Adore You

Prologue

Series #1

"Atty. Amelia Vergara did not show any mercy against Atty. Luciano Perez during the trial."

"Battle of the two unbeatable: Atty. Vergara won the trial against the Atty. Luciano Perez."

Natawa ako nang basahin ni Aminah ang news tungkol sa pagkapanalo ko sa trial kahapon. It was a murder case and my client was wrongly accused by the victim's family.

"Congratulations for another successful trial, Atty. Vergara!" Ashley congratulated making me laugh.

"It was obvious from the very start that she was going to win." Jayana commented. "Si Perez ba naman tinapat sa kaniya."

Natawa silang tatlo dahil sa sinabi ni Jayana ngunit tinignan ko ng masama siya. I was expecting a peaceful catch up season with them in my café pero mukhang aasarin na naman ako nila. Can't I just be at peace for once?!

"Don't think of it as an insult, dummy. It's just funny because people was oblivious about your past and they didn't know that you're very angry at him." Jaya explained making me glare at her more.

Talagang dinagdagan pa ang galit ko! Nakakagigil talaga 'to siya. Kainis!

"I'm not angry at Perez, okay?" I tried to defend myself.

It was true though! Di ako galit sa kaniya pero galit ako kasi he promised me that hindi niya tatanggapin ang kaso na 'yon.

"Sus, kunyari ka pa. It was pretty obvious that you are." Aminah said, adding a fuel to the fire. I just glared at them.

"I was expecting a peaceful dinner with the three of you pero tinatangina niyo lang ako." Naiirita kong sabi. Natawa naman sila ulit. "Kainis kayo! Happy pill niyo ba ako?"

"Uy, yan tayo eh, ang assuming mo kaya ka napapahamak." Biro niya na parang may double meaning. Hindi ko napigilan at binatukan ko siya.

"Aray ko, pota ka!" Galit na sabi niya. Inirapan ko lang siya at kinain ang cake ko.

"Pero seriously, how are you guys doing? Hindi ko na kayo nakakausap masiyado, eh." Jaya asked. "Kahit huwag ka na, Inah. Alam na namin na masaya ka na."

"Okay po," halata sa boses ni Aminah ang pagiging sarkastiko.

"I'm doing fine, may nakakairita lang sa office." Saad ni Ashley na nagpatawa sa amin.

"Familiar," pang-aasar ni Aminah. Hindi umimik si Ashley kaya ay mas ngumisi pa ang isa.

"How 'bout you, Ams? How have you been aside from the fact that you won your trial?" Jayana tried to change the conversation.

"I'm okay lang naman, though the office has been chaotic and busy lately pero I'm fine." I answered and looked at her. "How about you, Ms. Model slash Artista naming friend? How have you been?"

"I'm great! Actually, may bago kaming project this month." Jayana answered.

"Oh, is that the series that everyone was talking about?" Ashley asked.

We continued our conversation by discussing about everything that happened in our life. When the clock struck at 9 pm, we said goodbye to each other.

"Kris, get me some coffee." I asked my secretary and she obliged. I massaged my forehead because of stress.

Umaga palang, nakakastress na ang mga gawain ko. Ang daming gagawin! For heaven's sake, wala manlang bakasyon. After winning the case, hindi manlang inisip ng isang Atty. Vergara na bigyan ako ng bakasiyon. Kairita.

He said that the victory party to be held on Saturday is enough. Wala talagang awa si Kuya Kade sa akin.

"Eto po, ma'am." Napatigil ako sa pagmumura sa kuya ko nang biglang dumating ang sekretarya ko. "Ma'am, I'm just reminding you that Ms. Heart Vergara wants you to meet her this afternoon."

"Is that all?" I asked. She continued telling me my schedule for today.

"Cancel my schedule with Atty. Kade Vergara." I told her. She looked at me with a surprised face.

"Po? According to Atty. Vergara, it's a very important meeting." She said. I laughed.

"I'm kidding, Kris. Kindly tell him that I'll be late since I'll be meeting Ate Heart." I said and fixed my things.

"Okay po, ma'am. Is that all po?" She asked. I looked at her because I was having a second thought if I should do it or not.

"Oh, by the way, before I left, cancel my meeting with Luciano. I don't want to see him."

"Ma'am-" I stormed out of the room and didn't let her finish what's she's about to say.

Ayokong makita ang lalaking 'yon. Nakakatangina pa rin siya kahit anong gawin niya. May gana pa talaga siyang magchat ng "hi" sa instagram.

Even though it was not afternoon yet, I immediately went to my sister's company because she made an appointment yesterday. Though, ayaw ko but I have to.

Normal lang naman na mairita ka sa kapatid mo kahit walang ginagawa. Lalo na kung impulsive lahat ng mga decision sa buhay.

"Good morning, Atty." She greeted me and I just nodded.

"Where's your boss?" I asked her. She nervously looked at me.

"A-ano po, ma'am... Pinapasabi niya pong maghintay lang po kayo sa kaniya." Kabadong sabi niya. Tumango lang ako at dumeretso upo sa upuan ni Ate.

Napansin ko na parang kinakabahan ang babaeng 'to. I mean, everytime I come here, lagi naman siyang ganiyan but I think, mas grabe yung nerbiyos niya ngayon.

"Pero asan nga siya?" Tanong ko ulit. Napalunok naman siya kaya naman ay napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa naging akto niya.

May ginawa na naman bang kababalaghan ang babaeng 'yon? Lagot 'yon sa mga kuya namin kung bumalik siya sa mga bisyo niya.

"Ms. Hernandez, nasaan si Ate Heart?" May halong pagkairita ang boses ko. "I'm not gonna repeat myself once again-"

"Uh, ayaw niya pong ipasabi sa inyo. Sorry po, sinusunod ko lang po utos niya." May halong takot sa boses niya kaya bumuntong-hininga ako.

Wala akong nagawa kaya'ybinisip ko nalang kung ano bang gusto niyang sabihin at ipinatawag pa talaga niya ako dito.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto kaya ay napatingin ako doon. Bumungad sa akin ang bad trip na mukha na ng ate ko.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with irritation.

"You asked me to be here," I answered. "What's with the face?"

"I told you to come here in the afternoon, Amelia!" Annoyed na sabi niya. "Since you're here, huwag mo sanang pagsisihan 'to."

"What the fuck do you mean?" I asked, feeling annoyed with her tone. As if on cue, the door opened making me stand up from my seat.

The door revealed the man I once loved and cherish the most. Kylo Vasquez was standing while holding the door knob with a shocked expression.

"Amelia..." Napakuyom ang kamao ko nang marinig ang pangalan ko galing sa bibig niya.

Ate Heart was right, sana sa hapon nalang ako pumunta dito. Nag-iwas ako nang tingin at umupo ulit.

I did all the things to move on from him but in just one sight of him, parang nawala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko.

At dahil sa pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko, all of the memories that I wanted to bury suddenly came creeping.