Typo errors are a lot.
Chapter 25
I love you's
"Are you still not feeling well?" Naupo naman si Garrett sa tabi ko ng kama namin. He was carressing my hair as I was just lying down in the bed, wrapping myself with the blanket. Siya naman ay nakabihis na ng corporate attire niya. May meeting kasi siya mamaya para sa isang malaking kliyente na kinuha ang advertising company nila.
I groaned, "I'm still not. Masakit pa rin 'yung ulo ko." I complained. Nakapikit pa rin ako.
I suddenly felt him kissing my neck, "Do you want me to stay here with you? Para naman may mag-aalaga sayo rito." He added softly.
Kaagad naman akong naalarma dahil sa sinabi niya. He can't stay here! "N-No! I mean, kaya ko naman ang sarili ko, peasant. Saka ayokong ipostpone mo ang meeting mo para lang sa 'kin. Calvin Klein Philippines 'yung client niyo so don't let it slip away."
He sighed, "Are you sure?"
I looked at him. Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya at pinisil ang kamay niya, "I'm sure. Sige na, baka malate ka pa. Don't worry, I can take care of myself."
Napilitan din naman itong tumayo matapos ang sinabi ko. He sighed again, "Okay. I already prepared your breakfast. I also bought some meds for you. Take it and text me from time to time."
"Yes, boss." I playfully said. Napailing na lang ito. Nilapitan naman niya akong muli at hinalikan ang noo ko.
"Take care, Dela Vega. Text me." I nodded. He smiled at me for one last time until he was no longer inside his bachelor's pad.
Kaagad naman akong bumangon at tumayo nang umalis na nga siya. I was really glad na akala niya talaga ay may sakit ako. Buti na lang talaga ay napaniwala siya sa pagdadrama ko. I even thought that I was doomed when he told me he's going to stay and thank heavens, I convinced him that I'm fine here alone.
Kaagad kong kinuha ang phone ko sa nightstand na nasa gilid ng kama. I immediately dialled Iris' number.
"Iris, do you know what firm he's working?" I asked her quickly the moment she picked up the call. Tinext ko kasi siya kagabi tungkol sa mga nalaman ko kahapon. I need answers. I need... truth.
"He has his own firm, Reen. AV Builders, Incorporated. Sa pagkakarinig ko, itratransfer nila ang main construction firm nila sa Dubai. Well, narinig--"
"Thank you, Iris!" Kaagad kong sabi at ibinaba na ang call. I immediately went to the bathroom and showered.
Pupuntahan ko siya. I need to talk to him. I need to know everything.
I need... to know why.
●●●
Madali naman akong nakapasok sa construction firm nila. Madali lang naman makapasok as long as may valid ID ka. And as I observed, his construction firm building is really huge. It was also obvious that it was built in a first class kind of way. Ano pa bang inaasahan ko? Villongco family is famous for its construction firm around the country. Kaya siguro hindi na nila kailangan ng shares from L&M because they're already rich enough.
Nagtanong naman agad ako sa receptionist kung pwede ko makausap ang boss nila. They told me na pumunta sa 14th floor para makausap ang secretary. The secretary has the president's schedule on that day.
I thanked them and proceeded to the elevator. Pumasok na agad doon and pressed the 14th floor button. Ilang minuto naman ay dumating na ako sa 14th floor.
Lumabas kaagad ako sa elevator at nakita ang isang reception lobby. May nakita naman akong babae na nakaupo doon na halatang busy dahil sa ginagawa nito. I went near to her.
"Excuse me, can I talk to Engineer Aidan Villongco?" I immediately asked her. Napatigil naman siya at tinignan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. I smiled confidently. I was wearing a red Prada dress and shoes. I was also carrying a Chanel bag.
"Uhmm," Mukhang naintimidate naman siya sa postura ko, "May appointment po ba kayo kay Engineer Villongco? Mga clients na may appointment lang kasi sa kanya ang maaari niyang kausapin."
Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay. Hindi ba niya kilala kung sino ako? Or obvious naman that I belong to the Elite class of people kaya hindi niya ako pwedeng i-reject.
"I have and tell him that it's me, Sereen Lexi dela Vega."
Agad naman nitong tumawag sa telepono and after a few seconds, I saw her face flushed. Well, napahiya pa siya tuloy. Her fault.
"Pwede na raw po kayong pumasok, Ma'am." I just smirked at her. Nagsimula na akong maglakad papasok sa office niya.
And when I got inside, I was awed. Malaki kasi ang office niya tapos maganda rin ang interior design sa loob. Unlike Garrett's. Note to self again: decorate his office.
Napansin ko naman siyang naglalagay ng mga gamit sa mga brown boxes. Parang naglilipit na siya ng mga gamit niya.
"What are you doing?"
Napatigil naman ito sa ginagawa at tinignan ako. He smiled. And somehow, his smile was genuine. Hindi gaya kay Garrett na nakacorporate attire, Aidan was just wearing a black poloshirt and dark jeans. I would really say his body is ripped too. Ilang taon na ba siya? He's 26 maybe.
"Inaayos ko lang ang mga gamit ko. I'm transferring our headquarters to Dubai the next day. Mas maraming clients kasi doon." Sagot naman nito sa 'kin at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalagay ng mga gamit sa box.
Aalis siya?
"What brings you here, Lexis?"
I immediately came back to my senses when he suddenly asked. Napatingin naman ako ulit sa kanya at ngayon ay nagkatitigan na kaming dalawa.
I observed his face. Wala naman talagang masyadong ipinagbago sa itsura niya. Aside from the growing stubbles on his chin, he looked neat. His hair was also slicked back. Buong akala ko talaga ay may lahi siyang Chinese but now, just like Garrett, his French heritage is getting obvious.
One reason why maybe I fell in love with this man once.
"Uhm, nalaman ko kasi, you sold your shares in L&M... so you aren't a board member anymore." God! Why do I suddenly feel embarrassed?
He raised his eyebrow in amusement and crossed his arms. Tuluyan na nga itong humarap sa akin at isinandal ang likod sa office table nito.
Ngayon lang talaga kami nagkausap muli na kaming dalawa lang.
"Yes. Maybe because I'm not a businessman but an engineer." He simply answered. Well, halata naman dahil may malaking nameplate na nakadisplay sa table niya: Engr. Aidan Villongco.
If I correctly remembered, he's maybe a civil engineer. A successful civil engineer.
"Nag-usap kami ni Sabrina," I finally said it. Nakaramdam naman ako ng kaba, "We talked things... about you."
Napansin ko namang natahimik siya sa sinabi ko. Siguro, nakuha niya ang ibig kong sabihin.
I saw a smile on his face, "So that's why you came here?"
His voice was really so soft. Just like when we were still a couple, a happy couple. Lumalambot ang boses niya sa tuwing may itatanong ko or kung may hindi ako maiintindihan tungkol sa isang bagay tapos he'll be patiently explaining it to me.
Why do I suddenly feel so emotional now?
"Maybe... Maybe because I need the truth. Not lies but the whole truth, Dany."
Dany and Lexis. It was our endearment.
"I'm a bad guy, Lexis," He smiled again but it was tight, "I got flaws. I'm imperfect. I made bad decisions in my life... in which it destroyed everything in us - decisions that made you hate me."
"I-I don't understand why you have to do it, Dany. If you really love me, y-you wouldn't ruin me..." Garalgal na sabi ko. I don't know what I am feeling at this hour... Parang gusto kong manumbat at magalit sa kanya. For lying. For taking me for granted.
For complicating things.
His eyes then became sad... I also sensed regret from it, "I don't know either, Lexis. Maybe I was blinded by my revenge. Maybe I was insane and not thinking straight. Maybe... I was selfish."
"Did you really ever cheat on me?" I asked him. I don't know why those word came out from my mouth.
Natahimik naman ito. Ilang segundo naman ay muli ako nitong tinitigan at ngumiti - pero hindi iyon abot sa mga tenga niya, "I didn't. It was... all for a show, Lexis."
All for a show from his plan to get revenge.
Hindi naman ako kaagad nakapagsalita. I was... I don't know. I suddenly remembered Ugly Betty back in our college days... kaya ba sila nagkahiwalay kaagad? I don't really understand anymore!
"I'm sorry." He suddenly said. It was sincere. He was looking at me like he regretted every decision he made in his life.
Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya. Anytime, alam kong iiyak na naman ako.
Last night, I cried. Garrett was even worried to see me crying after the talk I had with Sabrina - but I lied, telling him that napaiyak lang ako kasi may nakakwentuhan akong maintenance staff ng L&M na may anak na namatay dahil sa sakit.
"Did you love me, even just for a second, Aidan?"
We were just staring for a second when I asked those words. Then he took a deep breath.
"I did, Lexis. I loved you but maybe... my love wasn't enough that's why it ended up like this."
Then silence.
I suddenly giggled, stopping my tears from coming off, "Siguro nga. So maybe... This is a definite closure. You've already explained your part." I forced a smile to him.
He returned my smile back as well, "Maybe... This is finally a closure."
"No more hard feelings. I have my answers."
"No more hard feelings." He repeated.
I laughed again, "So this is a goodbye, huh?"
He laughed lightly as well, "It is, maybe."
"Okay, have a good life then, Villongco." I smiled at him for one last time - now, it was really genuine.
"You too, Dela Vega."
I nodded at him. Tumalikod naman agad ako at lumabas na sa office niya. I also thanked the secretary nang dumaan ako sa kanya. I immediately went to the elevator. Nang nasa baba na ako ay agad-agad akong lumabas sa building, not caring about the people who were looking at me inside.
I started to cry. Hindi ko alam pero naiiyak ako. Maybe because... Maybe because my questions got finally answered. Maybe because... deep in my heart, my issues in the past were already done. And I forgive him.
We finally have a closure.
It's finally over.
My heart... felt lighter and free.
"Dela Vega."
I looked up when somebody called me. It was my peasant.
My Garrett who was standing and waiting for me at the end of the road.
I just cried again. Tumakbo naman kaagad ako papunta sa kanya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. I buried my face into his chest as I hugged him more tightly. Mas lalo lang akong napaiyak sa mga bisig niya. But somehow, I know, I felt secured and happy with his warmth.
I don't even know why he's here... but for sure, what happened inside in the building made me realized my true feelings.
I felt him kissing me at the top of my head, soothing me, "I love you, Sereen."
I smiled, "I love you too."
I am finally happy.
//
One chapter to go then Epilogue. I might post the two updates later or if hindi kaya sa time, bukas na ang Epilogue.
PS. Pasensya na ulit if boring. Hahahahaha. Sorry na guys.