In Between The Sheets

Chapter 23

Ganado ang mokong magtrabaho at sumisipol-sipol pa habang tinatanaw ako sa harap niya na nakaupo sa sariling work station at namomroblema kung paano tatakpan ang chikinini sa leeg. Pati ang nananahimik niyang secretary na si Marthina ay nautusan ko pang bumili ng concealer kasi agaw pansin ang ginawa niyang marka na hindi kayang takpan ng buhok.

"Bakit ba kasi nag-aatubili ka pang takpan 'yan?" tanong niya matapos sumimsim ng kape.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at mas lalo lang nairita nang makita ang nakakainis niyang mukha na may hindi maburang ngisi sa labi.

"Sinong tanga ang map-proud nang may chikinini sa leeg, Liam?!" naiinis kong saad sa kanya, dahilan ng pagtawa niya.

"Guess I'm a fool, then..." he shrugged and walked towards me.

I was about to retort when he suddenly leaned on the table. His nose is almost touching mine, making my breath hitch. He stared at me and I saw a mix of sadness, longing and fear in his eyes. But it all disappeared when he put on a lazy smile.

"You can give me a love bite, if you want to. Para quits na tayo..." he suggested in a playful tone.

I pushed my swivel chair away from him and rolled my eyes. "Ayoko nga, baka magkaroon pa ng issue sa'ting dalawa. Nakakahiya!"

"Bakit ka mahihiya eh fiancé mo naman ako?" kumpiyansa niyang saad, dahilan ng pagtawa ko.

"I remember calling off our engagement almost 2 years ago. Anong fiancé ka diyan?"

"Oo nga pero akala ko babalik tayo sa dati kasi..."

Hindi ko na siya hinayaang matapos magsalita kasi hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga lumalabas sa bibig niya. Really, Liam? Why are you so obsessed with me?

"You're expecting us to get back together just because I slept with you?" I mocked. "Masyado ka naman atang umaasa, Anderson."

"What are we, then?"

"I mean, we satisfy each other's sexual desires so maybe, fuck buddies?"

Kumunot ang noo niya, halatang hindi natutuwa sa sinabi ko.

"I don't want a bedroom negotiation with you, Serene. I want a fucking relationship!"

"Kaya nga fuck buddies tayo kasi we have a fucking relationship."

"Putangina!"

Napakagat ako ng labi para itago ang ngiti nang marinig siyang magmura. Somehow, it excites me seeing him this frustrated. Para bang bumaliktad ang mundo at mas makapangyarihan na ako sa kanya.

"Come on, this is the least I could offer to you..." pag-aalo ko sa kanya nang marinig ang marahas niyang paghinga. "I don't want to marry you because your father killed my mother."

"It was an accident..."

"Your father was reckless."

"God knows how he spent his last days reflecting on his sins! He even put your name on his last will!"

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung sa part ba na nilagay ng tatay niya ang pangalan ko sa last will nito o sa posibilidad na maaaring wala na nga si Zacharias.

"W-what do you mean?" naguguluhan kong saad.

"My father is dead, Serene. A year after you left, he committed suicide..." his voice cracked.

I stared at him in horror. I couldn't process what he said. Ang daming tanong na namumuo sa isipan ko at hindi ako makapag-isip nang maayos.

"It was stated in his last will and testament that you will get half of his shares in AGC including Ignoscentia. He built that building in honor of your mother's name. Ignoscentia means forgiveness in Latin."