"Ma'am, we've just received the item we need from IGC Industries — it's being secured now."
"Ma'am, the CEO of RyTel is requesting a brief meeting with you at 4 pm."
"Miss, here's the report summary for the 1 pm meeting — everything's prepared."
"Ma'am, the chairman just confirmed he's on his way and should arrive shortly."
"Ma'am..."
A beautiful young woman with short black hair and striking red lips walks through a grand lobby, her steps smooth and confident. She wears a luxurious red fur coat that adds to her elegant presence. Her bright, expressive eyes hold a calm, alluring gaze. Several attentive assistants follow behind her, discussing important business updates and the meeting schedule as they move through the space with effortless grace and sophistication.
They keep talking, but she doesn't reply.
"Miss, someone from Medici Corp called. Your request was approved."
She stops and looks at her assistant, who reports the call. The assistants are surprised and curious about what the call was about.
"And?" she asks.
"Miss?" the assistant questions.
"Was that request accepted by the person we asked?" she quickly asks while walking.
Her assistants look at each other and follow her.
"Yes, Miss. Also, Mr. Medici asked why you're looking for that person."
"I'll tell him myself," she says, stopping at a large conference room.
"Don't follow me. Tell everyone not to enter."
The assistants bow and obey.
She turns on the lights. The room is empty. She lies on a big sofa and sighs.
"Looks like we will really meet again," she thinks with a smile.
After a while, she sits up and turns on the big screen inside the room, connecting her phone.
She opens a video call app and waits.
"Uncle Bob! Thank you!" she exclaims while lying on the sofa.
"Silly girl! I made your request. Why did you ask for that guy?" Mr. Medici asks.
"What's his name?" she asks, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Who? Roy?" Mr. Medici hesitates, surprised by the question.
"So… it's Roy this time," she says, a faint smile playing on her lips, her tone tinged with a mixture of amusement and intrigue.
Mr. Medici's eyes widen slightly, clearly caught off guard. "Did you meet him before? When he was a mercenary?" he asks.
He thought back to the day he met Roy, who was then a young mercenary using a different name.
She smiles, shaking her head.
"No, I met him when we were younger, before he became a mercenary," she says.
Mr. Medici is surprised again.
"I didn't know that!" he says.
She smiles. "I'll tell you more when I get there, Uncle."
They talk a bit more before ending the call.
She leaves the conference room and heads to her office, where an old man in an Armani suit is waiting. The old man stands tall with a noble aura, maintaining perfect posture. His white hair is full and well-kept, and his clear eyes hold a calm, confident gaze. A light smile touches his lips, radiating wisdom and dignity despite the years behind him.
"What took you so long? I've been waiting," he says.
"Grandpa!" she exclaims, hugging him.
She smiles. "Sorry I'm late. I called Uncle Bob about my trip to the Philippines next week."
"That bastard's still alive?" he teases.
"Grandpa!"
He laughs. "Just kidding." He holds her hand.
"What do you want to do now? You have my full support." he asks.
"Live my life… meet him," she says excitedly.
He looks at her sadly. "Callista, I'm sorry for everything over the years."
She interrupts. "It's okay, Grandpa. What matters is I can do it now, right?"
He smiles. "Anything you want."
They leave the office to have lunch together.
"Cancel my next meeting and tell Vice President Kim to join the RyTel CEO meeting," she orders with a smile.
"Yes, Miss," her assistant replies.
After lunch, she rests in her room.
'We will meet again,' she thinks.
"You breathe to live."
"You live to experience life."
"Why ask why? Just live."
"Be the purpose. Live it."
She looks out the window, lost in thought.
She extended her hand at the window, her fingers splayed wide as she reached out into the breeze that rustled through the trees.
'Are you still the same?' she sighs.
Someone knocks softly. 'Thud.'
"Come in," she says warmly.
A teenage girl with long black hair in a blue pajama enters.
"Bris! Why are you here?" Callista asks, surprised.
"I skipped school. Nothing's fun these days," Bris says with a smile.
"You!"
"You don't skip school just for fun," Callista scolds.
Bris laughs. "I know. So, can I go with you?"
"No, stay here. Grandpa will just ask you to play piano all day," Callista says.
They laugh, imagining Grandpa's old-fashioned ways.
"Are you going to meet him?" Bris asks.
"Why?" Callista responds.
"Just curious. You'll see him, right?" Bris urges.
"Yes," Callista answers briefly.
"Are you worried?" Bris asks.
"Worried? About what?"
Bris presses with curious eyes, asking, "That he won't remember you, doesn't want to meet, or already has a girlfriend?"
"Stop asking!" Callista exclaims, pinching her sister's face gently.
"I'm just asking," Bris says softly.
"I'm... I'm worried," Callista admits, her voice barely above a whisper as she gazes out the window again.
She hesitates. "Maybe I should just—"
"Just do what you want, sis," Bris interrupts, hugging her.
"Okay," Callista smiles gently.
"Do you remember what Mom always says before?" asks Briz while still hugging her.
"Que sera, sera!" they both laugh, saying.
Bris stays for a while before leaving and tells her sister her plans for the next school year. Meanwhile, Callista checks her packing for tomorrow.
'I'm nervous and curious.' she admitted.
'Do you want to see me?' she asked.
'Do you remember me?' she wondered.
'Are you waiting?' she inquired.
Those are her thoughts. She is worried but grateful to Bris for reminding her to be prepared. She won't act on it, but she's actually afraid to face Roy.
'No matter what, I'll come back.'
'Just like a sparrow visiting her favorite tree.'
She smiles and continues packing.