Breaking His Defenses (COMPLETED /raw version Published under PHR)

Part 17

"PLEASE JAMES. Please! Kahit ngayon lang. Sige na." Pagmamakaawa niya sa kaibigan. It was the day after her reunion with Tita Beth and Simon. She's inside James' office hoping for the latter to help her with her problem. Kailangan niyang paniwalain si Simon na nakapag-move on na siya nang tuluyan. At si James ang susi sa goal niyang iyon.

Kaya heto siya at nagmamakaawa kay James na maging pretend boyfriend niya.

"Teka. Sino ba ang kailangan lokohin...este...pakitaan natin?" James face looked like he's about to burst in laughter anytime.

"Huwag mo akong tatawanan ha?" Warning niya dito.

"Promise."

"It's... Simon Sillen."

Hindi nga tumawa si James. He was serious. "What? Hindi ka ba nagbibiro? Simon Sillen. As in your high school... uhmm you know?" Bakas ang pag-iingat nito ng mga gagamiting salita dahil alam nito na sensitive and issue na iyon sa kanya noon. James witnessed her pain because of Simon.

"Yeah. My high school... uhmm you know."

"Wow..."

"Anong wow? Dapat 'what the F'. The moment I tried to get near him, nagkaproblema agad ako. Ngayong gabi, kailangan kong pumunta sa dinner namin ni Tita Beth. Isama ko raw ang boyfriend ko." Himutok niya.

I shouldn't have hoped for destiny, fate and second chances.

She shared her story about Mika urging her to try to be close with Simon again. Pero ang inaakala nilang single na Simon ay may girlfriend pala. And to save her pride, sinabi niyang may boyfriend siya. Para din isipin nitong naka-move on na siya sa buhay.

"Wait... naguguluhan ako. You mean, you tried to get close to him dahil may feelings ka pa sa kanya?" Pagkaklaro ni James.

"Yeah... I just realized na isa sa mga reason ko kung bakit ko tinanggap ang business proposal mo ay dahil may kulang sa buhay ko. I never had a relationship while in US. And when I saw him again, I realized that he's the reason why."

Para kay Patti ay isang tunay na kaibigan ito na pwede niyang kwentuhan ng kahit ano. Isa pa ay alam nito ang history niya with Simon. It never felt weird talking to James like that.

"So all these years, you're still keeping him inside your heart?"

"Big words, but yes. Inside my heart. But he has someone else so I have to step back and have to face reality. Nakapagbitiw na rin ako na isasama ko ang boyfriend ko sa dinner. So are you gonna help me or... are you gonna help me?"

Natawa si James sa binigay niyang options dito. She'll do what it takes to make him say yes.

"May choice pa ba ako?"

"That's a yes, right?"

"It's a yes, Patti."

Relief flood through her.