Angelica
Alam ko naman na may galit si Walter sa akin. Pero tangina naman, he wants me in Batangas at 3 tapos 2pm nya pa pinasabi sa secretary nya. Anong tingin nya sa akin si Superwoman na lilipad lang kung may kailangan nang tulong nya in just a snap of his fingers dadating na? It's very unbelievable tapos 6 days ako dun! 6 days in Batangas, with Walter. I mean this is nice since I'll be with him in Batangas, maybe I can finally talk to him, but the thing is I am not prepared!
Ako lang mag-isa dito sa condo ko, I don't have a maid or a driver kaya ngayon para akong gaga. I need to drive to Batangas ASAP. I fixed my things, buti na nga lang at nakatupi na lahat so I just had to dump everything sa luggage ko. After packing I rode the elevator patungo sa basement, and I'm wearing these damn pair of heels for f*ck's sake it was so hard to walk in a fast pace! I was still fixing myself when I arrived at the basement, but then to my shock I saw Walter! His window was open, he was doing looking at something on his tablet, with his glasses on he looked so serious. Why is he here? Does he have someone he needs to meet? Isn't he in Batangas? He looked at me and raised a brow, para akong teenager na napansin nang crush. He looked so damn gorgeous. He looks like a greek god! I think it's because of his foreign blood.
"Get in the car, Ms. Gonzales"
Hindi nag sink ang sinabi nya sa akin. I looked around and I was the only person, well aside from him and his driver ako lang yung nandito sa basement. Is he joking?
"Ms. Gonzales we don't have all day"
I opened the door of the passenger's seat when he called me again.
"Ang- Ms. Gonzales. Backseat."
He was sitting alone sa backseat. Why would he want me beside him? I was looking at his driver in shock. Natawa naman yung driver nya sa akin. I pointed myself and his driver nodded.
"Ms. Gonzales. Sakay" I don't know why but his cold tone sent shivers down my spine.
"Manong Mario please put Ms. Gonzales' stuff at the back"
His driver got my stuff at nilagay sa likod, I closed the door of the passenger's seat, Manong Mario already opened the door for me kaya agad na akong suma The backseat was a bit spacious since it was a Montero Sport, but being with him at the backseat na kaming dalawa lang, I couldn't even breathe well! Ang init! The AC was on, but I felt like I was burning. My palms were sweaty too.
Ganito ba talaga ako ka kabado? I couldn't even sit comfortably!
"Let's go Manong Mario" and so the car started moving. I was still very uneasy. I can't even think straight. His focus was on his tablet. The silence inside the car was killing me, I don't even want to breathe. I was just looking at him, while he was looking at his tablet. I noticed Manong Mario smiling while looking at us on the mirror. I stopped looking, and sat properly trying to chill my ass out a bit.
"Mr. Arkinson, if I may ask why do I need to be in Batangas for 6 weeks?" God knows how hard it was for me to open a conversation with Walter
"You'll be there in behalf of your father's company and of course in behalf of the Nostra Security Services as well. I- he needs you to check the site and also he needs to know more about this project of mine since he is also involved in it, your father also told me that aside from business management you also have a degree in interior designing, and that I'll be needing your expertise for a penthouse of mine in Batangas. He told me you can handle everything, I have no choice and I need everything ASAP, if you have any more questions feel free to ask my secretary let's make this as professional as possible Ms. Gonzales"
I was too stunned to speak, so I just nodded he went back on looking at some stuff on his tablet. I did study interior designing a few years after working at my father's company, but papa didn't tell me about that. This is stressing me out. I leaned my head on the seat, dahan dahan din nahulog ang mga mata ko.
Walter
I can't believe, I had to explain everything to her. I remembered telling my secretary to tell her every single detail. Of course she won't say that she knows everything about me, and yes how could I forget that she knows about me and Angelica. I sighed and massaged my temples, and removed my glasses. Nagulat ako nang may sumandal sa akin. When I looked at my shoulder it was Angelica's head. Her eyes were closed a few strands of hair was covering her face. She's sleeping. Well this is fucking awkward. I saw Manong Mario holding in his laughter.
"Come on Manong Mario, just drive please" I whispered
Walter you hate her, you fucking hate her for everything she's done to you. I sighed, inayos ko ang position nya, I lowered myself a bit so that she could be comfortable, and then she just leaned closer to me. I leaned on my seat and closed my eyes. It would take a long time before we arrive, might as well sleep instead moving around.
Angelica
Something heavy was leaning against me tapos hindi ganon ka tigas ang hinihigaan ko. Ba't parang may naka akbay sa akin. I opened my eyes and found myself laying on Walter's chest, I looked at his angelic face, he was sleeping. I smiled remembering every time we would go on drives before ganitong ganito sya kapag natutulog, ganito kami kapag gusto kong matulog, this would be our position every time we go on trips with friends minsan may driver din.
"Ma'am nandito na po tayo" sabi nang Driver
I looked at Walter who was still sleeping soundly.
"Kuya mauna ka na po tapos I'm sure na may naka reserve nang rooms dun paki dala nalang po nang gamit namin, hihintayin ko lang gumising si Walter" he nodded and went out.
I didn't move a bit kasi tulog na tulog pa din si Walter, I know how busy he is, so I think it would be better not to wake him up, and let him sleep. I got my phone para malibang ako konti. I have 3 phones yung isa for work, yung isa for my personal use, at yung ikatlo ay yung cellphone ko nung grade 12 pa ako, I didn't sell it or give it away all of our memories are here, it still worked well despite its age. Pina ayos ko lang yung battery last week. I have a lot of pictures with Felix and Lucio in that phone too, most of those photos were taken when he was a baby up until he became a toddler. I decided to open it and look at our pictures while Walter was still asleep. Yung first time kong sumama sa kanila sa cafe ni Alex, our first performance together on stage, our band practices, first anniversary, and many more, we achieved a lot together, di ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako. I felt that Walter was already waking up agad ko namang pinunasan ang mga luha ko and I choose another album to look at, hindi ko namalayan na yung album palang pinili ko ay yung pictures kong kasama sina Felix at Lucio. Walter saw it. His eyes were on my phone. I moved away from him and he sat properly, I couldn't read him...
"Where's manong mario? How long- no did we just arrive?"
"Uhm it's been 40 minutes since we arrived, Manong Mario went inside the hotel already he has our stuff too."
He inhaled and exhaled "So why are you still here, hindi bah ako ginising ni Manong Mario?"
"I told him not to, I didn't want to wake you up-
"Ms. Gonzales, I am not here to sleep kung hindi mo sana pinigilan si Manong Mario na gisingin ako I would've done a lot of work already, I'm here for work Ms. Gonzales. Not for a vacation! You don't get to decide for me Ms. Gonzales, have some professionalism" he opened the door on his side and banged it. I saw him walking away from the vehicle. I didn't expect him to burst like that. I just wanted him to sleep, I know he's so busy and alam kong kulang din sya sa tulog. He owns an empire. Naluluha ako but I stopped my tears. Kasalanan mo Angelica, he's treating you like this because he's mad, he has all the right to be mad at you. I looked up for a bit to stop my tears, and went out of the car.
I saw him at talking to the front desks of the hotel we're staying at. I noticed he was mad, so I approached him.
"Sir I'm really sorry we're already fully booked, and one room lang po talaga ang naka reserve for you"
Napasabunot si Walter sa narinig nya, habang ako naman ay gulat na gulat.
I smiled at the front desk, sumingit ako kay Walter "Can you please check it again? I'm sure 3 rooms ang naka reserve"
She showed me this small laptop that contained our room reservation "two room"
"Okay. We'll just take it" It was room with a queen sized bed, a terrace, a mini fridge, closet, and mini kitchen. We have no choice we can't sleep at his car.
"What do you mean we'll take it?" Walter looked at me in disbelief
"We have no choice Mr. Arkinson. So please stop nagging about it. I am very sorry for the inconvenience, I'll have the key and we'll find the room on our own" she gave me the key and smiled.
"Here's the key Mrs. Arkinson. Welcome to Batangas Mr. and Mrs. Arksinson, please do enjoy your stay. We are very sorry for the inconvenience, we'd like to offer a free dinner for you and Mr. Arkinson for the inconvenience.
I smiled this is why I admire people who work under tourism no matter how hard their jobs are they still manage to smile and keep their composure.
Teka! Mrs. Arkinson?! I looked at the mini laptop she showed me again.
Reservation for Mr. and Mrs Arkinson?! What the actual fuck?!
Walter got the key from me at nauna nang maglakad patungo sa elevator, I was still shocked.
"You coming or you'll just stay there looking like you've seen a ghost"
I closed my mouth and ran towards the elevator. When we rode the elevator he called his secretary.
(Yes Mr. Arkinson) boses nya palang I know she was teasing him
"The phone is on loud speaker, kindly explain to me and Ms. Gonzales why you reserved one room for me and her"
(Ay sir. Sorry nagkamali po kasi ako. I'm sorry Mrs. Ark- Ms. Gonzales. Hindi ko namalayan na one room lang pala yung napili ko)
"You are fired" may pang gigigil na sabi ni Walter sa secretary nya.
(You can't fire me po Sir. May mga inaanak ka sa akin, wala kang choice. Enjoy your stay po!)
She ended the call. Natatawa naman ako sa reaction ni Walter, he was murmuring curses. The elevator opened and I went out. I have the key kaya naman nauna na akong maglakad sa kanya. Our room was nice, yung nga lang walang sofa. Where the bloody hell am I going to sleep? Ayoko namang matulog sa sahig. The bed was really spacious, it had a lot of pillows too. Our things are already there, well organized. May mga pagkain din sa table at sa ref. I am impressed the service of this hotel is amazing. Alam ko namang plano ni Dad at nang secretary ni Walter and lahat nang ito he sent me a message that contained their plan with mom's name on it, meaning he was supposed to send the message to mom, but then he accidentally sent it to me. I can't believe he's allowing me to sleep on one bed with Walter, a guy. He's my dad! So I didn 't expect him to do this. I checked my phone for the time and noticed na it was already four in the afternoon, I doubt if we can still go to the site.
"We'll go to the site tomorrow Ms. Gonzales"
and I wasn't wrong. He went to his closet and got some clothes, I'm hungry.
"May pagkain sa table and sa ref Mr. Arkinson. Food from the mayor of Batangas and from the owner of the hotel, some stuff as well"
He just nodded and headed the restroom. I sat down on the table and started eating some delicacies na pinadala nang mayor. The table is so full of food. Sweets and delicacies. I decided to arrange everything. There were some fresh flowers too. Hindi sila prepared, slight lang. Walter is a very successful bachelor. He's one of the richest bachelors in the world kaya naman he receives VIP treatments from almost everyone, he is respected by many people too. I cleaned my pinagkainan when I finished eating. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa terrace na pala si Walter, he was on his laptop, he was working. I know he hates my presence. I went to the restroom as well to change my clothes. This corporate attire is annoying the fuck out of me and my feet hurts too.
I changed into a pair of oversized pj's and went to the bed. I got a book that I brought and started reading. It was a story by Jojo Moyes, Me Before You. I was in the part where Lou and Will went to the wedding of Will's ex, specifically when Lou sat on Will and they danced on his wheelchair. I've seen the movie, but I still want to read the book. I found it interesting so I bought the book.
Walter
I can't believe this! How can my own secretary betray me. She knows about my past with Angelica. How could she do this. I would be fine if there were 2 beds, but we have no choice but to sleep on one bed! I can't believe this shit. I am very frustrated. I couldn't even focus on my work. I have to check a lot of stuff, sign documents, approve presentations, and check emails. I'm not that type of boss who relies everything to his secretary, I do work a lot. I do have a lot of friends who are also bachelors who rely on their secretaries, but I prefer working some stuff on my own. It's my business, I should do the work. Why is it so quiet? I couldn't hear Angelica any more. It has been an hour since I went here to work, but then I didn't get anything done, I did finish checking some of my emails. I'll do the rest tomorrow. It's already five, mosquitoes are biting me. It's already five the sun's down and I could see a lot of people enjoying downstairs, I could see people below us enjoying the pool. I decided to go inside our room. I saw Angelica hugging this book, while sleeping. She was always like this, those times when I came home late from work, I would check her in her room and see her all balled up, hugging a book, with her glasses on while sleeping. I went near her and slowly got removed her glasses and got her book placed it on her side table. Covered her with a blanket. I decided to change for our dinner, sayang din naman. The hotel offered it for free anyways, gaya nga nang sinabi ni Alex "Free stuff are the best" and "Wag tangihan ang grace" I changed into a pair of white polo, shorts, and slippers. We're in a resort, and I'm sure the dinner is nothing formal.
I wrote a note for her
I'll be downstairs for dinner Ms. Gonzales. Follow me if you want to.
-Mr. Arkinson.
I grabbed my phone and went down.
Angelica
I found myself lying on the bed. May blanket na ako. The room was cold. I reached for my phone on the side table, but instead I got a note. It was from Walter. Telling me he's downstairs for dinner. I immediately got up from bed and got white beach dress.
I didn't apply any makeup on, but I just wore a pair of sandals. I brushed my hair and brushed my teeth. I looked effortless, but I look good. I got my phone and went out of our room. When I went downstairs, I asked some staff if they knew where he was good thing one of them saw him, and they led me to him.
I thanked them and asked them to leave the both of us. I stopped for a minute and looked at him. He was sitting alone, while looking deeply at the sea. The waves are alive tonight. I leaned on the post and took a picture of him. I got satisfied of the picture I took, so I went near him. I sat in front of him, he was shocked to see my presence.
"We should never refuse free food Mr. Arkinson, should I call the waiter to bring us our dinner?"
"They gave me a buzzer. I'll just click this so that they'll bring us our food" and so he did minutes later our food came, we were the only ones in this area it was beautifully decorated, it was also a little far from everyone who stayed here. We ate in silence. I know he didn't want to talk to me. I noticed he kept on drinking wine though.
He finished eating first, he got up from his seat, he was a little bit red. He's drunk he finished two bottles of wine on his own while I finished a glass, my alcohol tolerance is really low and I shouldn't have drank wine in the first place.
"I'll go ahead Ms. Gonzales" and then he left. He hated my mere presence, but did he really have to leave that quick? Does he really hate me that much. I lost my appetite. I opened the last bottle of wine and drank from the bottle. I'll enjoy this night, it's been a long time since I last went on a vacation, I've been working my ass out ever since Lucio started going to school, he has a yaya, but I was his dakilang tita, I was his mommy number 2. For years I worked and worked and worked, my friends are all married, they have their own families now. I drank, listened to the waves, tears rolling down my eyes. Everything was blurry. I am in pain. I hate this. I swear to God I hated what I did. God knows kung ilang beses akong humingi nang tawad, ilang beses kong inisip kung hindi ako nagloko baka kasal na din kami ngayon, maybe I would be like my friends who are all happily married, enjoying the presence of their children, waking up to cook for their kids, coming home to see their children from work, reading them stories, celebrating holidays with their families, madami akong what ifs sa buhay ko. I am very much frustrated with my life, I have everything a woman can ask for except for a family of my own. People wouldn't blame me I'm already in my middle 20's and I am stable, of course I would want to have a family of my own, for years I never entertained any man into my life, I was waiting for the time na magkita kami ni Walter ulit, and now that I have a chance to be with him, I wouldn't waste it. I got my phone and brought the bottle of wine with me, I was having a hard time walking straight.
I rode the elevator and went to our room. I saw Walter sitting on the floor of our room drinking wine, he was wasted, just like me. I sat beside him, he didn't even spare me a glance.
"What happened to us?" he asked
"I cheated, and I broke us" he scoffed at what I said
"You did and for so many years, I asked myself why? Why did you do it? I'm sure you have so many reasons, it was also partly my fault kasi pinabayaan kita, I questioned my worth for years Angelica. Until one day I woke up feeling numb. Pero hindi ko naman siguro kasalanan na binigay sa akin lahat nang responsibilidad diba? If I was given the chance to choose, I would choose you over our business, but I didn't so I had to carry the heavy responsibilities as a brother and as a grandson. All I asked was time, but then you cheated" his eyes were bloodshot, when he looked at me, he had this look on his eyes that made me start crying.
"You were enough, and I am very sorry that you thought of it that way, I am sorry, I was dumb I-I needed someone too, and Felix was there, I am so sorry Walter. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I fucked up" I burst into tears. For years I finally said it.
"None of it was your fault. It's my fault. I should've been more understanding, I should have waited patiently. I'm sorry..I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I'm sorry for years I hated myself for cheating on you, I know being lonely isn't a reason for cheating. I had a choice, but I still did it anyways- I stopped on talked when he grabbed me and hugged me tightly. No words came out of my mouth, I sobbed in his arms, I hugged him back tightly.
"Shh stop crying" he was also crying. He held my face and wiped my tears away. "Masakit pa din Angelica, don't cry okay. You had your reasons, napabayaan kita, we both have mistakes, let's talk about this tomorrow, okay. Stop crying baka hikain ka"
I got up and got bottled water from the fridge. I opened one gave it to him, while I drank mine too. We didn't bother changing our clothes and headed to bed. Pinahiga nya ako sa braso nya, and we both hugged each other. He was caressing my head. I felt at home, I am home. I longed for him for so many years. We slept in peace that night, bahala na kung anong mangyari bukas.