Fate's Forbidden Blossom

03

"You're my, my, my, lover"

Pag kanta ko habang nasa kusina. Feel na feel ko pa ang lyrics habang nagbi-brew ng kape. I'm using the beans my cousin sent from new york na antagal kong hinhintay. I've tried it before and it's really good kaya agad ko siyang nagustuhan. Alam mo yung sa isang higop palang pati stress sa katawan mo nahigop na din.

Saglit akong umakyat sa taas para kuhain ang bag ko. I'm just waiting for the coffee to finish brewing so I can leave–I still have a meeting to attend. Pagbaba ko ay naabutan ko naman si Aurora sa kusina at may dalang kape. Wait a minute! Kaagad akong lumapit kung nasaan ang coffee pot and I find it empty kaya inis ko itong nilapag.

Naknang panty!

"Kape ko yan!" I said pero tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay.

"I don't see a name written on it." She retorted, nonchalantly. Seryoso ba siya?

"But I made it!" I insisted. Sinasagad niya talaga ang pasensya ko!

"So what? Then, go make another one." She said, as she settled on the dining area. She crossed her legs, giving me a poker face.

"Wala na akong oras! May meeting pa ako."

"How is it my problem?" Tila walang pakealam na ani niya. Nakakairita naman!

"Bakit mo ba kase ininom yan?" Iritadong tanong ko sakanya.

"Because it’s a coffee? And it’s in my kitchen?"

"Just because it’s in your kitchen doesn’t mean it’s yours!" I snapped.

She rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh, don’t be so dramatic. Here, we can share if you’re that desperate, honey."

"Argh! I hate you!" I groaned, clenching my fists.

"Feeling’s mutual," she said nonchalantly, sipping my coffee with an irritatingly smug expression. I glared at her before storming out. Nakakairita! Why did she always have to get under my skin?

Kaagad din nagsimula ang meeting pag dating ko sa office and I tried to divert my attention to it pero naiinis parin ako. My gosh! Hindi pa nga ako nakakamove on sa nangyare kahapon and now this? I silently sigh and focus on the presentation.

"Can we have a cost analysis for this concept by the end of the week?" I asked my team.

"Yes, Architect. I'll talk to the finance team to get that sorted out po." Kaagad na sagot ng senior designer namin. I was expecting that the meeting itself will lessen my irritation pero mukhang nadagdagan lang dahil sa stress. Oh, gosh, I have too much on my plate already, and Aurora's antics were just adding fuel to the fire.

"Girl, have some mercy on the paper" Lana whispered. Napansin kong napunit na pala ang isang gilid ng papel dahil sa sobrang diin ng pagsusulat ko. Binitawan ko nalang ang hawak kong lapis at pilit na pinakalma ang sarili. Lunch na ng matapos ang meeting. We have to finalized everything dahil may hinahabol kaming deadline.

"Problema mo ba?" Lana stopped on her track as if she realize something. Andito kami ngayon sa cafeteria. We are having a quick lunch pero ice coffee lang ang inorder ko dahil wala akong gana.

"Ay alam ko na to," Natutuwa niyang sabi na parang kinikilig. "Di ka niya nilambing no? Or, walang morning kiss?"

Napairap naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya. "Hindi"

No one at the office knows our marriage is just a business arrangement—only our closest friends and family knows about it. So, everyone assumes we're happily married. As if

"Ah, alam ko na!" She leaned in and whispered, "Binitin ka niya kagabi—"

"Gaga! Dun kana nga!" Inis na ani ko habang siya naman ay tawang tawa.