Working Girls Series# 1: Beautiful Nightmare

Chapter 13

"Catherine."

"Maaaaxxx!!!"

Inilayo niya ang phone sa tenga nya. Why is she shouting?

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"My god! Hindi mo sinabi sa'kin na may mga nagpaparamdam dito sa bahay mo."

She sounds scared and breathless.

"Ha? What do you mean? Did something happen to you?"
Bigla siyang nag-alala para dito.

"May multo sa library mo. I swear, may narinig akong kumalabog doon. Not once but twice!"

Tumataas na naman ang boses nito.

"Okay, calm down. Can you explain to me what happened?"

Huminga ito ng malalim.

"I was in the hallway when I heard it. I thought it was just my imagination. Pero nakarinig ulit ako ng kalabog noong lumapit ako."

"Tiningnan mo ba kung anong meron sa loob?"

"Syempre hindi! Natatakot na nga ako ipapain ko pa ba ang sarili ko do'n?"

Sometimes he really doesn't know what to do with this woman. She's not afraid of him but she's scared of ghosts. Most people who knows him find him more frightening than any ghosts. Ghosts can't harm you but he definitely can, in so many ways.

"Uy, Max. What time are you gonna be home? Saka si Soling wala pa din."

"Really? Dapat kanina pa siya nandyan. Don't worry, I'll text her. And I don't know when I'll be back."

He wanted to tell her he has to attend a lot of meetings and business gatherings so he couldn't go home. But a part of him is stopping him. Doing so would mean her opinion matters more than he can admit to himself. He doesn't need to explain himself to anyone.

"Ah, gano'n ba?"

Why did she sound so sad? Is she disappointed?

"I'll tell Soling to accompany you for the meantime."

"Okay. Sige, bye."

"Okay."

He texted Soling after that call then he went back to his seat beside Minerva.

"Did something happen to Mia?"

He knew it, she was eavesdropping.

"Nothing. Just some "ghost" encounter."

Mahina itong natawa sa sinabi niya. Napangiti na din siya ng ma-imagine niya ang reaksyon ni Catherine noong narinig ang kalabog. What a crazy woman.

Minerva's eyes softened and got a little bit teary-eyed.

"Why?"

"It's good to see you smile so genuinely again after a very long time. It suits you, dear. I should really see Mia soon. She must be an amazing woman."

Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti niya at nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay.

"I do smile sometimes. And Catherine is a bit crazy, you can't help but smile at her silliness."

She tapped his hand on the table.
"Sure, you smile on parties but in my 50 years of living I can tell if it's a fake or not. I've never seen a more genuine smile among the businessmen I knew than you had a while ago. You should be with Mia more often. She has a positive effect on you."

He shook his head as his mouth formed a thin line. He knows Catherine's effect on him that's why he's scared of what more she can do if he get so attached to her. He has to keep his distance.