[ CONTINUATION OF CHAPTER 6 ]
Travis waited for my response. I calmed my nerves before I met his gaze with my stoic countenance. "Why are you doing this? Look, Mr. Eliades, You already announced that you're getting married and it's wrong to be with someone, since you're getting married, Six months from now. Why are you outside my office? Riding the same elevator with your employee, even it's clear that you have your own. and you even asked to take me home. What's your problem? I keep on avoiding you, but you keep on confusing me."
My heart tugged inside my chest. Saying those words hurt me big time. I should be happy, pero bakit nasasaktan ako?
"I'm sorry," I blurted out as a lone tear fell from my eyes and turned my back from him. Travis was just standing there, tulala ito. He was in awe, foreseeing how his apathetic secretary shed a tear in front of her boss.
Pumara ako sa pinakamalapit na sakayan ng jeep, mabilis naman itong huminto hanggang sa makasakay ako.
When I got home, the darkness invades the entire atmosphere.
Puno ng pagod akong nahiga sa couch malapit sa pinto, I rested my head on the small pillow at the end of the couch.
My phone buzzed, Tamad kong kinuha iyon, a message from Tiana saying that she'd pick me up by nine in the evening.
I looked at my phone screen; it was already six in the evening. Thirty minutes of travel from work to my apartment.
I breathed in and out bago magtungo sa kwarto ko at maghanap ng damit na isusuot. She picked the white bodycon dress Mavis gave on her twenty-fifth birthday, paired with her black stiletto.
When she's done, nagtungo muna siya sa kusina to nourishing foods on her tummy. She's kinda tired and hungry.
Making her all-time favorite, Tuna sandwich and a pomelo juice with velvet cake for her dessert. She digs in and eats with her heart's content.
* * * * *
When she's done, she washes the dishes. Nang matapos mag-hugas ng pinagkainan ay nagtungo na siya sa kwarto upang maligo sa banyo.
When everything is in its place, wearing her dress and stilleto, she wears the necklace that Travis gave her three years ago, A sterling silver Necklace. It was his last birthday gift for her.
She killed the sadness blazing inside her chest. She applied light makeup on the face of the stunning lady on her reflection, curling the tips of her burgundy hair, and for the last touch, she used red lipstick on her lip.
She just waited until she heard a loud knock mixing with the voice of Tiana outside of her house. Huminga muna siya ng malalim at kinuha ang purse niya.
Masuyo niya itong binuksan welcoming the beauty of Tiana with her sexy black elegant dress.
"You're stunning, ate Erin!" she said while examining my appearance. Tiana's beauty sparkled like the stars in the sky.
"Let's go?" she asked.
I nodded and smiled at her.
"Are you sure you're coming with me?" nag-aalalang tanong nito, her eyes were filled with hesitation to move forward.
"It's okay, Tiana, don't worry." Tiana's bodyguard opens the door leading us to the car's back seat.
Nang makasakay na kami started the engine and drove safely to our destination for tonight. Habang nasa byahe, Tiana keep on stealing glances on my direction. Tila hindi ito mapakali.
"Tiana, I 'm okay." tumango ito at bumuntong hininga. Tiana remained silent until the extravagant red carpet welcomed us when the bodyguard opened the car's door.
Dali-dali kong isinuot ang maskara na ibinigay sa akin ni Tiana, kalmado na ito ngayon hindi kagaya kanina.
"Let's go!" Tiana said while holding my wrist, I just followed every steps that she's taking. nakatingin sa amin ang mga taong nadadaanan namin. This is what I hated.
Narinig kong mayroong tumawag kay Tiana, one of the servants of the Eliades Mansion.
"Lady Tiana, pinapatawag po kayo ng inyong Mama." hinihingal na saad nito. Halatang pagod na ito kaka-asista sa mga galanteng tao.
Nag-alangan na tumingin sa akin si Tiana, maybe she's scared that I might be lost on their vast villa.
"Sige na Tiana. Go, I can handle myself." tinulak tulak ko pa ito upang maka-alis na. napansin kong mediyo malalim na ang gabi kaya't naisipan ko'ng maglakad lakad na lamang.
The beauty of the night sky keeps on shining. The stars are perfectly aligned with their light, giving brilliance to the heart of darkness.
While walking, I found myself on the fountain. Some roses keep on dancing with the calm winds.
Ramdam ko ang lamig mula sa simoy ng hangin, without removing my mask, I tried to pick a rose. I scrutinized closer and gasped when thorns were protecting the beauty of the rose.
"What are you doing here, Miss? Nagsisimula palang ang party." taking the step slowly on the side of the fountain, muntik na akong ma-out of balance dahil sa gulat, when a strong pair of hands supported my waist.
"Careful," he mumbles without breaking the connection of our eyes. He is wearing a mask too that hides his identity, but my heart knows him, this man in front of me.
"Travis... " my heart keeps on pounding inside my chest. A tear fell from my eyes. He noticed it. Ilang dipa lamang ang layo namin.
I'm longing for his kisses. Mukhang nakilala na ako nito when his eyes landed on my lips, he wiped my tears using his finger, Nalulula ako sa mga mata nito.
Unti unting nagtagpo ang aming mga labi, but it suddenly stops when a voice from a woman roared on the dark side of the garden.
"Travis! Travis where are you? Our speech will start five minutes from now." mabilis ko itong tinulak, I looked at him, he's lost. Umiling iling ako habang umaatras papalayo sa kaniya. Nakatitig lamang ito sa akin na tila nagtatanong, I can feel it.
Pinunansan ang luhang lumalandas sa aking pisngi, marahan ko ito'ng pinunasan. Natagpuan ko ang aking sarili sa gitna ng mga bisita, mula sa gilid ay tanaw ko si Senator Vidalez with his wife. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at nagtungo sa tagong parte ng kasiyahan.
My eyes were searching for Tiana. I saw her on the side of the elegant stage, sitting beside her mother.
I saw the padre de pamilya of the Eliades clearing his throat while holding a mic. The crowd stopped talking and stuck their gaze on the man.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am here in front of you, on behalf of my family. This celebration isn't all about the upcoming wedding of our son. It's also about the fruitful celebration of Eliades Enterprise for its luck in the world of business. I wanted to congratulate my son for his perseverance and allegiance in the world of thieves. Thank you." Natawa naman ang lahat sa huling salita ng padre de pamilya ng mga Eliades.
The man gave the mic to the woman beside Travis. It was Murielle Vidalez, the daughter of her father and her step-sister.
She took a step backward, looking at the two. They're smiling happily at the crowd, Until she meets Travis's eyes, he's looking at her intently despite the distance and darkness in her place.
She's about to turn her back when an old man bumped on her, made her fall onto the ground, and made her the center of the crowd.
Travis's eyes widened, same as Tiana, who's now standing. Tiana is trying to avoid her mother's warning.
"Miss, Are you okay?" hindi niya marinig ng maayos ang boses nito. All she could hear was the loud beating of her heart, the jeers and laughing echoes of the people who witnessed her downfall.
She stands up weakly, Embracing the thorns while leaving the place where she doesn't belong.