Overview : Sa chap na to, may marerealize si Nina. Read to find out!
Quote for this chap : The person who has truly loved you is the only one who has the strength to accept your mistakes and forgive you.
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“Aren’t you coming with us?” said by the usual high-pitched voice that would definitely be her signature tone.
I looked up and saw Jesse, who was carrying a pile of folder on her right and a designer bag on the other. She was ready to leave the office as she tapped my shoulder
“It’s raining pretty hard and Gail’s offering a ride. Aren’t you coming?”
My eyes automatically landed in the clear glass window nearest to my desk and indeed, it was raining cats and dogs. I turned my direction back to Jesse and said
“Nah, I think I’ll finish this thing first and then off I go”
“We could wait for you down the lobby. For sure, Gail wont mind”
“Oh! that’s really sweet but I don’t wanna be a hassle. Just go on. I’ll be fine” I said as I flashed her a genuine smile
She returned the smile and grinned at me
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then?” She said and leaned down to give me a sweet friendly beso
“Yeah. See you!” I said as I watched her walked at the opposite door to the elevator.
I was still working on the last paper when the thunder roared pretty loud. Too loud that I have to cover my ears with both of my hands
“Mama, Why is the sky crying?”
“Nina, The sky isn’t crying .. its called rain” A sweet smile was painted across the woman’s blurry face.
I can’t make out the details on her feature but one thing’s for sure .. her smile brings the warm in my heart
Then suddenly, the little girl heard another roar from the sky. A thunder followed by a ferocious light that engulf the whole dark sky which made the little girl tighten her grip on her older sister’s arm
“Why is the sky sound so angry, Mama?”
The woman turned around once again from the front seat and patted the head of her child affectionately. She smiled genuinely before she tucked the unsteady locks behind the ear of her youngest child
“Don’t be scared my angel. Mama and Papa are here for you” She said
“Yeah! Don’t be scared, Nina. Ate Rima is here too” The older child, by merely 2 minutes, uttered to her scared sister and locked her tightly into her arms to assure her that its safe
“Shit!” The man cursed as he tried to maneuver the car’s wheel trying to dodge the drunk driver of the white Honda civic.
“That was close, Nicollo. The road’s slippery cuz it rained the whole night maybe we should just stop by and--- OH DEAR LORD!!”
The woman’s eyes grew wider as she saw a 9-wheeler truck was heading on the opposite side of the dark road. The light of the truck illuminated and almost blinding the little girl’s vision
Everything happened so fast that the little girl barely knew what to do
“Rima, Open the car’s door and throw your selves outside” The woman told her eldest child
“But Mom—“
“Just do it, Rima!”
The older sibling obliged on her mother’s wishes and unbuckled the seatbelt of her sister. She acted fast as she opened their car’s door and pushed her younger sister without giving her a warning
Her older sister was about to join her outside but seatbelt was malfunctioning and can not be easily unbuckle
and the last thing she heard, aside from the loud buzzing sound of the truck crushing their car into pieces, was the loud shriek of her older sister crying for help
When I opened my eyes, a tear had fallen and rolled down my cheeks. I suddenly felt the sadness in my heart and the agony that I have forgotten for such a long time. That flashback was not as clear but it sure brought me to the sudden feeling of loneliness
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I was walking alone the aisle of the empty hall to the elevator when I remembered Iñigo’s BBM
From: Iñigo ( fy739293)
I’ll be waiting for you no matter what ..‘til the dawn breaks. I’ll be waiting, Nina. I love you always and forever
I sighed heavily as I stopped my self from walking ..
Should I stay or should I go. That I really don’t know.. maybe---
Once inside the lift, I pushed the elevator button and pressed the arrow pointing downwards which leads to the lobby. I checked my silver metallic Giordano watch and saw it the short hand was about to hit 7 in about 15 minutes
Naghihintay pa kaya siya ‘don? Despite the heavy rain?
The elevator was about to close completely when suddenly, someone had been smart enough to held it longer for him to slid inside
His lips curved into a sweet grin flashing me his yet, colgate-grade commercial smile. I have no doubt, by the looks of the way he smiles, for sure.. It was Luigi himself
“Hey, I’ve heard Oliver has been nagging you huh? Is he grilling you that bad?” He asked
“No, I don’t think he does” I said winking at him
The elevator once again opened to let other passengers get a lift down the building. I stepped aside to let the other passengers in
I grinned weakly at a friendly-looking woman in her last 40’s .She stood between Luigi and I with her LV vintage classic bag on her hands. It was the editor-in-chief Mrs. Letty Magsanoc
“You know, from the moment I saw you guys there.. I thought you’re a couple. You looked good together” The older woman uttered smiling at us both
Luigi winked at me which made me roll my eyes in annoyance
“Well.. I Agree with you Ma’am. Heto naman kasing si Nina pakipot pa eh--- ouch!” Natigilan si Luigi sa kakasalita nang piningut ko siya sa tagaliranan
I gave him an apologetic looked and then stick out my tongue. Our boss gave us an equally confused looked. Just as she was about to say something, the elevator doors slid open.
“Well, Here we go youngsters. I’ll see you tomorrow okay?” She said and turned off the alarm of her turquoise Chevrolet Volt and then finally slid her self inside it. Luigi and I waved at her before she completely sped up and disappear to the exit
There was a long silence between us before I decided to started walking away from Luigi. He must’ve been surprised with my action because he ,right away, tailed me off from behind
“Seriously, the way you pinched me right there? Its like your nails dug and went through my skin. That really hurts!” Luigi whined and complained at me as we walked side by side from one another
“You deserve it anyway!” I teased
He just chuckled and then turned off the alarm of his dark green Mazda CX-9. I turned around to look at him and managed to arch my right brow suspiciously
“New car? Since when?” I asked
“Yup! My older sister’s gift for me this Christmas” He said proudly
“Oh! That’s kinky.. “ I commented and walked passed his car
“Wha—wait! Don’t you need a lift?”
I turned around and looked at him straight in the eyes. He was being sincere but I know he just wanted to score on me
“Nah, I think I’ll just call a cab”
“That’s crazy. It’s raining cats and dogs. Are you seriously going to wait? And its dark” He reasoned out. I know he wasn’t really worried, I think he’s just giving me the cons just so he can convinced me to ride on his new car with him.. alone
But he’s right, ya’know. Its raining pretty hard and you’ll surely get soaked, My other side uttered as I glanced at the exit .. getting the view of a wet grounds from a far
I gulped in defeat and looked back at Luigi who stood beside his car and was ready to open its door for me
I sighed “Fine. If you insist”
“Yes!!” Luigi uttered in delight of happiness as her smile grew wider
“But!”
“But?”
“I don’t owe you anything alright?”
He hesitated at first but eventually give in anyway. His smile was solid across his attractive alluring face while he was driving across the high street of Rizal Avenue
We chatted about each other’s random stuffs along the way. I actually found him pretty funny. I uttered about my self—my life in general, and he would do the same
I found my self not able to stop blabbering about so random things and his smile wouldn’t even fade away
I’ve learned he was 24 year-old dude and living with his parents in Dreamland Subdivision, Mandaluyong. They wont allow him to move out unless he was with someone older because He was the youngest of the five siblings---all girls. So most likely, they regard him as Still their baby boy
I really find it funny whenever his face would turn sour everytime I call him baby boy. His expression was priceless!
Then all the chitchats we had were interrupted when my Blackberry vibrated and lit itself inside my bag.
I picked up the phone and immediately, a feminine voice uttered
“Nina? Is this you? I’ve asked your number from Gerard.”
“Ate Diane?”
“Well.. who else?” The female on the other side of the phone chuckled
“Anyway, Nina .. I thought I should asked you this.. but do you where’s Iñigo? Mom’s pretty worried about him. Hindi niya sinasagot yung phone niya. Is he with you?” Diane asked with a little of wariness visible to her tone
Iñigo must have been waiting after all
A sudden realization had bitten me off..
Iñigo doesn’t have anything to do with all this crap. He was a victim as well. How could I not trust him well in fact, all he did was love me from the very beginning. He doesn’t deserve this
“No, He’s not with me but I know where I could find him. I’ll call you back pag nakita ko na siya.” I said and bid farewell to Diane
I glanced at Luigi and saw how confused he was
“Who was that?” He asked
“Uhm.. Lui, Do you know where’s Le Bistro Vert?” I counter-ask, ignoring the question he threw on me
“Well, Its all the way in Valero why would—“
“Take me there, Please” I said
“It’s raining.. I don’t think—“
“Please, Lui. It’s a matter of life and death”
Luigi stopped the car and turned his attention on me to study my expression. I looked straight into his eyes and was engulf with confusion and desperation.
Please just take me there. He’s waiting for me
He took a deep breathe as he closed his eyes. Only to open it once again and say
“Alright. But this time you really owe me something”
And then he smiled and turning the wheel on the other side of the street
Wait for me, Iñigo
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(A/N: I dont have anything to say yet on this chap and honeslty, i already drafted the ending inside my head. I know its weird isn't it? haha!
oh the flashback that Nina had was from her childhood. I hope you're digging into the story now cuz on next chap would be a whole lot of complications and twists)