False Chase

Chapter XLIII

"The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open." 
― Chuck Palahniuk

XLIII

Kill Me

HOW DO YOU GET someone who belongs to someone else? I'm so desperate to get Ellise back, even if it's wrong. Ayoko ng mang-gago at mang-gamit ng ibang tao para kalimutan siya. Kailangan kong harapin ang tunay na nararamdaman ko para sa kanya. I can never imagine myself moving on from her.

Julia and I have called it quits last night. My attempts to get over Ellise and move on have been useless. In the first place, I shouldn't have given up on her. And like what Catherine had told me, I should stop playing safe.

I'm done being a coward.

When I walk towards the meeting place, I've received questioning looks from my employees. They're probably curious about the bruise on my cheek.

"Do you want me to carry it for you, sir?" tanong ng sekretarya kong si Arianne. "I'll carry these two. You can carry the other one and open the door for me," I instruct.

Hinawakan ko ang dalawang kape, at binuksan ni Arianne ang pinto. Pagpasok ko, nakita kong nakaupo si Chris at Ellise na masayang nag-uusap. Tumatawa siya't mukhang may sinabi si Chris na nakakatawa.

I frown at the sight. Bakit ang daming umaaligid kay Ellise? I already have her boyfriend as a problem, but Chris is trying to add himself to that list.

Hinampas ko ang mesa na nagpakuha sa kanilang atensyon. Sinamaan ko silang dalawa ng tingin. Tinaas ni Ellise ang kanyang kilay, at ngumisi ng nakakaloko si Chris.

Ibinigay ko ang kape kay Ellise, at nang nabaling ang tingin niya sa pisngi ko, nag-aalala na tinanggap niya 'yon. Kinuha rin ni Chris mula kay Arianne ang kape.

Nang umalis ang sekretarya ko, nagsalita si Chris. "Ang init naman ng ulo mo," aniya. "PMS?" Mapang-asar siyang ngumiti.

"This isn't a place for flirting," I rebuke. Tinapunan ko ng masama na tingin si Ellise na sumipsip sa kanyang kape. "And don't you have a boyfriend, Ms. Cortez? Why are you flirting with him?"

Ellise rolls her eyes exasperatedly. "We aren't flirting," she retorts. "And me, having a boyfriend, is none of your business."

I narrow my eyes at her, and she reciprocates my gaze.

Chris doesn't seem fazed by my irritation because he asks, "Oh, anong nangyari diyan sa mukha mo?"

Binalingan ko siya ng tingin. "None of your business."

"Whatever." Hindi niya na ako tinatanong pa.

Tumikhim ako. "Let's start the meeting, and get it over with," I tell them irritably.

Isang oras naming natapos ang diskusyon, at nalusaw ang inis na naramdaman ko. After the meeting, Ellise yawns, and Chris stretches his arms.

"I'll work on this at home," sabi ni Chris.

"Palagi mo nalang 'yan ginagawa at iniiwan mo kaming dalawa," tugon ni Ellise.

"Aren't I doing the two of you a favor by doing so?" he asks amusingly.

"No, you're not," naiinis na sagot ni Ellise. "Why don't I go home, and you work here with him." Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin.

"Why don't the two of you go home?" I tell them sarcastically. "I'll work on everything here because surely, I can do all this work alone miraculously."