This chapter is dedicated to: artysant

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Sabi nila, huwag daw masyadong maging masaya, dahil pagkatapos noon ay lungkot. I think, somehow that's true.

Because we tend to forget our problems and realities when we're happy.

Saka lang natin maaalala ang reyalidad pagkatapos ng saya.

"Where are you going again?" Ngising bungad sa akin ni Chaileigh matapos kong lumabas ng aking opisina.

"Its lunch already."

"Lunch? Araw-araw sa labas kumakain, huh?"

I tilted my head as I listened to her words.

"Sabi ni Beryl..." She started, pertaining to my former secretary. "Hindi ka raw madalas sa opisina. At nagpapabili ka lang daw ng lunch kapag pumupunta rito."

My eyes narrowed at her accusing tone. Tila may ipinapahiwatig ang mga salita niya.

"I've been working here for a week and two days already yet you're always here. At sa lahat ng araw na 'yon, wala ka rito tuwing lunch? But now..." She trailed off while her eyes darted at the paperbag that I'm holding. Iyon ang lunch na ipinabili ko sa kanya kanina. I was a bit preoccupied because of the board meeting, reason why I asked her to buy it for me. Para diretso na lang ako sa MPL.

"I just want to eat out--" depensa ko ngunit napahinto ako nang makita kung saan dumapo ang kanyang mga mata.

I caught her scanning my clothes while smirking like she's proud of what she just saw.

I looked at my clothes, a beige crop blazer, its sleeves fall near the middle of my arm. Hinayaan ko iyong nakabukas, revealing the black bandeau that I'm wearing. I paired it with high waist beige trousers. Reason why a small skin of my stomach's revealing.

My pointed stilletos, still beige, made me looks taller than usual. While I'm holding a black purse in my hand.

I chuckled as I shook my head on her. "Alis na 'ko." Pinal na sambit ko at inignora na ang mga ipinapahiwatig niya.

I was inside the elevator when my phone started ringing. I immediately fished it from my purse.

Agad ko iyong sinagot nang makitang si Spencer ang tumatawag.

"Spence," bati ko.

"Hey, are you in your office?"

Bahagya akong nagtaka sa tanong niya ngunit agad din namang sumagot. "I'm actually going out, why?"

"Oh? Napadaan ako sa LM&L. Nasa baba na ako, paakyat na. Isabay sana kita maglunch."

Kasabay noon ang pagbukas ng elevator sa parking lot. Bumungad sa akin ang bulto ni Spencer na naghihintay sa elevator at mukha ngang paakyat sa aking opisina.

"Rylli!" He called as our eyes met. Agad na sumilay ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi kaya't napangisi rin ako.

"Lunch? Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?" Tanong ko habang patuloy ang lakad palapit sa aking kotse. Spencer started walking too beside me.

"Napadaan lang 'di ba? Malay ko bang mapapadaan ako?"

I wiggled the paperbag in front of me as I muttered. "May kasabay ako. Magsasabi ka kasi." Saka hindi ko naman inaasahan na dadating siya. "How about later? Let's race then dinner?" I smirked.

Sumagot niya ngunit nawala roon ang aking atensyon at napahinto sa aking kinatatayuan.

I started eyeing the tire of my car. And a frown formed in my forehead as I clearly saw it.

"Flat," bulong ko habang nasa gulong pa rin ang aking mga mata. Seems like Spencer heard what I've whispered.

"What happened-- oh, flat nga. Nagmamadali ka ba? Where are you going? Hatid na kita." Sunod-sunod na sambit niya.

I glanced at the clock of my phone and nodded at Spencer when I saw its already quarter to twelve.

I saw his car just beside mine and I immediately went to the passenger's seat. Akmang pagbubuksan niya ako ng pinto ngunit agad ko siyang naunahan.

Nakangising napailing na lamang siya sa akin bago umikot patungo sa driver's seat.

"Sa MPL," I said after he settled beside me.

He started the engine of his car before turning to me. "To where?"

"Markov Prime Lands."

He tilted his head. "Doon ka maglulunch?"

I hummed while my lips stretched into a smile.

I arrived at Maverick's company at exactly twelve in the afternoon. Iniwan ko si Spencer at sinabing maglulunch na lang daw siyang mag-isa kung ayaw ko.

Pagdating ko sa palapag ng gusali kung nasaan ang opisina ni Mav ay nadatnan kong mukhang kababalik lang ng sekretarya niya sa table nito.

"Ma'am Rylli." She immediately smiled at me. Sa ilang araw na pagbalik ko rito ay nakilala na niya ako.

"Is Maverick inside?" I asked while returning her smile. "Yes, Ma'am. Pasok ka na."

Tumango ako. "Thank you."

I pulled the handle of the door while a smile is still intact in my lips. Handa ng salubungin si Maverick ngunit agad akong natigilan sa marahan kong pagtulak sa pinto.

"Mav--" I felt like my whole body stilled as I saw who and what's happening inside. My eyes immediately fixed at Maverick and the woman, his girlfriend?

Ang magkadikit nilang mga labi ang nakapagpasikip ng aking dibdib. I felt my tears forming at my eyes but I bit my lower lip as I suppressed it.

Paano kong nakalimutan na may girlfriend siya? His girlfriend who looks like a Victoria Secret model, his girlfriend who's almost perfect.

I met Maverick's eyes as he pulled away from the kiss. He's looking at my direction, kaya naman napabaling din ang babae sa aking direksyon.

"Rylli," he called.

Isang singhap ang nakapagpagising sa aking katauhan.

"Oh my God! Sorry." The woman apologetically turned to me. "Hindi mo na dapat nakita 'yon. Na-nakakahiya. Sorry."

I saw Maverick shifted his weight but I didn't dare look at his eyes again. Instead, I smile at the woman. I slowly place my hand who's holding the paperbag behind. "Its okay, I'm sorry. I forgot to knock, its my fault."

"Do you, guys..." Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin niya sa amin ni Maverick. "Have a meeting?"

"Yes. But it was scheduled at one in the afternoon. I thought he's not busy and we can reschedule it for lunch instead, that's why I bought..." Ipinakita ko ang paperpag na dala para sa lunch.

Though my excuse is a bit unprofessional.

"Sorry, babalik na lang siguro ako mamaya."

"No need but if you insist..." She trailed off as she gave me a smile. 'Yung tipo ng ngiti na para bang nahihiya. "I planned to have lunch with him. You know, I missed my fiance already--"

"Katrice." Maverick cutted the woman's words in a warning tone.

Fiance? They're getting married? What the fuck!

Katrice turned to Mav. "What? Babe, is there something wrong?"

I watched Maverick as his jaw clenched. His cold eyes bore into Katrice. I almost rolled my eyes as the two stared at each other.

"I'll go ahead," paalam ko dahil hindi na kayang tagalan ang dalawa.

I went out of Mav's office. His secretary called me but I immediately went inside the elevator. Pasara na iyon at halos mapamura ako nang humabol at bumungad sa akin si Katrice.

Habol hininga itong pumasok sa elevator bago iyon tuluyang nagsara. I eyed her reflection on the elevator as I stood straight.

"I'll give you something," she muttered as she took a deep breath.

Bumaling ako sa kanya. "Huh?"

"I'm Katrice, by the way. I noticed we haven't formally introduced yet," sambit niya matapos makabawi sa paghabol sa pasarang elevator. Kasabay noon ang paglahad niya ng kanyang kamay.

I tried to lift the side of my lips up for a smile even though in the inside I don't want to talk to her, but I can't. I just can't. "Amaryllis," I muttered as I accept her hand for a handshake.

Ang maluwag niyang ngiti sa akin ay hindi ko masuklian, ngayon na kaming dalawa na lamang ang magkaharap.

After what I saw in Maverick's office, I can't be civil to her. I know she's Mav's fiancee and I'm not okay with it. Honestly, this past few days that I'm being close to Maverick again, I started hoping that we could reconcile and continue our relationship.

But Katrice suddenly went here in Mav's office saying she wants to have lunch with her fiance? Fuck it! I don't want them to get married.

On the second thought, no one's asking for my opinion. They'll get married whether I like it or not.

"Are you..." Muling salita niya matapos maghiwalay ang aming mga kamay. "And Maverick friends?"

Agad akong umiling sa tanong na iyon. "No. No, we're not. We're just business partners--" I stopped when I saw her wide smile turned to a faint one.

We're facing each other, the reason why I can clearly saw her expression.

Tumikhim sila at tipid akong nginitian. "You don't have to lie, Amaryllis. Maverick told me you're his childhood friend."

My lips parted before I let out a sarcastic audible breath. Why did she even asked me when she knew it already? Hinuhuli niya ba 'ko?

"I'm sorry." Mariing sambit ko at hindi na nagabalang magpalusot o depensahan pa ang sarili. I don't want to argue and I know I'm at fault.

The elevator opened at the lobby. Dire-diretso akong lumabas. Si Katrice naman ay naramdaman kong nakasunod sa akin. I fished my phone from my purse when I remember I don't have a car with me.

I started finding Spencer's name in my contacts. Matapos ay nagtipa ako ng mensahe at agad iyong ipinadala kay Spence.

Amaryllis:

Where are you? Eating lunch already?

Ibinaba ko ang phone at hindi na hinintay pa ang sagot niya. Maybe he's having his lunch.

I glanced at Katrice with a frown in my forehead when I saw she's still beside me.

"May ibibigay ako sa'yo. I'll just get it from my car. Nasa labas lang naman ang kotse ko."

I actually don't care whatever she'll give me. But I don't want to be too rude. I know my attitude is not that pleasant but I don't want to be rude to Katrice. Especially, When I think she's a nice person. And somehow, I know she's sincere.

Nang makalabas kami sa kompanya ni Mav ay agad siyang dumiretso sa kanyang kotse. It was parked near the entrance, halatang hindi magtatagal sa pakay kaya't dito nakapark at hindi sa parking sa basement.

Kasabay noon ang pag-iingay ng aking phone. I glanced at it and saw Spencer's name on the caller.

"I'll answer this." Paalam ko kay Katrice na ngayon ay binubuksan na ang kanyang kotse.

"Go ahead."

Hindi ko na siya sinagot at itinuon ang pansin sa telepono. "Spence," I called.

"I'm at the restaurant. Oorder pa lang. Wanna join me?" Biro nito sa pagaakalang tatanggi ako. Dahil sa sinabi ko sa kanyang may kasabay ako.

"Alone?" I asked as I glanced at Katrice. Ang kalahati ng katawan niya ay nasa loob na ng kotse at tila may hinahanap doon.

"Hmm, of course. Hindi naman kita papalitan agad dahil tinanggihan mo 'ko."

I rolled my eyes but a smirk formed in my lips, na para bang makikita iyon Spencer. "Gago," marahang sambit ko na nakapagpahalakhak sa kanya.

He laughed again, this time its more calmer. Muling umikot ang itim ng aking mga mata.

"Why? I thought you're having lunch with someone? Got bored?"

I heaved a deep sigh and glanced at Katrice once again. She's now holding her bag while getting something in there.

"No. Where are you? Puntahan kita, lunch tayo," I muttered.

Dahilan para matahimik siya sa kabilang linya. I heard someone asking his order from the background but he immediately dismissed the waiter. "Are you still at MPL?"

I hummed.

"Wait there, I'll fetch you--"

"What? I said tell me your location. Ako ang pupunta sa'yo--" I stopped as I tightly shut my eyes closed when the call ended. Hindi man lang pinatapos ang sinasabi ko at agad ng pinutol ang tawag.

Kasabay naman noon ang pagbaling sa akin ni Katrice. My eyes darted at the elegant envelope that she's holding. Agad na kong nakuha kung ano iyon. But I hope I'm wrong.

Her genuine smile made her looks more friendly. She handed me the envelope and I even forced my hand to extend it to her.

Nang tuluyang lumapat ang envelope sa aking kamay ay noon siya muling nagsalita.

"I don't know if Maverick told you about this already but..." She bit her lower lip, suppressing a wide smile peeking at her lips. "We're getting married. I hope to see you on our wedding day."

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