Buy Me

CHAPTER 37

'Don't make me regret things further than I already do.'

Ilang beses naikurap ni Ella ang kaniyang mga mata habang nakatitig sa kaharap.

It was already dark inside that room, with just the moonlight from the open window illuminating everything.

Nanaginip pa ba siya? It was hard to tell. Seeing Constantine there felt unreal. Galit nga ito sa kaniya, 'di ba? So, why was he even there?

"You shouldn't be here."

"M-Madami pa akong gagawin." Ella cursed under her breath when she stammered. Napakalamig pa rin ng tingin ni Constantine, kabaligtaran sa nadama niya noong haplusin nito ang kaniyang pisngi noong gisingin siya.

Was it even possible to be so cold and warm at the same time? She had grown so accustomed to his touch that even her cells knew him.

"Bakit nandito ka pa, Alandy? Wala ka na dapat dito nang ganitong oras. Delikado--"

"I can't leave you alone." Ella's lips parted when she ran out of words. On the other hand, Constantine took that chance to continue what he was saying. "Ikaw na nagsabi, delikado."

"It's my job--"

"You've lost weight." Hindi siya agad nakakibo nang tahasang palitan nito ang topic. Hindi na naman niya tuloy malaman kung paanong sasagot dito. More so when his expression softened. "Bakit pinababayaan ka niya?"

"It's not him. I just got too busy with work." She squared her shoulders and stood up. Then she took her bag from the desk.

Something beautiful yet very scary was building in the air, and it was terrifying for Ella. Hoping to disperse it, nagmadali siyang lumakad papunta sa pintuan.

Sandali niyang sinilip ang oras nang madaanan niya iyon. Then she faked a cough upon realizing the time. Pasado alas-dose na. Late na siya para sa report nila ni Claire.

"Gabing-gabi na, Mr. Alandy. You should go." Pinatigas niya ang itsura niya nang muling lingunin si Constantine. "Hinihintay na ko ng co-agent ko--"

"You don't look happy..."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Ella sa narinig. "And what's your problem with it?"

He didn't answer quickly. Sandali itong nanatiling nakatingin ulit sa kaniya, and she hated how his eyes seemed to see her soul. Lalo pa nang magpakawala ito ng pagak na tawa bago muling nagsalita.

"Believe me, Ella. I was expecting him to do better than this when you chose him over me."

"This is not the time to—"

"Are you beginning to regret your decisions too?" Walang galit sa boses ni Constantine, kahit na iritableng nakatingin na siya rito. Bagkus, sinuyod nito ng tingin ang kabuuan niya na tila kinakabisado ang kaniyang itsura. "You should come home."

"Wala ako niyon--"

"Don't you want to change your mind?" Sarkastikong ngumisi si Constantine. Tuloy, lalong gumulo ang isip ni Ella. What was this brute trying to say anyway? "Alam mo pa naman kung paano umuwi, 'di ba?"

"Where?"

"Sa bahay natin. Nothing changed," he answered, then gave her a knowing look. "Bente lang ang papunta roon. I'll wait for you in the parking lot."

Then that was it. Inunahan na siya nitong lumabas ng opisina at iniwan siyang mag-isa, tulala, at higit sa lahat ay litong-lito.

***

An hour after the encounter, Ella found herself cramming with her co-agent inside the CCTV room.

Tulad ng mga nakaraan, wala namang kakaiba sa mga nire-review nilang mga footage—no attacks or any post of threats.