Ella and her advertising department colleagues clinked their cold beers together, shouting "Cheers!" They were at an exclusive bar for a company dinner. Her friends teased her to blow out the candles, as today was a big day for her.
Ella, an executive assistant, had achieved this promotion after three years of hard work and perseverance. Competition was fierce in their company. You had to be one of the best to be considered for a promotion.
Many people envied Ella for this promotion. After all, she was relatively new to the company compared to the long-time employees. But she believed in working hard rather than going with the flow. Despite her haters, many people supported her and believed in her abilities.
Ella was living the life of a millennial woman: single, successful, and alone. She had been in her apartment for almost six years. Yes, she had a good relationship with her landlady, who was kind and not a gossip. She paid her rent on time. She knew that money talked all the time, so she had no problems there.
She had a sister, but she was living with their relative in Bohol. Her sister was a PWD
"deaf"
, so it wasn't advisable for her to live in Manila and be alone. So, with money talking again, her aunt agreed to have her sister live with them, paying the right price. Their parents passed away after she graduated from college. Typhoon Undoy took their parents' lives.
"Mam Ella, the night is young, let's enjoy," said a colleague, inviting her to the dance floor. Ella happily joined him, with other office mates joining them. She wanted to enjoy herself, and why not? She had been working her butt off for this promotion.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the bar...
"Bro, good thing you came," Brix greeted his friend Toffee, then they did their group handshake. Then he looked around.
"Where is Matt?" Toffee asked anxiously. Brix pointed his nose at Matt, who was in a corner of the bar. He seemed drunk. Two women who looked like regulars at this bar were talking to him. And by looking at them, he was already drunk. Toffee approached Matt and reminded him to slow down his drinking because he was already drunk. Matt looked up at him with puppy-dog eyes, but they were reddish.
"You're here, bro. Have a seat, and let's enjoy the night. It's my birthday, remember?" Matt invited Toff. The young man immediately sat down opposite Matt's table. One of the women who had been stroking Matt's arm shifted her attention to Toffee. Toffee felt uneasy, especially when he smelled the woman's perfume. He hated women's scents.
"Why so stiff, bro? Relax and enjoy. You're already late, and you're such a killjoy," Matt scolded his friend. Toffee didn't respond. He just stared at Matt.
He knew why Toffee was acting that way. He knew very well what it was all about. How could he forget? He hated those things. He was already drunk, but he wanted to drink more. Matt wanted to get drunk on alcohol like there was no tomorrow. Yes, he wanted no tomorrow. He hated waking up every day.
Matt took a swig of beer and went to the restroom. He was about to enter the men's restroom when Matt smelled something. It was so fragrant, intoxicating. A kind of smell that invigorated him. Matt didn't realize he was following that fragrance. He found himself standing outside the ladies' room door.
He almost sniffed all the women coming out from inside. Several women had passed by, but none of them had the fragrance he was craving. Matt changed positions. He leaned against the other wall, opposite the angle of the door. He could smell that fragrance more strongly there, as if it was giving him new strength.
"Where is she?" Matt asked impatiently. It had been years since he smelled something like this. It was almost nine years. Matt paused for a while. Yeah, it had been nine hell years.
Ella didn't know what was happening to her. She was fine when she entered the restroom. After using the bathroom, she tried to wash her face. Her face was already a bit oily. She took out her pressed powder, but then she suddenly felt dizzy.
It felt like her whole surroundings were spinning. She couldn't be drunk because she only drank ladies' drinks.
"Shit! What's happening to her?" Her head didn't hurt or ache. She was so dizzy, or to be specific, she felt sleepy. Ella fought against the strange feeling. Slowly, she walked out of the cubicle.
"Holy cow! What the hell?" Ella almost cursed when she was startled by the large figure she encountered at the restroom door.
"What the heck is he doing here?" She looked up at the figure, only to be even more terrified by what she saw. The man was looking at her intensely. His deep green eyes were immensely drawn to her. She knew she was pretty enough to get this kind of attention, but my God, it wasn't normal to stare at you like that at the restroom door.
"Has he been fantasizing about me? Did he follow me? Is he a stalker?" In shock, Ella couldn't take a step away from the door. The fragrance intensified, making Matt's feelings even more intense. That scent was driving him wild.
The smell was very close and intoxicating. Matt fixed himself. So, she was the woman with the beautiful scent, and she was damn good-looking too.
Matt murmured in silence. He looked at her intensely. His eyes were full of burning passion, longing, and admiration. But also, Matt knew the consequences of his actions and the after-effects of these collisions. But before the man could speak, the woman spoke first.
"Excuse me, sir! You're blocking my way," Ella said politely. The man was huge, and she felt a little scared of his gaze, but she didn't want to give it another meaning for her own peace of mind.
"And sir, I suggest you wait for whoever you're waiting for a little away from this door. Some may misinterpret what you're doing, sir."
