It's been three weeks. Ni hindi namalayan ni Moira na ganoon na pala katagal ang panahong lumipas since she started working as Vince's assistant. Medyo nasasanay na rin siyang kasabay ito pagla-lunch. Madalas mag-ayang kumain sina Vico at Red. And it's always lunch time dahil maagang umuwi ang dalawa.

During dinner, Vince would usually order food or he would not eat at all. Siya naman ay inaagahan ang pagbili ng pagkain, so when he asks, she could decline.

She would also ask Joem ahead of time, kung mali-late siya ng uwi, para sunduin siya. She doesn't want to be in the same car with Vince, although it can't be helped kapag bumibisita sila sa ibang sites.

Vince will be going away for a business trip the following week. Tatlong araw din itong mawawala. She hates to admit that just thinking about it makes her miss him. Why, after all this years, does she feel that way? It baffles her sometimes, how she can't really let go of her what ifs and could have beens and just focus on what's in front of her, the reality that she couldn't avoid.

And it seems like he's not making it easy for her. Later that day, she was called to the lobby because of a package. Nang makarating siya roon ay nakita niyang bulaklak ang package na idineliver. So she brought it back to her cubicle and just like she assumed, there's an email from him, asking if she received something.

Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, agad siyang pumunta sa office nito para ihatid ang mga bulaklak para sa date nito. She double checked the sked on her calendar but it didn't have anything on it. Inisip na lamang niya na para ito sa huli nitong naka-date, whatever her name is.

"Here are the flowers you ordered," she told him.

Nakayuko ito. He's writing down something. He didn't acknowledge her presence.

"I'll just put it on the table."

"Put it on your table. That's for you."

Napamaang siya. Did she hear it right? Did he just say what he said? Bigla siyang nalito. What are the flowers for? She already told everyone that she has a boyfriend.

"Why?" was all she could ask.

"It's an apology bouquet," he answered, still not looking up.

She didn't know what to say. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ito nag-a-apologize. He did nothing wrong, at least not today. If he's wronged her before, that was weeks ago. Why apologize now?

"T-Thanks, I guess," mahina niyang sabi.

"Moira."

Napatigil siya sa pagpihit sa doorknob nang marinig niya ang boses nito.

"Yes?"

"It's getting late. You should go home."

"Okay."

Pagkalabas niya ng office nito, she took the vase from Rose's table, put the flowers there and left them on her cubicle. She doesn't want to bring those, home.

--

 Vince knows he's doomed. He's been keeping himself in line for the last three weeks. He tried his best not to bother Moira or take the most of her time, but the thought of her going home to her boyfriend drives him crazy.

He wanted to make her smile. Gusto niyang bumawi sa pagpapahiya niya rito dati. So he felt like giving her a bouquet and this time, it's for a random reason. He just wants to give her flowers.

But she asked why and he was forced to make up an excuse. Since gusto naman talaga niyang mag-sorry, iyon na lamang ang sinabi niyang dahilan.

Moira left the flowers in the office. It's probably because she doesn't want her boyfriend to get jealous, which made him jealous. He's been asking himself what this guy could possibly have that he was able to replace him in Moira's heart. Pero alam na niya ang sagot. He just doesn't want to accept it.

That Joem guy loved Moira back, which he didn't do when he had the chance.

Kinabukasan, he was yet again taken aback by how beautiful Moira is. He told her yesterday to dress smart, because they'll be facing very important people that day in a meeting. And she delivered. She's wearing a tight-fitting tailored dress that accentuated all her curves.

He found it hard not to stare.

When the meeting came, hindi na siya nagtaka na halos lahat ng mata ay maya't mayang napapatingin kay Moira. Some even asked her for her opinion on the topics they're discussing. Now he understands why her previous employers took advantage of her.

Moira's that attractive.

Nasa kalagitnaan ito ng pagsasalita nang tumunog ang phone nito. It was a text message. Now, he doesn't allow phones during meetings. People can bring them, but there's absolutely no phone calls or texting.

Para lang sa emergency.

When Moira read the text message, she immediately became pale. Her eyes moistened. She stood up abruptly, said her excuse and bolted out of the meeting room. He excused himself and followed her outside.

"Moira!" he called.

Tuloy-tuloy lamang ito sa paglalakad.

"Moira!"

He eventually caught up with her. Hinawakan niya ito sa braso at iniharap sa kanya. Moira was already in tears. He wanted to see the text message she received but she's holding her phone tightly.

"What's wrong?"

"J-Jo... somebody pushed him down the stairs."

He frowned. "What?"

Pilit itong kumawala sa kanya, but he wouldn't let go. "I-I need to see him. Please. He's hurt."

"Why would somebody push him down the stairs?"

"I don't know! Please, I need to go!"

"Moira, he's a grown man. I'm sure he can take care of himself," mariin niyang sabi. Deep inside, he wanted to thank whoever pushed that man down the stairs. He knows that's very evil of him, but seeing Moira cry for that guy actually makes him more jealous.

He's probably going to hell for thinking it, but he simply doesn't care.

"I need to be there!" giit nito.

"You don't have to. Look, I'm sure he's alright."

"He's not! Please let me go!"

They're already garnering attention. May ilang empleyado na ang nakatingin at nakikitsismis. He sighed and let go of her arm.

"If you go, then you're fired," he said with finality.

"Fine!" she snapped. Then she walked away.

--

Red was really gettiing concerned with Vince. Nabalitaan niya kung ano ang nangyari sa office. She knew how she was asking for him to let her go, but he doesn't want to, how he threatened to fire her and how she walked out of the door without looking back.

Hindi niya alam ang buong kwento. Ayon sa mga tsismosa niyang empleyado, may naaksidente raw, nahulog sa hagdan. And Moira's been asking for a pass.

Parang ngayon lang nag-sink in sa kanya na naka-move on na si Moira from Vince. If she's willing to get fired just to see if that person's okay—assuming that it's her boyfriend who got hurt—then maybe she should stop.

She knew that deep down, Vince cares for Moira. And it's already evident. Kasi kung hindi, hindi sana ito magbababad sa gym ng gabing-gabi. Hindi sana nito pinipilit na butasin ang punching bag na kanina pa nito sinusuntok.

Nakaupo lamang sila ni Troy sa bench na nasa gilid ng gym, nanunuod kay Vince. He's been punching that bag for thirty minutes and he's not even slowing down.

He looked so angry. She's never seen him like this.

"Do you think he's all right?" she asked Troy.

"Do I need to state the obvious?"

Ngumuso siya. "Nahahawa ka na sa 'kin, ha."

Tumawa ito at umakbay sa kanya. "No, he's not alright. And I don't know what else to do but wait until he's too tired to take another punch."

"Do you think he'll be all right?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Troy. "I hope so."

Right when she thought that Vince wouldn't stop, he collapsed on the floor. Naliligo na ito sa pawis. He stayed there for a whole minute, saka ito bumangon at inalis ang wrap sa kamay nito. Inabutan ito ni Troy ng isang bote ng tubig, which he finished in just three huge gulps, then he crumpled the bottle.

"I'm hitting the shower," sabi nito sa kanila.

"Magpahinga ka muna," Troy told him.

Vince shook his head. Kinuha nito ang duffle bag at saka pumunta ng shower room. After fifteen minutes, he's already dressed back in his work clothes. Naka-roll up ang sleeves ng button-down shirt nito. He looked really tired.

Well, he was really tired. Sa kotse na nila ito sumakay dahil sa pamimilit ni Troy. Baka raw kasi hindi ito makauwi ng maayos kapag hinayaan nila itong mag-drive mag-isa sa kundisyon nito.

The moment his back hit the backseat, he's already asleep.  

"I've never seen him like this," she told Troy. "He's always composed."

"Well, a woman could do that to you. Trust me," he responded with a smile.

Nang makarating sila sa bahay nito ay nahirapan pa silang gisingin si Vince.

"Vince, it's Moira. Wake up!" When she yelled that, saka lang ito naalimpungatan. He rubbed his eyes with the ball of his palms and absentmindedly opened the door. Bumaba rin sila para ihatid ito sa kwarto nito.

But Vince headed straight to the kitchen, reached above his refrigerator for a bottle of wine and poured himself a tall drink.

"Vince, you have work tomorrow."

"I know," sagot nito. "I just want to have a dreamless sleep."

"You're already too tired to dream."

He raised the wine bottle and walked upstairs. Pati yaya nito ay mukhang nag-aalala na rin.

"Ya, kung wala sya sa kundisyong pumasok bukas, then don't let him come to work, okay?" sabi niya sa katulong.

"Yes, ma'am," sagot nito.

Bumalik na sila sa kotse at saka umalis.

"I'm almost afraid to leave him," she told Troy.

"He's a grown man, Red. He'll get through this."

"I've never seen him like this. Ever."

"I've never seen him like this too. But there's a first time for everything," sabi nito sa kanya. He reached out for her hand while his other one's driving the wheel.

She hopes that this first time is also the last time. Ngayon lamang siya nag-alala ng ganito para kay Vince. How did Moira manage to tear him apart in just a few weeks?