Author's note: Pahinga muna tayo sa flashback at baka nakalimutan na natin ang totoong kaganapan sa pagitan nila. Enjoy reading! Comment down what are your thoughts about this chapter.
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The night ended in a blur. I didn't see Gino after our encounter with him on the hallway, even Heather wasn't there anymore when we came back from the room. Wala ako sa sarili nang binati ang ilan pang bisita na lumapit sa amin ng gabing iyon. Nasa iba ang isipan ko, pilit kinakalkula kung totoo baa ng narinig ko na sinabi ni Gino. He was their company's CEO? Bakit? For a long time, he didn't want that because he told me and I knew how he wanted to be on the actual field. He wanted the adrenaline rush. Malinaw na malinaw sa isip ko ang mga sinabi nya sa akin noon. Kaya bakit?
"You okay?", hinawakan ni Zeo ang aking siko para kuhanin ang atensyon ko. Nilingon ko siya habang hawak ko rin ang ulo ko. I did not feel well when I woke up this morning. I had a few drinks last night, my Dad told me not to come to the office pero hindi naman maaari dahil maraming pending, mga kailangang i-review at pirmahan. No matter what happens, I need to work.
"I'm good. Salamat sa paghatid. You have a schedule late this night, right? I can call my driver to pick me up, and you might find me asleep when you get home so don't call. Just text me if you're home na", I informed him. Baka rin maaga akong umuwi mamaya pagkatapos ng mga kailangan kong tapusin ngayong araw. I wanted to sleep more. My head's throbbing badly.
"You sure you're fine? You look pale, Cresia. Bakit hindi muna tayo dumaan sa hospital? You did not eat your breakfast, too", nangiti ako sa sinabi nya. Wala akong ganang kumain kanina at kahit ano'ng pilit nya ay wala ring nagawa. Maaga syang nasa bahay dahil buong araw raw syang wala.
"I'm okay, Zeo. You're acting like a perfect fiancé now", I giggled to show him I was really fine and I could go on with my day.
"Call me when something happen, okay?"
"Why? You're going to cancel your schedule for me?", eksaherada kong inilapat ang aking palad sa aking dibdib at nanlalaki ang mga matang tumitig sa kanya. His expression changed from serious to being lazy like he was done with me. Lalo akong natawa dahil doon.
"Basta tawagan mo ako kapag may nangyaring masama. Don't stress yourself too much"
Isang halakhak pa bago ako tuluyang lumabas sa kotse. I saw a line of bodyguards at the entrance. One of them opened the door for me as I walked in. Some of the employees greeted me when they saw me. Tinanguan ko lamang sila dahil wala talaga akong ganang bumati, para akong lalagnatin.
I reached my office just fine. Kauupo ko lang nang kumatok at pumasok ang aking sekretarya.
"Good morning po, Ma'am Cresia. May appointment po kayo ngayong alas dies ng umaga"
"Can you cancel it? I don't feel good. Mukhang paper works lang ang kaya ko ngayong araw", gaya kanina sa kotse ay hinilot ko ang aking sentido. "Can you get me some water, please?"
"Noted, Ma'am. I'll be back with your water. Gusto nyo po ba ng gamot?"
"No medicine, just water. Mamaya na ako iinom ng gamot kapag nakakain"
She then went out to get my water while I started to flip the endless pages of reports and contracts I needed to sign. I got water and I felt better. Pero hindi pa rin nawala nang tuluyan ang sakit ng ulo ko. Gayunpaman ay ipinagpatuloy ko ang trabaho.
"What lunch should I order, Ma'am?", my secretary asked. Sinilip ko ang relong pambisig at napansing malapit na ngang mananghalian. Still, I did not feel like eating but I have to para makainom ng gamot.
"Can you get me something like a spicy soup? And something for my headache, please"
Agad ay tumalima ang aking sekretarya para sundin ang utos. Habang inaantay ang pagkain at gamot, pinilit kong tapusin ang isa pang dokumento na ibababa sa marketing department mamayang hapon. Rinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan, sa pag-aakalang ang sekretarya ko iyon ay hindi na ako nag-abala pang tingnan.
"Put it down on the table. I'll eat later", wika ko nang walang tingin.
"Do I look like someone who delivers your food now, Ms. Lopez?"
My head snapped at the visitor at parang nahilo akong lalo nang makita si Gino sa aking harapan. He was standing tall and hovering over me.
"What are you doing here?", I got myself together and recovered fast from astonishment. My heart was reacting on his presence, it was drumming loud and fast and I couldn't let him see how affected I was of him. I just couldn't bear another embarrassment in front of him. And what was he doing here? Ano pa baa ng gusto nyang mangyari?
"I set an appointment with you earlier. Your secretary confirmed"
My forehead creased at what he said. Sya iyong tinutukoy na may appointment ng alas dies?
"Well, Mr. Andrade, it's already late for your appointment and I already told my secretary to cancel it", matapang kong sagot.
"You cancelled first and I got no explanation why. My time is precious, too, Ms. Lopez. I got late because of that, I have to explain it to my father earlier and I got caught in some business"
Pumintig ang ulo ko at pakiramdam ko ay mabibiyak na ito sa sobrang sakit. Napahinga ako ng malalim.
"You should go now. I'll set another appointment for that meeting, just not now"
I badly needed to drink some medicine and lay down. I could feel my body getting weak and I started to feel cold.
"Why not now? Your secretary said you don't have any other meetings and you're just doing paper works"
Why was he so nosy now? Bakit ang daldal nya yata ngayon? Hindi naman sya ganyan lalo na noong bodyguard ko sya.
"I have to eat my lunch"
Nanlalabo ang mata ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. The last time I was crying but this time, I plainly didn't feel good. I needed him to go.
I didn't want him to mock me seeing me like this. Hinagip ko ang cellphone ko sa lamesa para tawagan si Zeo.
"Then let's have lunch"
Hindi ko alam kung nabibingi lang ba ako dahil sa sama ng pakiramdam, o naghahallucinate.
"I don't do working lunch and you know that. We'll set up another meeting. Just go. Marami akong pending na Gawain ngayon"
"You look pale", out of nowhere ay sabi nya. It wasn't a question. Iniiwas ko sa kanya ang mata ko.
"It's none of your business. Umalis ka na muna at saka na tayo mag-usap", tumayo na ako para itaboy sya paalis pero bigla ay umikot ang paligid ko. Dumilim ang paningin ko at biglang nawalan ng lakas ang aking katawan dahilan ng muntikan kong pagbagsak kung hindi ako agad na nakahawak sa aking mesa.
"Are you okay?", Gino asked. He was already on my side holding my waist.
Tumahip ang aking puso sa lapit nya. Mas lalong naninikip ang dibdib ko.
"L-Let go", nanghihina kong utos.
"No. You don't look good"
Itinulak ko sya kahit sobrang hina noon. Ayoko nang malapit ako sa kanya. Nagpaubaya sya at lumayo pero agad ding nakalapit nang tuluyan akong natumba. Inantay ko ang malamig at matigas na sahig na tumama sa aking katawan pero hindi iyon dumating. Sa halip ay init at lambot ang aking nabagsakan.
"Fuck! You're burning up, Cresia!", galit na wika ni Gino. I tried to look at him. In the tiny slits of my eyes, I saw him. Forehead crumpled, eyes glaring and shouting profanities at the end of the phone he was holding near his ear.
"You should go...", bulong ko bago magsara ang aking paningin. I already told him to show no care. I didn't want to hope anymore. "Bakit mo ako pinahihirapan, Gino?"
"Bakit mo ako pinag-aalala ng ganito, Cresia? Do you think I can leave you alone like this? If you only knew"
There was a feather-light touch on my forehead. And I succumb to sleep.
