Poisonous Love (Keanna & Gavin Story)

Chapter 22

I let out a deep breath after I successfully managed to control my overflowing emotions. Remembering the past made me clear my head and got rid of the confusion circulating around it. I needed to get myself together and be professional. I didn't risk my decisions and sacrifices to come back into his life for this. I came for work and nothing else.

After checking the time on my phone, I was surprised to know that I've been inside the cubicle for more than thirty minutes already. My boss probably had been wondering about my whereabouts. I didn't even iform him that I will go to the comfort room before I went here.

Jusko, Keanna! He brought you here for work, not to reminisce your past and sulk inside the public comfort room's cubicle.

I doubled check my face in the mirror before I finally went out of the comfort room only to find Gavin coming towards my way. He was wearing a scowl on his face and when his eyes found mine. His jaw clenched, and I could feel the anger seething on his veins.

Bumilis ang lakad niya hanggang makalapit siya sa akin. Hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita upang humingi ng paumanhin ay marahas niyang hinawakan ang aking palapulsuhan at hinigit ako palabas hanggang sa makarating kami sa labas ng hall kung saan tahimik at walang tao.

"Where have you been?" he growled at me the moment he let go of my wrist and made me face him.

Kahit alam ko naman ang aking isasagot ay hindi ko magawang sumagot pabalik sa kanya dahil sa ipinapakita niyang galit. Pakiramdam ko ay mas mabuting manahimik na lang ako at hayaan siyang magpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"I've been looking for you inside the hall! Bigla ka na lang nawala nang hindi nagpapaalam," pangaral niya sa akin. "My instruction is very simple. I told you to stay beside me all the time in case you'll be needed, and if you need to go to the bathroom, you should've informed me!"

"I-I'm sorry, Sir..." I struggled apologizing. "Ayoko lang din pong maisturbo kayo ni Ms. Aragon."

Hindi na sana ako magdadahilan pero hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi para wala na akong mapakawalang hindi kanais-nais na mga salita.

Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin kay Gavin ay kita kong bahagya siyang natigilan. He suddenly looked confused and bewildered. Para bang punong-puno siya ng katanungan pero agad niya iyong napalitan ng malamig na ekspresyon.

"Nex time, I expect you to follow my orders and instructions. I won't be accepting any excuses," he simply said before turning his back on me.

And because I was told to be beside him throughout the event, I immediately followed him but I made sure to keep a right amount of distance in beetween us.

Stephanie was waiting for us when we went back to the hall. She went straight to Gavin with a worried look on her face.

"I thought you'd be leaving already," she said in relief. "I saw you and your secretary leaving the hall. Susundan ko sana kayo upang makapag-paalam dahil baka aalis na kayo pero mukhang may importante kayong pinag-uusapan kaya hindi na ako tumuloy."

Stephanie cheered for that and linked her arm with Gavin and he didn't even bother shoving her arm away from him. Well , of course, it's very obvious that Stephanie likes him, and I think Gavin feels the same way too.

"Puntahan ulit natin si Daddy. Marami pa siyang gustong sabihin sa'yo," muling pag-aya ni Stephanie.

"Okay. Let's go," Gavin simply agreed and even led the way to Stephanie's father.

At kahit na labas sa aking loob ay muli akong sumunod kung saan man sila patungo. Straight ahead, I saw a group of middle-aged elite businessman and women and their table look like our destination.

"Daddy, we're back!" malambing at masiglang sabi ni Stephanie sa kanyang ama.

"Oh! I thought you're going home already, Gavin." Her father immedaitely acknowledged Gavin's presence and so as the other individuals on their table.

"I excused myself to find my secretary earlier. Sorry about that, Tito." he politely apologized with his head slightly bowed.

Mr. Aragon glanced at me like he finally noticed my existence because Gavin mentioned me.

Nagulat ako nang lumapit si Stephanie sa akin at saka hinawakan ang aking braso. Iniharap niya ako sa kanyang ama na ngayon ay mas lalo kong napukaw ang atensyon dahil katabi ko ang kanyang kapuri-puring anak.

"Daddy, this is Keanna, Gavin's new secretary. Isn't she pretty?" she introduced me to her father and even praised me for my looks when I knew I was nothing compared to her beauty as she was truly gorgeous.

"Well, yes, she is," her father agreed to her daughter's compliment about me. "Nice meeting you, Keanna."

I smiled as a sign of courtesy. "It's my pleasure, Mr. Aragon."

After a few exchange of short introductions, they invited us to sit with them on their table. They were all engrossed talking about business, and Gavin's seriousness and expertise naturally flowed as he talked about something's he's very passionate of. Stephanie would drop some notable points from time to time—showing that she's also knowledgeable in the field, while I was amazed listening to their conversation until it went down to the topic that made me want to experience being deaf for a moment until their conversation about it comes to an end.

"Others company are actually threatened once the Aragon and Alcantara solidify their partnership. They are expecting Gavin and Stephanie to tie the knot eventually as they are seen together at social gatherings and parties very often."

Hindi ko man lang maiangat ang aking mukha upang mapanood ang ekspresyon nilang dalawa. I had a feeling that it's not a good view so, I wouldn't dare to give them a look.

"The Alcantaras are already at the top of the pyramid. Kapag mas lalong napaigting ang kompanya ninyong dalawa, that will raise a higher standard fot the other companies to reach," pagpapatuloy no'ng isang businessman.

How I badly wished he would stop already. If I'd be asked to write a short story about the event tonight, the endless topic about Gavin and Stephanie would be the highlight of the blurb which would make the readers interested because of their undeniable compatibility.

"Tito Oscar, we're not that anything near that po. Nakakahiya po kay Gavin," nahihiyang sabi ni Stephanie kahit na dinig ko sa kanyang boses na gusto niya rin ang pinag-uusapan.

If there's one person in the circle who didn't really like the topic being discussed over and over again, that would be me.

"Hanggang ngayon ba naman ay hindi pa rin kayo nagkakalinawan?" natatawang sabi ng isa na naiinip na sa mabagal na pagtakbo ng relasyon ng dalawa.

"Ewan ko rin ba sa dalawang 'to," nakisali na rin si Mr. Aragon. "Though, I'm open that I like Gavin for my daughter. To think that he's the only who passed the very high standard of my princess."

"Daddy!" Suway ni Stephanie sa ama ngunit malambing pa rin ang boses.

I never heard Gavin commented on it anyway. When I raised my gaze to look at him, he was just smiling without saying anything. I couldn't decipher if that's a good thing or not. He's changed. I couldn't judge him anymore just by how he acts like the way I did before.

On our way back to the unit, no one dared to say a word. Gavin remained quiet and so, I did the same. He looked somehow tired from the neverending socialization at the party earlier.

I held on tight to the iPad and purse that I bought with me while we were inside the elevator. I realized that I did nothing as his secretary tonight. Maybe he just really thought that Stephanie's not available so I was his other option for a date tonight because when she unexpectedly showed up, everything was all about them.

Para bang nawala na ako sa eksena. Para bang hindi niya ako kasama kanina dahil dumating ang gusto niyang makasama ngayong gabi.

"We'll leave tomorrow at exactly six in the morning. I have a family gathering as stated in my schedule. Treat tomorrow as your day off since I won't be in the office," he said without catching his breath. "Night."

Mabilis niya akong tinalikuran para pumunta sa kanyang suite. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at saka kinuha ang ang key card sa purse upang makapasok na rin sa loob at makapagpahinga.

Kinabukasan, gaya ng sabi niya ay eksaktong alas-sais ng umaga, umalis kami ng hotel. Medyo hindi pa ako kumportable sa damit na suot ko na pinabili niya rin kasama noong gown kagabi na aking dinala pag-uwi. It was such a beautiful and expensive dress just to be worn once. I could use it as well in other important occasions.

"Where do you live now?" he asked me as we stopped infront of the street light that turned red. "I need to know so that I can drive you home."

"Kahit pakibaba na lang po ako sa may Cleveland, Sir," sagot ko sa kanya.

Before we left the hotel, I asked Erin to meet me in the café where we usually have our rendezvous without the boys. I needed to confide with her reagarding what happened last night. Pakiramdam ko ay kailangan ko itong ilabas para muling mawala ang bigat sa aking loob.

"You won't go home yet?" Bahagya kong nahimigan ang kanyang iritasyon.

"Magkikita kami ni Erin," sabi ko dahil kilala niya naman si Erin.

Gavin just pursed his lips and didn't say any word. He dropped me off at Ulep Circle and sped up his car to attend his family gathering at Pugudpod—according to his schedule.

Biglang bumuhos sa aking ala-ala ang mga panahon na nandoon kami sa rest house nila sa Pagudpod. Doon kaya magaganap ang family gathering nila?

"So, she has a new girl now?" Erin asked after taking a sip on her coffee.

Habang umiinom ay tumango-tango ako.

Erin shifted on her seat and brought the cup down. She looked at me intently.

"Akala ko ba ay okay ka na?" Tila ba parang patibong ang kanyang tanong sa akin. "You said you'd accept any consequences. And before you accepted this job, you clearly said that you're over your past with him. Why do you act so affected that you even summoned me early in the morning to talk about it?"

"Tanggap ko naman, ah!" sagot ko pabalik. "They're very compatible to each other. They both came from a well off family. Stephanie looks very kind, beautiful and she's the heiress of their company. Bagay na bagau silang dalawa."

Lahat ng inexpect ng mga taong nakapaligid sa'min noon ni Gavin na pagkatao ko ay binuhay ni Stephanie. She's the kind of amazing woman they're expecting Gavin to end up with.

"Sobrang pait ata ng kape ko..." sabi ni Erin nang muli siyang uminom sa kanyang kape na inorder.

I just rolled my eyes at her and slouched at the single couch I was sitting on. I continued sipping on my coffee while memories from last night kept entering my mind like some kind of tsunami, trying to destroy me wave by wave.

"Kung ano man 'yang nararamdaman mo ngayon, Keanna, huwag mong ipakitang naaapektuhan ka pa rin," pangaral sa akin ni Erin. "Ikaw ang nakipaghiwalay. Panindigan mo. Hindi pwedeng ikaw ang unang magpakita ng motibo. That's not how it works."

When I went to work the next day, I was holding on to Erin's words. Itinatak ko sa isipan ko ang mga importanteng sinabi niya pero hindi pa rin maiwasan ng isipan kong lumipad sa pag-iisip ng ilang mga bagay patungkol kina Gavin at Stephanie. I wanted to know the details.

How did they met? Why there were so close to each other? What's the real score between then?

Ilan lang 'yan sa mga tanong na naglalaro sa aking isipan na hindi ko alam kung masasagot pa ba sa simpleng pag-iisip ko lamang o sa pagmamasid ng mga kilos nilang dalawa. Napahawak pa ako sa kwintas na binigay ni Gavin sa akin kagabi. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko ba itong hubarin o hahayaan ko na lang itong nakasuot sa akin.

Just when I was about to go crazy thinking, I heard soft knocks from the door of my office. I waited until the door slowly opened and Donato peeked inside with a smile on his face.

I sighed in relief when I saw him. He looked like an angel sent from above. Mukhang masasagot din pala ang mga katanungan na tumatakbo sa aking isipan. Bakit ko ba nakalimutan na nandito nga pala siya?

"Can I stay here for a while?" he asked while entering my office. "Bored na bored na ako roon sa opisina ko. Wala man lang guwapo! Wala akong makuhang inspirasyon!"

Padabog siyang umupo sa upuan na nakalagay sa harap ng aking lamesa, ngunit nang humarap sa akin ay ngiting-ngiti siya. Pakiramdam ko ay bago ko siya matanong, ako muna ang kanyang titirahin.

"So... what happened the other night with Mr. Yummy Alcantara?" he malisiously asked.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Anong yummy ka riyan?"

"Ano ka ba? Don't ruin my mood!" reklamo niya bago muling mapaglarong ngumiti. "Ano'ng nangyari sa party?"

Bago pa ako makasagot sa kanyang tanong ay muli siyang nagsalita.

"Habang ini-imagine ko kung paano ka niya tratuhin noong nakaraang gabi sa party ay naiinggit at nagseselos ako pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilan ang kiligin ng kaunti." dire-diretso niyang sabi.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Hindi mo naman kailangang kiligin dahil wala namang nakakakilig."

"Oh! Don't be such an indenial b!tch," he accused me. "May bago ka ngang kwintas, oh. Don't tell me, hindi galing sa kanya 'yan?"

Bahagya akong nagulat dahil napansin pa niya talaga ang kwintas na suot ko. I never thought he'd pay that much attention to it. Maybe he's just real a good observer.

"Oo na! Sige na! Galing nga sa kanya 'to," pag-amin ko dahil wala naman akong magagawa.

"See! Sabi na, eh!" natutuwa niyang sabi at pumalakpak pa. "Paano niya binigay sa'yo? Bakit ka niya binigyan?"

I bit my lower lip, and my hand drifted to the necklace and caressed the tiny hearts pendant.

"Ang sabi niya, graduation gift niya raw dapat sa akin ito pero hindi na niya nabigay dahil wala na kami no'n," sabi ko. "Siguro binigay niya sa akin dahil nasasayangan siya sa pinanggastos niya rito noon. Ayaw niyang itapon at ayaw niya ring itago pa."

"Gavin Alcantara? Nasasayangan sa pinanggastos?" he asked with a tone like I was being absurb. "Girl, I bet he can buy ten of that without breaking a sweat."

I knew that he was right on that one, but I couldn't think of any other reason why he still kept this for two years and decided give it to me last, last night without being assuming. I didn't want to go any farther with the reason I had in mind. I was contented with it. I didn't need to dig deep into it.

"Pero ikuwento mo na nga sa akin ang nangyari sa party!" Na-eexcite niyang sabi na para bang pakiramdam niya ay may nakakatuwang nangyari kahit na wala naman.

"Wala ngang nangyari," simple kong sabi sa kanya. "We didn't talk much. He's busy socializing with other people and he's with Stephanie all the time."

Donato's jaw dropped when I finally dropped the name that I've been wanting to talk about since he arrived here in my office. And based on his reaction, I felt like he had a lot to say.

"Stephanie as in Stephanie Aragon?" he asked with a very interesting tone.

"Kilala mo ba siya?" Sinimulan ko na ang pagtatanong. "She seems very close with Gavin."

"Hay nako! That girl!" Humalukipkip si Donato at kitang-kita ang kanyang disgusto kay Stephanie. "Siya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako mapansin-pansin ni Papa Gavin noon kahit wala ka na sa picture dahil siya naman ang pumalit."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginamit niyang mga salita. Siya naman ang pumalit. Pinalitan niya ako sa buhay ni Gavin.

"Paano ba sila nagkakilala?" kuryoso kong tanong.

Umayos sa pagkakaupo si Donato at saka diretsong tumingin sa akin. "They met last year sa contract signing ng partnership ng mga Aragon at Alcantara. Qantara ventured into a new business and they needed the expertise of the Aragons for that," sagot niya. "Mr. Aragon introduced Stephanie to Gavin. And ever since, she's all about Gavin. Hindi ko rin naman masisisi si Stephanie dahil tuwing may events na aattendan si Gavin ay si Stephanie ang kanyang isinasama bilang date. Ilang beses na silang nakuwestiyon ng media kung sila ba pero hindi nila kinukumpirma at tinatanggi. But of course, I know they aren't in a relationship."

Kahit na alam ko sa aking sarili na hindi naman talaga sila, hindi ko maitatangging nakahinga pa rin ako nang maluwag nang nanggaling iyon mismo kay Donato.

"Kung ganoon, ano talaga ang estado ng relasyon nilang dalawa?"

Donato shrugged his shoulders. "To be honest, I thought they're going pretty well, but when he suddenly let you into his life again by hiring you as his secretary when you applied for a different department, I don't know anymore."

Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi at saka sumandal sa aking upuan. Ang sabi ni Erin ay huwag kong ipakita na naaapektuhan pa rin ako pero hindi ko mapigilan.

Donato sighed before he suddenly stood up from his seat. He dragged the seat to my side and sat beside me. Una ay nagtataka ako sa kanyang ginawa ngunit nang tinapik niya ang kanyang balikat ay mukhang alam ko na ang gusto niyang gawin.

I smiled and let my head rest on his shoulder. I guessed he could really be a gentleman even with a woman heart.

"Ang sweet mo naman pala," nakangiti kong sabi at bahagyang nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

He rolled his eyes at me, and I laughed. I leaned more to him and let out a deep sigh that made me feel light somehow.

Halos mapatalon naman kaming dalawa sa gulat nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan at iniluwa nito si Gavin na mukhang hindi inaasahan ang naabutang puwesto naming dalawa ni Donato. He lost his track and his lips remained parted as he couldn't continue what he was about to say.

Mabilis kaming umayos ni Donato sa pagkakaupo. I sat straight while he stood up and returned the seat to its proper place.

Gavin clenched his jaw and looked at Donato. "I want you to return to your office now,' he ordered him before he settled his eyes on me. "And you... come to my office right away."

He immediately turned his back on us and left my office without saying another word.