Jealousy

Luke took a deep breath when he got out of the barn. He was disgusted about their topic. They talking about the guy that he was jealous of. F*ck! He fixes himself and picks the cellphone in his pocket, goes to the camera section, and angles it in exact posture frontward of the hemp. After he was done taking three pictures, he pocketed the cellphone. He saw Lando, Ramon, and Uncle William getting out at the hemp.

"The hemp is good, maybe next week, we can harvest it." Uncle William said to his companions.

"Uncle William!" Luke shouted. Uncle William turned to him and immediately approached him when Uncle William recognized him.

"Why are you here, iho? You will get itch here." he said worriedly.

"I want Athalia to know the place, she's in the barn with Manong Amboy, Manong Broncio, and Daniel. Are you going to the barn?" Luke asked. He nodded.

"Yes, we will take a rest." He looks at the two. "You should go first, I'll follow." he commanded to his two companions who immediately obey. Luke and Uncle William left in the of the hemp that was shaded by a tall tree.

"We have to go, Uncle William, Athalia has a lot to do." Luke said. Uncle William smiled naughtily.

"Is Athalia your childhood best friend and also your crush back then?" Uncle William asked with a naughty smile on his lips.

"Yes uncle, she was my childhood friend. Uncle, it was a long time ago, I don't attract to her now." he said.

But it's all lie. He doesn't want Uncle William to tease him and maybe Athalia finds out that I have an attraction to her before and now. If he feels that Athalia like him, he will confess his feelings to him.

"Okay. How are you and Mickaela?" he asked and started walking, he followed him?

"We're okay, Uncle. She is in Laguna with my mother, they were going to visit Sebastian Farm. Maybe, they will stay there for a month." he answered. One month is long, so Luke will do his best to be with Athalia.

"Just make sure that she didn't see Athalia in the mansion, for sure she will be jealous." he said with a bit nervous in the tone of his voice.

He told to Uncle William that he will assign Athalia as his secretary. Howsoever, Athalia and Uncle William became close when they were young.

"Even Mickaela meets Athalia. I will not let Mickaela hurt Athalia. Athalia is my friend, and we haven't seen each other for a long time and I will not let her be an obstacle to our friendship. " he said in a determined voice.

If Mickaela gets angry, he doesn't care! He will not allow him and Athalia separated again. She will fight for the friendship they have. More than ten years of separation were enough. He can't bear it if they separated again.

WHEN they reached the barn. Uncle Amboy, Bruncio, Daniel, Lando, and Ramon were busy talking. While Athalia is in a corner where she listens and laughs. When she saw him, she immediately stood up and approached him.

"What did you do outside?" she asked.

The annoyance he felt earlier before he leave disappeared because he saw her. He can't be angry with her for long. Uncle William, who was behind him, sneezed. Athalia turned her attention to him and smiled.

"Uncle William, is that you?" Athalia asked. Uncle William laughed.

"Yes, Athalia. It's me. I don't think you even remember me."-he looked at Athalia from head to toe .— "You grew a fine girl." said Uncle William and Athalia laughed at what Uncle William said.

"You still haven't changed, Uncle William. You still joke around." Athalia said. Uncle William tapped Luke.

"I'll be with Amboy." he said and left. Athalia looked at him.

"About earlier, I'm sorry if Charles suddenly became our subject. Is that the reason why you left?" Athalia asked. He sighed and smiled.

"Let it go, Ath. I'll take a picture for you to pass on later. So, let's go? I'll teach you later what to do." he said. She nodded and turned to the men who were chatting.

"Let's say goodbye to them first."

"Sure." They approached Uncle William's group and said goodbye.

"When you have the chance, just come here, Athalia. So we can talk again." said Uncle Amboy in a lively voice.

"Yes, Manong Amboy." Athalia said gleefully.

After saying goodbye, Athalia and Luke left the barn together and headed to the car. When Athalia and he got on, he drove to the mansion. Although he wasn't in a good mood earlier, he was happy to be with Athalia.

Athalia and Luke are now back at home in the office, where he teaches her what to do, how to make a report, and so on. Athalia was quick to learn. He couldn’t help but stare at her while making the report. She turned to him.

"Luke, is there dirt on my face?" Athalia asked looking disgusted at what he was doing, which is staring at her. He shook his head.

"No, I just want to stare at you. I remember the times when you caught me staring at you. You were laughing at me. Then you were still joking with me if I had a crush on you?" he stated. She looked down. He noticed that her face and ears were red.

"Of course, it's been a long time. We were kids back then. There's no malice in me. But now, we're single. I can't help but be ashamed of what you're doing-especially since we haven't been with each other for a long time." she said and looked at him. He could feel the longing in her voice.

"Can I make it up to you? No matter what happens, I'm your friend and you're my friend." he said.

"Yes, we're already there, Luke. But we're not kids anymore. We have our own life. You have a girlfriend, Charles is wooing me. There's nothing to lose if we avoid each other, right? Please, Luke. So— he cut off the rest of what she had to say.

"Please Athalia, even just now. When Mom and Mickaela come home, I promise I'll avoid you. But now, let me make it up to you. Let me be your Best Friend for a month while they're gone. Please, Athalia. " he said in a pleading voice. If he must kneel, he will do it so that she does not avoid him. Ath took a deep breath.

"Okay. I agree, Luke. Even though I came here for work, I can't refuse you. You're still my best friend." she said. He smiled at her and caressed her cheek.

"I miss you Athalia." he said. She just smiled.

"I'll just finish what I'm doing." she said.

He nodded. She continued what she was doing while looking at her. He will do everything for her, and he wi fight for their friendship as well. He will do everything to make her happy with him and she will choose him over Charles. He needs to make a move on how to break up with Mickaela.

THREE O'CLOCK in the afternoon. Athalia finished making the report and passed it to Mr. Lereño, she was putting aside all the clutter and stuff when someone knocked on the door. Since it was locked, he stood up and opened the door. He heard from Manang Daisy, that Aunt Carmen will come to the mansion tomorrow because she said she has a lot to do.

"Why Manang?" he asked.

"There's a man downstairs. He is looking for Athalia. He's outside, near the swimming pool. Shall I let him in?" she asked. He glanced at Athalia who was now entering the office bathroom.

"I'm going down. I'll be the one to talk to him." he said.

Manang Daisy nodded and left. He hasn't even seen Charles yet, he's already feeling irritated! There are so many women he can date, why Athalia?! By the way, Athalia is really beautiful. No man cannot be charmed by her beauty. He wants to be selfish with Athalia. But how?

He went down the stairs and left the house and went to the swimming pool where he was. Charles stood up from the chair that was on the table near the pool when he saw him.

"Athalia is still in the office. Maybe she's coming down." he said. Charles nodded at him.

"Are you serious to Athalia, Charles?" he asked him. Charles looked at him carefully, eye to eye.

"Of course, I'm serious about your friend, Luke. Ever since I saw her. I told myself, I'll take her seriously and I'll do anything to make her happy. Honestly, I want to make her hate you. But I won't do that, Luke. I know you only think of her as a friend, right?" he asked.

He couldn't help but be annoyed by what Charles said. He clenched his fist because of suppressed anger. What right does he have to be selfish with Athalia? Even though he considers him more than a friend. He has no right to hinder our friendship. Because even before he entered the scene, Athalia and he already knew each other. He was about to answer when Athalia shouted.

"Charles!"

Athalia's shout turned him around. Her smile was wide and sweet. He couldn't help but feel jealous of what he saw. He looked at Charles, he was also smiling sweetly. F*ck! He wants to leave, but he can't. My feet seemed to be nailed to where he was standing, so here he is, watching Charles who is now closer to Athalia.

"How's work?" Charles asked Athalia.

"It's fine. We go to the hacienda to see the hemp."—Athalia looked at him.—"We'll go first, Luke. We'll meet again the next day." she said.

He couldn't open his lips to answer what Athalia said, he felt speechless and no words came out of his mouth so he just nodded in agreement. The two walked out of the mansion where Charles' car was outside. When they were out of sight, he let out a sigh.

He entered the house and found Manang Daisy cleaning. He passed her and went to the second floor of the house where the mini-bar of the house was. When he got there. He opened a beer. While drinking it, Athalia and Charles came to his mind. What they are doing now?

'Why do you think of them? Athalia deserves to love someone like Charles. If you had returned to the Philippines single, it would have been easy to court Athalia.' that's a part of his mind saying. He opened another beer and drained it. Not satisfied yet, he opened another one and gulped it down. The taste of it stung his throat, but he didn't care!

Until he realized that he was dizzy. He stood up and staggered out of the mini-bar. When he got out. His eyes were spinning but he still tried to walk until she couldn't stand it, he fell to the floor.

"Sir Luke!" he heard Mang Daisy say. Even before the darkness engulfed him, Athalia's face was in his vision.

"Athalia..." he whispered her name until darkness engulfed him.