Ceaseless Fire

Chapter 19

Chapter 19
Venture

Nakatanga lamang ako habang nakaupo sa visitor's couch dito sa opisina ni Orion habang pinapanood siyang nagt-trabaho.

This was his only condition. He will only allow me to come later on his meeting with Mr. Tan to reconsider the halted project, if I will not work for today and just stay here inside his office.

And because I really wanted to help, I stayed.

Pumangalumbaba naman ako sa arm rest ng couch at wala sa sarili ko siyang tinitigan na seryoso sa kanyang ginagawa.

His lips protruded while his forehead creased. Magkasalubong din ang kanyang kilay dahil sa pagkaseryoso. There's no doubt that Orion's handsome, but he's even more handsome whenever he is serious.

Dati ko pa naiisip na magiging magaling siya sa larangang tinatahak niya ngayon. Tama lang talaga na pinakawalan ko siya noon. My sacrifices were worth it. Para sa kanya naman talaga ang ginawa kong pagtulak sa kanya at hindi para sa akin. I pushed him away knowing that unexpected things or events might happened.

Ayoko mang aminin pero masaya ako sa kung ano man ang naabot niya ngayon.

I actually hate myself for being happy with his achievements, but maybe, I'm just really happy to see that this was the product of my sacrifices. He was able to be a hardworking and responsible president of their resort. He was able to find the woman that he will spend the rest of his life with.

My sacrifices saved him from being with someone that he's not supposed to be with. And that someone is me.

A growling stomach snapped me out from my thoughts, only to find that the growl because of hunger was from my stomach. I slowly raised my gaze to Orion who's now looking at me. His brows were shot up as he stared at me.

I slyly smiled at him. "Uh... Pwede bang lumabas muna ako?" I asked him and pointed at the door.

Sumandal naman siya sa kanyang swivel chair at saka humalukipkip.

"And why?"

Bahagya namang napakunot ang aking noo. "Hindi mo ba narinig?" tukoy ko sa pagkalam ng aking tiyan. "Gutom na ako. It's already ten past twelve."

Napanguso naman siya at hinimas ang kanyang panga habang pinipigilan ang sariling mangiti o matawa.

"Saan mo gustong kumain? Dito sa office, sa Balsa or sa Seaside?" sunod-sunod na tanong sa akin ni Orion.

"Kahit saan..." sagot ko na lang at saka umayos ng pagkakaupo.

"Hmm..." he hummed as looked at the window of his office that's covered by a thin and light white curtain. "Let's just stay inside the office and eat here. Mainit ang sikat ng araw. Huwag na tayong lumabas."

Tumayo naman ako mula at agad niya akong sinundan ng tingin.

"Ako na ang kukuha ng pagkain sa may kitchen ng hotel," pagp-prisinta ko.

Hahakbang palang ako ng isang hakbang ay agad na niya akong napigilan nang magsalita siyang muli.

"Just stay here," he said.

Napalingon naman ako sa kanya na dinampot ang telepono sa kanyang lamesa.

"I'll call downstairs. Ipapaakyat ko na lang ang pagkain. Huwag ka nang umalis at umupo ka na lang diyan," sabi niya at may pinindot sa telepono bago itinapat sa kanyang tenga.

Napabalik naman ako sa aking inuupuan at saka pinaglaruan na lang ang aking daliri habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Pakiakyat na ang lunch ko sa office. Make it two meals, please," utos ni Orion sa staff na kausap niya sa telepono habang pirming nakatingin sa akin. "Oh, wait for a while..."