Chasing Heartaches (Shattered Pieces Series #1)

Chapter 45

Boss

The meeting ended smoothly. I can still feel his intense stare but I still ignore it. Ang una kong tingin sa kanya ay hindi na nasundan pa. What's the use of looking at him if I don't have something to do with him?

Lumabas ako ng conference kasabay nung mga tao. I set my eyes in front of me, not wanting to look back. That's the goal!

Noon, iniisip ko kung ano ang gagawin ko kung magkaroon man ako ng pagkakataon na makita siya pero nung oras na nasa harapan ko siya parang wala na lang. The fast heart beat every time I saw him before... I didn't feel that now. All I can do and feel now is nothing. Hindi masakit, hindi malungkot, I was just feeling the hollow spaces inside of me.

"Miss!"

I turned my back to see who was calling. I saw the CEO's secretary running after me. I didn't answer since I didn't know if I was the one who was called.

"Miss Izquivel," she said. I look at her with a brow arched.

"Yes?"

"You forgot your pen." Iniabot niya sa akin ang itim na pen bago ako tinalikuran.

I look at the pen but recognition didn't come to my mind. This was not mine. Hahabulin ko pa sana ang babae pero hindi ko na ginawa. It was just a waste of energy.

Inilapag ko ang pen sa aking mesa bago ako umupo sa swiveling chair. Inisandal ko ang aking buong katawan, tila nauubusan ng lakas. I tilted my head on both sides before opening my laptop. There's too much to analyze.

Someone knocked on my office causing my concentration to break. I look at the door and shout, "Come in."

"Miss the office hours were already done. Let's have our dinner," Jimuell reminded. Nakasungaw lang ang kanyang ulo sa pintuan. Ang kalahating katawan ay nanatili sa labas.

My office, painted in cream, looks huge with just me inside. Ang shelves na nasa aking gilid ay nasa magandang ayos. My glass table looks messy because of the filed up papers. I think I need to clean up before heading out.

"Can you wait for a little? I will wrap up in five minutes."

Tumayo ako sa aking kinauupuan at nilapitan siya sa kanyang pwesto. I opened the office door widely to let him inside. Iginiya ko siya sa kulay kremang sofa bago ko umpisahan ang aking pagaayos.

"You were so busy you didn't even notice the time. It's past seven."

"Did you wait for me?"

I didn't promise him a dinner tonight but he was persistent to still come. These past few months nasanay na rin akong siya ang kasama sa pagkain. Nakakakonsensya kung talagang hinintay pa niya ako.

"No," he said as he avoided my eyes. He's lying, I don't like it when people lie to me. Hindi ko pinuna ang kaniyang pagsisinungaling. I let him be, it's his choice to lie to me, it's not like I can do anything about that.

As I was organizing, my eyes laid on the black pen on the table. Ngayon ko lang nakitang mabuti, I saw TL engraved in the color of gold on the pen's body. I think I know who was the owner of this pen.

I scoffed at my thoughts. Ang layo layo namin sa isa't isa. Paano naman nasabi ng secretary'ng 'yon na akin itong pen na 'to. Isn't it ridiculous?

"Where are we going to eat?"

"You should pick for us." Pinauna niya ako sa pagpasok sa elevator. Nilingon ko siya habang pumapasok ako sa loob.

"How about at a Chinese restaurant?" I asked, not tearing out the gazes of our eyes.