Chapter Three

"I can't believe you ate those donuts all by yourself, man."

Lucas continued to tease Felix after he finished the donuts. I feel a little guilty, I saw how Felix struggle to finish those donuts dahil lang sa gusto ko siyang panooring kumain. 

"It's not that bad; after three bites, it's quite tasty, so it's fine," Felix said, looking at me.

" T-talaga?" kabado kong tanong sa kanya. 

He gives me a warm smile and strokes my cheeks.

"Hm, it's delicious." nakangiti niyang sagot,  nahagip pa ng pandinig ko ang mahinang tawa ng mag-asawa sa gilid. 

Lilingunin ko na sana sila nang pigilan ako ni Felix. Nagtataka ko siyang tinitigan. 

"What do you want to eat? You haven't eaten anything," he says, his worried expression almost makes me pass out.

Bakit ang gwapo niya sa paningin ko bigla? Well, gwapo naman talaga si Felix, ngayon ko lang talaga mas lalong naa-appreciate. 

"You want me to buy you something? Or let's go to any restaurant you want?" his fingers continue to brush against my cheeks, and I can almost feel my heart pounding like crazy.

Pasimple kong iniiwasan ang mukha ko sa kanya. Nang makatalikod na ako, nakita kong nasa kusina muli ang mag-asawa.

Nakagat ko ang Ibabang labi ko ng marinig ang hakbang ni Felix pasunod saakin nang maglakad ako papalapit sa bag kong nakalapag sa sala. 

"Hey, Secretary Kim," he said again in that deep voice.

Sir Felix, I'm palpitating here; please have mercy on me.

Pagdampot ko ng bag ko ay nakaramdam ako ng pagkulo ng tiyan. Humarap ako kay Sir. Felix and I almost had a heart attack when I saw how close his body was to mine.

"S-sir Felix?" I stammer, holding my breath.

"Are you mad at me, Secretary Kim? Did I do something wrong again? I ate all the bread earlier, and I didn't say I didn't like it." 

"Why are you acting like a helpless puppy?" I ask, laughing, and he just pouts at me.

"Oh, aalis na kayo?" tanong ni Jeng habang papalapit sa amin. 

"Yes, after lunch dapat nakabalik na kami sa opisina. Anyway, thank you so much Jeng, Lucas. I'm sorry sa abala." 

"Don't say that, we're happy to serve you," Lucas joked as he looked at Felix.

Felix raises his middle finger at his friend, natawa ako at mahinang pinalo ang kamay niya. Lucas raise his brow to Felix, nailing nalang ako, ang lakas ng mga topak. 

"Bye Bye Veronica, please come back and see us again," Jeng-jeng said, and I was taken aback when she hugged me.

My body is still in shock; I'm not used to skinship, but when I saw Felix smile at me, I felt at ease for a moment. I hugged her back.

"You should visit me too if you have time; let's hang out sometime," I said, a strange feeling starting to rise in my heart.

This is the first time I've said those words. I think I became attached to her.

—

"Is that enough for you Secretary Kim? Are you sure you don't want to eat something heavy?" he asks for the tenth time.

Tumango lang ako, pagod na sa kakasagot ng oo sakaniya.

Kanina pa niya ako pinipilit kumain, kaya nagpabili na lang ako ng toasted bread kahit ang totoo ay wala talaga akong gana kumain.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang bait ng pakikitungo niya sa akin ngayon. Parang nung nakaraan lang ay dinadaan-daanan niya lang ako at hindi pinapansin. 

"Why are you so quiet?" he asks.

"I'm just wondering..."

"Wondering about what?"

"Why are you being so nice to me?" nilingon ko siya. 

I noticed how tightly he gripped the steering wheel after hearing my question. 

Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sakaniya nang mabalot ng mahabang katahimikan ang loob ng sasakyan. 

Nakaramdam ako ng pagbigat ng paghinga nang hindi parin siya magsalita hanggang sa maiparada na ang sasakyan sa parking lot ng kumpanya. 

I guess he's just being polite because I'm his secretary and his one-night stand mate.

Nakaramdam ako ng hiya, masyado ata akong nag-assume ng kung ano. For a moment, nakalimutan kong kailangan kong mag-focus sa trabaho ko para tuluyang makawala sa mga magulang ko. 

"Thank you Sir, mauuna na po akong umakyat to prepare the materials na gagamitin sa meeting ng three pm." I tried to sound professional while hiding my disappointment.

Isinara ko ang pinto ng sasakyan and as soon as I walk away from his car, my vision becomes blurry due to tears.

I'm such a fool to have been swayed by his warm and flirtatious gesture earlier.

I forgot for a moment that he's a natural 

playboy, so those actions are completely nothing for him.

I'm such a fool. 

—

Hanggang sa lumubog ang araw at matapos ang oras ng trabaho ay wala akong nakuhang sagot sa kanya. Kanina sa meeting ay wala rin siyang kibo. 

Huh. Anong akala niya saakin? Hahabulin siya? For what? If he doesn't want to talk to me, I don't want to talk to him either. I just said that I'm curious why he's treating me so well; I didn't want or expect anything from him in the first place. 

Sinimulan kong iligpit ang mga gamit ko. I want to eat fried rice tonight, so I'm going home; eating delicious food will put me in a good mood again.

"This is so stupid, I don't know why I'm crying," my lips tremble as I pack my stuff.

He's far too cruel. He's a bad guy, a jerk. Gustong-gusto ko siyang sapakin sa sobrang inis ko ngayon sakaniya! 

Napatayo ako ng diretso at mabilis na itinago ang mukha ko ng makita si Felix galing sa kung saan. 

Mas bibilisan kong ipagsasalpak sa bag ang gamit ko, nang matapos ay isinukbit ko agad ang bag sa balikat ko. 

"Goodbye Sir." nakayuko at mabilis na paalam ko sakaniya. 

Nakatalikod na ako nang maramdman ko ang mahigpit niyang hawak sa kanang palapulsuhan ko. 

Wala akong lakas ng loob na harapin siya, ayokong ipakita sakaniya ang lagay ng itsura ko ngayon dahil lang sa pag-ignore niya saakin.

 

"Don't cry..." my shoulder trembles as I sarcastically laugh.

"You're doing it again..." I said, looking at him with a half-hearted smile.

Nakita ko ang gulat at pagtataka sa mga mata niya nang tuluyang mapagmasdan ang lagay ng mukha ko. Yeah, the nonsense crying has made my eyes swollen.

"Stop it, Sir Felix. Stop acting so nice to me, stop caring so much about me if you're going to give me the cold shoulder the next thing. Stop it." I desperately tried to pull away from him.

"No, this is not what I intended to do... I'm just," I bit back tears as he pulled my hands even tighter.

"I said let me go! Stop your flirtatious behavior right now! Bitawan mo ako Sir!" sigaw ko. 

For a brief moment, a hurt expression crossed his eyes as he let me go.

"Secretary Kim, please calm down... let me explain."

I shook my head to stop him. Magsasalita pa sana ako ng makaramdam ako ng pagkahilo. 

"H-hey, Secretary Kim? Are you okay?" His worried expression is written all over his face. 

"Talk to me, where does it hurt? Secretary Kim? Secretary Kim?" he keeps calling my name.

However, my vision is already becoming dim.

"Veronica! Veronica, wake up!"

—

"What happened?" I ask as soon as I open my eyes.

"How are you feeling? Do you feel any pain anywhere? Are you alright?" Felix's face was the first thing I noticed.

Then I realize I'm arguing with him before I pass out. I unconsciously avoid his gaze nang maalala ang pagtatalong naganap sa pagitan namin. 

"I-I'm fine..." mahinang sagot ko. 

I heard his loud and deep sigh bago umupo muli sa upuang nasa gilid ng kama. 

"The Doctor is still not here, so we'll have to wait for the results," he explained.

It's only due to hunger and stress. I didn't eat all day and became stressed as a result of my stupidity, which is why I passed out.

"Ms. Veronica Kim?" 

Sabay kaming napatingin sa sa Doctor at Nurse. Tumayo si Felix at pumwesto sa kabilang bahagi ng kama para tulungan akong makaupo. 

"What's up, Doctora? What caused her to collapse like that?" tensiyunadong tanong ni Felix sa Doctor, naunahan pa ako. 

Tumingin nalang ako sa Babaeng Doctor at hinintay ang resulta ng check up. Sigurado naman akong nag-pass out lang ako dahil sa sobrang—

"She's three weeks pregnant, and she passes out due to stress and poor nutrition."

"Pregnant?" Felix's startled voice echoed throughout the room.

Mabilis na nanginig ang katawan ko. I'm pregnant? No... 

"Ah... Doc? No—no po, I think nagkamali lang kayo. I'm not pregnant, and I can't be. Please retake the test—" my hands tremble in panic and fear.

"Secretary Kim, please calm down. " I give him a death stare.

"Calm down? Paano Sir Felix? Paano ako kakalma? I-I'm pregnant... " 

Paulit-ulit kong itinatatak sa utak ko simula pa noon na hindi ako magiging kagaya ng Mom and Dad ko. Hindi ako tutulad sakanilang dalawa na bubuo ng batang walang namamagitang pagmamahalan sa isa't-isa. 

But take a look at me now... I'm expecting a child. I became pregnant as a result of a one-night stand.

"What is the meaning of this Felix?" A stern and loud voice enters the room.

"G-grandma? Mom, Dad..." 

Isang malakas at malutong na sampal ang sunod naming narinig ng lumapit ang matanda kay Felix. 

—

Nakalabas na ang Doctor. Naiwan kami ni Felix kasama ang Grandma, Mom at Dad niya. Hinihintay ko lang silang magsalita dahil kahit ako ay nabigla sa pagdating nila. 

I noticed how elegant Felix Grandma is despite her age, and how young his mother and father appear despite having him as their son. What a lovely set of genes.

"Felix." 

"Yes Grandma." 

Because of the tension between them, my heart is thumping so hard. What is going on? I just found out I'm pregnant and I'm still in shock... Why are you all here, making me even more tense like this? 

"Simula ng magkaisip ka ay naitatak na sa utak mo ang patakaran ng Pamilya." nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Felix matapos marinig yun. 

Doon ko nakitang nakayuko at nakapikit lang si Felix sa harap ng Lola at magulang niya. 

"Alam mong hindi pinapayagang magkaroon ng bastardong anak ang isang Cortezano." 

"Y-yes Grandma..." 

Nangunot ang noo ko at nilingon ang matanda. Nagsalubong ang mga mata namin, napansin ko rin ang nananahimik na ama at Ina ni Felix, pareho silang mukhang nahihirapan dahil sa nangyayari. 

"Kung naiintindihan mo, mamili ka na ngayon. Pakakasalan mo ang babaeng nabuntis mo o pipilitin mo siyang huwag ituloy ang pagdadalang tao." 

Halos mabato ako nang sabihin niya yon nang hindi inaalis sa mga mata ako ang tingin. 

"Paano kung ayaw ko magpakasal at gusto kong ituloy ang pagbubuntis ko?" lakas loob kong tanong sa kanya. 

Sino siya, sino sila para magdesisyon sa magiging takbo ng buhay ko dahil lang nabuntis ako ng isang Cortezano? 

"S-secretary Kim..." iwinaksi ko ang kamay ni Felix na humawak sa balikat ko. 

Nakita ko kung paano mas lalong sumama ang tingin sa akin ng matanda. Pero bakit ako matatakot sakaniya? Ako ang pinag-uusapan dito, buhay ko ang pinapakialaman nila.

 

"Wala kang choice Hija, hindi mo alam kung paano magtrabaho ang pamilyang pinasok mo." 

Naikuyom ko ang palad ko nang tumayo siya at umalis kasama ang mga magulang ni Felix.

 

"Secretary Kim—no, Veronica" tawag niya sa pangalan ko. 

"Ano?" masama ko siyang tiningnan. 

"Please decide whether to marry me or stop bearing the child." 

"H-how dare you?" I gasp.

"I'm so, so sorry, but please don't make this any more difficult than it already is; we need to make a decision right away before my grandmother does anything." 

I saw how red his cheeks were, that's where his grandmother slapped him earlier. 

"I still don't have enough power to go against my grandmother, Secretary Kim. I'm sure you've heard how strict and cold-hearted she is from the other employees, and as her only grandson, even though I'm now the new CEO, I still have a leash around my neck right now. I don't know what she'll do to you, and I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you... so please, I know it's hard for you…

But, could you please... marry me? Please marry me, I don't want to lose our baby."