Termination of Desire

Kabanata 29

Days passed, and Helen and I had a small gap between us. Hindi na kami masiyadong nagpapansinan. We come to the office for small talk and only business-related matters. The air became cold, and suddenly there was no sense of life. I never talk, and she does the same thing. Her eyes were the coldest. Her presence was intimidating. And no matter how much I wanted to make it up with her, I ended up being cold and silent myself.

There was a gap. And I don't know how to fill it up.

I can't imagine the things Gunther told me that night. She likes me? Romantically? That's not even possible! Or...is it?

I have been observing her these past few days and trying to figure her out. I was looking for a sign that she's really in love with me, but all I could see was her coldness and frankness.

"I've already talked to the reporter who posted that article about you. I bribed him to turn it down," she informed me coldly when we were at the office.

I just stared at her.

"The only problem is...they were already spread. I can, but it'll take time to fully clean up the mess—"

"You don't have to do that," I cut her off. "There's nothing wrong with the news about us because we all know that it's true."

Magsasalita sana siya pero agad ko siyang pinutol.

"And as for the negative comments, just let it be. I don't really care."

Agad nawalan ng emosyon ang buong mukha niya. Parang nadismaya sa sinabi ko.

Katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan namin hanggang sa muli ko itong basagin.

"What's my schedule for the week?" sabi ko at muling nagtipa sa laptop.

Ayaw ko nang palalain o pahabain pa ang pagtatalo namin. Alam kong babalik na naman kami sa naunang pinagtalunan kung hindi ko ililiko ang topic.

"Actually, Mr. Toussaint has been waiting for you to come back. You have a lot of international events lined up."

"That can wait. What's my schedule for the week?" ulit ko.

Tinignan niya ang folder niya at bumuntong hininga.

"You only have to important events to attend. The Fragrance week gala on Wednesday, and your scheduled press conference on Friday."

Natigil ako sa pagtitipa ngunit agad ding nagpatuloy.

"Alright," tipid na sagot ko.

Hindi na siya umimik. Nanatiling nakatingin siya sa akin at hindi ko alam ang nasa isip niya.

I continued with busy schedule. Gunther and I meet every now and then. Sometimes he goes at my place and sometimes I go to his exclusive penthouse.

"Shall we go and meet my parents?" Gunther asked me one night.

Napadahan-dahan kami sa paglalakad at tuluyan ko siyang nilingon, nakahawak pa rin ang kamay ko sa kanya.

"Is that... alright?" alanganing tanong ko.

"It's alright. They have been waiting for you." He smiled a bit.

I looked down and bit my lips.

"What if they won't like me?"

He chuckled and pulled my hand.

"Hey." Itinaas niya ang baba ko kaya nagtama ang aming paningin. "You might be surprised."

Lito ko siyang tinignan.

"Let's go and find out." Matamis siyang ngumiti at saka mabilis na humalik sa labi ko.