His Broken Gem

HBG 16

Stella's POV

A week has passed and now I'm back to work. Everything is looking good, there might issue but it's just minor. I glad that they finally did their job right.

"That's all for today Ma'am," my secretary said as she finished reciting all of my schedule for this day and tomorrow.

"Okay, you can go now," I dismissed her. She turned around to leave the office but immediately stop when she reached the door.

"Ma'am, Mr. Gonzales called a while ago. Gusto niya raw po kayong makausap ng personal, ma'am," she said. I sighed and placed my pen in its organizer.

'That old man is really persistent,' Megan hissed. I agreed with her. Mr. Gonzales doesn't know the word give up.

"Tell him to get an appointment," I said, looking at her.

"He already did, ma'am," mahinang usal nito na sapat lang para marinig ko.

Crease line makes their way to my forehead. Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ko habang naghihintay sa sagot niya.

"May ipapagawa po kasi siyang bagong building sa Makati ma'am, branch raw po ng law firm nila," she stated.

I silently laugh sarcastically thinking how that old man finds a way to talk with me and sell his son to me. But nope, I'm not gonna give him the satisfaction.

"Okay, I'll send someone to him for the meeting," wika ko.

Akala ko ay aalis na ito pero nanatili pa rin siyang nakatayo roon habang kinakamot ang batok niya.

I raised a brow at her, "What?"

"Kasi ma'am, requested po ni Mr. Gonzales, na ikaw ang nagha-handle sa project," she said, bowing her head in the end.

I exhale a big breath as I close my eyes. Seriously!

"Put it the schedule next week," I ordered.

She immediately followed and excuse herself. I lean my back on my swivel chair, feeling tired already. I check the time and notice that it's almost lunchtime. I organized my things before grabbing my bag and going outside. I saw my secretary at her table outside my office, she typing something on her computer.

"You can have lunch now," I told her. She flinched and look at me before looking at the time.

Yeah, it's 11:08 and I'm making you eat your lunch early, dummy.

I can understand her confusion though, I mostly eat lunch late and this is the first time I've decided on eating early. I don't know why.

Umalis na rin ako matapos kong sabihin sa kaniya 'yon. I didn't even ask her to prepare the car for me.

'What's with you today?' Megan asked, also confused. I sigh as I entered my car.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully.

'Where are you going?' she asked.

"Lunch?"

'Don't fool me, Stella. I know you're not hungry and you're not eating,' she exclaimed.

"Fine, I'm going home?" I told her as I started the engine. I block her off trying to avoid her malicious question. I just know it.

Nang makarating ako sa building ay agad akong nagtungo sa unit. As I make my way to the elevator, I notice the stares of the other people, looking at me and pointing my way.

What the hell is wrong with these people?

I tried to ignore them and fasten my stride. I suddenly yelp as I felt a hand on my lower back slightly pushing me forward.

"Let go— Sebastian?" I asked confused as he was looking forward still walking beside me.

I tried to push him but he just wraps his hand on my waist and tighten his hold.

"Don't move," he whispered.

I flinched again as I felt a hand on my right hand. I look at it and saw Shy looking at me, smiling as she waves her hand.

"Ate, may dugo po sa likod ng pants niyo," she innocently said, looking at my back.

I look at them in confusion before turning around to look at my back. I just noticed the denim jacket wraps around my waist, Sebastian was the one holding it.

Wait...

"How can you be so careless? Hindi mo man lang alam na magkakaro'n ka ngayon," bulong ni Sebastian nang sumara na ang elevator.

Nakahawak pa rin siya sa akin kaya naman agad kong tinapik ang kamay niya at ako na mismo ang humawak ng jacket. Securing it around my waist.

Dâmn it. Bakit ngayon pa?

"Excuse me, for your information, I have an irregular period so I wouldn't expect it to come so suddenly!" I defended as I push myself to the corner of the elevator.

That's the reason why those people look at me. Nakakahiya! Nilamon naman ng katahimikan ang loob ng elevator. He didn't say anything after that. When the elevator stops on my unit's floor. I immediately went outside when the elevator stops, wanting to disappear in his eyes. He saw it and that makes me more embarrassed. I immediately entered my room and lock it. I grab some clothes in my closet and went inside the bathroom. I turn around and look at my reflection in the mirror. A red stain was visible in my beige color trouser. I immediately change my clothes and look for a sanitary pad.

Sanitary Pad! Where the hell did I place that?!

'You're not on your right mind today, Stella,' Megan commented.

"Shut up, Megan," I warned her before wrapping the towel on my body.

'And now your moody.'

I rolled my eyes before I go back to my room looking for a sanitary pad. But no matter how I tried to find it, it's nowhere to be found! Napapadiyak na lang ako dahil sa inis. What now, Stella?

Nakarinig ako ng katok mula sa pinto ng kuwarto ko.

"What?" I snapped at the person who knocks. A tiny voice responded to me. It's Shy.

"Ate? Okay ka lang po ba? Kanina pa po kayo sa loob eh," she asked in a curious and concern voice.

I sigh, calming myself. "Yes, I'm fine," I responded.

"Are you sure, Ate? Hindi niyo po kailangan ng tulong?" she asked.

Napaisip naman ako ro'n. I can't go outside wearing no pad. That's it! Lumapit ako sa pinto at binuksan ito ng kaunti.

She was already looking at me through the small gap. "Where's your Kuya?"

Pagkasabi ko no'n ay agad siyang napatingin sa gilid niya. Nang sinubukan kong silipin 'yon ay nakita ko siyang nakatayo sa tabi ng pinto, nakasandal at nakahalukipkip ang mga kamay nito.

"What?" he said cooly as if he was already expecting me. I shrank back to the back of the door, hiding my body.

"Uhm... I'm out of sanitary pads," I murmured.

Nagsalubong naman ang mga kilay niya at lumapit nang kaunti. marahil ay hindi niya narinig angsinabi ko. "Ano?"

"Naubusan ako ng pad," bulong ko ulit at napayuko. I'm seriously asking him to buy me some pad. Hindi niya ba makuha 'yon?

I thought he already get it but he just repeated his question. "Ano?" he asked. "Lakasan mo bose mo, hindi kita marinig," he added.

I sigh sharply, starting to get annoyed. I looked at him and shouted, "I said, Naubusan na ako ng pad--"

I didn't finish my sentence as my eyes went wide seeing how close our faces are. I didn't know that he was this close already. I can smell his mint mouthwash from his mouth. Napatingin naman ako ro'n and saw his pinkish lips. They look so...nice and soft. An image flashes to my mind, that was the day he kissed me, my first kiss.

He's really gentle that time and, yeah, he has very soft lips.

"Nakikinig ka ba?" he said cutting my thoughts. I immediately realized how embarrassing I am, thinking about the kiss when he's just right in front of me.

I cleared my throat as I lean backward. "Uhm, yeah. I'm out of pads...I can't go out...so..." I stammered as I tried to explain my situation.

"So you want me to buy it for you?" he said, finishing my setence. I nodded my head and heard him sigh.

"Give me enough reason why I should buy it," he asked. I furrowed my forehead as I glared at him. He's trying to give me conditions for just a piece of pad?

"If you don't want to help then say so," I snapped at him. I closed the door when he suddenly yell in pain. My eyes went wide when I saw his hand on my door frame. Naipit iyon!

"Oh my gosh! Why did you put your hand in there?" I asked her worriedly, immediately opening my door widely and taking a look at his hands. namumula iyon at mayroong kaunting gasgas.

I pull him inside and make him sit on my bed. Agad akong pumasok ng banyo at kumuha ng first aid kit. When I got back to my room, Shy was already holding Sebastian's arm. Sinilip ko iyon at nakitang nagsisimula na itong mamaga. I just wanted a pad. I didn't want to hurt anyone.

"Shy, can you please get an ice pack at the kitchen? There's ice on the freezer," I ordered her as I took Sebastian's hand and open the kit.

I clean the wounds and started putting ointment on them. Sebastian was just silent the whole time even after Shy arrived. It must be painful, I admit that I closed the door with force.

"Kuya? Masakit pa ba?" Shy asked worriedly. looking at her brother's hand. I sigh feeling guilty.

"Nope, it doesn't hurt at all," he assured his sister. He commanded his sister to prepare his things kaya naman kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan sa kuwarto.

"Why did you lie about it? You're hurt," I said as I wraps his hands in a bandage.

I heard him clear his throat as he pulled his hands away. "I don't want her to worry," he said, looking away from me.

Tumayo ako sa harp niya at pinagkrus ang kamay ko. "You should let a doctor check it, baka may nabaling buto or something, just to make sure," I adviced but he just shake his head, declining the offer.

"I'll pay for the bill so you don't have to worry," I assured him but he still declined it.

"I told you, I'm fine. Malayo naman sa bituka 'to," he said still not looking at me.

Ano ba problema nito? Galit ba siya sa akin kasi naiipit ko ang kamay niya?

"Are you mad at me?" I asked him. He just shook his head still looking everywhere but me.

"Then why are you looking away?" I asked him again. I saw him take a glance at me before closing his eyes and looking away.

"Wear something first," he said.

Napakunot naman ang noo dahil sa sinabi niya at nilingon ang suot ko. I just realized that I'm only wearing a bath towel and an undergarment, no bra. I mentally smack my head and immediately run towards the bathroom.

Give me a break from this embarrassing day.

"I'm leaving," I heard him say as I heard the door close.

That's it? He's not going to help me?

I realize that I even let him inside my room. He saw my semi-naked body. There's so many first time that I did this day.

I just stayed in my room and call Mika, but she's not answering her phone. I sigh in defeat.

As my hope slowly vanished, a knock on my door boomed inside of my room. I went to open the door, lifeless.

Sebastian was standing there holding a paper bag in his hands. He hands it towards me. Tinanggap ko naman iyon ng may pagtataka at sinilip ang laman no'n.

It was 3 packs of sanitary pads in a different brand. He bought it for me, hindi niya pala ako kinalimutan. I look at him and saw him walking towards the door with his bag hanging on his shoulder. He's maybe off to his work.

"You're welcome," he said as he closes the door.

A smile crept its way to my lips. He is not that bad after all.

I think I like him already.