MY HANDS were pushed against his chest para hindi kami magkadikit masyado kahit na his face is too closed at me. I just let him carry me because he wouldn't put me down and I got tired of yelling at him.

It's like he didn't hear me even when I repeatedly screamed at his face. Mabuti nalang there are no people seeing us right now! I don't want to make a rumour or a scene, especially since he works for Sir VM pa!

"You can just put me down here," I said, pointing at the chair, when we reached the kabilang end ng hallway. The elevator is just near naman na and I can just call Curtis to pick me up.

"No. I'll bring you to the hospital," he adamantly said.

"What?"

He said, emotionless, "I said, I'm bringing you to the hospital."

I scoffed and looked at him in disbelief. I pushed his chest and tried to get down, but his grip on my waist and legs just got tighter.

"Hank!" I yelled. "I said, put me down! I don't want to go to the hospital!"

He stopped in his tracks and looked at me. I was frowning so badly at him, and he just stared back at me. If he just doesn't work for Sir VM, then I might be thankful that he's helping me, but no. I really don't trust him or his actions.

I am really skeptical about him.

Kanina ko po iniisip why Hank was here at the same time I came to the storage room. Is it a coincidence or is he following me? I don't know, but I'm sure he may be tailing me.

"Sera?" Agad akong napalingon and I saw Curtis, who had just come out of the elevator.

"Curtis! Thank God!"

"What's happening here?" he said, and then he looked at Hank. His forehead was slightly creased while staring at Hank while carrying me.

"Ibaba mo na ako please," I begged at Hank at saka lang niya ako ibinaba. I almost stumble pa dahil basta nalang niya akong ibinaba. I glared at him. bago ako ika-ikang naglakad palapit kay Curtis.

"Are you okay?" Curtis helped me. He put his arms around my waist to support my balance. I held his arm para hindi ako matumba.

I slightly nodded, "I'm okay lang. I just twisted my ankle kanina." I replied.

"I'll bring you to the hospital. Just call your manager," he said, sounding worried, but I shook my head instead.

"It's not that bad naman puwede namang—"

"No, I'll take you to the hospital."

I just sighed, "Okay." I replied.

"Can you walk? Or do you want me to carry you?"

"I can walk naman. I just need to hold onto your arm to balance myself," I said before we started walking very slowly towards the elevator. Pagsakay namin sa elevator Curtis pressed the 'L' button. Bago magsara iyong elevator doors I saw Hank looking at me.

"Isn't that Uncle Charles' secretary?" Curtis immediately asked when the door closed as we were going down the lobby. My ankle was twitching in pain, but I held it in.

"Yes."

"Why are you with him?" His face looks puzzled as I stare at his reflection from the elevator wall.

"I went to the storage room to get the big box of decorations because I was helping the party planning committee for the anniversary, but it was so heavy that I accidentally twisted my ankle while walking back, and then all of a sudden, Hank was there and he helped me," I explained to him.

"I just find it weird that he was there at the exact moment that I was getting something there 'di ba," I added.

"Please, next time be careful. Or just call me if you needed some help. Hank is very loyal to my uncle, and I've heard a lot of things – not good things about his secretary."

Bigla akong kinabahan dahil sa sinabi ni Curtis. He noticed how my face turned pale because of what he said.

"Talk to me immediately if he does something to you, alright? I really don't trust my uncle, even if we're blood-related." He added. I gave him a small nod before the elevator door swung open.

I can't stop imagining things that Sir VM or Hank could do to me. They will not kill me naman di ba?

Oh, my gosh... What if they try to kill me?

Now, I'm really scaring myself na!

Curtis brought me to the hospital, and they did an X-ray to check my sprained ankle. Mabuti nalang it wasn't so baddaw and it will heal in 5 to 7 days.

I called Sir Andres kanina while we're on our way to the hospital and told him that I sprained my ankle and he said that I could just go home and rest after ko raw pumunta sa hospital and he would just tell the party planning committees about what happened to me.

I also called Trent and told him I couldn't come with him tonight to watch a movie. I really feel bad because he looked so excited kanina when I accepted his offer. I told him nalang na babawi ako once na gumaling na ako. Sa Friday na iyong anniversary ng The Empress kaya I needed to rest talaga para mag heal agad iyong sprain ko because I want to be there.

Sayang naman kasi if I couldn't come. I was really looking forward to it!

"Are you sure you'll be okay here alone?" Curtis asked, pag hatid niya sa'kin sa unit ko. He bought me crutches para I can still walk around.

I smiled at him. "Yes, I'll be fine na. Just do me a favour, please?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Talk to Trent and tell him that I'm really sorry. I just feel really bad." I said, and he just nodded his head.

"Call me if need something, okay?" he repeated before he finally left.

I was just resting on my couch while watching the Friends series, which Gael suggested to me when I heard a knock on my door. I groaned internally. I was enjoying the couch pa, e! And I don't want to stand up and use my crutches.

"I'm coming!" I yelled when I heard knocks again. I grabbed my crutches and painfully walked my way to the door.

When I opened the door, Cash was standing in front of me with a wide smile on his face, but agad din napalitan nang pag-alala iyong mukha niya when he saw my cast foot and my crutches.

"Are you okay?" he immediately asked. He closed the gap between us and held both my shoulders while checking if something more happened to me.

"I'm okay lang Cash. I just sprained my ankle," I said when he won't stop checking me na akala mo I got hit or something.

I held his hand to stop him. Napatingin siya sa'kin and my heart start beating faster when I saw the look on his face. He looks really worried and my heart is racing wildly because of the thought that he cares for me.

"Cash don't be OA ha. I'm okay lang talaga," I assured him. I smiled at him, and he just exhaled sharply.

"Did you go to the hospital? Why didn't you call me? Why did you sprain your ankle? Who carried you?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya. I chuckled softly and I saw nan ainis siya dahil natawa pa ako.

"Let's sit first," I told him before I started walking back to the living room. I'm not used to using my crutches pa kaya ang bagal kong maglakad. I clutched tightly on my crutch as I took one step at a time.

"Cash!" I squealed when he suddenly carried me in his arms. I dropped my crutches on the floor in surprise.

"It pains me to see you walk like that," he said as he walked towards my bedroom.

"I'm watching Friends," I protested because sa kuwarto niya ako dinala instead na sa sala.

"You have to rest."

"But I'm resting naman sa couch while watching,"

"Nope! You have to lie down properly, and that means you have to lie down on your bed and not on the couch."

"Cash Evander! Isa!" I frowned at him as he lays me down on my bed and starts tucking me like a child.

"Serenity Rose! Dalawa!" he mocked. I pouted at him, and he just chuckled. He sat on the side of my bed and tucked the loose hair on my face behind my ear.

"You haven't answered my questions yet," he said. He was staring intently at me.

"Do I have to answer your questions?" I asked back. Umawang nang konti ang labi niya dahil hindi niya siguro inaasahan ang sinabi ko.

"No," he said, with a small smile on his lips. "You're not obligated to answer my questions, Serenity. After all, I'm just your friend with a benefit, right? That's really it between us."

I was just joking with what I said, and I did not expect that he would say that to me.

But he is right...

We're fuck buddies. Friends with benefits... Or whatever they call two people having sex without a relationship or label.

Pilit akong ngumiti pabalik sakaniya.

"Right," I replied. "Uhm... I want to rest na. Can you just lock the door when you leave?" I told him before I pulled the comforter on my body before I turned my back on him.

He didn't say anything. I bit my lower lip so hard as I tried to stop myself from tearing up because of the throbbing pain inside my chest. My heart constricted in pain. And as I heard the door closing, tears slowly fell down my cheeks.

What he said was true... but why is it so painful to hear it from him? That we're nothing but friends with benefits.

#

Sir Andres made me rest the whole week so I could attend the anniversary party on Friday. I didn't complain though, because I really wanted to be part of the party. I was stuck at my unit for four days, and I couldn't really do anything. And yesterday, my foot was getting really better na!

I haven't seen Cash after what happened last Monday.

He didn't come back or visit me again, but every lunch and dinner, there's always a food delivery for me for four consecutive days. And hindi ko na kailangan mag taka kung kanino galing iyon because I know naman na kay Cash iyon galing.

I sent him a thank you messages every time I get to receive the food that he bought for me but hanggang doon lang ang pag-uusap namin. Sometimes, a simple "You're welcome" or "Eat well" lang ang reply niya or minsan naman he doesn't reply at all.

I just think that he's probably busy with work.

Friday has come, and I'm really excited about the party! I no longer needed crutches to walk, and I removed the cast na rin on my foot!

I wore a red sequin sheath long gown with a slit and paired it with my red high heels. I also curled my long brownish hair and put on makeup. Sobrang happy ko kasi my feet got really better na and I got to wear my perfect dress and shoes to the party!

Red and Black ang theme ng Party. I haven't talked to Cash about the party but I'm sure naman na he will be there later. I don't want to admit it to myself, but I miss him. I haven't talked to or seen him for 4 days and para akong mababaliw mag isa sa unit!

Tia and Evo visited me naman din. And even Curtis, often comes and checks me but iba pa rin when it was Cash.

"Are you ready?" Curtis asked when I opened the door.

"Yes. 2 minutes nalang, I'll just check myself at the mirror ulit." paalam ko sakaniya before I headed to my room. Lumabas na rin ako when I made sure that everything is perfect na. I got my clutch bag with me, with my small wallet and cellphone on the inside.

Pag dating namin sa party, there were a lot of people already! I was in awe while looking around the venue!

It was so pretty!

All the employees were already drinking while chitchatting. I held on to Curtis' arms as we made our way inside. I took a glass of champagne when a server passed by us. Napalingon si Curtis sa'kin.

I slightly furrowed my brows at him. "I know it's still early pa but I needed a drink," I reasoned out and he just shook his head at me. We saw Trent's table with Gabe, Maddy and Brienne and their other co-workers kaya doon kami agad lumapit.

Trent immediately stood up from his seat.

"How's your foot?" he asked agad.

I smiled at him. "Okay na iyong foot ko. I rested for four days, e," I replied. He smiled at me and lumabas na naman iyong cute dimples niya.

"You look beautiful Sera," he said while staring at me.

"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." I told him because he looks dashing naman talaga! He's wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a red tie.

We joined their table and started drinking. We're in the middle of chitchatting when we heard someone started talking at the stage and then I saw Sir VM standing in the middle of the stage with Mr. Donovan – Curtis' Dad and the owner of The Empress.

I saw Cash and Hank standing naman sa gilid ng stage. Cash has this serious look on his face. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako.

I want to talk to him.

I miss him.

Sir VM and Mr. Donovan just said a few words before everyone resumed what they were doing.

"I'll just go to the bathroom." I excused myself and left the table.

I saw Cash kanina going outside kaya doon ako agad nagpunta para sundan siya.

I followed where he went but I stopped when I saw him talking to Sir VM. I hid behind a wall because I wasn't really in the mood to talk to Sir VM.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sir VM spoke. Just hearing his voice sends shivers down my spine! I had goosebumps na agad!

"I'm not leaving the party, Dad." Cash replied. I quietly peeked at them. Nakatalikod si Cash sa'kin and natatakpan naman niya si Sir VM kaya hindi nila ako nakikita.

"I saw that woman at the party,"

"Her name is Serenity."

"Don't you dare cut me off when I'm talking! Medyo tumaas iyong boses ni Sir VM. "What is your relationship with her? Is she your new toy or flavour of the month?"

My heart starts pounding so fast while I'm waiting for Cash to answer.

"Haven't you learned your lesson with that girl, Cynthia? Do you really want to go through that again? Women are controlling, liars, and will only make you weak. Always remember that! Your mom is an example of a gold-digger, and Cynthia just toyed and cheated on you! If I didn't do anything to her, she's still probably leeching on you."

Cash exhales sharply.

"Now tell me, who is Serenity to you?" Sir VM asked again. My palms starting to get really sweaty, and my heart is going to burst in anticipation.

"She is... nothing but a woman I enjoy in bed."

Mabilis nanikip iyong dibdib ko at kasabay nun ang pagtulo ng luha sa mata ko.

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