"Faster, Ryll! run, faster!" I told to myself again and again inside my head! There's a man who's running after me holding a knife! Fuck this!
I ran as fast as I can, until the road end. And I fell. Oh, no! I felt his hand hold my feet! I faced him, but I couldn't see a glimpse of his face.. His face was.. blank.. He was about to stab me with his knife—I opened my eyes. I could feel my sweat dripping in my forehead down to my neck. Damn. That was such a scary dream. Huminga ako ng malalim at ipinatong ko ang isa kong braso sa aking mga mata. Fuck that dream. Ilang minuto akong nanatili sa ganoong puwesto hanggang sa naisipan ko nang bumangon para tingnan kung anong oras na ba. Tiningnan ko ang digital clock na nasa bed side table ko.It's quarter to eight when we entered the building. Wearing a black skinny fit pants and a black smock shirt, parang normal na araw pa rin iyon sa opisina. Pero para sa akin, hindi.Paanong magiging normal kung ang lalaking naglalakad sa aking tabi ay ang Vice President at Chief Editor, hindi lang iyon, siya rin ang Exclusive Writer ng Publishing Company na ito!Sabay kaming pumasok sa elevator. Pailan ilan ang bumabating empleyado sakan'ya. Subalit kapag nililingon ko na ay nananahimik. What? they didn't know that I already knew? So they really kept it from me?Tumunog ang elevator hudyat na nasa tamang palapag na ang ibang mga empleyado. Natira kaming dalawa ni Elouise sa loob.I was eyeing him the whole time we're inside. Ofcourse, he noticed.
"Meeting adjourned.." Sambit ni Sir Peter nang matapos mag present ng kung ano ni Mr. Umbrella sa harap na hindi ko masyadong naintindihan.I am preoccupied by the fact that he's an author too, like Elouise. And he's that Mr. Umbrella! Nakakahiya ang itsura ko noong nakita nya ako sa gilid gilid! At magmi-meeting kami few minutes from now! What a coincidence, right?!Nauna nang lumabas ng conference room sila Ma'am Janica. Nanatili namang nakaupo si Elouise sa tapat ko. Matamang nakatingin sa kanyang maliit na notebook sa ibabaw ng table. Ganun din si Mr. Umbrella sa gilid ko.Akmang tatayo naman sila Rio at Jomarie nang muling magsalita si Sir Peter. Dahilan upang matigil ang dalawa sa paghakbang palabas."Uh, Rio and Jomarie, May I speak with you, please? I wanna clarify some th
"Do you wanna have lunch with me?" Napakamot pa sa ulo si Read pagkatapos niya akong tanungin.Tumingin muna ako sa aking wrist watch. It's almost 12 pm already so I think it's fine.Ngumiti ako kay Read, "Sure, tara."Nauna na syang naglakad patungo sa pintuan at pinagbuksan ako. Pinauna muna nya akong lumabas. Maingat niyang isinara ang pinto."Where do you want to have lunch?" tanong ni Read sa akin habang naglalakad kami.Sasagot sana ako sakaniya ng mahagip ng aking mata ang papalapit na Elouise."Where are you going?" ani Elouise nang makalapit sa amin. Matalim ang tingin sa akin at kay Read.Si Read ang sumagot para sa tanong ni El, "Oh, we're going to have lunch to catch up."&nbs
"Elouise.." I called him. I'm still shocked, alright. Ano ba kasing ginagawa niya sa tapat ng elevator?!"Oh, Elouise.." Si Read naman ngayon ang tumawag sa pangalan niya. "What are you doing there, man?" tanong ni Read kay El na masama pa rin ang tingin sa amin.He's like a mad man ready to pounce his prey any minute now.Elouise' jaw tightened, "Nothing.. Enjoy.."Then he left.Oh, shit. Why do I feel so guilty?I looked at Read apologetically."I'm sorry. Thank you for the meal..""Don't mention it..""And.. I'll return your umbrella some other time, okay? I'll text you when I'm free." I told him urgently.
It's passed 3 am, and here I am, staring at the ceiling of my room. How the hell I'm gonna sleep if the memories of him, kissing me inside that freaking elevator!I turned to the other side of the bed then closed my eyes again. Trying hard to fall asleep, but failed. For the nth time, I faced back to the other side of the bed and shut my eyes tightly. But what he did in the elevator keeps coming back.I felt his lips touched mine. Then, I felt his hand moved to hold the hallow of my neck and nape to tilt my head little. My eyelids became so heavy for unknown reason, so I let them close. He suckled and bit my lower lip. I was about to kiss him back when I heard the elevator's sound, meaning it was about to open! Good thing he immediately pulled away before it opens.I was still shocked and breathless. Napakurapkurap ako what the hell happened?!
Warning: R-18.Mataman lamang akong nakikinig habang ongoing ang aming acquisition meeting.Unlike yesterday, Ma'am Corine is present in this meeting. Read's presence is here too. First look at Ma'am Corine, you could easily tell that she's very sophisticated, knowledgable and a woman with principle. She's very strict and grumpy, her eyes were void of any emotion."It is part of the process for a story to be published is to have a blurb.." Sambit ni Sir Anton na siyang nagp-present sa harapan namin. Nasa gitna ako nila Jomarie at Rio. Si Elouise naman ay nasa gilid ni Sir Peter na nasa kabisera ng lamesa.Nakita ko ang pag sang-ayon ni Sir Peter sa sinabi ni Sir Anton sa harap, "That's why, we are again conducting a Blurb writing competition," nakangiting saad muli ni Sir Anton.
Para akong napaso ng mainit na kawali at mabilis pa sa alas kuwatrong lumayo kay Elouise!Ryll, what have you done! I crossed my arms over my chest to hide my bare breasts. Feeling ashamed of what happened earlier.I looked at the door. The door bell rang continously. Binalingan ko si Elouise nang mapansing hindi parin niya binubuksan ang pintuan. Nakakaawa naman iyong nasa labas no'ng pintuan, baka napudpod na daliri non kakapindot noong doorbell."What the hell are you doing? Open the door!" I hissed.Sa halip na buksan ang pinto, bumaba ang mga mata ni Elouise sa dibdib ko. Kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin."What the hell are you looking at?" ani ko dahil iritang irita na ako. 
"I am.. the reason behind my grandfather's death.." Memories of that day assaulted me.Almost six years had already passed but still, the guilt still lingers in me. I know it's not my entire fault however, my mind keeps on coming back on the biggest mistake I have done that day."Nand'yan na si Kuya Maru, Eris.." imporma ko kay Eris na nagce-cellphone doon sa gilid. He's tall and tan. Matangos ang ilong at naka clean cut ang buhok. Si Kuya Maru, ang pinsan kong galing ng Cebu na nagpasyang manirahan na rin sa rito sa Bulacan.Tumango s'ya sa akin, "Arat na?"Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang backpack ko, "Yep, libre na ni Kuya Maru pamasahe sa jeep."Umakbay sa akin si Eris, "Wow, galante ng pinsan mo ha!"