Carrying My Enemy's Baby (SSPG)

Elevator Girl - Donovan's POV

She didn't even glance at me when I told her to button her shirt. Was she so ashamed when she tripped? Or was she affected when our faces were so close to each other? Damn! Why do I even care?

That woman really triggered something in me, especially when she grabbed my necktie and I felt her . . . stop! I should stop thinking about her. I have a quarterly report to check.

Binuksan ko na ang aking laptop at saka nagtungo sa cloud storage na tanging key executive level personnel lamang ang may access. Words and number greeted me. Dati, isang tingin ko pa lang sa report ay nakukuha ko na agad ang importanteng pinapahiwatig nito. Pero ngayon? It felt like these letters and numbers don't mean anything to me.

Hindi naman ako ganito? No! Ngayon lang ako nagkaganito. Did I have a good sleep and morning? Yes. But it seemed like I need a good rest. My head is clouded with thoughts I shouldn't give a damn.

Napatayo na lang ako at saka naglakad palapit sa glass walls. Pinagmasdan ko ang Manila skyline. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. As I battled myself with focusing, thoughts of her came into my mind again. Napahawak ako sa neck tie ko na inayos niya kanina.

Hindi ko man lang siya napansin noong nasa labas siya ng elevator. Even when she entered and tripped over me. Wala siyang kadating-dating lalo na't hindi ko pa nakikita ang kaniyang mukha. But when I bent my body to help her pick her papers up, our eyes interlocked. In a short span of time when the time seemed to freeze, I could hardly resist how she looks.

She has expressive almond-shaped eyes just like mine, but in a deep hazel shade framed in trimmed brows and long lashes. They look innocent and at the same time inviting. Complementing with her heart-shaped face are her small but perfectly pointed nose, soft jawline, and her rose-pink lips.

Maganda siya. Marami na akong nakita at nakilalang mga magagandang babae ngunit walang dating. But her? She's different.

Her hands felt like cotton—soft and delicate. When she accidentally touch mine, my body sent electrifying signals that I haven't felt for so long. Napapikit ako at napailing. I tried to shake the thoughts of her, but her image before she grabbed me by my necktie visibly played in my head.

May katangkaran siya, ngunit mas matangkad ako. My height is 5'11" and if my estimation is correct, she's around 5'7". What she wore didn't just fit on her—it seemed like such attire was made for her. A brown polo shirt—simple, corporate, forgettable on anyone else—but not on her. The fabric clung to her like it was made to praise her body. Two buttons undone, and I hate to admit this, but it's imposible not to notice the swell of her bossoms—full, proud, unapologetic. She wasn’t showing off. She didn’t need to. When her bossoms touched my body, I stiffened. The touch sent warm and pulsating signal to my manhood. Hell! I was aroused by a stranger? By someone who's applying for a position I'm not even sure if she's qualified to. Perhaps, this s**t happened when you've never been with a woman for a very long time. And I haven't touched myself for a month already.

Pagkatapos ng aksidente sa elevator, hindi ko na siya tiningnan muli. It's my thing. Wala talaga ako masiyadong pakialam sa nakapaligid sa akin. Pero kanina, I was fighting myself. I can see her through my peripheral vision that she was staring at me. But I didn't dare to give her another glance at baka kung ano pa ang maisip ko.

Nang papalabas na siya ng elevator kanina, pasimple akong napatingin sa lower portion ng katawan niya. She's wearing a pencil skirt that molded to her hips, hugged her thighs like a second skin.

Then came the scent.

Vanilla.

Pink roses.

Soft, warm, feminine—like morning sunlight through sheer curtains, like skin after a hot shower. My nose remembered because her scent lingered. It stuck in my head and burned itself into my memory. Even now, it won’t let go.

Pero kahit na binabagabag niya ang aking isipan, hindi ko magawang hindi magalit. Hindi niya man lang ako nagawang lingunin kanina. Walang nakaka-hindi sa presenya ko. Everyone keep glancing at me as much as they could. But she didn't for the last time.

I should just ignore her. For I know, this is going to be our first and last interaction. I should not let her cloud my focus on my company. I have a report to check and a board meeting.

Naglakad ako pabalik sa aking swivel chair at muling napatitig sa mga letra at numero.

*****

“Gysabel Avila?” Paglilinaw ko sa aking kausap sa cellphone.

“Yes, Sir. As per the HR, she passed the initial interview. However. . .” napakunot ako ng aking noo. “. . .she's not qualified to be an executive assistant. The HR suggests to assign her to the customer and communication department as she possess impressive language proficiency.”

Pinaikot ko ang swivel chair para mapaharap ako sa glass wall. “But she applied for the executive assistant position right?”

“Yes, Sir. But—”

“No buts!” I interrupted. “It's been days since my last assistant resigned. I am having a hard time with my schedule, appointments, and other work loads since she left.”

Huminga ako ng malalim para huminahon. Hindi ko alam na nag-a-apply pala siya para sa executive assistant na role. Nakita ko lang mga dokumento niya pero hindi ang pangalan at ang role na gusto niya sa kompanya.

The HR knows better in assessing applicants. But I am in need of an assistant. And . . . and I am curious about her. She hooked my attention and this time, I am going to feed my curiosity.

“If she passed the initial interview, send her a message and tell her she's scheduled for the final interview next week, Monday, ten o'clock in the morning,” utos ko.

Narinig ko ang paghinga ng aking kausap. “Noted po, Sir.”

Bago niya ibaba ang cellphone, may isa pa akong huling request. “Do some background research. Give me details about her as soon as possible. I need it in the morning.”

Muli kong pinaikot ang aking swivel chair para mapaharap sa aking desk. While I was staring at the screen, parang may bumubulong sa akin na i-replay ang CCTV footage kanina sa elevator. I tried to resist the urge, but I failed. Suddenly, I found myself scrolling toward the software where I could replay the footage.

After a few seconds, there it is. Our interaction at the elevator. When her face can perfectly be seen from the angle of the CCTV, I paused the video. I used a third-party software, developed by Magnante Tech, and scanned her face. Like a picture in an ID, I could clearly see her face.

Just like what I hate to admit about her earlier, she's beautiful. Now, I can't wait to see her again next week.

Tumayo ako mula sa aking upuan saka naisipang lumabas para bumili ng kape. Hapon na rin kasi at alam kong aabutan pa ako ng gabi rito. Ito ang isa bagay na nakakainis kapag wala kang assistant, wala ka na ring mautusan bumili ng kape. May coffee maker naman sa loob ng company, but I always prefer the coffee from Irimnan, a small coffee shop owned by an old man and his two grandchildren.

Nilakad ko lang iyon dahil hindi naman iyon kalayuan. Gusto ko ring maglakad-lakad dahil wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang maupo. When I arrived at the coffee shop, the owner, whom I call Tatang Ariel, greeted me with a smile and a question.

“The usual?”

“As always,” wika ko naman at pumwesto na sa table na malapit sa counter.

Maliit lang ang coffee shop na ito. May anim na pabilog na mesa na gawa sa kahoy at bawat mesa ay may apat na upuan. Aside from the silence, the ambience is perfect if you want to relax your mind. The brown lighting and aesthetics are the best combo with the coffee's aroma.

Mula sa kinauupuan ko, nakita ko sa kabilang dulo ang dalawa niyang apo. Iyong isa ay binatilyo na habang ang isa ay nasa limang taong gulang pa lamang.

As I look at them, I couldn't help but smile—a smile that's full of happiness and insecurities. Kung wala sanang aksidenteng nangyari noon sa kompanya, baka kasama ko pa ang nakababatang kapatid ko.

He was everything to me; my light, comfort person, and the very reason why I want to live. Since he died, my life has always been broken.

Until now, I blame myself. It's my fault. I am the reason why he died.