Nights Like This

CHAPTER 13

Weekday means work day na naman and I feel like I have a hangover about what happened on the dinner kagabi even though I only drank one glass of wine. I am physically present at the lobby of the company while waiting for the elevator while my mind is still at the dinner all while my body wants to lay more on the bed.

Pag pasok ko sa department namin, I don't know but I feel I feel like there's something strange about the whole vibe. Medyo huli na kasi ako ng dating than the usual arriving time ko beause I hadto fight mself to get up pero hindi pa naman ako late. I just feel weird that people's staring at me. Well, lagi naman. But this time, it's bolder. Ramdam kong pinaka titigan na ako ng ibang mga employees na nadadaanan ko.

"Good morning team," bati ko sa kanila while I walk to my table. I am still standing while I pulled my chair. I raised my head and roamed my eyes on my team but they're just looking at me. "What?" I told and raised my eyebrows at them.

They all look flustered nang nag taas ako ng kilay sa kanila. I don't know but they're acting really like I did something wrong or what. Settiing de the weird feeling that my co- workers are giving me, I sat on my chair and opened the computer.

"Good morning Sir Vance," I heard one employee and I also raised ny head to see him.

Sir Vance is walking towards his office bitbit ang bag nya. He's just wearing his usual polo and slacks but he looks good every time. Minsan naririnig ko sa nga employees na it's lucky daw that Sir Vance chose this as his career because models will be jobless if he wanted to be one. Now that I think of it, I think so too. Araw araw na parang nagiging runway ang space from the glass door to the door to his office.

Sir Vance slowed down from walking and then gave us a short smile and wave. He looked at me in the eye. "Good morning," he said and then pulled his eyes at and it travelled across the room.

Because of that, I could still vividly remember last night. Oh, I can't forget how he looks good last night. Mas lalo kong nakita why employees are starting to get crazy over him.

"Hi! Good morning!" somebody pushed the door and entered. Upon seeing who that is, we all stood formally to acknowledge the presence of the Finance Director of KSW Global, Zara Anderson.

"Good morning Maam Zara," the employees said in unison.

I forwarded to her and extended my hands. Lukot na agad ang mukha nya nang makita ako sa harap nya. Zara smirked and just stared at my hand. Binawi ko ang kamay ko sa kanya and faced her head on.

This woman in front of me is another one that I consider spawn of the devil in the company aside from Gabriel. She hates me. Oh, no. It's more than that. She despises me because she likes Gabriel but he's not giving her any attention and her solution to that? Throw hates on me. Too bad for her, I don't entertatain her no matter how hard she throw the rocks on me.

"I stayed three months in the states and you're still here?" she said, annoyed.

"Of course, Maam. I don't see any reason for me to quit my work," I retaliated back.

Dahil sa selos nya sa akin, she's been threatening me to quit my job just so she could have all Gabriel's attention. I mean, ew. Mag sama sila.

"Tch! Enjoying the attention, Camila?" she said. I don't know what she's talking about but I don't like her tone. It's like mocking me and I hate it.

Forehead scrunched, I faced her. "What can we do for you, Maam?" I asked her.

"Why are you changing the topic? Are you ashamed?" she said and then lets out a small chuckle.

Matinding pag pi-pigil ang ginawa ko just so I could extend my patience to the nonsense that this little devil is saying.

"If you don't need anything from me and my team then we'll continue doing our work," ani ko. Lumingin ako sa team ko and then I motioned my hand to dismiss them so they could get back to work.

I turned back to her but she had the audacity to grab my wrist and forcefully pulled me so she could make me face her. Her nails are literally digging on my skin. Umakyat na naman ang galit sa buong pagkatao ko sa ginawa ng attention seeker na babaeng 'to.

"How dare you turn your back on me!" she said, annoyed.

No. How dare her pull me like that?

I looked at her like I am stabbing her with dagger wishing that my stares would bleed her. I gathered all my strength to pull my hands away from her and it's strong that she almost lost her balance because I forced my hands away from her touch.

"Oh my gosh you psycho!" impit na tili nya.

I am not letting her disrespect me in lalong lalo na sa harap ng mga co- workers ko. Kung iniisip nya na I would just stand there and let her trample over me, no. Nobody's allowed to disrespect me like that.

The tention around the room definitely rose dahil nasa amin na naman ang atensyon ng lahat. If she likes to mess with me, I'd give her what she wants. Fair and square.

I walked on her side and leaned to her ears to whisper. "Keep your insecurities to yourself, Zara."

Kakabalik lang nya galing states yet she chose to mess with me. I'd give her that. Nobody talked. We just looked at each other with so much hate like it is our battle.

"What's happening here?" the deep voice of Vance echoed through the silence in the room.

I exhaled at hinigit ang tingin ko sa kanya and looked at Vance who just got out from his office. Naka kunit na ang noo nya. Sa tabi nya ay si Janine na halatang takot at nanginginig na. She was fidgeting with her hand.

I stood formally na para bang walang nangyari. "Nothing Sir Vance. By the way, this is Ms. Zara Anderson. Director of Finance," I said. Introducing him to the snake.

"Oh," rinig kong bulong ni Zara. Her attention's now on Vance and she's shamelessly staring at him. I know that look. That's the look when somebody saw Vance for the first time and they're wonderstruck by him.

Sir Vance looked at me. I smiled at him like nothing really happened just like what I told him.

He walked towards Zara and shook her hands then had a little bit of introduction to each other and I am ashamed and irritated about how Zara sticks her eyes to Vance like it's glued to only see him.

"Do you have plans on dinner?" sabi ni Zara. Lahat kami napatigil sa sinabi nya.

She's biting her lips and looking at Vance in a really flirty way. I almost wanna p**e on the spot.

I looked at Vance but he looks nonchalant. Parang hindi man lang sya natablan ng sinabi ni Zara sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, Maam. I have plans tonight that I cannot miss," sagot ni Vance.

Zara looked disappointed that he turned down her invites for dinner. Gusto ko na lang talaga matawa. Akala ko ba si Gabriel and gusto nito that she would do anything just to direct his attention to her? Bakit kaya biglang may pag liko ng prospect at mukhang si Sir Vance na kaagad? It's so funny.

"Really? How important is that one?" aniya. Rather than sounding cute, it's irritating to hear hear voice na halatang iniipit nya t

"Very important, Maam." Kasing dry ng Atacama Desert yung response ni Vance, I wanna cry.

"Can't you make time for me? You know, I'd love to make conversations with you and you know, hear more about you," pag kumbinsi nya pa. Gosh, here we go again with her acting so desperate to get a man.

I let out an air to my nose while shaking my head. I didn't hide my smirk. I believe she deserve to know what we think about her right now because nagkaka tinginan na lang kami Janine.

Nahuli yun ni Zara. Sinamaan nya na naman ako ng tingin.

"I'm sorry. I'll really have to decline, Maam Zara."

"Please? I'm not like Camila na very dry and boring. Hmm? And please, call me just Zara."

Gosh. I really can't stand her. She could just say to him na he should pick her and go. I looked at Vance and matalas na ang tingin nya kay Zara.

"Maam Zara," panimula ni Vance, emphasizing that he'll never call her by her name. "I'm sorry but I'm not really available. This is a very important thing for me to attend to."

"Besides, Camila is not dry and boring, Maam. She's always glowing and she's fun to be with," dagdag nya. I am now sensing the annoyance in his tone.

I smiled and raised my brows on her. And that, is on period for Zara Anderson.

She cleared her throat, looking so defeated.

"All right.m. I understand, Vance. I- I have to go now. Nice to meet you! We could have a dinner some time if you're free. I'll always make time for you," she said and then walked out of the department like nothing really happened.

I sighed and turned to Janine na natutuliro na sa gilid namin. "You can go back to your desk, Janine. Thank you," I told her and pats her shoulder.

Nang maka lakad na palayo si Janine, I looked at Sir Vance and he's already looking at me.

"Thank you, Sir. I'm sorry sa istorbo. Nagka sagutan lang kami kaunti ni Ms. Anderson for some personal reason," sabi ko sa kanya.

If he didn't get out of his office, the whole department's probably going to witness a catfight between the girl bosses of the finance and operations team.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Completely ignoring what I just have said.

"I am, sir. I'm sorry again for the small trouble," sabi ko.

Vance licked his lips and he run his fingers to his hair and sighed. "I'm glad you're okay. Don't mind her. Hindi naman totoo yung sinabi nya sa'yo."

Tumango ako as a response.

"And I want you to stob by to my office before dismissal time," aniya.

Natigilan ako sa narinig ko sa kanya and a nervousness is slowly creeping on me.

"Are you gonna report me to the HR?" tanong ko sa kanya because I know that he could and he has the right to do so.

"No. I am passing you some of the papers that I alredy finished reviewing and signing so you could distribute them tommorow," aniya and he looked like he's not kidding and has no intention to do so.

Kasabay ng pag nganga ng bibig ko ay ang pag labas ng kaba sa katawan ko. I felt nervous for nothing.

Tumango ako. "Sure, sir."

And with that, bumalik na kami sa kanya kanya naming gawain. I can still feel the tension that remained on the air na para bang lalo silang nag tip toe around me but hinayaan ko na lang.

During lunch break, I just had my food delivered and sa pantry na ako kumain. I didn't expect the flood of the work today.

Busy days are coming again and I'm already tired. Sa nangyari pa lang kanina, I felt like I did cardio for six hours.

Zara is an energy sucker. For real. I feel like I lost a day worth of energy just by that short interaction with her.

"Maam, mauna na po kami."

I rose my head and see the employees na naka tayo na sila sa harap ko at naka sabitna ang nga bag nila sa kamay at balikat nila. I looked at the clock and it's already six-o-five in the evening and they're all ready to clock out.

"Oh. Sure! Sure! Take care," sabi ko. Ijust waved at them and they did the same.

Nang maka labas sila, sumilip ako sa pinto ng office ni Sir Vance and the light's still on. Hindi pa sya umuuwi at kaming dalawa na lang ang natira sa department namin. Saka ko naalala n may kukunin pa pala ako sa kanya.

I stood up from sitting on my chair and then did a little on the spot stretching and I could hear the bones cracking from here and there.

Lumakad ako pa punta sa office nya and kumatok before opening.

I almost choked on my own saliva when I saw Vance in his desk. Few buttons of his long sleeves are unbuttoned and his chest are almost peeking through it.

Parang biglang uminit yata dito. Kahit bukas naman yung aircon.

"S- sir yung pinapa kuha mo sa akin kanina," I informed him nang tuluyan na akong maka pasok sa opisina nya.

"I thought you forgot about it," aniya. He pushed his chair palayo sa desk nya and then he stretched his arms forward and then he circled his head in motion para rin patunugin yung buto nya and I intentionally looked away because I feel like nag kaka sala ako as I see how his eyes close and then open kasabay mng pag ikot ng ulo nya.

I mean... I don't know which is more hot. The sun or him.

"I... almost did. Hindi ko na pansin na uwian na pala," sabi ko. I am now looking at the floor to avoid from thinking something else.

I heared a rustling of papers in his desk saka nya ako tinawag. "Here, Camila."

I bit my lips to stop me from going crazy and then looked at him. He just looked at me. Hindi ko na naman ma basa kung ano yung iniisip nya dahil halos wala na naman syang expression. He's just staring at me.

"Thank you, Sir. I'll go now," sabi ko sa kanya. I turned my body to the direction of the door.

"Are you going home?" pahabol nya na tanong sa akin.

Yakap ang folder ng mga papel na binigay nya sa akin, I turned to him again. He's sitting near the edge of his table and while arranging the things na naka patong sa lamesa nya.

"Yes, Sir. I'll just arrange my things and then bababa na rin ako to go home," sagot ko.

"Sabay na tayong bumaba. I'll just fix this too," aniya.

"Okay, Si-" I said but I was cut off by him also.

"It's Vance, Camilla."

Tumango ako like I remember what I had just forgotten. "Right. It's Vance. Wala namang ibang tao dito," sabi ko.

He lets out a small smile and a nod.

Bumalik na ako sa desk ko at nag madali na inayos ang gamit ko para hindi na mag hintay si Vance paglabas nya.

As far as I remember, this is the first time that we'll get off from work late at sabay kami. Usually when I'm done with work and uuwi na, naka bukas pa rin yung ilaw ng office nya. Among all the employees here in our department, he's always probably the last one to go home.

"Camila," tawag ni Vance. "Let's go?"

"Let's go," sabi ko.

Tumayo na ako sa upuan ko and then sabay na kaming lumabas ng department. One thing that I noticed about Vance is that he always says the necessary things only that's why madalas or most of the time, tahimik lang sya. But that silence with him is never awkward and uncomfortable.

"Hindi na kita nakita on the later part kagabi," I said. "Umuwi ka na?"

"Yes. I went home. I just went there on behalf of my father and nung nagka usap na kami ng Daddy mo, umuwi na rin ako. How was the later part?" he asked.

"Super boring. Wala akong maka usap kagabi because they're all busy talking to each other and none of them are on my age. Gustuhin ko man na tumakas, I can't."

Huminto kami sa tapat ng elevator and he presed the button going down.

"Sana pala hindi muna ako umuwi para na takas kita. You could've told me when we were together na gusto mo rin pala na tumakas sa mga ganun na gathering just like me," aniya.

It's not really questionable na he grew up attending parties and events for the business and political people. It's obvious that we're born inghe same circle but we didin't get the chance to be formally introduced to each other.

"Nah. My brother will flip the whole venue kapag nawala ako sa paningin nya ng matagal," I said to him, almost laughing.

"You're just like me," aniya.

I smiled at him and laughed. "I think so, too. That I am."

Sakto na bumukas yung elevator kaya pumasok na kaming dalawa. Pag baba namin sa lobby ng company, may iilan pang mga employees na naroon. Bumalik na naman sa akin yung pakuramdam na parang naka tingin sila on my direction. I just don't know if it's because of me or if it's because of the gorgeous man beside me.

We're walking at the lobby dahil roon yung pinaka malapit na access to the parking lot when I suddenly stopped waking when I realized something nang maka rating n kami ng parking mismo. Vance also stopped.

"Why?" tanong nya. "Is there a problem?"

"I just remembered something. I didn't drive here. I came from our family house so our family driver drove me. I'm sorry Vance, mauna ka na sa parking lot. I'll just call our driver at magpapa sundo na lang ako kasi hindi ko pala dala yung kotse ko," sabi ko.

Gosh. I totally forgot na galing nga pala ako sa bahay!

"It's okay. Don't call your driver. I'll drive you to your home if you'll allow me to," aniya. Habang nanlalaki ang mata ko, he just remained calm.

"Oh no! Hindi na. Mabilis lang naman makakarating yung driver namin if I call Manong agad. Sige na, Sir. You can go na," ani ko.

Naka ramdam ako ng ilang patak mula sa taas. I looked up to see what it was and to my surprise, the rain started to pour on the land. Dahil open area ang parking at walang silong, agad kaming pumasok sa may looby ulit para hindi mabasa.

"Paano ba 'yan, umuulan na. It'll probably take time for your driver to get here. Sumabay ka na lang sa akin," aniya.

I sighed. I guess I'm left with no choice. "Okay. Sure. Sasabay na ako."

And as soon as I said that, Vance's lips begin to curl up with a happy smile.