Come Back When You Can

Chapter 3: Past

NOTE: lowercase italics mean flashback.

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Chapter 3: Past

Kathryn tapped her fingers continuously on the table as she bit her lower lip and stared at her computer screen. Auden, her secretary slowly let herself in Kathryn's office holding a bottle of water and a tray of lunch. She smiled at her boss, who hadn't seemed to notice her. It had been like this ever since she had lunch with Daniel. She had been staying late at the office and not eating. She claims that she's just trying to meet deadlines but who are we kidding? Kathryn Bernardo is the CEO of this company and she can pass all her papers whenever she likes.

"Miss Bernardo? Lunch is ready." Auden smiled but Kathryn's eyes were still transfixed in the computer. Auden leaned a little to see what she was staring at. There was Kathryn's candid picture in front of Daniel's car, as Daniel showed his childish grin whilst holding Kathryn's phone. Auden took a closer look and saw that her boss is on the headlines of Yahoo! News. She cleared her throat and knocked thrice on the table, causing Kathryn to look at her. "Lunch?"

"I'm not hungry. Can you send the papers of the interns, please? Thank you." And just like that, Kathryn stared at the computer again. Auden made her way out of the office and grabbed the pile of papers on her desk; which was the application forms of interns. "Thanks, Auden." Auden wanted to shove the food into her mouth but of course she can't do that. She turned to the door and saw Miles Ocampo's figure standing behind the closed door. Miles gave Auden a reassuring smile before proceeding to the guest chair of Kathryn. The door clicked and Miles placed her bag on the table.

"Kathryn." She said sternly. Kathryn closed the window on her computer; scared that her best friend might see and give her a lecture. She forced a smile and opened the bottle of water that was placed on her desk, 5 minutes ago. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." She replied as she opened the folders but not really reading it. She had done this to avoid Miles' eye contact.

"Is this about Leo? You miss him don't—"

"Miles, shut up. Nothing is about Leo." She suppressed a giggle and shook her head at her best friend. She placed the folder on the side of her desk before shoving a mouthful of lunch on her mouth.

"DJ?" Miles joked. But Kathryn didn't answer, but instead shoved another mouthful. "This is about DJ?"

"Just shut up. I mean it, shut up." Kathryn didn't have a hint of annoyance in her voice. She just didn't want to talk about it.

"I knew it! Relationships without closure are the worst. I knew it."

Kathryn shook her head and chugged the bottle of water before throwing it into the bin. She started entering the interns name on her computer but Miles isn't done with her yet.

"But I thought you were fine with him already? Christ, Kathryn. You broke up 10 years ago. Granted that you didn't leave the industry immediately after that and you saw each other every now and then, but I thought, you told me that you were fine with it. And now—" Miles continued rambling on her seat. Kathryn wasn't entirely sure if she was talking to her or talking to herself. She leaned on her chair, and tapped her fingers on her arm rest as she watched her bestfriend ramble about her confusion. She couldn't hear her anymore. She felt a pang of hurt in her chest; suddenly the room felt silent but Miles' mouth was still moving. She could remember the sad silence...