Seduction 101

35-Accept as it is

Maaga siyang nagising ng araw na iyon. The feeling's still there, she felt awful.

Hindi siya pumasok ng dalawang araw dahil pakiramdam niya ay mas lalo siyang magkakasakit kapag nakita niya ang taong nagpamukhang tanga sa kanya.

She's been sick for two days at hindi na siya nakapagpaalam kay Rome na hindi siya makakapasok.

Ngunit sa araw na iyon, even how shitty and stress she was, papasok siya.

Agad siyang pumasok sa kanyang banyo and took a bath.

Minutes later, she's ready to go.

She kept repeating on herself na magiging okay lang ang lahat, na kaya niyang harapin ito.

"Nay, alis na po ako." Nagmano siya sa kanyang ina at tumalikod na.

"Mag-iingat ka, anak. Wag ka masyadong maggagagalaw at baka mabinat ka." Bilin nito.

"Opo." She lamely answered.

Pumara siya ng taxi at nagpahatid sa kompanya.

Hindi niya mapigilang pagpawisan.

Kinakabahan at natatakot siya.

Hindi niya alam kung magiging maganda ba ang pagkikita nila ngayong araw.

She reached Rome's empire and she felt like throwing up.

She took a deep breath and walk on her feet. When she was about to press the elevator ay isang pagtawag ang nagpalingon sa kanya.

"Hi, Ysabelle." Light greeted.

"Hello, Light. Magandang umaga." Ngumiti siya rito.

"Are you sick perhaps, ma lady?" Light asked and scanned her face.

Ngumiti siyang muli at tumango.

"Halata kasi. Pero maganda ka pa rin naman." Pambobola pa nito.

Tumawa siya't napailing.

"Wag mo na akong bolahin, ang aga-aga pa." Biro niya naman dito.

"Speaking of maaga, maagang dumating ang bugnutin at mukhang papatay ng tao mong amo. You better prepare or else baka mas lalo kang magkasakit." She took a deep breath once more and waited for the elevator to open.

Hindi na lamang niya sinagot ito dahil wala din naman siyang sasabihin.

Bumukas ang elevator at magkasabay silang pumasok.

"Saan ka nga pala papunta?" Tanong niya rito.

"Same floor as yours, beautiful." Napangiti na naman siya. Pag ito talaga ang kausap niya ay punong-puno ng bolahan ang kanilang usapan.

"By the way, your boss' shooting daggers, you might hurt yourself." Napakunot ang noo niya't tinignan ito ng mataman.

Natawa naman ito sa reaksyon niya.

"What I mean is, ilang araw na siyang tigre though matagal na naman siyang ganyan pero these past few days seems different. Parang lahat ng makapasok sa opisina niya'y hindi na makakalabas ng buhay." She laughed at him. Ang OA na din ng pagkaka kuwento nito.

He tsked.

"Bahala ka, just see him yourself." On cue ay bumukas ang elevator and her empty desk greeted her.

Napahugot na naman siya ng malalim na hininga.

Kaya ba niyang harapin ito?

Kaya ba niyang umasta na wala lang ang nangyari?

He just popped her cherry and it doesn't seem to matter on him. Pero sa kanya, napakalaking bagay na niyon.

Even how hard she try to console herself na maayos lang ang lahat. Na kahit na hindi na siya birhen, na marami na rin naman ang kagaya niya, na hindi lang naman siya ang iniwan ay hindi niya pa rin mapigilang di masaktan.

She felt so low. Nahihiya siya sa sarili niya.

Hindi siya pinalaki ng mga magulang niya para makipag one night stand lang.

"Ahh, Ysabel? Are you getting off?" She was awakened by Light's tap on her shoulder.

"Y-es." She got off the lift and took a handful of air and cleared her mind.

"Are you okay?" Light asked.

"A-ahm. Oo naman. I am okay." She assured him.

She put her bag on her desk and took a step towards Rome's office. She slightly knocked.

Ng walang sumagot ay dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang pintuan.

Unti-unti niyang sinilip kung may tao sa loob only to see an asleep Rome.

He was awkwardly leaning on his head rest while his right hand was on the top of his table and the one's on his lap. His tie's ruffled so as his suit, mukhang hindi man lang iyon nadaanan ng plantsa. He has stubbles too.

He looked tired and haggard.

She cleared her throat.

"Sir?" She whispered. Dahan-dahan siyang pumasok.

"S-sir? Excuse me?" Kung kanina ay kinakabahan lang siya, ngayon ay parang babaliktad ang sikmura niya sa kaba. Namamawis na rin ang kamay niya.

"S-sir?" Rome stirred and slowly opened his eyes.

"G-good morning, sir. I'm sorry to disturb you but Mr. Kitagawa's here." She swallowed the lump on her throat and looked at him nervously.

"S-ir?" Mas lalong tumambol ang puso niya. Mas mabuti sanang sinigawan na lang siya nito kaysa naman titigan na lang kagaya ng ginagawa nito ngayon.

He looked at her with knowing on his eyes. Different emotions played on his face and her lips quivered when his right hand touched the side of her face. Gusto na lamang niyang ipikit ang mga mata and savor the warmth of his touch.

God! She missed him so much!

But the moment didn't even lasted for a minute. The door opened and Light barged in.

His face became stoic and his eyes showed no emotions but coldness.

All of a sudden he became...guarded.

"Good morning, sir." Light greeted. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin and everything for her's just so awkward. With her head bowed down, she slowly slipped out through his door.

Dahan-dahan niyang pinakawalan ang kanina pa pigil na hininga.

She caressed her chest. Parang may nakabarang bato doon, she's having short breaths and there's a lump on her throat that she's she's trying to hold grift.

Any minute ay sasabog na siya. But it's not the right place to be emotional. Pero hindi niya pa rin mapigilang hindi maguluhan.

Naguguluhan siya kasi kahit anong isip niya, anong hinuha niya, di niya pa rin malaman kung ano nga ba ang iniisip ni Rome, ano nga ba ang nararamdaman nito sa kanya.

Pinaglalaruan lang ba siya nito?

Ginamit?

Okay lang naman ang lahat ng mga nakaraang araw, bakit ngayon pakiramdam niya nagsisimula na naman sila sa pagiging estranghero.

Sumasakit na ang ulo niya kakaintindi rito, kakaisip na baka may problema ito.

"Ysabel?" Agad niyang pinahid ang luhang namalisbis sa kanyang pisngi and plastered a smile and turned to face Light.

"Are you okay?" Light softly asked.

"Yes, Light. I will be okay." A promise could be heard on her voice.