Chapter 24

As soon as we got into Connagh's apartment, fortunate of me, we're alone as we heading inside his flat. It was still an embarrassing situation for me. I didn't expect that it would go through this. Maaagapan ko naman sana if it happened just before the party so I could be wearing thick pads sana o kaya tampon—which I don't normally used, but really helpful in some occasions.

Dumiretsyo kaagad ako sa common bathroom para makapagpalit nng damit. I have no clothes in his home kaya naman tumungo siya sa kwarto para kuhaan ako ng damit na maipapahiram sa akin.

Nakatukod ang kamay ko sa lababo at kaharap ang salamin. Hindi ko naman maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Halo-halo na mas nangingibabaw ang kahihiyan na nakuha ko kanina. I'm not even sure if any people there saw the stains at the back of my dress. I was so confident at that moment that I didn't realize that I made a mess.

I stared at myself in the mirror and saw how devastated I am. Gusto kong iiyak na lang ang nangyari kanina. Super nakapanlulumo. Gusto ko na lamang magpalamon sa lupa after knowing that it happened. And Connagh has to see it!

I mean, it wasn't bad that he saw and told me about it, it was actually a good thing because he helped me along the way and I absolutely don't know how to repay him for doing that kind act. I'm just out of words. I might be losing my points after this incident. I still have to worry about my internship because if I failed, I can no longer apply for the Mercondia Sponsorship and I had to repeat one semester for the completion of my internship.

It's just so hard to accept that I might failed it and obviously, my boss.

I startled when Connagh knocked on the door.

"Kiersten?" tawag nito sa akin. "I have your clothes to use for now. I have here a shirt, well, I think it'll fit for you. I also have a pair of sweatpants and yeah, a clean underwear. What do you think so? And oh! I haven't use this underwear so you can keep it or do whatever you want with it."

"Sure..." I muttered. "Thank you, sir."

"That's alright, Kiersten. How can I give it to you?"

"I'm not naked yet so you can still open the door," sagot ko naman sa kanya.

"Alright." Nag-abiso ulit siya na papasok siya sa loob kaya nang buksan niya ang pinto ay bumungad siya sa akin. He's still on his clothes and he only took his coat off. Inabot din naman niya sa akin 'yong damit. "Take your time, Kiersten."

"I'm so sorry—"

But then he touch my hand that made me stop talking. He shook his head. "Don't ever think about it. It's fine with me. You don't have to worry, Kiersten. Take your time, I'll be out in the living room. I might change as well so I'll meet you in the living room, alright?"

"Sige..." tipid kong sagot sa kanya saka tuluyan na niya akong iniwan para makapagsimula na akong maglinis.

Knowing that Connagh helped after everything I've done to him. Though hindi naman niya alam na iniiwasan ko siya and I feel so guilty now for doing it. Maybe his intention of getting close to me—let me rephrase that thought, nagtutunog assuming ako sa statement na 'yon. Our relationship as my mentor and intern is reaching its limits. I thought I shouldn't get too close with him that's why I started swaying away from him and get closer to Berk.

I started taking off my dress and quickly get on to the shower. Binilisan ko na lang din naman ang paglilinis ko dahil natutulala na lang din ako bigla-bigla. When I started wearing the spare clothes he gave to me, it somehow made me a little comfortable. He has no any girl stuff around his home. We forgot na dumaan sa grocery to buy some pads o kaya naman tampon which is normally used here in London.

Nang matapos naman akong makapag-ayos ay tuluyan na rin akong lumabas ng common bathroom. Just like what he said earlier, I should be meeting him in the living room and as I get there, he was there lying down on the couch. Nang makita naman niya akong papalapit ay agad siyang umayos sa pagkakaupo. He looked at me from head to toe and smiled.

"Do you feel okay now?" he asked.

I nodded as I sit on the couch next to him. "Thank you... lalabhan ko na lang 'to, bukas na bukas din."

"No worries, Kiersten. No rush. It's alright," he said. Ako na nahihiya ng sobra dahil sa pinapakita niya sa akin ngayon. "Do you want to go home now? It's a little bit late now. You can stay here for the night and that'll be okay for me. I can sleep on the couch so you can take the bed."

Umiling naman ako. "No, it's okay. You don't have to use the couch. It's alright."

"To share the bed together?"

I nodded. "Yes..."

"No problem. Do you want to go to the bed now?"

"I don't mind..."

"Sure, come with me. I've already fixed it. Be comfortable as you can be. It's my pleasure to help you tonight. I know you were so stress at that moment and I know the feeling when I feel like there's nothing I can do. And you don't have to feel embarrass with me, Kiersten. It's a normal thing. It happened to every single person and also to most unconventional moment."

"You're right... I just panicked because I thought I needed to do my job so I won't fail you."

He took a deep breath and a smile grew on his face. "You didn't fail, Kiersten. Youd did great. I'm the one saying it to you now, you didn't fail. You did an amazing job and I must commend you for that."

"I have no words but thank you, sir..."

He chuckled. "Sir... I see. Come on, let's go to the bedroom."

Pagkarating namin sa kwarto ay napansin kong nakaayos na nga ang kama. He then directed me where should I sleep and it was just like the other time I was here with him.

"Be comfortable on my bed, I'll just go and check something on the kitchen, alright?"

"Sure..."

When he left me alone, I tried my best to be comfortable on his bed and because I was here before, mabilis din akong naging komportable. Mula sa pagkakadantay ng likod ko sa headboard ay unti-unti akong dumausdos at tuluyang napahiga na lamang.

Papikit na ang mga mata ko ng biglang may maalala akong isang tao. Agad ko namang kinuha ang phone ko and check if I have Berk's message left unread. And as I opened my phone, there were a few messages from Berk, and tita. He also called me and I forgot to answer it. When tita called earlier, after that, I had to turn the silent mode so it won't caught attention again and I have left out of my attention when I made a mess earlier.

Berk: What time you'll be home, love? I'll wait for you.

And I don't know how to response to his message, but he doesn't need to know that I'm in Connagh's bed tight now. Wala naman kaming ginagawang masama o ibang bagay. I was only here because it's late and I don't know how to repay Connagh for helping me tonight. He's just so good that I'm out of words to everything he does for me.

Like always!

I didn't know what to reply to him so I left his messages without a single response from. Mayamaya lamang ay pumasok si Connagh sa kwarto at tumabi na rin sa akin sa kama. There's a huge space between us kaya hindi kami magkakalapit kaagad.

"This day was an adventure," Connagh said and turned to face me. Napatingin na lang din naman ako sa kanya at tumango para sumang-ayon. "Whatever happened tonight, it's in the past now. We should move forward now to better thing that'll come on our way."

"Right... thank—"

"A single thank you was enough, Kiersten. You've said it for like a billion times now. But you're always welcome. I'm always here to help you."

"I know it was more than that, but I couldn't ask for more... I think I'll be going to sleep now. Good night, sir—"

"Connagh, Kiersten. Connagh. We're alone."

"Yeah... sorry... so, good night, Connagh."

He smiled. "Good night, Kiersten. Thank you for everything."

I don't know why he was thanking me, but I appreciate him. And all the thing he does for me. I positioned myself as I turned my back from him and closed my eyes and felt the sleepiness eating me slowly.

I tend to wake up in the middle of the night because of sudden pain I felt in my lower abdomen. I had to spend most of the time in the bathroom so I won't make a mess in Connagh's bed. Sa palagay ko ay tatlong beses din akong nagpabangon-bangon hangga't sa magising muli ako ng ala sais ng umaga na at wala na si Connagh sa side ng kama.

When I got up from the bed, I just noticed that there's a spot and it stained the sheet of the bed. Agad naman akong napaharap sa full-length mirror ay tiningnan ko ang suot kong sweatpants at may bakas na naman ng tagos ko ro'n. Napahugot na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga dahil akala ko maiiwasan kong matagusan ang comforter and telling this to Connagh made me feel so embarrass na talaga.

Nakakahiya na!

When I walked out of the bedroom, I looked for him in the living area, but he wasn't there. But what I found there was a blanket and I thought he slept on the couch rather on his own bed?

I heard noises from the kitchen so I pave my way to see if he's actually there. Then there I smelled the freshly cooked aroma of toasted bacon, sausage, and some other stuff I'm not familiar of. Pagkarating ko sa kusina sa naabutan ko siyang nagluluto like what I'm expecting because of the smell.

"Good morning, Connagh," I greeted him and he startled and almost threw out the pan from his hand. He laughed so hard when he realized that it was just me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

He chuckled. "Good morning, Kiersten. No, it's alright. I'm preparing breakfast for us before you go home."

"Thank you... those smell good though."

"They are," aniya at tatango-tango pa. "Are you hungry? You can sit here." He's already preparing it for me when I have another thing to ask from him. Hindi naman ako gumagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko kaya napansin niya 'yon. Kumunot ang noo niyang tiningnan niya ako.

"What's wrong, Kiersten?"

"I got my pants stained and your bed. I'm sorry."

"Oh, that's alright. That's not a big deal. I can wash it right after. Would you please look after what I'm cooking and then I'll get you some new pants and underwear maybe?"

Tumango naman ako at sinunod ang utos niya. I walked towards where he was cooking and then he left the kitchen to go back to his room to get me some new clothes. Binantayan ko naman 'yong niluluto niya hangga't sa bumalik siya at inabot niya sa akin iyong mga bagong damit.

"You should change first before we eat or do you want to eat first before you change?"

"I think I'll change first."

He nodded his head. "Yeah, I'll wait for you then. I'll prepare our breakfast."

When I left him and headed to the common bathroom and had a quick change, I thought I should remove the sheet from Connagh's bed, but as I went there, I found that it's already removed and dunked on the hamper. I proceed to the kitchen where he's preparing two plates on the table with a full dish for both of us. Natulala naman ako habang inimbitahan niya akong maupo kasama niya.

"This is a full english breakfast," he announced. "There's the sausage, bacon, toasted bread, of course the beans, slice grilled tomato, egg and ketchup."

"Thank you for this. I think this is too much for me and I won't be able to finish this, but I appreciate it."

"Nah, let's just enjoy the breakfast, Kiersten. I'm driving you back home alright?"

Pumayag na lang din naman ako sa sinabi niya. I took us half an hour finishing all the meals and I couldn't be more satisfied because I think I've had the best English breakfast since in came here in London.

I also asked if he sleep on the couch because I found the blanket there. Then he admitted that he got up five in the morning because he thought he was making me uncomfortable that I had to get up every time I felt sudden pain from my lower abdomen. Natawa na lamang siya ng sabihin ko sa kanya na normal lang naman na reaksyon iyon sa isang babae while on their period and he was also embarrassed because he thought he's making me feel uncomfortable, but not at all.

After our fun breakfast, he then drove me back home which only took us on a twenty minute ride. Hindi na naman siya bumaba ng sasakyan. We'll be formally meeting back in the office kaya he's looking forward for my report about the event, but he knew that if I won't be able to finish the task because of what I'm feeling, he understand so kapag natapos ko ang report ko, I just have to let him know it. Okay na okay naman sa akin 'yon kasi pakiramdam ko, I have no other things to do but lay on my bed all day.

Pabalik na ako sa apartment building ko nang maalala kong nakalimutan ko ang dress ko sa apartment ni Connagh. Alam kong maaalala niya rin 'yon. Siguro hindi rin naman niya dadalhin sa office 'yon, because before I step out of his car, he ask me if I can come with him tonight sa house ng parents niya and have a dinner. Maybe it's the only way I can repay him for helping me kaya pumayag ako. So, I need to be ready tonight because we'll be seeing each other again.

As I got into my unit, I found someone stood in front of the door and when I called who it was, hinarap naman ako nito. Si Berk lang pala. Agad naman ako nitong nilapitan at niyakap.

"Good morning, love," aniya saka dahan-dahan niya akong inalis sa pagkakayakap niya. "Where have you been?"

Napangiti naman ako dahil hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanya ang mga nangyari. "Uh... let's just go inside my room now and I'll tell you everything, is that alright?"

Berk nodded. "Yes, of course, my love."

Pagkabukas ko ng pinto ng room ko ay napahugot na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga. Isang mahabang palinawagan ang gagawin ko kay Berk. And I'm not even sure if I'm going to tell him about me and Connagh. Or maybe I should just leave it alone dahil hindi niya rin naman malalaman kung hindi ko sasabihin.

Maybe that's right... I'll just reason something else. I just hope he'll buy it.

***

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

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