"Ma'am Slaine, nandito na po ang delivery ng mga stocks." Imporma sa akin ni Krizza nang makapasok siya sa opisina ko.
"Sige, susunod ako." Simple kong sagot at pinatay ang laptop bago lumabas ng opisina.Naabutan ko na nagdidiskarga ng mga box ang tauhan ko at ang nagdeliver. Binati nila ako at tipid na ngiti ang iginawad ko sa kanila."Sandali lang, huwag mo munang ipasok sa loob, Leo." Pagpigil ko sa empleyado at tumango siya sa akin bago ilapag ang box.I opened the boxes easily with the cutter I'm holding. Isinuri ko ang isa sa produkto sa kada kahon at nang makontento na ay pinahintulutan ko iyong ipasok sa café."Ma'am, pakipirma nalang po nito." Tinanggap ko ang papel na inabot at pinirmahan.Hinintay ko munang maubos ang mga kahon bago ko binalik ang papel sa driver at nag-abot ng isang libo bilang tip para sa kanila. They extended their gratitude, and I gave them a sweet smile before returning to my office to continue m"Slaine, are you okay?" I came back to consciousness when Crezst tapped my shoulders.I saw Rafus' eyes were on me and every seconds had passed, my nervousness doubled. I drank all the wine that has left in my glass before nodding at her question."Yeah, I'm okay."I simply glance at Rafus for the second time but I think it's a very wrong move because I meet his eyes again. Sa akin siya nakatingin kahit may kausap siyang businessman.Tamang tama ang pagdaan ng waiter sa table namin kaya napakuha ako ng dalawang wine glass na may laman at nagpa-refill ng wine sa basong ginamit ko kanina.Natawa si Crezst's sa tabi ko, "Hindi ka ba makapaghintay sa after-party?"Umiling ako at napasimsim sa wine, "Hindi na siguro, medyo pagod pa kasi ako sa byahe papunta rito kanina.""I thought you had your beauty rest earlier?" Helen asked me worriedly."Matapos mong umalis kanina sa hotel room ko, napagpasyahan kong pumunta sa
"Damn baby," he hissed and my breathing hitched when he rushed towards me. With his drunk eyes and using his husky voice, he said these words. "Drop the formalities, it's making me horny."I felt feverish when he cupped my cheeks, so I gave all my might and pushed him. Hinila ko siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa labas ng hotel room ko, alam ko naman kung gugustuhin niya hindi siya magpapahila sa akin."Don't baby me, Mr. Cattaneo. Our business was done four years ago, I don't have hang ups with you so please as ex, respect my decision and I don't want to be affiliated with you nor any of your family."Agad akong nakaramdam ng konsensiya nang makita ang malamlam niyang mata. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at nakaramdam ako ang pananuyo ng lalamunan. The memories of him begging to me to take him back resurfaced on my mind."Please Rafus..." I desperately said. "Just go and leave me alone.""No, not gonna happen." He said as if it's irrevocable. H
"Chan baby," I said and leveled my height to him as I gained consciousness. I cupped his face and smile to hide my awkwardness. "How did you know I'm home?"Chan smiled, "I've been waiting for you Mama then I saw you got out from the car so I've rushed towards here."Nakakapanibago dahil Mama talaga ang tawag ni Chan sa akin. I'm used of him calling me Tita, so I kinda feel confused. Tumayo na ako at nilingon si Rafus. Tahimik parin siya habang seryoso ang tingin sa amin ni Chan.Naglakad ako papalapit at kinuha sa kaniya ang duffel bag ko. I held his hand and stared into his eyes."Again, thank you so much for the ride Rafus."Hindi ko na hinintay ang tugon niya at tumalikod na ako habang inaakay si Chan papasok ng bahay."Shey, ano ba ang itinuturo mo kay Chan?" Tanong ko kay Shey nang tuluyan akong makababa sa hagdanan.Kanina ay hindi ko siya magawang tanungin dahil hindi umaalis sa kandungan ko si Chan at ngayon lan
I paid the driver a yellow bill and didn't wait for my change. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan dala-dala ang dalawang duffel bag. Hindi naman siguro ako mukhang haggard mula sa flight dahil malaki ang tiwala ko sa simpleng make-up na inilagay ko sa mukha.I'm wearing a matching plaid trouser and blazer, a black tube top, then white shoes. This is often my office attire, and I never got any complain from my fellow workmates or from Mr. Sorrento.Hindi ako pinigilan ng security guard nang basta-basta akong pumasok. Sa dalawang taon ko ba namang pagtatrabaho dito sa incorporated ay hindi nila ako nakilala."Ms. Aranza!" Gulat na bungad ng receptionist. "Naparito po kayo?"Tipid akong ngumiti, "May problema lang sa resignation ko. Uhm—pwede bang maiwan ko muna dito sa ground floor ang mga duffel bag ko?""Uh sige po," nakangiti niyang tugon at sumenyas sa security guard kaya madaling naipasok sa loob ang workplace ng receptionist ang bags ko.
"What are you doing here?" My brows furrow and my blood starts to boil. He didn't answer, he just remain there, standing while looking calm and collected.I took a deep breath and almost rolled my eyes on him. Kinuha ko ang grocery bags na nakalapag at binuksan ang pinto ng apartment ko saka bastang pumasok pero bago ko pa iyon maisara, pinigilan iyon ng malakas na kamay."Ano ba'ng problema mo?" Pinigilan ko ang sarili na huwag siyang pagtaasan ng boses.Titig na titig siya mga mata ko at hindi ko magawang umiwas. I can see exhaustion, pain, and longing in his eyes. In a snap, he invited himself in. He took the grocery bags from my hold and shamelessly walked towards my kitchen."Seriously, Rafus? What are you trying to do? Why are you doing this?" I followed him to my kitchen and took the grocery bag to place it on my countertop.I was taken a back when he wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his head between my neck and shoulder
I blink couple of times before slowly opening my eyes to adjust to the light that passes through the slightly open curtain.I groaned as I felt pain in my head like it's been hammered multiple times. I travelled my eyes to the whole room and fear starting creeping in my system.This is not my room!I touched my body and that's when I finally felt at ease. Thank God I'm still fully-clothed.I spend few moments of ransacking my head to find answer why I'm here in someone's room, but I only remember that I'm with Ma'am Claireen in the club last night!Before I could finally recognize the familiar scent that fills in the whole room, the door push open and a man step in, making my jaw drop in shock and confusion."Oh, you're awake now..." He calmly said and I got distracted by the sweats dripping from his forehead.I cleared my throat, "Where am I? And why I am here with you?"Mariin siyang napatingin sa akin at doon
"Come in," he announces and after a moment, a guy enter his office."Mr. Cattaneo, I'm here to inform you that the partition and curve table is already here. We'll just going to install it here in your office."Rafus nodded, "Okay, and do finish it as fast as you can."Naalerto ako nang hawakan ni Rafus ang kamay ko at pinagsiklop iyon. Nakita ko rin ang pagsulyap ng employee sa kamay naming dalawa kaya ginapang ako ng kaba at nagpupumilit na kumalas."Do inform me if you're done," Rafus formally said to the guy and swiftly picked my handbag on the floor.Lumabas kami ng opsina at doon ako nagkaroon ng lakas loob para lagyan ng puwersa ang pagwaksi ko sa kamay kong hawak niya."It's working hours," I said, not taking my eyes off him. "I believe you do know how to separate personal relationship with work, Mr. Cattaneo."He flashes that smirk, making me feel annoyed. "Well that principle works depending where my woman
We're both silent the whole ride. I refuse to utter a word because I'm trying hard to control myself after remembering all the memories we had here, and Rafus' perfume never change over the years.Damn, even if I don't admit it, I know to myself that I still have hangs up for him.I don't know where Rafus is taking me. Nagdrive thru lang kami ng pagkain tapos tumulak uli kami. I looked at my wristwatch, it's nearing five thirty already."Seriously speaking, where are you taking me Rafus?""You'll see, we're almost there, just hang on for few minutes."I sighed and shut my mouth. He won't tell me, period. Why did I kept on trying since earlier then? Rafus' unbending, what's new about it?After an hour of driving, finally the car stopped. I didn't wait for Rafus' cue and help myself got out of the car."What are we doing here?" I seriously asked him with my arms crossed over my chest.Kalalabas niya lang ng kotse