Winning Back My Angry Ex-lover

Chapter 1

.
Present...
LIBBY put down the basket of fresh herbs on the kitchen sink and went to drink a full glass of water. She wiped her face with her palm and took a deep breath. She could feel the fatigue engulfing her all over again.
Tama si Arthur, she wasn't supposed to move around yet. Kagagaling niya lamang mula sa isang linggong trangkaso at kahapon sa return check up niya ay binilinan siya ng doctor na magpahinga ng dalawa hanggang tatlong araw pa bago bumalik sa trabaho.
But upon hearing that the famous actress, Fiona Sevilla, was coming to the farm just to try out their famous steam massage therapy, she volunteered to gather the herbs from the greenhouse which was about 50 meters away from the main building.
It was only January and this is the 2nd celebrity na magiging client nila sa Getaway Health Farm. This is such a big help to boost the business that Arthur re-opened only half a year ago.
As for Libby, napakaimportante sa kanya ng Getaway. After all, sya ang utak ng lahat ng ito. When she first came to work here as a masseuse, isa lamang itong maliit na spa sa gitna ng bundok na iyon.
The business has been in operation for almost a year pero hindi kumikita. Arthur had this idea of a health farm but all his ideas failed.
And then nakilala niya si Libby sa isang SPA sa Baguio minsang nagi spa hopping ito hoping to get ideas.
He got Libby instead. And along with her was her mountain of ideas on how to improve his health farm.
They closed the business for a while and worked on the needed changes.
The next nine months seemed like a raging storm. Sinlakas ng bagyo ang determinasyon at aksiyon nila para matapos ang farm. He hired as many as he could para mabilis ang trabaho at halos maubos ang savings nito pero determinado ang lalaki.
Dahil sa maaga-agang advertisement at sa suporta ng mga kamag-anak ng lalaki na naging unang kliyente nila sa kanilang unang araw, naging positibo at maaliwalas ang hinaharap ng Getaway.
"Congratulations on a very successful business." siniko niya ito habang pinanonood nila ang huling kliyenteng papalayo.
"This," itinuro ni Arthur ang paligid. "This is you. All you. Wala ito kung hindi dahil sa iyo. Thank you, Libby." Seryosong sabi ng lalaki.
And he was right. Almost everything was her idea. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa mga naisip niyang concepts habang ginagawa nila ito. Ideas just kept on popping up from somewhere. 
Sa kaibuturan ng puso ay kumukurut-kurot ang nararamdamang guilt.
Arthur thought she did all these to help him. Lingid sa kaalaman nito, at sa kabila ng denial niya sa isipan, she actually did all these for herself.
She found a way to escape the city. She found a way not to be afraid anymore, not to worry about going out anymore. She found her sanctuary. Her very own world.
She can stay here forever...
BUMUKAS ang pinto at sumilip ang kasamahan sa trabahong si Annabel. "Andito na sila, napaaga. Pero nagche check-in pa sa reception, baka magpapahinga pa naman siguro bago sila pupunta sa spa." It was customary for them to welcome guests with steam massage. si Annabel ang gagawa no'n ngayon dahil hindi pa nga siya masyadong malakas.
Most of their clients come for their spa services and leave the same day. Madalang pa lamang na may nagche check-in sa Getaway, kadalasan ay katulad ni Fiona Sevilla na galing pa sa Manila. Ibig sabihin may balak ang mga ito na magtagal. Aside from the different types of therapeutic spas, The 4-hectare farm also offers eco trail walks, butterfly garden, organic menus in their food hub, and their beautifully crafted tree houses as cabins wherein you can have all the 'me' time you want. Because after all, the name itself says it all, Getaway.
"Lilinisin ko lang ang mga itong mga gagamitin mo at dadalhin ko na sa spa." aniya. They have all the essential oils naman sa spa, pero siyempre, the fresh herbs make a lot of difference in effect.
Nauna na nga ang babae kaya't binilisan niya ang pagkilos saka lumabas na rin.
Mapapadaan siya sa reception on her way to the spa kaya't hindi maiwasang makita niya agad ang importanteng kliyente nila.
Fiona Sevilla was a goddess of beauty. She was tall, sexy, and... obviously very angry. Though pilit nitong hinihinaan ang boses, halatang galit ito.
Poor Arthur, he was obviously dealing with a difficult client. Ang receptionist na si Helen ay halatang stressed din.
"I'm so sorry ma'am, but we are not going to break our policy. In our TV ads, brochures and in our website, we have specifically indicated that one cabin is for one person. No sharing."
"Wow," napatawa si Fiona S. "That's another way of scamming people, gusto ninyong magbayad ang clients nyo ng two cabins kahit pwede namang isa lang."
Buti na lamang may silbi ang ilang taong pagtatrabaho ni Arthur sa call center, nahasa ang kontrol nito sa sarili at nagagawa nitong kumalma sa kabila ng katigasan ng ulo ng kausap.
"A policy is a policy ma'am. We don't even break it for friends or relatives. We didn't break it when Senator Joaquin came last month or when the TV anchor Raphael Santiago came last week. And we are not going to break it today or any other day. The Getaway is for soul-searching, not for dating, or whatever. If you find that unacceptable and decide to leave, then I am so sorry. If you decide to stay, I'll make sure you'll get the best service from our staff and a free steam massage therapy before your check out."
Wow, wala naman na sigurong masasabi si miss Fiona S, anang isipan ni Libby na tuluyang napatigil sa may gilid dahil ayaw makuha ang atensyon ng mga ito. Ang halaga ng steam massage ay halaga ng isang gabing check in sa cabin, which is a bit pricey but definitely worth it.
"Fine!" Fiona S. hissed lalo't naramdaman ata na may paparating mula sa entrance. "We'll take two cabins for two days!"
"Thank you." Magalang na sabi ni Arthur. "Helen, please assist Miss Sevilla."
Libby knew the importance of this check in. Arthur must be very relieved that he was able to save it.
"Oh, there you are!" walang ligtas ang dalaga nang makita siya ni Arthur. "On your way to the spa? Samahan kita. May nakalimutan pala akong sabihin." he was obviously just in a hurry to get away from their client.
Binilisan niya tuloy maglakad papunta sa lalaki pero bago niya marating ito ay nabitiwan niya ang hawak na tray na naglalaman ng mga herbs na gagamitin nila. Lumikha iyon ng malakas na ingay at tumilapon ang mga laman. Natutop niya ang bibig para pigilang mapasigaw sa gulat.
Agad na yumuko si Arthur para pulutin ang tray, ngunit naunahan ito ng isang pigurang nagmula sa kung saan.
For a moment, for a very brief moment, parang tumigil ang pag-inog ng mundo ni Libby.
The man crouched down and managed to grab the tray before Arthur. He had wavy hair, broad shoulders. Very familiar hair. Very familiar shoulders.
Napaatras si Libby ng isang hakbang.
No. No...It can't be. Sigaw ng isipan niya.
It can't be him. Gusto niya pang mapatawa, just to convince herself. It can't be the man she thought she'd never see again. Life wouldn't give her such a big joke, would it?
The man slowly stood up, as if with difficulty. Saka ito dahan-dahang humarap sa kanya para iabot ang hawak na tray.
And there she was--face to face with the ghost from her past.
Jacob.
Libby's world stopped, but only for a few seconds. How she wished it could stop longer than that. Long enough for her to run away.
Wishful thinking...parang nanununtang bulong ng hangin.
Jacob's eyes were cold and on fire at the same time. How was that possible? They were burning with anger and yet she felt chilled to the bones.
Hindi niya magawang mag-iwas ng paningin. So she closed her eyes instead, hoping it would help.
It did not. Mas lalong tumatak sa isipan ang mukha ng lalaki. Agad niyang binuksan muli ang mga mata
Finally, it dawned on her. There was no escape.
Naramdaman niya ang mga braso ni Arthur na pumalibot sa kanya. Only then did she realize that her knees buckled and she almost fell down kung hindi lang sya naagapan nito.
"Hey are you alright?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito.
She didn't answer. Had she tried baka napasigaw siya. No of course not. She was not alright.
Maging si Helen ay lumapit na rin sa kanya. "Sabi kasi huwag ka munang eepal today eh." Nag-aalalang kastigo nito.
"Wow, what kind of welcome is this?" narinig nilang tanonh ni Fiona S. She seemed pissed at having all the attention diverted from her.
Muling napapikit si Libby nang maramdaman ang paglayo ni Arthur at lumapit sa kliyente nila para humingi ng paumanhin. She bowed her head in shame. Kasalanan niya lahat ng ito.
Si Helen ay bigla ring lumayo para pulutin ang ibang laman ng tray na nahulog sa sahig.
Without them beside her, Libby was exposed. She felt weak, trapped.
She stared at floor, hoping it would open up and swallow her whole.
Finally, he spoke. Finally she heard the voice she thought she would never hear again.
"I'm going to have my welcome massage right now."
Libby's whole body tensed. She knew what was coming.
Lumipat dito ang atensyon ni Arthur. "Of course sir. We're getting the rooms ready. Your massuese is already waiting-"
"I want her."
Hindi nakatingin si Libby sa lalaki pero ramdam niya ang mga mata nito sa kanya.
"I'm sorry sir, but she's not fit to work today." Sabi ni Arthur.
Sa gilid ng mga mata niya ay nakitang niyang pinagtiklop nito ang mga braso sa dibdib.
"Because?" his simple question sounded challenging.
"She's actually on a leave. She's not supposed to be here today." Arthur was starting to sound impatient. The atmosphere was already getting into him.
"Really? Why don't you ask her if she would dare refuse my request." said in a very smooth voice. So smooth that to anyone else it sounded innocent.
Only Libby could feel the threat in every word.
"I apologize sir, but--"
"Arthur. It's okay. Ako na ang bahala." She cut in. She had to take charge. Hindi naiintindihan ng boss niya ang sitwasyon.
"Libby, you need to rest."
Jacob chuckled. Long. Sarcastic. Dangerous.
It caught everyone's attention. Lahat napatahimik, maging si Fiona S.
"Libby," bigkas nito. Another sarcastic chuckle. "Seriously?"
Libby gathered all her courage to finally meet his eyes. Hers were pleading. Alam niya kung bakit galit ito. Libby was his name for her.
To everyone else she was Elizabeth, Beth, Eli. But to him she was Libby.
Why oh why did she introduce herself that way when she first came here?
"Sir, kung susunod po kayo sa akin?" paki-usap niya.
This time napahalakhak na ang lalaki. "Sir." Ulit nito. "This is getting really funny." But there was no humour in his tone.
"Libby, what is going on?" nalilitong tanong ni Arthur.
"Yes Libby. Kindly explain to them what is going on. Explain why I suddenly find this situation hilarious." hamon ni Jacob.
Nanginginig ang mga labi niya nang magsalita. "Mr. La Guardia and I knew each other before." mahinang sabi niya.
"Yeah," sang-ayon ng lalaki. "We used to live together before."