AMANDORA - ONE-SHOT FICTION

Fiction 15

Fiction 15- I AM YOUR FAMILY

Dedicated to Aira:>

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It was a quiet night, but Aurora was anything but stressed. Surrounded by mountains of paperworks for an important board meeting the next day, she couldn't shake the mounting pressure.

"Accckk! Ayoko na! Ang sakit na ng ulo ko!" she exclaimed, rubbing her temples as tension gripped her body.

Few moment, she hurriedly packed her things and decided to head to the kitchen for some relief. She poured herself a cold glass of water, hoping it might ease her discomfort.

As she drank, her eyes caught a glimpse of Amando rushing past her. Quickly, she downed the rest of her water and followed him, calling out his name.

"Amando!" she called but he was already out of the mansion, disappearing into her sight.

Aurora glanced at the massive old clock—it was nearly midnight. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and stepped outside, determined to follow him.

The cool night air sent shivers down her spine as she spotted him at the cliff, clad in a white hoodie with his hands buried deep in his pockets. The chill intensified around her, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

"Amando!" she yelled again, but the distance between them was too great.

She hesitated, watching him as he answered a phone call. Minutes ticked by, and she found herself wondering why she was still waiting in the cold. After what felt like an eternity, Amando finally hung up. Just as Aurora decided to approach him, she stumbled, nearly losing her balance.

"Putang—" she muttered, but Amando was quick to notice her struggle.

"Madam!" his attention shifted immediately, concern etching his face as she walked toward him like nothing happened, forcing a smile.

"I'm okay." she assured him. "What are you doing here? Gabi na ah." she asked eyeing the cliff and the mesmerizing moonlight illuminating the ocean below.

"Magpapahangin lang." he replied, his voice hoarse.

Aurora felt a pang of worry as she noticed the sadness in his eyes, and before she could think, she saw a tear slip down his cheek.

"A-are you crying?" she asked hesitantly.

"Hindi. Ang hangin kasi." he lied, but she wasn't convinced.

"Stop lying. Umiiyak ka, Amando. Bakit?" she urged gently, her concern deepening.

"Madam, gabi na masyado kailangan mo ng magpahinga. May board meeting ka pa bukas—"

"I don't care about that board meeting so tell me, bakit ka nga umiiyak?" her determination pierced the night air, refusing to let him dismiss her concern.

Silence enveloped them, and Aurora felt the weight of his grief. She stepped closer and took his hand, squeezing it firmly.

"Makikinig ako."

At her words, his grip tightened around her hand, and Aurora waited patiently for him to speak.

"Mag-isa na lang ako, Aurora." he broke the silence between them. "Ako na lang ang natitira sa pamilya at mga kamag-anak ko."

Her heart sank as she absorbed his words, realizing that the call had likely been about that painful truth.

"I'm still here, duh!" she joked lightly, trying to lift the heaviness. "Buhay pa naman ako, Amando!" she smiled at the glimpse of amusement in his eyes.

"Alam mo, ang swerte mo." he continued, his voice steadying. "Kasi may pamilya ka pa. May kapatid ka, kahit pa kulang na lang magpatayan kayo." Aurora chuckled, recalling the bickering with her brother.

"May mga pamangkin ka. Si Sophia, Si Jericho at si Rebecca." he continued, looking at her. "Napakaswerte mo."

"Maswerte ka din naman. Kasi ang pamilya ko, pamilya mo rin, Amando. Kaya huwag mong sabihin na mag-isa ka lang." she replied softly, determined to lift his spirits.

"We all have the staff members here. They are your friends and I can see that you already considered them as your family." Aurora added. Amando smiled, his gaze drifting to the moon.

"I am your family too." she whispered, her eyes locking onto his with a sincerity that cut through his anxiety. "You will always have me."

"Talaga?" he asked, disbelief mingling with hope

He had often viewed her as a strict boss, someone who demanded excellence at all costs.

Aurora nodded with a smile. "I might be a strict boss but I can be your trusted friend. You can always come to me."

Her warmth surprised him, a stark contrast to the demanding persona she often projected at work.

"Pwede bang bumale ako?" he joked, his humor breaking through the heaviness.

They both burst into laughter, and his anxiety began to die down. As the laughter faded, Amando looked at Aurora and held her hand tightly, slipping it into the pocket of his hoodie. It felt comforting, a reminder that he wasn't alone.

"Salamat. Kahit papaano, gumaan ang pakiramdam ko," he admitted, feeling a weight lift from his chest.

Aurora's expression softened further. "You're always welcome." she replied, her voice gentle yet firm.

In that small unexpected moment, amidst the chaos of work and the pressures of life, Amando realized that he had not just a boss but a friend. Aurora's words resonated within him, a promise of support and understanding that he desperately needed.

Fiction 15: I AM YOUR FAMILY