Beautiful Heartbreak (Beautiful Series 1) • COMPLETED ✔️

(11) • facing the dilemma

(Jelai)
•••

Hindi ako maka move-on sa ginawang pagsibak ni Kiefer sa long-term employees niya. Gaile gave me a menacing look while the other employees who Kiefer just fired threaten to get back at me when they get the chance.

Natakot ako para sa sarili ko pero hindi ko ipinahalata kay Kiefer. He doesn't need to know that I was having second thoughts regarding his actions.

After he fired Gaile and her team ay bumalik kami sa opisina niya without talking to each other. Sinubukan kong magpapansin sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng pagkukuwento ng kung ano-ano but he still didn't speak.

I'm sure he is in deep thoughts because I noticed it in his eyes. Hindi lang niya sinasabi sa akin pero alam kong iniinda niya ang pagkawala ng halos labinlimang empleyado niya sa Wood.

Good thing that we are on a schedule to eat at our favorite restaurant. Steaks and Roasters is exquisite, as there are plenty of cuisines to choose from. Certainly, even people with the most sensitive palates will be satisfied.

"Aren't you also planning to fire me out?" I said in a whimsical tone.

Mariin ang tingin na ipinukol niya sa akin. He stopped eating his best-loved Mix Pepper Crusted Steak and shook his head. It's like I have said something hideous that it makes him want to laugh and get mad at the same time.

"Why did you ask?" He glared at me.

"Nawalan ka ng halos labinlimang empleyado ng dahil sa akin. Sorry Kief," sinsero ako sa paghingi ng sorry sa pagkakatanggal ni Gaile sa trabaho at ng iba pang nasa Finance Department. I never wanted any of that to happen.

Habang nasa opisina kami kanina ay nagtangka namang magpaliwanag ang ibang empleyado sa kaniya but his ears were close to whatever they had to say. Wala sa tipo ni Kiefer ang pakikinig ng paliwanag sa mga taong hindi niya nais pakinggan.

I swore I also persuaded Kiefer to let them stay pero buo na ang desisyon niya. He wanted to fire all of them. Kasalanan ng isa, kasalanan ng lahat. Ugali ng isa, ugali ng lahat.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. Hindi ikaw ang sumibak sa kanila sa trabaho kaya hindi hindi ka dapat bagabagin ng konsiyensiya mo. Just eat your food Jelai," kalmado niyang turan.

"Hindi ka ba galit sa akin?" Pangungulit kong tanong sa kaniya. Nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin with such innocence then deliberately shook his head.

That, his expression made my heartbeat race. I held his hand that moment and squeezed it gently. Sa pagkakataong ito ay napatingin si Kiefer sa akin at napakunot ang noo na tila naguluhan.

"What was that for Jelai?" He then arched his eyebrows. I sighed before giving him a shrug on my shoulders.

"Kiefer, I just held your hand. Take it literally," umandar ang pagiging defensive ko.

Isa sa mga bagay na naloloka ako kay Kiefer ay ang pagiging mindful niya sa nakikita o naririnig niya sa paligid.

"Jelai, you weren't just holding my hand. You squeezed it. Bakit nga?" He set aside his plate of blueberry cheesecake na hindi naman niya halos nabawasan.

Pinisil ko ulit ang kamay niya bago ito bitawan. I stared at him bago ko itinaas ang kaliwang kilay ko na para bang nagsusungit.

"Huwag ka na umasa na bibigyan kita ng dahilan dahil wala akong dahilan. Hinawakan ko lang talaga ang kamay mo. Kiss kita diyan eh," I managed to speak in a lighter tone when I teased him.

In hoping that I would get a chuckle or a smile from him, nakangiti ko siyang tiningnan sa mga mata niya, but I didn't get what I'd expected. He wasn't smiling, he is giving me a sultry look instead.