PLEASE BE MINE...AGAIN (Completed/Editing)

Chapter 7.1

"Lora," wika ng pamilyar na baritonong boses mula sa kanyang likuran.

Lorabelle automatically lifted her sight and turned her head on the back. She was rocked when her eyes landed on Steven who was standing in front of her. Palihim niyang pinasadahan ito ng tingin.

Jeez! This man was really capable of pulling off a head-to-toe look! He looked so large and impressive in his two-button cashmere suit with royal blue silk tie and a pair of leather shoes. Her heart suddenly did a cartwheel when her sight made its way to his handsome face and their gazes met.

"Like what you're seeing?" mapanukso ang himig na tanong ng binata. Nakapaskil sa mapupulang labi nito ang isang simpatikong ngiti.

Hindi niya kaagad nagawang buksan ang sariling bibig. Tila nasemento iyon sa sobrang paninigas at para ring nilindol ang kanyang dibdib sa kaba. Gracious! Hindi pala nito pinalampas ang palihim niyang pagpapantasiya kani-kanina lang sa hitsura nito.

She sucked her breath in embarrassment. For crying out loud! What the hell was happening to her? Why were her body tissues having such kind of reaction? Oo, posible nga na may gusto pa siya sa binata pero dapat tigilan na niya ang sariling kahibangan. She was so sure that there were a lot of changes that happened for the past six years. Posibleng may girlfriend na ito, or worst, baka asawa.

Pero kung merong asawa, bakit niyaya kang mag-dinner noong isang gabi? Agad namang agaw ng isang bahagi ng kanyang utak.

"Lora, are you okay?" untag ni Steven sa kanya. Naroon pa rin ang simpatikong ngiti nito.

"Yes, sir," she casually answered while looking at him straightly, trying to calm herself.

"Uh-uh! Dalawa lang tayo dito, so you can call me by my name."

"Okay, S-Steven."

"That's way better! Anyway, absent ang isa nating proofreader na si Vivienne dahil may sakit ang nanay niya at si Honey naman ay on leave. Kailangan na nating simulan ang printing ng dalawang textbooks ni Miss Licerio dahil by October ay dapat ma-release na ang mga iyon sa bookstores," bahabang turan nito.

"Yes, sir. Alam ko po kung kailan ang expected release ng books niya," she answered plainly.

"Its content was already edited. Proofreading na lang ang kulang. Mr. Divinagracia told me that you also do proofreading. So pwede ba na ikaw muna ang mag-proofread ng mga iyon?"

"I can do it, sir. Hindi naman ako masyadong busy," mabilis niyang sang-ayon sa hiling nito sa pag-aakalang iyon lang ang hihilingin nito.

"Good! I'll just send the documents at your e-mail address. Can you finish it before you go home this afternoon?"

She felt fucked up with what this man wanted to happen. Ano 'yon? Buong araw siyang nakatutok sa monitor ng computer? Eh, alas nuebe y medya na ng umaga. Ano, hindi na lang siya kakain ng tanghalian?

She wanted to make a dispute out of it, but as an employee, she knew that she had no choice but to follow what her boss has mandated. But how can she dare refuse this man? Kung pumapayag na agad ang puso niya kahit hindi pa man ito humihiling?

"Yes, sir."

Lorabelle raised her right eyebrow while reading the soft copy of the textbook that was sent to her e-mail. She was almost halfway with it, but she didn't spot any typographical error. Para kasing na-proofread na iyon. Gusto tuloy niyang isipin na nagpapapansin lang si Steven sa kanya ngunit para namang ang aga pa para mag-ilusyon. She couldn't help but laugh at her own thought.