No Strings Attached

-8-

Chapter Eight.

"Best Man"

 

"Okay, bye." She murmured without even sparing me a look. Dire-diretso siyang lumabas ng sasakyan at pumasok sa building ng tinitirhan niya. Napasandal naman ako at napabuntong hininga. Ngayon ko lang ata na-encounter and isang 'pissed' Eleanor and I'm not really happy about it.

Bababa na sana ako para sundan siya and maybe ask for an apology when my phone vibrated. It was a text from my Secretary.

Sir, remind ko na lang po ulit na andito pa din po si Miss Monique sa office niyo. Ingat po.

 

 

Pagkabasa ko ng message, I turned my phone off and drove straight to the office. Nawala sa isip ko na hinahanap pa ako ni Monique. Pumasok na ako sa loob at nakita si Monique na nakaupo sa upuan niya. She looked lovely in a beige dress with her hair tied in a simple bun.

Her face lightened up when she saw me, "Thank God you're here! Your secretary kept on telling me that you're busy..." Tumango naman ako at umupo sa tapat niya. Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago. I still love her though, some part of my heart won't deny the fact that I love her but she'll never have to know about it.

For some reason, I know I would finally wake up in one of these days and then realize that I finally moved on and when it happens, I wouldn't have to regret being a coward and let Lourd give her the happiness she deserves.

"You look lovely, Monique." I gave her a small smile. Lumawak naman ang ngiti niya, "I'm happy you're doing fine, Chance. Congrats nga pala for being the new CEO of your company! I know you worked hard for it." I kept silent. Again, she doesn't have to know about the real reason why I'm the CEO now. It's not gonna change anything and it's not like I want to take her back.

Lourd deserves her just as she deserves him.

"So, how can I help you?" Napatikom naman ang bibig ni Monique at napaisip.

"Uhm, I don't know if this would be too much to ask but as you know, malapit na yung..."

"Kasal niyo ni Lourd, I've been informed." I continued for her. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya and for some reason, I felt proud that I didn't even stutter. Surely, it felt like I'm waving the white flag now because I've admitted that she really is getting married to my twin brother but ironically, I didn't feel any pang of pain.

She inhaled sharply, "Yeah, about that. Uhm, naghahanda na kami for the ceremony and we'd really appreciate kung makapunta kahit isang beses lang."

Tumango naman ako, "It's fine. Hindi naman ako masyadong busy." I said as I eyed my schedule.

"Thank you, Chance." She murmured. Tiningnan ko siya at nginitian. I'll miss Monique, that's for sure but I've got a lot of other things happening in my life.

"No problem. Welcome to the family, Monique. I'll be there on Saturday." Monique hugged me then left. Pasandal na sana ako sa swivel chair when the door opened again but this time, si James naman yung pumasok. Napakunot ang noo ko as I watched him walk towards me.