This chapter is dedicated to: masteracy

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"I'll see you when I see you?" I muttered at Spencer before getting out of his car.

I thought he'll leave but he turned the engine off as he went out of it. Umikot siya at nagsalubong kami sa unahan ng kanyang kotse.

"Don't think too much, Ry." Muling paalala niya sa akin, na para bang alam niya na hindi ako titigil sa kaiisip sa anumang pinoproblema.

I gave him a lopsided grin and shook my head. "I won't."

Sa ginawang pag-iling ay nahagip ng aking mga mata ang itim na SUV na nakahinto sa tapat ng aming mansyon. My eyes narrowed as I stared at it, trying to remember if the SUV is familiar but it isn't. Even in the dark, I can see it clear because of the post lamp near the gate but I can't really remember if I know someone who owns this car.

Nawala roon ang aking atensyon nang muling magsalita si Spencer.

"I'll go ahead."

I hummed. "Take care."

I watched him leave until his car went out of my sight. Matapos ay dire-diretso akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay. Bahagya pang kumunot ang aking noo sa katahimikang namamayani sa sala.

I went directly at the dining room when I heard voices from there. I was walking until I heard bark of laughters as I'm nearing the dining table.

Nang tuluyan akong makapasok roon ay agad akong natulos sa kinatatayuan nang makilala ang mga taong nasa aming hapag maliban sa aking mga magulang. Agad akong napaatras bago pa may makapansin sa aking presensya. But I remained peeking on them.

Rodolfo Ynares is seating at the end of the table. The two-faced wife, Milena Ynares is beside him elegantly laughing with my parents like she didn't threatened me years ago. Hindi ko na kailangang lingunin pa ang nasa harap ni Milena dahil may hinala na ako kung sino iyon.

"Let's push the wedding the moment my daughter agreed."

My eyes darted at my mother who's sipping on her wine as she spoke. Spitting words I don't want to hear.

I gritted my teeth. They're still pushing that wedding? What the hell! And with whom? Draven Ynares?

I made a mocking face as I silently turned my back in them. Dire-diretso akong naglakad palabas ng mansyon.

Hindi ko kayang pakiharapan ang mga lintik na Ynares na iyon. If they can pretend and act like nothing happened then I can't. I can't stop my mouth from spitting curses on their faces and I'm afraid I won't be sorry afterwards.

"Can you buy me a lunch? I'll eat here," sambit ko matapos marinig ang pagbukas ng pinto ng aking opisina. Bahagya pang napapahilot sa aking sentido dahil sa nangyari kahapon at kagabi. I didn't go home last night after seeing the family of demons whom unfortunately is a dear friend of my father.

Nagsabi na lamang ako kay Mommy na hindi ako makakauwi. And when she asked why, I didn't reply.

I let my back touched the swivel chair where I am seating, as I looked at Chaileigh.

Dire-diretso ang lakad niya hanggang sa tumapat siya sa aking table.

"You won't eat out--"

"I won't. Just buy me something I can eat. Kahit ano, ikaw na ang bahala." I don't want to faced Maverick, kahit ngayon lang. I don't know what will happen if we see each other again after I caught him kissing his fiancee.

I don't know how to react. Should I be casual? Or act like I didn't see anything or it didn't matter? Or... should I be angry?

I rolled my eyes. Definitely not the last one. I'm not stupid, I know I'm not in the position to be mad at what I saw.

I inwardly shook my head, trying to get the thoughts off of my mind.

Akmang babalik na ako sa mga binabasang dokumento sa aking harapan nang muling magsalita si Cha.

"Hindi ka na bumalik kahapon, something happened?" She slightly sat at the edge of my table.

Bumuntong hininga ako at napagpasyahang sabihin kay Chaileigh ang dahilan. She's still my friend after all.

"You wanna know where I'm eating lunch the past few days?" I started.

She tilted my head while her eyes locked on mine. "Where?"

I leaned on my swivel chair as I placed my leg above the other. "MPL."

Napatango tango siya roon. Though she didn't looks shocked. "Maverick's company?"

"Hmm."

"And last day, something happened?" She concluded. Slowly, a corner of her mouth lifted like she knew she got it right.

I nodded. Isang mapait na ngiti ang kumawala sa aking mga labi. "Maverick's getting married."

"Maverick's getting--" Napahinto siya. I watched her eyes dilated. "What? You're getting married?" Eksehaderang tanong niya na nakapagpakunot ng aking noo.

I rolled my eyes as I sighed with full of exhaustion. "I said, Maverick's getting married."

"Kaya nga. He's getting married, meaning you're getting married. Ang bilis naman! I mean, what the hell! That fast, Rylli? Hindi mo man lang pinatagal!" Ngayon ay napatayo na siya para tuluyan akong harapin.

"He's getting married. Pero hindi sa akin, kung 'yon ang tinutukoy mo." I grabbed the pen on my table as I started playing with it.

Her brow rose. "Hindi sa'yo?" Tanong niya gamit ang tono na para bang hindi makapaniwala.

"Yes. Last day, he's with his fiancee. I caught them kissing." Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapangiwi nang muling maalala iyon.

Her mouth formed an o shape. "That explains why..." She trailed off. Bahagya pang tumango tango, tila natanto kung ano ang dahilan ng hindi ko pagalis ngayon.

"Mav's marrying his fiancee named Katrice," paglilinaw ko habang patuloy sa paglalaro ng pen gamit ang aking mga daliri, trying to distract myself through the pen.

Muli niya akong inilingan. "No! Fake news ka yata! He won't be here last day, waiting for you if he's getting married to someone who's not you."

Agad akong natulos sa kinauupuan at napakurap bago matamang tinitigan ang mga mata ni Chaileigh, tinitigan kung tama ba ang rinig ko at seryoso siya.

"W-what do you mean," I stammered as I shifted on my seat. Umabante ako sa table palapit kay Chaileigh.

"Yesterday, Maverick's here since lunch, I think thirty minutes after mong umalis dito. He's asking for you. Kaya nga ilang beses kitang tinatawagan, hindi ka naman sumasagot. Hindi ko naman din alam kung nasaan ka." She shrugged her shoulders off.

"He stayed here until five-- no, almost six na pala 'yon. He left maybe after he realized you won't come back."

I bit my lower lip as I heard my heartbeat rumbling. "A-anong sabi?"

"He asked if you're here but I said you're having your lunch outside. Sabi niya hihintayin ka na lang daw niya. Hindi ko naman naitanong kung bakit dahil busy sa office kahapon."

Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinignan, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa mga sinasabi niya. "Why would he wait for me?"

She lifted her shoulder for a half shrug. "I don't know. Maybe to talk about what you saw?"

I let my elbows rest at my table as I clasped my hands. I tried to calmly heaved my chest as my insides are already in chaos.

Akmang sasagot pa ako nang may kumatok sa pinto ng aking opisina. Dahil nasa loob si Chaileigh at walang nadatnan na sekretarya sa labas, kaya siguro tumuloy na ang kung sino man sa pagkatok sa aking opisina.

Chaileigh immediately shifted her weight. Agad na umayos ito sa pagkakatayo at dumiretso sa pinto upang pagbuksan ang nasa labas.

"Do I have a lunch meeting?" I asked when I remember its lunch already.

Sandali siyang sumulyap sa akin, bahagya ring kunot ang noo. Siguro ay iniisip kung sino ang posibleng nasa labas. "Wala. You told me to always clear your lunch schedule, right?" Sagot niya bago tuluyang binuksan ang pinto ng aking opisina.

I glanced at the document I am reading before Chaileigh came. Hindi pa ako nakakaisang linya sa binabasa ay agad akong napaangat ng tingin, matapos marinig ang pamilyar na boses ng kausap ni Cha.

My eyes immediately landed at the door, kasabay noon ang pagdaan ng pamilyar na bulto sa harapan ng aking sekretarya.

Napatayo ako nang dumiretso si Maverick patungo sa aking table.

After turning his back on Chaileigh, Cha secretly have me a thumbs up with a smirk in her lips. She even mouthed something I didn't get because I'm too distracted on Mav already.

The door shut closed as he stood in front of me. He looks more manly in his midnight blue suit and trousers.

Our eyes locked as I saw something in there, something too deep that I can't explain.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. Tumuwid ako ng tayo at matamang nakipagtitigan sa kanya.

His eyes softened like he's not here to argue. "I heard from Chaileigh that you're not eating lunch yet? Can we talk over lunch?"

I shifted my gaze from him to my documents, hindi na natagalan ang mga titig niya. "About?" I asked. Though, after remembering what Chaileigh said awhile ago, I have a hunch about what already.

"About yesterday."

"W-what--" I cleared my throat when I stammered. "What about yesterday?" Maang ko.

"I want to clear what you saw, Rylli--"

"You don't have to." I cutted his words that plunged him into despair.

"But I want to."

I shut my eyes tight closed as I heard his pleading voice.

"Let me, Rylli." I saw a glint of hope in his eyes, maybe hoping I'll let him. His lips moved, seems trying to smile but he stopped hisself like I'll say no if he did.

I lowered my head as my eyes went down on my table. I smoothly opened the drawer attached below it. Pinaglandas ko ang aking mga daliri sa pamilyar envelope na naroon bago iyon inilabas.

I placed the envelope on my table and pushed it near Maverick's direction while looking directly at his eyes. Watching how his expression will change.

"I heard... you're getting married," I whispered and saw his gaze went on the envelope.

Sa muling pagtatama ng aming mga mata ay bahagyang bumuka ang kanyang mga labi. His eyes are now bloodshot as he stared at me.

"Ry--"

"Don't." Agad kong pinutol ang salita niya. Tila gusto niyang lumapit sa akin ngunit sa huli ay hindi niya ginawa. Tumigil din siya sa pagsasalita at hinayaan ako.

"What about--" I bit my lower lip, wanting to suppress my words. I blinked as I shook my head a bit. "You're racing?" It suddenly escaped from my mouth.

Bumakas ang kalituhan sa mukha niya, siguro ay dahil malayo iyon sa aming pinaguusapan. He tilted his head but he still answered. "Yes."

I nodded a bit. "Let's race."

Kumunot ang kanyang noo at napatuwid ng tayo. "You're racing?" He asked.

Though I know I don't have to answer him, because I said it already.

The softness in his face vanished as his eyes darkened. Like suddenly he's brimming on the edge because of what I've said. Tila hindi nagustuhan ang katunayang nagkakarera ako.

"Beat me and I won't be a bother any longer. But if you lose..." I licked my lower lip as I bit it. Mariin akong napapikit bago lakas loob na simlubong ang mga mata niya.

"Y-you'll be my boyfriend again. Even just for a day, Maverick. Let me, before you marry Katrice. After that, you won't see me again." I immediately swallowed the lump forming on my throat. Ramdam ko ang pagkabog ng aking dibdib habang sinasambit ang mga salitang iyon.

I watched him as a line formed in his forehead. His eyes darkened like it wasn't cold enough earlier to make me shut my mouth. Mariing magkalapat ang mga labi niya, tila hindi nagustuhan ang mga lumabas sa aking bibig.

Bumagsak ang aking mga balikat nang marahan siyang umiling. "No one's racin--"

"Ayaw mo?" I whispered in an almost inaudible voice because I felt like I'll stammer at any moment.

His lips parted as the darkness in his eyes vanished. "That's not what I mean." He extended his hand, trying to reach me but I'm too far from him.

"Then give me a day. Just give me one day, Mav!" I shrieked to cover the tears peeking at the side of my eyes.

Marahas kong itinulak ang swivel chair at umikot patungo sa harapan ni Maverick. Wala na ang table na humaharang sa aming pagitan.

The side of my lips sarcastically rose as I tilted my head. Bahagya kong itinaas ang aking ulo, because even if I'm wearing heels, Maverick are still inches taller than me.

"Ganoon mo ba kamahal si Katrice na hindi mo ako magawang bigyan ng kahit isang araw?" May mapait na ngising sambit ko.

"You love her that much, huh?" I taunted.

"I don't."

My lips parted at his immediate and firm response.

Ngunit agad din akong nakabawi at puno ng sarkasmo siyang sinagot. "You don't! Really? You two are getting married and you'll tell me you don't love her."

"Rylli, its not what you think--"

"What is it, then! Why don't you want to race with me?" I hardly slapped his chest. I can feel my face turning red in frustration.

"Beat me, Mav! Beat me if you badly want to get rid of me!"

Nahuli niya ang kamay kong sumasampal sa dibdib niya. His warm hand grip my wrist to stop me, but it was not tight enough to leave a mark.

"Why can't you give me what I want?" I almost beg.

He shut his eyes closed while his jaw clenched. "Damn it." It was a soft curse as he let out a deep sigh. And from that, I already know I got what I want.

He gently pulled my wrist, wanting to get rid of the distance between us and I weakly obliged. When he's satisfied on our position, he started whispering words I wanna hear. "Alright. We'll race, baby. If that's what you want, we'll race."

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