The Bastard's Wife (On-Going)

Chapter Eleven: Limit

Chapter Eleven: Limit

-Audrey-

Halos mapatalon ako sa kinahihigaan ko nang maramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko. Kulang na lang ay sapakin ko mismo sa mukha ang gago. Ang lakas lang manakot.

"What the fuck, Chris?!" Hiyaw ko sa kanya. Imbes na mag-sorry ito ay tinawanan lang ako. Walang habas ko naman siyang hinampas ng unan sa mukha. Napahiga ito at natigil. "I didn't give you a key just to scare the shit out of me! It's for emergency, dumbass!"

Umupo naman siya ng maayos at tsaka ako hinarap. Nakabusangot siya sa akin.

"Well, you didn't have to hit me like that! It still hurts, you know." Angal nito sa akin. Napahilamos naman siya ng mukha. "And it's an emergency, Auds."

Napakunot-noo naman ako. What's the emergency?

"You didn't tell me, Audrey. Nakipagbalikan ka kay Riley?! What the hell were you thinking?!" Singhal niya sa akin. Napapitlag pa ako sa gulat. He's never been a shouter.

"Honestly? I don't know. Yesterday when he was here and apologizing, it felt like a heartfelt moment. And he wouldn't stop crying. He just kept on hugging me and wouldn't let go, like a child. When he was asking for another chance, he was sincere. It's like I saw again the Riley I once loved. I didn't feel the anger I've been keeping inside." Paliwanag ko sa kanya. His brows furrowed. Napabuntong hininga naman ako.

"A-are.. Are you sure? I mean... He's been apologizing since he came back but you never took him back. What changed?" Histeryang tanong niya. Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa kanya.

"I told you, I don't know! It felt right yesterday. He probably grew some balls now to apologize right." Sagot ko sa kanya. Nagtataka ko siyang tinitigan. "The question is, what's happening to you? You said that I should forgive him. Then you said that I should move on, and then again you said I can't move on because I'm too angry. Now that I've given him a chance to at least do better, you're questioning my decisions. Are you okay, Chris?"

Nakita kong napalunok siya. I think there's something bothering him. He just won't say it. Umiling lang siya sa tanong ko at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko. His expression softens.

"It's just that... I don't want you to get hurt again. You've been hurt too many times. And I should stop dictating you on what to do. I just want what's best for you, Auds." Malambing na sagot niya sa akin. Napangiti naman ako ako sa kanya. He's always been on my side, helping me out every time I'm hurting.

"Look, you're not dictating me, you're helping me. I may bend my rules one more time letting Riley back into my life but I'll never again break my spine allowing him to once again walk all over me. That's my limit."

Tumango siya at tsaka ako niyakap. I felt him kissed my head. He's always this sweet. Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at tsaka siya sinapak sa braso.

"I still can't believe you broke into my unit, Chris! You're the second person who broke in here!" Natatawang sabi ko sa kanya. He gasps.

"It's not breaking in if I have a key!" Katwiran niya. Napailing naman ako at tsaka tumayo.

"That's what he said too." Wika ko. Sumandal naman siya sa may headboard.

"Who?"

"Riley! He broke in here too, yesterday." I answered then went inside the bathroom. I turned on the faucet at tsaka naghilamos.

"He picked the lock?!" Hiyaw ni Chris. Maya-maya ay narinig ko ang mga yapak niya papalapit sa akin. Then nagbukas yung pinto ng bathroom. Nilingon ko siya at pinanlakihan ng mga mata.

"Duh! I'm inside the bathroom!" Saway ko sa kanya. Namewang lang ito at tinaasan ako ng kilay. Inirapan ko naman siya.

"What? You're not naked." Walang gana niyang sagot. "Did he picked the lock?"

"No. He has a key. He got it from my doorman. That reminds me to bitch him around." Wika ko. I grabbed the towel at tsaka nagpunas. Sinunod ko naman kunin ang toothbrush at toothpaste.

"Did he gave you back the key? He should."

Napabuga naman ako nang hininga. Inilapag ko ang mga hawak ko at nilapitan si Chris.

"He did. I took them, okay. Now make yourself useful and make me some breakfast. I'm starting my first day today at my new work." Utos ko sa kanya at tsaka isinarado at inilock ang pintuan. Bigla naman siyang humiyaw.

"Bossy!"

**

Saktong alas-otso medya ay nasa Braxton Global na ako. Papasok pa lang ako sa lift nang marinig ko na siya na tinatawag ako. As much as I don't want to talk to Bryan, I can't. Nilingon ko ito at pilit na ngumiti. Sinagot naman niya iyon ng matamis na ngiti. Balak pa nga ata nitong bumeso.

"Good morning, Audrey! Are you excited for your first day as our new Finance Manager?" Nakakasuya at masiglang bungad niya sa akin. Halos pilit akong huminga ng malalim.

"Of course, I am." Tipid kong sagot sa kanya. Sabay naman kaming pumasok sa elevator then I pressed the button to the floor where the human resources is. Nakita ko namang hindi niya pinindot ang sa top floor suite.

"So you're going to the human resources department?" Tanong niya. Hindi ba obvious? Tumango naman ako.

"Yeah. They're going to give me the key to my office." Sagot ko. Tumango-tango naman si Bryan.

"You know what? I could give you a tour here, since you're new and all." Malapad siyang nakangiti. Oh God. That's bad. I just can't blew him off. He's the freaking boss.

"As much as I would love a tour, I can't abuse you. Besides, you have work to do. You're the president after all, but thank you though." Palusot ko. Please lang, huwag ka nang humirit pa.

"No, it's okay. I don't-" Nahinto siya sa pagsasalita nang tumunog na ang lift. Nang nasa tamang palapag na ako. Nang magbukas ang pinto ng elevator ay agad na akong kumaway at akmang lalabas.

"I'll see you later! Bye!" Paalam ko sabay talikod at mabilis na umalis doon. That seems to do it. I'm such an asshole, I know.

Dumaan ang alas-dose, nag-aayos pa rin ako ng mga gamit ko at ang mga dokumentong iniwan nila sa akin. Magulong-magulo ang opisina ko. Kahit ako ata ay mukha ng musmos. That reminds me to talk to the chief of human resources if I could have an assistant. It's not gonna to hurt ask. I was about to stand up nang may biglang kumatok sa pinto, then it open. Ang akala ko ay si Bryan na naman but it turns out it's not. I didn't know why pero napangiti ako. He smiled back too.

Pumasok siya at may inilabas siya mula sa likod niya. A bouquet of pink peonies. May dala-dala rin siyang square na bag. Nilapitan ko naman siya at inabot sa akin ang bulaklak.

"Hi. I brought you lunch, honey." Bungad niya sa akin. Then he leaned and peck a kiss to my lips. Magaan at mabilis lang iyon but I wasn't ready for that. I was shocked but he doesn't seem to care. Matamis naman siyang ngumiti sa akin.

"Let's eat?"

Wala sa sarili naman akong tumango. What he did left me flabbergasted. Tumango naman ako.

"Yeah, let's eat."

Ivy.

(Not proofread.)

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