Chapter Four

Selena’s POV

Sa tuwing madadatnan ko si Agustin sa kaniyang opisina madalas ko siyang naabutang nag susulat, kagaya na lamang ngayon. Sa isang blue leather notebook, madalas ko siyang makita na hawak iyon. At sa tuwing may mga tao sa paligid niya ay awtomatiko niya itong isinasara. Pakiramdam ko ay may itinatago siya sa notebook na iyon.

"Nakausap ko na po ang campaign manager niyo, andito na lahat ng mga detalye ng inyong kampanya pati na ang target budget at mga platform idea na maaari niyong magamit." Paliwanag ko sabay abot ng isang folder sa kanya. Agad niya itong kinuha mula sa akin at pinasadahan ng tingin ang nilalaman nito.

"Salamat, pag-aaralan ko ito lahat mamaya. Mauna ka na nga pala umuwi dahil may aasikasuhin kami ni Mando tungkol sa pera. Paki-bantayan na lang rin si Andrew, bukas na kami makakauwi." Sinagot ko lamang siya ng isang tango habang nakangiti.

Tamang tama  dahil kung wala si Mando at Agustin ngayong gabi ay malaya akong makakagalaw at maghalughog sa studyroom ni Agustin mamayang gabi kapag tulog na ang mga kasambahay.

Tumawag sa akin si Leonardo upang makipag kita, nagbook daw siya ng isang hotel room para sa aming dalawa. Tumanggi ako, dahilan ko ay papasukin ko ang studyroom ni Agustin mamayang gabi. Ayoko rin siyang makita kung hindi naman related sa mission namin ang pag-uusapan. I don’t want to have any connection with him aside from our little plan. I don’t want to be touched by him anymore. It’s not yet over between us, but for me, we are already over. I’m sure that tonight, my absence will lead Vania to his bed.

Alas dose ng hatinggabi nang umuwi ako sa mansion. Tanging ang mga security guard at ang dalawang bodyguard ni Agustin na lang ang gising. Hindi ko naman sila magiging problema dahil nasa labas lang sila nagbabantay. Kabisado ko na ang mga blind spot sa loob ng mansion, kaya bago ko sinimulan ang plano ko, maingat akong nagtungo sa camera room at pinatay ang mga camera sa first floor. Maingat at dahan-dahan dahil patay ang mga ilaw. Nang mapatay ko ang mga camera, agad akong nagtungo sa studyroom ni Agustin. Una kong sinilip ang mga papeles na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa niya; there’s nothing important in there. Hinalughog ko ang mga cabinet niya, nagbabakasakaling may makikita akong kahit isang clue kung saan niya tinatago si Jorge, pero wala. May nakita akong vault sa ilalim ng kaniyang lamesa, sinubukan ko itong buksan gamit ang birthdate niya at birthdate ni Andrew, ngunit hindi ako nagtagumpay. Dismayado akong lumabas ng silid na iyon. Dumiretso na ako paakyat sa kwarto ko nang makita ko si Andrew sa harap ng pinto ng kwarto niya. Bigla akong kinabahan na baka Nakita niya ang mga ginawa ko, ang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko at dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kaniya.

"Where have you been? It’s already late," he asked, frowning. It seemed that he was clueless about what I had just done, and I felt relieved.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "As far as I know, your father is my boss, not you, Mr. Andrew!" I said, arching my right brow.

"Okay, I’m sorry for asking you that question. By the way, I have something to give you," he said, pulling something out of his pocket. He handed me a folded paper. I opened it out of curiosity and was surprised.

"I remember you asked me to keep this, so I’m giving it to you now. I just had to polish it." I wondered how he remembered that I wanted to keep the sketch he made of me, but he had forgotten that he kissed me that night.

"So, you remember I asked you for this," I said, raising the paper in front of my face. "But you don’t remember kissing me that night?"

"Sinong nagsabi sa'yo na hindi ko maalala?" he said, staring at me playfully.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I asked him, sincerely.

“I want you, Selena.” His eyes said it all.

“You know you can’t. I love my job. Please stop doing this to me. I cannot commit to you, Andrew!”

“I’m willing to accept whatever you can give me right now. I really like you, Selena. Could we give it a try?” he said, desperately. I stayed silent, tense, and stunned. I didn’t know what to say.

"I'm sorry!" he managed to say, and was about to walk away, but before he could retreat, I pulled him back and kissed him. I didn’t know what got into me. I just couldn’t think straight right now and felt the need to do this.

“This must remain between us,” I warned him, my tone firm but laced with unspoken understanding.

I don’t know if Andrew truly meant what he said, or if it was just a fleeting moment of desire. But I can’t afford to overthink it. I’m 28, and he’s only 22 — the difference between us isn’t just in age, it’s in life experience, perspective, everything. I know that eventually, he’ll grow tired of this, of me. It’s inevitable. But for now, I suppose I can allow myself to indulge in his presence, to play along with the illusion of something more. Maybe for now, it’s enough to simply have someone beside me, even if I know it’s temporary.