Melting Me Softly (Sanford Series #5) [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 9

KINABUKASAN ay naratnan ni Sabrina sa loob ng kanyang opisina si Apollo. Nakatayo ito malapit sa salaming dingding, nakapamulsa habang nakatingin sa labas niyon. Alam niyang naramdaman nito ang pagpasok niya ngunit hindi ito lumingon sa kanyang gawi.

Kalmadong isinarado ni Sabrina ang pinto at lumakad patungo sa kanyang lamesa. Inilagay niya ang bag sa ibabaw ng lamesa at binuksan ang computer. Nakahanda na ang mga dokumentong kailangan niyang pag-aralan ngayong araw, marahil ay inayos na iyon kahapon ng kanyang sekretarya dahil hindi pa ito dumadating.

Maaga siyang pumasok dahil nang magising kaninang madaling araw ay hindi na siya nakabalik ng tulog. Ipinagtataka niya kung bakit naroon si Apollo ng ganoon kaaga, halos wala pang mga empleyado sa kompanya. Mga isang oras pa bago ang office hours.

"May kailangan ka ba, Mr. Sanford?" ang malamig niyang tanong dito nang hindi man lang ito tinatapunan ng tingin.

Naikuyom ni Sabrina ang kamao nang lumakad ito palapit sa kanyang kinaroroonan at umupo sa gilid ng lamesa at nakatunghay na ngayon sa kanya.

"Good Morning, Sab. Have you had breakfast?" he asked and smiled at her.

Mula sa pagkakaupo sa kanyang swivel at pagkatutok ng mga mata sa monitor ay nagtaas ng tingin si Sabrina kay Apollo. "What do you want, Sir? I have a job to do and you are disturbing me. I'll appreciate it if you will get out of my office right now," she said unabashedly. The fact that Apollo Sanford was her boss and one of the higher-ups, not to mention that he was the heir of the company if ever his father, Alexander Sanford, will retire. To her, he was nothing but a loathsome person.

Apollo sighed wearily and a sad smile appeared on his lips as he stared at her in the eye. He saw nothing but coldness and hatred from the depth of it. "Can't we be friends, Sab?" Sabrina was his friend first. He silently yearned for those days they were still together, as friends and as lovers. Nang makita ang sagot sa mga mata nito ay napabuntung-hininga muli si Apollo. "I want the files that I asked you last Monday."

Tahimik na inilabas ni Sabrina ang hinihingi nito mula sa loob ng drawer at inilapag sa lamesa. Hindi na siya muling nagtaas ng tingin at hinarap na ang kanyang trabaho.

Sabrina can feel the weight of his stare. It made her uncomfortable and she wanted to snarl at him. But she did not let it show in her facial expression and body language.

She ignored him until she felt him move and picked the documents on the table. Akala niya ay aalis na ito nang tumalikod sa kanya ngunit tinungo nito ang kinaroroonan ng mahabang sofa, inilapag ang mga dokumento sa center table at humiga. Ipinikit pa nito ang mga mata habang nakapatong ang isang braso sa noo.

Sabrina glared at him and pressed the keys on the keyboard forcibly. She was pissed in the morning by him, what a lucky way to start her day. She thought in sarcasm.

Looking at him from the corner of her eye, she realized that he hadn't had sleep. Maybe he stayed awake the whole night to work, the dark circles around his eyes were the evidence. He hadn't even in his suit, he wore casual clothing but still look the same. He can wear a rug and still look good at them. She can't deny that he got the looks and the smile that will entice every lass.

But she was not the same girl from nine years ago. She learned her lessons and Apollo couldn't affect her the way he made her feel before. She won't let him!

"What happened to us?" Hindi sumagot si Sabrina sa mahinang tanong na iyon ni Apollo at pinaikot ang upuan paharap sa salaming dingding patalikod dito. "I read your text last night. You can say it to my face directly. I know you hate me, I hate myself too."

"Asshole!" ang madiing bigkas niya habang nanatili pa ring nakatalikod. Hindi niya gustong ipakita rito ang pagtatagis ng kanyang mga bagang dahil sa pagka-alala sa nakaraan. Hindi na mawala-wala ang galit at sakit sa kanyang dibdib, ni hindi man lang nito alam ang pinagdaanan niya nang malaman niyang niloko lang siya nito. Ni wala itong ideya kung anong mga nangyari sa kanya, kung gaano kahirap, kalungkot at kasakit. Hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala pa rin niya sa kanyang dibdib ang nangyari siyam na taon na ang nakakalipas.