Three Years Later…
"Where are you going again?" Mama Cecille asked as she helped pack the clothes for the company outing.
“In Palawan, Mama. Don't worry, I'll buy you a beautiful set of pearl earrings and a necklace,” she promised with a smile.
Her aunt rolled her eyes but smiled. "Just come home safe and sound; I will be happier with that," she replied.
Lana laughed softly then stood up and hugged the woman who raised her as if she was her own daughter. "Thank you, Mama, I love you so much," she said, kissing Cecille on the forehead afterward.
“Three days, after that the next day would be your birthday. When you come back here, I will cook you your favorite Kare-Kare,” she said, patting her arm.
It was then that Lana let go of Cecille from her tight embrace. "Imagine, I'm already twenty-four; how time flies," Lana commented then followed her words with a light chuckle.
Cecille stared at her and spoke. "The only thing that is missing in your life is color, sweetheart," she said seriously and passionately.
"Color? As in a love life? Is that what you mean, Mama?" she asked, giggling afterward.
"Yes, having someone to be with you together for the rest of your life is so much better than living in a world full of fantasies. It is not a good idea to grow old alone; lucky for me, I have you. But you are beautiful, I know you can give me beautiful and handsome grandchildren in the future," Cecille said, then chuckled again.
Lana clicked her tongue. "Mama, you are talking about Andrew Scott again, right?" she said, pouting her lip because of her aunt's teasing.
"Oh, isn't that true? Since you started working, you never missed any of his movies."
Well, that's true.
It has been three years since she was hired as an agent at the company she works for, and now she is the Regional Manager, holding the entire NCR or National Capital Region.
"A lot has changed in you, so I understand why you now have a higher standard for choosing a man to love," said Mama Cecille as she remained silent.
Lana sighed. "Maybe it's still not yet the time for me to fall in love, Mama," she replied shortly then smiled at her aunt.
"You won't really be interested in your suitors as long as…" that's when Mama Cecille cut off the rest of what she wanted to say and then glanced at the big blow-up picture of Andrew Scott on the wall of her room.
Lana smiled, understanding what Mama Cecille meant.
“Oh, alright, I'm going to sleep. What time are you leaving tomorrow?” her follow-up question when she was already at the door.
"About four in the morning, Mama," she replied.
Her aunt nodded. "All right, so you can have breakfast before leaving," she said.
Lana just nodded and then continued what she was doing.
It has been three years since she was hired as an agent for houses and condos at the Mercedes Estate.
Maybe it's because of her perseverance and dedication that her career has gone well. So she can say that their life is far more different now from the poor kind of living that they used to have.
Her aunt stood, and her mother continued accepting orders and did not stop sewing clothes, dresses, and school uniforms.
Even though she is already earning a lot.
Maybe that's the way it is because Mama Cecille has always been hardworking.
Her mother, the thought made Lana smile sadly. Just as Mama Cecille told her, she never showed up to them.
Lana didn't want to be angry with her mother, but there was a part of her heart that still felt that way.
As far as she knew, no mother would be able to resist her child.
But her mother was different, and she was the exact opposite of what she had always believed in.
Lana sighed then glanced at the photo of Andrew Scott framed and hung on the wall of her room then smiled at him as if he could see her.
"Mama said that love life is all I need. But what can I do if my heart seemed dumb to others, isn't it? ” she was talking to the picture and then followed what she said with a weak laugh.
That is true.
She is not attracted to all the men who express love and liking for her. Not because her life was close to that. She also tried to date. But she didn’t see a spark. She also did not feel any romantic excitement. No matter how hard she tries, it seems like something is missing from any of her suitors that she is looking for.
Again Lana sighed there and then finished what she was doing. She needs to be early tomorrow, and since she will be driving to the office, she needs enough time to sleep.
“Good night Andrew, see you in my dreams,” she said as she reached for the lampshade on her bedside table and then turned it off.
As soon as her back touched the soft bed, Lana immediately felt very tired.
“What is wrong with me? Why don't I like or even admire anyone who has been my suitor?” she whispered, reaching for her cell phone. The handsome man in her wallpaper immediately made her smile and caused a strange thrill in Lana's heart.
“I'm really happy to be your fan. I don't understand why, but that's the truth,” she whispered again while talking to Andrew Scott's wallpaper on her cell phone.
Would she be superficial if she admitted to everyone who asked her the real reason why she is still single?
Well, she can’t do that because, first of all, she has a career to take care of. And the truth is, it's not about bragging, but many in their company admire her.
Smart, eloquent, and professional.
Qualities that she knew were the reason why she reached her current position at the age of twenty-four.
She knew she admired Andrew.
She didn’t want to think that much more than that. She doesn’t want to admit that she has a deeper feeling for the famous actor.
Because first of all, she didn't know him personally. And there is no deep reason to say that she loves the young man who, to her knowledge, is now linked to a young and just-popular female actress.
“Maybe I too will fall in love. At the right time,” she said yawning then chuckling. That's how tired and drowsiness pulled over there.
*****
Lana immediately smiled when she saw only two women standing in front of Andrew's desk to ask for the young man's signature.
She shuddered as she approached him. He turned his back on her, so the young man did not notice that she was standing behind him.
"Ah," she quickly felt the throbbing of her chest when she got close to the man who, when he felt perhaps her presence behind him, stood up and then faced her.
The man stared at her for a moment then smiled sweetly. So her heart was pounding with a mixture of nervousness, trembling, and excitement.
"Yes?" he said in a seductive tone.
"May I ask for your autograph please," she said while handing the young man the notebook and sign pen in her hand.
Andrew's smile widened then he reached out his hand. "Sure," he said signing and handing the notebook back to her.
"Thank you," she replied with a smile even though the truth was that she was being scorched by Andrew's adhering gazes at her.
When Andrew nodded, she was ready to turn her back on him.
But something else happened.
She felt his hand restrain her arm. Then she was drawn closer to him, his two hands touching her face.
Lana was barely breathing at that very moment.
She felt volts of energy unfamiliar to her.
But all of that was nothing when Andrew bowed to her and then kissed her on the lips.
She closes her eyes and seems to have lost her sanity because Andrew did something she didn't expect.
But despite her loss of self, the young lady was able to count three how many times he gently caressed her lips with his before he released her.
Lana stared at Andrew as her eyes widened while his eyes glazed over with the intensity of his amusement for her.
"Oh, I hope you're not choosy, ah!" she heard from one of the two women, thrilled.
“Yeah, that’s Andrew Scott so don't even complain! ” the other one answered in the same tone.
*****
Lana was able to get up quickly because of that.
For a while, she stared at the dark wall of her room then as if not in her usual self she touched her lips.
“It was just a dream, but his kiss, his lips, seemed so real. I can still feel his kiss,” she said, then inwardly glanced at the picture of the man on her wall.
"You even invaded my dream, huh!" she said thrilled with laughter then went back to bed.
She didn’t know what that meant then, but that didn’t matter to her anymore. After all, it is just a dream, as some say, the opposite of reality.
But she had to admit that that kiss was delicious. Light, and respectful.
It wasn’t the first time she had dreamed of being with Andrew. But that was the first time the young man kissed her, in her dream.
So Lana was sure she would have to spend a few days before moving on about it.
Before noon, they reached Palawan. They stayed at a beautiful first-class resort where modern cottages immediately grabbed Lana’s attention. "Nice!" Lana heard Rodora exclaim. Rodora, a regional manager like Lana, was a close colleague, only slightly older at twenty-eight. “I might meet my Prince Charming here. Can I just stay and live here?” Rodora said, followed by a loud laugh. Lana chuckled softly at Rodora's comment. ***** Lana laid herself down on the soft bed inside the small cottage assigned to her. Every regional manager had their own cottage for privacy, a great privilege of their company. Later, Lana got up and pushed open the sliding glass door to the veranda. The view was beautiful. A few meters away was a more elegant and bigger cottage with a white Land Cruiser parked in front. "Whoever is there is very rich," she said, smiling. Lana stood there for a while, quietly observing the beautiful surroundings. The light, fresh air caressed her skin, blowing her wais
The same night after their team-building seminar, they ate dinner at the resort's restaurant. "Oh Lana, why are you so quiet?" Rodora asks when she notices her silence. "Since lunch, you've been like that. Why, don't you like your cottage?” she said in a teasing tone. Lana shook her head, then handed over the glass of orange juice and drank. “N-No Rodge, I'm just tired. I haven't slept yet,” she reasoned. Rodora nodded and then finished the food on her plate. “I'm going back to my cottage. I'm going to rest. You wanna come with? ” she asked her afterward. Lana thought for a moment and then forced a smile before she consecutively shook her head. "I'm fine, just go ahead," she said. Outside the restaurant, she parted ways with Rodora along with their other co-workers. Lana smiled, just waving them goodbye, then started walking around. She couldn't understand the nervousness she had been feeling since she found out that Andrew's cottage was next to hers. The young lady laughed sof
Past five o'clock the next day, Lana woke up to a noise coming from her veranda. Sounds of cutlery and plates filled the air, and after a while, the fragrant aroma of brewed coffee finally made her get up from bed. "W-What the ---?" Lana was stunned to see a delicious breakfast prepared for two people on the veranda.** "Good morning," Andrew said as he sat down, obviously waiting for her. "Let's eat," he said, standing up and leaning over to approach her. "W-What are you doing?" she asked then spontaneously complied with what the man wanted to happen. The young man's thick eyebrows rose. "Why, don't you want this?" Lana was stunned and then quietly watched what the young man was doing. From the way he poured coffee into her cup to putting syrup and butter on her pancakes. "Thank you," she said shyly, smiling at Andrew afterward. "You know what, I've only just seen eyes like yours," he said, staring into her eyes. Lana laughed softly there and then started eating. “Really? That do
That evening, the same day, Lana's workmates invited her to go to a bar. At first, she didn't want to go. Whether she admits it or not, all day long she has been thinking about what Andrew said earlier that they will meet again. And even if she didn't speak, she couldn't deny to herself that she was looking forward to the next things that might happen between her and the young man. At the thought, Lana's face quickly blushed. “The next day we will be returning to Manila. Don't be a killjoy, you are the youngest in our group but you are the most 'aunty' when it comes to behavior,” Rodora preached to her as they left the conference hall. Lana sighed. "I'm just tired, Rodge," she reasoned yet somehow it was true. “Of course, we'll just be there for a while. We can't stay long because the meeting is early tomorrow,” said Lerma, who holds Region Five. That was when Lana sighed again. "O-Okay, it's like I still have a choice," she said laughing. Lana just made dressing up easy. She w
LANA felt at her feet the red dress that Andrew had dropped; thereafter, he unzipped it. "I was right about your body," he said, gazing all over her almost naked figure. "You are a goddess," he said, touching her waist afterward. "Tell me, sweetheart, is this your first time?" Andrew whispered, bringing his face even closer to hers. Lana let out a violent gasp as Andrew's hands began to move across her. "Mmmmm, y-yes," she moaned again when she felt the young man remove the hook of her bra. "I'll be gentle, I promise," the young man said, putting his hands inside her lacy pants, which were the only covering left of her body. "Oh god, Andrew!" Lana exclaimed when she felt the young man's finger that now seemed to be teasingly touching the clitoris of her womanhood. "Do you want this? Is it wonderful?" The young man speaks in a tone that only she can hear, even though they are the only ones there. "Tell me, don't be shy," he continued seductively. Lana's whole body trembled so much
LANA is no longer in her sanity, while Andrew seems to be recklessly flirting with her femininity using his own mouth and tongue. She is aware that someone like the young man is certainly good in this aspect. But the feeling that she is the one that Andrew is making happy is something that she still can't believe. "Nice, you're so nice, mmnnn," she growled, then pulled Andrew's hair. The young man did not speak. Instead, he inserted his finger back in her entrance again and then started to move it in and out. At the same time, he again caressed her femininity with his mouth. “Oh god, you're great! You are so great! "Lana said that she even danced her own hip unknowingly, even though there was no music. “Oh, I can’t take it anymore, Lana.” When Andrew lifted his face, that was when their eyes met. Lana saw the flame of intense desire in his eyes. That's why her longing to be finally claimed by Andrew also intensified. "Get inside me, deeper, nicer," she said, pulling Andrew's nec
Four hours into the morning, Lana woke up and could not go back to sleep. The young lady smiled and then stared at the perfect face beside her that was now sound asleep as he hugged her tightly. His red and thin lips. She never thought she would experience their kiss. But it happened. In fact, it was more than she had dreamed—more than anyone could have imagined she had experienced. Lana's face quickly warmed as she remembered everything that had happened to them last night. How Andrew claimed her. He made her feel the intense longing and happiness that she knew she would never feel with anyone again. “But our worlds are different. And whether I admit it or not, I have to wake up from this beautiful dream, for in the end I will not be hurt,” the young lady whispered, then stared at the handsome face of the man to whom she gave her virginity. That is true. What happened to them, she knew she would never forget. But she also had to admit to herself that what had happened would no
One month later... “Why did I notice that you weren't watching Andrew's new TV series? The story is good, so you should watch it,” said Mama Cecille one Sunday morning while they were eating breakfast. Lana shrugged her shoulders and then started eating. She also could not understand herself. The truth is that her feelings for the young man have not changed, except that they have intensified. And that started when something happened to them. Andrew turned all her fantasies about him into reality. But she also has to admit that she gets hurt whenever she sees Andrew and his perfectly handsome face, even just on TV. Lana secretly laughed at herself for that. She is a smart woman, but when it comes to love, like everyone else, she is a great fool. And that is something that she couldn't explain—how and why she feels like that? She knew for a fact that what happened between them that night was just a simple one-night stand. Something that is surely very common with Andrew and his wa