HIS standoffish gaze remained fixed on me as he continued to offer the handkerchief, looking at me as though I were a pitiful creature.

"Just take it for I will never choose the latter," he insisted while handing over the handkerchief. I could feel the softness of his palm as he gently placed it in my hand.

"Sorry, Boss . . . " I continued to shed tears, quickly wiping them away. "T-thank you . . . "

"Don't be sorry to me," he said. "Be sorry to yourself."

"Yes sir . . . " I agreed quietly.

It felt like the pain I was feeling intensified when he sat beside me. That's why I preferred to be alone when I cried. I tended to sob even more when I knew someone was listening. It made me feel even more embarrassed. That, in turn, made me cry every more.

It felt like my tears were endless, and I kept wiping them away. I glanced at Boss Rustan, whose gaze was no longer on me but fixed on what seemed like never-ending traffic.

"You look pathetic," he remarked. "Next time, if you're going to cry, do it where no one can see you. You're already pathetic as it is, do you want to be even more pathetic?"

I didn't know what to feel. Should I be happy because of his advice or offended? I’m already crying, and here he was, criticizing me? Unbelievable.

I stayed silent while wiping away my tears.

"Don't allow others to see you at your weakest point. Don't give them the satisfaction of seeing your defeat. It's not worth it. You should learn how to choose the situations in which you should cry and when you should not. Because practically, it's obnoxious to be fragile. It's exasperating to appear weak in the eyes of others. And also,"

His gaze shifted towards me. His eyes were blank. "Your safe haven can't be found in your war zone. Your boyfriend practically embarrassed you publicly; the least you can do is cry privately. So no one sees. So they don't think it's you who got embarrassed... that you're the pitiful one. You really are pathetic."

I chuckled lightly. I didn't know where I got the courage. "Wow, Boss. In the two years I've been working for you, that's probably the longest thing you've ever said to me."

He averted his gaze. "I just can't help but cringe at how you looked earlier."

Then his voice softened. "You remind me a lot of myself when I begged for someone's financial support a few years ago."

I suddenly felt better. My tears miraculously stopped. "Really? From whom?"

"None of your business," he returned to his gruff tone.

"You know, Boss, it was going okay earlier," I tearfully chuckled. I wiped away the remaining tears from my eyes while laughing softly. This night was so weird. Boss wasn't on my list of people I thought could lighten my mood.

"Just keep doing what you did earlier. You become even more handsome the longer you talk," I continued.

He turned to look at me again with his eyes locking onto mine. "There is something else with me that turns longer, how about that?"

My cheeks suddenly felt warm. Thankfully, I had a face mask on. Damn... I wasn't ready for that.

"You're so rude, Boss," I teased. "Let's not go there."

He suddenly coughed but quickly recovered. His eyes squinted as he looked at me, as if I were a puzzling enigma. "I am talking about patience. I have an endless amount of patience when it comes to your stupidity. What are you thinking?"

I couldn't say a word.

I just winced.

Really, Boss?

I just kept silent.

He stood up. "When you return my handkerchief, make sure to use an expensive detergent when you wash it. The last thing I want is my handkerchief smelling like poverty."

He didn't wait for me to respond. He walked away from me towards his car parked nearby a 7-Eleven.

I sighed. I couldn't help but smile secretly. It was as if I had forgotten that I was supposed to be sad.

This night was just too weird…


THE next day, Enrique didn't talk to me again. I called repeatedly, but he didn't answer. How could he even answer? He had blocked my number and my social media accounts. It's something he always does when we're having an argument.

I sighed deeply.

"That's a deep sigh," Chan remarked. I didn't realize he had been beside me all along. Now, it's just the two of us in the kitchen. We both have our break times. Kuya Peter is outside smoking since it's his break too. Badette and Shobe, on the other hand, are still working.

I didn't respond to Chan. Until now, I'm offended by what he said to me last night. It was too lewd. Even though I expected it from him, it still caught me off guard.

I was about to walk away from him when I suddenly felt his hand on my arm.

"Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?"

I furrowed my brow at him and forcefully withdrew my arm. "It’s none of your business"

But it seemed like he didn't hear me. He grinned ear to ear. "Shall we go home together later? Head straight to my place?" He bobbed his eyebrows at me.

What's the deal with this assh*le?

I chose not to respond and turned away. I was about to walk away when he forcefully grabbed my arm once more. His grip was tight, and I felt like it might leave a bruise tomorrow.

"It's not wrong to try a different dish sometimes, Lara. Come on, just give me the chance to hear your moan because of my dick. Just once, please."

My ears rang. I slapped him. His face turned in another direction. "Don't involve me in your perverted fantasies. Please, Chan. Respect me." Even though I had lost respect for myself.

I was genuinely shocked when he aggressively pulled my arm again. My body pressed against his, and my hand landed on his broad chest.

He whispered to me, his tone intense and filled with danger. "You'll like it too. Don't be shy; I know you want me too."

My forehead creased deeply. I tried to pull away from him. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

I struggled to free my arm, but he was gripping it so tightly it felt like he was addicted. He started pulling me even closer, making it dangerously intimate. I felt the lower part of him stiffening.

"You smell so good... so fresh."

I was about to push him away when the kitchen door swung open. Instead of Kuya Peter, it was Boss Rustan who appeared in the doorway.

"Where's Peter?" he asked.

I swallowed hard to steady myself, forcing my voice not to tremble.

"H-He went outside for a quick smoke."

"Go to him now. Tell him to meet me in my office as soon as possible," that was the last thing he said before leaving the kitchen.

I shot a disapproving look at Chan as I hurriedly went out to call Kuya Peter. He just smirked at me, biting his lip.

My knees were practically shaking as I walked out of the restaurant. I clenched my fists to control the trembling in my hands.

I released a few deep breaths to try to calm myself down, but to no avail. My mind kept reeling back to Chan's behavior.

He was a lot different now.

He is the version of Chan I had suspected from the beginning. My intuition wasn't wrong; he had something sinister planned for me.

I needed to steer clear of him.


THAT night, Enrique still wasn't speaking to me. I was still blocked, so now I'm all alone on this Jeepney. My barangay is the last destination on the route to the terminal, so it's usually just Enrique and I left most of the time.

I blinked when I suddenly heard something from the Jeepney. It sounded like it was struggling and came to an automatic stop in the middle of a rice field, in an area where there were no houses.

"Ah, darn it!" Manong Driver exclaimed. He tried to start it again but failed. Now, the jeepney seemed like a person gasping for breath.

"What happened?" I asked, avoiding an irritated tone. It was frustrating that the vehicle chose to break down right in the middle of nowhere.

"Oh, miss. It looks like we've conked out here," Manong said, wincing as he checked the rear-view mirror. "Can you wait? I'll call a mechanic I know from the next town."

I frowned. Our alley was pretty close from here. I can walk from here.

"Ah... it's alright, Manong. I'll just walk; my place isn't far from here. My sister is alone at home."

"Well, miss, the road's dark, and it's not safe for you. Shouldn't we wait?" Manong insisted.

I smiled. "It's okay, Manong. I'm used to walking in the dark. I did it before when there were no vehicles due to COVID," I replied.

Manong reluctantly nodded. "Alright then, if you insist. Just be careful, okay?"

I nodded back before getting off his Jeepney. I started to traverse the dark path through the rice fields, feeling the fresh provincial breeze against my skin. As usual, I reached our alley safely.

I walked further into it, finding no one around. Even the bystanders were nowhere to be seen. Our local chief’s occasional enforcement of the curfew had really helped.

I continued walking. Our house was at the end of this alley, so I had a few more minutes to go.

But suddenly, the dog by my side started growling. I was puzzled. This dog knew me. Why was it growling at me now?

Still wondering, I looked at it. Its eyes weren't fixed on me but on something behind me. I turned around quickly, and from there, I involuntarily swallowed hard.

There was…

There was a man standing behind me. I hadn't sensed him at all. I was paralyzed in fear when he suddenly grabbed my arms.