Chapter 3

ALEX’S POV

It's been three years since we started to build our own company, the R2 corporation. R2 comes from our surname Ramirez and Rivera.

Liz is two years older than me. Our parents are the best of friends, that is why it is not surprising that Liz and I became best friends.

Both our parents are successful businessmen, and my parents are into hotels and malls while Liz's family are into airlines.

We are very thankful that we both have an older brother; that is why we are not pressured to take the responsibilities or to take over our family business. We are free to choose our career path.

But just like our parents, we are also into business, but we want to establish our name. We don't want to take advantage of our family's name and success. That's why we chose a different industry.

We chose to venture into the Telecommunication industry. Our company is a distributor of Sapphire; it is a cellphone brand. Liz and I are into gadgets; that why when someone offered us to distribute the new cellphone brand, which is Sapphire, we accepted it right away.

We love challenges, and we consider Sapphire a challenge. Here in the Philippines, many cellphone brands are entering the market, whether local or global brands. The challenge here now is how we can make our brand stand out from the other cellphone brands.

We chose to target the elite or Class A and B market. Since aside from the distribution, the brand has allowed us to participate in the making of the brand.

We also did some PR campaigns, and we hired elite influencers here in the country to create noise for the brand.

And I will tell you it is not easy to do. It took us years to reap all our investments for this brand. That is why I am so proud of our brand because now, Sapphire is the most “must-have” gadget or brand of the elite here in the Philippines.

I'm the owner slash Sales and Marketing Director of the R2 Corp., while Liz is the co-owner slash CEO.

I don’t mind the position. I never wanted to be the CEO or President of the company because my skills were creative and planning. I prefer to do marketing and sales work than to just review and sign documents.

While Liz has excellent skills when it comes to people management and business administration, that why she is perfect to be our company’s CEO.

Since the 3rd quarter(which we consider the ghost month/quarter because the sales are expected to drop), I am busy for the whole month because I need to do reports and planning. Fourth-quarter is the most active quarter of the year. Because it has so many holidays like Christmas, so our sales are expected to double or triple, that’s how this industry work.

I'm busy reviewing the sales report when my secretary told me that Bryan is outside and wants to talk to me.

I don't want to be rude to him that why I told my secretary to let him in.

After we talked over the phone, I decided to avoid him since he is not with Liz anymore.

From all my experiences before, I already got a phobia of all my friends’ ex-boyfriend because they started to ask me out or to court me after they broke up with my friends.

And that’s the reason why I lose friends. Well, maybe they are not my REAL friends, to begin with. And also is it my fault that their boyfriends like me?

Don't get me wrong, and I'm not defending myself. I know that I'm not doing anything wrong. I did not flirt with them; they are the ones who flirt with me, and I never flirted back with them.

That is why sometimes my friends were always making fun of my dilemma. They will tell me that if ever they will have a boyfriend, they will not introduce me to them.

Well, I never told them to introduce me to their boyfriend. I am not interested.

When Liz introduces Bryan to me, they ask Liz in a teasing tone if she is not afraid that Bryan might like me.

"Hi, baby girl!" He greeted me.

He seems to be in a good mood.

"Hi, grandpa! What are you doing here? Liz is not here; you can now leave!” I said, trying to chase him out.

Grandpa and baby girl became our endearment to each other. See, we even have an endearment. But those endearments are nothing because we are just close. Also, he was the one who started it.

He often teases me before that I am too mature with my age. Then I tease him back by calling him grandpa because of our age gap. He is five years older than me. See, he’s already my grandpa?!

He smirked. "I didn’t come here to see her. Remember, we have already broken up. I want to ask you why are you avoiding me?”

I cleared my throat. Am I too obvious?

“Ha? What are you talking about?” I ask him acting clueless.

“You are not answering my text messages and even my call. Now tell me that you are not avoiding me?!” He said in a serious tone.

Are you my boyfriend to have that kind of reaction?

I wanted to tell him, but I don’t want him to think that I’m too assuming.

"I don't see any reason why I still need to keep in touch with you like we're... you know... became friends because your my best friend’s boyfriend... and now that the two of you are not together, so why will I still be friends with you?" I honestly told him.

He became silent. I can see in his face that he felt sad with what I just said. I feel guilty. Am I too harsh on him? I want to avoid him because I don’t want to be in a complicated situation.

“Is that it? After all, we’ve been through? We are also friends, right?” He said.

He sounds like he is hurt.

I bit my lower lip. I am feeling guilty because of what he said and how sad he looks right now.

“Yes, we are friends. But it's not good to see that we still hang out or still friends knowing you guys broke up. Also, Liz hasn’t moved on yet. Though I know she is already in the process of moving on. But for me, it's insensitive on my part if I will still keep in touch with you.” I told him sincerely.

I hope that he can understand where I am coming from.

“Alex, are you really like that? Why are you always thinking about what other people may think or say?” I can sense the frustration in his voice.

"Bryan, I am just doing what I think is right," I said to him in a serious tone.

“Even if it means that I will be out of your life?”

I don't know, but there seems to be a pinch in my heart when he said that. I want to cry because I can see the sadness and pain in his eyes. But I have to be firm. It is not only for me, and I am doing this for him and Liz.

“Bryan, that’s too deep. But in the situation that we are in, I think yes. Though I hope in time we can be friends again without... you know... thinking what other people will say about our relationship.” I told him in a teasing tone to lighten up the mood.

"Are you sure that it is okay with you to let me go?"

I closed my eyes. Even if I don’t want to, I have to do it.

I sighed aloud. “For now... yes.”

Sorry, Bryan, but this is for the best. Especially now that I know that Liz hasn’t moved on yet from your relationship, I am very sure that Liz will be hurt if she saw us together, especially now that she knew you already have a new girlfriend. Wait, speaking of girlfriend.

“Bryan, I’m just curious. About your new girlfriend, is it true?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Then why did you tell me that you already have a new girlfriend?” I ask curiously.

My best friend got hurt by that lie!

“Because I know that Liz is with you at that time. I am well aware that you are not interested whether I have a new girlfriend or none.” He said coldly.

I chuckled. "Well, yes. I am thankful that Liz was not able to see your reply about your supposed new girlfriend’s name.”

He just shrugged and said his goodbye.

He looks sad. I feel sorry for him, but I need to do this.

I will miss him.