Hello There, Stranger

Part 11

Days passed and it was the same setup, Francis was no longer coming home with her, he was spending more time in the office, and he also left super early the next morning. Gone are the days that they ate together and spent time with each other, it felt like she was left behind. Gustong-gusto na niyang kausapin ito at malaman kung meron ba silang problema ngunit wala siyang mahanap na pagkakataon. One night, she decided to stay a little late to finally put an end to this charade, she had been losing sleep, confusion, and stress about what happened between them, and she had enough. Tonight, she would confront him and get answers once and for all.

When the rest of her team members went home, she made her way to Francis's office to have this talk, she traced her way to the elevator and pressed onto his floor. Her mind was determined but as she was nearing her destination a shadow of doubt slowly kicked in. The silence of the surroundings made Erika feel even more nervous.

Why am I feeling this way? She asked herself.  

When she finally arrived, she saw that Kaye's table was now empty, looking at the time she was probably home by now. She then walked towards the massive door of his office and pushed it forward.

"Francis I need-" her words were cut short when she saw an unfamiliar woman wearing a tight skimpy skirt and a tube top, she saw her blazer on the side so clearly, that she removed it so Francis could feast on her humongous chest. They were on the couch getting comfortable with each other.

She stood there stunned to see the scene in front of her and immediately she turned around and walked away.

"Erika, wait!" Francis called out and ran after her. Naabotan siya nito before she can even step into the elevator.

"Hold on please..." he pleaded.

"Is this the reason bakit iniiwasan mo ako?" She spat.

"No..." he whispered back.

"Ahhh so talagang iniiwasan mo ako? Bakit Francis ano bang nagawa ko sa iyo?" she uttered, trying to sound firm though she could sense that her voice was slowly breaking.

"Erika, please"

"I know we didn't define this relationship kung ano man ito, I know we didn't want it. But I had that clarity of what this is about in the beginning. I had set boundaries for myself promising not to cross them, so it wouldn't be difficult for me and you, but you blurred that line when you decided to come into my room and make love to me. Do you know what I thought right after? That maybe, it's the start of something more. I was wrong and now you fool around not even considering how I feel? You could have been honest enough about this whole shit! Don't toy with my feelings Francis! You know how it feels to work on borrowed time you know it damn well because you have seen your mother in the same breath." she angrily uttered.

Erika then turned around and walked towards the staircase leaving Francis behind looking like someone who was being punched in the gut.

She carefully went down the staircase and was careful not to stumble as the tears slowly dropped in her eyes. She knew she had no right to feel like this, but it was a form of betrayal on his part, her heart hoped and now it's being crashed into pieces. She didn't want to go home to his house tonight, but Erika decided to think of this more logically, she's not alone now and the baby is more important than anything else.

But I don't want to see him! Her mind resisted. When she finally found a taxi, she gave the driver the address where she wanted to be at that moment.  

Mahihinang katok mula sa main door ang narinig ni Zenaida sa gabing iyon. Mabilis ang kanyang kilos at dali-daling binuksan ang pintuan at laking gulat nito ng mapagtanto kung sino ang nakatayo sa harapan ng kanilang bahay.