Facade

Chapter 3 Haunted

6 minutes 7 min... ching! And the door opens, only to my surprise, someone familiar, too familiar that I feel strange, enter that very door and walk straight to where I am sitting, my haunch is correct! Why do I feel like I've been played by what they call life and repeats the most crucial and painful memory I try to suppress?

Hi! You are Ms. Lopez right? and he extend his hands I'm sorry I'm a bit late because of traffic I'm Alex, Alexis Rivas by the way.... it's been what? A minute? an hour? Since he speaks I don't really know, all I know is that if I don't leave this place at this instant I might just explode, so before I make a fool of myself I should leav—BUT I stayed and stare at him like I've seen a ghost. No... I stare at him the ghost of my past.

I wanna cry, I want to curse him, beat him and shout at him, but I can't I shouldn't, thank God I take my medicine this morning, so before it takes forever I need to find my voice and my thoughts.

uhmm! I'm sorry I'm just ahh, lost in thoughts haha good Solitta hang in there it will be over soon, after this meeting accept the deal in Paris and leave this very same country he is in. yeahhh, nice meeting you, so should we proceed to the contract or should we order first? Okay! be good hold it in Lopez you can do it.

we can order first then let's proceed to the contracts ...he seems different from before and STOP! Don't go there please ... V, I hope yang pagiging wrong timing mo gumagana pa rin hanggang ngayon so that I can escape the graveyard of my situation. I need an Escape, anyone??? SOS!

It such a relief when the meeting ended and both parties agreed about the contract. Well the meeting did not take long maybe because destiny sympathize to my feelings and let it be simple as it can be.

Before he leaves, he offers me a ride what a gentleman I must say but of course I'm not going to make a fool of myself anymore so after I say I'll stay a while longer he already leaves while I rush into the CR and cry my heart out. Shet! I think I'll be having episode, uhm call...

I need to call Ethan. Hey Sol, what a surprise, what's up?

Tan I... as soon as I dial the number of Ethan and say his name I lost consciousness.

The moment we agreed with the contract, we start the operation right away. After 2 weeks of operation it's my first time visiting the site, maybe because of hectic schedule since I've been assigned to launch a fashion show of the new collection for summer collection.

Ohh! The busiest person is finally here, to whom do we owe this visit ma'am? Saad ni Rafael one of my closest engineer since we graduated in the same university.

Hahahaha stop it with that ha, I'm already stress as it is wag ka munang dumagdag Raf, in all fairness I like the design of that Alex guy, unique, hindi kagaya nung ibang architect medyo over rated na yung idea ini improve lang.

Since it still lunch break, nakipag kwentuhan muna ako saglit sa team ko, since 3 kaming nag susupervise nitong operation and since it's my first time here nag paalam ako sa team na mag lilibot muna ako, para naman ma update ako...

While I'm looking at materials that will be used. Hi! so you've finally decided to visit the site? Said by someone approaching from the back, even though I cannot see his face I recognize his voice. Yeahhh. I answered in a monotone Are you not glad to see me, or do you still not forgotten about the hour I stole from you when we first met? I turned around, sobrang hambog talaga ng isang to, kala mo close kami.

Of course I held you responsible for that one hour, you wasted my time when instead of earning 500,000 for that hour I wasted it to the likes of you, so don't be friendly with me mister-

Alex he answers whatever then I roll my eye and he laugh! My sira yata to eh. The likes of him ang type ni Vivian kaya nga nung kiniwento ko sa kanya yung first meeting namin kilig na kilig, jusko.

So I left him there, kakainis, hey wait up! And nakahabol nga siya, what about lunch, It's on me.

Don't you have a manner? Ikaw kakain ka fine dining or wherever place comfortable while yung team mo dito nalang sa site kakain para makatipid sa oras at energy. Pasalamat ka God gift ka sa mga babae kung hindi natiris na kita.

Hahaha, I know but I'm not asking you to eat with me so that I can be convenient but I want to pay that one-hour debt you are talking about...

Don't give me those alibi, you can pay those one-hour debt by not talking to me, so don't give me that excuse, when you can just ask me nicely to have a meal with you. Shet Lopez what are you saying pigilan mo yang bibig mo bago ka pa mag sabi ng hindi dapat.

Uhm. You got a point, so can you have a meal with me? He asks me while staring right into my eyes. Shet! deep eyes, chiseled jaw, thin lips, high bridge nose, he really looks liked a god of Olympus.

No! I'm busy. Bye then I walk away from him, the greatest temptation.

What? So I'm rejected huh? Hahaha he said while shouting but next time I'll make sure that I'm not gonna let you reject my offer Engr. and he disappears from the view.

Sol! Sol! Wake up! Wake up! Come on! You've been dreaming again

I felt the haze when I wake up, but I feel so hallow right now, I'm crying again Tan...he's- he is back and... and he doesn't give a fuck about me, he is still the same but different. What should I do? Stacy, si Stacy... shit! It's hard to breathe... huk... huk...huk

Hush! there Sol! That asshole! Calm down okay? I'm here... I'm here then he cups my face and dry every tears that falls in my eyes. Thank you Tan... for being here for me. He just gave me a weak smile as a reply

I still spend a few more days the hospital since my doctor didn't let me off the hook, she said that it is because of stress and some rest is highly needed she also suggest that if possible, I need to avoid the cause of stress so that I can't have any episode.

My parents, they stop caring about me, since Stacy died. My only consolation is that my grandmother still favor me over her son, because of her over protectiveness I didn't let her know about my situation. Only Vivian and Ethan know about my condition, so neither my parents, grandparents or cousins know about my situation. That is also one the reason kung bakit I'm staying in the condo instead na sa bahay ako.

A week later I've been discharge and right after that I struggled na meet ang mga deadline ng mga proposals at projects, this is why I hate being admitted in the hospital, dahil after I get discharge mas na istress ako sa dami ng paper works.

After our meeting I haven't heard from Alexis, well it's a good thing and Rafael on the other hand bombard me with a thousand question, this the disadvantage when you have a friend that knows what is happening in your life.

Kagaya ngayon, sinamantala niyang break. Such a great friend I must say, but he just keeps on reminding me that I'll be working with Alex in just a week.

So What I'm saying Sol, I didn't know that it is that Alexis Rivas... you know... then he makes faces trying to let me comprehend what he is saying that he is whom my friend is talking about, I just agreed to him thinking na makakabuti tong project sa team, we can still cancel the contract if you want.

We can't do that Raf, the team is so excited about this project.

And I can just... I'm sorry I really am. I did-

Raf! really, it's okay, let's be professional, beside it's been 5 years and he doesn't remember me, so I cannot act all weird around him.

Are  you okay now? He asked concern is audible in his voice

I will be, don't worry. Then I smile to assured him.

AndEthan after he heard what happen ay nakabuntot na siya kung saan man ako magpunta, saying na napadaan lang daw siya, or nangangamusta and lagi din siyangnasa Condo and he became my instant driver. Maybe may maganda din naidulot angpagkikita naming ni Alex, it's a once in a lifetime experience na mag pa alilasa akin si Ethan haha.