Day Twenty-Nine
I can't believe she hasn't called.
My phone didn't ring once after we returned to New York. A part of me knew that was a possibility, though. Whenever Bea closed a deal, she threw a celebratory party. The deal immediately became 'old news' the second the party began, and she started looking for a new pursuit.
I'd read reports of how happy she was at the closing celebration, how she told everyone there that her fiancé was unable to come due to "personal reasons." So, I took that as a sign to keep my distance. I'd even considered showing up to the party, but I changed my mind at the last minute.
"Cheer up, Cait." My sister placed a mug of hot cocoa in front of me. "At least naka sex mo s'ya. It was amazing every time, right?"
"No." She smiled. "Yes"
"Well, i-treasure mo yung mga memories na 'yon until makahanap ka ng iba. I'm sure nakamove on na 'yon sa iba by now. She is Ms. Page Six after all."
"Paki remind naman ako not to come to you pag kelangan ko ng comfort ulit."
"I don't understand why it's that big of a deal." She took a cupcake out of the refrigerator. "You've worked hard for her for two years. Attracted ka sa kanya, but not enough to cross the line. She invites you to do a new, temporary contract – one where she's basically letting you off the hook for the final few days, at eto ka nagmumukmok about it. It's not like you're in love with the girl. Right?"
I didn't answer.
"Oh my god..." She plopped down in front of me. "I guess I should've seen that as the reason why you refused to go out and date new people after your last breakup."
"That had nothing to do with her."
"I think it has everything to do with her. Why else would you spend all the extra time with her before the arrangement?" She looked as if she was about to launch into one of her "deep" and not-so-insightful spiels, but there was a sudden knock at the door.
"Ako na." I rushed over to the door and found myself face to face with our mother.
"Ma?" I said. "Akala ko this weekend ka pa darating."
"Kelan mo sasabihin sa'kin na engaged ka na?" She looked hurt. "Kelangan ko pang mabasa sa Financial Times. I had to fly here earlier than I originally planned because I just knew you wouldn't hide something like that from me for this long. Would you?"
"Mag-usap tayo about d'yan." I sighed and let her inside. "Coffee or tea?"
"Vodka."
I walked into my kitchen and poured her a shot. I made myself a cup of orange juice.
"Your boss is a damn good catch," she said, taking the glass from me. "Nagulat lang ako you went for her after all the complaining you did during your first six months there."
"Hindi 'yon totoong engagement, ma," I said. "It never was."
"Well, of course, it's a real engagement. You don't have to get married within a year like your papa and I did to make it a real thing."
"No, hindi 'yan ang ibig kong sabihin. I mean we were never –"
Someone knocked on the door mid-sentence, before I could finish.
"Sandali lang," I said, getting up to answer the door. I opened it and found myself face to face with Bea.
"Yes?" I said.
"Hindi mo ba ako papapasukin?"
"Yes." I blushed at the sight of her in her trademark black suit, and motioned for her to come in.
"Caitlin, is that her?" My mother called from the kitchen, but she didn't wait for me to answer.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Viray." Bea extended her hand to my mother as she walked into the living room. "I'm Bea de Leon, Caitlin's fiancé."
My mother looked at her, then at me. She mouthed, "WOW" to me and shook Bea's hand before returning to the kitchen.
"I didn't know you had company tonight," Bea said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Malalaman mo if you'd answered my text messages and stopped ignoring me."
She raised her eyebrow. "You ordered me a new phone and a new service before we left for Blue Harbor. I just switched it over the other day. My apologies for not calling you, but I'm definitely not ignoring you, Caitlin."
We stared at each other.
"I was just thinking about you and wanted to stop by," she said.
"For sex?"
"Not just for sex." She smiled. "Pwede ka bang pumunta ng office tomorrow and clear out your desk? Deanna is starting to get antsy about moving into your office. If you come back to work, I'll let you keep it."
"I don't think so." I laughed as her lips landed on mine. "Anong oras mo ako gusto pumunta?"
"Eight o'clock," she said. "And I want you to stop by my office first."
"Okay." I kissed her again, and she walked to the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." I returned to the kitchen and sat across from my mother.
"Now, what was it you were saying about this engagement to your fiancé not being real?" she asked.
"Wala." I smiled.
