Behind Her Innocence (Hughes Series)

Chapter 5: Tactless

"Here are the reports, maam, tungkol sa naging performance ni Aaron Loyzaga for the whole week sa aming financial department. So far, natuto naman po siya ng pasikot-sikot. He already knows how to find discrepancies from the sample financial records we showed him."

Napatango ako. "Good to know. I know you're all doing your job well that's why he learned that quick. Thank you for the info."

"You're welcome, maam."

When the head of the financial department left my office room, I called Ines through the intercom.

"Yes, maam?"

"Ines, please call Aaron Loyzaga and have him report to my office now."

"Copy, maam."

"Thank you, Ines," I said and hung up.

Hindi man lang umabot ng limang minuto ay may pumasok na agad sa office ko ng walang katok man lang kaya nagulat ako nung bumukas bigla ang pinto. 

"Don't you know how to knock?" Inis na tanong ko sa kanya. Kasi naman feeling niya ay close parin kaming dalawa. In case he forgot, I am his boss here. He needs to show some decency and respect.

He laughed as he came in. "Minsan iniisip ko na talagang hindi kaparin naka-move on sakin. Palagi kasing mainit ang ulo mo pag ako na ang kaharap mo."

I rolled my eyes at him. He was really so full of himself.

"See? Hindi dapat umiirap ang boss sa trainee niya," he said chuckling. "May gusto kaparin sakin 'no? Bitter kapa rin dahil iniwan kita?"

That hit the nerve.

My heart beat faster and my anger arose. I tried to compose myself as my hands balled into fists. I had to calm myself down. I did not want to create a scene here but this guy in front of me was so tactless.

"Out," pigil na pigil ang galit na sabi ko.

I really tried very hard na pigilan ang kahit anong personal issues ko sa kanya because I knew this was just business. Personal issues should not be involved here. Pero how dare him making fun of what happened between us and even had the balls to joke around about it? He made fun of it like it was not a big deal. Obviously, he did not think he took our relationship seriously anyways. Kung sa kanya ay laro lang yun, sakin hindi.

Kailan pa naging joke ang kasal?! He married me for goodness sake! I was stupid that I did not realize I married an imbecile! Kung dati, ilang linggo o buwan ko siyang iniyakan. Ngayon, parang nagsisi ako na nagsayang ako ng luha sa kanya. I wasted my time crying for a stupid, insensitive and unmannered man!

"Wait, wait..." natatawang sabi niya. "Are you upset? Don't tell me sineryoso mo ang mga sinabi ko? Gosh, Gwen. It was only a joke."

"Then it wasn't funny!" I quickly responded. "How dare you to say that?! Kung sabagay, hindi naman kasi ikaw ang nasaktan noon! Hindi ikaw ang nauto, pinakasalan at pinagsawaan. Pagkatapos, tinapon na lang at iniwan na parang basura!"

"Woah! Woah!" gulat na sabi niya. "You sounded so... Wait... May galit kaparin sakin? Gwen, it was 5 years ago. I have moved on kaya dapat ikaw rin."

Napangisi ako dahil sa sinabi niya. "Good for you," sarkastik na sabi ko saka huminga ng malalim. "Don't worry, matagal narin kitang kinalimutan. What we have now is purely work and business."

I tried to control what I felt. Ayokong sabihin niya na hanggang ngayon ay apektado parin ako at naghahabol sa kanya. Ang tanging nararamdaman ko lang sa kanya ngayon ay galit. Yun lang yun after everything he had done to me.