White Lies and Smiles

31

I woke up feeling energized than usual. I stilled when I felt a hand massaging my boobs. I didn't let him know my next move. I went on top of him, with his arms and legs on my sides. I stayed on top and rested my head on his hard chest. Even with my panty on and his boxers covering his member, I could feel his throbbing member. What a way to greet me good morning...

"You tired?" I nodded lazily. "Let's stay here then. I'll just inform my secretary that I'll skip work today." He reached for his phone.

"You have a new secretary?" Of course he has a new one, Qamari! "I mean, of course you have a new secretary na."

"Yeah, I hired a new secretary. I didn't want to but I had to. Having a secretary makes my work easier-" A knock cut Ethan's word. "Come in."

"The door's open?" I asked Ethan. He smiled, confirming it. He did not lock it—What if someone opened it last night?! No one's gonna do that. Ethan looks very strict after all.

A lady went in. I raised a brow at her, making her step backwards. Ethan glanced at me and chuckled. I looked away, guilty of showing bad attitude towards the lady. The lady's now facing the door, not wanting to look at us. Oh, how weird our position was!

"Janette, I'll skip work today-"

"Sir, you have an important meeting today with the Leimors. And also, I am here to inform you that there's a problem in the hospital. The directors called for an emergency meeting-"

"Tell them that I can't go. I have my priorities too. You go there and represent me." This man is really skipping work, huh?

His secretary nodded and left the room. I felt Ethan wrapping his arms around me. We stayed like that for half an hour. I almost fell asleep because his fingers were brushing my hair! I sat up after thirty minutes. I rolled my eyes when I felt him growing more.

I stared at him while caressing his chest down to his abs. All these years, I was just clowning around. I told myself that I'll never ever want to come back to him. But I guess, the world roots for us. Because no matter how long we've been gone in each other's lives, yesterday pushed us to feel each other's warmth.

"You wanna know how I ended things with Clyde?" He slowly nodded, a bit hesitant. "It started after that trial... You almost lost in the case because of me. Clyde became cold and more serious. Each passing day, we would have a series of arguments. Everything was exhausting. I wanted to just end it. And then, he told me that he was scared for me. He receives death threats everyday. His enemies might chase after me or use me against him."

"No other reasons?" I smiled and shook my head. "Wow... So, that's it."

"Yeah.. I couldn't understand. Why did he pursue me if he knew all along that those things could happen? We could've been happy until now... If only we stayed as friends. Why do men enter someone's peaceful life and eventually leave them broken?" I covered my face when my tears started to fall. I felt Ethan sat up and wrapped me with a hug. "Love isn't for an innocent girl like me."

"Just cry, I'll be here. Just talk, I'll listen. You deserve the love that stays and grows, not the one that fades out and pushes you to give up after a little while."

Ang sabi ko isang gabi lang pero bakit hanggang sa paghatid sa akin ni Ethan ay may nangyari?! Kagabi, kaninang umaga, at kani-kanina lang, bago siya umalis. Ano bang pumasok sa isip ko at hinayaan ko siya?!

Dumapa ako sa kama ko nang maramdaman ang pananakit ng katawan. Nasobrahan 'ata ako sa dilig. Masama nga ang sobrang dilig. Maya-maya pa ay tumunog ang phone ko. Inabot ko kaagad 'yon. Napabangon ako nang mabasa ang text ni Ethan. Kaagad akong lumabas ng bahay. Nakita ko siyang abala sa isang tawag habang humahakbang palapit sa gate. Humalik siya sa noo ko bago ako hinila papasok ng bahay.

"Call Attorney Valencia. I won't let that bastard win the game." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Ethan sa kausap niya. Nagtipa siya sa phone niya at maya-maya ay may ibang kausap na siya. "Zelena, I'm sorry to ask this but can I have Attorney Contrera's number? I need him to win a case. Alright. Thank you."

"What's going on?" I asked Ethan. He looked at me when he put his phone down. "Ethan, can you please tell me what's happening?"

"Clyde Amadeus Rivas is an enemy, Aia. He's Diana's boyfriend. He made us believe that he's an ally. He found out that my family wanted me to marry Diana. He was jealous and he used you to ruin me. The kid... It was Clyde's kid." Nanghihina akong napaupo sa sofa nang marinig 'yon mula kay Ethan. Hindi gano'n si Clyde...

"No, Clyde's not like that-"

"I found some information about your mother's activities for the past years. She was scammed by a fake agency and had to borrow money from someone. She was trying to pay it little by little but the interest kept on increasing. And guess who she was indebted to. It was Clyde. He did that on purpose. He knew that your mother wouldn't complain and would ask you for money. He knew that I was your boss, he wanted me to be penniless."

Si Nanay... Pinag-isipan ko siya ng masama noon. Pero ito pala ang pinagdaanan niya? Si Clyde... Ni minsan hindi ko naisip na kaya niya 'tong gawin. Hindi lang si Ethan ang nasira niya, maging ako at ang pamilya ko.

"He r-really did those? Si Clyde, Ethan?" Tumulo ang mga luhang pinipigilan ko nang mag-angat ako ng tingin kay Ethan. "Alam ni Clyde lahat ng... pinagdaanan ko. D-dinamayan niya ako tapos malalaman ko na siya pala ang nasa l-likod ng mga 'yon?"

"Aia, tell me what you want to do with Clyde. I'll do it for you. I'll do it for your family." Lumuhod si Ethan sa harap ko at pinunasan niya ang mga pisngi ko.

"B-binigay ko ang sarili ko nang buo sa kaniya, Ethan... Hindi ko na 'yon mababawi. Diring-diri ako sa sarili ko ngayon.." I buried my face on his shoulder. Kinulong niya ako sa isang yakap.

"Shush, buo ka pa rin, Aia. Sa mga mata ko, buong-buo ka pa." Lumayo ako kay Ethan upang pagmasdan ang kaniyang mukha. Tumingin ako sa kaniyang mga mata at wala akong ibang nakita kundi' sinseridad.

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