Embracing Her Sweet Lies

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

"I hope you'll be happier with him."

Bahagya akong ngumiti at pinagmasdan siya. "So, you're going to the states?"

He nodded. "It'll be next week. I also need to get away from you first. I need to move on," he chuckled. Nagbaba siya ng tingin.

"Well, I guess. This will be our last meeting until I get back here. I will miss you. You're the first woman in my life, Solana. Since we're in high school."

I nodded. "I know that. When can you come back?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I plan to be there for only a month because of you. But right now, sa tingin ko ay magtatagal ako roon. It depends, Solana."

"Can I hug you for... the last time?" he said, his voice cracked. Malungkot akong ngumiti at tumango sa kaniya.

"Of course." He hugged me, I heard him sigh and kissed my head. He bit his lower lip as he caressed my cheek. At nagpaalam na siya na aalis. Pinanood ko lang siya hanggang sa makalabas sa restaurant.

Sumakay na rin ako sa sasakyan ko at umuwi na sa condo ko. Sinalubong agad ni Lucian nang makita ako.

"Why are you here? Hindi ba dapat nasa trabaho ka na ngayon?" aniko.

"We can go together. Parehas lang din naman ang pupuntahan natin," aniya habang nakaupo si kama at pinapanood ako sa pag-aayos ko.

Tumango ako. "Right. Pero dapat nauna ka na. Mamaya pa naman ang meeting."

We will have a meeting at Clemente's company this time. Alam niya halos lahat ng schedule ko araw-araw.

"Nope. I wanted us together," he said as he hugged me from behind.

Sa sasakyan niya na lang ako sumakay. Sinabi niya pa na ihahatid niya na lang ako sa VHMI at nagpumilit. I can't say no to him.

Kaliwa't kanan ang tinginan sa'min nang mga ibang employee pagkarating namin. Naalala ko na unang punta ko nga pala dito. When we entered the conference room I looked at Madison who was also there. I averted my eyes and sat down in the chair next to Lucian. Her mother is also here with her father.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa'kin kasama ni Lucian. She looks like she wants to talk but she can't. Nagsimula na ang meeting nang dumating na si Tito Alvi, Lucian's father, at ang kaniyang asawa. The whole meeting went smoothly, except for Madison who kept panicking when she was questioned. She looks bothered by something, and I already know.

"Are you okay, hija? You're not feeling well?" Tita Laurene asked.

"She's not feeling well this past week, that's why," Madison's mother answered instead.

The meeting continued. I lost my focus on the meeting when I felt Lucian's warm hand caressing my tight. I'm just wearing a skirt, kaya ramdam ko ang palad niya.

I glanced at Madison. I saw her glaring at me. Ganoon din ang Ina nito na parang outsider ako kung makatingin. Napailing na lang ako at iniwas ang tingin. Nang matapos ang meeting ay tumayo na ako para makaalis. Dumapo ang tingin ko sa direkyon nila Tita Laurene at ang kaniyang asawa na may kausap kaya hindi ako makalapit para makapag paalam.

"Lix. Can we talk?" Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Madison.

"We can talk here," sagot ni Lucian.

"I want private," ani Madison at matalim na tumingin sa'kin. Kumunot ang noo ni Lucian at hinapit ang baywang ko. Napatingin doon si Madison.

"If that isn't about business. Then I can't. I have things to do. Ihahatid ko pa si Solana." Kita ko ang galit sa mata ni Madison. Parang gusto niyang umiyak ngunit pinipigilan.