Her Amorous Advances

Chapter 6

A month passed and the news about them dating spread like a wildfire. Lalo na sa business world ay balitang balita ito. When they attend events ay lagi sila ang highlights. Laging inaabangan. Taz still remain mysterious, walking around attending meetings, events, dates with masks and shades to cover her face. Minsan nga naiisip nya na ang ka-date ay isang manniquin o artista sa sobrang pribado nito.

And it's been a month since her company ratings to sky rocketed. Taz' parents don't question their relationship kahit nakikita ng mga ito ang pagbabardagulan nila ng anak ng mga ito. Sobra silang mag asaran at sya lang lagi ang napipikon kaya lagi nya itong nasisipa o nasasabunutan at kurot. Tinatawanan lang sila ng mag asawa.

Sa isang buwan na iyon ay mas nakilala nya ang totoong Taz Ivanov, ibang iba ang ugali nito kapag nasa pribadong lugar lang sila. Seryoso rin ito na tukmol minsan dahil bigla bigla na lang tatawa, ngingiti o aasarin sya. Lagi itong nagbibigay ng bulaklak na lily sa kanya, ang sabi pa nito noong tinanong nya kung bakit ayaw magbigay ng ibang klase ng bulaklak ay hindi daw nito babaguhin ang bulaklak naibibigay sa kanya hanggat hindi sya nababaliko. Nahahampas nya tuloy ito ng bulaklak dahil doon.

"Hey, sweetheart?"

She heard her but she chooses not to glance at the woman. Busy sya ngayon at may kailangan syang puntahan. Ubos na ang supply nya kaulya dapat ay makapunta sya doon.

"I'm busy Taz."

She replied without looking at her. She can feel the frustrations again, those deep well of emotions are slowly bursting, drowning her and eating her. Napahilot sya sa sentido. Ayaw nya ng ganitong pakiramdam.

"But sweetheart--"

She look at Taz, and her sharp eyes darted at her. Ayaw nya ng kausap ngayon. Gusto nyang mapag isa.

"Please leave me alone for now, Taz. Please.."

She saw the woman look at her like she said something wrong. Kumuyom saglit ang mga kamao nito. She saw that. Kahit sandali lang iyon. Hindi na nya ito pinansin at nakita nyang lumabas na ito sa kanyang opisina. She sighed. She got her phone and dial a number.

"I need a refill."

Luminga muna sya sa paligid bago isinuot ang sumbrero at lumabas sa kotseng sinasakyan. She's wearing a plain tshirt and fitted black pants and sneakers. Not her usual get up, yes. Pumasok sya loob ng building. Tinanguan sya ng babaeng nasa loob at nakaabang sa mga papasok. She went to the door at the end of the corridor and knocked.

"Come in."

Pumasok sya at inalis ang sumbrero. Ngumiti sa kanya ang babae at iminuwestra ang kamay sa sofa. She sat down and gave the woman the empty bottle of pills. Tumango lang ito at pumunta sa kulay white cabinet sa gilid at maya maya pa ay inabot sa kanya pabalik ang bottle ngunit puno na ng gamot ito.

"Want to open up?"

She nod her head and slide her body on the couch and lie there as she close her eyes. Ganito sya paminsan minsan.

"It's been a month Zaddiel. Ngayon ka lang ulit nagawi rito. You don't show up on your appointments."

"I'm sorry doc, busy ako lately.."

Yes, she's seeing a psych. She's suffering from depression and anxiety. She was clinically diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder four years ago while she was still in college. Hindi nya kinakaya ang lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay nya. And she told her dad about it, but he just hushed her and lectured her about weaknesses again. She's feeling too much pressure, at first, she just felt so down, and alone, she shrug it off but as time pass by it's becoming unbearable, she can't sleep at night, she can't eat properly, she wants to be alone everytime, she's not doing her hobbies anymore and she became less and less of a person. The feeling is drowning her. So she seek for professionals, and was diagnosed with it. Dumagdag lang ang anxiety 2 years ago. And it's the worse form of anxiety too, panic disorder.

She talked about what happened for the past month. Tumatango lang ito and when her session is over ay nagpaalam na sya rito. She wore her cap and walk towards her car and drove off. Kaya sya parang nagtatago dahil ayaw nyang malaman ng ama nya na ganon na ang ginagawa nya for the past years. Ikakahiya sya nito sa halip na tulungan. That's how her father is. Nakakahiya rin sa mga investors kung malalaman ito. Baka bigla na lang syang pababain sa pwesto dahil para sa mga ito ay incapable na sya.

Magiging issue ito at ayaw nyang maging ganoon ang mangyari. Kinakaya naman na nya dahil nakakatulong ang gamot na iniinom. Ayaw nyang mawala ang pinaghirapan sa isang iglap lang kapag malaman ng mga ito ang kondisyon nya. She strongly believe that she's more than capable.

Nang malapit na sya sa kanyang bahay ay napansin nya ang isang pamilyar na kotse. She parked her car on the open garage and walk towards the open door of her house.

"Taz?"

Nakaupo ito sa sofa at naoanganga sya nang makita na naka short shorts lang ito ng kulay itim at nakagray tshirt saka nakatsinelas lang din. Ibang iba ang itsura nito na laging nakaformal at casual. Feel at home pa ang gaga.

"Where have you been?"

Mataray na tanong nito sa kanya kaya nanlaki ang mga mata nya at tatakbo na sana ngunit na hulog ang bote ng gamot nya at gumulong ito papunta sa paanan ni Taz at huminto na roon. She was about to grab the bottle but Taz immediately pick it up and read the name of the pill and contents. Napapikit sya at kinakabahan. She started trembling while thinking of the possibilities that Taz will tell it to the public. She's overthinking again and her anxiety is starting to kick in again lalo na at hindi pa sya nakakainom ng gamot ngayom. She badly need it.

"H-Hey.. sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Naramdaman nyang lumapit ito sa kanya at hinawakan ang muka nya. Nagmulat sya at mabilis na inagawa ang bote ng gamot dito. Hinayaan lang sya nito na mabilis naglakad patungo sa kusina. She opened the bottle and took a pill then drink it. She waited for herself to calm down. And when she did, humarap sya sa likuran at naroon nga ang kasintahan.

"You're.."

There's no point in denying it kaya tumango sya rito. She showed her a small smile. Nabalot sila ng katahimikan hanggang sa bumalik sila sa living room. Saka lang nya napansin na may isang backpack sa pang isahang sofa at may cake, pizza and fried chicken sa celter table kaya napatingin sya rito.

"Um.. happy monthsary?"

Hindi siguradong wika nito kaya natawa na sya. Para itong namamangha na nakatingin sa kanya kaya ngumisi sya saka ito pasimpleng hinalikan sa pisngi. Pinakatitigan nya ito. She won't deny that she likes this woman now. Kaya lang ay natatakot parin sya.

"Happy monthsary, baby."

Nanigas ito at napaawang ang labi sa kanya. She shook her head at nagpaalam dito na magshoshower at bihis muna. Tumango lang ito kaya nagmamadali syang tumungo sa kwarto at naligo.

She'll talk to her later.