His Lustful Proposal - (Ongoing)

Chapter 9

I woke up 4:00 in the morning. I feel cold. My body doesn't have enough strength for me to stand up. Suot-suot ko pa rin yung business attire ko dahil hindi na ako nakapag-palit kagabi.

Binuksan ko yung drawer ng bedside table ko para kunin yung thermometer sa med kit dahil pakiramdam ko ay mataas ang lagnat ko.

It's your fault, Cali. Dapat inalagaan mo yung sarili mo.

Habang naghihintay ako na tumunog
yung thermometer, binuksan ko ang phone ko para magcheck kung sakali mang nag-email sa 'kin si Steph pero wala naman.

Nang tumunog na ang thermometer, 39.2°c. I am really doomed. How can I go to work kung ganito yung temperature ko?

Dahil wala pa akong kinain simula kahapon ay nag-order nalang ako. Good thing may restau na bukas 24hrs.

While eating, hinihilot ko ang ulo ko dahil sa sobrang kirot nito. Wala rin akong gaanong gana sa pagkain pero pinipilit ko dahil wala rin namang tutulong sa sarili ko kung hindi ako.

Nang matapos na akong kumain, dinala ko ang mga pinagkainan ko sa automatic dishwasher. Chineck ko rin ang temperature ko pero gano'n pa rin yung lumalabas. Ininom ko na rin yung gamot na nireseta ni Doc Nate.

Bumalik ulit ako sa pagkakahiga. Hindi ko rin binuksan yung AC dahil sobra akong nilalamig. Kahit hirap ay pinilit ko pa ring magpalit ng damit. I wore a sweater and pants. Nagmedyas na rin ako at kinuha ko sa cabinet ang pinaka-makapal kong comforter.

Naglagay din ako ng kool fever sa noo ko. Dahan-dahan akong dinapuan nang antok kahit pakiramdam ko'y kulang yung comforter ko.

8:00 A.M. nang mag-ring ang phone ko. Dahan-dahan kong sinagot ang tawag ni Steph kahit nanghihina ako.

"Hello, Ma'am? Papasok ho ba kayo ngayon?"

"I c-can't-" napaubo ako kaya naman kinuha ko yung tubig sa bedside table ko at ininom 'yon.

"Ayos lang ho ba kayo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Steph sa kabilang linya.

"Why Steph? May...problema ba...ulit?" nanghihina kong tanong.

"A visitor came, Ma'am. Well, not just a visitor but the owner of a prestigious company. Biglaan lang po ito Ma'am."

"Is that so? Okay, I'll go. Ask the owner to give me minutes. I'm not feeling well today."

"He said he can wait, Ma'am."

"Okay. I'll hang up now." then I ended the call.

Kahit nahihirapan ay nakayanan kong magtungo sa banyo para mag-half bath dahil hindi ako pwedeng maligo. I wore a formal attire that I always use whenever I go to work or there is a meeting. I let my wavy hair down. As much as I want to look presentable, I can't. I didn't even bother wearing make up.

I wore a face mask para hindi ko mahawaan ang kahit sino mang makasalamuha ko. I took a cab since my car is still at the hospital and I can't drive in this state.

Nang makarating ako sa building, mabagal akong naglakad patungong elevator. Bago magsara ang pinto ay may pumasok na lalaking naka-business attire rin. Nakatitig lang ako sa mga number ng floors.

The man cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. Can I help you? Which floor are you?" he asked.

"17th," sagot ko.

"Same goes with me." he said then I looked at him.

"James?" tanong ko nang makilala ko ang binata. Kita ko namang nangunot ang noo niya. "I'm Cali."

"Oh...Miss Cali. Sorry I didn't recognize you." he apologized.

"Are you going to my office?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Sir Leon's waiting for you."

Conor's here?!

I don't know why but I don't want to talk to him right now. Lalo pa't hindi ako nakapag-ayos tapos may sakit ako.

When the elevator dings, that only means one thing...we're here.

Kumikirot ang ulo ko na naglalakad kasabay si James. Sinasabayan niya rin ang lakad ko na para bang alam niyang anytime e matutumba ako.

Nang makapasok kami sa opisina, nakita kong naka-upo sa couch si Conor. Tumayo naman siya nang makita niya ako.

"Miss Cali," he greeted me.

Nang saktong nasa harap ko siya ay nawalan ng balanse ang katawan ko pero buti nalang ay nahawakan niya ang balikat ko at nakasandal naman ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya.

"Sorry," pagka-sabi ko no'n ay sinubukan kong umayos ng tayo.

Naglakad ako nang dahan-dahan patungo sa swivel ko nang maramdaman kong inalalayan niya ako at pinaupo sa swivel ko.

"Are you alright?" sinsero niyang tanong.

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Monte-" natigilan ako nang maalala kong pangalan lang pala dapat niya ang sasabihin ko. "...Conor. I am not in the good state to talk about business-"

"Then why are you here?" tanong niya habang kunot ang noo.

"You're waiting..." I answered honestly.

"And? You can just tell me that you're not feeling well." he sounded concerned.

"About business-"

"What about it?" he cut me off. "You told me awhile ago that you can't talk about business in this state. Tapos ang usapan. Hindi ako makikipag-deal kung hindi rin naman kita makaka-usap nang ayos."

With this attitude, I feel he never wants to lose an argument. Siya siguro yung tao na mahilig makipag-debate tapos laging panalo.

"If that's the case then I'm going home. Sorry for the incovenience." pagpa-paalam ko.

"I'm taking you home."

"No, Conor, I'll just book a cab."

"Just let me take you home. I insist." ang kulit.

Since this one is for my health, pumayag ako. Bahala siyang mahawa d'yan hmp!

Inalalayan niya akong makapasok sa shotgun seat at inayos niya rin ang seatbelt ko. Pumasok na siya sa driver seat at dahan-dahang pinaandar ang kotse. Nasusuka ako pero pinipigilan ko dahil baka magalit kapag nasukahan ko 'tong mercedes niya tapos ipabayad sa 'kin yung carwash.

While driving, he's asking me questions about what I feel. Kung nahihilo raw ba ako o hindi. Kung gusto ko raw ba na bukas yung bintana o hindi.

"You can play a song if you want to. Just search here and you're good to go." turo niya sa 'kin.

I searched for 'Wildest Dreams' ni Taylor Swift. When the music started, sinasabayan ko sa isip yung kanta.

He's so tall and handsome as hell
He's so bad but he does it so well
I can see the end as it begins
My one condition is

Then I looked at him. The man Taylor is talking about suits Conor. He's tall and handsome as hell.

When he felt that I am staring at him, he took a glance at me before looking back to the road. Ramdam ko naman na pinamulahan ako.

"Don't stare. You might fall." he jokingly said or was that a joke?

I hate being someone who thinks what other people say are true. I should really change my perspective when it comes to this.

Because of the song, I started to feel sleepy. I closed my eyes and felt the tiredness consuming me.

Say you'll remember me standing in a nice dress
Staring at the sunset, babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you'll see me again
Even if it's just in your wildest dreams, ah-ha
Wildest dreams, ah-haa