A Sinful Forbidden Affair

Chapter 17

Sa mga panahong nakasama niya si Era, when things were too much to bear, lumalayo ito. Mas ninanais nitong mapag-isa. At habang nag-iisa ito, the more she could contemplate about her situation. Hindi niya hahayaang matulad siya kay Vernon. Lalo na at nakakasama ito ni Era sa ngayon, he might take advantage of the situation. 

Kinakain siya kanina ng panibugho habang pinagmamasdan sina Era at Vernon. He saw with his own eyes their genuine rapport, it was sublime and natural. He witnessed how Era could laugh freely around him, that she could be sweet and caring, not minding the judging eyes of people around them. She could be with her man without hiding anything. 

Zenith heaved a deep sigh.

Unlike with their situation. They can't go on dates, couldn't eat together in her favorite restaurant, and watch movies without fearing somebody might see them and put two and two together. 

Era loved the scent of coffee. Coffee shops were like a sanctuary for her, and Zenith couldn't join nor spend time with her in their favorite coffee shop while brainstorming for her projects. He couldn't bring her to any public place dahil baka may makakita sa kanila. He couldn't afford to take the risk. Kung kaya't mas madalas sa condo na lamang silang dalawa, or sa lugar na alam niyang walang makakikilala sa kanila.

He loved to surprise her with jewelries and flowers. Hindi naman ito materialistic na tao, pero sa ganitong paraan lamang siya makababawi. Sana. For he knew, showering her gifts wouldn't compensate for those times they missed. Those times they could spend with each other, create wonderful memories to last them a lifetime. 

Also, Zenith wanted to give Era the best life could offer. The most expensive things his money could buy.  Ayaw niya man ngunit iyon ang puwede niyang magawa to alleviate her longingness for him,  the lost times they should have enjoyed together. Sa kaniyang ginagawa ay nagmumukha tuloy ito na kaniyang mistress.

'Hindi nga ba?' usig ng kaniyang konsensya. He knew for a fact she did not deserve this, pero naiipit siya.

Where in fact, Era was the woman who brought him back to life. He considered her as his partner, as his future legal wife, the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Atas ng kaniyang responsibilidad ay sumama siya kay Michelle sa event nito. Who would have thought that Era and Michelle would be working now with each other? Napakaliit talaga ng mundo nila at tila binibiro at sinusubok sila ng tadhana.

He heaved a sigh at tumitig sa kisame, kung sana ganoon lamang kadali ang lahat.

He immediately went back inside their unit to get his car keys. 

"Damn it! Bilisan mo!" He pushed the elevator button again.

Inis niyang tiningala ang floor indicator nang makitang paakyat pa lamang mula ground floor ang elevator.

The moment he stepped in, pinindot agad niya ang basement button dahil doon naka-park ang GTR niya. Ngunit tila nang-iinis ang tadhana dahil halos bawat floor ay may sumasakay at bumababa. This was the down side of his unit in this condominium. Dahil gusto niyang malayo sa circle niya kung kaya't mas pinili sa developer na ito bumili.

Madali niyang pinaharurot ang GTR palabas ng building. Sinuyod niya ng tingin ang kalsada, baka naglalakad si Era at nag-iisip. Almost all the parks within their vicinity ay tinungo niya. Era was the type of person that wanted to be alone and think things through, magpapahangin upang ibaba ang emosyon. One thing she hated? Confrontation. 

Habang lumalalim ang gabi ay nawawalan lalo si Zenith ng pag-asa na mahanap ito. He decided to go back home. He scrolled his social media accounts. He stumbled upon a friends Instagram. He captured in his selfie a body frame familiar to him. Tiningnan niya ang time stamp, two hours ago.