Flickered By Innocence (Crossing The Line Series 4) ✅

F.B.I-27

I pushed him a bit when Gellian almost kissed my lips. Roaming my eyes around, I checked to see if there was someone around and breathed out after I saw that there wasn't. It's still early in the morning and the way towards our resort didn't get passed by the cars that much during the morning.

 
"T-thank you for saving me, Darky—I mean, Gellian." I slipped my tongue.

Gellian put his shades up to his hair which revealed his tantalizing eyes. I wasn't able to check him this close yesterday so I guess this is the right time to do that. Nagdaan man ang anim na taon ay hindi nagbago ang kanyang maamong mukha. Mas tumangkad lang ito at lumaki ang katawan.

I wonder if he has already found his perfect match. It's been a long time, so he probably dated a lot of girls while I stayed single since birth. I hadn't thought of looking for a partner when he left me because I was still holding on to his promise. He promised that he would marry me six years ago once he came back, so I'm lowkey hoping. Nonetheless, I would still support him if he found the right one, even if it's not me.

Hindi ko na napansin na umiiyak na pala ako habang nakatingin sa kanya. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha habang pinupunasan ko ang aking mga luha. Kinuyom ko ang aking kamao para humupa ang aking nararamdaman.

Muli akong sumulyap sa kanyang sasakyan. "N-naiyak lang ako kasi... naaawa ako kay Darky." I lied.

Gellian gasped in disbelief. "Are you calling my car Darky? I thought Darky was how you... called me earlier." He frowned.

I bet he didn't know that his frowned face was my weakness since we were kids. He's being extra cute whenever he puckers his lips and his brows furrow afterwards. I could watch his grumpy face all day without getting tired.

"I really want to call you Darky, but I will only call someone Darky if he's Daks like Aaron. Oh? It sounds like a tongue twister—"

He cut me off when he growled. "Ano?! T-totoo ba yung narinig ko? Tinawag mong daks yung mokong na 'yon?"

Tumango naman ako kaagad. "Yup! Aaron is really daks. You aren't daks like him, so I won't call you Darky."

"Okay," Tipid niyang sagot bago bumalik sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan at mabilis iyong pinaandar.

Did I get him mad?

Did I stamp on his pride when I said that Aaron is much kinder, a gentleman, and more obedient than he was?

Did he not catch my joke and take it seriously?

 

Mabilis akong lumabas ng sasakyan matapos ko iyong iparada sa parking lot na nasa labas ng aming resort. Maaga pa kaya nagulat ako nang salubungin ni Tatay Celso, siya ang gwardya ng resort namin dito sa Laguna.

"Zein, alas-10 pa ang meeting kasama ang mga business planners. Bakit ang aga mo yatang dumating?" Ani niya matapos sumulyap sa kanyang relo.

"Maaga po akong nagising para makapag-prepare. Kumain na po ba kayo?" I opened my small purse and handed him a one-thousand peso bill, which he tensely declined.

"Naku, Zein! Wag ka nang mag-abala, kakatapos ko lang mag-almusal. A-alam kong nagtitipid ka rin pampasahod sa amin dahil hindi ganoon kalakas... ang kita dito sa resort." Dispair was evident in his voice.

I tapped his shoulder. "Wag po kayong mag-alala. Gagawa po ako ng paraan para maresolba ang problema ng ating resort. Hindi ko po kayo... papabayaan."

I immediately slammed myself on the glass table upon seeing bunches of paperwork. These are probably some reviews and the list of cancelled reservations at our resort. Summer is about to come, so it makes me wonder why some reservations have been called off. 

 

The business planners arrived at 10 am. They were suggested by my dad, so they must be prominent. I welcomed them with a hug as they entered the conference room. My hands were clasped, hoping it would relieve my nervousness. 

 

"G-Garcia Private Resort here in Laguna has been experiencing a loss of... customers and visitors for the past few months. U-unlike the other branches, it received the lowest income for this year." I barely managed to speak, while looking at their judging eyes on me.

 

My parents aren't here to help me out, and I'm now in front of a lot of professionals who I only met today. My knees are trembling under the table, but I have to keep myself firm. I promised our workers that I would do my best to surpass this crisis, so I have to be strong. 

 

  
A guy who's probably around my age cleared my throat. "Hello I'm Nico, a businessman from Alore Ventures, and your dad asked me to guide you with your plans. How are you, Zein?" 

 

Di ko sinasadyang pagtaasan siya ng kilay. "I'm fine, Nico. Do you know me before?"

 

Masuri kong pinagmasdan ang kanyang mukha at sigurado akong ngayon ko lang siya nakita. He called me by my first name in a very casual tone, as if he knew me for a long time, it made me cringe. He seems like a fine guy, but I don't like the way he looks at me.

 

It feels strange.

"This is the first time that I saw you, Mr. Garcia. I'm sorry if I sounded rude. My friends often say that I am but..."

"Let's go back to our business, sir. Do you have something to add?" I said in a monotone.

 

Kagaya ko'y nakamasid din sa kanya ang ilang business planners. Ang iba'y napapangisi nalang habang ang iba'y bakas ang pagkadismaya. Hindi ko mawari kung saan siya kumuha ng lakas ng loob na kamustahin ako sa gitna ng aming mainit na diskasyon.

"Do you know that there's a new resort that just recently opened a few blocks away from here, Mr. Garcia?" Nico scoffed.

 

Napuno ng samut saring bulungan ang office. Hindi rin ako nakasagot kaagad dahil maaaring iyon ang dahilan ng pagkalugi ng aming resort. Huminga ako nang malalim bago sumambit ng salita.

"Pardon my ignorance, Nico. Do you happen to know who owns the resort nearby?"

He bit his lower lip. "None other than the most influential businessman, Mr. Allen Zamora. The father of a great actor, Gellian Ross Zamora."
 

---------

🌈💅