Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 51

Affair

Arik: Why do you always leave whenever something happens between us? Is this how you'll treat me? Like a one-night stand, Celeste?

Arik: And didn't you like it?

Parang sasabog ang ulo ko nang mabasa ko ang text na iyon ni Arik habang inaayos ko ang mga kontrata sa lamesa ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang agad na pagkalat ng init mula sa mukha ko patungo sa katawan ko.

Especially when I remember what happened between us last night.

The way Arik held and touched me last night is igniting a fire within me, spreading like a wildfire that suddenly ignites and quickly engulfs everything.

He was like a hungry beast during those moments. Eager, yet careful in touching me, as if I were a delicate object he didn't want to break.

Na para bang sa ilang oras na iyon ay nakalimutan ko na ang mahabang panahon na pagkamiss sa kaniya. But it also intensified my longing to be with him again.

It's like I'm having an affair with the father of my child, damn it. Is this even allowed?

"So, the real question is, why did you come home at almost 5 AM this morning? Sabi ni Oliver ay nag usap lang daw kayo. Hanggang anong oras? Alas singko ng umaga?" Pang uuyam sa akin ni Aurora habang naglalunch kami.

I ignored her and pretended not to hear, but Kim immediately joined in.

"And who is this person you were talking to that lasted until 5 a.m?" Kim asked.

"No, you're asking the wrong question. How many rounds and why did it last until 5 AM?" Aurora added mockingly, causing me to accidentally drop my spoon and fork due to embarrassment.

Damn these bitches.

"O bakit namumula ka? Nag iinit ka? Biglang nag flashback?" Aurora prodded, and I almost cursed at her.

"Kapag hindi ka pa tumigil ay sasaksakin kita ng tinidor," I muttered.

Tinakpan niya ang kanyang bibig na tila ba nagulat ngunit bakas pa rin ang pang-aasar niya.

"Oh, wild and gruesome. Ganyan ba ang nangyari sa inyo kagabi? I'm sure it is, because you've both missed each other so much."

"Kaya nagtagal hanggang 5 a.m," Kim chimed in. I facepalmed and quickly took a sip of water.

"Can you please stop?"

"What? Ayaw mong sabihin, e. Edi pipilitin ka na lang namin." Aurora stated and laughed.

"Tell us, Celeste, why did you agree to meet your baby daddy? I thought you weren't going to fight for him anymore."

I avoided her gaze. "It's not like that anymore..."

"Liar. Kitang-kita ang sagot sa mga mata mo. So, what did you talk about? I'm sure it wasn't just sex that happened between you two the whole night. Or was it really just that?"

"Hinaan mo ang boses mo!" I retorted and threw a napkin at Kim.

Why do they have such big mouths?

"Okay, fine. What happened before you got down to business? Why did he want to talk to you? And why did he invite you to his condo?" Aurora persisted.

"I think Yumi's blackmailing him," I confessed to both of them.

"What?" Kim was the first to react. "How do you know? What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything explicitly. He just mentioned that Yumi isn't actually pregnant. He brought me to his condo because he claims he often sees me in his dreams, and..." I trailed off, grinning at both of them.

"And?" They both said in unison.

"Nabasa ko ang text ni Yumi sa kanya. She's threatening Arik, and she's using me as leverage. What if Yumi is blackmailing him? What if he's starting to remember but can't say anything because that girl has some evil plans for me? Knowing Arik, he'd risk anything, even himself, just to keep me safe, especially Ariah." I explained to them.

That's what's been bothering me ever since I left Arik's condo earlier. I had a hunch that this might be the case, especially after Arik mentioned how Yumi managed to worm her way back into his life. She's even crazier than his stepsister, Hannah.

"Oh, my god. That's so creepy. Creepier than Hannah." Kim commented.

"Right? Bakit ba lahat ng nakapaligid na babae kay Arik ay ganyan? They're literally obsessed. Seriously? Ganon ba kalaki ang ari niya?" I slapped Aurora's arm for her comment. Kim just chuckled.

"At baka magaling nga talaga sa kama kaya hindi nila matantanan."

She just wouldn't stop. Well, I can vouch for that, but I won't tell them.

"Anyway, what's your plan? Are you going to help him? Since he's slowly regaining his memory, maybe you can help him remember other things he's forgotten," Kim suggested, a question I didn't immediately answer due to my phone ringing.

We exchanged glances when we saw that it was Arik calling.

"Sagutin mo," Aurora ordered me, and she was the one who pressed the answer button, almost earning herself a punch from me.

"You're such an idiot!" I said in annoyance and quickly brought the phone to my ear.

"Hello, Celeste?"

I bit my lower lip upon hearing that voice of Arik's. Did he just wake up? His voice is so raspy... and tempting.

"Y-yes..." I managed to reply, feeling the two of them watching me intently.

"Where are you? You didn't reply to my text."

"I'm at work."

"Really? Where? Because I'm in your office, and you're not here."

My jaw almost dropped hearing that.

"What are you doing there?" I stood up and grabbed my bag, signaling the two to go ahead.

"I brought you lunch. Have you eaten?"

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I just finished eating. I'm on my way back."

"I'll wait for you here. I can eat the food I bought," he said as if it was no big deal.

I was already in the car, and he hadn't ended the call, so I couldn't help myself.

"What are you doing, Arik? Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka malaman to ni Yumi?"

I heard him chuckle. "Why should I be bothered?"

"Because she's your girlfriend!"

"She's not, Celeste."

"What?"

"She's not my girlfriend. I don't care what she says. I'll never make you a mistress. You're more than that, baby," he said in his hoarse voice, causing my shoulders to slump and weaken.

"But—"

"Hurry up. You have a visitor here."

"Huh? Who?"

"Your suitor is here. That damn engineer."

I ended the call. But before I could even start the engine, a text came in from an unknown number.

Unknown Number: You really don't know how to stop, huh? Let's see, Celeste, how far you'll go in chasing after Arik.