Termination of Desire

Kabanata 28

"Yes, uhm. It's okay. I'll be there maybe in a month or two—" I was cut off by my cough. "I know, Mr. Toussaint. Don't worry—"

I coughed again, so I distanced my phone from me a bit before I spoke again.

"I'll call you again, bye."

I ended the call and cleared my throat. Uminom ako ng tubig at saka hinilot ang noo. Masama ang pakiramdam ko. Sobrang bigat ng ulo ko at ng buong katawan. Maybe because I got soaked in the rain yesterday. Kami ni Gunther.

I clearly remember what happened that night. We made love and spent the rest of the night there.

Namula ang pisngi ko nang maalala 'yon kaya napainom uli ako ng tubig.

"Are you okay?" tanong ni Helen sa harap ko.

Tinignan ko siya pero hindi 'yon nagtagal dahil namumula ang pisngi ko. Tumango lang ako bilang sagot.

"Ano bang nangyari sa 'yo? Where have you been last night?"

"I told you I spent my weekend at some... resort. Nasobrahan lang siguro ako sa paglangoy. I even swam at night kaya... siguro gano'n." Hindi ko siya matignan.

"Here. Take these meds. It will help you feel better." Inilapag niya sa mesa ko ang isang pouch.

Tinignan ko lang 'yon pero hindi nagsalita. Instead, I continued working on my laptop.

"Are you sure you weren't with Gunther?"

Nahinto ako sa pagtitipa at tumingin sa kanya. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin. Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kanya bago muling tumingin sa laptop.

"Yes," I lied.

"Then what was this all about?"

Inihagis niya ang isang dyaryo sa mesa ko. Napatingin ako doon at nakita ang headline news sa entertainment page.

Frances Fragrances founder dating rumors with an Esquivel scion!

Marahan ko 'yong kinuha at binasa ang laman.

Frances Villarosa of Frances Fragrances was spotted in an Italian restaurant with the Esquivel scion—Scentatique's master perfumer and a chemical engineer, Gunther Esquivel. This scene speculates more about their rumored dating.
 
It was on May 25th when the two met at Frances Fragrances' store branch opening in the Philippines and were then spotted going out afterwards. Their secret rendezvous sparked the media and the netizens dating rumors. Is it true that they're officially dating?

Napasinghap ako sa nabasa. How could this happen?

"Do you really think you don't have a name in the industry? Kayong dalawa?" matabang na sabi ni Helen.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at sinuklay lang ang buhok gamit ang daliri. Itinabi ko ang dyaryo at saka itinuon ang kamao sa ulo.

Now, this is even more frustrating. How could news like that spread? I thought we were careful enough?

"You even lied to me, just to create proof of your dating rumors."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. Nagtaas siya ng kilay sa akin.

"No?" hamon niya.

Nag iwas ako ng tingin at saka bumuntong hininga.

"What are you doing, Frances?" seryosong tanong ni Helen. "I thought you were here for your business? Why is another business involved?"

Hindi ako nakaimik. Mariin na magkalapat lang ang mga labi ko habang nakikinig sa kanya.

"Wala sa usapan na makikipagrelasyon ka. Lalo na sa Gunther na 'yon!" bahagyang tumaas ang boses niya.