The event ended successfully, and the guests hurried to leave. The Malandre family thanked everyone for attending and brought the event to a close.
“Sean, wait for me a second, okay? I need to use the bathroom—I really have to go!” Anna pleaded.
“Sure. Want me to come with you?” Sean asked.
“No need!” Anna shot back as she ran toward the bathroom to her right.
Before leaving the bathroom, Anna washed her hands first. Suddenly, the lights went out.
“Whoa, why did the power go out? Oh no, and I’m all alone in here. How am I supposed to get out?” Anna said as she felt along the wall, trying to find her way out.
“How could the lights go out in a place like this? Is something wrong with the electricity? Go check it first!” Siska ordered the security guard.
“How can a huge company like this have a power outage? They’re supposed to be rich, but apparently they haven’t even paid their electric bill,” Anna muttered fearfully.
The bathroom was completely dark. Anna moved slowly, following the wall with her hands.
“Ow!” Anna cried. She seemed to have run into someone and nearly fell.
“Are you okay?” asked the man who caught Anna before she fell.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry,” Anna said as she pulled her hand away.
BLING!! The lights came on.
Anna had already made it out of the bathroom. She looked at the person she had bumped into and realized it was Haziq Malandre. Anna and Haziq stared at each other, each captivated by the other in their own way. After gazing at each other for a long moment while Anna was still in Haziq’s arms, they finally came to their senses and looked away.
“Are you all right?” Haziq asked, still holding Anna’s hand to keep her from falling.
Suddenly startled, Anna quickly pulled half her body away from Haziq’s lap. “Uh... I’m fine, sir. I’m so sorry for bumping into you. I really didn’t mean to,” Anna said, somewhat panicked.
“Okay, no problem,” Haziq replied with a smile. “You work here, right?” he asked.
“Yes.” Anna gave him a faint smile.
“Okay. Be more careful next time,” Haziq said with a smile before walking away and leaving Anna in the bathroom hallway.
Anna couldn’t believe she had run into her own boss. She immediately went to find Sean, covering her face in embarrassment.
“What’s wrong, An?” Sean asked, having patiently waited for Anna.
“Uh, I accidentally bumped into Mr. Haziq in the bathroom hallway when the lights went out,” Anna told Sean.
“Seriously?” Sean asked in shock.
“Yeah. I’m so embarrassed.” Anna still looked ashamed and frightened.
“It’s okay, An. You don’t have to be scared. Mr. Haziq isn’t a bad person,” Sean said with a smile as they walked toward the parking lot.
Meanwhile, Haziq watched Anna from a distance with a faint smile.
Anna and Sean hurried away. “An, take care!” Sean called out.
Anna waved at Sean, then drove away in her beloved car.
The weekend arrived. Haziq and Zizi were relaxing in the living room while watching TV.
Haziq laughed loudly when he saw Jerry chasing Tom. “Poor Tom. He keeps getting bullied.”
Haziq and Zizi laughed as they watched Tom and Jerry in the living room of their house. They couldn’t stop laughing at the cartoon duo’s hilarious antics as they chased each other around.
“Zizi!” Mami Maria called as she walked over to them. “Oh my God! You two act like little kids. All you ever watch is cartoons,” Mami Maria scolded them.
“That’s what’s so funny, Mom. Look at Tom—he keeps getting bullied,” Zizi said while snacking on peas.
“She’s right, Mom. It’s really funny,” Haziq chimed in with a laugh.
“Hah! That’s what you find funny? How old are you now, Haziq?” Mami Maria asked sarcastically. She picked up the remote from the table and turned off the show they were watching. “That’s a kids’ program!”