"Lavinia." Mariing bungad ni Adriel pagkapasok pa lamang ng aking opisina. He's wearing a black suit na para bang galing ito o papasok pa lang sa kanyang opisina.

"Anong kailangan mo?"

"Tinatanong mo pa?" Bahagyang tuminis ang boses nito sa dulo. Nahuli ko ang pamimilog ng mga mata ni Lucille sa narinig.

"Malansa." Patay malisyang sambit nito.

"You saying something?" Adriel muttered in a firm tone.

"Huh? Nothing." Lucille smiled widely as she shook her head repeatedly.

"Anyway, aalis na 'ko. I have a meeting at ten. Gawin mo ang sinabi ko. Get him!" Lucille muttered and I found my self nodding at her.

Matapos ay ngumiti ito at dumiretso sa pinto ng aking opisina. Bahagya pa itong huminto sa tapat ni Adriel.

"Halata ka, slight." Mahinang sambit ni Lucille kay Adriel ngunit sapat iyon para marinig ko. Hindi ko nakita ngunit alam ko na mapangasar siyang ngumiti kay Adriel.

Nahuli ko ang pagikot ng mga mata ni Adriel nang lampasan siya ni Lucille. Wala sa sariling napailing ako dahil sa dalawa.

Nang makaalis si Lucille ay binalinggan ako ni Adriel.

"You!" He pointed his forefinger on me as he walked towards my way.

"What?" I asked and my brow arched.

"How dare you leave without informing me?" He stopped in front of my table and placed his hand in his waist. Noong una ay hindi ko nakuha ang tanong niya ngunit nang tumaas ang kanyang kilay ay naalala ko ang tinutukoy niya.

"Your reaction is one week late." Noong nakaraang linggo pa ang sinasabi niya ngunit ngayon lang niya ako kinokompronta.

Bahagya itong natigilan matapos ay umupo sa kaninang inuupuan ni Lucille. "I'm busy." Sambit nito na sinabayan pa ng pagpilantik ng mga daliri.

"Kaya ka nahahalata," I stated.

Akmang sasagot pa ito ngunit agad kong naunahan. "Why are you here?" I'm not buying his excuse. Hindi ito pupunta sa aking opisina para lang komprontahin ako sa nagawa.

He sighed and massaged his temple habang nakapilantik ang mga daliri nito. "Mama's desperate to find a woman who's willing to marry me." Problemadong sambit nito.

"Then marry that woman, problem solved!" I chuckled when I saw his creased brow and squinted eyes.

"You're not an alpha kid." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at bahagyang napaisip.

Sarkastikong napatawa ako sa tinuran nito. "Is that a joke? Kasi kung oo, hindi nakakatawa."

He dramatically rolled her eyes. "Kulang ka lang sa sense of humor."

"But seriously, why don't you try it?"

"Ano, i-try na magpakasal sa babae? Ew, disgusting!" He emphasized the word 'disgusting' and he even twisted his lips.

"Malay mo may chance pa." I muttered. Sayang naman ang lahi ng mga Cervantes, maraming iiyak sa oras na malaman ng mga babaeng humahabol ka Adriel na kauri ang nais nito.

"Na ano?" Nahihiwagaang tanong niya sa akin.

"Tumuwid!"

"Ang alin?"

I rolled my eyes. "Ang baluktot na ikaw."

He faced me with a mocking smile. "Sure na 'to, wala ng itutuwid. I'm born to be a queen." Maarteng sambit nito. He even rose up, mabagal itong umikot at umaktong may korona sa ulo habang ang isang kamay ay kumakaway.

"Then tell that to your Mom. That you're born to be a queen." I mocked his tone.

"Duh! Mapapatay ako ng aking Mama kapag nalaman niya na ang kanyang unica hijo ay alam mo na..." Hindi niya itinuloy ang sasabihin. "Ikaw at si Aladdin lang ang nakakaalam na baklush akelly!"

"Who's Aladdin, boyfriend mo?"

"No!" Eksehaderong sambit nito. "He's my friend at mas diretso pa sa ruler 'yon."

"Fine, why are you here?"

"I need your help."

"What help?" I clasped my hands on my table.

"Let's pretend that we'll marry each other, pero pretend lang, hah! Baka naman seryosohin mo?" What the hell is he talking about?

I rose a brow up on him. "Paano mo nasabi na papayag ako?"

"I'll give you everything you want."

I narrowed my eyes. "I have everything I want."

"Fine! I'll do anything you want me to do."

"I'm not convinced."

Pinanliitan ako nito ng mga mata. "One month lang, hindi pa 'ko ready malaman ni Mama!"

"So after one month ready ka na?"

Sandali itong natigilan at tila napaisip. "Ewan ko, basta ako na bahala after one month."

"Fine! But don't forget the compensation, you said you'll do anything that I want you to do."

He rolled his eyes on me and nodded repeatedly. "Yeah, whatever."

"So what do I need to do?"

"We have a family dinner tonight, you'll come with me. Kilala ka ni Mama dahil nga siya at si Tita Ladia ang nagusap para ipagkasundo tayong dalawa. Let's say that we agreed on them. That we want to marry each other," Litanya niya.

"Maybe your Mama would believe that but trust me, my Mommy wouldn't." I know my Mom, she won't believe that reason. Alam ni Mommy na kahit sinong fiance pa ang iharap niya sa akin ay hindi ko ito pakakasalan kung ito si Creed. She knew how much I love Creed but she said that she won't stop finding a man who'd love and marry me. Minsan na ring sinabi sa akin ni Mommy na harapin si Creed ngunit hindi ko ginawa.

"Fine! Let's say that we'll try each other," He suggested and my eyes automatically enlarged.

"Oho, bakla! Ang bastos!"

Napakunot ang noo nito sa aking tinuran. Matapos ay unti unting namilog ang mga mata. "Hoy, bakla hindi 'yon ang ibig kong sabihin. Hindi kita papatulan, ew lang, girl!"

I chucked because of his reaction. "Gets ko naman, fetch me in our house later or I won't come."

"Oo na! Takot ko lang ikasal sa babae." His lips curled as his nose crinkled. "Alis na 'ko, you know I'm busy," He muttered, emphasizing the word busy.

Hinatid ko ito ng aking tanaw at napabuntong hininga nang makaalis ito. I remember what Lucille have said a while ago. I need to get him back.

"I'll continue to love you till the next lifetime," Creed muttered as he leaned to kiss my forehead.

"Huh? Hindi natin makikilala ang isa't isa sa susunod na habang buhay. Baka nakalimutan mo na 'ko sa panahon na 'yon." If ever we'll live in the next lifetime, siguro ay hindi na namin kilala ang isa't isa.

"Even if my memory can't remember you, this..." He pointed his index finger in his chest. "Won't forget you, this will always remember you. I promise you that."

Remember his promise. His heart won't forget you even in the next lifetime.

I immediately rose up and went out of my office. Agad hinanap ng aking mata ang aking sekretarya. I saw her seating in front of her table, typing something on her laptop.

"Shane, cancel all my appointments for today."

Agad namang siyang napaangat ng tingin sa akin bago binalinggan ang orasan at tuluyang ibinigay sa akin ang atensyon.

"Ma'am you have a lunch meeting with Mr. Creed Aiden Ferron of Ferron Enterprises. Importante raw po 'yon," Imporma niya na ikinakunot ng aking noo.

"I have?" Wala akong matandaan na may meeting ako with Creed.

"Yes, Ma'am. It was Ma'am Ladia who informed me about your meeting with Mr. Ferron. That is an important one as per Ma'am Ladia."

I slowly nodded my head. "Any other important meeting that I need to attend today?"

"Wala na, Ma'am." She smiled.

"Okay, I'll attend that lunch meeting. The rest, cancel it."

I walked towards the elevator as I snatched my phone on my bag and dialled my Mommy's number. Agad naman iyong sinagot ni Mommy.

"Vinia," She answered.

"About my meeting with Creed, what's that." I placed my phone near my ear and pushed the ground floor button of the elevator.

"Oh, a meeting." Sarkastikong sagot nito sa akin.

"Mommy!"

"What?" Napamaang ito at sa huli ay napabuntong hininga. "Come on, Lavinia. Its been already six years. Huwag mo akong bigyan ng dahilan na hindi mo pa siya kanyang harapin. Face him, I want you to be happy," My Mom muttered over the phone.

"So, it's not about business?"

"No, but the Ferron's thought it is."

"Okay, thank you, Mommy. I'll hang this up."

"Take care, attend that meeting." May halong pagbabanta ang huli niyang sinambit.

"Yes, papunta na po."

"What? It is a lunch meeting, it's just ten in the morning."

I chuckled. "I love you, Mommy." I muttered and ended the call.

Looks like I have to face him whether I like it or not.

I sashayed to Ferron's executive office. Nakita ko agad ang sekretarya ni Creed sa table nito.

"Lavinia," She muttered when she saw me approaching.

"Is your boss inside?" I asked, emphasizing the word boss.

"Ma'am, you're two hours early on your appointment with Creed." She rose up on her seat. Mahinahon ang salita nito ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit pakiramdam ko ay nabastos ako sa sinabi niya.

I raised a brow up on her. "Come on, Cerys. Just tell him that I'm already here." Iritadong sambit ko dito.

"I'm Sela Gomez and not Cerys. Pangatlo ka na sa nagsasabi na ako si Cerys but I'm not," Mariing sambit nito at bahagya pang tumaas ang boses sa huli ng sinabi.

"Don't you fucking raised your voice on me. Kung 'yong unang dalawa naloko mo, ako hindi. Fuck off, Cerys."

"Why don't you just leave?" Sambit nito kasabay ng pagbukas ng pinto ng opisina ni Creed.

"Hey, what's happening?" Creed's cold voice echoed on the whole floor. Napayuko si Cerys doon kaya naman napataas ang aking kilay.

"Ms. Amherst," Creed called. I felt my heart beating hard and fast than normal. Our eyes met and it brought back our memories together. Everything flashed back in my mind, na para bang kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat.

"I believe we have an important meeting," Pormal na sambit ko. Diretso ang tingin ko dito, mabuti at hindi nanginig ang aking boses dahil sa pagtitig sa mga mata nito.

"It is a lunch meeting. Maaga pa, you still have a meeting with Mr. Cervantes." It was Cerys.

I raised my brow up on her. "What do you want me to do Cerys? Go back to my company?"

"I'm not Cerys." Pilit nito na kahit kailan ay hindi ko paniniwalaan. "If you can't wait then leave, hindi ka kawalan." Pahabol pa nito. Walang bakas ng pagkamahinahon ang salita niya, malayo sa kaninang bungad niya sa akin.

"Sela," Saway ni Creed.

"What?" She walked near Creed and pointed her finger on my direction. "Kakampihan mo ang babaeng 'yan?" Eksehaderang sambit ni Cerys.

"What's wrong with you? She's a client, Sela. Why don't you calm down. Wala pa naman si Cervantes, hindi naman siguro kami magtatagal." Kunot noong sambit ni Creed kay Cerys na para bang nagtataka sa inaakto ng huli.

Para namang natauhan si Cerys at biglang nawala ang galit na ekspresyon nito. Tumapat ito kay Creed at bahagya pang iniyuko ang ulo.

"I'm sorry," Hinawakan niya ang mukha ni Creed at inabot ang mga labi nito.

Humigpit ang aking paghinga sa nakita. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang maramdaman ang panggigilid ng aking mga luha. I tried to fight back my tears ngunit nabigo ako nang maramdaman ang pagkabasa ng aking pisngi. Kasabay noon ang pagiingay ng aking telepono. I looked at my phone and saw Adriel calling.

"Adriel." I answered. Bahagya akong lumayo sa dalawa at hindi na nag-abala para magpaalam pa.

"I just want to remind you, we have to attend my family dinner, tonight. Humanda ka, baka mas maganda pa 'ko mamaya sayo." Sambit nito sa malambot na tono.

I chuckled, pinalis ko ang luhang bumagsak sa aking pisngi. "Baklang 'to, oo na! Kanina mo lang sinabi, syempre naaalala ko at mas maganda 'ko sayo, 'wag kang ano. Subukan mong magpaganda, lagot ka sa Mama m-mo." Bahagyang nanginig ang boses ko sa huling salitang binanggit.

"Anyare sa'yo? May pa-stammer effect ka pa."

"Wala, luko! Sige na, busy ako, Bakla. Basta sunduin mo ako mamaya." Hindi ko na hinayaan na makasagot ito at agad ng binaba ang tawag. Mabuti ay hindi nagtuloy tuloy ang aking mga luha, kung hindi ay wala akong mukhang maihaharap sa dalawa.

I sighed and smiled to my self before facing Creed and Cerys. Nasa akin na ang atensyon ng dalawa.

"Should we start?" I asked, my stares were directed to Creed.

"Come in." Creed muttered, ang kamay nito ay nakagiya sa pinto ng kanyang opisina.

I smiled and turned to Cerys. "Can you buy us a lunch? We'll have an early lunch since you said that it is a lunch meeting."

"Ms. Amherst." Rinig kong mariing tawag sa akin ni Creed.

"What? It's not a lunch meeting if we don't have something to eat for lunch," I stated and shrugged. "Besides, baka magtagal din kami sa loob. Huwag kang magpapapasok ng iba, it is an important meeting." Nakangiting sambit ko kay Cerys. I know she's cursing me deep inside. She's Cerys after all.

Creed opened the door of the office at pinauna akong pumasok doon. Hindi pa tuluyang nakakapasok ay nilinggon ko si Cerys sa gawing hindi makikita ni Creed ang aking ekspresyon.

I gave her a smile that's slowly turning into a smirk.

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