Will’s Week (Part One)

forget me not series – The Romance of Ayin & Will

CHAPTER SIX

Monday, After the First Session

When she left, he turned off the engine and got out of the car.

He needed to smoke. That afternoon’s session was totally unexpected.

He turned in time to catch her retreating back. She looked so happy she was practically skipping on the street.

He helped put that smile on her face, he thought proudly. He loved his job.

He continued to watch her as she passed by a red house, a small boutique, and then a blue gate to what seemed to be a two-story white house.

So that’s where she lives, he figured as he lit up a cigarette.

He looked up to observe the house for a moment.

From the parking lot, he could see 3 big windows on the side. Bedrooms?

Which one was hers, he wondered.

He shook his head and softly chuckled at himself. He didn’t expect to fall for his student at first sight.

He replayed the moment he first saw her…

She was taking her time walking on the sidewalk, shaded by a big acacia tree.

She looked simple enough with her rugged clothes and her hair tied up into a ponytail.

And then, she slowly turned, her face all lit up from the afternoon sun.

His gaze traveled from the line of her neck, up to a dimpled smile, and then to her eyes dancing in delight as she checked out the car.

“Pretty,” the sudden thought came to his mind. “Please let her be the student.”

When she finally stopped and turned those smiling eyes on him, he felt a jolt of electricity run through his body.

She has beautiful eyes, he thought. Good thing his own were covered in sunglasses to hide his reaction.

As a long-time instructor, he was no stranger to girls, some of them even more beautiful than her.

But he couldn’t remember ever being hit with this kind of spark, especially on a first meeting.

“Hi, I’m Ayin,” he heard her say.

Pulling himself together, he straightened and took her extended hand.

So pleased that she was the student after all, he smiled back and said, “I’m Will.”

Later that evening…

He was alone at the office, checking the books and cash flow for that day.

After the usual daily expense and bills payment, they still have enough cash left for operations that week.

He checked out their manual logbook and was happy to note the growing list of new enrollees.

So far business has been good, especially the past couple of years.

His first few years of setting up the business on his own had been a struggle. But now, he has finally built his own network of regular clients who have entrusted their whole families, and loyally referred their friends, to the school for driving lessons.

Was it time to buy a new training unit? he wondered.

They needed a new automatic car, preferably an SUV or APV this time, as more and more students are preferring the clutch-free automatic transmission.

Thinking of automatic cars, his mind shifted to the girl again.

She has been racing through his brain like an undefeated Formula One champion in a fiery red car all evening.

It was time to go home and yet, she still hasn’t run out of gas. He found himself uncharacteristically waiting for her at the pit stop.

Finally, he stood up and went to the big white board on the wall, to study the next day’s class schedule again.

He frowned as he noted the assignments per time slot.

He didn’t like to be partial to pretty students, but…

He dialed a number.

He knew it was late and that random calls like this especially annoys his secretary. For sure, she was already busy watching her prime time drama series on TV by now.

He didn’t care. Her annoyance didn’t bother him.

She picked up on the 7th ring.

“Grace, why don’t I have a class schedule tomorrow?”

“That’s okay, Sir. I managed to assign all students to the reporting instructors tomorrow. They’re full.”

Grace was feeling quite proud of her work. After much coordination with students earlier, she had finally laid out the perfect schedule.

She knew it made her boss happy when he sees no vacant time slot in the instructors’ travel sheets.

Will, “Why all the shifting units in Rick’s schedule — automatic car in the morning, then manual, then back to automatic again in the afternoon?”

Grace, “I searched for a manual student as filler for his 1pm sched since there’s no automatic student available for that time. You said to maximize their schedule.”

Will, “That won’t do. He will be late going to the next class if he has to shift units again. Report to office early tomorrow and find him another manual student to pair in the afternoon. I’ll take over the 3pm automatic class.”

Grace, “But you scolded me yesterday for giving you a class. You said you’re busy this week.”

She was right.

He cleared his throat. “I know. For this automatic student, I’ll just be the one to handle all her classes till she finishes the program.”

Grace, confused, “Does this mean you will handle all automatic classes? We only have one automatic car.”

Will, “No, just hers.”

Grace frowned. This will be a challenge in scheduling. How would she fill up an instructor’s schedule if he’s taking away the slot?

Didn’t he just lecture her last week about the value of time management and maximizing an instructor’s daily schedule?

Grace, “That would mean for this week, I have to mix the automatic instructor’s 3pm schedule with manual to fill his travel sheet. Didn’t you just say that will make him late…”

Will, cutting in impatiently, “Just do it. Arrange my schedule to hers. If you can’t, don’t bother reporting back to office.”

Grace just rolled her eyes.

She was used to her boss’ empty threats. Every time he’s displeased with something, he would always tell her he’ll fire her.

It’s been almost two years and yet today, she’s still the secretary.

She was a fresh graduate when she joined the school. It had been a bumpy training process and period of adjustment with her impatient and unpredictable boss. Yet somehow, through time, she has managed to adapt to his rhythm.

Aloud, she just said. “Okay Sir, I’ll do it.”

Without another word, the phone clicked.

Tuesday, Before and After the Second Session

Because he was looking forward to meeting her again, he arrived an hour early at the parking lot.

He debated briefly if he should text her so they could already start the session.

Then, he decided not to. He wanted the time to settle his thoughts.

He got out of the car and wandered to explore the commercial building.

Do they have a coffee shop here? He was craving for a cafe mocha.

Hm, does she like coffee?

He went up to the second level to search, but mostly there were just offices. It made him wonder what her job was.

He found a gym at a corner area overlooking the parking lot and the main street. Looking through the glass, he saw a few men doing lifting exercises.

What kind of guy does she like? Will she be impressed by someone who goes to the gym?

Then, another thought occurred to him. She looked fit, maybe she goes to the gym as well? Probably here, too, since it’s just beside her house.

Just then, an idle fitness instructor interrupted his thoughts. “Hello, Sir. May we help you? Do you already have a gym membership?

Before he could think to refuse, the other man was already leading him inside and showing him different brochures, programs and price lists.

“What’s your minimum membership package?” Will finally asked.

“We have daily and weekly rates, but if you want to avail of our anniversary promo at 50% off, you have to enroll for at least one month.”

Will said, “Okay, I’ll get that. Do you accept credit cards?”

“Yes, we do.”

Then, the fitness instructor considered and tried to convince him once more to try the longer packages.

“But Sir, one month won’t be enough to tone and build up your muscles. You need to train longer.”

“I know. Just one month for now. If I like it, I’ll just extend later.”

He wasn’t really interested in the gym. He just thought that one month was enough to spy on a certain someone.

Later at the office…

Will bellowed as he entered, “Grace, couldn’t you coordinate better? Why all the sudden changes in the car assignments?”

Grace just calmly looked up to him and answered. “That was for a new enrollment. She paid cash on the spot. I had to accommodate her. You said we needed money for a new training unit.”

Grace was right. If it were another time, he would have awarded her for her quick arrangement.

Still, Will scowled, “Why not schedule her tomorrow? She’s a beginner, why start her in the evening?”

Grace shrugged, “The student said she’s not available any other time. She has work until 5pm and she can’t wait for the weekend.”

Grace made sense but Will was still not pacified.

He needed to let off some steam and he just knew the right place.

He growled, “Lock up the office when you leave. I’m going to the gym.”

Wednesday, After the Third Session

After dinner and coffee, he dropped by the office to find Grace and his youngest half brother JP, who also part-times as an instructor when they’re busy, watching something in the computer.

He has long suspected the two of them were dating.

He called out, “Grace, good thing you’re still here. What’s the password to my Facebook?”

Grace answered, “Didn’t you ask me to delete your account?”

Will demanded, “Create me a new account. Now.”

Grace sighed, muttering, “Didn’t you say you didn’t need it? That it was too much trouble?”

But she proceeded to open the computer browser to Facebook.

“I changed my mind. I think Facebook will be good for business. For building connections,” he emphasized.

After a while, Grace said, “We need a picture for your profile.”

“I don’t have one,” Will said.

JP volunteered. “Let’s just take one now, Kuya (older brother). Give me your phone.”

“Do I look okay? Better make that look good,” Will said.

“No problem,” his brother said as he cropped and edited the photo.

After completing the set up, they taught Will how to open the app on his phone.

“How do you search for someone?” he asked.

“Who are you looking for, Kuya?” JP asked, suspecting something was up.

Seeing the look in his brother’s eyes, he quickly answered, “Never mind. I’ll figure it out.”

He sat on his desk and played with his phone. What was her full name again?

“Grace, before you leave, give the me the list of new enrollees this month.”

When Grace handed the log, he quickly searched through it then inputted the girl’s full name on the search field.

There were a few similar names, but on the first try, he found the right one.

He opened her page and browsed through her photo gallery.

“Click that button and add her as a friend, Kuya,” JP suddenly said from behind.

He almost dropped the phone.

He turned around to see him and Grace looking avidly over his shoulder.

“Why are you guys still here?! Didn’t I tell you to leave already?”

JP and Grace burst out laughing. Slowly picking up their bags, they shared amused glances as they left him behind.

He didn’t even notice as his eyes became glued to the phone once more, browsing each and every photo Ayin had posted.

An hour later, he stood outside the office, quietly smoking.

Who was she? he wondered.

She looked different in her photos. Just like a host or celebrity, she’s always dressed up with make up on and surrounded by other beautiful people on stage or at a party holding a glass of wine.

He tried to reconcile the glamorous photos he’d seen with the rugged girl he saw on the first meeting and the one who ate with her hands at the barbecue station earlier.

She’s not as simple as she seems, he thought.

He took a long puff of cigarette, then slowly exhaled.

Still, he smiled, she had the same beautiful eyes.

And then, several puffs later, he sighed.

Damn, she wouldn’t fall for an ordinary guy like me.

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