CHAPTER THREE: THEY MET

The white-painted ceilings greeted me as I opened my eyes. I was brought to the hospital. The nurse who assisted me said that I've been sleeping for ten hours, and mentioned that someone sent me here at three-thirty in the morning but he didn't say who he is so they assumed that he's my boyfriend. So the intruder was a man?

I'm not that severely injured so the doctor said that I can go home if I want to. I felt hesitant but I have nowhere else to go but my unit. I don't want to go back to the casa either. 

The trauma I got from what happened last night still makes me flinch now and then. I already told the condominium management about what had happened and requested tighter security for it to happen again. 

I took a bath, hoping to get my mind off of what happened but to no avail. I decided to lie on my bed and continue my rest there. Who went here last night? And who took me to the hospital? Were they the same person? If yes, then I don’t get it… argh! 

Why would someone bang a hard thing on my head and bring me to the hospital afterward?

I turned to the other side of my bed and closed my eyes. I needed sleep, not questions. Yana, please, you need to take a rest. 

I was about to sleep when an unregistered number called. Not knowing who it was, I declined the call and messaged Celine to send me the details of the presentations they presented to me a day ago instead. I don’t think I can still sleep anyway.

My eyes widened in shock as I read the presentation one slide at a time. Someone had withdrawn a million out of the company causing it to go bankrupt. The VIPs, on the other hand, thought that it was me who did that! Damn! So I have a rat at my company? But who? When? Why do they want me to suffer? Fuck. This is making my head hurt even more.

I heaved a deep sigh and grabbed another bottle of wine. I need to loosen up a bit. My head's throbbing because of thinking too much.

“Madame, maybe you're right,” Celine agreed. I called her to ask if going back here was the right decision or not. Because since I came back, things have become complicated. “But madame, if you didn’t come, you wouldn't know that this is happening,” she added. I nodded and thanked her for her time.

She's right. If I didn’t go back, I would not know about my company’s situation. People are right when they say, “Every decision you make, you're going to face consequences.” I decided to go back here and now it's my consequence. 

Celine came up with the idea of faking my leave and acting like I gave up my position as CEO. She said that in this way, I'll know who the rat is. I agreed. She has a point.

Lying on my stomach, I faced my laptop and scrolled through the news, and stumbled upon one particular news. So he made it? He's now the CEO of his own company. A young CEO and a hot bachelor of the town? Wow! I mean, just wow. After what he did? I can't believe this. I wonder what would people's reaction be if they found out how monstrous he is. I rolled my eyes and sipped on my wine when a message popped up.

…

From: [phone]

I hope you're fine now.

…

That's what the message is. Who the hell is this? And what is he saying that he hopes I'm fine? I ignored the message when another came from the same number.

…

From: [phone]

I know you're wondering who I am. Just think that I'm your hero ;).

…

My brows arched. What the fuck is he saying? A hero? Cringe! Whoever is it, he’s saying nonsense.

I stood out of my bed and wore something nice. It’s still seven pm, a perfect time to go to the mall. I went to my car and drove off.

I was pushing my cart through the grocery aisle when I bumped into someone. The two bags of fries I was carrying fell on the floor. I bent down to pick it up when the guy who bumped into me did it for me before I could even do so. I thanked him and walked past him, not even giving a single glance.

“Tatiana?” I stopped and froze on my spot when I heard a familiar voice behind me. I’m not sure whether to look back or to ignore it… it felt as though I was stuck on my spot. I know who that voice belongs to... one that I don’t want to hear even though I miss it. I sighed deeply as I felt my heart racing inside my chest and turned around.

“Ji--jill… Uh, it's been a while.” I forced a smile and awkwardly looked at him as he walked smiling towards me. Why did we have to meet? I wanted to run away from him but to no avail. My body’s not responding. I felt his warm body against mine as he hugged me tightly. I don’t know what to do with my hands. Should I hug him back? Or… what?

“Yeah! How are you? You've changed a lot! I didn’t recognize you at first!” he said as he examined me from head to toe. I playfully smirked and jokingly flipped my hair as I recovered from the awkward feeling I felt just now. 

“Of course! I am the great Agatha!” We laughed at my joke and parted ways not long after. We exchanged numbers and agreed to talk on the phone.

Jill is that man's twin brother. He was my best friend, but everything changed when ‘that’ happened. I cut ties with them despite the closeness of our families. My mom and his mom have been best friends since their childhood, and our dads are business partners. Our families are okay, it's just me who pulled away. I can’t stand any Andersons. Every time I see their face, I remember what happened. I don't want to take revenge, I only want justice.

After preparing the things I'll be needing for my vacation, I checked my social media accounts. I did not open any social media when I left because I don’t want to bother myself even more. I don't know what happened to me. I've been very bad to myself and never gave myself a break. So, now, I'll treat myself first.

Jill immediately sent me a dm on I*******m upon seeing that I'm active.

(*Jill, Molly and Tatiana exchanging messages through I*******m*)

cajill_: Hey! Good thing you opened your social media account. I wanna invite you for a week's vacation.

writz_agatha: Where?

cajill_: Somewhere here in Pampanga, duh? There are so many places to visit here and relax.

writz_agatha: Yup, I forgot. Well then, see you? I guess.

cajill_: Yes! See you, Tati!

I smiled. Yes! I'll take a break now. I’m still not sure if I can do this but I guess part of healing is forgiving? I'll go with Jill so that we can rebuild the friendship that we once had. I placed my phone in my pocket when Moli’s message popped up. 

nevismoliana: Hey, you! Why are you ignoring me, huh?

nevismoliana: You're a bad friend!

nevismoliana: After all I did? This is your payback?!

nevismoliana: I hate you!!

nevismoliana: You didn't even inform me that you are now back here in the Philippines!

nevismoliana: If Jill did not say that you two accidentally met, I wouldn’t know! Here I am thinking that you're still abroad!

nevismoliana: How dare you seen zoned me?

nevismoliana: How dare you ignore me?

nevismoliana: Tatiana!!!! *angry emoticon*

I just laughed at her flood of messages and turned off my phone. Those two are my only best friends. Moli wasn't my friend---before. She was my rival—not until I caught her boyfriend cheating on her and lip-locking someone red-handed, she began befriending me and always stuck herself at my side like a leech.

When I'm in college, I didn't have any friends. I'm not that nice. I’m a bitch, well, that's what they say. Everyone— I mean, every girl hates me. I don't know why but I’ve never done something wrong to them—not that I’ve noticed. I was just being myself. I also don’t care.