Miggy's POV
It was a frenetically busy day for us at the office because one of the company's big clients suddenly arrived. Fortunately, before what happened, I called a flower shop to order a bouquet of flowers for Gabie to be delivered to her school. I provided the complete information that the delivery man needed. I made sure that she would receive it right after her defense, so I also called Jhay and informed him about the flowers I ordered for Gabie. Luckily, he told me he would go to school to make sure Gabie would receive the flowers I ordered for her. Later, before lunch time, I plan to order food for the two of them for their lunch.
When I was called for an emergency meeting, I asked Meynard to call to order food and deliver it to Gabie and Jhay on my behalf. I brought one staff member to the meeting because Meynard does a lot, so I couldn't include him. The meeting lasted over three hours, ending just in time for lunch, and I'm exhausted for some reason.That's why I really hate attending meetings like this, but I don't have a valid reason to avoid them.
I wanted to call Gabie to say hello to her, but I didn't because I didn't want to disturb her. At first, I was content with Jhay updating me on what was already going on there. Then Meynard and I just talk while we're having our lunch. I was invited to join the lunch with the VIP but I didn't show up because I didn't really have a trip to keep up with that because I don't feel like I can get enough.
"They're wondering why you didn't join them for lunch," Meynard said.
"They shouldn't be surprised because this isn't the first time I haven't gone with them," I replied.
"But you're one of the bosses, so you should be there,"
I don't want to be there, I'm not comfortable, so I'm not full, "he just nailed it because he knew that my decision would not change when it came to this matter.
The day we both went on in the office, I finished the documents that were usually placed on my desk, because I didn't want to be piled up with a lot of work. So I always make sure I end up doing all the folders they put on my desk for that day.
I didn't receive a message from Gabie, even after office hours, so I was nervous. I couldn't help myself, so even before I went home, I decided to try to call Jhay.
Jhay: Thank you.Hello sir!
Me: Hello. How's Gabie?
He is Jhay.'s eating the food you sent. We're just going to have lunch now because he couldn't go out earlier to eat. He's waiting to be called.
He gave me a long explanation.
Ah. Okay, Sorry to disturb you. Go ahead, eat first. I'll call again later.
Jhay: Oh no! It's OK. But just call me later so you can talk.
Me: Okay, thank you.
Then, I ended the call.
"Poor Gabie, she's gone hungry. But I understand because I also experienced the same thing during my time. You can't go out if you haven't been called yet, because you might be the next one, and then your name is called without you. You don't know if the professor will give you more or not, so all the hard work you do won't be wasted. In the thesis, you should stay until your name is called. " I was reminiscing about my own thesis defense.
Like our evening routine, Meynard drives me to the condo and then he eats dinner with me and Gab before he heads home. Dinner was ready when we arrived in my unit, so we didn't waste any more time. We just washed our hands and then ate, and I didn't hesitate to get dressed.
It's already become habitual for us three to have conversations or even exchange jokes during our dinner. I feel happy because I used to eat alone when Meynard wasn't with me because he had a walk. But since Gab came, I haven't experienced eating alone, even without Meynard. It's more fun when I'm with the two of them, like now.
Meynard and I are having a bottle of beer each while Gab is having ice cream for herself after dinner. We are on the veranda continuing the fun story. What could Meynard think of telling Gab during our younger years? Gab, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy listening to Meynard's stories, which were compounded with nonsense. Sometimes I was just shaken, but sometimes I was also laughing at what Meynard was saying.
"It's good that your fiancée isn't yelling at you, is it?" Gab pointed to Meynard after we laughed at one of his stories.
Because of my jokes, he fell in love with me, so now it's very difficult for him to get up, "he said proudly." I'm also really impressed with the humor that Meynard has. No matter how serious the situation is, you will laugh at his stretches. You will never be sad when he is with you. So, as well as mommy, they always want to be with Meynard when I come home.
Speaking of mommy, they vacationed in Las Vegas for a week, then returned to Mississippi where their youngest brother, whose daddy is sick now, lives, so they suddenly went to visit their aunt Manuel and aunt Beth there. He was attacked in high blood pressure, so he was rushed to the hospital after having a stroke.
It was also a good opportunity for Carla to take a break from working as mommy's personal assistant while they were not home yet. But he used to be with Carla even in other countries for shootings, only now he didn't come because the reason they went to America was not business.
After Meynard and I finished each bottle of beer, he immediately said goodbye to go home. While Gab moved to the living room to watch a movie on Netflix. I took a shower first so I could sleep fresh. Just as I exited the bathroom, I found my phone flashing, so I hurried to approach it, lying on top of my bed.
Me: Hello.
Gabie: I'm sorry.Hello, good evening.
Me: Good evening. How are you?
Gabie: I'm sorry.Okay, did I bother you?
Me: No, why?
Gabie: Can we meet?
Me: Yeah, sure. When?
Gabie: I'm sorry.Can you now?
Me: Okay, where are you?
Gabie: At the study hub.
Me: Okay, I'll just change and leave.
Gabi: Thank you. Seeing you.
Me: Not a problem. you.
I hurried to get dressed and then left my room with my cellphone and car keys.
"Are you leaving, brother?" Gab asked in astonishment.
"Because Gabie called, I'll just go for a while," I explained as I approached the door.
"Oh, okay. Remember, I'll take care of it, "he winked at me and then he smiled knowing that he meant something else to those smiles. But I ignored it so I could leave immediately.
I'm surprised when he calls me suddenly because it's not usual for him to meet me, so I'm nervous because he might have a problem.
"But it's vague that he didn't pass his 'defense' because he hasn't been called yet, maybe tomorrow?" in my mind.
When I arrived at the study hub, I immediately saw him in our usual spot. He was reading, so he did not notice that I had arrived.
"Hey!" I called his attention.
"Hi," he answered weakly, almost in a whisper.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat across from him.
"No, I feel more nervous because I wasn't called before. It didn't help me that I saw my classmate earlier crying when she got out of the room, "he said. I can see her gloomy face while she's talking to me.
"Chill, you'll be alright. I'm sure, you'll make it tomorrow, "I comforted her and then I reached out my hand and squeezed her.
"What if not?" he asked hesitantly.
"No, don't think like that. I know you can do it! This is what you've been waiting for and I know that you're efficient enough to have a passing thesis. You've worked hard for this. I know you can make it! " I calmed her down.
I knew he was still embarrassed. "Maybe you're just saying that because... you know," he couldn't continue what he wanted to say because I knew he was still embarrassed.
"Because I'm flirting with you?" At the same time, I pinched his nose lightly. He was especially upset at what I said and then his cheek turned red.
"Don't always be like that because I might not be able to stop myself from kissing you," I said softly to make sure no one else heard what I said to her.
He suddenly grabbed his hand from mine to cover his face. So I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. Then he stared at me when he recovered from the embarrassment, but his cheek was still red.
"Thank you for sending me earlier, you still have flowers, I haven't been able to defend myself yet," he said with a smile.
"It's okay, and at least it's not always ready. There is still tomorrow, "I replied to her.
You're really expensive," he complained.
"I didn't think of that because what's important to me is to make you happy after a hard day, because I know you can't bring the stew in front of the panel during the defense," I explained to him.
"Thank you," he could only say.
"If I were you, don't read, I know you've already read that, you're even more nervous. "I nursed her and reached out her hand again. I pulled him to his feet and then I picked up the folder he was reading earlier.
I took him to the nearest convenience store and then I bought him ice cream, chocokate bars and nuts.
"I can't run out of it," he complained when I handed him the paper bag containing my purchases. I didn't let him down because I just went in and shopped at the convenience store.
"Eh, don't consume it. You can put it in the refrigerator anyway," I said with a smile.
"The amount you give me every day, you might run out of that money to spend for me?"
Besides, how much were those? "Then I adjusted my seatbelt.
"Do you still want to go or I'll take you home?"
"I'm home, I'm early tomorrow,"
Okay, home it is, "he laughed at what I said."
Gabie's POV
"Thank you," I said when Miggy's car stopped in front of our house. The lights are off, the house is dark to make sure mama is asleep.
"You're welcome, anytime," he replied. I removed my seatbelt and then arranged the folder I was carrying as well as the paper bag that contained the things he had bought for me.
"Are you sorry? Instead, you are resting because I know you are busy in the office but you are still here to accompany me, "I apologized.
"
"There is no case against me. I am the one to thank because I am the one you chose to call and be with, "I said with a smile.
"Oh wow! Will I be thrilled, "I said for the second time. We laughed together and then he shook his head.
It's getting late; you need to get enough sleep for tomorrow. Don't stress yourself. I'll call you tomorrow when I wake up, "
Good night. Be careful driving, "then I opened the door to get off.
"Good night," he said before I closed the door.
I can't take the joy I feel as I enter the house when I walk into our house, because Miggy has a habit of not leaving when I can't enter the house, so that she can make sure I'm safe.
I still can't get the big smile off my face even though I'm lying down after I take a shower and change my sleeping bag, especially when I read that he texted that he had just arrived and he said good night again to go to sleep as well.
I don't know that in the last month that we have always talked and been together I have seen in him his sincerity in what he does for me. He's kind even if he looks rude. You'd think he wouldn't know how to laugh or joke because he always looked serious, but he wasn't happy with me. He always thinks of the people around him. He is careful not only with me, because he will also take care of Meynard and especially his brother when we are together, even for a moment.
He always finds a way to call or send me a message even though I know he is busy in the office. So I feel I am important to him because he doesn't just show up and leave me.
I have fallen asleep thinking of him, and because of him I have lost the nervousness I feel for myself.
You woke up early the next day. I even woke up before the alarm went off. But when I checked the phone, I saw that Miggy had a message for me.
"Luh! The next morning, he woke up. Didn't he sleep? "
To Alejandro Miguel:
Good morning. I just woke up. It is your morning. Did you sleep?
I waited for a while for his reply, so I didn't get up first. But after a minute, he still didn't reply, so I got up to prepare breakfast for mama and me.
"Oh? What about your morning? " I wondered about the question because he preceded me in cooking.
"Happy Birthday !!!" maam greeted me immediately when she saw me entering our kitchen.
"Thank you!" He hugged me, so I hugged him too, and then he kissed me on the cheek.
"I'm fine here, take a good bath first, after you take a bath, I'll finish here," he said. I didn't calm down so that the conversation wouldn't last long, so I just followed what he said.
Mama and I ate breakfast together, even though I knew he wasn't used to eating this early. He said it was okay because it was my birthday.
I started to get nervous again while on the way to school. Like yesterday, I wore business attire because that's what we were required to wear. I was wearing a white blouse inside that was overlaid with a gray coat, a pencil skirt that I was wearing, and black high heels. I also tied my hair in a high pony tail to keep my face clean while standing in front of the panel.
I ignored the noise of my cellphone at first. I knew those who just wanted to greet me were my classmates in high school, most of whom never forgot to greet me every year. Unlike those who were my classmates now in college, I didn't have any close friends because I don't like hanging out on campus when there are no classes or I don't do anything in the library. Because my priority is photo shoots so that I can earn money, only Jhay was close to me, but I didn't like him because he belongs to the college of Comm Arts. Luckily, we met because of the permit process and then he introduced himself to me and then he asked me if I wanted to be a model. Since then, we have always talked and met, and then accompanied each other, and he has also introduced me to other models that he takes care of.
The nervousness I felt got worse when I saw the panel walking into the AVR. I was already sitting with my other classmates who like me hadn't been called yet, so I'm sure we can all be called now.
I just listened quietly as one of my classmates stood in the middle and was currently being pelted with panel questions after he presented his thesis. I know we all listen to my classmates' constantly nervous feelings and cold hands. I also know that we are constantly praying that we will be able to properly present our respective theses and answer the questions that will be answered correctly.
"Looks like I've eaten more rice for breakfast ah? Because I feel sick, "I said in my mind.
It's not just my classmates I look at while speaking in the middle. From time to time, I also look at the reaction of the panel. Even though I can't see their faces, I just base it on their nods, meaning they liked the answer. But it is especially frightening when I see them dejected, as if they are bored listening to the speaker in the middle. Then someone was shaking and then saba bowed and something was written on the paper.
I even felt sorry for one of my classmates because he stuttered while speaking in the middle and then later he just closed his eyes because he couldn't remember what he had to say. After a while, he was told to just sit down because they had to call others to finish calling us all because there was another section to defend their thesis as well.
I couldn't understand how I felt when I heard my name being called to stand in the middle and speak. As I walked towards the center, I prayed over and over that I would not be mentally blocked like a classmate of mine was. Hopefully, I can do my presentation well, especially answering the questions the panel will ask me.
Before I could start, it was a bit delayed for a while because someone called a panel that he said he had to answer because it was important. He apologized before the AVR came out for a while. The other panel that was left made me sit down first so that I could relax. Fortunately, they weren't scary to look at because they smiled at me earlier while I was standing in the middle. They even told me to just relax and take a deep breath so that I wouldn't be too nervous, so that I wouldn't be like the one before me who was my class because of the intense nervousness that he felt mentally blocked.
I knew in myself that I really made sure I memorized every word I would say. Also, the topic I did in the thesis is not new to me because it is based on the cases of patients in clinical psychology in the past year. We studied them so we could learn how to handle different cases of patients.
I started speaking after a few minutes of us waiting for a panel to return after he answered the call to her. I did everything to calm myself so I wouldn't be overwhelmed by the intense nervousness I was feeling.
"Multiple health behavior change (MHBC) interventions target at least two health behaviors to improve at least two health behaviors, and MHBC interventions may be both more economical and effective than single health behavior change (SHBC) interventions. However, the mechanisms through which MHBC (vs. SHBC) interventions may be more effective are unclear. Self-efficacy and identity are known predictors of behavior. The present study seeks to test a novel MHBC intervention and to simultaneously evaluate mediators of behavior change — namely self-efficacy for general health behavior engagement and development of a healthy-person identity. Specifically, participants engaged in one of three interventions: (1) MHBC intervention targeting fruit and vegetable consumption, and yoga practice; (2) SHBC intervention targeting fruit and vegetable consumption;
I continued talking until they started asking me questions. I couldn't help but cry when I finished, especially when they handed me my folder and I saw they gave me a ninety-four grade after I waited a few minutes after they sorted me out with questions