REMEMBER (R SERIES #1) COMPLETED

C H A P T E R 27

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Ever since that incident happened, my mind had so many questions but when I would have the chance to ask Zach about it, something would give me second thoughts of asking him kaya hindi pa ako naliliwanagan habang hindi ko nalalaman kung ano ang ginagawa nila doon.

I thought he was having a meeting that day? Then why is he right there, smiling and talking in front of his childhood friend whom he has not so good relationship with in the past?

I dropped my body in the bed in frustration and sighed hard. "Ano ba naman 'to," sambit ko sa naiinip na tono. "What's the problem?" napapikit nalang ako ng mata nang maalala kong nandito pala si Zach sa kwarto at hindi ko na namalayan dahil nga napuno na ang utak ko ng napaka-daming tanong.

"Nothing, just a little problem in the office," I said while looking at the ceiling and he just continued on browsing through his laptop. "How was your day?" pag-uusisa ko. "It's fine, how about yours?" he asked back. "Likewise," sambit ko and he just smiled at me and went glancing back again to his laptop.

I looked at his figure. "I thought you were coming at my office kanina when you called," saad niya. "Nah, I was at my office the whole day," I replied. Napag-isipan kong magsagawa ng interview sa kaniya and try my best to throw questions as few as I can para hindi ako maging kahina-hinala. "Who did you meet up today?" I asked out of the blue to get his reaction.

"Hm? A business partner perhaps," he didn't even bother to look at me and still proceeded to browsing his laptop. Here I thought Zach doesn't know how to lie. He's so good at it.

That night, I slept with questions consuming my whole mind and the next day, I went to work na malaki ang eye bags. "Good morning boss, okay ka lang?" Miles approached me with such a question. "I'm fine Miles, good morning too."

Lumipas ang mga oras na parang wala ako sa sarili sa loob ng opisina. Kahit mga papeles na dapat kong pirmahan ay hindi pa nangangalahati. Kailangan ko ng makaka-usap sa iniisip ko ngayon kaya kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan si Nico dahil alam kong sa kaniya ko lang to masasabi sa ngayon.

"Oh? May problema ba? 'Bat ka napatawag?" pambungad niyang sabi sa kabilang linya. "Ano kasi Nico, si Zach kasi," saad ko na nagdadalawang isip. "Ano meron sa kaniya? May nangyari ba?" tanong niya pabalik.

Kinuwento ko sa kaniya ang mga pangyayari na naganap noong mga nakaraang araw at pati na din kung sino si Phoebe. "So nagsisinungaling siya sa'yo?" she said at the end. "I don't really know, well sort of?" naguguluhan kong sambit at sumandal sa swivel chair ko.

"You're not sure? Then kung hindi ka pa sigurado sa hinala mo, don't jump into conclusions muna," aniya at napatango-tango ako. "You're right, maybe there's nothing that much to think about." Napatango-tango ako, baka masyado lang akong stressed sa work lately kaya kung ano-ano na pumapasok sa utak ko.

"If hindi ka pa din mapakali, I'll tell Niña in the café para bantayan if Zach and that girl goes there pa. I'll send her a picture of Zach," she insisted and I didn't argue with her furthermore since it'll be helpful naman para sa sanity ko. "Thank you Nico," sambit ko at kahit konti ay lumuwag-luwag naman ang pakiramdam ko.

"No worries Avani. Have a good day ahead, may flight pa kami. Bye bye," pagpapaalam niya. "Have a safe trip, bye bye." Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at hinilot ang aking sentido. "Makapag-trabaho na nga lang."

Binigyang atensiyon ko na lamang ang mga papeles na dapat kong pirmahan sa lamesa. Mas mabuti pang magtrabaho nalang ako kesa naman isipin si Zach at sumasakit lang ang ulo ko.

Maya-maya pa ay may kumatok sa pinto. "Boss, may bisita ka," ani Miles na nasa pintuan at katabi niya si Dawn na biglaang sumigaw. "Ma'am!" lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako ng napaka-higpit. "Dawn, teka-- hindi na ako maka...hinga," saad ko at pilit na nilalayo siya sa akin na parang lintang grabe kung makadikit.

"Ay! Sorry po, na-miss kita ma'am," aniya sa naiiyak na tono. "Aba oo nga ano? Saan ka pala galing? Ang tagal mong nawala," pagsasali ni Miles sa usapan at unti-unti namang lumuwag ang yakap ni Dawn sa akin hanggang sa lumayo na siya sa akin.

"Saan ka galing?" tanong ko din at maya-maya pa'y bumukas ulit ang pinto at pumasok si Zach na may dala-dalang box sa kamay. "Dawn? Naka-uwi ka na?" he exclaimed, surprised on seeing Dawn inside my office.

"Hi sir!" she replied in a chuckle. "You know each other?" napatingin kami ni Miles sa isa't isa nang pareha kami ng sinabi. "Oo naman, she's your nurse diba? I sent her on a vacation a few months ago," he explained na dahilan para panliitan ko siya ng mata and he gave me a peace sign.

"Ang saya nga 'don sir, kaso mayroong unggoy na pakalat-kalat," aniya at umupo sa couch. "Tamang tama at may dala akong cake, kain tayo?" pag-aaya ni Zach at inutusan ko naman si Miles na kumuha ng mga utensils sa baba.

"Wala kang trabaho?" I asked Zach when Dawn excused herself to go to the comfort room. "Galing lang akong meeting kaya dito na ako dumiretso and I thought you might want some cake kaya bumili na ako." A meeting again?

Miles returned holding a tray with small plates, fork and a knife as well as Dawn returned to her seat. We ate and Dawn was telling us what happened in her vacation. After that, she bid goodbye to us dahil may hahabulin pa daw siyang biyahe pauwi sa kanilang bayan and told me she'll be back next week para ipagpatuloy trabaho niya sa akin.

Miles returned to her place outside my office and I was left alone with Zach in the couch. He laid his head on my lap and closed his eyes while hugging my right hand. Tinitignan ko lang siya and I still managed to comb his hair with my fingers even though my mouth wants to open right now and trigger him with questions I have in mind but no words came out of my mouth.

I sighed na dahilan ng pagmulat niya ng mata. "Is something bothering you?" he asked worried but instead to speak, lumingo lang ako. "You look pale Lauv, is something wrong?" he seemed alarmed and sat properly beside me.

"Wala naman, baka pagod lang ako sa trabaho," I uttered and gave him a smile for assurance. "Are you sure? If you want to go home then I can drive you home," aniya. "I'm fine, go back to your office now at baka kailangan ka na doon," I said as formal as I can and stood up at binuksan ang pintuan.

"But you look like you're not okay--" aniya at pinutol ko naman ang pagsasalita niya. "I can handle myself," I said firmly and slowly pushed him outside the door and closed it. I sighed for the Nth time today and was about to take a step back to my desk when I received a text from him.

From: Zachylicious😎
Just give me a call if you want me to drive you home. You don't look okay Lauv, I'm worried.

I replied "I'm fine, don't bother," and returned to my desk. Siya ang nagpalit ng pangalan niya sa phone ko kasi nung nakita niyang Mahanging Bagyo name niya ay nagreklamo siyang hindi naman daw siya mahangin at nagsasabi lang ng totoo na 'pogi daw' siya.

When I sat on my swivel chair, I received another text and it's from an unregistered number this time.

From: Unknown
Hi Vani, it's Niña. Boss said I'll send you this picture.

I tapped the image so it'll go larger and there I saw Zach and Phoebe, sitting on the same spot they were last time and I think that photo was taken earlier this afternoon because Zach is wearing the same clothing when he left here just by now and on what he's wearing on the picture.

"At talagang nakuha niya pang bumili ng cake ha?" I sighed once more and threw my phone on the desk. Napahilot nalang ako ng aking sentido at nararamdaman kong kumukulo ang dugo ko ngayon.

Speaking of dugo... "Did I have my period this month?" I whispered to myself when I had that realization. I'm not irregular naman but how come?

I quickly went searching for a small mirror on my drawers and when I finally got it, nagulat ako sa nakita kong mukha sa salamin. That must be why Zach told me I look pale earlier and he was right, I don't look okay and I became nervous all of a sudden.

Pinikit ko ang aking mata at dahan-dahang umupo sa swivel chair ko. Buong hapong iyon ay kung ano ano nanaman ang pumasok sa utak ko at nadagdagan pa ang problema ko kay Zach.

What if I'm pregnant?

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