Chapter 4

"Chloe, pakireview naman lahat to."

"Chloe, where's the monthly report? kailangan na daw ng department yun asap."

"Chloe, yung kailangang papirmahan kay boss? okay na ba?"

"Chloe!"

"Chloe?"

"Chloe?!"

Walang ibang magawa ang dalaga kung hindi mapapikit at sabunutan ang kanyang sarili. After Damon became the boss, her job was ten times difficult. Wala rin ito lagi sa kompanya kaya halos nagkanda patong-patong ang kanyang trabaho.

It's already two o'clock, she forgot to ate her lunch. Napabuntong hininga nalang ang dalaga habang tinitignan ang kanyang wristwatch,almost two months narin palang ganito ang kanyang routine at set up. Ngunit dumako naman sa isip nyang kahit mahirap ay mas maganda nalang na ganito at least hindi sila nagkikita ni Damon.

"Chloe? ano nang update kay boss?"tanong ni Carl isa sa mga ka officemate niya.

"I don't know?"

"Anong I don't know? eh diba ikaw ang sekretarya nya? by the way may naghahanap sayo nasa labas ng office ni boss."

Maya-maya pa ay mabilis nya itong pinuntahan "Good afternoon sir, but our boss... he's not around..."

"I know Ms. Nightingale, by the way I'm Lucas, Mr. Hernàndez secretary in Seraphic Corporations, I came here to fetch you along with the documents."

"What?!" she exclaimed.

"Bakit kailangang kasama pa ko?"

"It's very simple ma'am coz you're his secretary, at mahigpit din pong pinagbilin ni sir na dapat kasama daw po kayo at ang naipong documents na dapat ireview at pirmahan."

—

Tahimik ng dalagang ipinasok sa compartment ng sasakyan ang tatlong blue fellowes banker box at pagkatapos ay pumasok na ito at naupo sa backseat.

The whole time, her mind was occupied,her treacherous heart began to beat insanely. Agad nitong kinalma ang sarili.

After an hour, i pinark ng sekretaryang si Lucas ang kotse sa tapat ng isang napakalaking condominium.

"Nandito na po tayo ma'am" lumabas si Lucas ng kotse at pagkabalik nito ay may dalang trolley, ipinwesto at pinagpatong patong nito ang box mula sa compartment.

Pagkapasok ng dalawang sekretarya sa loob ay agad itong binati at nginitian ng dalawang receptionist. Ngunit napahinto sila ng tanungin ito ng isa sa mga front desk clerk.

"Sir kailangan niya pa pong magsign sa logbook."

"No need. she's Mr. Hernàndez secretary" at agad na nagpatuloy maglakad papuntang elevator. She noticed that the clerk gave her a sharp look, ngunit hindi nagpatalo si Chloe she raised her left brow and rolled her eyes.

"Attitude ba? then it's a tie" she murmured.

She's not the old,innocent and weak Chloe anymore, after eight years she forced herself to be strong enough physically and mentally to defend herself from those people that treated her unfairly and to those who want to take advantage of her.

Nang makarating sa tapat ng elevator ay agad na ibinigay ni Lucas ang pagkakahawak nito sa trolley.

"Top floor Ms.Nightingale."sabi ni Lucas kasabay ng pagpindot nito sa buton.

"Huh? wait!"

Hindi na napagsalita si Chloe ng magsara na ang elevator.Walang nagawa ang dalaga kundi ikalma ang sarili nang simula na itong tumaas "Relax Chloe! breathe in,breathe out" kabadong hinga nito. she looked at the mirror to distract herself.

Minutes passed, nasa harap na ito ng pinutuan.

*Rings

Nagulat sya ng may ilang beses na tumawag na unregistered number sa kaya agad niya itong na ikinancelled ngunit tumawag muli ito at sa huling pagkakataon ay napagdesisyunan na nyang sagutin.

'Ma'am si Lucas po ito. Ilang beses po akong tumatawag,na ka-cancelled niyo po'

Napangisi si Chloe, laking pagpapasalamat nito na si Lucas lang ang tumatawag kanina, at hindi ang mga kamag -anak nya sa Spain. Dahil doon,nakahinga ng maluwag si Chloe.

'Sabi po ni boss dumiretso nalang daw po kayo sa kwarto niya at ilapag yung mga box ng documents sa working table nya. He will be there around 20 minutes'

"Teka wait paano ako makakapasok eh may passcode?"

"Sabi po ni boss alam nyo daw na po yon"

"What!? tek-ka..." she exclaimed.Pa-paano ba naman ay agad itong pinatayan ng linya ni Lucas.

""Mierda!" Chloe muttered in disgust Agad na pinindot ng dalaga ang button. First attempt his birthday.

"Oh shookt!"

Second attempt monthsary? "Nope"

Hindi parin hanggang sa mag third, fourth,fifth attemp ay wala parin. almost 10 minutes narin ang lumilipas.

"Chloe think! use you brain!"

Makalipas ang ilang segundo para bang may bumbilyang tila nagliwanag sa kanya at naisip nitong pindutin ang araw ng kanyang kapanganakan. She was suprised nang nag matched ito sa passcode. She jumped into happiness.

Nang mabuksan ang pintuan, tumambad agad sa kanya ang modern style antechamber nito.Her jaw was gapped in amazement Hindi mapagkakaila that he's living the most stylish and extravagant life.

Pagkatapos nyang libutin ang tingin sa wakas, ay nahanap din nito ang silid ng binata. Iginilid nito ang trolley at binuksan ang pintuan. Her eyes saddened after she opened the door. The room was dark and lonely. You can see different bottles of liquors, especially his flasks of whiskey na nakakalat sa ibabaw ng kama nito.

One thing also caught her attention Ang ibat-ibang gamot nito na nakapatong sa cabinet. Isa na rito ang "Valerian Root Extract"

She's very familiar to this one, dahil gamot niya ito noong college sya. When there are times na binabangungot sya at nagflaflashback yung panaginip nya about her parents para makatulog,eto ang tinitake nya. But why the hell Damon have those kinds of medicine? Did he suffer too?

Agad itong ikinalungkot ng dalaga. Maybe it was all her fault, there was a trail of tear in her lid that time but she's trying to pent-up her emotions. Agad syang tumayo at inilapag ang box sa gilid ng working table, inilabas nito ang mga documents at ihiliwalay sa storage box upang mawalan ng laman.After that she carefully put those bottles in the box one by one.

Iniayos din ng dalaga ang ang gulo-gulong bedsheets. Speaking off— habang inaayos nya ito ay hindi mapigilan ng dalagang malala ang dating pangyayari sa kanilang dalawa. The moments they spent together, that night, the kiss—..

"For heaven sake! Chloe what are you thinking?!" She could feel that her cheeks are in burning red like a fire truck.

Chloe slightly tapped her cheeks and shrugged her shoulder. Agad-agad itong tumingin sa mga botelyang hindi nya pa nasasalansan, pinulot nya ito nang biglang

"What the fuck are you doing!?"

Chloe was shocked and lose her grip to the bottle.It was all shattered,the small glass are scattered on the floor.

She fixated her eyes to Damon saying sorry, at mabilis itong umupo at pinulot ang mga bubog na nagkalat sa sahig ng kwarto.

"It was the last bottle, kahit kailan clumsy ka talaga!" mariing sabi sa sarili.

"I said what the fuck are you doing!?"

"Umm...ano k-kas-si...sorry...di ko naman sinasadya..."

"Bakit ba kasi nakikielam ka pa?!ang ayos-ayos ng instructions ko di ba? I clearly said na ilapag mo lang sa table ko yung documents! Are you too fucking dumb to understand that?!"

"Sorry...g-gusto k-ko lang namang ayusin..." she said with a low tone.

"At-t para saan pa ha? Chloe?!You don't have to do that! matagal na kong hindi ayos nang dahil sayo!" he said with abhor and pained tone kasabay nang malakas pagbagsak at pagsarado nito ng pinto.

It pierced her heart to see his midnight ranging eyes. Parang may tumarak na punyal sa puso ng dalaga, na paulit ulit na sumasaksak sa buo nyang pagkatao.He's suffering because of Chloe. Walang ibang pwedeng sisishin kundi sya lang. She's try'n to hold back her emotions but her warm tears starting to flow in her cheecks. Dinig rin nito ang mahinang pagmumura ng binata mula sa labas ng kwarto na parang may kausap ito sa kabilang linya.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay natapos nya narin ang paglilinis agad nyang pinunasan ang luha at akmang kukunin ang kanyang bag ng magsalita si Damon.

"Where are you going?"

"Uuwi na..."she murmured.

"No! Don't move!" Damon shouted. Ngunit huli na ang lahat, naapakan na ni Chloe ang nakaligtaang bubog sa sahig.

"Shit, It hurts!" napapikit na sabi ni Chloe sa sarili ngunit hindi niya na ito ipinahalata kay Damon. Binigyan nya lamang ng ngiti ang binata at agad agad syang lumakad paalis ng kwarto.

But Damon grabbed her hands "Bakit ba ang kulit mo?!" His eyes still on the heat of  anger from what he saw,a trail of blood on the floor. Acting like she's okay? What the heck! kailan pa naging sinungaling ng ganyan ang kilala nyang Chloe?

"I'm okay..."

"No! you're not!" He immediately carried her in bridal style inilabas niya ito at ipinaupo sa leather couch, pagkatapos nito ay umalis at pumunta sa isang room. A while ago, their face was in inch apart. Chloe's heart is pounding so hard, as it'll come ouft

anytime soon.It's good and comfortable to be back in his arms again.

"I really miss this man. He's midnight and sad eyes, — No Chloe! stop fantasising this man again!"

Minutes passed,bumalik si Damon ng may dalang small tub namay tubig at medical kit. Nilinisan nito ang mga sugat gawa nalamang ng pagkabasag kanina. Kinuha rin nya ang tweezers para kuhanin ang na-stock na bubog sa talampakan ng dalaga. You can see to Chloe's face that she's in pain but she remain to act like a strong one.

"It'll gonna hurt a little,you have to bare with it." walang eksprespyong saad ng binata

Chloe nodded.

Silence engulfed from both of them.Walang imikan, this is really awkward.

"Where the hell are those idiots? Sabi ko asap diba? are they fucking joking me? if they're not here in 15 minutes,I will fired you all!" galit na sabi nito sa kabilang linya.

All she can do is to stare at Damon's grim face. Ang laki ng pinagbago nito simula sa appearance pati narin sa paguugali.It is all her fault.

Nang matapos magparoom service ay sumunod namang dumating ang delivery ng pagkain.

"U-mm...Damon...Yung mga ilang mga documents pala kailangan ko nang i submit bukas."

"So?" maikling at sarkastikong saad nito.

"Kailangan mong i-review ngayon para makauwi nako."

"Let's have dinner first."

"B-but"

"No buts!"

Hindi nakatanggi ang dalaga. First time after eighth years nang magkakasama uli silang kumain, tahimik lang ang dalawa habang ninanamnam ang pagkain nang biglang nagsalita ang binata.

"You look ten times skinnier than last month."

"It's your fault tamad mo kasing pumasok sa office."pabirong sabi ng dalaga.

"Oh-h?" then his lips gave a light twitch.

"By the way after nating mag dinner,can you please review those documents? mag a-anong oras na din kasi baka di na ko nyan makauwi."

"Okay."

After eating dinner,agad na kinuha ni Damon ang mga papeles at inumpisahang basahin.

"What the fuck! ganto ba talaga to karami?"

"Abay Oo! Dalawang buwan ba naman yang natengga sa Blynthen, huwag kang mag-alala dahil marami pa yan."

"Damn these documents! alin ba dito ang urgent? para mapirmahan ko na."

Ika-ikang lumapit ang dalaga at kinuha ang limang green folder at inabot sa binata.

"Here,lahat yan kailangan nang maipasa bukas,pag hindi mo nairmahan patay ako kay Sir Miguel. By the way, meron syang ini-note dito sa gilid so, paki basa na lang." she leaned forward and point out the part of paper.

"What the heck are you doing?"

"Hindi pa ba obvious? Itinuturo ko yung dapat di mo kaligtaang basahin pati na—

"Sh*t! are you f-cking tempting me right now?"

"Ano ba yan Damon? Anong tempting? just shut up your filthy mouth! itinuturo ko lang naman yung bilin ng supervisor ko."

"No! what I mean is that!" sabay turo nito sa nakabukas na butones sa kanyang sleeves.

"What the f-ck Meirda! Meirda!"

kitang kita ang kulay puti nitong bra at ang nakasilip malulusog na bundok.Mabilis itong tumalikod at inayos ang sarili.

"Sorry! It's not my fault! talagang hindi ko lang napansing nakabukas na pala yun and for your information,I'm not teasing you Mr. Hernàndez, In your dreams!"she rolled her eyes.

His lips parted, a cheshire grin comes to his handsome face.

"What?!"she said blunty

"Nothing" tipid na sagot nito.

After 3 hours natapos narin ang mga papeles na dapat nitong pirmahan.He looks so tired, hinilot nito ang kanyang sentido

"Here" inabot ni Damon ang mga papels at umupo sa couch.

"Thanks boss."

He rolled his eyes.

When she was about to stand up. Inihiga ni Damon ang kanyang ulo sa kandungan ng dalaga.Chloe suddenly stupefied, can't come up to the right words to say.

"What are you doing!?"she exclaimed in surprised.

Damon remained silent but after a seconds he speaks up.

"Just a few minutes"

Walang nagawa ang ang dalaga hinayaan nya lamang ang binata.A mum atmosphere devouring the whole room.

"When was your last sleep?" Chloe asked with a worried tone

"I think... two days ago."

"Okay, you sleep" sabi ng dalaga.

After that he closed his tired eyes.

Damon easily fell asleep without taking his medicine.

Chloe stroke Damon's hair and continue to look at the man's face.Hinilot din nya ang nakakunot at magkasulubong na kilay nito. He looks peacefully sleeping.

"I really miss you Damon, Damn much. Should I take the risk?,Bite the bullet for you?" She smiled bitterly "But If I'll do that... you will end up being hurt..."

Then she pressed her lips to his forehead.

•Trivia:

Valerian is a medicine that is made from the root.Valerian is most commonly used for sleep disorders, especially the inability to sleep (insomnia). Valerian is also used orally for anxiety and psychological stress, but there is limited scientific research to support these uses.