Chapter Twenty Five

"Long time no see...Aimee." She looked straight into the woman's eyes without batting an eyelash. Naipagpasalamat niyang mukhang nauna siyang makabawi sa pagkabigla kaysa sa kaharap. Shock was still on Aimee's face, so much so that the latter couldn't even respond for a moment.

"W-what are you...doing h-here?" sa wakas ay namutawi sa mga labi ni Aimee.

"Business," she replied briefly.

"Does D-Drake know that-"

She chuckled, "of course." Nilingon niya ang opisina ni Drake. "He's in there if you need to see him." Hindi na niya hinantay ang sagot nito at humakbang patungong elevator, halos masagi niya ang babae sa kanyang paglakad.

Matt followed her in, and right before the elevator door closed, Aimee turned to give her a spiteful look, ang mga mata nito ay tila nais magbuga ng apoy.

Taas noong sinalubong ni Cali ang tinging iyon, while a sarcastic smile slowly broke on her lips, sadyang nang-iinis. Nakita pa niya ang lalong pagkunot ng noo ni Aimee bago tuluyang nagsara ang pinto ng elevator.

Nang sila na lamang ni Matt ang naroon ay tila bigla siyang nanlambot, isinandig niya ang likod sa dingding, she grabbed Matt's arm as if to get some strength.

Matt looked at her with concern in his eyes. "Ano na naman 'yun, Cali?".

"Remember what I told you about that affair?"

Tumango ang kaibigan bago namilog ang mga mata ng mapagtanto ang mga nangyayari.

"You mean that was her? The woman that Drake..." Matt's voice trailed off. "Are you okay?"

She didn't answer. Naikuyom niya ang mga kamao sa pagragasa ng mga mapapait na ala-ala ng nakaraan.

Bumuntong hininga si Matt. "Kung alam ko lang na ganito magiging ka-kumplikado ang lahat, Cali, sana ay hindi na lang natin tinanggap itong project."

Dumeretso ng pagkakatayo si Calista at inayos ang sarili bago hinarap ang kaibigan.

"It's not your fault, and besides, hindi na ako dapat maapektuhan hindi ba? It was all in the past. Ako ang dapat mag-adjust and just focus on work and not the past issues," she forced a smile at tinapik sa balikat si Matt. "Pero sobrang na-appreciate ko ang mga tulong mo, friend. Until this project is over, please just be my boyfriend...hmmm?"

"Hay, eh ano pa nga ba?" napipilitang  ani Matt, rolling his eyes.

*******

"What was Cali doing here?" bungad ni Aimee pagpasok sa kanyang opisina.

Drake barely looked up from the documents he was reading. "She's here for a project."

Aimee sat on the couch at ipinag dikwatro ang mga binti. "What project?"

Sinulyapan ni Drake ang babae bago ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ng mga dokumento. "She'll be the interior designer for the hotel," matabang na sagot niya, "you sound like an inspector or something. Should I report to you now?"

Aimee laughed. "Hindi naman, curious lang ako as to why your ex-wife was here".

Ex-wife.

Hindi maintindihan ni Drake ang kurot na nakiraan sa kanyang dibdib pagkarinig sa salitang iyon.

Ex-wife. Yes, she was his ex-wife. Sa limang taong lumipas ay hindi pa rin niya lubusang malaman ang dahilan kung bakit bigla na lamang itong nawala sa buhay niya.

He thought their love was meant to last forever, na kahit na ano pa ang hirap na pagdaanan nilang dalawa ay wala ni isa man ang bibitaw sa pangako nilang pagmamahalan. But Calista had let go. He refused to believe that Cali only wanted him for money, he just refused to believe that crap! Pero sa paglipas ng mga araw na hindi ito nagbalik o nagparamdam man lang, hindi niya maiwasang magduda at tanungin ang sarili kung talaga bang minahal siya ng dalaga? Because if she really did love him, how come she never cared to give their relationship a chance to be saved? How come she just disappeared from his life as if she was only a subtle dream that passed through?

"Nakikinig ka ba sa 'kin?" Untag ni Aimee.

Sinulyapan niya ang babae, halatang naroon ang iritasyon sa mukha nito. Marahil ay kanina pa ito may sinasabi na hindi niya napapansin dahil sa iba ang laman ng kanyang isipan.

Aimee and her family has always been a good friend of the Lustre's. From as far as he could remember, bata pa lamang siya ay constant presence na sa kanilang bahay si Aimee, ganoon din ang mga magulang nito.

It was true that Aimee was hid ex-girlfriend. First love? Yes? maybe? Hindi rin niya masiguro. He was only 17 back then, mainit ang dugo and Aimee was very much willing to give him what he needs. Their relationship didn't last long but they remained friends.

These past few years ay tila lalong inilapit ni Aimee ang sarili sa mga Lustre, lalo sa kanyang ina. Drake knows that she was somehow hoping to be paired with him in marriage, isang bagay na hindi niya alam kung nais pa ba niyang muling subukan. Maybe one failed marriage that resulted in annulment was enough to burn and mar him for this lifetime.

Aimee is a beautiful woman - classy, sophisticated and hails from the prominent Robledo clan. Hindi itinatago ng dalaga ang pagkagusto sa kanya at ipokrito siya kung sasabihin niyang walang namagitan sa kanila sa loob ng limang taong muli siyang naging binata. Sex? Yes they've had it, once or twice maybe, but each time he's always left with a hollow feeling of emptiness that was hard to explain.

"...you were saying?" He cleared his throat.

"I said, alam ba ito ni tita Evelyn?"

"She doesn't need to know," he answered without looking at her.

"Drake, are you insane?" Tumayo ang babae mula sa kinauupuan at nagtungo sa kanya. She sat on the side of his desk at malambing na inabot ang kanyang kurbata at nilaro laro iyon ng daliri. "I mean... I don't think it's a good idea considering how you have both bad blood..."

Sumandal siya sa swivel chair at marahang hinila mula kay Aimee ang kurbata. "Bad blood? Past is past, this is purely business. Their work is actually quite good, impressive ang portfolio nila even though they are small."

"You can afford to hire someone better, napaka rami diyan!"

"We already signed their proposal and contract."

"Are you sure that's the only reason?" Tila naninimbang ang tinig ni Aimee.

Drake looked up to the ceiling before closing his eyes.

No. That wasn't the only reason... I've got to have her back. She belongs to me and I will make sure she begs me to take her again...