MARIAM'S POV
TIME passed and we finished our work. I haven't seen Yrac yet and I don't think I will see him again.
"We're going first, Mariam," Andrea and Rebecca said goodbye with a smile.
"Oh, go ahead! Thank you!" I said while smiling.
While I was fixing my locker, I suddenly felt sad again. I just remembered Yrac. I don't know why no matter how much I stop myself from thinking about him, I just can't.
I turned my attention to the front door when I saw Ma'am Fe entered our locker room.
"Hey! Why are you still here? Aren't you going home yet?" Ma'am Fe asked when she entered and put her other things in her locker.
I took a deep breath before speaking again, "Ma'am Fe, I have a question," I asked while gently rubbing my neck.
She turned her eyes to me after she finished putting her things in her locker and spoke.
"What is it, hija? I'm willing to listen," she asked while smiling after approaching me.
"W-what if I just give Yrac what he wants?" I asked about what Yrac told me and how he forced me.
She frowned at me after I said that line.
"You mean yourself?" She asked.
I slowly nodded. I felt my tears fall again. I do not know what to do. Yrac got mad at me because he thought Sir Airroz was my boyfriend when the truth is he is not. He thought I betrayed him and I'm mad with myself because I agreed Sir Airroz' decision to tell him that even though it's just a lie.
"Hija, it's not an answer to give yourself to the person you like. If he loves you, he should be ready to wait when you want to give yourself whether you are a virgin or not. Do you understand what I'm talking about?" Ma'am Fe asked then placed her hand on my shoulder.
"But do you think Yrac is ready to forgive me and accept me? What I mean is..... Sir Airroz has taken my virginity. Is he still willing to accept me?" I tearfully asked.
Ma'am Fe smiled at me and removed both of her hands from my shoulders before speaking again, "If he really loves you, he will accept you whether you are a virgin or not," Ma'am Fe said with a smile then said goodbye to me.
WHEN I ARRIVED at home, I was immediately greeted by my siblings. It's just nice to go home because I can see the smiles of my siblings which makes my stress go away.
"Sister! Brother Yrac is here!!" Fern smiled widely at me causing my eyes to widen and surprised me!
"W-what did you say Fern?" I stuttered, making sure I heard her correctly.
"Sister, I said, Brother Yrac is here! He's inside!" Fern said with a wide smile as she pointed the house.
"We really missed him Sister!" Chesca's voice caused my eyes to turn to her.
"Stay here for a while, alright?" I told them then ran into the house so I could see Yrac.
"Y-yrac?" I whispered tearfully but just enough for him to hear.
"There you are, Mariam. Come and let's eat together with the children," he said with a wide smile.
That smile. That's one of the reasons I like him. My world seemed to spin and my heart beat faster. I calmly calmed myself down and faced him.
"Y-you're not mad at me anymore?" I asked.
I know that we are both wrong because I let him believe that Sir Airroz is my boyfriend while Yrac tried to make something happen between us. I don't know but no matter what reason he shows and does, he is still the stuff of my heart.
He came close to me and tucked my loose hair behind my ear.
"If he's your boyfriend, I'm ready to do everything just to make you mine," he said then smiled at me.
I felt my heart beating fast again causing me to hold my chest.
Despite the nervosness I feel, fear resurfaces in my heart. Fear that he won't accept me because Airroz has taken away my virginity.
"Y-yrac!" I called him when he was about to leave in front of me.
"Hmm?" he said smiling.
"Sir Airroz is not my boyfriend," I admitted.
I saw the width of Yrac's smile when I said that word.
"B-but..." I uttered, trying not to stutter but I didn't win.
"What's the problem?" He frowned while asking.
"B-but s-something happened between u-us," I stammered as I bit my lower lip and focused my eyes on my feet.
"What? What did you say?" He asked. You could hear the tinge of anger in the tone of his speech.
"S-something happened to us---" I couldn't finish what I was going to say when Yrac suddenly cut me off.
"I heard it, Mariam!" He screamed causing me to startle!
He sighed and clenched his fists, "How many men had taken you?" His question made me frown!
I was crying but I forced myself to look at him in his eyes because I was confused by his question.
"W-what?" I asked hesitantly.
"How many men have you slept with?" H questioned in a serious tone.
I couldn't stop myself because I suddenly put my right hand on his left cheek!
I can not believe it! Of all people, it never occurred to me that Yrac would say that word! I thought he knew me!
Even though I was shaking with anger, I forced myself to be brave. I first wiped my tears that had been falling before I spoke again, "Don't worry, there's only one man who touched me. I'm actually drunk. I don't know what I'm doing. But Yrac, the pain, the pain here," I said then pointed to my chest then spoke again. "I thought you were the one who would comfort me, the one who would accept me. I thought you would say 'That's fine, Mariam. I accept you whether you're a virgin or not because that's true love. You will accept what, who and whatever the person you love lacks.' But I was wrong. You're just one of those people who do nothing but judge someone!" I uttered in tears.
I saw Yrac's smirk causing my chest to tighten, "Stop your drama, Mariam! You're disgusting!" he said and went out of our small house.
As soon as he came out, I sat on the floor. Why are other people like that? Why does virginity a big deal to them? Shouldn't all women be loved and respected? But why did the person I thought would accept me did the opposite? It's depressing!
I heard my sisters running towards me causing them to hug me.
THE NEXT MORNING I immediately brewed coffee to warm my stomach. I didn't sleep well and I know my eyes are puffy from crying. It's good that my siblings didn't ask what happened last night. I am thankful because they just kept me on my bed on the floor all night just to make me feel their love.
"I think your eyes are swollen?" I frowned when Andrea asked when I entered our department. I still see the bad looks of my co-workers but I just ignored them and focused more on myself.
"Is that because of those people who kept on talking behind your back? " Rebecca whispered about women talking to me face to face or back.
"No," I said.
"Where?" She and Andrea asked me at the same time.
"I'll tell you later at breaktime," I said with a forced smile then prepared the things I would use.
"You want me to clean Sir Airroz's penthouse?" Rebecca's suggestion caused me to refuse.
"No, you might be the one to be scolded by him when he's hot-headed," I said.
I don't want to repeat what happened before where he humiliated my friend. It's better for me to be the one receiving those words than my loved ones.
"Are you sure?" She asked again.
"I'm sure!" I said then said goodbye to them and went to the opposite side of the elevator.
Just as I entered, someone suddenly chased the elevator, causing me to look at his face for a moment.
He's the guy who was with Sir Airroz in the past!
"What's the floor, Sir?" I asked.
"Top-floor, please," he said seriously.
I didn't even bother to press the top-floor because that was the only place I was going.
Maybe he is a friend of Sir Airroz so he will go to his penthouse.
"What's with that kind of face?" he asked but his eyes were on his watch.
I looked at my face in the mirror behind me which was attached to the elevator then frowned as I looked at him and spoke.
"I don't have dirt on my face, Sir," I uttered.
"I mean. You look like a zombie. Look at those eyebags, it seems like you cried all night," he laughed.
"I was just tired working all day and night," I lied.
"Liar," he shook his head. I didn't respond and let the elevator open to the top floor.
I let him swipe Sir Airroz's duplicate card and when he opened the door I immediately followed him.
The house is a mess. The smell of wine and vomit. What happened to Sir Airroz? Could it be that he remembers his wife that's why his penthouse is like this?
I saw the disgust of the man I was with in the elevator. "He might be really really drunk. I'll go get some drinks first. I'll leave him to you for a minute," the man uttered.
I didn't stay silent any longer and let him go out of Sir Airroz's penthouse. I rolled my eyes and when I saw that Sir Airroz's room was open, I immediately went there and saw how dirty his room was. Beyond this is a black room that is currently locked. I just ignored that and started cleaning. It will take me a long time to clean his penthouse today because it is so dirty.
"Drinking is not a solution to the problem," I whispered and cleaned up.
A minute later I heard footsteps. Perhaps it was the man I shared the elevator with who entered Sir Airroz's penthouse.
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice asked me which caused me to immediately turn around!
"Don't just stare at me. I'm asking you, what are you doing here?" he asked seriously.
"I'm c-cleaning?" I answered nervously while looking into his eyes.
"I know you're cleaning. What I meant was, what are you doing here inside my room without asking my permission before you enter?" he authoritatively asked that made me scared.
"Ahmm... I'm sorry. Your room is dirty, so I thought I needed to clean it. B-but don't worry. I-I didn't take any of your stuff or money. Even if you touch me now, you won't get anything, not even a peso," I stammered.
What I said was true. Even if he touches me now, he won't be able to get anything from me or even money.
"Get out," he said.
"Sir?" I asked.
"I said get----" he didn't finish what he was supposed to say when suddenly someone spoke behind me.
"Seriously? Screaming in the morning?" the man who was with me earlier in the elevator laughed.
"Come here, Ms. Ramirez," the man called me, causing my forehead to furrow.
How did he know me? This is even the second time we met and he recognized me right away?
I immediately approached him and as soon as I approached him, he held me by my shoulders then he brought me to his face and uttered. "I like you," he said seriously causing me to fold my lips.
"Airamis," Sir Airroz' voice dominated the penthouse when he spoke authoritatively.
TO BE CONTINUED