Page 34 of Chasing Mr. Prefect
“So I know you made the initial video and the contact specifically asked for you,” he said. “Will you be free to meet them next week, maybe Wednesday afternoon? It’ll just be in Katipunan or something.”
“Yes, that should be fine.”
“Thanks. Here. Have a Ponstan. You can hand these papers to Miss Co afterwards,” he said. “I won’t be there on that day, though, so I’ve asked Seth to drive you if you need–”
“What’s this?” I asked, lifting the paper.
“Your disciplinary sign-off document saying you’ve held up your end of the bargain for Ephemere,” he said, looking annoyed at being cut off.
“I have?”
“Well, technically after the final video but you can hand that in to Miss Co whenever you want. You can text me if you have questions but that document paints you in a very good light and I imagine you won’t have any complaints, Miss Exconde.”
The last bit felt like an ice bucket poured over my head.
“Miss Exconde? Wow. Is that what we’re doing now?”
“Thisis you being given an out, if you want it,” he said, showing me his prefect smile. “You’ve been a great addition to the team but all things considered, Pub’s work is done. You’re a free elf. That’s all it is.”
“It feels like you getting back at me for what I said to you last week.”
He looked at the door, as though to check if there was anyone nearby, and then back at me.
“As bad as I was in grade school, I’d like to believe I’m not that cruel,” he replied. “But you did say you were only doing this for BA 170.”
Okay, this was frustrating. And this was Cholo. He was not the vindictive, cruel one—Iwas. This offer was generous. I thought of all the time and Saturday mornings I was getting back and found that I did not want them.
“What if I want to help and see this event through?”
“Then we’ll be happy to accept your help. You’re free to do as you please.”
He smiled a little and opened the conference room door.
“You know our BA 161 bet is still on, right?” I called out.
“Is it?”
“The exam results are coming out soon,” I said, pushing my luck. “I’d like to change the conditions. If I get a higher score, you’ll drop this formal bullshit and treat me like you usually do.”
Cholo sighed. “I’ll be allowed tocareagain, then?” he replied and that took me aback. He saw that I was lost for words and took full advantage of that. “Okay. Not changing my conditions, should I get the higher score. You are still not to swear for one week.”
“Deal,” I said, extending my hand.
He looked at it before clasping it in his warm, slightly calloused one, and I felt my heart jolt inside my ribcage. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Exconde,” he said, letting go of my hand. “Don’t forget the Ponstan. It’ll help with the headache.”
CHAPTER 15
Cholo Valiente
The name of the representative meeting you later is Mikayla Co, the assistant brand manager for Exonerate. She’ll be in Katipunan. I’ll text you which coffee shop to go to once she replies.
The text came just before our BA 161 class the following week. It sounded like his texts on the first week of me joining his team—formal, concise, and had no references to inside jokes or fandom shenanigans. I stared at it for a long time and just sent back a thumbs-up emoji.
This time yesterday I would have been bothered over the tone of this text. I would have been getting torn between being snarky to get a rise out of Cholo and properly talking to him like an adult. Instead, my head felt waterlogged and had no bandwidth to worry about anything. I was tempted to cut this class and have a nap in the library but I remembered Professor Villafranca was giving out the exam results today and I did not want to miss that.
I showered early this morning and then found myself anxious about leaving the room when I heard Liana’s footsteps in the hallway. Guilt was back in full force, eating at my insides. My thoughts were all overwhelming, making it worse by taunting me that I was getting a taste of my own medicine. I could not help but think if thiswas how Liana felt each time we fought.
Knowing myself, I had probably made her feel worse.