Sweet Nemesis

Chapter 26

#OLASweetNemesis

Chapter 26
Note

"Thanks, Kyla." I smiled at my secretary before she left my office.

Saktong paglabas niya naman ay siyang pagpasok ni Faith. She quickly greeted Kyla, then went straight to sit in front of my table.

"It's five already. Why are you still working?" Faith asked.

"Just busy finalizing everything we need for the pop-up. We had an extensive meeting sa mga proposed design and floor layout ng pop-up. May mga revisions kaya natagalan." I closed my Macbook as I pushed my gaze up to give her my attention. "Is there a problem?"

"Well, I wanted to go to a spa, and I thought you could come with me and use that time to relax. Simula nung umuwi ka galing Thailand, you've been working very hard," sabi niya. "Pero kung may gagawin ka pa, we can do it tomorrow."

"We can go to the spa tonight. Hindi ako pwede bukas. I have a date."

"A date?" Faith was bewildered to hear that.

"Yeah."

"With whom?"

"Nikko," I nonchalantly replied while fixing my things and getting ready to leave. "He just came from a vacation with Tita Selena. They went to Spain. May ibibigay raw siyang pasalubong sa akin galing sa kanya and from his mom as well."

"I didn't know you were still in contact with him," she said.

"He always messages me," I told her. "I reply whenever it's convenient."

"Pagkatapos ay magda-date kayo? Even though it's obvious you're not interested in him?" she probed.

"Well, what else should I call it, Faith? It's a harmless, friendly date. No malice."

Faith sighed in relief as she nodded. "I just hope you won't think about dating him in order to forget Keno. I don't want you to make the same mistake I did and end up hurting someone who's genuine with you."

"It never crossed my mind. Don't worry." I smiled reassuringly. "I will never use someone to help me forget."

"That's good to know. Ayon lang ang gusto ko malaman," ani Faith at ngumiti pabalik sa akin.

If I'd be honest, dating Nikko sounded really nice. It would be an easy escape from this pain. Ngunit hinding-hindi ako gagamit ng ibang tao para lang sa sarili kong kapakanan. Hangga't hindi pa ako handa, hindi ako susubok ulit.

Natuloy kami ni Faith sa spa na gusto niyang puntahan. It was a newly opened spa in Parañaque that she wanted to try. Pagkatapos ay kumain kami ng late dinner bago umuwi. We talked about the progress of her firm the whole time, and she asked for a lot of advice since it was her first time starting a business. Doon lang umikot ang pag-uusap namin at iniwan na namin sa office ang kung ano mang napag-usapan namin doon.

It has been two weeks since our business trip to Thailand. Ever since he stopped being my bodyguard, there has been a huge shift in my life. I honestly had no idea why it felt that way. Bumalik lang naman ako sa dati kong setup bago pa siya dumating sa buhay ko.

My bodyguards were following me discreetly. I have a driver again. Bantay-sarado ulit ang bawat kilos ko kagaya ng dati. Hindi ko na lang pinapansin, and I was trying my best to obey all the rules. Iyon ang isa pa sa condition na hiningi ni Kuya Xavi upang payagan akong alisin sa trabaho si Keno. It was the consequence I had to live with.

"Sorry, I'm late." Nagmamadali akong lumapit sa table kung saan nakaupo si Nikko. Agad siyang tumayo upang salubungin ako at ipaghila ng upuan. "Kanina ka pa ba? Ang traffic and medyo late natapos ang meeting ko."