THE LAW OF LOVING YOU °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

22. Fiancee

Lyra

Three years ago...

After Enrique's few attempts to threaten me, Five makes sure to keep me safe. Nakakatawa ngang isipin na may mga kasa-kasama akong security guards.

"Get the hell out of here, Bernard." Nang marinig ko ang sigaw ni Bernard ay mabilis na tumakbo ako papasok ng opisina.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I am trying to help you here!"

"Just leave."

"I am just telling you the truth, man." Bernard insists. "And if you would just let me, I can find her for you."

"Leave."

Hinintay ko nalang na lumabas si Bernard ng opisina bago ako pumasok. Nagpanggap na lamang akong walang narinig. For that day alone, there are more than ten people that he fired out. He is really very furious and it makes me so curious why. Ano ba ang ibinalita sa kanya ni Bernard?

Magmula ng araw na 'yon, naging mas strikto at tahimik na si sir Five. Naging mas masungit siya sa'kin, sa lahat. Prominente ang law firm ngunit hindi na iyon naging sapat para maengganyong manatili ang mga employees sa kompanya. Hindi na nila matiis ang ugali niya Maging ako ay muntik ng sumuko sa kanya. Pero hindi ko siya kayang iwan kasi alam kong kahit ayaw niyang sabihin, ayaw niyang mag-isa. Wala naman talagang kahit na sino ang gugustuhing mag-isa.

"Why are you not sending your resignation yet, Natividad?" Sir Five asks out of sudden. Pauwi na dapat ako ng hapon na 'yon.

"Sir?"

"Everyone is leaving. Why are you still here?" Tanong niya na walang kangiti-ngiti. "The door is open. You are free to leave."

After all the sacrifices and efforts I made for him, now I see that he will always be ungrateful because that's the kind of man that he already is. He needs to wake up. Kailangan niyang makita ang sarili niya. Kailangan niyang magbago

"You need a fix, Five." Galit na sabi ko sa kanya. "You are selfish and arrogant. You are a jerk. Now that I said it, you can fire me."

Hindi siya sumagot. Nakonsensiya ako sa sinabi ko pero wala rin akong balak na bawiin iyon. "You need a fix, sir. But no one can do that for you other than yourself."

Though he's not saying it, I can see how sad of a man he is. He's full of anger and loneliness. He is broken; that is what I see in him. Lalabas na sana ako ng opisina ngunit bigla nalang niya akong hinila at niyakap ng mahigpit. We stay in that position for minutes. I am too stunned to say anything or even move an inch. My heart stops beating for a moment while we are that close to each other.

"Thanks for staying." Aniya nang pakawalan niya ako.

***

Sa halos tatlong taon na relasyon namin ni Five, hindi niya kailanman nabanggit sa'kin ang tungkol sa babaeng minahal niya sa nakaraan. But it was just about a year ago when I found out. Nakita ko ang isang folder sa mga old files ni Five. Doon ko nalamang pinaimbestigahan niya ang isang babaeng nagngangalang Justine Serenity Manzano. I had to know why. Nagtanong ako sa mga staff ng dati niyang condo, sa kahit na sinong maaaring makapagsabi sa'kin tungkol sa babae... maging si Bernard Gerondio mismo, pinahanap ko. But the man was nowhere to find. Mula sa isang sikat na local singer, nalaman ko ang lahat ng kailangan kong malaman at marinig.

Si Serenity ay ex-girlfriend ni Five na ibinahay niya noon who he denied repeatedly. Hindi niya raw naging girlfriend ang babae. It was so late for me to remember her. She was the young girl who used to come around the office. She also answered Five's personal phone many times years ago. Nang maalala ko ang lahat ng 'yon, nakumpirma kong totoo ang lahat ng sinabi ni Jeremy sa'kin.