His Broken Gem

HBG 7

Stella's POV

Days have passed since that night. Mika got busy at the hospital, that's what she said. Or she might be saying that to avoid me. Sebastian and I aren't talking, it's not like we're friends to have a regular conversation din naman. But still it makes me uncomfortable that both of them are avoiding me.

This is the first time that I felt guilty over something that I said. I admit that I'm was awful that night and I was out of line, I was just shock to see him there. All I thought that time is he shouldn't be working there because it will also affect my reputation if our relationship goes public. It's not my intention to hurt his ego, I just say what I wanted to say.

"Relationship?"

I didn't answer her when she tries to intervene my thought.

"And now you're avoiding me?" Megan ask again.

I grunt as I pinch the bridge of my nose, "Go away, Megan," I complained.

I sigh as I felt that she left. Napaisip ulit ako kay Sebastian. I won't mind if he will back out from the agreement but there's gonna be a breach of contract but I can take care of it. I won't stop him from leaving.

Ginawa ko ring busy ang sarili ko from working whole day. Aside from the company problem, I'm also facing my own problem. Mom and Mr. Gonzales, Angelo's dad, were asking me about the dinner date that I had with Angelo. I guess Angelo didn't tell mom about my so-called boyfriend.

And now, Mom was pestering me to have dinner with the Gonzales' on Saturday night.

That's 3 days from now. Oh god, can I just disappear?

I'm at the mall now to look for some clothes to wear. I still have untouched dresses but mom wants me to have a new one for Saturday night. Since she said, while emphasizing the word 'Special', it's a special event daw. Naparolyo na lang ang mata ko dahil do'n.

Kinuha ko ang oras na iyon para mag-shopping ng bag, just a reward for myself for all the hard work that I've done this past few days.

"Good afternoon, Miss Salvador," bati sa akin ng isang sales clerk nang makapasok ako sa loob ng isang luxury store.

"Anything new?" I asked her as I scan the products around the store. Looking for something that will caught my interest.

As if God heard my thoughts, a bag caught my attention. The sales clerk immediately assist me to their new collection.

"Yes ma'am. This is our newest summer collection for this year. It's a limited edition bag," she blabs as she took the bag from its shelf. It's perfect!

"Okay, I'll take that one." I took my wallet and handed my card to her. I look at some stores to buy trousers and blazers that can be used at work, and of course, a dress.

I opted for the bodycon dress that hugs my body, it's a black lace long sleeve dress that has a heart shape on the chest part, my cleavage is visible if I lean forward.

After buying, I decided to visit my new unit. I just bought it 3 days ago. Ayaw ko kasing lagi akong kinukulit ni mommy about me and Angelo so I'm planning on moving out. She didn't know about the unit yet and I'm not planning on telling her.

I park my car at the parking lot of the building and make my way to my unit. No'ng nasa elevator na 'ko ay biglang nag-ring ang phone ko. It's Mika.

I gathered the bags in my left hand as I answered the call.

"Hello."

"Stella, busy ka ba?" she asked from the other line.

"Today?" I inquire as I took a glance at my wristwatch. It's still 4:56 pm and wala na akong gagawin. "Not really."

"Punta ako sa bahay niyo, may sasabihin ako," she declared before ending the call.

The hell?

I tried to call her again to inform her about my whereabouts but she's not answering.

Anong sasabihin niya? Is it about Sebastian? Does he want to end the contract?

I give up on calling her and went inside the unit. There's only a little furniture here. 1 master bedroom and 1 guest room. Spacious living room with a set of still covered sofa, it's because it's new. There's no TV and coffee table yet, but I have already bought a bed so I can stay here.

I also have a few tools in the kitchen. Oven, frying pan, rice cooker, plates and utensils, and an empty refrigerator.

I placed the things that I bought in the closet. While organizing my stuff, my phone rang.

I put the phone in my ears as I answer the call.

"Stellaaaaa."

I instantly covered my ears and regretted that I answered the call and put it in my ears. She should learn how to control her voice volume. I think I'm gonna turn deaf with her voice.

"Stell, nasa bahay niyo kami ngayon pero wala ka raw rito, I also called your secretary pero wala ka rin sa company niyo," she whined.

"I'm not coming home tonight," I replied as I finished organizing my stuff.

"Eh? Nasa'n ka pala ngayon," she inquired.

Natahimik naman ako while contemplating if I'll tell her about my unit or not. I trust her but she's too loud and she might spill it to mom.

"I'm..." I trailed off my words as I make a decision. "At my unit."

"Unit? May unit ka? Seryoso? Trunay? Legit?" I sigh at her nonsense words.

"Yes, now bye." I ended the phone call and ordered something to eat.

Mika tried to call me again but I ignore it. Dumating din ang order after 20 minutes, I started eating while I kept on declining Mika's call.

Sa wakas ay tumigil na rin siya sa katatawag. I cleared the table and put the trash away. I entered my room and took my laptop to check some emails. My phone beeps as someone message me. It was Mika.

"Saan ka kasi, importante lang. Asap, please." basa ko sa message niya.

I furrowed my eyebrow as I typed a reply to her. I just told her my address and my unit's number. She said it's important.

Mga kalahating oras din ang lumipas when the doorbell rings. I fixed my clothes as I went to the door to open it.

Mika waves her hands while smiling. Fishy smile.

"What is it?" I directly asked. "I thought you're avoiding me?"

"Good evening din sa'yo," she cheered as she entered the unit. I rolled my eyes and follow her inside. "Atsaka, an'ng avoiding you? Overthink malala ka ah," she sheepishly said.

"I'm busy, Mika. Ano ba sasabihin mo?" I started to get impatient, I just wanted to be alone.

"Ito naman, wala bang I miss you diyan?" she snickered but I just remain standing there while looking at her, blankly.

Her smile disappear when she notice my expression. She sigh, "Oo na, titigil na," she gulped. "So..."

"So?"

"Ano kasi..."

"What Mikaela?" My voice was a little higher than usual as I became more impatient. I don't like people who always loved to trail off their sentences. It gives me anxiety and I don't want that.

"May kakilala kasi ako na kilala mo rin at ngayon ay wala siyang matutulugan. I'm just worried kasi 'yong kapatid niya ay nagtatanong kung bait siya laging nasa hospital natutulog at dala ang gamit nila. Ilang araw na lang din ay madidischarge na 'yong kapatid niya, so wala silang matutuluyan, so puwede bang dito muna sila?"

She was breathless after talking that much, nonstop. I raised a brow as I look at her.

"You mean that Cortejo guy." It's more like a statement than a question though.

"Luh- Paano mo nalaman?" she questioned, amused. I just rolled my eyes. Halata namang 'young Sebastian ang tinutukoy niya.

"So you want me to provide a shelter for them to stay? What for? Isn't he cutting our deal anymore?"

"Huh? Hindi niyo na itutuloy deal niyo?" gulat na wika niya. So it means hindi niya puputulin ang deal? I took a deep breath and shakes my head.

"Anyways, that's not my problem any more. You can leave."

"Stell, ngayong gabi lang. Ayaw niyang mag-alala kapatid niya eh, saka naghahanap naman siya ng mauupahan nila. Please, ngayong gabi lang talaga," she begged as she leans into me, careful not to be too close.

"No."

"Please."

"You want to kick me out at my unit para lang may matulugan ang lalaking 'yon?" I retorted.

"Hindi naman sa pinapalayas kita, puwede namang dito siya sa sala o di kaya sa guest room kung meron man."

I scoffed at her statement. She wants me to stay in the same roof with a stranger.

"So you're telling me to sleep in the same room with him?" I asked in disbelief.

There's no way I'm gonna sleep with him.

"Hindi naman kayo magkatabi, sa sala siya ikaw sa kuwarto. Oh 'di ba? Malayo kayo sa isa't-isa," suhestiyon niya but I just roll my eyes.

"Still no."

"Edi sa bahay niyo muna ikaw matulog, isang gabi lang naman eh," she requested. Bakit ba sa akin pa matutulog? If she badly wants to help him then she should offer her apartment instead.

"No, mom's annoying me everyday."

"Okay ganito na lang, patulugin mo siya rito ng isang gabi para hindi kita isumbong sa mommy mo na nakipag—" I cutted her off as I groan.

"You're blackmailing me again!"

She smile mischievously, "Gumagana kasi."

We bickered for a bit until I give up. Gosh, she's so persistent and doesn't back down. We're heading towards the hospital, using her car, to fetch that man.

I wish I stay in the unit. Maybe I should just book a hotel for a night, I just can't stand the thought of sleeping with a stranger.

She went out to fetch him and I just stayed in the car, not in the mood to face him. I heard them approaching but I focus my attention at my phone.

"Bakit nandito siya?" he said coldly, obviously still mad at me.

"Ahh magkasama kasi kami sa unit kanina," pagrarason ni Mika. I rolled my eyes and face them.

"You know what? You should that I'm lending you a shelter were you can sleep. Huwag kang mag-inarte," I snorted.

"Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin do'n? Sa kaniya ako makikitulog?" nagtatakang tanong niya habang nakatingin kay Mika. I raised my brow questioning her.

Hindi ba niya sinabi sa lalaking 'to na sa unit ko ito matutulog?

I was about to answer when Mika cut me off.

"Hindi ah, akin 'yon. Madalas kasi siya ang gumagamit no'n kasi ayaw niya sa bahay nila," she said while laughing, nervous laugh.

"What the hell, Mika? Are you seriou—" She cutted me off again by covering my mouth

.

"Wait lang ah, may sasabihin lang ako sa kaniya na secret," she said at Sebastian. She closed the doors and windows before letting me go.

"Shhh, huwag mong lakasan boses mo," she warn as she took a glance at him.

"What do you mean by that? You owned the unit?" I ask her.

"Ganito kasi 'yan. Alam mo namang nag-away kayo at hindi kayo magkasundo, pero kasi pag nalaman niyang unit mo 'yon, tiyak na hindi na siya tutuloy," she explained.

I scoffed as I crossed my arm. "That's better, can we leave now?" I demanded.

"Stella, for once maging mabait ka naman. Kasalanan mo rin naman 'yon last time kasi napasobra ka, isipin mo na lang apology offering mo 'to, please," she begged, batting her eyelash at me while blinking his eyes. Literally making a puppy dog face.

"Whatever!" I surrender. Ngumisi naman siya at bijuksan ang pinto.

"Let's go!"

She helped him with his baggage and headed our way to the condominium. As we reach the building, Mika was the one leading us towards my unit. I just follow them from behind.

It's a good thing wala pa masyadong gamit sa loob so I don't have to worry if he plans to steal something. I'll admit it that he doesn't look like one who would steal but who knows? Looks can be deceiving.

"Come in! Pasensya na bago pa kasi 'to kaya wala pa masyadong gamit. Are you okay sleeping in sofa? Wala pa kasing bed sa guest room eh."

I laugh as I heard her. Wow, she really knows what to say, she can be an actress by her acting skills.

"I'm fine with it."

"Tapos na ba? Then I'll leave now, I'll just get my things." I blurted. Mika stop me as I walk away.

"Sa'n ka?" she whispered, following me to the room as I get some of my clothes.

"I'm gonna be sleeping at the hotel."

"Gagastos ka?"

"It's just for a night, I'm going."

Let just hope that a night will passed by already.