Dirty Little Secret (GxG)

Chapter Twenty

Lia's POV

Makalipas ang isang linggo mula nung nangyari 'yung tungkol sa red envelope, medyo nakahinga na ako ng kaunti. Pero kahit papaano, hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Every day, I felt like we were walking on eggshells. Also since the day Sandra, Dani and Papa talked nagkaroon na ng lakas ng loob na sunduin ako ni Sandra araw-araw, but we're always a little more cautious whenever we stepped out. Sa part ko, mas malaya na kami gumalaw, hindi na namin kailangan mag tago. Papa even seemed more accepting, though I knew deep down he was still worried.

Ngayon, nasa harap ako ng salamin, finishing up my makeup bago kami umalis. Narinig ko ang tunog ng sasakyan ni Sandra sa labas, and my heart skipped a beat like it always did. Kahit isang linggo na kaming ganito, there was still that excitement every time I saw her.

"Lia, nandito na si Sandra!" sigaw ni Papa mula sa sala.

"Pa, narinig ko na!" sagot ko, rushing to grab my bag.

I walked out of my room and saw Papa waiting by the door. Nakangiti siya, pero halata ko pa rin 'yung konting alala sa mga mata niya. "Mag-iingat kayo ha? Alam kong nag-iingat na kayo pero... just be extra careful."

"Alam ko, Pa. We'll be fine," I reassured him, giving him a quick hug before heading out the door.

Paglabas ko, nakita ko si Sandra leaning against her car, smiling as I approached. She was wearing her usual office attire—polished and professional and Ofcourse those perky breast didn’t getaway with my stares—but her smile was warm, something she only ever showed around me.

"Hello, my dearest" she greeted as she opened the passenger door for me. I felt the entire zoo crept into my stomach when she calls me different endearment. "Ready?"

"Always," I replied, grinning as I slid into the car.

Once I was settled, she climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. "You look great today," she said, glancing at me with that teasing smirk of hers.

"Naks, trying to be charming, ha?" biro ko, pero alam ko namang totoo 'yung sinasabi niya.

As we pulled out of the driveway, she reached for my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine. Sa bahay, okay lang 'to. We didn't have to worry too much about anyone seeing. But the moment we'd step outside, the switch would flip. We had to be more careful.

"Paano tayo ngayon?" tanong ko habang nakatingin sa kamay naming magkahawak.

Sandra sighed softly, her thumb brushing over my knuckles. "We'll be careful. Like we've been doing this week. Ayokong magtake ng risk lalo na sa work, but that doesn't mean I'll stop fighting for us."

I nodded, knowing she was right. "Sana lang matapos na 'tong tungkol sa red envelope. Do you have any progress?"

Sandra's grip tightened slightly, but she kept her tone calm. "I'm working on it. I'm close to finding out something, but nothing concrete yet."

"Okay..." I tried to push the worry out of my mind, but it wasn't that easy. "Basta, let's just be extra careful sa work today."

"Of course," she agreed, turning the corner towards the office. "I'll act like the boss I'm supposed to be, at hindi ko ipapakitang anything's changed. Pero as soon as we're alone, alam mo na. Hindi kita papakawalan."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "Sana hindi ka magsasawa."

"Never," she said firmly, glancing at me again. "Loosing you again will be the death of me"

As we neared the office building, Sandra's grip on my hand loosened slightly, and we both shifted into our more formal selves. We had mastered this—ang pagiging professional sa work kahit na sa loob, all we wanted was to be close to each other.