5.

Laughter from both older men surrounds the entire room. They were sitting in Julian’s office as they drink a bottle of wine with some sugar-free snack Francisca had made for Julian.

They were talking about their youthful days and the times they spent as brothers in university. It was a fun-filled memory and they enjoyed every bit of their conversation.

“Yeah, I was so scared that she might blow it all up so I decided to get the chancellor involved to at least save my neck” Julian chuckled.

“I couldn’t blame her for harboring such feelings towards you” Gary shook his head “You hurt her big time, if you want to be true to yourself” he pointed.

Julian shrugged then leaned back on the couch to put his legs on the small table in front of them.

“I always make it clear what my intentions are”

“Yes, you do,” Gary rolled his eyes.

Julian poured some more wine into their cups and settled back as he looked at his friend who looked like he was in distress, even the laugh they had seconds ago couldn’t wipe out the worry on his face.

“Tell me, what’s going on,” Julian says.

Gary sighed then dropped his cup to face his friend. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing seemed to come out of his mouth so he closed it. He was thinking of ways to put his predicament and not seem like he was begging because that was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Julian, things have been so hard since my company encountered that issue over a year ago” Gary sighs again “It’s been really pressuring for our entire family but I can’t do anything about it. If that model hadn’t failed then we wouldn’t be in this situation” Gary began to explain how things are with him and his family.

Julian carefully listened to his friend explain his predicament to him, he felt bad for all the things he experienced over time and so badly wanted to do anything to help him. if he can’t recover but at least help him start over if that’s what he wants.

“I am so sorry about what happened to you, I am sure it was very hard to let go of something you worked so hard for and for it to go crashing down and being snatched from you. It’s painful to imagine” Julian gave him a sympathetic look.

“It was really tough, I am just glad that Flora was okay after that hard blow… it wasn’t easy, and trying to pick up the piece proved impossible”

“I understand,” Julian stayed quiet for a while as a thought came across his mind. He had been thinking about it for a while but when Gary came to him, he remembered that he had a daughter and this might be a good opportunity to strengthen the family bond through their kids.

Then again, it sounded good but his friend was really vulnerable now, and bringing it up at this moment would not be good but at the same time, he has his need to bring his son to order and for him to stop his wayward ways. He was positive about Gary’s daughter being well-behaved and would set Santiago straight.

After thinking about it for a moment, he cleared his throat and asked “How about your daughter Joan? How is she? Is she in town?”

Gary not expecting the question at this moment, shook his head and smiled “She is good, she works at a coffee shop… trying to make ends meet, you know since all that happened” Gary said then his lips broke into a smile as he thought of his daughter

“I am glad that she is doing her best in ways she could, it’s beautiful to see your child doing so much and putting effort” he chuckled then cleaned the side of his eyes to clean the small tears that wanted to fall.

“I am so sorry about what happened to you and I am glad to know that your daughter is responsible” Julian comments.

“Oh yes, she is but when you cross a line, she’ll set you straight” Gary laughed and Julian joined in.

“That’s good to know. I want to make you a proposal” he said getting Gary's attention. Gary nodded for him to go ahead and he let out some breath of air “You need financial help with your business and I need a responsible lady for my son as a wife” he said.

Gary frowned when he said that and thought about it when it clicked. His eyes widened and his mouth was left agape. He had a look of disbelief on his face as he stared at Julian who didn’t look okay. He looked like the words were forced out of his mouth.

“I know this is not the right time with all that happened with you and your family but I want you to reconsider it, we know each other well and our children getting married will make our personal and business relationship stronger and expand too” Julian tried to convince him.

“I don’t know what to say about it,” he said, still trying to digest the offer his friend made him. he stayed quiet for a moment thinking about it and how upset it would make his daughter and wife.

He didn’t want to take actions that would cost the happiness of his daughter, what if she has someone who she is seeing now? What if she doesn’t like this Santiago guy? Many ‘What ifs?’ crowded his head and he couldn’t just come to a conclusion yet.

Julian on the other side watched his friend as he thinks about the offer. He was really hoping that Gary considered it and allowed his daughter to marry his son. It would be great if they could be connected once again but through the marriage of their children.

Gary sighed then looked up at his friend with an unsure look on his face “Let me think about it and at least talk to my daughter about this. I can’t just take rash decisions without consulting her, especially when it involves her and her future” Gary said and Julian let out a relief sigh.

“Sure, let me know what she thinks then we can set them up on dates so that they get to know each other.”

“I’ll talk to her first and know what she thinks about it first,” Gary said then stood to his feet. He shook his friend who got to his feet too and forced a smile “I’ll be in touch as soon as I can” Julian nodded and he walked him to the door before he left his office with those thoughts surrounding him.

…

“I need to get to the hospital now” Camila who was already dressed out of her work clothes and was wearing a pink floral knee-length gown and silver flats with her small purse in her hand, stood in front of Joan who was behind the counter.

It was the end of the week already and she needed to do some sorting out the sales made the whole week. She was almost done with it since she started much earlier. Their manager would have helped out like he always does but he had urgent matters that needed his attention so, she decided to do it herself.

“I’ll meet up with you as soon as I am done here and I have locked up” Joan said then looked up to see her friend already changed. “You look great” she winked.

Camila flipped her hair and did a few poses for her like a runway model or a celebrity posing for the paparazzi, Joan laughed as she made a camera shape with her hand and snapped with her tongue making clicking sounds.

“Thank you” Camila grinned after their little photoshoot. She looked at what Joan was doing and frowned when she saw lots and lots of numbers on the different papers lying on the counter “My GOD knows I have no brains for any of these,” she pointed to the papers and laughed.

“That’s why we all have what we are individually good at” answered Joan who went back to work. She stopped what she was doing and looked at her “Did you apply for more jobs to teach Archelogy?” she asked.

Joan knows that this is a big-time dream for Camila to work as an archeologist in any university that loves and values ancient history. Camila couldn’t get the job because most of them require you to be of a certain age and have some professional experience with a master's degree to support it.

Camila didn’t match the age because she was still young, had little professional experience, and wasn’t even done with university yet because she had to drop out at some point. Now, she is in her fourth year and has just one more year to have her degree, she hopes a university will employ her as she pursues her master program and there, she can have the experience she needs.

“I… uh…” Camila let out a sigh and then rested her head on the counter as she spoke something in Spanish under her breath.

“I understand Spanish well” Joan reminded. Camila raised her head and pouted.

“I think I gave up already” she pouts, Joan gasped and grabbed her by the arm.

“You better be joking because this isn’t funny” Camila didn’t look like she was and that made Joan sad “Why? I told you that one will accept you, you just have to keep trying” she tried to encourage but Camila groaned then released herself from her hold.

“How long do I have to keep trying? I feel like the rejections are more than my applications” she sighed tiredly.

“It’s hard getting rejections, it's hard when it seems like a breakthrough is far from happening but that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your dreams and trying your best every single day,” she packed up the papers and put them in her bag so that she can take it home to finish up then led Camila to one of the chairs so that they can sit.

“Look at me, my dad lost his company to people who thought they had power over others because of their many chains of businesses but did I let it get to me? No, did I let it stop me from wanting to do what I can to make sure we get it back? No, am I going to keep pushing myself till we win back my dad’s company? Yes,” she sighed then placed her hand over Camila’s.

“A hundred ‘(no)s’ can’t compete with one yes, a yes can wipe out all the pain of receiving no, no, no, you have to keep pushing and never let that dream go to waste, show them you’re the Camila I know that get whatever she wants because she can and she will” Camila grinned slowly then wrapped her arms around Joan’s neck.

“I love you so much girl, I will never stop till I get the yes I want,” she leaned back from the hug the both of them stood to their feet “Thank you, Joan, I love you”

“I love you to girl, let’s get going”

“How about t-”

“I’ll complete them at home,” she says then they lock up and start heading to the hospital to visit Liliana, Camila’s mum.