Embracing Her Sweet Lies

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Ms. Vanidestine? Do you agree with Mr. Cruz?" Doon lang ako nabalik sa huwisyo mula sa malalim na iniisip. I was annoyed with myself because since this week I have not been able to think properly.

I nodded coldly and pressed my hands together resting on the table. "If there's no objection, we will now adjourn the meeting." Tinignan ko sila isa-isa at dinako ang tingin ko kay Mr. Salazar.

"Hearing no objection, this meeting is now adjourned," I said coldly. Tumayo na ako agad at taas-noong naglakad papalabas sa conference room.

"Ms. Vanidestine, you have a meeting with the board of directors later and the--"

"Later. My head is aching," agap ko sa aking sekretarya.

"Do you want me to take medicine for you? I'll just tell Mrs. Vanidestine na--"

"No, don't tell her. Mawawala lang 'to. And get me medicine, right now."

"Sure, Ms. Vanidestine." Pumasok na ako sa opisina ko at pabagsak na umupo sa swivel chair ko. Kinuha ko ang phone ko na nasa lamesa at sinagot and tawag.

"Yes?" Mariin akong pumikit at hinilot ang sentido ko.

"Sol? Where are you?" Kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang boses ni Dana.

"Are you crying?" I heard her crying again so I was even more surprised. Is she being dramatic again?

"Dana. What's the problem? You're not alright," aniko.

"I... Solana. Can you go to my condo please? If you're not busy," aniya.

"Sure. I'm going there now. Don't do anything, okay?" I grabbed my Louis Vuitton Dauphine bag and headed straight out of my office. I called them Aine and Shailyn but no one answered. Pumasok agad ako sa sasakyan ko at nagmaneho patungo sa condo ni Dana. Nang makarating sa condo niya, dumiretso ako sa kaniyang kwarto.

"Dana?" Tawag ko sa pangalan niya dahil pati sa kwarto niya ay wala siya. Sa bathroom ako nagtungo sa kaniyang kwarto at naroon nga siya. She was in the bathtub and her body was submerged in the bathtub full of water. Napabuntong-hininga ako at tinanggal ang blazer ko. Inalis ko siya sa bathtub at binalot ko ang tuwalya sa kaniya.

Binihisan ko siya at kinuha ang gamot niya. I'm used to her doing this. Whenever she had a depression attack, she would call me right away. Pero matagal na itong nawala sa kaniya. Umayos na siya mula years ago. Kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit ganito na naman.

"Solana... Thank you. You're busy pero pumunta ka pa rin," ani Dana. Napalingon ako sa kaniya.

"You're already awake, I'm glad." Umupo ako sa kama niya at hinarap siya.

"You're always welcome. You also comforted me when I was depressed," I said.

"Yeah. Of course, you're always there for me, eh." Malungkot siyang ngumiti at yumuko.

"What happened? I thought we're both okay? We're both healed?" Nag angat siya ng tingin sa akin. She started crying again.

"Sorry. Iyon nga, eh. Okay na ako. Okay na ako sa buhay ko. Pero hindi ako masaya, Sol. So when I met him, I found my happiness in him. I thought I would never fall. Pero tang*na. Hindi ko inakala na nahulog na 'ko sa kaniya. I loved him," she said while sobbing.

My forehead furrowed. "What?" I didn't know that. Tumango siya at malungkot na ngumiti.

"I didn't tell anyone," she said.

"How did he hurt you? What happened?"

"He... He already loves someone else, Sol. I love him, but he loves someone else. It's my fault too. Umasa ako. Ako 'yong unang lumapit. Ako 'yong nagsabi na we're just a fling. We're just friends."