Lost

Michael never a missed a day following Zoey behind, he secretly followed them at the airport the day Zoey sent him off for his convention. Michael clenched his fist after that goodbye kiss Nickel gave to Zoey.

The Zoey that he knew before wouldn't accept these kinds of gestures in a public area but how did Fuentes change the girl he knew before?

There were many times he tried to kiss Zoey when they were still together but never in his million tries did Zoey complied to his request but then just now he saw them publicly displaying their affection with each other.

"I want that too!" He said as his palms start bleeding for clenching too hard.

The following week came just like her normal workdays. Zoey was too busy with all her reports when the door suddenly opened.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Ma'am Zoey. I didn't know that you're here."

"It's okay Manong Rick. Come in."

It is Rick's obligation as the assigned personnel to aid and clean the Director's office to get Nickel and Zoey's lunch boxes after their break. Usually, the couple will go somewhere else after they ate their lunches but since Nickel wasn't around it was Rick's first time to see Zoey inside the office after she finished her meal.

"I didn't expect to see you here Ma'am Zoey, aren't you going to go out?" He asked.

Zoey laughed at him because those days that Nickel insisted to go outside to have a short date with her on their busy days. "Hahaha! I'm kind of busy this week, so you'll going to see me here."

"I can tell that!" Rick looked at all the piled documents on her desk and then shared laughter for their weird observations.

"Wouldn't you mind if I stay here a little bit?" Zoey allowed him to stay because he looked too exhausted from his work despite his old age.

Zoey tried to observe him as well, Rick used his hand to fan himself even though their office was already in the lowest temperature possible.

"Do you want me to switch on the cooler?" She offered to help him cool himself but then Rick declined as he thought that Zoey seems to pity him. Anyway wasn't it a part of his strategy?

"I'm okay, Ma'am Zoey."

The two were wrapped with an abrupt silence with made Zoey feel awkward. To be honest although Zoey precious her introversion, she still doesn't like being in a close area with someone in a complete silence scenario.

But before she opened her mouth, Manong Rick already broke the crystal silence around them. "You know Ma'am Zoey, I saw my daughter to you. If in case she was still alive she will be on the same age as you."

Zoey didn't expect that Manong Rick has his own tragedy in life that involves his own child. She looked at him with her sincere eyes and said, "I'm sorry to hear that Manong Rick."

"It's okay. I already accepted the fact that I already sent her off into her grave. Although it is hard for me, I know for sure that she won't be liking it to see me still mourning for her death."

"I lost everything when she chooses to finish her life when her fiancé left her to another girl. My daughter couldn't handle the pain for her lost love so she decided to end her life. I also blame myself because if I just counsel her and comfort her when she needs me the most she wouldn't come up with that decision."

Zoey is a very sympathetic person, after hearing Rick's invented story about his dead daughter she didn't hesitate to give him a hug in which she thought cam meet the longing he wanted to feel.

"I'm sorry to hear that Manong Rick." Zoey continued comforting Manong Rick until he feels okay when her mobile phone rang.

Zoey hurriedly answers the call because she has been waiting for it seem that morning.

"Hello, I am from Gaston Plumber works. I received your report regarding your faulty pipes Miss Alcantara. We are pleased to serve you but can we please schedule our service two days from now? We are already fully occupied by other residence reports in Serenity. I'm sorry for the inconvenience Miss Alcantara."

Zoey reported last weekend about her clogged pipes. Due to the constant raining these past few days. The drainage system of Serenity Condominium because of all unauthorized garbage dumped into the system.

Rick's overheard their conversation in which gave him a bright idea to start his plan on seeking revenge for his child.

"Okay, then please update me when your plumber is free." Zoey hung up the phone and apologized to Manong Rick for her manners.

Rick didn't actually mind it. "Sorry but I overheard your call. You have a problem with your pipes?" He asked.

"Yes, my pipes were all affected due to the unit below my floor."

"I have a piece of knowledge in fixing pipes Ma'am Zoey. Do you want me to fix it for you? Free of charge." If Rick is a kind person this offer will be a pleasant one for anyone but he isn't and Zoey didn't know it as well.

"Sure why not but no to free of charge."