Tom remained silent.
Mildred's words lingered in his mind.
"It's up to you, babe. If you still don't want to work with him, that's fine. But he's still your grandfather, though."
He lowered his gaze, staring at nothing in particular.
The mention of his grandfather always stirred something inside him—anger, disappointment, and emotions he had spent years trying to bury.
Mildred noticed his silence and sighed softly.
"Tom?"
He blinked and looked back at the screen.
"I know," he finally said.
His voice was low, almost reluctant.
"I know he's my grandfather."
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"But every time I think about going back to that company... every time I think about working with him again..." He paused, struggling to find the right words. "I just remember everything that happened."
Mildred listened quietly.
Tom let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm still mad at him, Mildred."
The confession came out heavier than he intended.
"I know," she replied gently.
"And maybe I shouldn't be," he continued. "Maybe I should just move on and accept his offer. But I can't pretend that everything is fine."
His jaw tightened.
"Not after everything."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The distance between them suddenly felt greater than ever.
Mildred looked at him with understanding in her eyes.
"You don't have to force yourself, Tom."
He looked at her.
"But don't let your anger make the decision for you either."
Tom frowned slightly.
Mildred continued, her voice soft but firm.
"Think about what you want. Not what Chairman Yang wants. Not what anyone else wants."
Tom leaned back against his pillow and stared at the ceiling.
What did he want?
The question sounded simple, yet he didn't have an answer.
After a few seconds, he let out a quiet laugh.
"When did you become so wise?"
Mildred chuckled.
"Probably because you're dating me."
That earned a genuine smile from him.
"You're unbelievable."
"I know."
They both laughed.
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then Mildred glanced at her food and picked up a fry.
"Anyway," she said, taking a bite, "your future can wait a little longer. Right now, I need to enjoy my lunch."
Tom shook his head, amused.
"Seriously? After giving me an emotional speech?"
Mildred grinned.
"What can I say? My steak fries are getting cold."
Tom laughed, the heaviness in his chest finally lifting.
God, he missed her.
"I love you, babe."
Mildred's smile immediately softened.
"I love you too."
Tom stared at her for a moment through the screen.
Thousands of miles separated them, yet somehow she always knew exactly what to say.
And although he still wasn't ready to make a decision about Chairman Yang's offer, one thing was certain—
He was grateful he didn't have to face it alone.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked softly.
Tom nodded.
"Please smile for me, babe," she pleaded.
For a moment, Tom simply stared at the screen. Then the corner of his lips lifted into a smirk before breaking into a genuine smile.
Mildred smiled back, relieved.
"That's better."
Tom chuckled quietly.
"Goodbye, babe," she said. "Have a good night and sweet dreams."
"Enjoy your lunch," he replied. "I'll call you tomorrow morning."
"Alright, babe!"
Mildred leaned closer to her phone and kissed the screen.
"I love you very much," she said sweetly.
Tom's smile softened.
"I love you too."
He pressed a kiss against his screen in return.
"And always take care of yourself."
"You too."
For a brief moment, neither of them moved, unwilling to end the call.
Then, with reluctant smiles, they both tapped the end-call button.
The screen went dark.
Tom stared at his reflection for a second before placing his phone on the bedside table.
The room suddenly felt quieter.
He reached over and switched off the lampshade beside his bed, allowing darkness to fill the room.
Closing his eyes, he let out a long breath.
Despite the worries still lingering in his mind, thoughts of Mildred brought him comfort.
With her voice still echoing in his heart, Tom slowly drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Anna arrived at the university and checked the schedule for their community duty.
She had been assigned to a slum area for her fieldwork. Her friend Nikki was in the same group, along with Frej and Shania.
As part of their community health program, they were expected to work as student health practitioners and educate the residents about basic nursing care and health practices.
Their goal was to help the community improve its overall healthcare awareness, promote disease prevention, and contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality rates among the residents.
Although the assignment would be challenging, Anna felt excited. It was an opportunity to apply what she had learned in the classroom and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
The next day, Anna's group went to the community with their clinical professor.
The area was already bustling with residents waiting for consultations, vaccinations, and basic health services.
"Anna!" Nikki called out.
Anna turned around.
"Isn't she cute?" Nikki asked, holding a nine-month-old baby in her arms.
"Aww, she is cute," Anna replied with a smile.
"What was the complaint?" she asked.
"Nothing. She's here for her MMR vaccine," Nikki responded.
"Has it been administered already?"
"Yes, ma'am," the baby's mother answered.
Anna gently held the baby's tiny fingers and smiled.
"She's adorable, Mommy."
The mother smiled. "Thank you."
"Is she exclusively breastfed?" Anna asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's good!"
Nikki adjusted the baby in her arms.
"She's heavy," she said.
Both of them giggled.
"I want to have a baby someday," Anna admitted, watching the infant curiously.
Nikki immediately cleared her throat.
"Get a boyfriend first before thinking about having a baby," she teased, laughing.
Anna rolled her eyes and laughed along with her.
A moment later, the baby began to cry.
Nikki carefully handed her back to her mother. The woman sat down on a nearby chair and breastfed her baby, instantly comforting her.
Anna and Nikki then continued their duties.
They approached the waiting residents, entertained some of the patients, and assisted with basic health assessments. Together, they measured vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate while ensuring that each patient was comfortable and properly attended to.
Despite the heat and the busy environment, Anna enjoyed every moment of the community duty. Seeing the residents cooperate and trust them made all their hard work worthwhile.
Meanwhile, a white van pulled up and stopped in front of the health center.
The moment the residents saw the vehicle, excitement spread throughout the area. People began whispering among themselves, and the joy in their hearts was reflected on their faces.
A lady stepped out of the van.
Even from a distance, Anna felt that the woman looked familiar.
The head of the health center and several staff members immediately went outside to greet her. Meanwhile, Anna and her classmates continued attending to the patients.
"Finally, she's here," an elderly woman beside Anna said with a smile.
Anna looked at her.
"Who?"
The old woman chuckled.
"She's an angel," she replied warmly. "She and her family have helped us so much."
Anna glanced at the lady again.
"She looks familiar..." she murmured. "Is she a politician or something?"
The old woman shook her head.
"She's not a politician, darling. You don't have to be a politician to help the people of this country—especially people like us."
Anna nodded in agreement.
The old woman continued, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Once or twice a month, they come here and give us supplies. They never forget about us."
"Really?" Anna asked, amazed. "Wow."
Her curiosity grew.
There was something about the woman that seemed so familiar, yet she couldn't figure out where she had seen her before.
The lady eventually entered the health center after greeting the patients seated under the tent outside.
The residents welcomed her warmly.
Everyone seemed genuinely grateful for her presence.
Boxes of supplies were carefully placed on a nearby table as the staff began organizing them for distribution.
As Anna looked up, her eyes widened slightly.
It was Ms. Janeth.
Instinctively, she took a step forward, intending to greet her.
But suddenly, she felt self-conscious.
Her confidence disappeared as quickly as it had come.
She stopped herself and quietly stepped back.
Instead, she turned her attention to the next patient.
"Next, please," she called politely.
She checked the patient's blood pressure and recorded the vital signs, keeping herself busy.
The entire time, she avoided looking in Ms. Janeth's direction.
Yet despite her efforts, she couldn't stop wondering why seeing her again made her heart beat just a little faster.
After taking several patients' vital signs, Anna finally sat down in a corner to rest.
A young pregnant mother approached her, holding the hand of her three-year-old daughter.
"Hi," Anna greeted them warmly. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," the mother replied with a worried smile. "But I think my daughter is sick."
Anna's expression softened.
"What happened?"
"She had a high fever for the past two nights. I didn't know what to do," the mother explained anxiously.
"Alright," Anna said reassuringly. "Let me take her vital signs first."
The little girl hid behind her mother's leg and clung tightly to her.
When Anna tried to place the thermometer under the toddler's arm, the child immediately burst into tears.
"Oh, no, no, don't cry," Anna said gently. "Look, it's just a toy."
To distract her, Anna playfully placed the thermometer under her own arm.
A second later, she pulled it out dramatically.
"Ta-da!" she exclaimed. "Look! There's a chocolate here."
The toddler immediately stopped crying and stared at her with wide eyes.
"You want a chocolate?" Anna asked with a smile.
The little girl nodded eagerly.
"Then we need to put this under your arm first so you can get your chocolate," Anna said. "Do you want to try?"
The toddler nodded again.
"Such a brave girl."
Carefully, Anna placed the thermometer under the child's arm.
A few moments later, it beeped.
Anna removed it and checked the reading.
The child had a slight fever.
Anna slipped the thermometer into her pocket and pretended to look around.
"Hmm..." she said thoughtfully. "Now, where did that chocolate go?"
The toddler looked around as well.
When she couldn't find it, her lips began to tremble.
"Oh! Here it is!" Anna exclaimed, opening her palm to reveal two small chocolates.
The toddler's eyes immediately lit up.
"Because you were very brave, I'll give you two chocolates."
The little girl happily accepted the treats and hugged them to her chest.
Her mother smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"You're welcome," Anna replied.
The toddler shyly waved at Anna before returning to her mother's side.
After recording the child's vital signs, Anna referred them to the doctor on duty.
The doctor proceeded with a thorough assessment while Anna prepared to assist the next patient.
As she watched the little girl leave with a smile on her face, Anna couldn't help but smile too.
Moments like these reminded her why she wanted to become a nurse in the first place.
Anna left and returned to her post, busy filing patients' names into the record box.
Suddenly, a man sat on the patient chair in front of her.
"Nurse, can you check my BP?" he asked.
She looked up.
"Hi," he said again.
"Tom," she replied flatly.
"What are you waiting for? Your patient is here," he added.
"You're teasing me," she said.
"No, I'm not. I just want to know my latest BP."
Tom rested his arms on the table.
Anna stood in front of him, standing closer than necessary.
Her heartbeat quickened. She didn't know why, but she felt uneasy around him.
She gently leaned forward and wrapped the cuff around his bicep.
Tom looked at her and caught her gaze.
"What?" Anna asked.
"Your hand is cold," he said with a small smile.
"Tsk." She smirked, placing the stethoscope diaphragm under the inflatable cuff.
"I saw what you did to that child," he said.
"Shh," Anna interrupted quickly. "I can't hear your pulse," she explained.
She focused, listening carefully.
She could hear his breathing—and even notice his familiar scent. For a moment, she almost leaned in closer, but she quickly stepped back and looked away.
After a few seconds, she removed the cuff.
"110/70," she said.
"That's normal, right?" he asked.
Anna nodded.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Did you greet my mother?" he asked instead.
"I was supposed to, but I was ashamed," she admitted.
Tom laughed. "Come on."
"No!" she replied immediately.
"Don't be." He stood up.
Just then, a young girl tugged on his shirt from behind.
Tom turned around and saw a little girl holding a flower. She shyly offered it to him.
They both laughed.
"Thank you," Tom said, bending down. "Where's my kiss?"
The girl giggled and kissed him on the cheek.
"I have something to tell you," he said.
"Okay," she replied.
"I need to whisper in your ear. You see that lady?" he said, glancing toward Anna.
Both of them looked at her.
"What?" Anna asked, narrowing her eyes.
Tom leaned down and whispered to the girl.
Moments later, the girl laughed and ran toward Anna, holding the flower.
She offered it to her.
"Kuya Tom said this flower belongs to you," the girl said cheerfully. "Because you'll get jealous if I give it to him."
Anna raised an eyebrow.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk," she said, shaking her head as she accepted the flower.
The little girl ran back toward her grandmother while chatting with Janeth.
From a distance, Anna and Janeth exchanged a quiet smile.
After the distribution of goods and supplies, Janeth sat on a chair and wiped her face. She looked tired, but there was happiness in her eyes as she served the people.
Anna walked toward her.
"Hi, Ms. Janeth," she greeted.
"Oh, I didn't know you were here," Janeth said warmly. "Come, sit beside me."
Anna sat down next to her.
"Call me Tita," Janeth corrected gently.
(Tita means aunt.)
"Alright, Tita," Anna replied with a smile.
"You know," Janeth began, "we've been doing this since the company started. Once or twice a month, especially when Mildred is here. She's the one who organized all of this before. They both love doing this."
Anna smiled softly.
"I think the people really love them."
"Yes, indeed," Janeth said. "They miss them. Luckily, Tom came with me this morning. I can't wait to see them married one day."
Anna fell silent for a moment, then simply nodded.
"Hopefully, you'll be there," Janeth added.
Anna smiled.
"Of course, Tita. I'll be there."
She stood up. "Excuse me, Tita. I think I need to go back to my post. My clinical instructor might be looking for me."
"Yes, go ahead," Janeth replied.
Anna walked away.
"Do you know her?" Nikki asked.
"Yes," Anna answered.
"Ohhh! How?"
Anna sighed and smiled faintly.
"It's a long story."
Later, Anna and her classmates sat inside an empty room while their clinical instructor gave a brief discussion on community nursing before officially ending their community duty.
After the session, Anna packed her things. She carefully wiped her BP apparatus, thermometer, and stethoscope before placing them inside her paraphernalia bag.
She was walking with her friends when suddenly Tom pulled her bag from behind.
"Hey!" Anna exclaimed in shock.
Her friends turned around immediately when they heard her voice.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tom asked, holding her bag up. Then he turned to her classmates. "Go ahead, girls," he said with a wink.
Her classmates giggled and continued walking along the highway, clearly entertained.
Anna struggled slightly as she tried to get her bag back.
"Stop bullying her, Tom," Janeth called from inside the van, smiling at them.
"Get in," Tom said.
"Tsk," Anna muttered under her breath as she got into the van and sat beside Janeth.
Tom followed and got inside the car, sitting next to her.
"Please understand my son, Anna," Janeth said gently.
"It's okay, Tita," Anna replied.
"Don't worry, Ma. I'm like her older brother. It's fine with her," Tom explained.
"Really?" Janeth asked.
Anna nodded.
"See?" Tom said with a satisfied grin.
The driver pulled away from the health center, and the car soon entered the busy streets of Manila. After a while, they arrived at the Manila Hotel and headed inside Red Jade Restaurant—a traditional Cantonese dining place known for its fresh seafood and handcrafted dim sum.
The atmosphere was elegant and quiet, a stark contrast to the noisy community they had just left.
They were seated at a corner table. The soft clinking of plates and distant conversations filled the air.
Not long after, Marvin arrived.
"Pa!" Tom immediately stood and hugged him before taking his seat beside Janeth.
"Hi, Anna. How are you? Please, sit down," Marvin said warmly.
Anna sat beside Tom, a little unsure in the unfamiliar setting.
"I'm alright, Mr. Yang."
"Call me Tito," Marvin said, this time in a firmer, more commanding tone. "Is that okay?"
Anna hesitated for a brief second, then nodded.
"Yes, Tito."
A waiter soon served their food, along with a bottle of white wine. The aroma of the dishes filled the table—steam rising from dim sum baskets, glistening seafood plates, and perfectly roasted meats.
"Enjoy your meal," Marvin said.
"You want duck?" Tom asked Anna, already reaching for her plate.
Anna quickly shook her head. "No, it's okay—"
"Try it," Tom insisted, placing a piece onto her plate before she could stop him.
Anna froze.
"Tom—"
"It's fine," he interrupted casually. "Just try it."
He leaned slightly closer, pointing at the dish like a self-proclaimed expert.
"You should try it. It's one of the most delicate and delicious items here. Their dim sum is famous too. If you taste it, you'll feel like you're in Hong Kong."
Anna frowned slightly but said nothing, staring at the piece of duck now sitting on her plate as if it had betrayed her.
Marvin leaned back in his chair, observing them with quiet amusement.
"You two seem very close," he said.
"Yes, they are," Janeth replied immediately, smiling knowingly.
"What? I'm just helping her," Tom said innocently, then smirked. "She looks a bit malnourished."
Anna snapped her head toward him.
"What did you just say?"
Marvin and Janeth burst into laughter.
"Alright, that's enough, son," Marvin said, still chuckling.
"I told you, Tom, stop bullying Anna," Janeth added, taking a calm sip of water.
"I'm not bullying her, Mama," Tom replied, leaning back casually. "I just don't want her to be too thin. It doesn't look good on her."
He glanced at Anna and added with a teasing wink, "Seriously."
Anna's eyes narrowed.
Without warning, she kicked him hard under the table.
"—!"
Tom immediately stiffened, his expression flickering for a second before he masked the pain and casually adjusted his posture, secretly rubbing his leg under the table.
Marvin noticed but said nothing, only shaking his head in amusement.
Tom recovered quickly.
"You want wine?" he asked Anna, as if nothing had happened.
"No, Tito, thank you," she replied politely.
"Um… she actually likes it, Pa," Tom suddenly cut in, wiping his mouth as if making an official announcement. He took her glass before she could protest. "Give it here."
Marvin raised a brow but still poured the wine into Anna's glass.
"Have a drink," Tom said smoothly. "Don't worry. I'm your driver later. I'll send you home safely."
"Tom, that's enough," Janeth warned, though she was clearly trying not to smile.
"Alright, alright," he said, leaning back. Then added with a mischievous grin, "But if you don't drink it, you're the one paying for this whole meal."
"Huh?" Anna blinked at him.
A few soft chuckles broke around the table.
"Don't believe him," Janeth said. "Anna, just finish your meal."
"Yes, Tita. Thank you," Anna replied with a small smile.
She turned slightly toward Tom and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Bleh."
Tom stared at her for a second… then smiled, softer this time, like he was quietly enjoying every second of it.
After dinner, they all stepped outside. It was already past seven in the evening, and the streets of Manila were dimly lit, the city humming softly under the night sky.
Marvin handed his car keys to Tom.
They shared a brief hug.
"Take care," Marvin said, then turned to Anna and waved. "Good night, Anna."
"Drive safe, son," Janeth added. She kissed Tom on the cheek and hugged him tightly.
Tom returned the hug. "I will, Ma."
Janeth then turned to Anna.
"Get in," she said gently, smiling. "Bye, Anna."
She hugged her as well. "Get in safely, take care."
"Thank you, Tita," Anna replied warmly.
Anna got into the car and settled in the front passenger seat. Tom closed the door behind her and went to the driver's side.
He got in, started the engine, and adjusted the controls.
Through the window, they both waved to Marvin and Janeth one last time.
Marvin and Janeth waved back until the car began to move.
Tom drove off slowly, merging into the night traffic of Manila, silently sending Anna home.
*******************************************************************
stay tuned to Chapter 9: The first day of work is coming!