IS SHE the girlfriend of Rexon? That’s why Rex rarely visits us.” Andrew continued.
Because of Andrew’s constant comment I got to stand up.
“Ah, I’m just going to take a shower. I remember I have a meeting today.” I couldn’t wait for him to say anything because I quickly ran up to my own room.
I lay down on the bed as tears flowed. Pain burned in my heart and it filled with bitterness that I can’t control. I don’t want to believe that news, but I can’t get rid of the suspicion.
At that point I heard the ringing of my cellphone. I immediately answered the call when Nicholas name was registered.
“Hey what’s up?” a cool voice of Nicholas close in.
I cleared first my throat before I tried to speak. “I’m great. I’m well rested toda,” I whispered shakily.
I lay down and covered my mouth for a while so that he wouldn’t hear me crying.
“Hmm, sounds great!” he answered back.
But he didn’t seem convinced by my answer because of what he said next.
“Did I miss something?” he said in a serious voice.
There I let out my violent breathing. I know the reason why he was called. I’m sure he watched the news about Rexon and Hannah on TV.
“Nothing, uh why did you call?”
He was momentarily silent on the other line. Several heavy sighs were released in response.
I was secretly too weak to speak.
“Fine Nick, I get it. I heard the news, I watched it and this hurts, this hurts me, okay?” I got up from lying down and took a walk around my room.
“All right, you can laugh at me now!” I added between sniffles.
“What would I be supposed to say? Look, I didn’t call to waste your stupid boyfriend’s time. I just want to remind you that we’re going to Singapore for a while, that’s all, crying lady…” he said in indescribable tone.
I closed my eyes tightly and wiped tears from my eyes. I had no strength to sit on the side of my bed and comb my loose hair.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t said that,” I mere whispered to the phone.
“Better talk to your man. See you tomorrow.” That’s all he answered before turning off the call.
I went back to bed and thought carefully about what Nicholas had said. But how am I going to start doing that if I have no idea if that news is true or no? I also don’t want to turn out to be a jealous girlfriend when I confront him about this matter.
In the end, I just suppressed my feelings and waited for him to explain about the spreading news about them.
Monday morning I entered the office early. Even though I know I don’t have much to do because our photo shoot is finalized tomorrow. I shouldn’t have come in because I’m still packing the things I’m going to take with me to our one week photoshoot in Singapore. But I chose to go through the office to finish some paperworks that I would leave behind for a long time.
“Good morning, Cherry.”
An employee from the marketing department greeted me.
“Last day of work, I need to finish something today,” I replied as I leaned over my desk.
“Early on I also saw Mr. Galvez go up to his Penthouse.” he said to me.
I nodded and quietly sat in my swivel chair. I dialed his line and he answered quickly.
“Good morning, sunshine! How’s my crying lady?” It has a joking melody.
I rolled up my eyes, leaned back in my swivel chair before answering.
“If you’re referring to my off, well great! I’m enjoying being with my family, Mr. Galvez!” I said without a humor.
“Come on up here, I have something to tell you.” I couldn’t answer. Just shaking my head and put down the phone and decided to stand up to climb it to the top.
I made a few knocks on the closed door before it was turned open.
As usual, I reached for him facing his laptop.
“Morning,?” I greeted him.
He pulled a brown envelope from under his laptop.
“Here’s your documents and tickets for tomorrow.” He lifted the brown envelope to me.
“Thank you!” I reached for it and sat down next to him.
My eyes flew quickly to his laptop as he closed it. But the flash of it did not escape me.
“Wait, is that Hannah?” I can’t believe I said that.
“No.” He even applied his palm to the top of his laptop so I was even more suspicious.
“Come on! Let me see that!” I broke his hand and opened his laptop.
My lips parted when I confirmed that Hannah was in the photo. Not only did that give me intense nervousness but the background behind it.
“Is that the Sagrada de familia church?” I asked without a blink.
“It doesn’t matter. We have more important things to do today.” Avoiding my answer.
I frowned when I turned to look at him and pulled out his laptop.
The photo is from instagram so I had a chance to view her account. And what I saw there made me gasped.
She was also in Barcelona a weeks ago. The shots almost elicited a react. It’s not just because of the man she’s always with in the picture.
“I don’t want you to see that,” he apologetically said.
I gasped heavily. Gradually I could feel the trembling of my lip. While scrolling down the pictures. I thought there was nothing more in-sick than the ones I saw but their super sweet beach shots shocked me even more. And the last one is the shot from a yacht where Hannah hugs Rex from behind and the last one is Hannah kissing Rexon on the cheek as she hugs him tightly.
I bit my lip and closed his laptop and smiled bitterly.
“I-I’m going back to work.”
I started to stand up but his iron-like hand stopped me.
“You shouldn’t have seen that. It’s my fault, I’m sorry.” Nicholas said in a softer tone.
I shook my head one after another and pulled my arm away from him. “It’s okay Nick, thanks for this .” I lifted the envelope he gave me and quickly turned my back to leave the penthouse.
As soon as I entered the elevator, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. I could feel my heart was being torn apart and beat me more a million times. Twice as much pain creeps into every fiber of my nerve now.
I said was it just a coincidence that we met in Barcelona. He didn’t follow me there because Hannah went there with him.
What’s even more painful is that he put the two of us together, or better to say he just took me before Hannah, because I am just a fucking one night stand! Nothing more, nothing less!
When the elevator door opened I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks. I went back to my desk as if nothing had happened and quietly worked.
Nothing will happen if I just cry over this thing. I’m not born yesterday. I have felt this pain over and over again, not once but twice. How many times have I lowered my morale just because I love him?
The day passed with nothing’s entering my mind but what had happened. Nicholas never talked to me the whole day after the incident. I know he’s being sorry for that, but he knows me, that photos is not just easy to forget.
I left early when I finished the office work. I made Dad feel bad so I went straight to bed. No matter how many times I cried over what happened, it still wouldn’t take away the heartache.
It was late at night when Dad knocked on my door to ask me to eat. Although I wanted to refuse, I did nothing.
“All right, Dad, I’ll be there,” I replied.
After I got dressed and pulled my hair high, I went downstairs to go to dinner. But that’s how I turned out that my feet were swollen when I came to the dining room.
“Look, brother Rex brought some fruits and groceries for us!” Andrew said opening the plastic bag.
I did not comment, but walked straight into the kitchen to wash my hands.
“Father Gorio said, are you feeling bad?”
I close my eyes shut since I felt him on my back.
“I’m fine, I’m just tired from work.” I quickly finished washing my hands and attempting to leave but he quickly blocked my path.
I slowly lift up my eyes to looked at him in the eye. But I can’t stop the pain from rising every time we hit our eyes like this. I can’t help but rolled my eyes and scratch my forehead.
“Please, let’s talk later. I’m hungry.”
But he took no action to follow what I said. Instead, he took another step for me to back off. If I hadn’t just been swept away by the sink I would have tried to stay away from him.
“Do we have a problem?” he whispered right through my cold face. If my heart used to be frozen, why is it now slowly melting?
His eyes were dark and shrouded. The heart has never learned to hide the feelings.
“There is something bothering you, tell me?” He bent slightly and met my gaze. He lowered down his body with both arms are on my side.
I forced a smile and passed the heat rising in my heart. “No, I’m just tired, Rex.”