He turned his swivel chair to face Andrew's frowning face.
"What?"
"Why did you call me in?" Andrew wasn't smiling and Rey felt guilty.
"I apologize for earlier." He said in a hurry, wanting to move on to the next topic.
"I didn't hear you." Andrew scooted even deeper into her chair, a sign that he wanted Rey to voice out his apology even louder.
"I said I am sorry." Rey looked annoyed now.
"That's not how to apologize. If you won't apologize properly, I guess it'll be better I just resign and look for better work elsewhere."
"Andrew!"
"What?"
"I am sorry." Rey gripped his pen tightly and he glared at Andrew's face which now morphed into a sly smile.
"What do you want me to do then?"
"I need you to go home to Mia…" Rey had to pause his statement halfway when Andrew had this fangirly look on his face.
"Andrew." Rey was almost growling, it was a warning sign and Andrew looked constipated for a second or two before going back to having puppy eyes like Rey's words couldn't be taken seriously.
"Go to Mia and do what? Are your guys getting married soon? Have you both finally acknowledged your feelings?" Andrew looked more ecstatic than he was.
Reynaldo could already imagine his ears twitching in the hopes to get more information.
Heaving a heavy sigh, Rey ignored him and went ahead with what he had initially planned to say. "Go to Mia, get more information about her brother, go to wherever he is and transport him to the best hospital here in San Diego."
He went back to his laptop and had to look up at Andrew to see his bewildered look.
"What?" His brows were furrowed this time and Andrew's face slowly split into a broad smile that made him close his eyes in frustration, he felt his eyes were about to bulge in anger.
"I see what you are doing there, Rey Rey." Andrew began and when Rey opened his eyes to see Andrew wriggling his brows like his life depended on it, Rey swore he would have thrown his laptop at Andrew.
"You are breaking character and it's too beautiful to see you fall in love slowly." Andrew was getting dramatic and his gestures made Rey's chest bubble in something close to annoyance mixed with something else he could not understand.
"Andrew, you are fired!" Rey found himself raising his voice and just like that, Andrew jumped from his seat and flew towards the door.
Glaring at the now closed door like it would repair his stress, his phone rang, drawing his attention. Seeing his mum's ID, Reynaldo wished he had a strategy in place for her call before now.
"Reynaldo Davies!" Her high pitched voice made him put the phone away and cup his ear with his hand before bringing the phone back to his ear.
"Good day Mum."
"Oh! Just shut up Reynaldo. Shut up!" His mum yelled uncharacteristically into the phone and he kept his mouth shut.
"What was the meaning of what you did?"
"What was the meaning of that?" She asked again as if wanting him to speak but he knew best not to say anything.
"What was that article about? Who is she? I have a girl for you already and you know her…"
"Mum, please." Rey sighed.
"What?"
"I have a girl I like already."
"What do you mean?" She asked and he knew she would burst into tears any time from now.
"I have a girl I like, a girl I am ready to spend the rest of my life with." He tells her, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Do you really like her that much?" She asked, hope blooming in her voice.
"Yeah, I do."
"Why then didn't you tell me? Why didn't you introduce her to us before making this big announcement?"
"Mum, mum, mum…" Rey cuts her off knowing she would continue and probably not stop anytime soon if he kept mute.
"I'll bring her to you soon."
"What about Celine?" She asked instead and Rey clenched his fist and grounded his teeth.
"I have promised her parents already. What do you want me to tell them?"
"Tell Dad I'll come with my fiancée this evening." He said instead and in saying that, he willed the title to be real and not some sort of pretentious title he had to pay for.
"Rey?" This time it was his father's voice and he felt tense, so tense that his muscles suddenly started to ache.
"Yes Dad."
"What's her name?" Mr. Davies asked.
"Mia." Rey's tone was clipped, he kept his eyes on the wall.
"How long do you plan on staying?"
"Just the evening."
"Spend the night." Mr. Davies said.
Rey looked at his fist this time and knew there was no use arguing with his father.
"Okay." Came his tense voice and in responding he imagined Mia's surprised face when he told her they would be spending the night at his father's.
His mind wandered further into the possibility of sharing the same room with her and a grin broke on his grim face.
***
On entering the G.G Reserve with his hand wrapped tightly over Ma's tender hand, he walked into Fredrick's office, ignoring the staff.
Fredrick, who stood as if already expecting their visit, allowed his blue eyes to scan the couple, his eyes lingering on their intertwined hands.
Mia shifted on her foot at the uncomfortable tense air which was fast building up between both men.
"Am I here to get a makeover, Babe?" She looked up lovingly at Rey, before pouting. She had thought of something to do to break the tension and whatever it is she came up with made Rey look at her like this was his first time meeting someone as lovely as she was.
When she finally looked back at Fredrick after Rey's public display of affection, she almost barged her head into the face of one of the staff standing close to her in embarrassment. Frederick had his brow kicked up in amusement like he knew all her actions just now were just a farce and nothing more.
"Shall we?" He led the way after Rey insisted on coming in with them.
Sitting on the chair to get her head done, Fredrick bent to whisper into Mia's ear but Mia raised her hand to stop him. She wasn't going to risk her brother's health for him even if succumbing to him meant freedom from Rey's confusing acts.
"I am okay with my relationship with Rey." She said it out loud, attracting attention especially that of Rey.
Holding Rey's eyes in the large mirror with Fredrick watching them, she said. "And I love him."
Rey held his phone even more tightly in his now sweaty palm as he kept his eyes still glued to the mirror at Mia's now lowered head, his heart thumping at her bold declaration.