"Come in," he announces and after a moment, a guy enter his office.
"Mr. Cattaneo, I'm here to inform you that the partition and curve table is already here. We'll just going to install it here in your office."Rafus nodded, "Okay, and do finish it as fast as you can."Naalerto ako nang hawakan ni Rafus ang kamay ko at pinagsiklop iyon. Nakita ko rin ang pagsulyap ng employee sa kamay naming dalawa kaya ginapang ako ng kaba at nagpupumilit na kumalas."Do inform me if you're done," Rafus formally said to the guy and swiftly picked my handbag on the floor.Lumabas kami ng opsina at doon ako nagkaroon ng lakas loob para lagyan ng puwersa ang pagwaksi ko sa kamay kong hawak niya."It's working hours," I said, not taking my eyes off him. "I believe you do know how to separate personal relationship with work, Mr. Cattaneo."He flashes that smirk, making me feel annoyed. "Well that principle works depending where my womanWe're both silent the whole ride. I refuse to utter a word because I'm trying hard to control myself after remembering all the memories we had here, and Rafus' perfume never change over the years.Damn, even if I don't admit it, I know to myself that I still have hangs up for him.I don't know where Rafus is taking me. Nagdrive thru lang kami ng pagkain tapos tumulak uli kami. I looked at my wristwatch, it's nearing five thirty already."Seriously speaking, where are you taking me Rafus?""You'll see, we're almost there, just hang on for few minutes."I sighed and shut my mouth. He won't tell me, period. Why did I kept on trying since earlier then? Rafus' unbending, what's new about it?After an hour of driving, finally the car stopped. I didn't wait for Rafus' cue and help myself got out of the car."What are we doing here?" I seriously asked him with my arms crossed over my chest.Kalalabas niya lang ng kotse
I fixed the belt on my trouser and left the two buttons of my long sleeve top open. I wore tube beneath, so I won't get to receive any lewd stares from anyone.Napakurap-kurap ako nang lumuhod si Rafus at siya mismo ang nagpasuot ng ankle strap sandals sa akin. I felt the gentleness as he held my feet and carefully assuring that the strap was perfectly locked."Rafus, don't treat me like this please..." I said almost begging.I don't want him to treat me like I'm valuable. Damn, I don't want to get hurt by the same person again! Nawasak ako dati at ayokong mawasak ulit. His gestures and the way he treat me brings the feelings I used to feel for him."Let's clearly draw the line. I don't have any hang ups with you, and yes, we had sex. I think that's normal for us, don't try putting another meaning of what happened last night when it's clearly lust and sexual desire."His expression became stoic and later, he laughed at himself. "Damn, bab
I groaned when my clock alarmed loudly. I covered my face with the blanket, hoping that my sleepiness would visit me again, but failed.Marahan kong iminulat ang mata ko at ngayon ko lang natanto na walang sinag na tumatama sa mga mata ko dahil natatakpan ng kurtina ang sliding glass door na nakakonekta sa balkonahe.Natutop ko ang labi nang maalalang sa sofa ako kagabi, papaanong nandito na ako ngayon sa kwarto? I scanned myself, and I also found out that I'm wearing comfortable cotton oversize shirt, not my office clothes.I shook my head. Damn he's doing this again! Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. It's beating wildly as if something triggers my system to feel those feelings again.I climbed off my bed then help my way towards the bathroom and fixed myself ready for work. Hindi na ako nag-abalang magluto ng agahan dahil dadaan nalang ako sa café mamaya."Good morning."My heart leaped. Kalalabas ko lang ng apartment ay siya agad an
"Be with me," Rafus whisper to my ears.The sunlight's already spreading everywhere, yet we're still here lying on my bed, both naked beneath my comforter.I hummed then buried my face more on his chest. "Where to?"He tightens the hug before kissing the top of my head. "Palawan. I brought a vacation house from Sienna, and I wanted to visit it with you."Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. I don't think I can get used to his handsomeness that will welcome me when I wake up in the morning. "Kailan ba ang plano mong bumisita roon?""Two days from now. Is that alright with you? We'll just fix what we needed to be fixed in the corporation, then I'll ask Rojas or Amadeus to look after the business for a while."I gasped audibly and blinked twice. "You're still friends with Amadeus?""Baby, what are you talking about? Of course, I'm still friends with Amadeus." Natawa si Rafus at inangat ang pang-itaas na katawan para kubabawan
"Baby..." I heard Rafus spoke and I felt his presence in the bathroom.I stayed silent and acted oblivious. I don't want to talk with him at the moment because I know it'll end with screaming and fighting."Let's talk, I'll explain everything to you." His voice is cooing, and I just found him behind my back. His clothes are already soaking wet but he didn't left not until I faced him."Later... let's do that later." I said almost a whisper."No," he shook his head. The wet shirt is tracing his built. "We have to settle this now. I don't think I can last another second knowing something's off between us."My lips remain in thin line. I'm staring at him because I'm waiting for the words that will come out his mouth."That night when you finally gave me and our relationship another chance, kagagaling ko lang no'n mula sa dinner kasama ang pamilya ko at pamilya ni Aurora." He sighed and held my waist. His eyes were pleading and fille
"Oh Aranza, ang aga mo ata?" Napangiti ako sa paninita ni Manong Guard."May paninda po kasi ako," bahagya kong itinaas ang dala at ipagpatuloy ang paglalakad habang nagtitiis sa luma kong sapatos. Nasa senior high building na ako at umakyat ako sa hagdan papuntang second floor kung nasaan ang classroom namin."Ano 'yan Slaine?" Itinuro ni Lowell ang bitbit kong eco bag."Graham balls," simple kong sagot. Napalinga-linga ako sa buong classroom, bilang palang kaming nandito."Anong lasa niyan?"Gusto kong matawa sa tanong ni Dani sa akin. Pilya ko siyang ngitian saka sumagot. "Graham balls na lasang bayag.""Kaninong bayag ba?" Lumapit si Jangkit, ang bakla kong kaklase."Kayong bahala kung kanino! Imagination niyo nalang ay i-limit." Napahalakhak ako."Sus! Kung alam ko lang, ang iniisip mo siguro ngayon ang kay Rafus, ano?" Agad kong tinakpan ang bunganga ni Jangkit dahil nahagip ng aking mata si Rafus.Napahinto siya sa mismong labas ng aming classroom kaya panay tukso ng mga kaklas
"Shey, bakit ngayon ka lang?" Tanong ko sa kaniya at bahagyang nakakrus ang braso sa dibdib."Pasensiya na, Ate. Nilibre kasi ako ng mga kaklase kaya ako ginabi." Sagot niya at inilapag niya ang bag na gawa sa kahoy naming sofa."Abusado ka naman atang kaklase kung ganoon," pangaral ko sa kaniya at napayuko lang siya. "Araw araw ka nalang ginagabi ng uwi, imbis na nakakatulong ka dito sa bahay at nag-aaral.""Pasensya na po Ate, aagahan ko na po ang pag-uwi sa susunod," paninigurado niya. "Pupunta po muna ako ng kwarto para makapagbihis."Tumango ako at nagpatuloy sa paghuhulma ng graham balls. Kalaunan ay lumabas narin si Shey para tulungan ako at alas otso na kaming natapos. I put the last piece of graham balls on the 15th tupperware.Lahat ng iyon ay ipinagkasya ko sa freezer at nilinisan ang lugar na pinagawan namin. Matapos iyon at naghain na ako ng pagkain para makapaghapunan na kami."Nasaan sila Tatay, ate?"Napatigil ako sa pagnguya at tinignan siya. "Nasa bukid at bukas ng h
"Pupunta ka ba ng nightclub mamaya, Crezst?" Tanong ni Helen.Umiling si Crezst at sumubo ng ice cream bago sumagot. "Huwebes palang ngayon eh! Bukas ng gabi nalang para kinabukasan ay walang pasok.""Sama ka, Slaine?" Aya ni Helen na tinitimbang ang aking ekspresyon.Umiling ako bilang pagtanggi, "May trabaho ako sa Sabado kaya hindi ako pwedeng maglasing bukas.""Sumama ka naman sa amin kahit minsan." May bahid ng pagtatampo sa boses ni Crezst at ngiting napailing ako sa kanila."Saka na kapag may pera. Maghahanap pa ako ng afam sa tinder para may pambayad ako sa tequila shots niyo.""Libre ka namin! Sama ka na please?" Pagpupumilit ni Helen."Pasensya na girls, mahal ko atay ko.""Gaga ka." Singhal ni Helen na ikinatawa ko."Minsan lang naman!" Depensa naman ni Crezst.Umarko ang kilay ko at kalaunan ay isang nanunuyang ngiti ang gumapang sa labi ko. "May binabalak kayo sa akin 'no?""Huwag na natin siyang pilitin." Pagsuko ni Crezst saka napairap at ibinalik sa ice cream ang atens