Chapter 19

"It's been so long since we talked to each other, Kiersten. Let me guess where you have been," Amanda said, giggling. I had no other choice, but to sit with her again on lunch time. I don't know if she wanted to be friend with me or she just wanted to talk with me because there's no one she could also talk to.

"Where?" simple kong tanong sa kanya.

"Based on your stories on your Instagram. You've been in Vegas. Who you were with, Kiersten?"

Umiling ako. "Nothing... just a—"

"I also have a guess," she grinned. Agad naman akong napainom ng tubig at hinanda ko ang sarili ko sa kung ano man ang sasabihin niya. "You're in Las Vegas for a special trip? Or maybe because I've heard that Sir Macek was out of his office for the past few days same as you, maybe you guys went there together. Am I right?"

"I won't deny or confirm any of your speculations," ngiti ko pa sa kanya. "Let's just talk about something else."

"So, it's true?" she questioned. She was hopeful.

"I didn't confirm any of it, Amanda," depensa ko. "But if that's what you think, I'll let you think about it, but I'm not going to say anything about why I was in Las Vegas. I've shared what I need to share and what's happening behind those pictures are now a private stuff. I'm just sorry..."

"Oh, I see... that's fine," she said. "Would it hurt your other boyfriend?"

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "No? I don't even have a boyfriend."

"Ooops," she muttered, drinking her fitness juice. "I thought Berkeley's your boyfriend."

"No, it's not," depensa ko pa sa kanya. "I don't have a boyfriend and I have no plan of getting one right now."

She smirked, shrugging off. "Well, I just thought. You guys are coming in together at the office and then you'll both leave together. People might really think you guys are dating, but whatever you say so, that could be it."

I took a deep breath and heavily let it go. "You know what, Amanda, this conversation is getting ridiculous. I'm going back to the office now. I'm gonna have to leave you now so please excuse me."

"Wait," pagtawag pa nito sa akin. "If you're going to date our boss, keep it to yourself. Maybe people don't want to get to know what you've been doing with our boss. They would hate you."

Napangisi naman ako sa sinabi niya. That's a strong accusation she said. "I'm not doing anything with our boss. There's nothing to hide. I have nothing to hide. And Amanda, I don't want to fight with you just based on this one, I'd love to be friend with you, but if you're just going to attack—"

"I'm not attacking you," she reasoned. "Who said I was attacking you? Did you feel that I was attacking you? Get your shit right up, girl. I was just asking and you're literally taking up seriously. You can't take a joke?"

"You know what, I'm leaving because I'm so exhausted with this conversation."

"Better be," ngisi pa nito sa akin. "Whore."

Tatalikod na sana ako para iwanan ko siya nang marinig ko 'yong sinabi niya. Namintig ang tainga ko sa sinabi niya. She acted like na walang siyang ginawa to make me feel mad. I looked at her and resisted myself for not doing anything because she might be trying to make me look like the bad person here.

Ikinalma ko na lamang ang sarili ko saka tumalikod at tuluyan ko siyang iniwanan sa table. She gets into my nerves na. I'm not expecting that she'll be like this towards me. Well, at first, hindi naman talaga namin kilala ang isa't isa at mabuti na lang din ay hindi na natuloy iyong pag-aayaya niya sa akin na mag-ikot sa city. That won't ever happen na after what she just said to me.

Do I look like a whore? Bakit ang bitch ng ugali niya? Hindi ako marunog pumatol at makipag-away sa ibang babae so I'm gonna let it go, but once she steps into my boundaries, doon na magkasusubukan. I'm not going to back off.

Pagbalik ko sa area ko ay dali-dali ko namang ipinagpatuloy ang mga ginagawa ko. Saglit lamang ay kinalabit ako ni Miss Sienna kaya agad ko rin siyang nilingon.

"Sir Connagh was looking for you and he told me to call you and have you in his office when you get back. So, please see him in his office now. He's waiting for you."

"Sure, thank you, miss," sagot ko.

"Not a problem."

"Uhm... can I just ask what could it be?"

"He didn't mention it to me so I guess you have to see him personally with that, alright?"

"Yes, thank you again, miss," I smiled and found my way to our boss' bubble office.

I knocked on the glass door and then announced my presence when I pushed the glass door inside. When I saw him already looking in my direction, I greeted him with a smile on my face. He directed me to sit in front of his desk and as I settled in, I put my attention directed at him.

"Miss Sienna told me you called me?" I asked and he nodded. "And what could this be for, sir?"

"This is about work and your internship," panimula nito. "I've got an invitation for a trade event next week and it's on Friday and I want you to come with me. The executives will be there as well, but you're coming there with me as part of your internship experience, alright?"

"Yes, sir, I understand."

"It's a formal event, Kiersten. Do you have anything to wear?"

When he asked that question, it reminded me of what Amanda said to me. That bitch made me realized something, though it helps, but I hated her now and probably would never have lunch down there again. I just couldn't believe she has the nerve to do that on me.

But going back to what Connagh said, I had to nod. "Yes, sir."

"You sure? Maybe I can bu—"

"Sir, I'm still grateful for everything you've done and bought for me, but you don't have to buy anything for me anymore. I have formal dresses and I know they'll be quite suited for the event. I'm sorry, sir..."

"That's alright," he said and move a little closer to me. "Everything I've bought and given to you was nothing but out of good intentions. It doesn't have to mean anything, Kiersten. You know that, right?"

"Yes, sir," simple kong sagot sa kanya kasabay ng pagtango.

"I also have something to say, it's not work-related, but it's something you wanted to hear," he said and leaned his back against the chair. "I've got a news from Claire earlier and Maurice has been discharged from the hospital. She told that her father feels now and was advised to rest for the meantime."

"And what about their flower shop? What's gonna happen with it?"

He heaved out a deep sigh. "I'm afraid they have to shut it down. Claire will open the shop for one last time this weekend and after that, they won't be selling anymore. It saddened me, but Maurice also has to look after his health so it's not a bad decision. It's for betterment."

"I guess so... but that's just sad." Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. "So, I guess it's the last time I and my tita will be buying flowers from them. Their lavenders are fresh pa naman."

"Yeah, I agree," he said. "I'm not sure if I can buy hyacinths like they were selling for me."

When he mentioned that, it triggered something in my head. "What do you use the hyacinth for? I've heard that hyacinth stinks at some point. Why don't you try Lavenders, right? It's refreshing and its powerful scent is quite aromatic."

"I agree, but there's something that made me want to buy the hyacinth. You might've seen it in my room so I guess this is your curiosity talking. Yeah, so, It's also has a powerful scent and it helps to give some aroma to my room. Yeah, sometimes it stinks, but not most of the time. It's still pretty wonderful for me..."

"Yeah... but I also have something to tell and it might be quite personal, but I hope you won't take an offense meant about it."

"Sure, what could that be?"

I cleared my throat and fixed my posture. "When I and my tita bought flowers from his shop a few weeks ago. I think it's just the first or second week here in London. We caught you there buying some flowers, obviously. And when we asked Maurice what did you buy... he said it was hyacinth and it's for your... girlfriend? I—I thought—"

He smirked and shook his head. "I don't have a girlfriend, Kiersten. Not anymore."

"So, it was true..."

"What was true, Kiersten? What could you be saying now? Is it something I'm not aware of?"

I swallowed so hard and aggressively shook my head. "It's absolutely nothing, sir. I don't know why that would be my response to your answer. It's just me. It's nothing—really," I pointed out as if he asked for more. "I think I'll go now if we're done?"

"Of course, Kiersten, you may go back to your work now," he said.

I excused myself then left his office momentarily. I headed straight back to my desk and continued doing my tasks. Apart from what I've learned from him now, hindi pa rin ako totally satisfied knowing that Berk told me that the dress I was wearing last week was his ex-girlfriends belonging and I felt so embarrassed that I had to be distinguished with his ex-girlfriends dress.

And the fact that he still wanted to buy me some stuff was the thing I needed for him to stop. Amanda got into my head and maybe she's right after all. I had to look out for everything I was doing around with Connagh. People might say a lot of bad things, not just to me, but to their boss so it's better that I have to stay out of his way. Not on a personal level.

During snack time, I met the two in the pantry and then we filled our plates with foods served on the table. When I told them about my confrontation with Amanda earlier, they couldn't help themselves but hate Amanda for the way she acted. Hindi ko naman sila mapipigilan if that's how they see it pero sinabihan ko na lamang sila na kapag na-encounter nila 'yon somewhere in the office, 'wag na lang nilang pansinin because she's no good for everyone. She's selfish.

"KC, my friend here would like to ask you out on a date," Arden patted Berk's shoulder.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Berk sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Napakunot-noo na lang din naman ako at parang walang muwang ko silang tiningnan.

"No, she's joking," Berk defended himself.

"Date?" I questioned and they both looked at me as if they were waiting for an answer. "Sure."

Arden cheered for her friend while Berkeley couldn't believe himself that I agreed to it. Natawa na lang din naman ako. I don't know how I agreed to it, but maybe it was also my way of pushing Connagh out of my way. He's still my boss and people would say a lot of things kapag nagpatuloy ang closeness naming dalawa out of work. I mean... Berk is quite handsome and not a controversial person so going out with him won't hurt me a little.

I guess so...

I still know my priorities and making friends was one of them.

"You know what, Amanda thought we're dating because we're always together," I told them.

Arden laughed. "I'm sure that'll happen for real next time."

Berk smirked. "Don't get your hopes up, Arden."

She patted his shoulder. "I believe in you, Berk. It's time for you to be happy now. We can have a double date soon!"

I chuckled. "Let's see that in my five weeks left in London."

"No!" she exclaimed. "That was too quick."

I sighed. "Yeah, I know, but I'll make the best out of my time here."

"Sure you will..." Berk said. "I'll make the best out of it, KC."

"Thanks, Berk, I really appreciate the gesture."

"Of course, for you," he smiled and it's the sweetest smile I've seen from him.

Berk and I headed home together as we finished our work on time. I also told him if we can go to the Columbia Road this weekend so we can buy some flowers from the last day of Maurice's flower shop. Tita Gina will be there as well and she'll freak out once I started telling her about Berk.

We also had dinner in his apartment which was the first time for me to step inside in it. Nag-order lamang kami ng pagkain and we spend an hour eating our dinner dahil napupuno kami ng usapan and we couldn't just laugh it off because reactions are gold and it made our conversation quite wonderful.

We then continued watching another episode of the tv series we watched the last time. After that, he accompanied me back to my apartment.

"Thanks for today, Berk," I said. "I really appreciate you."

"That's not a problem, KC. You know how much you mean—" and I didn't even finish his sentence when I cut him off with a kiss. When I parted away, his face left with so much confusion. "Uh—I don't—" he chuckled, surprised I guess.

I giggled. "Yeah... good night, Berk."

He smiled, still in shock. "Yeah, KC. Good night... see you tomorrow."

I wave to him and I went inside my room. I smiled at him before I closed the door and I just leaned my back against the door and don't really know what to feel. But I know that I'm not making the wrong decisions. That I'm not hurting someone else. That... whatever would come on my way, I would take it.

But I don't know what would happen the next morning or in the next few days, but I'm preparing myself for it. it's all I can afford to do so.

***

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