Its been 3 years since we started to build our own company, the R2 corporation. R2 comes from our surname Ramirez and Rivera.
Liz is 2 years older than me. Our parents are the best of friends that is why it is not surprising that me and Liz became best friend.
Both our parents are successful business man, my parents are into hotels and malls while Liz’s family are into airline.
We are very thankful that we have both have an older brother that why we are not pressured to take the responsibilities or to take over our family business. We are free to choose our own career path.
But just like our parents, we are also into business but we want to establish our own 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 in 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 as a challenge. Here in the Philippines, many cellphone brands are entering the market may it be local brand or global brand. The challenge here now is how can we make out brand standout 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 allow us to take part of the making of the brand.
We also did some PR campaigns, we hired the know elite influencer here in the country to create noise for the brand.
And I will tell you it is not easy to do. It took as w 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 really mind the position. I never wanted to be the CEO or President of the company because I am really into creative and planning. I prefer to do marketing and sales work than to just review and sign documents.
While Liz has a great skills when if 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 is expected to really dropped) I am busy for the whole month because I need to do reports and planning. Fourth quarter is the busiest quarter of the year. Because it has so many holidays like Christmas, so our sales is 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 he wants to talk to me.
I don’t want to be rude to him that why I told my secretary to let him in.
Honestly after our 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 to all my friends’ ex boyfriend. Because all of them started to ask me out or to court after they broke up with my friends.
And that’s the reason why I lose friends. Well maybe they are really not my REAL friends to begin with. And also is it my fault that their boyfriends like me?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending myself. I just know that I’m not doing anything wrong, I did not flirt with them they are the one who flirts with me and I never flirted back with them.
That is why sometimes my friends always making fun of my dilemma. They will tell me that if ever they will have a boyfriend, they will surely not introduce me them.
Well I never told then to introduce me to their boyfriend. I am not interested.
When Liz introduce Bryan to me, they ask Liz in a teasing tone of she is not afraid that Bryan might ended up liking me.
“Hi there 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 endearment are nothing because we are really just close. Also, he was the one who started it.
He ofter tease 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 5 years older than me. See he’s already my grandpa?!
He smirked. “I didn’t came here to see her. Remember we already broken up. I just 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 test 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?
That is what I wanted to tell him but I don’t want him to think that I’m too assuming.
“I don’t really 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 kind of feel guilty. Am I too harsh on him? I just 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 really 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 its not good to see that we still hangout or still friends knowing you guys broke up. Also Liz hasn’t moved on yet. Though I know she is already on the process of moving on. But for me its kind of insensitive on my part if I will still keep in touch with you.” I told him sincerely.
I just 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.
“Bry 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, I am doing this for him and Liz.
“Bry 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 tease 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 Bry but this is for the best. Especially now that I know that Liz hasn’t move 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.
“Bry 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 really 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 really look sad, I feel sorry for him bit I really need to do this.
I will miss him.