Below The Tide (Charity Series #1)

• Fourty Five •

Betina Tiara

~

Three days have past and I still haven’t met Zen again, so basically, it’s been 8 days that we haven’t seen each other.

Simula no'ng sinabi niya sa 'kin na pinuntahan siya ni Claudius para kausapin, naging madalang na ang mga tawag at text niya. Ika nito, pinaghahandaan daw niya ang press conference at sa dami ng dadalo-- guests and reporters, ayaw daw niyang mauwi sa wala ang pinaghirapan ng lahat at hindi naman ako isip bata para magtampo ro'n o ano. Though most of the time, I miss him so much.

Today is the day of the cat hotel launching and the members are invited to attend the party at the Protegé Hall. Mauuna lang sina Claudius at Hailey na umalis dahil ang cat hotel talaga ay nasa kabilang street avenue, dito lang gaganapin ang mismong party.

It's 3 o' clock pm and I'm all by myself at the office. I'm currently waiting for Gavin and Seven since we decided to come together but apparently, Gavin’s still at his school. 3 pm ang uwian nito so malamang ay maya-maya pa sila makakarating.

As for Zen... I don’t know if he'll attend. He doesn't mention anything.

Habang nakaupo ako sa swivel chair at nakatitig sa labas ng bintana, biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng office kaya napalingon ako ro'n.

"O, hindi ka umuw---" my mouth slightly opened as I saw a man in his grey tuxedo standing right in front of my eyes.

"Babe..."

I stood on my feet as I gazed for him more, "Z-Zen... what are you..."

"Surprise?" lumapit siya sa 'kin at walang anu-ano'y hinawakan ako sa aking batok at hinalikan ako ng mariin sa noo, "I missed you so so so much, babe. I missed your smell..."

"But wait," tinignan ko siya, "Bakit hindi ka nagsabi na pupunta ka pala ngayon? ‘Yung pinagkaka-abalahan mo? Tapos na ba?"

"I was just practicing the line Hailey sent me but it’s not all so hihintayin ko pa ang ilang impormasyon kay Seven bago ko dugtungan ang sasabihin," he suddenly gave me a pout, "It looks like you didn’t missed me. Parang nagulat ka kasi ayaw mo ‘kong makita ah!"

Pabiro ko siyang hinampas sa braso, "Of course I missed you! Hindi ka kasi nagsasabi kung pupunta ka..."

He then grabbed my hand and pulled me for a hug. Napapikit na lang ako nang muli kong maramdaman ang mainit na katawan niya at maamoy ang mabangong pabango niya.

"I’m sorry I wasn’t in touched, you must have been really worried," he spoke in a gentle voice.

"You made everyone worried," I said.

He chuckled, "But why is it so cute that I have a bunch of calls from Gavin since the beginning of the issue?"

Kumalas ako at tinignan siya sa mata, "Because he’s so worried. Do you feel better?"

Tumango naman ito at paupong sumandal sa lamesa ko, "I feel much better after seeing and hugging you. Maybe I’ll feel much, much better if I do this..."

Before I could ask, he pulled me again on the waist and kissed me on my lips.

It was just a quick kiss but my heart went crazy that sudden. Ewan ko sa sarili ko, hindi naman ito ang first time na halikan niya 'ko pero pagkatapos ng matagal naming hindi pagkikita, tila bumalik na naman ako sa umpisa.

"How was it?" tanong ko.

He pressed his lips together as it formed a smirk, "Honestly, whatever you do, I would still feel much, much better. Your presence is enough, babe. Grabe... na-miss kita ng malala."