Fallin' (Edited version of Can't Help Fallin')

Chapter 1

"Hindi ko sinabi iyon, Miss Geronimo, though you act like one,"  Gerald uttered, amusement clearly dancing in his eyes, "And you can leave now Miss Geronimo. Tell Bernie that I need his report Asap." he added in an obvious dismissal and looked down on the papers on his table, but Sarah remained standing behind the door.

Frowning, Gerald raised his head and stared at Sarah. She looked so vulnerable and seemed lost in deep thoughts. “Miss Geronimo..?” Gerald's deep and authoritative voice echoed on the room, causing Sarah to snapped out from her thoughts and hurriedly walked out of his office.

Gerald couldn't sleep that night. Hindi mawala sa isip niya ang sekretarya. Kaya naman kinabukasan ay tanghali na siya ng dumating sa opisina. Wala si Sarah sa kanyang desk ng dumaan siya sa pwesto nito na ipinagtaka niya. Kahit kailan ay hindi pa ito pumasok ng late. Isa iyon sa nagustuhan niya dito.

Gerald pressed the intercon and called the assistant secretary.

"Do you need anything, Sir?"

"Where is Miss Geronimo?"

"Sir, she called earlier at sinabing hindi na daw po sya makakapasok because she is resigning imi-ma -."

               

“Resigning!” Gerald exclaimed. Anong magreresign?

               

"Si-ir.." Violy tensed up sa biglang pagtaas ng boses ng boss. “Yes, Sir. She said  she will just send her resignation letter through e-mail."

E-mail! Hindi ba nito alam ang patakaran ng kumpanya? Gerald stood up from his seat and paced back and forth in the room. He massage his forehead, sumakit bigla ang ulo niya. Who does she think she is? quitting on her job without notice.

"Call her, Violy. I need to talk to her."

"Yes, sir."

Pero hindi niya nakausap ang sekretarya. Hindi nito sinasagot ang tawag. Kahit sa personal na number nito. Nang araw din na iyon ay pinuntahan ni Gerald ang address na nakalagay sa files ni Sarah, but to his dismay at pagtataka niya ay hindi doon nakatira ang dalaga.

"Problem Bro?" JV commented. Si JV ay isa sa malapit na kaibigan ni Gerald at siyang may-ari ng bar kung saan sila umiinom ngayon. Nagulat ito ng biglang sumulpot doon si Gerald. Matagal na din itong hindi nagagawi doon dahil busy ito sa trabaho. At kanina pa niya napapansin na wala sa mood ang kaibigan simula ng dumating ito.

"No."  Gerald shook his head and sipped on his whiskey.

"Well, matagal na kitang hindi nakikita dito, ang akala ko ay masyado kang busy sa trabaho. By the way your cousin is here yesterday?"

“Cousin?” Gerald frowned.

“Yes, si Rachel. Medyo napadami nga ang inom. Inaawat ko pero ayaw paawat. Tell me, may problema ba ang pinsan mo?"

“Problema? Ni hindi ko nga alam na nandito na siya." Gerald frowned deepened. Limang taon ng nakatira sa amerika ang pinsan at wala siyang ideya na nakabalik na ito.

"I think she’s staying in her condo. Gumanda siyang lalo ha." JV said but Gerald no longer heard him because someone caught his attention.

He was now looking at the pair in the middle of the dance floor. His lips twisted.

Was she really that desperate to fall in the hands of the old man?

“You’re very beautiful…" Mr. Buenaventura praised the beauty in front of him.

He is the owner of one of the famous law firm in the country at kilala din bilang magaling na negosyante. Nakilala ito ni Sarah sa isa sa mga business functions na dinaluhan nila ng dating boss na si Gerald. Mr. Buenaventura saw her drinking alone and offered himself as a company.

"Hindi enjoy uminom mag-isa,"  Said the old man and didn't wait for Sarah to reply and just sat on the stool beside her.

Sarah was almost drunk  when Mr. Buenaventura invited her to dance. She accepted the offer. Only for this night she said. Wala naman mawawala kung pagbibigyan niya ito.

Sarah felt the hand of the old man moved up and down softly on her bare back. And at that moment she instantly regretted wearing a backless top . Ito ang unang beses na nagsuot siya ng ganitong klase ng damit, hindi siya sanay magsuot ng sexy clothes. It was a birthday present from a friend. She saw it in her closet and she tried it on and felt satisfied when she sees herself in the mirror so, she decided to wear the clothing. 

Ito rin ang unang beses na pumunta siya sa ganitong klase ng lugar na nagiisa. Balak niyang magpakalasing sa gabing ito, para kahit panandalian ay malimutan niya ang kaniyang problema.

Sarah looked away to look in another direction. Mr. Buenaventura smelling breath of alcohol makes her feel like vomitting. But she ends up looking at the most attractive pair of brown eyes na hindi niya pagsasawaang titigan kahit gaano katagal, and it belongs to her... BOSS!

Gerald Anderson! And he was staring at her with disgust.

What was he doing here anyway? Was he with someone? Does he have a date? And why did she care if he has a date!

Gerald eyes moved down to Mr. Buanaventura’s hand, who was still caressing her back. He raised his goblet to acknowledge her presence and gave her an insulting smile, as if to say that she was desperate dahil pumapatol siya sa matanda.

Sarah face colored in pink in embarrassment, but she'd die kesa ipakita dito na naapektuhan siya sa iniisip nito. Anong pakialam niya sa iniisip nito. Tinanggihan siya ni Gerald kaya mas maganda na isipin nito na may tumanggap ng iba sa kaniyang proposal.

Sarah adverted her gaze from Gerald and smiled flirtatiously at Mr. Buenaventura. Hindi siya sanay sa ganito pero gusto niyang bigyan ng satisfaction ang iniisip ni Gerald. Bakit? hindi niya alam. Pero nagrerebelde and puso niya sa nakikita niyang panguuyam sa mga mata nito. Pero ang binabalak na inisin si Gerald ay hindi natupad dahil biglang tumunog ang cell phone ni Mr. Buenaventura, to Sarah's dismay.

Tumigil ito sa pagsasayaw at hinugot ang cell phone mula sa likod ng bulsa ng pantalon nito. At base sa reaksyon ng mukha ng matanda ay hindi mahirap hulaan kung sino ang tumatawag, ang asawa nito. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni Sarah ang usap-usapan na isa itong "under de saya".

"I’m sorry, hija, but I have to go," Ang paumanhin nito, "I really enjoy your company, darling, at kung papayag ka ay gusto kitang yayaing lumabas minsan." Mr. Buenaventura look hopeful.

Sarah smiled sweetly. “Sure, Mr. Buenaventura.”

Mr. Buenaventura grin and caressed her cheek “That’s my girl." Then he gave her his calling card before he left her on the dance floor.

Isabella sighed at tangka na sanang umalis ng biglang may magsalita sa likuran niya.

“Rejected again, Miss Geronimo?” Asked the man behind her. At hindi na nagulat pa si Sarah ng malingunan kung sino ito. Si Gerald, nangungunot ang noo nito at hindi maipagkakaila ang panunuya sa mga mata.

Sarah said nothing. She doesn't have enough strength to make an argument. Kaya sa nanlalambot na tuhod dahil sa dami ng nainom ay tahimik na lumabas ng bar ng hindi man lamang nilingon si Gerald.