Kryptonite

Sirens

"He's the last person I'd really want to see right now," Nadine grumbled as she crept up to his office door.

While he was aware she had come home, he didn't bother to talk to her and neither did she. However, given what Tita Maya said and her own concerns about James' job, she opted to, as much as she didn't want to, bring it upon herself to talk to him to ensure he wouldn't be fired.

Placing her hand on the door knob, she was about to turn it when she heard him mutter something.

"2 million, we'll do 2 million," Ron said. "There's no way your former intern will turn that away. It's more money than he's ever seen in his life"

Nadine's eyes widened as she placed her ear to the door.

"Well, we'll try this and see. I don't think we'll fail. 2 million should be enough to shut him up. Okay...okay, call you later," Ron said before hanging up.

Nadine clenched her fist as she walked away from his door, her blood suddenly boiling at what she heard.

Of course, akala nila ibibili nila ang lahat ng gusto nila, she thought to herself.

Though she wanted to talk about James, she knew that if she went in there right then, she'd probably make the situation worse. "I need a hot bath," she muttered aloud before walking into her bathroom.

-

James took a deep breath as he got out of the shower. To his luck, no one--specifically Lauren--was home at the moment.

But she will be soon, he thought to himself as he dried his body and changed into his clothes.

His fingers went over his neck--particularly over the hickeys Nadine had covered with concealer previously. While some still remained over it despite his shower, it was still pretty evident, though it now now a purplish color.

"Kailan ba ito matatangal," he commented aloud as he then began to comb through his hair.

It was only when he realized that Lauren and Ivan would be seeing him that he felt it begin to bother him. Given their argument, that was the last thing he wanted her to know about. And well, while he loved Ivan, he could already picture his reaction.

Letting out a sigh, he opened the door to go back out.

His eyes widened as he came face to face with Ivan, who looked just as shocked as his eyes immediately went to James' neck.

Ivan brought his hand up, pointing towards James' neck. "What--"

James attempted to shut the door in his face as he began to speak. But to his dismay, Ivan moved faster as he then pushed it back, keeping it open.

"Why are you home so early?" James asked.  "Diba sabi mo you and Lauren will be home in an hour? Wait...nandito ba siya?" he followed, raising an eyebrow as he began to back away.

"Relax, wala pa siya," Ivan said with a chuckle. "Anong nangyari sayo? Bakit parang meron kang tinatago?" he remarked, following up with a wink. 

"It's...nothing, nagulat lang ako," James replied.

"Ako rin. Akala ko mahal mo si Nadine, ano ba ang mga yan?" Ivan questioned as he pointed at his neck. "Grabe, saan ka ba pumunta? If makikita ni Nadine yun masasaktan siya."

"What the fuck, Ivan?" James replied, swaying his head to the side. "Do you really think I'd just hook up with someone while having feelings for someone else? Lasing ka ba?"

Ivan's lips curled into a smile as he then snapped his fingers as James realized just what Ivan was doing in saying that.

"Congratulations, binata ka na. I just hope you were both safe," Ivan said as he then began to clap, much to James' annoyance. "I never thought I'd see the day," he added as he then patted his back.