WHEN WE MET HER

CHAPTER 15

"I feel exhausted with everything that's happening. I don't want to work because I'm too tired but no one will be there to fulfill my duties"

Sinabi niya sa akin ang lahat ng rason niya. He's tired but he doesn't want to show it. Marami na rin ang nangyayari sa buhay niya pero hindi siya makapahinga dahil marami rin siyang dapat na asikasuhin

Isa nalang naman siya sa family niya kaya siya nalang ang magtataguyod sa business nila. It wasn't easy to be at the top kaya siguro gusto niya ring i-maintain yung kung nasaan na siya ngayon

"You should tell our ambassador and holders that you'll take a leave for the meantime. I know they'll understand"

"That wasn't easy. Our company holds big business partners abroad. Hindi ganoon kadaling magsabi sa kanila"

"I'll take care of that, just rest and chill. It must be really so tiring" I smiled while I sip my orange juice

Umuwi rin ako nung gabi dahil walang magaasikaso sa mga kaibigan ko sa bahay. May trabaho rin ako bukas kaya kailangan ko talagang umuwi ss Cavite

And as what I told sir Jake, inasikaso ko lahat para makapagtake siya ng leave. Gaya rin ng sabi niya, hindi nga ganoon kadali dahil hindi lahat ay madaling nagr-response. Minsan ay busy pa ang hotline nila kaya hindi ako makapag-set ng date para ipaaalam sa kanila

As day pass, a lot of things happened. Hindi lang sa buhay ko, kun'di sa buhay din ng mga malapit sa akin 'gaya ng mga kaibigan ko. It's almost Christmas and Halloween just ended weeks ago

I dressed up as Victorian ghost bride at our costume party and sir Jake as dracula. Sila Camille at Alex naman ay si Harley Quinn at Maleficent. It was a nice party since everyone attend and there's a lot of visitors na outsiders

"Yes, I would like to introduce my secretary, Ms. Martinez" sir Jake introduced me to everyone who doesn't know me yet. Pati kasi yung mga nakatira sa ibang bansa na kakilala niya ay nandito rin

"Hello, sir. Nice to meet you" I smiled

"Glad to meet you, Ms. Martinez. Looking good!"

I heard a lot of complement about my costume. It was actually a unique one, I guess? A lot of my co-workers are playing the role of princesses. I'm wearing a simple white gown na enough lang to cover my legs and white heels. Also, a veil with some blood stains

Alex did our makeup. I told her I must look simple since I have to meet a lot of people tonight and she did it perfectly. I wonder why didn't she build a makeup salon since she loves doing that thing

Sa after party ay mga matataas na tao nalang ang kasama namin ni sir Jake. May mga babae rin sila na katabi dahil nasa bar kami. I guess, bar ng mayayaman? Private kasi ang room nila at mukhang ito na yung pinakamalaking room sa bar na 'to

"Will you be okay? I have to, you know" Jake ask, yung mga kasama namin ay naglalasing na at tuwang tuwa sa mga babae sa harapan nila

"Yes, I'll be okay"

Normal siguro ang mga ito sa kanila. Well, normal lang din naman ito sa aming magkakaibigan pero hindi naman sa ganito kabonggang lugar. Minsan kasi naglalaro-laro lang kami sa bar and never pa kaming nag ganito

"Ms. Martinez, right?" An old man ask, offering a glass of drink

"Ah yes sir" umiling ako dahil ayokong uminom sa ganitong lugar kasama sila

"Do you want to dance with me? I'm a good dancer when I was young"

"Ah, no, thanks sir. I'm actually waiting for sir Jake to come back. I must go home early, my friends are waiting for me"

Nag-flinch ako ng bigla niya akong hatakin sa baywang. I flashed an awkward smile and tried so hard to get off from him but he's holding me too tight. Gustuhin ko mang sumigaw, baka isipin ng iba ay bastos ako kapag ginawa ko 'yon

"Excuse me, Mr. Phan. She's my secretary, you aren't allowed to do that to her without my consent"

Gladly, sir Jake arrived and manage to help me get out of there. Sobrang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko nung kinuha ako ni sir Jake, hawak din ang balikat ko. Nakakakaba pala maranasan yung ganoon. Those who experience that thing must be scared too.

Kahit na lalaki o babae pa 'yan, we should never do that to someone we doesn't even know

"Are you okay? I'm sorry, hindi kita dapat iniwan magisa roon sa loob" lumabas kaming dalawa ni sir Jake dahil nagpasiya na akong umuwi

"I'm okay, just a little scared"

"I'll make sure that won't happen again. I'm really sorry, please fell free to ask me if you want something" I can see sincerity in his eyes while saying those words

"Nangyari na ba 'to noon sa iba mong naging secretary?"

"Sadly, yes. I can't do anything about this since Mr. Phan was the highest business partner I can have. I know this isn't right so I just let my past secretary leave"

Hanggang makauwi ako sa bahay ay 'yon pa rin ang nasa isip ko. I never experienced that thing. As in, never in my life. Hindi ko rin naisip na mangyayari 'yon dahil lahat naman ng mga nakakasama ko at nakakasalamuha ko ay may respeto sa akin

Napansin din nila Camille at Alex ang kakaibang mood ko kaya hindi nila ako kinakausap. Bigla kasi akong naglalabas ng sama ng loob kapag kinakausap ako and I have problems like this

"Did something happened? You can tell me everything" I let out a heavy sigh as she walks near me. Alex walk out with her friend

"Anong gagawin mo if someone you doesn't know just dragged you and ask you to dance with him?"

Nagsalungat 'agad ang kilay niya ng marinig ang tanong ko. Alam kong minumura na niya kung sino man ang gumawa sa akin n'on sa isip niya

"Was it sir Jake?"

"What of course not! Why would he do that!" I face her with a confused look

"Someone with a higher position?"

Tumango nalang ako at humarap muli sa mga bituin. I know something like this happen a lot of times. Hindi man sa akin, pero alam kong sa ibang tao ay nakakaranas ng ganitong bagay.

It was traumatizing. Parang ayaw mo nalang maalala ulit pero wala kang magagawa kasi nakabaon na 'yon sa utak mo

Camille told me a lot of advice to avoid it and how to face things like this. She experience a lot, dati siyang nagtrabaho sa bar gawa ng kapatid niya. Buti nalang she's a strong woman

Sobrang dami kong iniisip bukod don, nakalimutan ko ng itext si sir Jake na nakarating na ako sa bahay. Almost 4AM na ng marinig namin ang doorbell

"Did Alex just forget the code?" I asked Camille who's sitting beside me

"Don't tell me she'd drunk again"

Si Camille ang nagbukas ng pintuan. Matagal akong naghintay na bumalik siya pero nakalipas na yata ang isang minuto at nakatayo lang siya roon sa pintuan. Hindi ko alam kung multo ang nakita niya o ano at bakit para siyang estatwa roon

"Who was it? Nag-order ka ba ng snacks?"

I turn my head up and saw a man wearing a black suit and a pair of shades looking directly at me. In shock, hindi 'agad ako nakagalaw. Parang iba na yata ito?

"I just came since you didn't text me. I want to see if you arrive safe" he smiled at me. Yes. He smiled at me, and those smile makes me think that this feelings isn't normal anymore

NEXT~♡