This chapter is dedicated to: keserahserah

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With my hands shaking, my mind fixed on what I'm doing. I hastily opened my closet and get all the clothes that I used to wear this past few years.

One thing I can say as I saw all of them is, 'what the heck!', seriously? I was out of my mind for years. Fuck this.

It was all plain. If its not black shirt, its white, still plain. Pagdating naman sa pangibaba, its all jeans. All skinny no other type of jeans.

Iilang damit ang natira sa aking closet. Those were the ones that I'm wearing when I'm going to LM&L or somewhere formal. The rest, I put it outside the closet and I swear, I won't wear those again. I'll probably burn these down or donate in an orphanage.

"Ma'am?" I went back from reverie when I heard the voice of my secretary.

"Yes, Beryl?" I clasped my hand above the table and formally faced her.

She extended her hand and my eyes landed on what she's handing me. I took the paper from her as I scanned what's written on it. Nahuli ko rin ang pagtatago ng isang kamay niya sa kanyang likuran.

"Magreresign na po ako, Ma'am. N-nakapagpaalam na po ako kay Senator. He said I need to find someone who can replace me before I resigned. I already find one--"

Ramdam ko ang unti-unting pagkunot ng aking noo. Siguro ay kaya rin napahinto siya sa pagsasalita. "Kay Dad? I'm your boss. Not him." I stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"S-sorry po, Ma'am. Si Sir kasi ang nandito noong nagpaalam ako."

I slowly nodded at her. "You're resigning because?" I asked, disregarding what's written on her resignation letter.

Beryl bit her lower lip. "I'm getting married, Ma'am." She muttered as she slowly revealed what's hidden in her other hand.

Napakurap ako habang nakatitig sa aking sekretarya.

I gave her a firm smile. "Best wishes," bati ko sabay tanggap sa invitation na inaabot niya sa akin. I let the cream colored invitation lie on my table.

"Thank you, Ma'am." Lumawak ang ngiti sa labi ng aking sekretarya at tila nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan.

Isang tango ang sinagot ko roon. "Anyway, you said you already find someone who can replace your position."

"Yes, Ma'am. She's already outside, I'll just call her."

"Alright."

I watched my secretary as she stride towards the door. Ibinaba ko ang aking tingin sa mga dokumentong kaharap, balak sanang basahin ang mga iyon. Ngunit hindi rin nagtagal doon ang aking pansin nang muling bumalik ang aking sekretarya.

Ang tipid na ngiti sa aking labi ay agad na naglaho nang makita kung sino ang nasa likod niya. The smile vanished not because I'm not pleased on who I saw but because I'm not expecting her.

"Ma'am, this is Chaileigh Alejandro. Senator Lofranco hired her as your secretary."

A smile formed in Cha's lips while it's firmly pressed.

"Good morning," Cha formally greeted and I rose from my seat.

I gave Beryl a glanced before dismissing her. "Thank you. Can you leave us for a while?"

Nakangiti itong tumuko bago tuluyang lumabas ng aking opisina. I waited until she finally shut the door closed before turning to Chaileigh.

"Cha?" I called her, still dumbfounded. The heck is she doing here?

She tilted her head as her brow rose. Though it doesn't looks like she's intimidating me. "I'll be your new secretary."

"What the hell?" I frowned as I firmly stood in front of my table. "Your family have a company," I said in a matter-of-fact tone. Thinking what comes in her mind and she's here.

"So?" She shrugged. "There's no vacancy in out company. I applied as your secretary here and I'm hired."

Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinignan.  Supil na ngiti ang nahuli ko sa mga labi niya.

Sa huli ay napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at napailing sa kalokohan niya. My brow unconsciously rose. "You think I can boss you around?"

She hummed. "Of course, I'm your secretary. Alangan namang ikaw ang utusan ko?"

I can't help but rolled my eyes. I was cursing inwardly as I shook my head.

Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin bago muling sinalubong ang aking mga mata. "So, natauhan ka na?" Tanong niya na nakapagpalukot ng aking noo.

"You're now wearing nice clothes." She said stressing the word 'nice' while still scanning the cream colored jumpsuit that I'm wearing.

I tsked as I sat back on my swivel chair. "I'm always wearing nice clothes whenever I'm here." I emphasized the word 'nice' like the way Chaileigh said it.

She heaved a deep audible breath. "Alright then. What do you want for lunch, Ma'am?"

I gave her a reserved smile as I nonchalantly shook my head. "Don't bother. I'll eat outside."

"Baka ayaw mo lang akong utusan," hinuha niya na nakapagpakurap sa akin.

I let out a sarcastic breath. "Aalis talaga 'ko. Nakaplano na 'yon, kanina pa."

"Lunch meeting? As far as I can remember, you have no appointment on lunch."

My lips tugged in a smirk. "You're my secretary, mind your own business, please."

Nakangiti siyang umiling iling bago tumalikod at ikinaway ang mga daliri, hudyat ng pagpapaalam niya.

I walked towards the only cubicle in this floor. My grip in the paperbag, containing foods for lunch, tightened as I saw the woman in the cubicle cocked her head.

A smile plastered in her face as she met mine. Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan at pormal ngunit may bahagyang ngiti sa mga labi akong hinarap. "Good afternoon, Ma'am."

Masuyo kong sinuklian ang kanyang ngiti. "Good afternoon. Is Maverick inside?"

"May I know your name, Ma'am? And if you have an appointment with my boss?"

"Amaryllis Lofranco. I don't have an appointment but..." I trailed off. "Can you tell him I'm here? Just tell him my name?" Alanganing sambit ko dahil hindi rin ako sigurado kung haharapin ako ni Mav ng walang appointment.

"Alright, Ma'am. Give me a minute." Paalam nito bago bumaling sa intercom at sinimulang kausapin si Maverick.

I was biting my lip as I gave them time to talk. And I almost gasped when I heard Maverick let me in. He even asked for my name twice. Tila hindi sapat ang isang beses at kailangan niya pang kumpirmahin kung ako nga ang tinutukoy ng kanyang sekretarya.

His secretary gestured the door, telling me to go inside after they talked.

Isang tango ang iginawad ko sa kanya bago tuluyang itinulak ang pinto ng opisina ni Maverick.

Agad na sumilay ang ngiti sa aking labi nang matagpuan ko ang mga mata ni Mav. He's looking at the door of his office like he's waiting for whoever's coming in.

"Rylli," he whispered as he rose from his swivel chair. He frowned and a deep furrow formed in his brows. Tila nalilito sa kung ano ang pakay ko. "What brings you here?"

Huminto ang aking mga paa ilang hakbang ang distansya sa harapan ng kanyang table.

"I just want to--" I bit my lower lip as I cleared my throat. Napagdesisyonang diretsohin ang totoong ipinunta.

"I'm sorry for a sudden visit. Naglunch ka na ba?" Alanganing tanong ko.

Lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo. His gray colored eyes turned a bit dark as he stared at me.

Itinaas ko ang aking kamay na may hawak na paperbag. "M-may dala akong lunch. I want to say thank you for last night." I nibbled my lower lip as I'm inwardly praying for him to let me stay.

"You don't have to. But sure," he pressed his lips as he nodded his head. "Let's have lunch."

My eyes widened in awe. Tila hindi makapaniwala na pumayag siya. I almost jump in joy while clapping my hands. Mabuti na lang ay napigilan ko ang aking sarili.

I cleared my throat as I nibbled my lower lip, trying to calm myself. Ngunit tila kulang iyon dahil malawak ang ngiti pa rin akong sumagot sa kanya. "Great! This lunch is good for two."

"Alright," he muttered and I'm oblivious that I'm already holding my breath when he smiled.

Iginiya niya ako sa kabilang side ng kanyang opisina, sa kung saan mayroong sofa. I placed the paperbag at the center table.

Nagbilin si Mav sa sekretarya niya na huwag magpapapasok kung mayroon mang kliyente dahil maglulunch kami.

"Just a minute, Aina." Pigil ni Maverick sa sekretaryang akmang lalabas na.

"Yes, sir?"

Mav turned to me and I gave him a questioning look. "Do you want anything?"

I smiled as I shook my head. Tumango siya sa akin bago muling bumaling sa kanyang sekretarya.

"Nothing, Aina. You may go."

I can feel my heart beating vigorously as our lunch started. Ang pinong tunog ng kubyertos ang tanging maririnig sa loob ng opisina ni Mav. Though my heartbeat's increasing, I hope Maverick won't hear it. Hindi mawala wala ang ngiti sa aking labi kahit pa tahimik na nginunguya ko ang pagkain sa aking bibig.

"How are you?" Maverick finally spoke after awhile. I can feel he's itching to ask that question the moment I entered. Tila pinipigilan lang ang sariling itanong iyon ngunit ngayon ay mukhang naputol na ang pising iniingatan at hindi na nakapagpigil.

"I'm fine," I nonchalantly answered while a small smile is plastered on my face.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya. "I know you, Rylli. Come on, you can tell me."

Natigilan ako at binitawan ang mga kubyertos. Hinarap ko siya at napalabi sa kanyang sinabi. Tell him? Mapait na napangiti ang aking kalooban. At the same time, I felt something urging me to tell him everything.

"I'm still trying to be alright." I gave him a smile to proved him more. "Hindi man ngayon, pero may susunod na araw pa naman. I have an uncountable days ahead, one of those days I'll finally be okay."

I carved in my mind that if this isn't my day then maybe tommorow will be in my favor. Kung hindi ito ang araw na maaayos ang lahat, siguro ay sa kinabukasan? Hope. All we need to continue is hope. 

Maverick's slowly nodding his head while his eyes were in his food but I clearly saw the smile plastered in his face. "You will, surely."

"Anyway, how's your boyfriend? How is he treating you?"

Mabilis akong sumulyap sa kanya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa pagkain. Ngunit agad na muling napatingin sa kanyang direksyon nang matanto ang kanyang sinabi. Do I have a boyfriend?

I slowly shook my head while the side of my lips amusedly rose a bit. "I don't have a boyfriend."

A furrow formed in his forehead as he frowned. "You don't..." He trailed off, refusing to continue.

I kept thinking why would he tell me I have a boyfriend. Then I remember Spencer. I chuckle escaped from my mouth because of it.

And I caught how Maverick's brow raised. Mabilis lang iyon dahil muling pumormal ang tingin niya sa akin. Tila naghihintay sa aking sasabihin tungkol sa kung ano ang aking ikinatawa.

"Are you referring to Spence?" Nahihiwagaang sambit ko.

Tumango siya. "Hmm. The one you're always with."

I immediately waved my hand while slightly shaking my head. Para iparating sa kanya na mali ang kanyang iniisip. "I'm not dating Spence. We're friends."

I never imagined being in a romantic relationship with Spence and I know Spencer never did too. We're really just good friends.

I'm want to ask him too about the woman he's always with but I don't want to ruin the mood. I mean...

I heaved a deep sigh as I inwardly shook my head.

It become my routine the next days. Every day, before the clock strikes twelve, I'll buy lunch and go directly at Markov Prime Lands. And even words can't explain how glad I am that Mav's letting me. He even told me I don't need to bring lunch with me and his secretary can buy it for us. He once asked me to if I want to eat outside but I refused.

I think it'll be too much if I agreed on that. I mean, I know he's busy and he's just being nice by letting me have lunch with him. But I know at some point, nakakaabala na ako.

Last time he even cancelled a lunch meeting with a client because I came here.

I don't know but I'm contented with what's going on between the two of us. With us having lunch together and talk about things, that's enough for me.

For years, I felt like I'm alive again. I thought it would last long but I'm wrong. It only took a week, isang linggo para bawiin ulit ang kasiyahan ko.

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