Forbidden Love

Sixteen

"Bakit ka ba sigaw ng sigaw?" Asik ni Kab ng pumasok sya sa opisina ko.

"Sagutin mo.." itinuro ko ang telepono.

"Bakit hindi ikaw?" Her brows furrow.

"Sasagutin mo, o ililipat kita kay Jeron?" Banta ko. Her contact says i can transfer her to any Young's branch or to any of my cousins. Ayaw nyang mapunta kay Jeron kaya susunod sya sakin. I dont feel like it's abuse of power. Ganti na lang din sa pangiinis ni Kab sakin.

She sits at the visitor's chair and answer the call.

"Jett Young's office" malambing na sabi nya. "Press con?" Tumingin sya sakin na parang nagtatanong. I shook my head.

"O, im sorry. But Mr. Young dot want a press con. Thankyou" she shut the phone. Muling tumunog iyon. Napahawak ako sa sintido. Pinepeste ako ng mga reporter para magpa press con sa libro ko.

"Did you spill it Kab?" I ask her. Alam kong alam na nya ang tinutukoy ko.

"Gago ka ba? Takot ko na lang na ibigay mo ako kay Jeron"

"Then who?"

"Precious Hearts Romances Publishing Group post it on instagram. They are very proud of Miss Mika" humalukipkip sya.

"Get out of my office!" I scream "take the telephone with you!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata nya "may kable kaya 'yan sir!"

"Problema ko pa yon?" Sigaw ko "subukan mong iwan yan dito, tatawagan ko si Jeron!" I hiss under my breath. I was freaking mad.

Kinuha nya ang telepono at hinablot ang kable noon. Mas sumakit ang ulo ko kay Kab.

I get my phone and dial Mika's number.

"Mr. Young" i can hear glee in her voice.

"Did you spill something about my book?" I ask her. Ilang minutong walang sumagot sa kabilang linya 'til i heard her sigh.

"Im sorry.. i just need to give them a reason why i delay my manuscript. Hindi ko naman alam na ipopost nila 'yon. You're just too popular as a socialite"

"So kasalanan ko pa?" Puno ng sarkasmo ang boses ko. Nitong mga nakaraang araw ay ang bilis kong magalit at hindi ko makontrol iyon. I just hate the world even more.

"Galit ka ba?"

"Off course i am!" Sigaw ko.

"Listen to me Miss Valdez.." i said gritting my teeth. "My name sometimes means air plane but it often means devil! So stuck the fvck your nose out of my business!"

"im not a product of your fvcking writting errands! I want you to write the story because i thougth you're professional and you agree to my conditions! Pinagpipyestahan na ng media ang libro hindi pa man naiilabas! This is for Erin!" Sigaw ko "they are pestering me, for fvcks sake! I want my peace again!" Sigaw ko at binagsakan sya ng telepono.

Nasapo ko ang sintido ko matapos ibaba ang telepono.

My breathing is raged because of anger.

I look at my phone as Erin's crying face sipped through me. I touch the ring pendant in my chest and make my senses calm.

I get my phone once again as my conscience hit me. I should'nt have shout at her and put her all the blame. I dial her number once again hoping.

I was relieve when she pick it up.

"Im sorry.." sabay naming nasabi. And together, we laugh heartily. Biglang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko at nawala ang bigat na dala ng galit.

"Can i make it up to you?" I ask her softly. My heart hammered when she went silent for a while. Then felt relieve when she says "sure".

"Coffee?" I was sweating like fvck. Like a teenager asking her crush for a date.

Tumawa ito.

"Coffee then."

Traffic sa EDSA gaya ng palaging meron doon. Late ako ng sampung minuto sa usapan namin ni Mika kaya humahangoa akong pumasok ng cooffee shop. Nakita ko syang nakaupo sa sulok at hindi ko maiwasang hindi matigila.

Kamukang kamuka nya si Erin. Wala ni isang detalye ang magkaiba sa kanila. Maliban na lang sa maputla nyang kulay. Maging ang pag amoy nya sa kapeng iniinom ay parang gawi ni Erin.

My heart race as i look at her intently. Even the way she eat her cake was the same way as Erin does. My tears cascade but i wipe it when she look at my place.

Magiliw syang kumaway sakin "Mr. Young!" She giggle.

Nangunot ang noo ko. Paano nya nalamang ako ito? Hindi pa naman kami nagkikita sa personal. Lumapit ako sa kanya.

"Paano mo alam na ako ito?" I ask her as i sit infront of her.

"GMT" she grinn. Even the way Erin does it goes same as her. It intrigued me a lot. Who is she?

"GMT?"

"Google Mo Tanga!" Tumawa sya. Ihinarap nya sakin ang telepono at nakita ang pangalan ko sa Wikepedia. Napailing ako. Doon ko lang napansin na may pagkain na para sakin. My eyes widen as i see the chocolate pancakes and black brewed coffee. Those were my favorites.

"How did you know i like this?" I point at the pancakes.

"Gut feel?" She said unsure. Habang tumatagal ay mas lalo akong nagdududa. She has a fvcking amnesia right? Who knows they fake her identity. No matter how much i hold my grip and tell myself that she's not Erin. My heart says the otherwise.

"So.." pinagsalikop nya ang mga kamay at ngumiti sakin. "Minsan eroplano, Madalas demonyo ha?" Ngumisi sya na nag paiking sakin. "Wala namang nabanggit sa article na ganoon."

"How was the manuscript?" I drive the conversation the otherway around. Panay ang kwento nya sakin ng mga komento nya tungkol kay Erin at ikinatutuwa ko iyon.

"I want to release it on Erin's fifth death aniversary."

Tumango sya "makakaasa kang matatapos ko iyon."

"Have i mention na kamuka mo sya?"

Ramdam kong natigilan sya sa sinabi ko. I look at her and those emotions crossed her eyes did'nt escape my intently stare. Nanlaki ang mga mata nya maya maya. Ngumisi sya at sinapak ako sa braso.

"E di maganda pala sya?"

"Maganda sya." Sang ayon ko. "You intrigued me a lot. Alam mo ba 'yon?"

"Bakit?"

"Would you mind telling me about your story?" Sumandal ako sa upuan "where are you from? Do you find me handsome?" We both chuckle at my last question.

"Im Mika Valdez, yes. I find you handsome" pareho kaming tumawa sa tinuran nya. "Im from North Carolina. Im a writter"

"My name sometimes means, Pretty. Often means Georgeous." She even wink at me.

We spend the whole afternoon laughing and chitchatting. I offer to take her home and she agree.

We got out of my car. I look at her house and seems a nice place. I cant help myself from hugging her. "Imissyou Erin." I whisper.