This Could End

Chapter Twenty-Two

I could try to find out who was blackmailing me. It would be easy to hire private investigators and track the number but what would I do with the information? Ano ang gagawin ko kung sakaling malaman ko kung sino ang nasa likod nito?

At ano ang gagawin ko ngayon na may nakakaalam na tungkol sa amin ni Hades? Should I stop seeing him? Should I end us? Kaya ko ba na hindi na siya makita? Kaya ko bang tapusin ang meron sa aming dalawa?

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The sound of the doorbell woke me up from sleep. My aching head registered to me next. Napahawak ako sa ulo sa naramdaman na kirot.

Muling tumunog ang doorbell. I looked at my nightstand to check the time. My eyes bulged when I saw that it was seven in the morning. Sa oras na 'to ay dapat paalis na ako ng unit ko.

Agad akong bumangon at hinanap ang phone ko sa bedside table. I forgot to charge it last night and the battery was dead. I wasn't usually dependent on my alarm but last night was a different case because I had too much wine. I must have slept through my alarm or maybe the battery died before that.

The doorbell chimed again. Alam ko na si Emma 'yon na sinusundo ako dahil wala ako sa lobby.

God. I'm gonna be so late.

Nagmamadali akong bumangon at itinakbo ang main door para buksan 'yon. Emma had a phone on her hand and she looked extremely worried.

"Kaia!" gulat niyang sabi nang makita ako.

"Give me twenty minutes. Please prepare me some medicine and coffee, too," utos ko at iniwan din siya agad para dumiretso ng bathroom.

It was the fastest shower that I've ever taken. I threw on a simple white shirt, ripped jeans, and black leather jacket. Hindi na ako nag-makeup kaya black sunglasses na lang ang sinuot ko. My hair was still damp but I don't have enough time to dry it.

Sa elevator ride ko na ininom ang gamot. Emma handed me the travel mug. I carefully sipped some cofffee from it.

"Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo, Kaia?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Emma.

"It's just a headache."

"Pwede naman siguro tayong magpaalam kung hindi mo kaya mag-trabaho."

I massaged my temple with one hand "I'll be fine. Did you let them know that we're running late?"

"Oo, Kaia."

The morning traffic caught us. Alanganin na kasi ang oras. We ended up being late for an hour. I apologized to the whole crew for being late. It was unprofessional kahit na nakapagsabi naman na si Emma na mahuhuli kami. It was still a short notice.

"Sigurado ka bang okay ka lang, Seph? I'm sure papayag naman si Direk na mag-absent ka kapag nalaman niya na masama ang pakiramdam mo," sabi ni Darcy.

Umiling ako at hinawakan ang ulo na kumikirot pa rin. "Mawawala rin 'to mamaya."

"Ano ba ang ginawa mo kagabi at biglang sumama ang pakiramdam mo?" Darcy asked.

I stiffened. I was too hangover to even think about what happened last night.

Why was Darcy suddenly asking me about what I did last night? Am I being too paranoid or was the question coming from her just really suspicious?