes, he was the one who actually tried to get to know her.

Before she could take a step back, Peter pulled her into a tight hug.

Then the elevator dinged, and Miguel stepped out.

"Miguel," Laura said. "What are you doing here?"

Laura noticed that Peter smirked at Miguel before he entered the other elevator, which had opened and was going down.

Miguel stood up straighter and puffed out his chest. He walked closer to Laura. "Plane," he said.

"Plane what?" Laura asked, confused.

"Mika's going to fly an ultra-light plane on Sunday," he said. "One of her college friends went to that hangar in Pampanga a few weeks ago. She bought a voucher from one of those legit discount sites."

Laura tilted her head to the side and looked at him. "I don't know how that is related to me in any way."

"Well I couldn't think of anyone else than you that I'd rather spend the day with as I accompany my sister and her boyfriend on a date." Then he blinked rapidly. He looked at her from head to toe. "You look nice."

"You haven't noticed my changing look?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I've come to notice you for more than what you wear, I suppose." Then he blushed. "Not that I meant I imagine you naked."

Laura raised her eyebrows.

"I mean, not that you're sexy because I do um, I mean—"

"Kuya, just quit while you're ahead," Mika admonished with a grimace. She had suddenly appeared between them. "I don't know whether to be mortified for you or to cheer you on," she told him.

"Okay, plane," Laura intervened because Miguel was turning a deep red, and the office was not the right place to explore any and all romantic possibilities with him.

He nodded, clearly looking relieved. He turned to Mika, "We're going with you to ride a plane."

Mika put her hands on her waist. "You just don't want me to go on an out-of-town trip with Adam alone," she accused him.

"Yes," he said, smiling at her unrepentantly. "That's what big brothers do. Not let their sisters go alone with other guys on out-of-town trips."

Adam laughed from behind Mika and slid his arm around her waist.

Laura sighed. "Everyone seems to know what's going to happen in my life except for me."

Miguel turned to her. "Next on your agenda is to watch Mika fly a plane. The next is to win over your officemates. Then get that promotion."

At that instant, a group of girls passed them by. One sneered, "God, I'd rather resign than have the Ice Queen be my boss."

Another girl in the group looked at Miguel meaningfully and whispered. "Two guys in one day? Like they said, the quiet ones are usually the kinkiest ones."

Mika looked like she was about to defend her, but Laura shook her head.

Laura was consumed for the rest of the day fighting an internal battle to not let herself slide back into stoicism.

#### Chapter 10

THEIR GROUP ARRIVED at the hangar at three in the afternoon on Sunday because they enjoyed plenty of stopovers along the way. Mika and Adam had to sit through a short lecture on rules and regulations. Miguel and Laura went with them. Afterwards, Adam and Mika had to sign a waiver.

Miguel and Laura, who had declined to fly, went up to the veranda café on the second floor to watch Mika and Adam fly on separate planes.

After ten minutes of watching them fly, Laura leaned against the railing and sighed wistfully.

"Do you want to try it?" Miguel asked, standing beside her and bumping his shoulder against hers.

She gave him a small smile. "No," she lied. Oh how she wanted to, but the rates were too expensive. She couldn't stretch her budget anymore. Her salary didn't even reach twenty thousand, and just that morning her brother asked her for more money. This led to another fight, with her mother weighing in and berating her for questioning her brother.

She sighed heavily then she brightened a little when she remembered how Miguel had looked at her when they picked her up. Even though she was sure her usual unsmiling face was in place, he had asked her what was wrong, not if anything was wrong. She was absurdly pleased and flattered that someone, even Miguel—okay, especially Miguel—was starting to understand her.

She had said she was okay, but his eyes told her he knew she was lying.

Kind of like the same way he was looking at her now. She turned away and watched Mika again.

"Hmmm..." he said. "Too bad. I actually have this voucher and since I am not flying, it will just go to waste..."

"You do not," Laura said, gaping at him, her heart beating just a little faster than usual.

"I do," Miguel said. He pulled out his wallet and handed her the voucher he had bought the night before. For her. But he didn't say that.

Laura looked at the voucher in his hand then looked up at him. She knew he didn't buy it for himself.

"I'll pay you for this," she said quietly.

But he smiled and shook his head. "Think of it as a gift."

She opened her mouth but he held up a hand. "As a thank you for accompanying me whenever I tag along on Mika's dates," he continued.

She looked at him, standing so close to her. This guy who leaped from being a stranger to someone who could read her and her wishes, and tried to make them come true. This guy whose brown eyes and actions had been telling her something the past few weeks.

She took a deep breath. "I'm not much of a risk-taker, but after what happened at that go-kart track with Mika, I'm even more afraid now. But God, do I want to fly. It has always been my superpower dream," she said, smiling ruefully at him.

Miguel wanted to hug her, but he knew now was the not the time. But oh, how he ached to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. Lean her head back, tilt her chin up, and kiss her senseless until her reserve melted away. Instead he put the voucher in her palm and wrapped her hand around it.

"Go. You can do this. You'll never know until you try."

They stared at each other for a few more heartbeats. Then with another small smile, she went down the stairs.

After signing the waiver, a pilot was assigned to Laura. He was a nice retired air force pilot named Frank.

He led her to one of the ultra-light planes and told her to sit on the co-pilot seat. Before she did, she turned towards the café and waved to Adam and Mika, who had already finished flying and had huge grins on their faces.

Once she was seated, Frank handed her a helmet and a headphone with a microphone. Then he proceeded to explain that she will control the speed through the lever and then steer using the foot pedals.

"But not to worry, I also have a foot pedal. See?" he said, pointing towards his feet.

Laura was relieved. At least she wasn't the only one steering this time. She nodded. "Yes, I see."

"Okay then, let's go." Then Frank slowly drove their plane towards the take-off area.

After a few minutes they were moving up in the air.

There was only a seatbelt holding her in place as they cruised at least fifty kilometers per hour. The wind was cool against her face, and her hair was buffeted by the wind. This was as close to flying as she could get, she thought.

"I wish I brought a camera!" she shouted when they passed by Mount Arayat. She marveled at the greenery then lifted her face toward the clouds.

"You're not scared?" Frank asked.

"No!" she said. In fact, she was feeling giddy, like the sugar rush that hit her when she's had too much caffeine.

And then the wind jostled them a bit. She didn't notice that her hair band had snapped until her hair whipped around her face. too.

It felt like something snapped inside her at that moment

She raised her arms up in the air, threw her head back, and laughed. She kept grinning the whole time until her fifteen minutes was up.

She got off before Frank can help her, and together they walked back to the café.

Miguel met her halfway.

"How was it?" he asked, already smiling. He noted her bright eyes and thought she had never looked more beautiful than with her hair all windswept like that.

Laura threw her head back and laughed again. Then she half leaped to close the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. "That was amazing. Thank you thank you thank you!"

She didn't see the look of amazement in Miguel's face, but she felt his heart thunder against hers as he held her tight.

She pulled back, a huge smile on her face. "I felt like I was flying," she marveled.

"This is the first time ever I'd seen you laugh. Had fun, huh?" Mika asked, sneaking up beside them.

Laura jumped back, blushing. Miguel had to fight himself from reaching out and pulling her back against him.

"Yes. Thank you, Mika, Miguel," she said. She reached out and squeezed Mika's shoulder.

"It was nothing," Mika said, winking at her brother. "Kuya was more than happy to fund our expeditions."

Laura blushed. "I'm never going to forget this day."

They all walked towards the exit while Mika told Miguel animatedly about her flying experience.

Miguel and Laura walked side by side, so close that Laura felt his hand brush against hers. She didn't move away. And she didn't pull away when his hand entwined around hers. Somehow, it felt right. For the first time in a long time, something other than work finally felt right.

#### Chapter 11

"LAURA, AREN'T YOU going to work?" Her mother shook her awake, and Laura woke up with a start.

"Ma?" she asked blearily.

"It's already ten, Laura," her mother barked.

Laura whipped around so fast, her neck ached. Then her eyes popped open when she saw on her bedside clock that it was indeed already ten in the morning. She immediately stood up, but she fell back into the bed. Her knees felt like jelly.

She took a deep breath and tried to stand again but she couldn't walk a few steps before her knees gave out and she crumbled to the floor.

Her mother rushed in and saw her sitting there. "What's wrong with you?"

"I can't stand, Ma," she said. She grimaced when her mother pulled her to a stand.

Then her phone rang. Her mother assisted her towards her bed.

"Laura!" Mika whispered urgently when she answered. "Where are you? They've been waiting for you here for thirty minutes. Belarus is here and they're waiting for your final presentation."

Laura slapped a hand over her forehead. "I just woke up! And I can't stand, Mika. My knees feel like jelly. I think I came down with something."

Mika groaned. "Oh no, it's from flying yesterday. I was like that on my first time. Adam's on leave, too."

Then a beep signaled to Laura that someone was calling her on Skype. She glanced at the screen and groaned too. "Mika, I have to go. Kathleen's calling."

"Shit," Mika whispered. "Good luck!"

"Kathleen, I can explain," was the first thing she said.

But Kathleen ignored her. "I'm sure it's a grave emergency, Laura. Where are your visuals?"

"My—my what?" Laura stammered.

Kathleen audibly sighed. "Your team's visuals. For Belarus. We need them. Just because you're not here doesn't mean we shouldn't present them. I've already seen and approved your work on those. Mika and Steve can't find them. Where are they?"

Laura gulped. "On my desk. Also I have them on—"

The line went dead.

"Shit, I am so dead," she said aloud.

Her mother sat beside her and rubbed her on the back. "Are you okay? Do you need to go to the doctor?"

"No, Ma," she said exasperatedly. "I need to get to work." She tried to stand up again but fell back against the bed helplessly.

"Well you're not going to be able to go to work like that, Laura," her mother said, rubbing her back. "It'll be fine, you'll see. This is the first time in the past three years that you'll be absent, I'm sure it's not such a big deal."

Laura snapped. "No, you don't understand. I could be promoted, Ma. I'll get a salary raise. We're always short on funds around here, and I could really use a break!"

Her mother stiffened. "Don't you use that tone of voice with me. Things will get better. The problem with you, Laura, is that you're always so serious. Like your father. He was—"

"Don't you dare mention Papa!" she shouted, scooting away from her mother as best as her aching body allowed her. It had been over a decade but it still hurt. Sometimes she thinks it will never stop hurting. She had been closer to him than to her mother.

Her mother stood up and they glared at each other for a few intense seconds. Then her mother walked out and slammed the door.

Laura closed her eyes and stared at her phone, willing it to ring.

After a few hours, Mika finally called. "Laura, I hope you're better now," she said, whispering. "You need to be back here tomorrow."

Laura straightened up. Her legs were gaining back strength but she hadn't been able to roam around the house yet. Her mother had brought her food but they hadn't spoken. "What happened?"

"Anissa, you know, from the other account, well Kathleen made her present your visuals. Belarus hated it and they want a redesign. Kathleen said Anissa could handle their account for now."

Laura was silent. Anissa was good, but Laura knew she was better. Still, she felt threatened. The time for Kathleen to submit her name for the position of team leader was only a week away, and she shouldn't have messed up.

And Belarus was one of her biggest accounts. To not have been there would surely cause her rating to dip.

"Did Kathleen say anything to you about me?" she finally asked, her voice wobbly.

"No," Mika said. "But Kathleen was pretty upset afterwards."

"Shit."

"Laura," Mika said, sounding remorseful. "I'm so sorry. We shouldn't have brought you flying. Or I should have warned you. In all the excitement, I've forgotten the effect it could possibly have on you, too."

Laura shook her head even though her friend couldn't see her. She'd had plenty of time to think all day. "No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have taken so much risk, especially on a Sunday, knowing I had a presentation the next day."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You deserved a break, too, Laura," Mika said.

"No, I didn't. I shouldn't have been so happy-go-lucky like my brother," Laura blurted out. Then she felt guilty for talking about Jasper that way, even if she always thought it was true.

Happy-go-lucky Jasper who, like their mother, always thought that everything was going to work out. Such that he didn't finish college. Got a girl pregnant at twenty-one, who left the baby with them and became a flight attendant. He had no technical skills to speak of, so he couldn't get a job—any job.

Jasper was ten years older than Laura, and when their world started to fall apart when their dad died, Laura had sworn that she would never be so careless like her brother. She would study hard and work hard.

I might have overdone it just a little bit, she thought ruefully.

"Laura?" Mika said tentatively.

"Yes?"

"Will you be okay?"

Laura looked at the photo on her bedside table. She was sitting on her father's lap, and they were smiling at each other. It had been taken a few years before her father died.

"Yes," she replied.

I should be, she vowed.

#### Chapter 12

ON TUESDAY MORNING, LAURA put on her college graduation suit. It had been a hand-me-down from an aunt, but it fit her well. In her black straight pants, black blazer, white polo buttoned up to her chin, and black pointy shoes, she had stood out in the sea of graduates who wore their finest gowns.

It had caused quite a stir then, and it was causing a stir in the office now. She was back in her usual don't-mess-with-me uniform. Her hair was back in her tight chignon. She meant business.

She laid her bag down and went to Kathleen's office. Her boss was always early on Tuesdays because she left early for yoga class.

"Kathleen," she said, knocking on the door.

"Enter," she heard her boss call out.

She entered, and without sitting down, started, "First, I am so sorry. I couldn't stand up yesterday no matter how much I tried. But I'm here now, ready to get back to work."

She opened her folder and pulled out a few visuals she had worked on overnight.

"I called Melinda from Belarus yesterday, and apologized as well. I discussed with Mika and Steve yesterday the changes they expect to see in the meeting today, and we've been able to do them last night." She handed Kathleen her printouts.

Kathleen took them and looked at them slowly. Finally, she spoke. "Sit down," she said.

Laura sat down slowly, her face giving a glimpse of her nervousness.

Kathleen gave her a small sad smile. "You're finally showing your emotions, revealing a crack in that armor."

Laura stayed silent. It felt like damned praise.

Then Kathleen sighed. "But Laura, Belarus is Anissa's now. They liked her and agreed to have her team carry out their revisions."

"Please, give me a chance to get them back, Kathleen. I'm ready for this," she begged. She felt bad for going behind Anissa's back but she worked so hard for that client.

Belarus had been one of their most difficult clients until it was handed to her a year after she had started working at Smith & Guerrero. Within a few months, she had won them over completely that they started giving their company more work.

Soon after, their ad campaigns for Belarus had spread through word-of-mouth and a couple of awards later, other big-name companies became their clients, too.

Finally, Kathleen sighed and walked to her door. She quietly spoke to Ana, then sat back down on her chair. After a minute, Anissa arrived, looking confused.

"Hi Kathleen, hi Laura," she said as she entered.

Kathleen told her to sit down, so she sat across Laura.

"Anissa, I've decided to give Laura another chance with Belarus. Your presentation yesterday was good, but the visuals you did use were Laura's," Kathleen said, her voice firm and told them not to argue.

Anissa nodded. "You're right, it should have been you in there yesterday, Laura," she said to Laura. "I hope you're feeling better now."

"Did you finish working on those revisions, Anissa?" Kathleen asked.

Anissa opened the folder she had brought in and handed them to their boss. "These are the revisions as discussed."

Kathleen looked over them quietly. Then said, "Laura, show Anissa what you presented to me earlier."

Laura handed her printouts to Anissa.

Anissa gasped and smiled. "You're excellent at this, Laura, and these are great."

Laura decided to be generous. "Yours are good, too," she said politely. She had noted a few differences in their design, but she was confident that she got what the client wanted.

Then Ana knocked on the door. "Ma'am, the Belarus team is in the meeting room already."

Anissa stood up. "They're here earlier than expected!" she exclaimed, looking at her watch. "Good luck, Laura!"

She turned to walk out but Kathleen told her to stop.

"No, you're both going to be in the board room with me. Let's see what they'll say to your revisions first, Laura."

Laura stiffened. She felt so nervous like it was her first presentation. She felt so pressured to live up to expectations, by that possible promotion, by the idea of better wages. A better future for her and her family.

Laura kept biting the inside of her cheeks as Kathleen led them to the meeting.

The presentation was not going well. The Belarus team, normally all smiles and engaging whenever Laura presented, were frowning.

Then the Belarus' marketing manager, Gary, finally held up a hand midway through her presentation. "Ms. Bayani, did you get the notes of our discussion yesterday?" he asked.

"Yes," Laura said, her icy mask back in place, not showing the fear that had crept into her since she walked into the room. "I talked to Melinda last night," she said.

Melinda spoke up, staring hard at her. "I distinctly remember telling you that we want softer colors and to remove that ridiculous cow in there," she said.

Laura opened her mouth to argue that no, she didn't mention those things. She only mentioned to increase the prominence of the white-tipped mountain behind the mother and child who were grinning happily at each other. But she closed her mouth with a snap. The client is always right. The client is always right. The client is always right, she silently repeated in her head. Besides, saying that Melinda was wrong, when she had already been absent from the first meeting, would only make her look bad.

Plus the fact that she had noted those changes in Anissa's visuals. She had been so confident in her abilities that she had not thought to ask her own colleague about the meeting and what really happened.

"I'm sorry," she said smoothly. "I must have misunderstood the instructions."

Gary shook his head, looking pissed off. "First, you don't show up to our meeting, which was set a month in advance, then you present to us the wrong revisions! This is unacceptable! You're wasting my time!"

Kathleen hurriedly stood up and handed him another set of printouts. Anissa's work. She looked at Laura and signaled that Laura should sit down.

"Well, here in Smith & Guerrero, we always want to make sure that we deliver to the client's expectation and satisfaction," Kathleen said to the Belarus team soothingly. "That's why Anissa," she said, gesturing towards her, "prepared these for you as well."

Anissa hurriedly stood up and presented her own illustration boards. Belarus was the type of clients who liked printed visuals.

"As discussed yesterday," Anissa started, her voice smooth and pleasant, so unlike Laura's coolly efficient voice, "we have made the following changes, which I hope will be to your satisfaction..."

#### Chapter 13

THE NEXT DAY, her colleagues stared again when Laura passed by. She had noted Anissa's outfit the day before and decided to, well, emulate her example.

Since she had no client meetings today, she dispensed with her usual blazer and pearls. Instead she put on a cream-colored button down polo with studs on the collar, a blue figure-hugging skirt, and camel-colored open toe pumps. She also put her hair in a high ponytail, letting her curls run free down the back.

After getting steamrolled in that meeting yesterday, where the Belarus team enthusiastically voiced their approval over Anissa's work, she had decided to soften her look today. Hopefully, it will work in her favor.

She was just booting up her computer when Ana went to her cubicle again. "Ma'am Kathleen is calling for you, Laura," she said snootily.

Laura immediately stood up and followed her.

"Sit down," Kathleen said when Laura entered her office.

Laura was filled with trepidation but she didn't show it this time.

"Gary from Belarus called me this morning and asked if they could have Anissa handle their account from now on," she said without preamble, looking at Laura intently. "Did something happen between you and Belarus that I don't know about?"

Laura shook her head. "No, we have been working so well with them."

Kathleen sighed. "I think they were just disappointed when you didn't show up, then again, with the failed revisions. When you showed me your visuals, I thought their team had changed their mind about what they wanted because you said you talked to Melinda." She raised an eyebrow in question.

"Yes, I did call Melinda," Laura said.

Kathleen just looked at her. "That's why I asked Anissa to be there as well, just in case. And, well, the client is always right," she said wearily.

Laura nodded. Such was the world in advertising. "I'm sorry about what happened, but I'm just relieved they didn't pull out their account entirely," she said.

Kathleen eyed her carefully. "I've noted all the changes and certain improvements you have made in such a short period of time, Laura, and I'm happy for you."

"Thank you, Kathleen," Laura said. She felt like sighing in relief.

Kathleen clasped her hands. "But your absence on Monday and again, the fiasco yesterday, were so notable that top management has already heard about it." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Laura, but I've decided to submit Anissa as my candidate for the team leader position instead."

Laura gasped. "No, no, you can't do this!"

Kathleen lifted an eyebrow. "I already did. Yesterday, after her presentation."

"But I'm the best there is!" she exclaimed hotly. She stood up and started pacing. "You know I am."

Kathleen held up a hand. "We know you're great at what you do, but Anissa is also good at this."

She opened her mouth to protest, but Kathleen held up a hand again.

"And she's well-liked by your colleagues," Kathleen continued. "I'm not saying you're not nice... just that well, people, particularly those in the team that she will be handling, are more receptive to the idea that she will be their team leader."

Don't cry don't cry don't you dare cry, Laura! she told herself. Her nails were digging into her palm so hard that the pain helped to distract her from crying.

"So what happens now?" Laura asked. "I'm sorry for my outburst. I'm just," she sat down, "surprised." She ran her fingers through her hair, belatedly realizing that her hair was wound so tight.

"It's understandable. I would be, too, in your position," Kathleen replied. "But I've learned," she added slowly, "that being the boss doesn't mean having an easier time at work. Being the boss means you'll be the one to make the tough choices."

She looked Laura in the eye. "And believe me, Laura, that was one of the toughest choices I had to make."

Meaning her job was on the line, too, if she insisted on Laura as her candidate. Meaning it would be disruptive to the company if Laura became the team leader.

Kathleen sighed and leaned back against her chair. "I suggest you work harder and try again when there's another opening."

Laura nodded numbly. "I...I'll go back to work now," she whispered. She didn't trust herself to say anything more than that.

When she opened the door, she ran into Anissa.

"Laura, I heard you were sick! I hope you feel better now," Anissa said.

Laura felt even worse. Anissa was genuinely nice and one of the few people who treated her kindly.

"Congratulations," Laura said stiffly.

Anissa looked remorseful. "I'm sorry I got Belarus, but they—"

"Save it, Anissa. Belarus is a very important client and you saved the account." Laura's tone was harsher than she intended but she couldn't soften it.

Before Anissa could say anything else, Laura marched to her desk and worked like a devil for the rest of the day.

When Mika arrived wearing a faded denim jacket over a sweater with a Mickey Mouse on it and a lacy skirt, and plain white sneakers, Laura simply gave her a small smile before going back to work.

Mika took the hint and didn't insist when Laura declined to have lunch with her and Adam.

"Are you mad?" Mika finally asked before she left the office. It was already seven in the evening, and Laura was still working so hard.

Laura looked up at her in surprise. "At you? No."

"With yourself?" Mika asked gently.

"Hmmm," was all that Laura said.

Mike cocked a hip against the cubicle divider beside Laura. "The office is all agog, you know. They saw your little exchange with Anissa. They were quite...impressed by the range of emotions you showed."

Laura didn't lift her head from her illustration boards. "Yes, well, I live to serve as office gossip fodder," she said sarcastically.

Mika sighed. "I wasn't gossiping about you, of course. I just heard it in the washroom, and Adam also mentioned it to me. In fact, there are still men asking for an introduction to 'feisty Laura'," she said, making air quotes at the last part.

"Hmp."

"He wouldn't agree to introduce them, though, said you were dating my brother."

Laura didn't say anything so Mika plowed ahead. "If there is something happening between you and Miguel, I'd be happy. I vastly prefer you to his last ex," she said, shuddering. "But Laura..." she paused for so long that Laura finally looked up at her.

"I hope no one gets hurt," Mika said softly.

Before Laura could say anything, she turned and left.

#### Chapter 14

LAURA PUSHED THE door open wearily. She had finally stopped working when she saw that it was already nine in the evening. Belatedly, she realized she had forgotten to eat dinner. But she was so tired, she just wanted to go to sleep already.

"Laura, you're finally here! I need money tomorrow, at least five thousand," Jasper said as soon as she walked in.

"But I already gave you five thousand last week," she said tiredly. "I told you, kuya, quit gambling. We don't have the money to waste on such things," she said.

"But you have the money to go on little trips?" Jasper shot back. "I need the money, Laura."

Laura finally snapped. It felt like ten years' worth of pent-up frustration had finally bubbled to the brim and she literally shook in anger. "Putang ina, kuya, do I look like a banker to you? I pay for everything in this house. EVERYTHING! And not once did you ever say thank you. You think you're pressured for money?" she shouted, pointing to her chest. "I'm more pressured for it. I have to put food on the table! I have to save up for the education of your child," she sneered.

"I've been slaving myself at work for a promotion that I wouldn't even get, because for the first time in a long time, I've decided to do something for myself and it all blew up in my face!" She threw her bag on the floor and slammed her hands against the back of the couch. "I just lost one of my biggest fucking account that I've worked on for two years. Two years, kuya, and I didn't get my promotion. All in one day. And then I come home and you demand me for money? Like I haven't been giving you enough? Fuck you and your gambling problem!" she shouted.

Jasper clenched his fists so tight. "We never asked you to pay for our bills!" he shouted.

Then their mother came out of her bedroom, carrying Tato, who had awoken because of the volume of their screams. "Tang ina!" their mother shouted. "It's already past nine in the evening. You woke up Tato!"

"Kuya's gambling problem is out of hand, Ma. He's asking me for more money again!" Laura exclaimed. "I've had enough!"

"Don't talk to your brother that way!" their mother admonished her. "You don't know what you're saying!"

But Laura was too far gone, her emotions too raw for her to stop. "You're always taking his side. You are NEVER ON MY SIDE!"

Tato cried louder. "Ta Lor!" he shouted, reaching for her.

But Laura shook her head. She was so angry she was afraid she'd hurt Tato.

And just like her father all those years ago, she ran out the door and into the night.

But this time, she ran against a muscled chest and warm arms that felt safe and familiar.

"Whoah, Laura. Where are you going?"

"Miguel?" she asked. The streetlights were too dark for her to see properly, and most houses along their street had turned off their lights already.

Miguel continued to hold her, soothing a hand down her back. "Mika told me you were having a bad day. When I went to your office, the guard said you had gone home. You weren't picking up your phone so I came here."

His strokes down her back were working its magic, as was his clean soap scent she had become used to. She took a deep breath, letting the scent wash over her and calm her frayed nerves. Here was steady. Here was safe.

She looked up at him, her jaw against his chest, neither of them moving an inch away from each other.

"I need to get out of here," she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Miguel nodded and whisked her to his car.

"I lost one of our biggest accounts," Laura said halfway through their meal.

Miguel look alarmed, and Laura shook her head. "I mean, Anissa's handling them now," she said wearily.

They had driven for an hour into Antipolo, to a late-night restaurant that provided wonderful views of the city below. They were given a place in the veranda, where the air was fresh and the view was worth the long drive.

When he mentioned where they were going, she asked him, "Don't you have to be early to work tomorrow?"

But he only gave her a small smile, grabbed her hand, and put it on the stick shift, his hand covering hers. He wanted to hold her hand while he drove, he said. It made him focus more on the dark road because he was constantly reminded that he carried precious goods.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't bite back a smile.

Afterwards, they were silent throughout the whole trip, and Laura was glad that Miguel understood and gave her the space she needed to compose herself and her thoughts.

Miguel was about to eat his steak, but he put down his fork immediately and covered her free hand with his. "Are you okay? What happened?"

So she told him everything, from the time she couldn't get out of bed, to the rumors and snickers that drove her crazy in the office earlier that day. She guessed that Mika had already told Miguel, but she was glad that he still listened to her attentively.

"Have you thought about transferring to a different company?" Miguel finally asked. "Not that I'm saying Smith & Guerrero isn't a good company, but it just doesn't seem to be the right environment for you."

Laura pursed her lips. "I did consider that, especially earlier today, but even with all the shit that they say about me, I'm afraid that it's going to be like that again anyway at my next company. The adjustment, the whispers, having to prove myself all over again."

"But Laura," he said, "you've come a long way. I can honestly say that the Laura before me now is not the Laura I first met. And while serious Laura blew my mind," he said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down suggestively, teasingly, until she smiled, "this Laura is even more impressive." He gestured towards her and squeezed her hand.

Laura didn't know what to say so she resumed eating. Her heart, which she had thought was dead, was suddenly beating so hard, making itself heard.

Or maybe it's just the candlelit dinner and the gorgeous view behind you, Lor.

But she took a quick glance at Miguel, who was sitting beside her, and her heart triple beat in delight.

Miguel looked at his watch. "Do you need to go home now? Because if you're up to it, I want to bring you somewhere."

She rolled her eyes. "If it involves you being naked with whipped cream, that's not how I want to end my night," she retorted.

He laughed easily. "That sounded so practiced, that if I didn't know better I'd say you've given that a lot of thought. But no, that's not what I have in mind..."

#### Chapter 15

THERE WERE SOME things that Laura never thought she'd do. Like jump off a cliff. Or go-kart. Or drive a plane. Or, as she carefully held the plastic cup filled with a shot of vodka, go to a street party on a week night. Especially since it wasn't even Friday night yet.

Miguel had driven them back into the city and parked in front of the night market/street dance party that she had never thought she'd actually go to. Even though it was just a few minutes from her house, she just never imagined having someone to go there with, and she didn't have the guts to go alone.

She didn't want to look so uncool, but she couldn't help admiring the numerous colorful umbrellas that were carefully hung over wires, which served as their ceiling of sorts.

"Is this okay?" Miguel asked once they stood outside the entrance to the dance floor.

Laura was too excited to answer. She simply grabbed Miguel's hand and dragged him inside.

For the next twenty minutes, Miguel had her dancing complete with uncharacteristic booty shaking. It was as if seeing all the people inside dance like they didn't give a damn that they weren't in tune with the beat of the music gave her the push she needed to get her ass moving.

Then when the clock struck twelve, the DJ gave way to Serendipity, the current hottest local band for a thirty-minute set. Laura turned around to face the stage as she watched them set up. The crowd around them had quieted, but a lot of the diners in the night market started to converge on the dance area too.

Laura was familiar with their music. Loved it, in fact. The band started playing their current hit, "No Love in This Club." Despite the title, the song was actually filled with hope even in the face of continuously unrequited love.

Maybe it was the fact that the lead singer was singing it with such wistfulness, or maybe it was the muted street lights, Laura wasn't sure. All she knew was that when she took a step back closer to Miguel and leaned her back against his chest, it felt right.

And when Miguel leaned his head down and whispered, "Is this okay?" when he slid his arms around her waist, and she nodded—not speaking, just feeling—it became perfect.

Miguel had been gone awfully long now. He had excused himself to buy drinks for the two of them when she said she was thirsty. He told her to stay in their spot since the crowd was growing as Serendipity continued to play their best hits. When Laura next looked at her watch, she was surprised to find that twenty minutes had already passed.

She felt a little guilty that she didn't even notice his absence, so she texted him asking where he was. But when he still didn't reply after ten minutes, she decided to go look for him.

She murmured excuse me's as she passed through the gathering crowd. She went to the night market and was relieved to see the back of Miguel's head and the familiar color of his shirt, near one of the concessionary stands.

"Miguel," she called out, walking towards him, but he didn't seem to have heard her.

Then she noticed a girl come up to him, and watched as he turned around.

She stopped walking altogether when the girl pulled him down for a kiss.

And down he went without a fight.

Laura stood rooted to the spot. Then she turned around, walked to the nearest street, hailed a cab, and went home.

A few minutes later, her phone rang. After a quick internal debate, she answered it.

"Laura?" Miguel shouted, sounding worried. He must still be in the party because she could hardly hear him over the noise of the crowd.

Laura buried her fingers in her hair as she slid down deeper into the backseat of the cab. "I tried to find you but I—" She stopped, took a deep breath then, "There was an emergency at home. I had to go, but I couldn't find you."

"Is everything okay?" he asked, still sounding worried.

Laura squeezed her eyes shut. "Yes," she said, lying through her teeth. She hated to lie to him but she couldn't very well straight out tell him that she felt that she'd been punched in the gut. Or in the heart.

"May I see you tomorrow?" Miguel asked. His voice was clearer now and the music sounded fainter.

"Where are you?" she asked instead.

"Getting into my car. I'm going home now," he replied. "So, see you tomorrow?"

She shook her head even though he couldn't see her. "I can't. I have a family commitment." The lies just kept piling up but she couldn't bring herself to see him again just yet. She may not have any right to feel jealous, but she couldn't help but be angry that after holding her in his arms and singing to her ear in time with the band, he went and kissed someone else.

"I have to go," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"Are you okay?"

"I got home already. Good night, Miguel," she said quietly. Then she put down the phone and turned it off before he could say anything else.

#### Chapter 16

THE NEXT DAY was a holiday. She had forgotten all about it due to the maddening events. So she woke up early as usual and saw that her mother was already awake. So was Jasper. They were both eating and had turned her way when she went out of her room.

"Good morning," she said quietly. She gave a quick kiss to Tato, and was rewarded with a sloppy kiss.

"I'm sorry for shouting yesterday," she said when, after seating down, the silence between them became unbearable. She was used to not speaking to them, but there was a tension in the air that she couldn't ignore. She and Miguel had discussed it last night over dinner, too, and she realized she could have handled it better.

Her mother had red-rimmed eyes, and Jasper only grunted.

"Tell her, Jasper," their mother finally said.

"Tell me what?" Laura demanded, turning to Jasper.

Jasper glared at her. He put his fork and spoon down and leaned against his chair, arms folded across his chest. "I enrolled in TESDA," he finally bit out. "I'm about to graduate, and I need the money to buy suitable clothes and to go to interviews." He glared at her, his gaze a mixture of defiance and shame.

Laura's jaw dropped down. Of all the things he could have said, that was not the one she would have guessed. "You? School?"

Jasper heaved a huge sigh. "I'm not a complete idiot, you know," he said lightly but his eyes told her he was hurt.

"No, kuya, I'm just surprised. And proud," she added. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He looked down at his food and didn't look at her when he answered. "I've been trying for years, but I was always failing," he admitted. "Now I'm about to graduate from my tourism course. All those time I spent taking care of Tato paid off, I think." He reached out and messed up his son's hair. "It taught me to be patient." He still wouldn't look at Laura.

Laura eyed her brother with teary eyes. He was such a proud man, and she realized how much it had cost him to admit that to her. So she stood up and hugged him. He was so surprised it took him a second before he hugged her back, messing the top of her hair like he did with Tato.

"You're so smart and so good at your job, while I was the older brother and should have been the one providing for us," he said.

Laura sat down. "I don't begrudge all the help I've given you and Mama all these years," she said, looking at her mother, who was also wiping tears away. "I was just so weary last night," she admitted.

"It was hard for us to keep asking for money, you know," her mother finally said. "I'm your mother, and I should have been the one to provide for you. I've realized a long time ago that if it wasn't for me, your father would still be alive," she said, wiping at her tears angrily.

Laura shook her head. "You don't know that, Ma. Everything happens for a reason. I know that now."

Even Jasper shed a few tears although he quickly wiped his away and said an eyelash had gotten into his eye.

That made Laura and their mother laugh.

"I missed hearing you laugh, Lor. Whoever's been making you happy the past few weeks, I hope you keep him," her mother advised. "You used to be such a happy child, always smiling and laughing."

There was no use asking why their mother did what she did. It wouldn't bring their father back. They could only forgive and try to be better. It had been so long, and love had been far too long gone in this family.

Laura stood up and hugged her mother, too. "I love you, Ma."

Those simple words unlocked something more inside Laura. True forgiveness, she realized, then she started sobbing. Her mother cried in her arms too, until Tato cried, so they had to stop and calm him down.

#### Chapter 17

LAURA SLUMPED IN her chair the next day, staring at the letter she received in her personal email. One of her colleagues passed by, distracting her from her thoughts. She quickly closed the program and opened one of her visuals, but she couldn't concentrate anymore. After thirty minutes of staring at the whiteboard in front of her, she finally decided to accept defeat and put her things away.

Her phone rang. She looked at it, fully expecting to see Miguel's name on the screen, but was surprised to see Peter's name instead.

"Good afternoon," she answered.

"Laura, I'm just making sure you received my proposal the other day?" Peter's voice, smooth as silk, came through the phone.

"Yes."

"I was hoping we could meet up tonight and talk about it," he answered.

Laura paused. She felt that she was being hurried, but then again the email did explain the urgency. However, she was reluctant to meet up at night. Given her history with Peter, their last meeting, and the time he was proposing, it suspiciously felt like a date. And while her heart was still broken over Miguel, she wasn't the type to date her way out of heartbreak.

"If we can meet up at lunch instead, that would be even better," she bargained.

Peter laughed, and she could hear the admiration in his voice. "You are a tough nut to crack, Laura. I'll pick you up at lunch." Then before she could argue that they could meet there instead, he had put down the phone.

Laura stared at her phone, thinking if she should call him back, but she knew it was futile. Peter was chivalrous and always insisted on picking her up and bringing her home. And since they didn't even work out the details where they were going to meet, she couldn't just leave.

Miguel's advice to transfer to other companies had resounded in her head for hours until she gave in and updated her resume yesterday. Instead of printing it out using Smith & Guerrero's resources, she saved the file on her phone instead and sent it to Peter with the subject title: For Your Consideration.

He replied with a cryptic Just wait.

Laura glanced at her watch and took a deep breath. Two hours. The wait was, indeed, on.

Mika had raised her eyebrows when Peter arrived to fetch her for lunch. She had asked Laura if she had fought with Miguel because her brother was being broody again, and refused to talk to her all weekend.

Laura had simply shrugged.

Laura refused to think about Miguel the moment she and Peter sat down in their reserved table at Café Salmonique, a quaint seafood restaurant a few blocks away from her office.

"So, Miguel, huh?" Peter said after they had done away with all their pleasantries.

Laura looked up, her eyebrows quizzed in confusion. "Miguel who?"

Peter shook his head. "I've been updated on your love life the moment I walked through your office door, and they started buzzing about you and Miguel." He rolled his eyes. "Jesus, your officemates—" Then he stopped and grinned. "But then again, that just might help my case."

Laura took a slow sip of her iced tea.

Peter bit into his peach cake dessert before continuing. "As I mentioned in my e-mail, my start-up's creative director suddenly left without even a two weeks' notice, and I find myself in need of someone to fill the position. And I thought of you." His eyes bore into hers, serious, intent, thoughtful.

Laura blushed. "Peter, I don't think it's wise to mix my personal and professional life. If there is going to be a possible romantic entanglement included in your offer," she said, phrasing her meaning politely, "then I'm going to have to decline."

Peter gave a slow smile that started from his lips up to his eyes. Laura thought that he was hot, but her heart didn't beat erratically as it did for a certain black-haired brown-eyed six footer who teased and encouraged her so relentlessly.

"Most women would jump at the opportunity to get into my company—and my bed—but you've always been different, Laura. You know how much I admire that about you."

Laura didn't know what to say to that, so she just murmured a quiet thank you.

But Peter shook his head. "Look, I think any man would be lucky to have you as his wife or girlfriend, but I think any company would be even luckier to have you. My ego's just a little bruised, but I'd be stupid to let that get in the way of asking you to work for and with me."

Laura looked at him cautiously. Sure, his offered compensation and benefits package were generous, and his description of what she—as the creative director—would do was tempting, but still she hesitated.

He noticed it because he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay, to be honest, I'm not actually interested in you that way." Then he held up a hand. "I mean, yes, you're attractive and all that but I'm sure we both know by now we're never going to end up together." Then he bit his lip and smiled ruefully. "And I've fallen head over heels in love with this woman who makes me feel like a teenager." He laughed even as his eyes softened as he imagined his woman.

Laura rolled her eyes but she was smiling. "Well, if you're sure, then you've got yourself a creative director," she said confidently even as her heart thumped like mad in her rib cage.

They shook hands when they parted ways, with Peter promising to draw up the contract within the week.

He offered to drive her back to her office but she refused, saying she wanted to walk off the calories she consumed. So he offered to walk her to her office instead.

Laura looked at him admiringly as they walked.

"You should visit the office and meet everyone before you make your final decision," he said as they walked. "I think you'll like it."

Laura nodded as they reached her building. "I think I will. Thanks, Peter. See you in a few days."

Peter hugged her tight.

She went straight inside the building with a huge smile, not noticing that Miguel was right outside and had seen their whole exchange.

Laura took off her shoes as soon as she entered the house, and slipped into her ratty maroon slippers. She had finished work earlier than she expected and had gone straight home, despite Miguel's frequent messages asking to meet up.

She didn't know what to say yet. Was she supposed to admit that she went home that night because she saw him kissing another girl? Laura had realized that she didn't have any claim over Miguel's affections, and neither him over hers, because they never talked about it.

"For all you know, Laura, he was just being nice," Laura told herself acidly. Miguel was, in fact, quite nice.

"Surprise!" Tato shouted, running towards her and clinging onto her leg.

She made a surprised face and bent to pick him up. "Surprise for what?" she asked. It was only then that she noticed the food spread out on the table. There were mango cake, barbecue, cold soft drinks, and even pancit. Her mouth watered at the feast. They hadn't had such a spread in quite some time.

"What's the occasion?" she asked, carrying Tato on her hip as she walked up to Jasper and kissed her mother on the cheek.

"I got a job in a restaurant, Laura!" Jasper announced proudly. Even though he tried to be modest about it, Laura saw how proud he was. And he should be. It had taken him a long time, but this was proof that he was definitely changing for the better. "I've actually been applying even before graduation, that's why I kept asking for money. I needed to buy clothes to look presentable, and all that commute around the city."

Laura hugged her nephew just a little bit tighter. "Congratulations, kuya!" she said enthusiastically. "I'm so proud of you."

Jasper came over and enveloped her and Tato in a hug. "I couldn't have done it without your support, Laura, all throughout these months. I know it has been hard for you, and my starting pay isn't that big, but I'll try my best to get promoted. Maybe someday I can even work in a hotel," he said, his eyes shining with hope.

Laura couldn't speak. So she just hugged her brother and Tato tighter until their mother wrapped her arms around them and tickled them until they laughed.

It was definitely a night for all of them to remember.

#### Chapter 18

"WHERE'S YOUR BROTHER? Remind me why I'm your chaperone again?" Laura grumbled as she rubbed at her sleepy eyes.

On Saturday morning, Mika had showed up at their house at seven in the morning wearing a black leather jacket, a white tank top, and a short black plaid shorts paired with black brogues. She talked Laura into accompanying her and Adam to Fantasy Island, a new theme park an hour away from the city.

Adam had showed up behind Mika, handing Laura a cup of hot cappuccino as he greeted her a cheerful good morning.

After much grumbling (on Laura's part) and wheedling (on Mika's), they were finally on the road to the park which, Mika promised, would be fun.

"Company outing in Batangas," Mika said.

Laura was actually just grumbling for show, but the truth was she was pretty excited. She had never been to a theme park, and Fantasy Island's three-loop roller coaster excited her.

"We're here!" Adam announced excitedly, grinning at Mika. He scrambled out of the passenger seat and hurried to open Mika's door.

Laura averted her eyes as Adam and Mika shared a quick kiss and held hands all the way to the entrance. She wondered if she could slip out and if they would even notice that she wasn't third wheeling with them anymore. But then again, Mika had a already brought her a ticket, which managed to convince her.

"Kuya said I can't go with Adam alone today, and Adam," she said, rolling her eyes but smiling smugly, "insisted on following kuya's rule, and kuya said to ask if you'll go with us."

A Saturday without any obligations, coupled with a free ticket to Fantasy Island? It didn't take too long to convince Laura after all.

"Ready!" Mika said, clapping her hands.

Laura reached out and stilled her, wincing. "It's too early for clapping, Mika," she said, but she smiled to soften her words.

"Do I have to be in all the rides you two are going to be in on?" Laura asked as soon as they were through the gates.

Adam shook out the map they had been given at the entrance and pored over the rides.

"No," Mika said, shaking her head. "But I hope you'll ride with us on some rides, at least," she said. "I'm sure you wouldn't like to ride on say, The Monster's Back," she said, pointing to a ride behind Laura.

Laura turned around. Her eyebrows shoot up as she saw the hunched dinosaur ride swaying back and forth, up and down, making the brave souls who were riding it belt out curdling screams.

"You're on," she shot Mika from over her shoulder. "Last to the line is a rotten egg!" she shouted. Then she bolted for the line, weaving through the other streets.

When she got to the end of line, she took deep breaths, laughing. It had been a while since she acted this silly. There was something about seeing the bumper cars and the gigantic carousel featuring unicorns and phoenixes that made her feel young and wild and—

"Laura."

She whirled around. Miguel. Of course, it was him. She would recognize that voice anywhere.

About ten responses ran through her head. But the only thing she said was, "You're supposed to be in Batangas."

"Yes," he said simply. He put his hands inside his pockets to keep himself from reaching across the distance and pulling Laura close to him.

"So why are you here?" Laura asked, slightly pulling away from him even though he didn't make a move towards her.

Miguel had debated with himself in the past few days that Laura ignored all his calls and messages. He thought he finally figured out what made her avoid him. And when he saw her with Peter the other day—and the kick in his stomach only reinforced the idea that he should have been more vocal—he realized it was time to step up.

"Because you're here," he said honestly. "And I'd rather miss out on that trip than spend another day without you knowing how I feel."

"Miss, are you two riding now or will you give way to those next in line?" the attendant called out.

Laura turned around quickly and saw that they were already waiting for her. She looked at the ride then at the long queue of people. She might never get another chance to ride it, but Miguel was starting to say all the things she wanted to hear.

She made a decision, hoping she wouldn't regret it. She opened her mouth but Miguel grabbed her hand.

"Yes, we're going," he said. He started walking towards the ride slowly.

Laura tugged on his hand. "Miguel, you're afraid of heights!" she whispered urgently. "You don't have to ride with me. I can just go back in line later if—"

But Miguel just continued walking. He visibly paled when he saw that the only seats available were on the last row, the point that went up the highest when the ride swung up and down in an arc. But he took a deep breath and buckled himself in after Laura.

"Are you sure about this?" Laura asked worriedly, although she couldn't quite keep the excitement out of her voice.

Miguel nodded. Before he could say another word, the ride swung high up. He closed his eyes and screamed.

Laura couldn't stop laughing throughout the whole three-minute ride.

#### Chapter 19

"YOU'RE AN IDIOT, you know that?" Laura asked as Miguel gulped down water after rushing into the nearest toilet after riding The Monster's Back.

Miguel cleared his throat and took another sip of water before answering. "Yes, but I'm your idiot who braves his fears and holds your hand as you go on your adventures," he answered.

Laura heard, but decided to ignore it. "Hold my hand," she snorted. "More like clutch it in a death grip." She flexed her fingers. "The feeling is only just now returning to my poor, abused hand," she joked.

Miguel took her hand and kissed the back of her hand then her palm.

Laura cleared her throat this time and pulled her hand away. She motioned to one of the table picnics underneath a tall canopy of trees, and they walked towards it.

They sat down, their backs to the table, as they watched Laura and Adam canoodling in the lake in a little pirate boat.

Then Miguel turned to Laura. "She was my ex. She wanted to get back with me. I wasn't completely honest with you. We had been broken up for some time, but we continued to communicate with each other for months after that. She said she wanted to work out some issues and wanted me to wait for her but didn't want any commitment."

Laura refused to look at him. "You don't have to explain anything, Miguel."

Miguel ignored her and took her hand tenderly. He waited for her to pull away, but when she didn't, he rubbed his thumb against her hand. "After our trip to Boracay, I told her I wasn't interested in working things out anymore. I didn't want to continue hanging on to the past, to her. Our past relationship was a crutch I used to safeguard my heart, but then you came and..."

This time, Laura couldn't help but turn to look at him. "I didn't do anything."

Miguel chuckled and scooted closer to her.

Laura didn't move away. She didn't want to play games—not with Miguel—because love wasn't a game.

"That's just it," he said ruefully, smiling at her. "You didn't have to do anything but be Laura and I found myself unable to stop thinking about you. I wanted to be around you all the time. You didn't play games and was always straight with me. You were so brave, so determined to reach your goals. You didn't hesitate in letting go of your inhibitions to do what you wanted or what needed to be done," he said admiringly.

He lifted her hand and kissed her hand again. "You inspired me. You made me realize I was playing it too safe in life. You make me forget my fears. Or at least swallow my fears if that meant holding your hand through a vomit-inducing ride that I don't think I can ever ride again."

"I can't imagine spending my days without you," he said, staring deeply into her eyes.

She froze. "I got a job offer in Peter's company. I'm going to be the creative director in his startup company," she blurted out.

Miguel was confused. He swallowed for a moment, hesitating to ask, then, "Is that all Peter wants? For you to be the creative director?"

Laura looked away then back at Miguel, smiling softly. Maybe it was the cool breeze that made her shiver. Maybe it was the sunlight that glistened off Miguel's hair and made him sparkle in her eyes. Maybe it was the clear blue skies that made Laura giddy. But looking into the eyes of the man who had been right there since the start of her journey—supporting her, protecting her, encouraging her whenever she needed it—she knew it was all him that made her lean closer and tilt her head back and take the biggest risk of all.

Miguel looked deeply into her eyes and cradled Laura's cheek. Then he kissed her slowly, savoring the feel and taste of her lips. Her eyes fluttered to a close, and his did too, as they learned the shape of each other's lips.

When Laura pulled back, she was breathing hard. Miguel continued to caress her. She leaned her cheek closer to his hand and covered his hand with hers.

"I just got a new job, Miguel. And I just discovered this whole new personality. I'm not sure I can commit yet but I'd like to see where this—us—is going," she said a little breathlessly.

Miguel took her lips in another sweet kiss. "We can go as slow as you like, Laura. I'm not going anywhere."

This time, when she pulled him for another kiss, it felt like a promise and the start of something wonderful.

#### Epilogue

"ARE YOU SURE you're not going to vomit this time?" Laura shouted over the wind whipping through her hair.

The door of the helicopter was already open, and she and Miguel were getting ready to jump off.

It was their second anniversary as a couple, and Miguel had surprised her with a skydiving trip out of town. When they first became officially together, they wrote down all the dreams they wanted to accomplish—individually and together.

So far, they were halfway through each other's lists. Miguel had just gotten promoted to regional manager while Peter's company had boomed under Laura's award-winning creative campaigns.

They had also been to several trips—although in separate rooms as Miguel insisted on waiting for marriage before they should sleep together.

It was a decision that made Laura throw her arms around him and kiss him soundly, which eventually made him push her away with a pained face, and told her she was making it hard for him, in more ways than one.

There were just a few more things on Laura's list—and skydiving was one of them. They had already been through zip lining, which Miguel had enjoyed so much and had motivated him to get over his fear of heights.

"Yes!" Miguel shouted, squeezing her hand. "Let's do this!"

They had arranged to do a tandem skydive with separate instructors because Miguel was still nervous about this.

"One! Two! Three!"

Miguel jumped off with his tandem instructor. Then he remembered Laura's reminder to open his eyes on his descent, so he did. At first, he shook when he saw the huge drop, but eventually, with his expert guide handling the controls, he was able to partially relax and enjoy the view.

But he had never felt so happy to reach the ground.

After they shed the parachute, he hurriedly grabbed the black box that he had asked Adam to stow away and get ready when he landed.

The three of them, plus his instructor, watched Laura's descent with her instructor.

When she reached the ground, and her harness was removed, she ran up to Miguel and jumped straight into his arms.

"That was the best feeling in the world! I felt like I was flying!"

Miguel whirled her around until she threw her head back and laughed.

Then he set Laura down. He glanced over his shoulder to Mika, then knelt down in front of Laura, opening the black box as he did so.

With huge smiles, Mika and Adam unfurled the tarpaulin behind Miguel's back.

Laura's mouth dropped open, her eyes already filling with tears.

"Laura, it has been the best two years of my life. And I want to spend the rest of my life with the person who makes me feel so alive, who challenges me, who makes every day worth living. I know we'll drive each other crazy from time to time, and may sometimes want to quit. But I also know that to not ask you to be my wife will be the biggest mistake I could ever make. Laura Bayani, will you marry me?" Miguel asked.

Laura's hand shook as she extended it to Miguel. She couldn't speak so she just nodded then bent down and kissed him for so long that the instructors and other staff hooted out congratulations and cheers.

"Yes," she finally said when they broke apart. "A thousand times, yes."

Miguel slid the ring into her hand and stood up. He gave her another searing kiss then wiped her tears away.

It was when they were walking to their car after the profuse well wishes of everyone who witnessed the proposal that Laura realized that once again, she was embarking on a new journey.

But this time, she knew, it would be the best journey she would ever take.

#### Acknowledgments

_The Problem with Being Laura_ would not be possible without Mina Esguerra, whose generosity in helping dreamers like me achieve their goals. Thank you to Anvil Publishing for giving me this opportunity.

Thank you to the best support group, Kins, Tix, Kesh, Marie, Aya, and Ninang A, who believed I can do this, and always encouraged me to write, and also for providing me with inspiration for Laura's mishaps. Also, to my beta reader, Kristel, thank you for your valuable insights. Thank you, J, for the inspiration and the chance to spread my wings, and to my parents who never questioned my dreams and career choices.

Thank you, dear reader, for reading this. I hope you enjoyed it!

Thank You, God, for everything, and to Mama Mary for guiding me the past few years – You never let me down.

**PLUS**

**Guide Questions for Book Club Discussion**

1. What is the craziest or bravest spur of the moment thing you've ever done?

2. What is the one thing you have always wished you could do but have never tried doing? Why haven't you started on it yet?

3. If you could rewrite the ending, what ending would you give Laura?

4. What was the hardest sacrifice you've ever done for family or career?

5. Would you ever choose career over love? Why or why not?

#### About the Author

Ava Feliz is a chocoholic who loves to write about independent female characters who gets the one thing that still eludes her to this day: her own happily ever after. Someday she hopes to see the Machu Picchu, the pyramids of Egypt, and the amber room in Russia. She also daydreams about being able to play with real tigers, penguins, and bears. The inspiration for her characters usually come from the misfortunes of her friends. She firmly disagrees with her friends that she is a workaholic.

_The Problem with Being Laura_ is dedicated to all who lost themselves somewhere along the way to adulthood.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaBook