"Bea, have you seen Miss Sheen? I checked her office but she's not there," Clark asks Bea as he passes by her at the exit.
It's already time to go home and the night has greeted them.
"Uh, well... it's already late, she might've gone home... early? I check on her earlier and she said her head's still aching, so yeah, she went home early, yeah," Bea sweatdrops due to her nervousness.
She tried her best earlier to avoid Clark but here he is, standing beside her.
"Hi Cj," Bea smiled at the kid who looks sleepy beside Clark.
CJ just looks at her, making Bea clench her fist with an awkward smile.
"Is that so, I'll stop by her space later. I'll check if she's fine."
Clark and Cj are waiting for Mr. Rogers to arrive and his words made Bea panicked.
"No! No! She's fine! She doesn't like guys going to her place!" Bea said while waving both of her hands.
Clark raises his eyebrow, "What do you mean? She brought two guys in her place yesterday."
'Crap, Sheen, you have to pay for this,' Bea thought.
"Alright, but I heard she's going to meet Wyn today so maybe she might've stopped by somewhere with Wyn," Bea turns around, trying to run away but she felt Clark's hand on her shoulder.
"Can you tell me more who this Wyn is?" Clark said in a very low tone.
Bea felt her shoulder's turn heavy, "He's Sheen's friend! Just a friend, Boss!"
She didn't even turn around, if she says that he's an ex-fiance, Clark will ask more questions and even though he already knows who Wyn is, he wants to know why they keep on seeing each other.
"I see. Are you waiting for Dan?" Clark asks and went to carry Cj.
"Yes, he's taking too long so I already went down."
A long silence befalls between the two, Cj has already fallen asleep in Clark's arms.
"Hey, are you planning on getting married any time soon?" Bea suddenly asks.
She thought of Sheen's expression while she was saying that she's not a part of Clark's family.
Bea doesn't even understand what Sheen meant by her words.
Is she in love with Clark?
Does she feel like she's Cj's mother?
Which is it?
Is it both?
Bea's eyebrows furrow while trying to get what Sheen's really feeling.
"No, I don't have any plans of getting married," Clark answers in a flat tone.
"Are you sure? Don't you find anyone attractive for the last few months? Like someone new? Someone cute? Someone kind?" Bea looks eager to hear Sheen's name.
"No, sorry, I can't understand what you want to say," Clark saw his car near, "We'll have to go, Bea. Goodbye."
The car stops in front of them and Clark slowly enters the car.
Bea was left with a disappointed face.
She watches as the car leave, "Really? You're being protective of Sheen and you're always worried about her, don't you understand what you're feeling?" she whispers.
Clark dials Sheen's number but she won't answer, making him annoyed.
'Of course, I am attracted to someone. You know who it is Bea, but I can't... I'm a guy with a kid. She wouldn't fall for me,' Clark sighs.
"Is something bothering you, Sir?" Mr. Rogers asks, "I've been noticing that you seem to carry a heavy burden."
"Well, let me ask you, Mr. Rogers. If you are a lady..."Clark asks while Mr. Rogers grew shocked but still nods with the weird question the young man asks.
"And a man who has a kid will tell you that he likes you, what would you do?"
Clark feels embarrassed but he kept a stern face.
Mr. Rogers takes a deep breath, "If you are pertaining to yourself, Sir. And I'm a lady who is looking for a potential partner, then... I will not like to accept your feelings."
Clark looks at Mr. Rogers sadly and nods.
"I will tell you why Sir. If you keep your strict demeanor around her, then, it's obvious that she wouldn't take a liking on you. A man who's rich but is cold with the people around him and to his son isn't a good potential husband and father."
Clark suddenly felt like he chokes on air.
Of course, Mr. Rogers will judge based on what he sees.
And he's not with Clark 24/7.
"I see, thank you, Mr. Rogers, for that honest opinion."
For the rest of the travel, they both shut their mouths while contemplating their thoughts about the matter.
Sheen has a hard expression on her face.
She doesn't want to see Kady but she's worried about the information that he has.
Especially that it's a lie.
Kady smiles at her softly, like there's no serious rumor that Sheen wants to talk about and the reason she came to see him.
Both of them are sitting by the window in the cafe near Sheen's condominium.
"Can you stop making that annoying face, Kady. Tell me where you heard that hoax?" Sheen asks without even batting her eyelashes.
Kady suddenly frowns and looks away.
He wants to have time with Sheen to convince her about her feelings for him.
"It's not a hoax, Sheen. Have you seen the kid around him? It's his son! He raped a young girl while he was drunk, Sheen, he's not a good guy!" Kady looks like he's almost begging Sheen to believe him.
But she just kept her straight face, "It's not true. Listen to me, I'm his assistant and I know everything about him. About Cj and his mother, I know everything about it. I don't know where you got that lie but I can tell you. He did not rape her. They were both drunk that time and he did not force the girl. Yes, she was a minor, but he did not do anything against her will," Sheen tries to keep calm but while looking at Kady's face full of disbelief, she clasps the coffee mug.
"No, he just told you that because he doesn't want you to stay away from him!"
"Please stop," Sheen tightens her clasps.
"No, listen to me. He's just showing you that he's nice to get you closer."
"Please, it's a lie," Sheen closes her eyes as she breathes in deep.
"No, Sheen, why do you believe him? You only know him for a few months!"
"BECAUSE!" She lost it.
She stood up with a sullen expression on her face.
Everyone looks at her, making her sigh and sit down.
Kady suddenly laughs, "Because you like him?"
Sheen looks at him, "What?"
The whole place suddenly went silent for Sheen, all she can hear is Kady's mocking laughs.
It somehow, again, reminded her of her past.
She grinds her teeth with a bitter expression on her face.
"I was away for how many years, Sheen. During the time, I already told you that you're the one that I want. I did that for you but it somehow ended up bad. And I know you still like me when I came back which is why I tried my best to get your attention. When you said that you want to go, I let you go but I can't let go of my feelings. But for just a few months and now you like someone new? Are you playing with your own feelings? Are you still trying to get over me?" Kady took Sheen's hand.
"If that's the case, you don't have to. I'm here, I love you. I love you so much that it hurts me and it's driving me crazy," Kady looks down while his tears suddenly fall down.
Her bitter expression turned to soft and hurt.
This was what she wanted.
WAS.
She wanted him so bad before that it hurts her too, that it drives her crazy.
All she prayed for every day was to have Kady.
But the Kady that returned is not the Kady that she wants.
She's been longing for someone who's gone.
She frowns as her tears fall down.
She took her hand and intertwined her fingers with Kady.
She wants to feel him for the first and last time.
"I prayed so hard just to hear you say those words."
Kady looks up to her and his tears flooded even harder.
"I wake up every day, hoping that you'll arrive and tell me that you love me," her voice cracks.
Kady held her hand tighter, thinking that he has her already.
"But you didn't. Someone different returned, someone I do not know nor love," Sheen slowly takes Kady's hand away while he tries his best to cling to her fingers.
"You don't love me, Kady. Just because I said that I love you, doesn't mean that you own me. That you can turn to me when you're ready. Kady... I'm not a thing that you can leave while fixing yourself. If you just told me that you love me when I confessed, I might've waited for you. But... you left me alone with the mess that you messed up even more. I... loved you so much that it still hurts because I wasted my time waiting for someone that won't arrive anymore," Sheen covers her mouth to avoid letting out her sobs.
"This is the last time that I will look at you like the Kady I used to love. Next time we see each other, I will see you as the boss I had and the friend from the past. And please, don't look at me like that anymore," She said as she takes a deep breath.
Without noticing, Clark's car passed by.
CJ's fully awake and saw Sheen and Kady talking with tears in their eyes.
"But Sheen... I love you," Kady said faintly.
"No, you don't, Kady. You just want to own me because I told you that I love you. Because if you really do, you wouldn't have left me alone. I know that you knew what happened, but you left me in the mess you created, with the mess that made me more... messed up, god, I hated you for that," Sheen chuckles while wiping her tears.
"Kady, the thing about Mr. White, it's not true, I can assure you. I don't know where you heard that, but it's not true. And yes, I like him. Because, Kady, he was the one who is always there for me when I was not yet a mess and when I want to clean the mess. He helped me, he's always the friend that I had, he never judges me and Kady, he makes me happy. I know that this feeling might end up the same way with you, but at least I am happy now," she stands up and leans to Kady and kisses his forehead.
He closed his eyes, feeling the moment for a little longer.
He felt his chest tighten more but his mind suddenly went at ease.
She's right.
Maybe he was just too bound by leaving her and her confession that when he came back he wants to have her.
He wants to make up for the mess he made that he confused it by love.
Or maybe... he really did love her.
But it's not enough to get her back.
"I'm sorry for hating you. Please, be happy too, Kady. You deserve it. Goodbye," she turns away and leaves.
He just watches her go away, as his last tear fall, he whispers, "Goodbye."