PLEASE BE MINE...AGAIN (Completed/Editing)

Chapter 6.1

Hello guys!

Mustamos? I hope everything is well. Anyway, Christmas is already in the air and I can feel the cool breeze running through spine. At tumatanggap na rin ako ng mga gifts. lol. Kidding aside.

Anyway, this is just a short update at pwede na rin sigurong pagtiyagaan. I just missed writing and Steven is so dear to me that I cannot just toss him in the trash because my schedule is so cray-cray. Wala eh. Hinahanap talaga ng sistema ko ang pagsusulat.

So I hope you'll enjoy this update. I'll try my best to update the next part ASAP. Comments and votes are highly appreciated. Thank you!

Much love,

Lhara McFadden

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Lorabelle was already in her station when she noticed a shadow on the paper that she was looking down at. She slowly lifted her sight and she was damned surprise when she saw Steven in front of her. She stood up from the swivel chair. Hindi niya alam kung paano mag-react lalo na nang makita niya itong nakangiti. Colors took off from her face and she knew that she already looked so pale. Halata naman kasi pakiramdam niya ay nanginginig ng buo niyang katawan.

"S-sir," aniya habang pilit na iniiwas na magkasalubong ang mga paningin nila.

"Ah, Miss Yañez, can you please do me favor?"

"Y-Yes, S-Sir. Ano po iyon?" she answered, expecting that her boss would ask to do a work-related task.

Ngunit taliwas sa kanyang inaasahan ang pabor na tinutukoy ng lalaki.

"Have dinner with me. Let's have some chit-chat." Steven stated straightly.

"P-Po? Tungkol saan po ang pag-uusapan natin?"

Hindi niya mapigilan ang pamimilog ng kanyang mga mata. Huh? What was that again? Steven was asking her out for a dinner. Is that for real? For crying out loud! She just couldn't believe that this man would dare invite her despite of all that happened years ago. But why was she so excited deep inside?

"Well, let's say I wasn't satisfied with the way you welcomed me during my first day. Kulang ang salubong mo sa akin and I thought having dinner with me would make up everything," walang gatol na wika ito.

Her mouth went slightly ajar, then she swallowed a lump from her mouth. Nilukuban siya ng matinding kaba ng mga sandaling iyon. How dare this man to say it! Na para bang ganoon lang kasimple ang lahat gayong sa pagkakaalam niya ay malaki ang kasalanan niya rito.

Besides, it has been two weeks since he took over as the owner of the company. He has been giving her cold treatment from the start. At ngayon ay nagyayaya ito ng dinner? Kalokohan!

"So, can I pick you up at seven?" untag ng binata sa kanya nang saglit siyang tahimik.

"A-Ah,"

"Uh-uh! I won't take no for an answer." Then he threw her a luring wink.

She felt her whole body trembled. Gracious! What was this man doing? Was he trying to make a ploy out of her? Dapat ngayon pa lang ay iwasan niya na ito. Ngunit mismong siya ay hindi makapaniwala sa sarili.

"S-Sige po, S-Sir S-Steven." Kandautal niyang sagot.

And she swear, gusto niyang sabunutan ang sarili dahil sa mga salitang lumabas mula sa bibig. Ngunit huli na para bawiin iyon kaya pilit na lang niyang kumbinsihin ang sarili na baka sesantihin siya nito 'pag hindi siya pumayag. She'd rather accept his invitation rather than be fired.

"Good! So may I know your place? Para alam ko kung saan kita susunduin. Or just give me your number. And one thing, please stop calling me Sir. Hindi ako sanay lalo pa at dati tayong magkaibigan."

Hindi nakaligtas sa kanyang pandinig ang sarkastikong tono nang pananalita ng binata lalo na sa huling linyang binitiwan nito. At ang hindi niya maintindihan ay kung bakit may kakaibang kirot siyang nararamdaman sa puso dahil doon. Tila gustong tumulo ng kanyang mga luha BUT hell! Sino siya para makadama ng ganoon? Gusto niya tuloy sabunutan ang sarili. Hindi niya kayang salubungin ang matiim na titig nito kaya siya na mismo ang napayuko.

"Oops! I didn't bring my cell phone with me," wika nito kaya napilitan siyang tingnan ito ulit.

Steven pictured a charming smile on his red lips. He had a perfect set of teeth. And being a woman who was so fussy with oral hygiene, she saw the man as a sure winner. Steven shoved his hand in his pocket and seemed to be searching for something. Sa hula niya ay cell phone ang hinahanap nito.

Kaagad itong pumilas ng isang pirasong neon sticky notes mula sa kanyang mesa at kumuha ng ballpen saka ibinigay sa kanya. Maling number sana ang isusulat niya roon ngunit baka magalit ito at sesantihin pa siya ng 'di oras. Ibinalik niya rito ang papel nang maisulat niya ang sariling numero.

"Thanks, Sweetie! I'll see you later!" He winked again for the second time.

Akala niya aalis na ito ngunit biglang tumaas kamay nito at dinala ang sariling palad sa may baba niya. Then she realized that he was gently touching her chin. She felt as if she was under the spell of slo-mo that she wanted to close her eyes.

Damang-dama niya ang init na nagmumula sa kamay nito hanggang sa naramdaman niyang iniipit nito sa kanyang tainga ang ilang hibla ng kanyang buhok na nahiwalay. Matagal nang nakaalis Steven ngunit parang lutang pa rin ang kanyang pakiramdam.

"Lora! Hoy!"

"R-Rosel! Bakit?"

Her forehead suddenly creased when she saw her. Hindi niya alam kung gaaano na katagal nakatayo ang babae sa kanyang harapan. She only realized Rosel's presence when the woman tossed her fingers in front of her face. It was as if she was brought back to reality.

"Eh, kasi naman po, para kang naengkanto dahil nakatulala ka. May problema ka ba?" the woman commented. Panay pa ang kumpas ng mga kamay nito.

"Ha? W-Wala, wala!" she reasoned out though she was guilty deep inside.

"Oo nga! Uy! Ano ginagawa ni Sir Steven dito kanina? Nanliligaw sa'yo?" Rosel was trying to tease her.

"Hay naku, Rosel! Umaarangkada na naman iyang pagiging desperada mong hanapan ako ng lovelife. Hindi po siya nanliligaw sa akin. Bago pa lang natin siya nakilala tapos ligaw agad? How impossible!" litanya niya.

Yeah, it was true. Sa lahat ng mga naging kaibigan niya sa opisina ay ito ang atat na magkaroon siya ng lovelife. Kahit sinong gwapo na makita nito ay pilit na nirereto sa kanya.

Pero deep inside ay hindi niya napigilang kiligin tungkol sa panliligaw "kuno" ni Steven sa kanya. And she hated it when she was secretly hoping that what her friend said will come true! Grr! Ano na ba itong nangyayari sa kanya? Tsk! Kung alam lang talaga ni Rosel ang tungkol sa nakaraan nila ng lalaki.