"What is it? Early lunch?" I asked as I entered his office and saw him signing documents.

Agad siyang napaangat ng tingin. Sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi at bahagyang napailing. "I missed you."

My lips parted for awhile and my brow playfully rose as I walked near him.

"Let's move your table here, how about that?"

I chuckled at him and shook my head. Lalong magtataka si Shea sa aming dalawa. Alam kong napapansin niya ngunit hindi na lamang nagsasalita dahil kay Archer.

Akmang tatayo siya sa swivel chair, siguro ay para lumipat sa sofa at tabi kaming maupo ngunit agad ko siyang pinigilan.

Napakunot ang aking noo nang makilala ang swivel chair niya at bago iyon. A vitra grand executive highback chair! It was familiar because last time I was searching for a swivel chair I can use in Prestin's condo. Nakita ko iyon at mukha nang komportable ngunit hindi rin pinansin nang makita ang presyo. Ilang buwan ko ring sasahurin ang presyo noon!

I slightly pushed his shoulder, that makes him leaned back on his chair. "Aurie," marahang tawag niya at hindi maintindihan ang aking ginagawa. I can feel my heart beating fast as I slowly sit on his lap. Alanganin akong napakagat sa pangibabang labi. I can already feel my cheeks burning.

He stilled. "What are you doing?" Bahagya pa siyang napapitlag kaya't muntik na akong mahulog mula sa kanyang kandungan. He immediately caught my waist. Matapos ay nanatiling nakapatong sa aking likod ang kanyang kamay na para bang nakaalalay siya roon.

I ignored him instead of answering his question. I clung my hands in his nape.

"Aurie," may pagbabanta ang tono niya at muntik na akong matawa roon. Lalo siyang napasandal sa kanyang swivel chair.

"About the dinner that you're talking about. Kailan nga ulit 'yon? Later?" I tilted my head and I watched him as his adam's apple moved.

"Y-yes, Aurie... what the hell are you-"

I placed my forefinger in his lips to stop him. "I love you."

A frowned and a deep furrow formed in his brow. Matapos ang ilang saglit ay namilog ang kanyang mga mata. Sa reaksyon niya, kung iniinom siya ng tubig ay naibuga na niya iyon.

"W-what did you say?" He stammered while his eyes' still wide.

"Can't I say I love you to my boyfriend?" I said in a matter-of-fact tone. I chuckled while watching his reaction. Kung hindi lang ako nakaupo sa kandungan niya ay baka nahulog na siya sa kinauupuan.

"What-- fuck, Aurie. Stop that." He cursed when I started caressing his hair as I leaned on him. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa ginagawa.

"I love you," I whispered and his hand rested on my waist. Ramdam ko pa rin ang mabigat niyang paghinga. "Will you be my boyfriend?" Hindi na nakatiis dahil para bang hindi pa niya nakukuha ang aking sinasabi.

"Hey, I should be the one asking-"

Marahas ko siyang hinarap, ang mga kamay ay dumausdos sa magkabilang balikat niya. "Will you be... my boyfriend? That's what I'm asking." I smiled at him.

I watched him as he was lost for words. Ilang ulit niyang ibinuka ang bibig bago tuluyang may boses na lumabas doon. "Yes... but I should be the one asking you that."

"Ask me then."

"Aurie-"

"Ask me." Mariin iyon kumpara sa aking inaasahan. Hindi ko akalain na ganoon ang magiging tono noon.

"Alright." He caressed my waist up and down before asking me what I want using his softest voice, it almost made me closed my eyes 'cause it feels soothing in my ears. "I never felt this before. Sa'yo lang. Let me prove that it'll be only you. And I'll never ask this to any other woman but you. Ikaw lang. Aurie, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked without leaving my gaze.

Kahit na hindi na gaanong nabigla ay nahigit ko pa rin ang aking hininga. "Yes! Yes, Arch." I felt like I was my college self again.

I didn't wait for his reaction as I pulled him closer and let our lips met. Sa una ay hindi siya nakagalaw at nanigas ngunit ilang sandali ay naramdaman ko na rin ang mga halik niya pabalik. Bahagyang dumiin ang hawak niya sa aking baywang ngunit nanatili iyon doon at hindi naglikot sa kung saan. While I felt his other hand at the back of my head.

"I love you," he whispered in between our kisses.

I let my eyes shut closed but it immediately opened when I heard someone knocked on the door. Akmang lalayo ako nang lumalim ang mga halik ni Archer at lalo akong idiniin sa kanya. Tila ba hindi niya narinig na may kumakatok sa kanyang pinto.

I tapped his chest as I tried to end our kisses. Nagtagumpay akong paghiwalayin ang aming mga labi ngunit huli na iyon at nakapasok na ang kaninang kumakatok.

"What the fuck!" I heard a crisp curse. Nilingon ko ang pintuan at bahagyang namilog ang mga mata nang makilala kung sino ang mga naroon.

I watched Shea as her eyes widened a fraction with her mouth parted. Si Mirae naman ay naeeskandalong nakatingin sa amin. While wearing her midnight blue coat and pants paired with a white tube, she looked at me like I was an aggressive leech. Naramdaman ko ang paginit ng aking pisngi. Alam kong namumula na iyon sa kahihiyan.

Agad akong umalis sa kandungan ni Archer. Tila ba ngayon ko lang natanto ang ginawa. "Sorry po, ma'am." I slightly bowed my head. Akmang aalis na ngunit agad na nahuli ni Archer ang aking baywang. We're now standing in front of Mirae while his hand's encircled on my waist. I caught her eyes went down at my it as she rolled her eyes.

Shea went out of the office as she shut the door closed. Hindi na nagawang magpaalam dahil sa gulat.

"What the fuck, Archer?" Ulit ni Mirae ngunit ngayon ay bahagya ng kalmado ang boses, naeeskandalo pa rin ang ekspresyon. "Even inside your office? And who is she? Your employee?" Her brow raised as she turned to me. "My God, miss. Please have some decency."

"Mirae, stop it. She's my girlfriend." Hindi makapaniwalang napalingon ako kay Archer ng may bahid ng pagbabanta ang tono niya.

Nahihiwagaan at sarkastikong napasinghap si Mirae. "Its now Mirae? How about sweetie?" She even tilted her head.

"Your husband will kill me if he heard me calling you that."

Mirae's married? What else did I missed?

She frustratedly rolled her eyes as she slightly shook her head. "He won't. And I thought you love someone else?" Ngayon ay bahagya ng nakakunot ang noo.

"Let me speak first, will you? Buntis ka ba? Init ng ulo." Bahagyang pasinghal iyon ngunit bakas ang pagbibiro sa tono ni Archer. "Baka may laman na 'yan?"

Mirae tsked while now tapping her heels on the floor, like she's waiting for Archer's explanation.

"Mirae, this is-" Akmang ipapakilala niya ako nang agad na pinutol ni Mirae ang kanyang sasabihin.

"I'm saying, I thought you love someone else. I'm not asking me to introduce me to your-"

"Mirae!" Arch cutted her words. "Siya 'yon." Makahulugang sambit ni Archer na agad na nakapagpalambot sa ekspresyon ni Mirae ngunit agad na kumunot ang noo at bumaling sa akin.

"So you're Riese?"

"Auriese is her name," Archer corrected.

"I thought--" she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. But... sigurado ka bang siya 'yon? I thought she hates you? Sa paraan ng pagkakasabi mo, para bang galit na galit siya sa'yo at ayaw kang makita? Ngayon ay makikita kong... nakikipaglabanan sa halikan?" Walang pakundanggang sambit ni Mirae, bahagya pang napangiwi sa huling salitang sinambit.

My lips parted. Hindi ko alam kung para saan ngunit siguro ay para sa lahat ng sinabi niya. What the fuck? At anong galit na galit? Iyon ba ang tingin niya? I harshly turned to him. Our eyes immediately met.

"Well, uhmm." Bahagyang napangiwi si Archer, tila ba hindi alam kung paano itutuloy o itutuloy ba ang sasabihin. "You declined my invitation... for dinner. No one did it before. Maybe I exaggerated it a bit?"

"So she's really that woman?"

"Yes, now let me introduce her and don't scare her." Bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo.

Amusement is evident in Mirae's eyes as she look at me. Malayo sa kaninang para bang naeeskandalo. "Oh-- really?"

Archer hummed as he turned to me. "Aurie, meet Mirae, a friend."

I smiled at Mirae. Hindi ko inaasahan ngunit ngumiti siya ng pabalik sa akin. Sabay lahad ng kanyang kamay at binanggit ang pangalan. "Mirae Devaughne."

Doon na tuluyang nangatog ang aking mga tuhod. Kung wala sa aking baywang ang braso ni Archer ay baka pa nahulog ako sa sahig.

"You alright?" Agad akong dinaluhan ni Archer ngunit agad namang nakabawi.

"Y-yes," I stammered before turning to Mirae. "You're Mirae..." Sinadya kong bitinin ang sasabihin. I want to make sure if I heard it right. Baka kasi gutom lang ako kaya't kung anu-ano ang naririnig.

"Hmm, Mirae Devaughne."

What the fuck? A Devaughne, really? Kung isa sa magkapatid na Devaughne ang tinutukoy niya, siguradong si Vynz iyon dahil si Hoax nga ang asawa ni Astrid. The thought of Mirae marrying Vynz makes me drown in awe and confusion. What the hell happened during those four, going five years?

Noon ko lang napansin na nakalahad pa rin ang kanyang kamay. I glanced at it. "Auriese Gallardo," I muttered as I shook her hand.

"Now, what brings you here?" Archer asked

She shook her head as she shrugged. "Nothing, I visited all of you, you know? Now, I'll go ahead. Nice meeting you, Auriese."

The dinner came quickly. Habang papalapit ang oras ay nararamdaman ko ang malakas na pagkabog ng aking dibdib. Archer who's wearing his suit opened the passenger's door.

Lumabas ako roon at agad na pumulupot ang braso niya sa aking baywang. The famous fine dining restaurant towered over us.

I glanced at my cream colored dress paired with a Louboutin heels. The wide end of the dress, lying near my knees made me move comfortable.

I held Archer's hand who's resting on my waist. And he immediately glanced at me, maybe when he felt how cold my hand is.

"I'm nervous," pagamin ko. Sinong hindi kakabahan? He asked me to come with him in their family dinner. Mukha pang ang pamilya niya lang ang tao sa loob ng restaurant.

"Don't be," he chuckled. "Surely, they'll like you and I'm here."

I rolled my eyes. Parang sanay na sanay na may babaeng ipinapakilala sa pamilya ha? Pangilan na kaya ako? Hindi na 'ko nagabalang tanungin pa iyon. I don't want to ruin the mood. Isa pa, masyado ng mabilis ang tibok ng aking puso para intindihin pa iyon.

We entered the restaurant and a  mellow sound immediately linger in my ear. The restaurant have a dark yet elegant interiors. The light made the best of it to contrast the ambiance.

Mukhang tama ang hinala ko, pamilya lang ni Archer ang naroon at iilang staff ng restaurant na pormal na nakahilera malapit sa isang mahaba at eleganteng lamesa.

Archer's family is seating around the twelve seater long table at the center of the restaurant. May iilang bakante roon ngunit karamihan ay okupado na ng kanyang pamilya. They're still talking, hindi pa kumakain at tila ba hinihintay pa ang ibang miyembro ng pamilya. Sa paraan ng paguusap ng mga ito ay mababakas mong mga elegante.

"Archer," It was the man, naghahalo ang puti at itimang buhok nito, probably Archer's grandfather, is the one who first saw us. Ito ang nakaupo sa kabilang kabisera, habang sa kabila ay isang lalaki rin ngunit sa tingin ko ay nalalapit sa edad ni Dad.

Parehas na lalaki ang nasa magkabila ng lolo niya. I immediately recognized one of the two men seating beside his grandfather. It was Archimedes Fonacier, beside him is Elisha Fonacier. They are Archer's parents, of course I know.

Dahil doon ay nabaling sa amin ang tingin ng lahat. Archer's mother rose, may ngiti sa kanyang mga labi ngunit nanatili sa kinatatayuan, ganoon din ang kanyang ama.

"You're with a woman," makahulugang sambit ng lalaki sa kabilang kabisera.

Tumango naman si Archer doon habang bahagyang may ngiti sa mga labi. "Everyone, this is Auriese Gallardo, my girlfriend."

He announced and I wasn't able to follow everyone's reaction as they applaud in an elegant way. Natuon ang aking pansin sa mga magulang ni Archer na may tipid na ngiti sa mga labi. Ngunit agad ding naagaw ng lalaking sa tingin ko ay nalalapit ang edad kay Archer.

"Girlfriend? What's new, people?" May ngisi ito sa mga labi. I almost raised my brow up on him, mabuti na lang ay napigilan ko ang aking sarili.

"Alastair," banta ni Archer. Narinig ko pa ang ilang suway sa lalaki ngunit lumaki lang ang ngisi nito.

"You'll really settle down?" Naiiling na sambit nito.

"I have plans," Archer answered.

Those three words is enough to make my heart raced. Agad ko namang sinaway ang sarili. Gaga, ikalma mo! Sinabi lang niyang may plano siya, hindi sinabi na kasama ka!

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