The Secret Life of Him

1. The Engagement

'I'll be finished! Finally!'

Johnson Floyd was relieved when he saw that the report he had been working on since morning was about to be finished. It was his fifth time revising it because his editor did not approve it. Saying that every line should still be changed. Floyd was a scriptwriter for the most prestigious television company in the country. 

“Oh, my gosh!” 

Floyd almost jumped from his chair when he heard his co-worker shout from the next cubicle. He stood up and went to Claire’s table. 

“What’s wrong?” Floyd asked worriedly. Claire was a pregnant co-worker of his, that's why he was a bit worried. He frowned when he saw that she was holding a phone and watching a video. 

“I’m fine!” 

Floyd touched his chest and shook his head. “I thought something bad happened to you!” he said in disbelief, even though he was relieved that Claire was fine. He was sleep-deprived and coffee was the only thing that made him awake. Maybe this was the reason why he was so jumpy these days.

Claire laughs at Floyd and looks at him. “I’m sorry! I am just excited. Look at this!” 

Floyd looked at Claire’s phone and saw a live video from there. It came from the famous social media app for younger people. A lot of personalities use it for entertainment and some use it for a live video for about anything. Floyd had it on his phone for his work but never really used it. But that was not what caught Floyd’s attention. 

A video of a tall building was seen on the screen. At first, he couldn't see who was holding the phone. It was like someone was letting them see the place. Floyd saw a luxury restaurant and there was no one inside but the luxurious things. The tables were set firmly and the chairs were. At the center of the place, there is a round table with a long candle above. Everything looks romantic and luxurious. That Floyd can’t afford.

“What’s up! You see, we are here at the restaurant. Everything is prepared but I hope we get the answer we want! I hope you are rooting for me!” 

“Ack! Did you see it?” Claire asked excitedly. “That is Dwayne Jacinto! Our CEO! He just said that he was proposing to his girlfriend, Roxane Sandoval.” 

Floyd looks at Claire confused. His face almost got a question mark because of what he heard. 

“Who is it again?” 

“Roxane Sandoval! Our news anchor on weekdays! Gosh! I can’t blame him. Roxane is really a beautiful woman. I saw her one time in the hallway. She looks like a goddess!”

Floyd feels like a sharp thing buried in her chest. He is right. The name he heard was Roxane Sandoval. He clearly knows Roxane and he will never forget her name. Because Roxane is her girlfriend! How come their CEO would propose to her? But even though there are a lot of questions running through Floyd’s mind. He calms himself and gulps. Roxane would not do this to him. 

Roxane and Floyd have been in a relationship since their college days. But Floyd graduated first because Roxane was pregnant with their first child. Though they were not yet married, Floyd still had his responsibility as a partner to Roxane. He studies at night and works in the evening for his family because, even if his parents were paying for his tuition, they said that they would not help him with his child. Floyd graduated from college and managed to get hired by the television company he is working for now. 

After Roxane gives birth, Floyd asked for them to get married. But Roxane declines because she said she wants to finish her studies first. So, he did everything for her to finish college. Roxane’s family pampers her so much, but when she gets pregnant, her family disowns her. That’s why Floyd tries to give everything to Roxane too. He works three jobs just to pay for her tuition and their household bills. They hired a nanny too, because Roxane says she needs to focus on her studies. When Roxane finally graduated, Floyd helped her to get hired by the company he was working for because they had the same course. But to his surprise, Roxane immediately gets the higher position. Floyd did not mind it because now he was happy for her. Even though Roxane also asks him not to tell everyone about their relationship. 

“I’m pretty sure that Roxane would say yes. You know how much it is worth just to dine at the Gold Lake Hotel?” 

His consciousness went back when he heard Claire’s voice. “Gold Lake Hotel?” he repeated. 

Claire nodded. “Yes! A night there is worth sixty thousand dollars! Plus, the dinner date is worth twenty thousand dollars. Gosh! I will say yes if it is me!” 

“B-But how? I thought our CEO was married?” 

Claire smirks. “Yes. But he got divorced three months ago. And since then, everyone is talking about them too. And look, we are right.” She looks at Floyd in question. “Why do you look like you never know anything?” 

“Ahm. I… You know our job. I can’t avoid wasting my time gossiping about other people’s lives.” 

Floyd's chest becomes heavy. He sighs and goes back to his table without saying a word to Claire. Claire just shrugs and looks at her phone again. He puts his arms on the table and tries to calm himself. This is ridiculous! Roxane would not cheat on him! He trusted her so much and never saw any signs that Roxane was doing something behind his back. They have a child. Floyd couldn’t accept the idea of Roxane having another man. 

Floyd went to the comfort room and entered one of the cubicles there. He took his phone out and went to the app. The live video of Dwayne is immediately shown on his feed, as if the app knows where he will go. Floyd's chest slowly turns to pieces as he sees her smiling face. The woman he loves the most. The mother of his son. He still tells himself that it’s impossible for her to cheat on him, but the next thing he sees is Roxane kissing Dwayne passionately in the video. A loud cheer and applause from the background were heard. 

“She said yes!” Dwayne said happily. 

“I said yes!” 

Floyd's tears started to flow when he saw Roxane's smiling face on his screen. He never sees Roxane smile like that to him. He could see the happiness in her eyes. He turns off his phone and punches the wall of the cubicle. A loud thud echoed in the comfort room and the doors made a sound. Floyd couldn’t believe it. It’s hard for him to believe that the woman he's been loving is saying yes happily to another man. He did everything for her. For their family, but she still cheated on him! 

'How can you do this to me, Roxane? How?!' 

Floyd stands up and wipes his tears. He should know why. He doesn't care even if she is engaged to whoever man he is. Roxane is his girlfriend! His lover!