CHAPTER 2 - TEARS
1645 Words
APOLLO BUSTAMANTE
"What do you plan to do with him?" My friend Kiel said while continuing to lift the barbell. I removed the earphones from my ear before answering.
"Nothing," I said nothing and continued running on the treadmill.
In just a few days more, Tallia and Zander will be coming home from their honeymoon. I'm sure I'll be able to get away from Hannah. I wasn't serious when I told Hannah that I would give her a chance to make me fall in love with her. No. I want to prove to her that her decision to like me was wrong. I want her to know that love, at first sight, doesn't exist. Hannah falls in love quickly and that's not healthy.
"Oh, come on! That's boring." He laughed and that made me more annoyed.
I turned off the treadmill and sat on the bench. I took my towel from the bag and put it on my neck. I shrugged. "I don't bed virgins."
"Dude, you don't bed anyone at all! You're so dedicated to Jade Tallia." Kiel lowered his hand and sat on the other bench. A female staff member came there and handed out a towel. He winked at her after taking the towel. "Many women want you but you chose the married chick."
"I fell in love with her personality." I sighed and threw my head back.
"Why don't you give the energetic chick that's been following you for days now?"
"She's my brother's best friend."
"Oh, like in p**n movies? Great! Great!" I wanted to strangle him because of his rude words.
I raised my middle finger and he just laughed.
Our conversation was interrupted when my cell phone rang. I quickly took it out of the bag and checked who the caller was.
It's Home.
"Hello, Mom." I greeted her.
"I want a family lunch. Today. Gregory Restaurant. Noon. Be on time," she says authoritatively.
I touched my forehead. When my mom wants a family dinner, we always end up in a marriage interview! "Mom, I can't. Zander left me a lot of work."
"Oh, i-is that so? I... I'm going to cry. I've cooked so much and you come home?" I'm used to this. Mama always makes this drama. She made me rush out of the house twice because of her crying and, in the end, I was tied to a chair just to face the woman who was one of his candidates to be my wife.
"'Mom, your trick won't work anymore.'
"Honey! Why're you crying?! Who're you talking to?" I heard Papa's voice. She asked for help since I no longer believed her.
"Your son! H-He loves his work more than we! Oh, God. Our firstborn doesn't want us to be with him anymore." I tightly pressed my lips together. "It's a waste if we do not eat all of my caldareta and Menudo."
"Okay, mom. I'm going. Just... just stop acting, okay?"
"Acting? I wasn't acting---"
Before the conversation went too long, I pressed the end call. I took my bag and turned it away. I sent a text to Hannah that I'll be absent due to a family emergency and she just replied with a "got it baby" and a heart beside it. I let out a frustrated sigh because the woman did not draw a line between work and personal feelings.
She acts like a spoiled kid, unlike Tallia, who knows when to act mature and when she's not.
I showered and got dressed. When I came out, Kiel was facing the gym manager. He was talking, more like flirting, but the female manager showed no interest in him. Poor Kiel.
I parked my car in front of the restaurant and locked it before leaving. I immediately saw where my family was sitting. I just sighed when I noticed that he had a woman with him. The woman had her back to me, but as I got closer, it became familiar.
My face darkened when I finally figured out who she was. "What are you doing here?"
"Lunch?" A broad smile on her lips.
I did not hide my irritation with her. "This is supposed to be a family dinner. Why are you here?"
"Hannah's my best friend. She's family." Adonis said coldly as he browsed on his cellphone.
Her smile sweetened. "I am family."
Since Adonis went to college, I've known Hannah. I see her with Adonis in the photos. At first, I thought she was Adonis' girlfriend, but she wasn't. Hannah only met me when I attended the board meeting with her for the first time. Worst, she fell in love with me right away.
This little pest!
"Don't be so rude to Hannah, Apollo." Mama smiled sweetly at Hannah. Hannah gave a thumbs up in return.
I stayed silent until we finished having lunch. Fortunately, Mama didn't notice the sharp looks I was giving Hannah. I was so mad that she was entering my private space without my consent.
Ah, maybe this is my fault too. Because I gave this kid a chance to make me fall.
"Excuse me. I have to go, it's past lunch," she said goodbye.
"Apollo, why don't you take her?" Mom promised.
"Sure. Shall we?" This is my chance to talk with her.
It walked ahead of me as if it knew where my car was parked. She was about to take a wrong turn when I called her. "Hannah, not that way."
"Sorry, I thought you were bringing the Ranger."
I sighed. I’m not shocked that she heard about my cars. "I underestimated your stalking abilities."
"Because I'm always waiting for you in the Basement Parking."
"So, you have a car."
"Nope. I use Grab."
"Then why are—" I stopped after I realized. "Are you sure you're just a secretary?"
She laughed. "What do you mean?"
"Maybe you're a former serial killer, and you had plastic surgery to look like that."
"You want to put me in jail!" I wanted to smile but I managed to stop myself.
"It's been a long time."
My car was hot, so before we got in, I let it cool down. I walked to the side of the passenger seat to approach Hannah. I noticed the reddening of her cheeks when she saw me close to her. It looked like the sun was shining so I stopped in front of her so I could cover the sun.
She bit her lip and twirled the strand of her hair. "Um, Apollo..."
"Let's end this game, shall we?" I said.
"B-But what you said, I'll make you fall in a month." I wanted to slap myself because of the tears. She grabbed my polo sleeve. God, I can smell her perfume.
"I'm just playing with you. I thought I could handle it, but I can't." I continued. I need to do this so that she will stay away from me. "You got even worse when I gave you a chance!"
She looked away and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She bit her bottom lip to stop it from shaking.
"Look." I touched her chin to turn her attention to me. "I'm not your dream man, okay? You will only suffer when you're with me."
"No. Promise."
"What you're feeling is not love, Hannah. It's just infatuation."
"No, I felt it. It's love." She tightened her grip on my sleeves.
"It's not!" I couldn't stop raising my voice.
"You're wrong! I feel it, I'm not that shallow!" She wrapped her arms around me. I can feel her boobs pressing on my damn chest! I pulled back and removed the arms around my neck.
"I don't need your love. It's too pure and too innocent."
"I'm twenty-six," She snapped. "Don't treat me like a kid. I'm a grown woman, making a grown-up decision! So, don't tell me what to do or what to feel!"
I sighed and opened the passenger door. She entered there even sobbing. We haven't even had a long argument. She's already crying. She is so immature. I can't take it. Our whole trip was quiet, in part I felt guilty because of the cause of her crying.
When I stopped in front of the entrance of the building, she left without a word. Her shoulders slumped and she bowed. I sighed again before finally leaving.
The next day, Hannah was not there when I entered the office. It's my last day as CEO, and now she's gone when we have so much to do. My assistant secretary is going back and forth to photocopy and fax various documents. I know Hannah is upset because of what I said, but at least be professional.
I was currently reading one of the contracts when I smelled that familiar scent. Finally, she came too.
"You're late." I looked coldly while not looking at her. My office door closed. From my peripheral vision, she stood in front of my table. She didn't speak but just stood in front of me.
My lips parted when I saw her appearance. She's wearing a pencil-cut black skirt and the top is a putting blouse and I can almost see the bra when the sun shines. Now that I had a better view, I realized Hannah was even hotter than I'd thought. Tall but with the figure of a centrefold. Tiny hips, big t**s, and the roundest, perkiest ass I'd ever seen. My mouth watered just from looking at her.
"Need something, sir?" Her eyes flashed. I drew in a calming breath, collecting myself, all the while noticing just how freaking hot the woman in front of me was. Along with those vibrant brown eyes and amazing dark hair, she had delicate features that included a cute upturned nose, high cheekbones and sexy pink lips.
My face remains expressionless. "Yes. Bring me coffee."
- Writer
