Rue spotted the duo near the tail end of the cafeteria line—Jason standing tall with his usual chill posture, and Elijah just ahead of him, a bottle of chocolate syrup in one hand, a plate of waffles in the other, looking like he was trying to summon divine guidance to get the syrup drizzle just right.
She cleared her throat as she approached, adjusting the strap of her top—suddenly hyper-aware of how it sat on her shoulder. She'd packed the outfit on a whim, guilty over all the clothes she never wore, and now she was questioning everything. She should've gone for something more functional, less…flimsy.
From the looks of it, only Charlotte and a few select guests were wearing casual clothes. Most of the others were dressed in matching branded shirts that bore the logo EthosGroup Solutions—a sleek, minimalist design that hinted at modernity and precision. It made sense. This wasn't just a getaway; it was a corporate team-building weekend for one of the top rising architecture and engineering firms in the country.
EthosGroup was known for its sustainable coastal developments and smart infrastructure projects. Jason had mentioned once how they'd just wrapped up a solar-powered civic center in Cebu and were bidding for a public eco-park in Bohol.
Jason and Elijah wore the company shirt well—like they belonged in those clean lines and neutral palettes.
"I needed a break from the psycho that is your girlfriend," she said, casually leaning against the cafeteria display. It showcased a tropical breakfast spread: golden mangoes, neatly sliced bananas, imported strawberries from the north, plus the usual Filipino breakfast fare—fried dried fish, egg omelettes, garlic rice, and trays of sizzling bacon and bright red hotdogs.
Jason laughed. "Hey, you've been pampering her longer than I have."
"Yeah, well, she's worse now. I think she's possessed." Rue tossed a glance over her shoulder like she expected Charlotte to appear out of thin air. "Honestly, you should just marry her already. Skip the surprise proposal. Kidnap her, drag her to the altar, and save us all the drama."
Jason grinned. "I do like a good challenge."
Rue shook her head, exasperated. "You're hopeless."
Elijah glanced between them, amused by their banter. It was the kind of back-and-forth that could only come from years of being caught in Charlotte's orbit.
"You're just in time," he said, lifting the syrup bottle. "We were about to make a critical decision about your waffles. Two pieces, heart-shaped whipped cream, five strawberry slices, drizzle of chocolate on top again?"
Rue narrowed her eyes. "You really let Charlotte give you my breakfast specs?"
"She was… very thorough," Elijah said, raising an eyebrow like he was still trying to recover from the sensory overload. "Didn't she say she wanted to have the strawberries halved?"
"I honestly don't remember." Jason said slightly embarrassed.
"Well, thanks," Rue said dryly, "but I'll take it from here. Thank God you stayed in school, because you suck at taking orders."
Elijah raised both hands in surrender, but he was smiling.
Jason handed her a tray.
"Alright, you're on waffle duty now. Let's see if you can live up to the hype."
Rue took the tray with a smirk, quickly loading it with practiced ease. She glanced at Charlotte, who sat faithfully guarding their breakfast table, eyes glued to her phone and visibly seconds away from getting hangry.
"By the way," Rue added casually, "Charlotte lost a nail, and she's just… shrugging it off."
Jason raised an eyebrow, like she'd just spoken in a foreign language. Elijah, behind him, listened closely.
"If she knew about the proposal, her nails would be redone, filed, and dipped in gold by now. Trust me. She'd want everything picture-perfect." Rue shook her head slowly. "She wouldn't keep me in the dark either. She'd want my help."
Jason exhaled, visibly relieved. "That's… reassuring."
He glanced between Rue and Elijah. Rue noticed Elijah didn't react much—no surprise on his face. She figured Jason must've already looped him in.
"There's a company team-building activity later today," Jason said, switching gears. "You two should join—it'll be fun. And… I need a favor."
Rue raised an eyebrow.
"I need you to keep Charlotte busy for a few hours tonight. Dinner, spa, whatever works. I've got to meet with a local supplier bringing in fireworks and another from the floral shop. I couldn't finalize the plans—she keeps snooping around."
"Fireworks?" Rue blinked. "You're really going all out, huh?"
Jason scratched the back of his head, a little sheepish.
"Well, the more dramatic, the better, right?"
He cleared his throat and lowered his voice slightly.
"We've got today and tomorrow to wrap everything up. On day three, we hike to the lighthouse at the top of the island. That's where I'm proposing."
A flicker of excitement sparked across Rue's face. Fireworks. A proposal on top of a lighthouse. Was this the new standard? When did love become so cinematic? Then again, Charlotte was never built for ordinary. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, her heart warmed at the thought of being part of something meaningful—something bigger than the chaos Charlotte had brewed.
"The theme is a little dramatic," Jason admitted. "Sunsets, wildflowers, and all Pinterest fluff Charlotte scrolls at midnight."
Rue beamed at Jason with pride, nodding her head in agreement. "Very Charlotte, indeed."
Out of the corner of her eye, Rue caught Elijah watching her. His gaze wasn't overt—it wasn't the kind of look meant to start a conversation—but it lingered long enough to make her chest tighten. She didn't turn her head. Didn't acknowledge it. Instead, she focused on steadying her breathing, pretending to be consumed with the tray of food in front of her.
Why did she still get like this around him?
"If that's how it's going to go," she said, clearing her throat, "I can help with videography. Set up the cameras early, frame the shots. I just need to get to the lighthouse before everyone else."
Jason perked up, clearly relieved. "Ah, that, my friend, is exactly where you and Elijah come in."
Rue's eyes darted toward Elijah—briefly. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the rest, but Jason continued anyway.
"Charlotte will definitely be the slowest one on the climb, so I'll keep her distracted. You two head up ahead. Together, it won't seem suspicious. If anything, Charlotte will love it."
Elijah chuckled lightly and scratched at his eyebrow, visibly deflecting. Rue couldn't tell if he was amused or uncomfortable—or both. Meanwhile, she tried to play it cool, though her mind had already begun spiraling.
Him and her. Alone. Hiking up a trail. Possibly reminiscing about memories they never really got to close properly.
Sacrificial lamb, she reminded herself with a half-smile. This is what she got for being helpful.
But maybe… maybe this was exactly what she needed. A distraction with purpose. Something to focus on that wasn't her spiraling feelings or Charlotte's chaotic schemes. If helping meant hiking a scenic trail and pretending not to fall apart emotionally, so be it.
She'd do anything for her best friend. She'd plan the perfect proposal, capture every moment, climb mountains and fight off emotional landmines—and honestly? If Charlotte asked her to marry them on the spot and sign the certificate, she probably would.
Rue glanced discreetly toward Charlotte, who was still seated at the table, oblivious and deeply invested in her phone. Good. No one was watching.
She took a deep breath, then extended her hand between the three of them, palm open, a grin pulling at the edge of her lips.
"Alright," she said quietly. "Hands in. For the best proposal ever."
"Hands in," she whispered with a grin. "For the best proposal ever."
Jason raised a brow, amused but game, and laid his hand over hers. Elijah followed suit, his touch light but steady.
Their palms stacked together, quiet solidarity among unlikely co-conspirators.
"To the best proposal ever," they echoed in unison, soft laughter bubbling between them.