CHAPTER TWENTY

ABALA ang lahat ng empleyado ng GCP nang makarating siya sa opisina. Zacariel's assistant secretary which is Roda--guided her to his office. Wala roon ang binata dahil nasa meeting pa ito pero dahil inabisuhan na ang sekretarya sa pagdating niya sa araw na 'yon, kaya alam na ang gagawin.

"Do you want something to drink or eat, Ma'am?"

"An orange juice will do."

Zacariel's office is wide and bright because of the glass wall. Kumpleto rin halos ang kagamitan doon. There's a mini bar and coffee maker area near the table where they used to it. Nagpunta roon si Roda para kuhanan siya ng maiinom.

She never get the chance to have a casual communication with any of Zacariel's Secretary. He have Martin and Roda. Hindi siya sigurado kung ang mga ito rin ba ang sekretarya ni Zacarias noon. She doesn't have any ideas how their business in Manila works.

"Matagal ka na bang nagtatrabaho rito?" tanong niya kay Roda nang mailapag nito ang baso ng orange juice sa lamesa sa harap niya.

Yelena is sitting on a leather sofa. On her left side is the glass wall and a few meters away is Zacariel's table and swivel chair facing the door. Behind his swivel chair is the city view.

"Matagal-tagal na rin, Ma'am."

"Are you really Zacariel's secretary? Or Kuya Zacarias'?"

"Naging sekretarya ako ni Senyorito Zacarias at ngayon ay assistant secretary ako ni Sir Zacariel."

Tumango siya at sumimsim sa juice.

"Do you know Francha?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Bumibisita pa rin ba siya rito?"

"Hindi na po masyado, Ma'am. Matagal na po no'ng huli siyang nagpunta dito para sa isang meeting."

"How about other girls? Aside from Francha?"

Mabilis na umiling si Roda na para bang nakuha agad ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"Wala, Ma'am. Wala pong ibang babaeng bumibisita dito sa opisina ni Sir Zacariel. Ikaw lang."

"That's good to know."

Magalang na nagpaalam sa kanya si Roda. Hindi niya alam kung may iba pang gagawin o tumakas lang sa mga maaari niya pang itanong.

While waiting for Zacariel to finish his last meeting before lunch, Yelena dialed Santi's number to let him know that she's already in Manila for a short vacation.

"Dapat sinama mo ako!" anito nang malaman kung nasaan siya.

"Pwede ka namang sumunod dito. Papayagan ka ba?"

"Of course. As long as we are together there, my parents will allow me."

"But we are going to live in different condo. Is that fine with you?"

"Why? Are you staying with Zacariel?" Santi was intrigued.

She smirked. "No. I am staying in the same building where his penthouse is located."

"Then I'm gonna rent a condo unit there too. What's the address?"

Natatawa na binanggit niya sa kaibigan kung saang condominium sila ni Zacariel. Siguro naman ay ayos lang sa binata kung naroon din si Santi? Besides, he was always busy. It's good to have a friend around to spend her time with.

After an almost two hours, Zacariel finally done with his meeting. Sinalubong niya agad ito at niyakap na para bang ang tagal nilang hindi nagkita.

He chuckled. "You missed me that much?"

Hinalikan nito ang ibabaw ng ulo niya.

"Not really, but I get bored waiting here."

"I'm sorry 'bout that."

He removed his dark coat and put it at the back of his swivel chair. Leaving him with a white long sleeves polo that hugs his muscled arms.

Napalunok siya nang maramdaman kung gaano siya ka-attracted kay Zacariel. Hindi nga yata nagbago ang damdamin niya. Bagkos, lalo pang lumala noong muli silang magkita at nagkaigihan.

He speaks to Roda through intercoms for their lunch to be served.

"How's Meadows?" He asked as he walked back to where she was.

She's sitting on a long sofa that has enough space for him. Doon ito naupo at nanuot muli sa ilong niya ang mabango nitong amoy. It was very manly but it wasn't that strong. It smell expensive too.

"I think Meadows will be fine with Anita. Hindi naman masyadong maarte ang pusa ko."

Zacariel placed his warm palm on her lap.

She's wearing a beige flare pants and she paired it with tube and blazer. Kahit na hindi naman naka expose ang balat niya sa hita niya, ramdam niya pa rin ang init na dala ng palad ng binata.

"How was your first night in your unit? Hindi ka ba natatakot na mag isa ka lang?"

Ngumiti siya tapos ay umiling.

She isn't scared that she's alone. For some reason, she likes it. She likes the feeling of being for being alone. It felt like she's on her own and nobody could control her life anymore. Malaya siyang gumalaw nang hindi iniisip na may mga matang nakatingin sa kanya at handa siyang diktahan anomang sandali.

She never thought that to be alone is to be free. Kaagad niyang naisip na masaya rin palang maging mag isa. Lalo pa at sa sitwasyon niya--na matagal nang hinahangad na magawa ang mga nais ng walang humahadlang sa kanya.

"I am very fine being alone. I am not scared. Instead, I am thankful that you made me experience living by myself, Zacariel."

"You have me."

"I know. But I also like the feeling of living alone. Masaya pala. Para bang ang laya-laya ko."

The back of his other hand goes to her cheek and he caresses her there lightly.

They stared at each other and she knew by then that whatever they have at the moment, she wants it to be last.

"Habang nandito ako sa Maynila, magpa-practice akong magluto. Magpapaturo ako kay Anita."

"You don't really need to do that but I won't stop you."

See, how he spoils her with the things that she wants to do. Hinding-hindi talaga siya nito kailanman kinontra. Kaya hindi niya rin masisi ang sarili kung bakit talagang nagustuhan niya si Zacariel.

"I could imagine our married life. I'd cook for you and you'd do the same for me. At kapag pareho tayong pagod sa trabaho, Anita could cook for us or we would eat outside instead."

Habang sinasabi niya 'yon ay marahan lang na nakakatitig sa kanya ang kaharap. She looked and sounded like she's daydreaming. And he obviously liked it.

"What else is in your mind?" He is interested. She can tell. "I wanna know your thoughts about us."

Umayos siya sa pagkakaupo. Ang isang palad nito ay nanatili sa ibabaw ng kandungan niya. Habang ang isa naman ay marahan na humahaplos sa kanyang pisngi.

They are too close that she can almost feel his minty breath on her cheek and neck. Hindi naman dapat pero para siyang nalalasing at nahahalina.

"When you were not busy, you'd visit me in my boutique and I'd do the same, here, sa office mo. Iniisip ko rin na hindi siguro tayo mag-aaway? Dahil, ano naman ang pag-aawayan natin?"

Lumamlam ang mga mata nito at may munting ngiti sa labi.

"Kung hindi ka selosa, malabo siguro na mag away tayo?"

Yelena pursed her lips.

Selosa ba siya? Paano niya malalaman na gano'n siya? Kailangan bang makita niya muna si Zacariel na may kasama o kausap na ibang babae bago niya malaman kung selosa siya?

Pero... nangyari na 'yon, di ba? No'ng nakita ito ni Santi na kasama si Francha sa isang restaurant? Ano nga ulit ang ginawa niya nang nalaman niya 'yon?

Uminit ang pisngi niya nang maalala ang mga sinabi niya kay Zacariel no'ng gabing 'yon at ang mga pinaggagagawa niya kinabukasan.

"What if I am a jealous wife?"

"Hmm."

"Would you find me toxic if I was?"

"No," he breathed on her neck.

Yelena gulped. She craned her neck for him to have more access on her skin there.

"I would only feel jealous if you gave me reason to feel that. It's up to you. I think."

"I won't give you a reason to feel jealous."

Paano kung baligtarin naman nila? Kung ito ang magselos. Halimbawa, kay Santi? It's possible because they are very close. And Zacariel doesn't have idea about Santi's secret.

"Hindi ka ba seloso?"

Marahan siyang napapikit nang dumampi ang labi nito sa leeg niya at binigyan siya sa parteng 'yon ng mabababaw na halik.

She's glad though that he only caress her thighs and he doesn't try to go further. Dahil kung magiging mapusok ito, baka hindi siya makapagpigil. Mahihirapan siyang kalabanin ang sarili at ang isinisigaw ng kanyang katawan.

"Hindi," napapaos na sambit nito habang hinahalikan siya sa leeg.

"Paano kapag nakita mo akong may kasamang ibang lalaki? Hindi ka ba magseselos?"

"It depends if who is the guy or what you two are doing."

"How 'bout... Santi? Is it fine with you that we are too close?"

"Uh-huh."

Hindi talaga seloso, eh?

"Oh--okay. Mmm... w-what else?"

Yelena can't concentrate with their conversation because Zacariel is distracting her with his kisses.

"Can I still be friends with boys?"

He paused from kissing her neck as if something distracted him. It must be her question?

"Do you want to have more friends?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I'm contented with Santi and with you."

"Good."

"But am I not allowed to be with boys? Because we are in a relationship?"

"No. You're allowed to socialize with boys and girls even if we are together or married already, Yelena."

"Hindi ka talaga magseselos? Hindi 'yon magiging issue sayo?"

He stopped from kissing her neck and gave her his attention.

"I would only get jealous if there was a reason to be jealous. Besides, I trust you."

Trust.

She needs to trust him too. If there's a trust, she won't think about negative things if ever she saw him talking with another woman. At dapat, bago siya magselos kung sakali, alamin niya muna ang buong istorya para may batayan siya kung tama ba ang nararamdaman niya.

"I trust you too."

Their lips met and she can't help but to be drowned with his kisses.

His hand immediately travelled up on her chest. He massages her breast against the fabric of her tube. Napapaungol siya sa nakakapang init na sensasyon ngunit pinipigilan niya pa rin ang sarili dahil alam niyang anomang oras ay darating na ang pagkain nila.

She doesn't want his secretary to catch them kissing. She would feel embarrassed.

"Zacariel..." she moaned his name when she heard the knock from the door.

Sa pangalawang katok, doon ito tumigil at inayos ang tube niya na medyo bumaba na. Her cleavage is making his eyes darkened. He sighed at the sight of it.

"Let's continue this later," she bite her lower lip in a flirty way.

Zacariel leered and he looked disappointed as he stood up to open the door. Halatang nabitin ito at hindi niya maiwasan ang mapahagikhik.

Roda awkwardly gave the tray to Zacariel. Hindi na ito pumasok at agad din umalis. Mukhang nahalata na may milagro silang ginagawa ng binata.

They spent another hour eating their lunch. At sa tuwing nagkakatinginan sila ni Zacariel, alam nila pareho ang tumatakbo sa isip ng isa't-isa.

"What time is your next meeting?" She asked casually.

He finished his water and wiped his lips with table napkin. Then he looked at the rolex watch on his wrist.

"I still have two hours before my next meeting."

"So, dito ka lang sa opisina?"

He nods his head. Then he swallowed when his eyes dropped to her chest.

Yelena simply composed herself by sitting properly and she made sure that she's giving him a better view of her chest.

"Can I take a rest in your room?"

"Yes."

"I don't want to disturb you while you're working."

"I'll be happy seeing you while I'm working."

She smiled sweetly at him.

"Doon nalang ako magpapahinga," sabay turo niya sa sofa. "Para nakikita mo ako at ma-inspire ka habang nagtatrabaho."

He laughed a bit. Very amused.

"Yeah. I need you there to make me inspired because I work for our future."

Her heart pounded because of his words. He's really, really sure about her and to spend his future with her.

Dapat ay masaya siya na malaman na seryoso talaga sa kanya si Zacariel at pinaghahandaan nito ang kinabukasan nilang dalawa. Ngunit may parte sa puso niya na tila ba bigla siyang natakot. Natakot na baka hindi matuloy ang plano nila o baka hindi pala sila ang para sa isa't-isa.

She could imagine herself being in so much pain if she woke up one day that she and Zacariel weren't together anymore.

Napalunok siya at tila nanikip ang dibdib. Hindi siya sigurado kung dala ba nang iniisip niya o nabusog lang siya.

She's really comfortable that she needs to take a breath and to do that properly, she needs to loosened her strapless brassiere. Dahil talagang nasisikipan ang dibdib niya.

"I hope you don't mind that..." sinubukan niyang abutin ng mga kamay ang hook sa likod niya.

"What's wrong?"

"I think I ate a lot. Biglang sumikip."

Tumayo si Zacariel at walang pag-aalinlangan na tinulungan siya. He lifted her blazer to see what she's doing.

"Unhook it. Here, Zacariel," sabay kapa niya sa hook.

She heard him sighed then did what she asked him to do. Tila ba nakahinga siya nang matiwasay nang makawala kahit papano ang dibdib niya.

Yelena removed her blazer. She doesn't care wearing a tube without a bra even in front with Zacariel. Sanay na naman ito sa katawan niya at sanay na rin siya rito. Kaya walang problema sa kanya.

He's already signing some papers on his table but he kept on sighing too. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang problema nito. Tahimik lang naman siya sa sofa habang ka-text si Santi.

"Do you want me to go inside?" She pointed his room.

"No."

"Am I distracting you?"

"Your nipples does."

Her cheeks heated right away. Tinignan niya ang dibdib kaagad. She couldn't blame him when she saw that her nipples are really obvious because the fabric of her tube is thin.

"Hindi ka pa ba sanay?" She smirked.

Tumayo siya at naglakad papunta sa lamesa ng kasintahan. Her action made him stop from signing and he just watched her nearing him.

She bent her body in front of his table, making sure that he have a full view of her breasts.

He sighed again and he hopelessly looked at her chest. Then he licked his lower lips.

"Really, huh? You're teasing me now."

"Hindi ah."

"Come..." he hold her hand for her to come closer.

She giggled and immediately sit on his lap.

Zacariel started kissing her lips as he slowly move his hand under her tube. His fingers found her nipple and that's already satisfying.

It was a short kiss because she knows what he really wants. He removed down her tube and lowered his head until his mouth found her nipple.

"Oohh..."

Isang masarap na ungol ang umalpas sa kanyang labi habang dinidilaan at sinisipsip ng kasintahan ang ut*ng niya. Salit-salitan at sinisigurado na parehong atensyon ang ibinibigay.