Chapter 5

Zenith

'Yong pakiramdam na akala mo okay na pero panandalian lang pala. That's when you realized that things won't stay like that forever. Kung makaramdam ka man ng kasiyahan ay darating din sa puntong babalik din sa lahat, walang panandalian maging ang kasiyahan.

"You said that she's in Florida." I gritted my teeth while my fist were clenched. Ilang beses na nangilid ang luha ko bago ko siya tapunan ng tingin.

"Ang sabi mo wala siya rito?" puno ng sumbat na tanong ko. He shifted his weight uncomfortably and looked at my eyes straightly.

"'Yon din ang alam ko, Zy." I laughed sarcastically while trying to hide the pain that I have felt inside me. Inilibot ko ang paningin sa apat na sulok na opisina ko na tila na mahahanap ko roon ang sagot sa daan-daang tanong na tumatakbo sa isipan ko.

Kailan pa siya nakauwi?

And why the hell did she come back?

I don't know why but recalling what happened in the grocery immediately clenched my heart.

"Honestly, Zy, don't be mad at me. I have no controlled when will she go back," puno ng sarkastikong saad niya dahilan para samaan ko siya ng tingin.

"I hate her so much," I mumbled.

"Yes, you do," he replied and unleashed himself from being uncomfortable around me. He took a deep breath and held my hands. I looked at him blankly.

"You have to compose yourself every time you see her. It's not necessary to fake yourself but don't let them see that you're still affected. Zy, do you understand?" He's like a Dad scolding me so I pouted.

"Don't pout, I might kissed you here," saad niya at humalakhak.

I rolled my eyes when I felt my cheeks heated.

"Sabi ko na crush mo 'ko e," ani ko.

He ruffled my hair. "Dream on."

"Why? Am I not tempting?" buong tapang na tanong ko.

"Maybe, in another aspect."

"In what aspect?" I tried to stifle a smile and played with his hand. He had a long set of fingers and his nails were so clean.

"I dunno." Tumawa siya ng hinampas ko ang kamay niya.

"Tsk. I have to go now." He stood up to prepare for leaving.

I arched a brow. "Saan ka pupunta?"

"Heaven." I bit my lower lip when he playfully winked at me and exited my office.

Baliw.

Buong maghapon ay inasikaso ko ang lahat ng papers na kailangang pirmahan para sa project sa Zambales. I also talked to the legal team for the negotiations and to the construction team that will handle the project.

Kinabukasan ay gano'n uli ang ginawa ko. I talked with the head finance and had a meeting with the team again to finalize the proposal and proceed to the project. It was a tiring day and I'm thankful that Styx had so many papers to do so I didn't see his handsome face.

"Inom?"

I ignore Deux' said and continue tapping my fingers on my desk.

Boring.

That's my mood right now because I didn't see any trace of Styx for the past three days.

Nakakainis! Akala ko ba mahal niya pa 'ko? Oh, bakit hindi siya nagpapakita? Busy?! He can't fucking make time for me?

At isa pa. Bakit ba 'ko naiinis?

I should be happy, right? Because no one will bother my day but, grrr. I couldn't proceed to the plan knowing that he's not showing up.

"Zy," pagtawag ni Duex pero hindi ko siya pinansin at nagtiim ang bagang habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

I know na kung bakit. Last time I saw him, he was with my mother. Did she stop Styx from seeing me? Tss.

"Kingina!" sigaw ko matapos may pumitik sa noo ko. Halos maiyak ako habang nakahawak sa noo at masama ang tingin kay Duex.

"Ano bang problema mo?" Hinampas ko ang kamay niya at agad naman siyang umilag at tumawa.

"Kanina pa kita kinakausap, tulala ka lang. Ano ba? Si Styx na naman ba iniisip mo? Can't you focus on yourself first? I think you need to visit your doctor again. I bet there's a problem in your heart." Hindi nakaligtas sa 'kin ang pagiging sarkastiko niya sa huling salita.

"So, kailangang mamitik?" Inambahan ko siya ng suntok.

Humalakhak siya. "Yeah. So you could back on your senses."

"Layas!" sigaw ko at dinampot ang folder na puti sa table, hinampas ko siya sa braso gamit 'yon. Hindi naman siya nasaktan at patuloy lang sa pagtawa.

"Aalis ka o ipapakain ko 'to sa 'yo?" paghahamon ko.

"Easy!" Itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay niya na para bang sumusuko. "Binibiro lang kita. Anyway, I'm going to New York this Thursday. You want some pasalubong, babe?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, "I have something in my house. Get it before flying and give it to him." I smiled and bit my finger.

"What is it? Hindi naman siguro life size teddy bear 'yan tulad ng pinadala mo last month?" I chuckled.

"Hindi na life size but it's a teddy bear." I heard him groaned. Hindi ko mapigilang lumapit at pisilin ang ilong niya. Umupo ako katabing swivel chair na kinauupuan niya para sa visitor at inilabas ang cell phone.

"Do you think he missed me?" I asked softly. He smiled a bit.

"He always missed you. Mabait na tao si Zenith, he will understand why you have to leave." pagpapaintindi niya.

I shook my head and gulped as I tried to fight my tears.

"Miss na miss ko na siya."

"Where's Mr. Styx?"

Tinaasan ko ng kilay ang secretary ni Styx nang makitang pinasadahan niya ang suot ko bago tagpuin ang mata ko. Gusto kong tumaray dahil hindi ko gusto ang ginawa niya pero anong magagawa ko? People will dislike you even you didn't have done any wrong to them.

"May appointment po, ma'am?" Peke siyang ngumiti.

I tsked and clenched my fist. How dare her to asked if I have appointment with Styx? Sabagay, hindi nila alam na ako ang bagong Chairman. Hindi pa.

"Can you tell him that Xhia is here? I have something to tell so call your boss." Pinanatili ko ang pagiging magalang pero hindi ngumiti.

"Ma'am, he's currently talking to someone. If that's really urgent, set an appointment with Mr. Styx"

"Who's that someone?" Parang may kumurot sa dibdib ko nang malamang may kausap siya sa opisina niya. Who?

The lady just smiled at me, hindi nakatakas sa mata ko ang pagkislap ng mata niya na tila ba may magandang babae sa loob ni Styx. I rolled my eyes and walked towards Styx' office. Her annoying secretary called me but I ignored her and opened the door.

Pagkapihit ko pa lang ng pinto ay narinig ko na ang boses ng mga tao sa loob. Hindi ko alam kung tama pa ba ang ginagawa ko but I want to make sure that we're okay.

How could I proceed to my plans if we weren't fine at all? He should be the one who asked for my attention but I'm fucking here in his office like a dog looking for its owner.

"Xhia . . ." hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Styx nang makita akong pumasok sa opisina niya. Inilibot ko ang paningin sa loob, his office was so pleasant and clean. White, brown and grey. As usual, it's his favorite color.

"Am I bothering you?" I asked after realizing that he was in the middle of talking to someone. Gusto kong magmartsa sa labas kasi hindi naman pala babae ang kausap niya!

Inis akong tumalikod para sana lumabas pero bago pa man ako makaalis ay may braso nang pumalibot sa bewang ko at isinandal ako sa dibdib niya.

My heart pounded hard, I wasn't able to move when his body touched mine. I could feel my knees weakening when he softly moved his hand in my waist in a circular motion.

"I said, what are you doing here?" he asked.

Ikinuyom ko ang kamay ko at hinarap ang mukha sa kanya.

"I. . ." I couldn't find any words to utter.

"Did you miss me?" Napapikit ako nang pisilin niya ang bewang ko habang ang hininga ay pinapakawalan sa tenga ko. My grip tightened when he playfully bit my ear causing me to stifled a moan.

"Styx," pagbabanta ko dahil may tao.

Inis akong lumayo sa kanya nang bigla siyang tumawa. Pakiramdam ko ay pulang-pula ng mukha ko!

Napatingin ako sa lalaking nakaupo sa couch nang maramdaman ang tingin niya and I wasn't wrong! He was looking at us while smiling teasingly.

I could see that he has handsome face, maikukumpara mo rin siya sa mga lalaking model but his long dark-brown hair was giving him a bad boy look.

"Who are you?" matapang na tanong ko at pinagkrus ang braso.

Masyado na ba akong masungit? Eh, naiinis ako, eh! Masyadong nakakairita ang tingin niya at hindi ako komportable paraan ng pagtingin niya.

The side of his lips rose. "I'm Syriel, his cousin," pakilala niya at inilahad pa ang kamay pero hindi ko tinanggap at ibinaling na lang ang tingin kay Styx.

I heard that Syriel guy laughed in amusement, which irritated me a bit. A bit lang.

"Bakit hindi ka nagpakita sa 'kin?" puno ng inis na tanong ko kay Styx. Nakita ko ang bahagyang paglaki ng mata niya at pag-awang ng bibig.

Nakita ko na siya at mukhang maayos naman. He was wearing his usual black formal attire and there's no trace of any bad thing that happened to him. I'm just being paranoid.

"I'm . . . Uhm, a bit busy these past few days." He scratched the back of his head, I don't know if this is because he was shy or he's lying.

"And you can't make time for me?" I bravely said and his mouth hung open again, amused were evident in his pair of black eyes.

"I-I can. Of course, I can. It's just . . ." Umirap ako nang subukan niyang magdahilan pero walang pumasok sa isipan. I scoffed when he tried to held my hand but I shove it away.

Nakakainis!

Tatlong araw siyang walang pakiramdam tapos ganito? Maayos lang siya? Busy rin naman ako, ah? But I can always make time for someone.

Wtf, Zy?

Hindi ko na gusto ang iniisip ko kaya napagdesisyonan ko nang umalis at iwanan siya pero muli niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko pabalik.

"Styx, ano ba?!

"Oh god." I heard what his cousin said but we both ignored his remark.

"Where are you going, Ms. Xedler?" I tried to pushed him away. Masyadong malakas ang katawan niya kaya madali sa kanyang hawakan ako kahit na hindi gano'n kahigpit. Did he really holding my hands tightly or I'm just enjoying the warm of his hand so I didn't used my full strength?

"It's Xhia, fucking asshole." I tip-toe and kissed his left cheek, I felt his grip loosened a bit and I didn't waste any second to escape. Ngisingisi akong lumabas ng opisina matapos makita ang tulala niyang mukha, narinig ko rin ang malakas na hiyaw ng pinsan niya kaya hindi ko maiwasang mahiya sa ginawa ko.

That's your punishment for now showing up, asshole .