"I'm sorry, " He whispered as he took a step backward, distancing himself from me and confused. Tila napapaso ito and it divergence my heart.
I wiped my tears and bore my gaze to the man in front of me. I couldn't see any glints of hope anymore.
Pain, crosses my heart. alam kong nakikita niya ngayon ito sa mga mata ko. This is the first time, I let him witnessed the sorrow that lingers behind my lifeless eyes.
"Erin, I'm sorry. Don't turn your back on me!" he repeated when my feet started to stormed out of his office. When he caught my wrist, I stopped from taking steps as he lay a warm finger on my lips.
"Why did you kiss me?" I asked him bravely.
He's towering me, ang mga mata nito'y nakatingin sa akin habang pinipilit kong maging kalmado ngunit, alam ko na, I'll ended up with hope, hoping that even in just a little, he will remember me.
"Erin look, I can't find any words to tell, nor to describe this feeling that I have right now. I'm confused, I don't know, but I kissed you because my heart told me to, even it's wrong. look, I have a fiance, and we're getting married six months from now." With those words, I found myself slapping him with a blow. Mabilis akong umalis sa harapan niya, running away from the thorns that keep on piercing my heart in grief.
Shaking, I tried to ask myself,
why did we end up like this?
I found myself running with a heavy heart inside my office. I immediately grabbed a glass of water and drank it forthwith.
Nanghihina akong napaupo sa swivel chair, tugging my fingers on the tip of the table for support.
Napadukmo nalang ako sa nangyari, I keep asking myself,
'Bakit nga ba nandito parin ako? why can't I just, runaway and build a simple life without him?'
I heard a soft knock, ini-angat ko ang aking ulo upang tingnan kung sino ito and It was Tiana with her conerned face as I welcomed her.
"Did you cry?" mabilis na tanong nito no'ng nakapasok na ito. She elegantly sat on the couch beside the wall.
"Are you okay?" tanong ulit nito.
"No, I'm not." I avoided Tiana's gaze when her eyes darted on mine.
"Did kuya hurted you?" Tumahimik na ito no'ng napagtanto na ito nga ang dahilan, kung bakit ako ganito.
I should be firm right now—not the wreck and damned, Erines. Ginusto ko ito, I risk my heart willingly to be with Travis, like a star in the sky; he's precious and distant.
I fixed myself by applying powder on my face and a shade of red lipstick. I set my hair, didn't minding Tiana's eyes.
"My brother is a jerk, bahagya akong natawa sa maarte nitong accent.
We laughed in unison when the door suddenly opened—and speaking of the jerk, Travis is wearing a navy blue polo tucked on his black pants and a pair of white sneakers. I still find him dazzling hot with anathema.
"What are you doing here, Tiana?" that was the first question from him when he slipped inside with jolts of oozing confidence, na tila wala ito'ng nagawang kasalanan.
I cleared my throat and wore my mask, showing him that what happened earlier was null and void.
"She's doing her work, you're disturbing h-"
"It's alright, Mr. Eliades, I'm enjoying her company." kumunot naman ang noo nito na ikinatagis ng bagang ni Travis.
"Do you need something, Sir?" I avoided his gaze when his eyes landed on mine. He peeked on me, and later on, he gazed away as if he was stopping himself from saying something.
"Nevermind," he said as he turned his back and left the place.
I played with my pen on my fingers when Tiana broke the silence.
"Hey, It's okay if I'll ask you to come with me to my brother's engagement party?" Panandalian akong natahimik, kaya ko ba? Kaya ko ba na makita siyang engage sa iba?
Will I keep on holding his thorns that made my heart bleed willingly?.
Tiana gazed at me in panic before she spoke again, "I didn't mean to hurt you ate! I can't get into their circles, I'm not friendly, and I don't like the people on Murielle's side. I don't really like her for my brother, tbh."
I smiled weakly and nodded before she hugged me. And from that moment, I cried silently in her arms. Tiana was there, comforting me like a fading justice.
* * *
Hours passed when Tiana bid a goodbye to me, I focused my attention on my job hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan ang oras. I fixed my things, I swiftly arranged the folders containing the company's essential documents. Dumungaw ako sa labas, the darkness invaded the clouds as the starry night welcomed me.
I peeked at the wall clock to check the time on my forehead when it was already five-thirty in the evening.
I quickly arranged the things on my desk, from the documents to my personal pieces of stuff; when I am done, I look at the mirror on the wall, checking if I still look presentable before going outside of my office.
My heart almost leaped at its speed when I opened the door, and Travis was standing outside as if he was really waiting for me.
"Going home?" nag-aalngan na tanong nito. I cleared my throat bago ako dumaan sa harapan niya na para bang wala lag siya doon.

His voice keeps on ringing in my head. He didn't surrender thus. Travis kept following me until we reached the elevator and went inside. He's standing beside me, playing with the keys in his hand.
"I heard you and My sister. I know it's rude to eavesdrops." He uttered in a low pitch, but I didnt even waste my time to glace nor listen to him. I want peace, dahil. kung hindi ko babantayan ang puso ko, i might break in front of this man.
"Please pay attention. I can't work properly without your presence in my office." I froze in my spot when I felt his warm palm on my pulse. I can't think straight right now.
"Let me go," I whispered. Instead of releasing me, Travis spoke again as the elevator opened.
"I'll take you home. It's dangerous for my employees to ride a jeep at night."