Chapter 10: Officially Married

“Dude, what?!”

“You heard it, right?” Rogue brushes his hair using his fingers and walks around the kitchen counter to get a glass, the man on his phone screen seems surprised of what he heard from his friend. He waited for the guy to get back to his place and process the thoughts in his head. Kouen hasn't decided when to come back yet but he wants to be a good help so he is somehow reaching out to Rogue to assist him, afterall, he will be acting as his secretary.

“Hey, Rogue. How did it even happen? You didn't break any sweat,” Kouen couldn't believe that Rogue already accomplished his goal to be engaged with Keilah Olivarez. He thought his friend was using a black magic.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang binabalak niya but I’m pretty sure she wouldn't do it without a pretty good reason, something’s probably threatening her to give in.” Hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang mukha ng kaibigan, umaga na sa lugar nito samantalang hating-gabi na sa bansa.

“What’s your plan now?” Kouen asked while fixing some of his stuff since he will be going to work in the company of his girlfriend, he eventually made access to apply there and make a deal with the CEO.

“I need you to get back here as soon as possible,” Rogue demanded and switched on the blender, he dropped a bowl of banana and poured a box of milk on it, he let it blend and made a shake. Kouen groans after hearing what his friend wants, he knows he cannot simply go back to the country without settling the job he just started.

“Let me finish my stuff here, will you? My schedule is a bit hectic now since nag start na work ko kahapon, I’ll just have to call you from time to time to keep updated. I’m your secretary afterall,” he replied and took his keys. Kouen left his unit and walked to the elevator while still on the call, he momentarily turned off the cam until he arrived in the parking area.

“Alright, help me contact our company so I could forge documents and sign another paper for a new place,” Rogue demanded and went to the living room with a glass of shake on his right hand. He brought a bowl of ice cream with him and sat in front of his laptop. “I’m going to finish all these stuff tonight so I could sleep peacefully, ayokong may masayang na oras.”

Kouen groaned again when he heard him, he wanted to complain about too much work that he is about to handle. “Don't you have your dad’s contact number? I’ll be late to my office work, I’ll get back to you later.” Before Rogue could even reply, he ended the call and drove his car off.

“Damn that guy,” Rogue mumbled and threw his phone on the couch. Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya bago ulit ibaling ang atensyon sa computer niya. Mukhang aabutin na naman siya ng madaling araw dahil sa mga gagawin niya. “I guess I have no choice but to call my Dad, it’s getting late though, I hope he is still awake.”

It’s Saturday and Keilah will not be attending her work. She couldn't get enough sleep last night due to how distracted her mind could be. She woke up feeling afloat and decided to go out and refresh herself at the nearby boulevard. Keilah dropped her car at the parking lot and began walking to her favorite spot, “I hope it won't rain today,” she whispered when she saw the gray sky approaching. A cloudy sky isn’t bad at all, it makes the atmosphere even cooler.

She sat on one of the benches facing the ocean, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. “Loki is probably on duty since he’s got another task from the CEO.” Keilah admires the deep waves and watches the people walk past her direction. It's still seven in the morning and she wants to start her day with a short meditation.

“Hi.”

Keilah looked at the woman who stopped in front of her with her pug. She was wearing sports attire and her red hair was tied into a bun. The lady was smiling at her and Keilah felt confused, ‘Do I know her?’ she thought.

“Uh, hi. Do I know you?”

The lady smiled even more and tucked the small portion of her hair, she leaned closer and offered her left hand, “My name’s Hestia and this is my pet, Lilo. We met in the bar but I guess you haven't recognized me since you were drunk.”

Surprised. Keilah gasped and her brows met as she tried to remember it. “I noticed that you were alone and I recognized that you were the girl at the bar so I approached you,” Hestia sat beside her and carried her pug on her lap. Keilah on the other hand became so curious that she didn't hesitate to ask a question.

“About that, do you remember who was with me when I was drunk?” Hestia looked at her and pulled a smile, she understands that Keilah couldn’t remember anything because she was really drunk even after drinking two glasses of liquor.

“Mag isa ka lang non pero tinulungan ka ng bartender at hinatid sa kotse mo,” Hestia replied.

“Alam mo ba ang name niya? Wala talaga akong maalala.”

Hestia paused for a moment and looked at the lady beside her, nahahalata niya kasing hindi ito mapakali at tila may iniisip rin na malalim. “Yeah, he is my boyfriend, Kiefer. Bakit? Wala naman sigurong nangyaring masama?”

Saglit rin natigilan ang dalaga at bahagyang umiling, “Nope, nothing happened.”

“But we don't see each other anymore, nag part time lang siya sa Bar e, and our relationship isn't really that serious. We’re more like friends with benefits,” Hestia stated. Nakikinig lang naman si Keilah sa sinasabi niya habang pinagmamasdan ang magandang kalangitan na nagkukulay abo.

“Anyways, hanggang mamaya ka pa ba rito? Can I invite you to have some coffee at the nearby cafe?” pag imbita nito dahilan para magulat ang dalaga. Hindi kaagad nakaimik si Keilah dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat niyang maramdaman.

“Sige,” wala lang rin siyang nagawa kundi ang sumama rito. She thought maybe meeting a new friend would be a great idea to make her day enjoyable.

At the office, the CEO decided to call for the presence of Loki Hamsmith to appoint another operation to him for the upcoming week. Kacie stayed at the hall to assist Mrs Kamila while hoping to see the man who caught her heart, "Kacie? Can you make a tea for me?" The old woman asked, her granddaughter nodded and prepared the cup. Ilang minuto rin ang hinintay ng matanda at dumating na rin ang lalaking nakasuot ng white polo at black slacks, nakaayos ang buhok nito at kumikinang ang suot nitong singsing na bago lamang bili.

The door swung open and he greeted them, "Good morning, Mrs. Olivarez." He fixed his necktie and sat on the couch facing the CEO's table, Kamila took out a pile of documents from the cabinet and present it to the man.

"Here are the client's profiles for next week, alam ko naman na kakayanin mo ang trabahong ito. Miss Canosa will be your partner with this task—" her words are cut when the man interrupted her speech.

"I'd like to choose Miss Keilah to be my partner in this, ma'am."

Bahagya namang napataas ang kilay ng matanda samantalang nagtataka namang napasulyap ng tingin si Kacie na pasimpleng nagtitimpla sa small kitchen.

"What do you mean? We cannot drag her into this job since she is against this task," nagtatakang sambit ng matanda.

Rogue smirks at them, "But I'd like to be with my wife." Silence envelops the atmosphere and Kamila's face can't be painted. Gulat ang ekspresyon ng dalawa dahil sa narinig ng mga ito, nabitawan ni Kacie ang hawak na kutsarita ngunit hindi ito naging sapat na dahilan para mabaling ang atensyon ni Rogue at ng CEO sa kanya.

"I'm sorry." Nagmamadali niya itong pinulot at pinalitan. Mabagal siyang naglakad papunta sa table ng matanda at inilapag doon ang hinihingi nitong tsaa.

"Pardon, Mr. Hamsmith?" Tila nabingi ang matanda dahil hindi ito makapaniwala sa narinig.

Rogue flashes his charming smirks, "With all due respect, ma'am but Keilah Olivarez is my wife." He feels so satisfied after seeing the old woman's reaction, she gasped in the air as her eyes were bulging out of surprise.

"Kailan pa? Tila hindi niya ito nabanggit sa amin," gulat na sambit ng CEO.

"Since last year." Rogue stood up and picked the files on the table, he checked it one by one and scanned the pages. "It's not my story to tell, Mrs. Olivarez. You should ask her about it, anyways, I think I should be going now. I'll get done with all these documents, kakausapin nalang kita if kailangan ko ng tulong."

Before the old woman could speak up, Rogue left the room with a grin in his face. He knows he surprised her, he is looking forward to the CEO's next move.

"Kacie," Kamila called and her granddaughter. "Kaya ba ganoon nalang ang reaksyon ni Kiel nang ipagkasundo ko siya kay Torrent?" Isip nito. She drank from the tea that was served and calmed herself.

"I think we need to call for Kiel's presence, Mamita."

"Contact her."

________

"Have you tried visiting the central museum park? Sobrang ganda roon, maraming ganap na displays every Saturday." Hestia seems excited while having a bite to her ice cream, her pug named Lilo stays in her lap and snoozing. Keilah on the other hand, smiled at her and was interrupted when she received a call.

"Wait a minute, let me answer this." She looked at the contact number and was surprised when she saw the same of her older sister, Kacie.

"Yes?"

"Where are you? Mamita needs to talk to you right now." Kacie's voice seems toneless and that made Keilah overthink, she didn't do anything wrong so far. She just wants to enjoy her day off as of the moment.

"Huh? Bakit? I'm on a day off."

"It's a personal matter." Her sister ended the call, Keilah sensed that something is wrong. Bigla na lamang siyang kinabahan kung kaya ay kaagad niyang hinarap ang kasama.

"Hest, I think I need to go. My sister just called me, thank you for your time, I enjoyed your company."

"Oh, sure. No worries! Ingat ka, Kiel." She bid her goodbyes and drove off, pag dating naman niya sa opisina ni Kamila ay bumungad sa kanya ang seryosong mukha nito habang may iniisip na malalim.

"Good morning, Mrs. Kamila."

"Drop the formalities for now, I called you because we have something to talk about. I bet you know it already," the old woman stated. Keilah seems puzzled but managad to kept quiet. Iniisip niya rin kung ano ang posibleng sinasabi ng matanda.

"Ano po ba 'yon, Mamita?"

Kamila breathed heavily before letting go of her words, "I heard that you're married with Mr. Hamsmith." Her words sounds so firm that Keilah was stunned for a moment, she couldn't respond as if something is blocking her throat.

"I want to hear the truth, Keil."

"Mamita…" Keilah seems troubled.

'Kailangan ko 'to gawin para sa sarili ko,' she thought.

"I'm sorry for not telling the truth, Mamita." Bahagya na lamang siyang yumuko habang iniiwasan ang mga mata ng matanda. Keilah is somewhat good in acting, she can read anyone's move, she has to do something before they could do it first.

"No, it's alright. I'm pleased to know na napunta ka sa tamang lalaki. Loki is a good man, I won't choose him to work here if I didn't see something interesting to that guy." Kamila paused and sip from her tea, "I just want to confirm your relationship with him, bakit mo naman tinatago sa amin?"

"It's my personal life, Mamita. Nafe-feel ko rin naman na hindi ako part ng family kaya pakiramdam ko hindi rin ako obligadong ipaalam sa inyo."

Kamila felt bad after hearing her granddaughter's words, alam niyang nag kulang rin siya at nais niyang bumawi. Isa sa magagaling na tao si Loki Hamsmith at ayaw niya itong bitawan o hayaang mapunta sa ibang kompanya. She is well pleased to know that one of her granddaughter is married to the man.

"Can we have dinner tonight? I would love to see the both of you. Kassandra will surely prepare delicious meals for all of us," Kamila asserted which made Keilah surprised. Muntikan na siyang mapamura sa isip niya dahil sa pressure na nararamdaman.

"... Ah, yes sure po."

"Alright, then. See you tonight."