Be With You

Chapter 22

"Can I join the family business, Dad?"

Faye  heard Andrew asked his Dad. Wondering why he was doing this, isiniksik pa ni Faye ang sarili sa dingding na malapit sa living room ng bahay na Andrew rented for them, kausap ng lalaki ang Daddy niya sa telepono at hindi niya sinasadyang marinig ang kanilang usapan. She was on her way to the kitchen ng mahagip niya ang sinabi ng lalaking mahal kaya hindi niya maiwasan na huminto, magtago at makinig.

"I'll explain everything to you, Dad. Will be in your office after lunch. Ayaw ko lang marinig ni Faye."

Dagdag na sabi ni Andrew. Faye gasped, she was sure Andrew has a problem and ayaw neto sabihin sa kanya. She was thinking deeply and contemplating if she would confront Andrew about this when her mobile phone suddenly rang. Dali dali siyang lumayo sa kinatatayuan at tuluyan ng pumunta sa kitchen para sagutin ang tawag. Maingat siyang naglakad para hindi siya mahuli ni Andrew and when she reached the kitchen, she hurriedly answered the call.

"Meet me at the office, after lunch."

The caller told Faye. She confirmed the meeting, exhaled and ended the call.

"Hindi niya alam pero kinakabahan siya." Faye sighed once more and busied herself in preparing lunch sa halip na patuloy magisip sa mga pinagdadaanan.

"Mahal, dad is asking me to go to his office after lunch. May paguusapan lang kami."

Biglang sabi sa kanya ni Andrew na sumulpot bigla sa likuran niya. Alam niya nagsisinungaling sa kanya ang lalaki kaya walang imik na tumango na lang siya at pinagpatuloy hiwain ang mga sangkap para sa kanyang chicken pork adobo.

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Naglalagay siya ng mga gamit sa isang kahon na nasa ibabaw  ng office desk niya, ng mahawakan niya ang letrato nila ni Andrew noong nagaaral pa sila sa culinary school. Anastasia can't help but form a sad smile in her lips.

Matagal na niya barkada si Andrew, College pa lang sila lagi na silang magkadikit. He was her bestfriend and Andrea accepted the fact na babae ang bestfriend ng boyfriend niya and later on ng kanyang asawa.

She became friends with Andrea, eventually, after all lagi silang magkakasama but Anastasia remained a bit distant with her bestfriend's wife. Ewan niya but she see's something wrong sa asawa ng kaibigan.

Or maybe she was jealous. Oo mahal niya ang bestfriend niya but walang nakakaalam neto kung hindi sarili niya lang. Noong after college and  she and Andrew decided to go to the same culinary school, Anastasia saw how Andrew struggled with being a new husband and an upcoming businessman, and she was there when she help him build his empire. Nandun din siya when Andrew was struggling with his marriage. Hangang she became his willing partner in bed when his marriage ended.

And here she is now, leaving the empire she shared with him for almost a decade. Eto na lang sana ang kahit papano kahati niya si Andrew pero sadly nawala pa.

Ipokrita siya if kahit kailan hindi pumasok sa isip niya na Andrew will saw her worth and take their relationship to another level but lahat ng pagasa na tinatago sa loob niya ended when he saw the man of her life fall in love the second time around.

Noong naging centro ng buhay ni Andrew si Faye doon lang natanggap ni Anastasia na kahit kailan bestfriend lang talaga ang lugar niya sa buhay ni Andrew.

And now he is facing all this crap from his ex-wife, Anastasia is determined to fight with Andrew and Faye.

Mahal na mahal man niya si Andrew hindi naman niya masisikmura na makipagagawan pa tulad ng ginagawa ng dati netong asawa.

She'll take another route and deal with the situation, differently. Anastasia was putting the picture frame inside the box where all her other office things are already inside, when she heard a light knock on her office door. Dahan dahan umuwang pabukas ang pinto and a light friendly voice echoed in her ears.

"Aalis ka?"

The sweet female voice asked her. Anastasia looked at the person who just came inside her office and nodded her head as she gave her a sad welcoming smile.

"Someone blackmailed him, he now, only owns fifteen percent of his own business. Nagdecide na rin ako to leave and start my own restaurant chain."

Medyo mahabang sagot niya sa tanong ng babae na ngayon nakatayo sa harapan niya at hindi mapigilan bumuka ang bibig sa gulat.

"Who did this to him?"

Maiyaliyak na tanong ng babae sa kanya. Anastasia inhaled and guided her shocked visitor towards the couch at the other side of her office.

"People who hates and love you..."

Anastasia softly said as she meaningfully looked at the woman's eyes.

"And they won't stop until they get what they want."

She cryptically added and sighed...

As the tears of the woman infront of her continued to flow.

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