Chapter 11

"Are you okay, KC?" Berk asked me and I nodded to him. "You sure? Basically, you looked so bothered."

Nagpakawala naman ako ng malalim na hininga. "Yes, I'm slightly bothered by the fact that Sir Connagh invited me. He could've invited someone else, right?"

He nodded. "Maybe he could've done, but who do you think he'll invite?"

I shrugged off and then listed some names in my head. "Maybe Miss Sienna?"

Berk chuckled. "I don't think Miss Sienna would take a day off. She's busier than him. She handled all Sir Connagh's requests. She's also the one who fixed his schedule and I know one time she mentioned that it was stressful from the first few months of Sir Connagh's leadership. But maybe he's fond of your presence that's why he chose you."

"I'm still not sure about that. Maybe there were other reason—or maybe this would be just an company related event and he wanted me to experience it because you know... I'm an intern and I'm here for knowledge and experience."

"Maybe that could be it," pagsang-ayon niya rin kahit hindi rin sigurado.

When tita left, we decided to go to the Westminster's bridge. Kailangan ng umalis ni tita dahil she can't cost her time being out all day. Kahit wala ang amo niya sa apartment, she still needed to be back early to clean like she always does.

"Why do you want to see or be at the famous landmarks in London?" he asked.

I shrugged off. "Because... why not? I've been wanting to be here so I guess it's not bad to experience every place here in London. I mean, this is the best thing that had ever happened to me so why I can't make the best out of it? I'm here not just to be an intern, but have some fun as well."

"I see, see. I get your point, KC," he said, nodding. "Then I guess, we'll make the best out of it."

"We?" I asked, creasing my brow.

He nodded furiously. "Yes! Your tita might be busy at all time so just like what I've said before, I'm here to help and guide you around the city or wherever you wanted to be. I'm always here for you though."

"Oh... that's kind of you, Berk. I still couldn't believe we're friends though."

"I do, too," ngisi pa nito. "I'm sure you won't regret a thing being in London."

I slowly nodded my head. "I believe so... but you know what? I started falling in love with this country even before I came here and I'm already so in love with it. Hopefully, I could spend much more time here because in less than a few months, I will be heading back to the Philippines."

Nagulat naman ako sa biglang pag-akbay ni Berk sa akin. Mas naging malapit kami sa isa't isa. I could closely smell the perfume he uses every day and it doesn't irritated my nose. It was actually smell good, I like it, but there was another expensive smell I've been wanting to smell again.

"Then we'll make your everyday like your last day in London!" he cheered and it made my heart flutter the most.

It was a thirty-minute walk when we finally reached the Westminster Bridge. We could've booked a car to get to this place as quick as possible, but walking alongside of the streets won't cost us too much time and it's a great time for me to stroll na rin kahit papaano.

Berk introduced me to some place and gave me an advice on what to do and other things. Mas marami rin akong natutunan sa kanya. From what to do and what I shouldn't do. I was also surprised how I discovered new things from him. Don't make fun of the royals when talking around with some few people 'cause they might took it as an offense.

When I mistakenly did a peace sign, he told me not to do with anyone casually 'cause they might take it in the wrong way. Katumbas daw kasi no'n ang bad finger so I should mind my actions as well. Hindi ko rin naman minasama iyong sinama kasi it's a new learning for me. He also added some things that I should do, eat, and experience because who knows how long it could take for me to do all those things.

As I finally saw the Big Ben as we getting there to the place, hindi ko na ma-contain ang pananabik ko. Hinigit ko ang kamay niya at tumakbo na kaming dalawa para mas madali kaming makarating do'n. Tuwang-tuwa rin naman si Berk dahil sabik na sabik nga akong makarating do'n.

It's like there's a lot of things to do there. Aside from the Big Ben, natanaw ko na rin ang London Eye which made me feel so jealous sa mga taong nakasakay doon ngayon. Berkeley told me that the ticket costs forty pounds that if I converted it to peso, it would be two thousand five hundred plus. Pakiramdam ko kapag gagastos ako ng gano'ng kalaking pera, mauubos ang allowance so I believe that I should save up until the end of my stay here in London para hindi ako mamroblema sa allowance ko.

Hanggang tingin na lang muna ako. But I won't leave the country nang hindi ko na-e-experience ang bawat activity dito sa London. Parang sinayang ko na lang din ang pagkakataon sa puntong iyon kaya ngayon, I should make up some plans now para kapag dumating ang araw na I will get to do this, hindi na ako mangangarag pa.

Feeling ko kasi mas malulula ako sa mga magiging tasks ko in the next few weeks so other than going around in London, I should also be prepared for that thing.

"You looked so lovely," Berk said, laughing. "I so love watching you, KC. You're so innocent."

"Is that a statement?" I squinted my eyes.

He chuckled, couldn't hold his laugh. "Well, if you thought that way it was, maybe then it is."

"Well, siguro nga," aniko. "If I could just have a lot of time in the world, gagawin ko 'to araw-araw and I wouldn't even missed a chance na ulit-ulitin 'to. Hinding-hindi ako magsasawa 'cause I believe if there's one thing I would do the same thing all over again, it's reliving the same old dreams."

"I like the way you think, KC," he said, crossing his arms and gave me an intent look. "You know, I'll tell you about this one... I've never told anyone about this except Arden, of course, but I think you should know it, too."

I arched my brow. "Well, what could that be?"

"I've had a girlfriend before who seemed to have like your personality and attitude. She's so fun and lovely."

"Is she a Filipina?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, she's English as well, but then I thought—"

"You're seeing her with me?"

Bahagya naman siyang tumango sa sinabi ko. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment. She must be wonderful. I mean, I haven't seen her, but because you thought we have some in common, then that doesn't differentiate anything, right?"

He smirked and nodded his head. "Right... she's wonderful like you."

"Then where she is now? I though you're single?"

He scratched the side of his head and nodded. "Yup, I am. I've been single for like I think forever now, but that doesn't matter. I just remembered when you I'm around you."

My eyes squinted, trying to think of what he had just said to me. "Are you saying that I'm like—really like you ex-girlfriend? What's her name ba? I wanna know if you don't mind."

"You know what, let's just move on and head onto the Bridge," pag-iwas nito ng usapan.

"Ang daya naman nito," bulong ko pa. Hindi naman niya 'yon naintidihan kaya hindi niya pinansin pa.

When we finally reached the Bridge, hindi na agad kami nagpatumpik-tumpik pa kung hindi ang magpucture hangga't sa ma-full storage ang mga phone namin. When I asked Berk if we could go inside the Buckingham Palace, he said that it has an entrance fee and he's not sure, but to book for it and we can't even take photos inside the premises so we won't be able to take shots, but only appreciate it with our own eyes.

It took us a lot of time taking pictures and all. Berk told me that's beautiful here when it snows, but there wasn't much snow from the winter a few months ago, but he told it was quite amazing. Malamig pa rin naman ang paligid, tinalo ang sobrang init sa Pinas sa ganitong panahon. Impyerno ngayon sa Pinas dahil sa sobrang init dahil summer, but it's different here in London, chilly ang panahon. Feeling ko nga tuwing umaga ay magkakasakit ako kaya, but it was just a morning chill.

"Check all those photos, you might like some of them," he said as I get the phone from him and checked all the shots he made. "Did you like it?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed as I scrolled down the gallery. Hinarap ko naman siya at niyakap out of nowhere. Siguro dahil sa excitement. Nagulat din siya sa ginawa ko kaya umalis din kaagad ako sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. It was a little awkward but then he laughed it off. "I love all of these shots, Berk. Thank you though. You could be my personal photographer if you don't mind?"

He chuckled and nodded his head. "Of course, if that's what you want. I'll be your personal photographer then."

"Yes! Thanks! These photos are instagrammable so I think it's best to show it off online."

"That would be great," he agreed. "Would it be worth it, KC?"

Napakunot-noo ako sa biglang tanong ni Berk. Hindi ko naman siya na-gets kaya napakibit-balikat na lang din naman ako.

"This," he muttered and then he got closer to me, held his hand on my face and kissed me.

I immediately stepped back from what he did. Napuno ng gulat ang pagmumukha ko. Napalunok na lamang ako ng laway habang namimilog ang mata ko sa gulat. I was looking at him at pakiramdam ko ay nagulat din siya sa naging reaksyon ko. I never thought that's the thing he meant to ask. I was never expecting to be kissed by a guy—again!

"Ah—Berk..."

"I'm sorry, KC. I didn't know why I did that," he said, apologizing and reaching out to me pero dahil tulala lamang ako sa kanya ay hindi ko alam kung anong ibabato kong reaksyon sa kanya. I started to think what he really meant earlier pero hindi ko ma-gets why would he do that. Does he find me that I'm his ex-girlfriend? "I'm sorry, KC. I guess, it's not really worth it. I shouldn't have done that."

But I was still speechless. I couldn't even speak a word until a phone call coming from mine interrupted us. The person's calling me is Connagh and I excused myself for a second to answer his call.

"Hi... yes sir?" panimula ko. Hindi pa rin naman maalis sa isipan ko 'yong ginawa ni Berkeley kaya nakatalikod ako mula sa kanyang direksyon.

"Where are you?" bungad din nito sa akin.

"I'm at... ano po... sa Westminster Bridge. Why, sir?"

"Great, See you there in a few minutes. Wait for me, please." Hindi na niya ako hinintay pang magsalita kung hindi ay ibinaba na niya kaagad ang tawag. Bahagya naman akong nag-alala rin dahil kung tinanong kung nasaan ako ay posibleng pupuntahan niya ako?

Binalikan ko naman si Berk at sinabi sa kanya iyong mabilisang pag-uusap namin ni Connagh. He thought it was weird—but what he did to me was weird enough. Hindi ko na lamang in-open sa kanya 'yong topic na 'yon dahil ayoko na maging awkward pa ang pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa.

And just a few moments later, the familiar car that stopped to us the last time at the bus station showed up. Nakatingin lamang kami ro'n ni Berk hangga't sa ibaba nito ang salamin at sumilip mula sa loob si Connagh at tinanaw ako.

"Kiersten," pagbanggit nito sa pangalan ko. Tumapon nang mabilisan ang tingin niya kay Berk. "Berkeley."

"Sir," tipid na pagbati ni Berk sa kanya.

"Kiersten, are you ready?" he asked.

Lumipad naman ang tingin ko kay Berk kasi kami ang magkasama ngayon tapos iiwanan ko na naman siya.

"No, it's fine. You should go with him. I know it's important that hanging around with me."

"Are you really sure?"

He nodded, assuring me. "Yup. Don't you worry about it. We still got the time to roam around the city. You should go with Sir Connagh now."

I gave him a slight nod. "Okay... I'll go with him now. See you back at the building."

"Yeah, sure. See you later," he smiled.

I started walking away then headed to Connagh's car. He opened the door from the inside and I let myself hopped inside his car. Muli kong hinarap si Berk bago kami tuluyang umalis.

I settled on my seat and the seatbelt then Connagh finally drove the car away. Sa pagkakataong iyon, hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. I felt like it's a good thing that I've got away with Berk from that moment, but now that I'm trapped again with my boss, hindi ko na naman alam kung anong gagawin ko.

But I'll see what we will be doing tonight. And hopefully the next day, he wouldn't forget this so easily like he did the other days. And whatever this could be, I hope it's not bad at all.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

#FallingInLoveInLondonChapter11 #FILIL11 #WT4

Interact with me on Twitter >>> @Imjacobxoxo