He loves me, he loves me not

Chapter 2

"Sir, Orion, it's already late, aren't you going home?" Manong Robert asked. He is the encoder in our office.

"I need to do all of this before I will go home,"I answered while pointing a layer of papers on the top of my table.

"Okay sir, I go ahead," I nod my head at him and he waves his hands back.

As I look upon my waist watch, It's already ten in the evening but my work hasn't finished yet. Until this week is the deadline for our project, and I need to show it first to Mr. De Leon, the design head. I almost finished my last slide in PowerPoint when I heard my phone rung.

"Hey, genius! Still at the office?" Levi lively said in the opposite line. "Yes, why?" I plainly replied.

"Nixon is inviting us to hang out with them in his bar, are you In?"

"Nixon Del Gado?" I asked in a wondering tone. "Yeah! My dearest cousin, so are you coming?"

"I'm not sure bro, my project is in a rush. I need to finish this asap," I said, declining his offer. My work can't be delayed because it cost a million pesos.

"Are you sure about your decision? You might regret it," he said in a persuasive tone. "Why? What's going on in Nixon's bar?" I asked.

"Bye, Oh wait! I forgot to tell you that Yngrid is also there," I paused for a few seconds before I answered him back again, "Wait, Yngrid...as in, the daughter of my boss? She is back?"

"Ohh? Someone is interested, and yes! You heard me right! She is back!" Levi said in an exaggerating tone.

"I'm not interested! I'm just shocked!"

The spoiled brat and happy go lucky daughter of my boss is finally back? But on the other hand, there is a part of me that is so excited to see her. After ten years of not seeing her, she stayed in London and finally I will be able to meet her again.

"And I heard she just came from the break-up, that's why she's here!" he declared.

"Give me the address and I will go there," I asked.

"Take it easy bro, don't be so obvious that you want to see her, I will send you the address to see you later!" he said. while laughing and he end the call immediately.

Why does she always like to hang out with guys? This is the reason why people think negatively about Yngrid. I need to go there before she will be going to do something stupid. I finished my last slide first before I fixed my stuff and left my office. I'm about to enter the elevator when I stop, I notice my view in the full-length mirror beside the elevator. I can't wear a coat and tie inside the bar. People will think I have a business meeting there!

I drop by my condominium to change my outfit, something that can fit the bar. When I was already at the location I saw Levi standing in front of the entrance. My friend's eyes turn into a naughty evil look. "Oh my! Oh my! I see a different person in you!" His laughter is very annoying. "I change for the better, I don't want to look like a weirdo there,"

"Come on, you just want to impress Yng-" I stop him from talking using my hands. "'Stop it okay!" I said in a serious voice.

"Eww, gross did you even wash your hands? I'm sure it landed down there," Levi teased.

"Yeah, it landed on the bird's nest," I answered back.

"Ohhh! It's ready? Take it easy, I know ten years is quite long but calm yourself, bro," he said.

"You talked too much!"

He pulls me towards him and puts his shoulder to neck and we walk together inside the bar. The entire area is full of people and very noisy. This is one of the reasons I don't want this kind of place. Levi pointed out the table where Nixon was sitting.

Nixon is with two women who are not familiar to me and they introduce them to us. But my eyes are searching for someone I've longing to see. While my best friend Levi is like a clap of thunder because he is already flirting with those girls.

Nixon walked closer to me and whispered, "Don't worry she will be here in a minute," He even winked his eyes full of malice in it.

He is also wicked like his cousin Levi, I just smile at him awkwardly. After a few minutes, I found myself hanging because Yngrid was walking with his friend Marcus, while his hands were on her shoulder. I feel annoyed a little.

She changes a lot, from the last day I saw her. Yngrid was only Sixteen years old back then but she is a woman now. She is wearing a black dress with a slit on the side of it, showing off her curvy body. And she is more attractive compared to before . "Easy Orion, easy!" My mind protested.

My attention diverted to Nixon when he asked Yngrid if she still recognized us. Yngrid's face changed the mood and our eyes met. She looked so irritated and shocked at the same time. I wouldn't wonder because that's how she treats me even before.

I know she hates me because her Father is always in favor of me, but I don't care about it, because I'm more curious about her break up. That's why I asked her some questions that triggered her to hate me even more.

"None of your business, cause I know if I tell you I will report it to your boss!" she said sarcastically. Until now she never changes, she is still as immature as ever.

"Oh wow! Look who's talking, and besides, how do you know about dating? As far as I can remember you're just a nerd who sometimes goes out in his cave! You rather stay at your office and do some paperwork, What are you doing here anyway you're not even invited!" she shouted. Oh god! This girl is very scandalous.

I'm controlling my laughter because she answered it in a clever way. Yngrid is easily pissed at me, but I love how she gets annoyed. "Of course you will never be stressed out! Unless you're gay!" she answered back again.

What a smart woman! She is beautiful with a bad attitude! Yngrid turns into a monster every time she is mad. Is she drunk or something? She said I'm gay? very funny that if this girl tries me she will be exhausted for sure or worse get addict! Oh, This is dangerous. I'm having a s****l fantasy with the Goddess of war!

When their new friends arrived I noticed Yngrid's face became calm and peaceful. I'm just staring at them but she caught me looking at her and I receive a dead stare as if she is a murderer or serial killer. Nixon and Marcus asked us to transfer in a VIP area and Yngrid starts drinking again after she finishes a bottle of alcohol and she begins to scream. I just shake my head because of disappointment, why does she need to act like this? I pity her for being miserable right now.

"Bro, you okay? Why don't you go for her and stop her," Levi said looking at me worriedly.

"Let her be that's her way to cope up with her bastard ex!" I angrily replied.

I feel so irritated, what on earth did I even decide to come here anyway? I want to see Yngrid but not in this kind of scenario where she makes herself look so desperately over her ex-boyfriend.

"If she only notices you, she is probably your wife by now," Levi added.

"What are you talking about? to get married to an alcoholic woman? I guess that's the reason why his ex dumps her," I irritatedly said.

"Hey! You're such a liar bro, don't be so in denial I know that you're in love with her that's why your relationship with Francesca didn't work out because your heart belongs to someone else."

I suddenly think of what Levi said, I'm already thirty-three but still single. My last relationship was two years ago but I decided to end it because she wanted to start a family but I'm not into it. She expects too much from me and I can't give it to her. And I know for a fact that she is not the one I can imagine myself in the future with. What's good about her is she is very understanding because when I explained to her my reason she agreed with me. But no matter how hard I tried to be in a relationship my feelings for Yngrid always haunt me.

Levi and I stop when Yngrid's friend moves to our table. "Hey, I'm Monique! And you're Levi right?" she said while laying her hand to Levi.

"Oh hi! You're Yngrid's friend right?" Levi asked.

"Yes I am, I haven't seen you before? Where have you been all my life?" My laughs are in control because of what she said.

"Ohh, God! You stole my line!" Levi said in a flirtatious way. "He is your friend?" she asked. Pointing her finger towards me.

"Oh? Yes, why?" I heard the exaggeration in my friend's voice.

"How can you handle his attitude, your personality is quite different from him!" she commended as if I wasn't with them.

"Haha! You're so silly !" Levi looked at me giving a signal to ignore what she said.

"Hey I'm not drunk okay, I'm just wondering cause you look cool and nice, are you still single?" Yngrid's friend asked.

"Cool! I like the way you speak!"

This is not new to me because my best friend Levi is a womanizer and a chick magnet. He likes it more when girls make the first move. And I'm not surprised because the girl who is flirting with my best friend is Yngrid's friend. That's why they say “Tell me who your friends are and I tell you who you're” is suitable for both of them.

I heard Marcus shouting trying to stop Yngrid, "that's enough, you're drunk let's go I will send you home!" he said.

"I'm not drunk, okay! Ask the waiter to get alcohol now!" Yngrid walks closer to Marcus, her hands touching his face. Their lips are inches away from each other.

"Hey! Really? You Flirting with Yngrid in front of opp..me ?" Interruption of the other friend of Yngrid who is also drunk.

"What are you talking about? You're really drunk!" Marcus said I see the irritation on his face.

My eyes notice Yngrid's sadness while holding Marcus's hands. "Look at me I'm not drunk? Can you give me another glass of wine…" she begged.

"Fine but after you finish I will send you home okay!" Marcus irritatedly said.

"Thanks, kaya mahal na mahal kita eh!" I was stunned on Yngrid's next action she kissed Marcus I know how close she is to him but I still hate it.

The girl who was talking to Levi earlier is transferred to Yngrid's table. "Stop giving her alcohol, look at her she is already drunk,"

Yngrid complains to her friend. "I - I want more Alcohol! Ask the waiter to get more alcohol! Nixon asks your employee to get me more, " she said repeatedly.

"Yngrid, Enough! You're drunk pati si Cassandra dinamay mo pa!" Monique to Yngrid.

"D- don't S-top her, we still have F-un her! Right! Yngrid?" Their other friend protested.

"Why did you let Cassandra drink too! You know she doesn't drink alcohol!" Monique asked Marcus in an irritating tone.

"I can't control her, she wants to drink. so I let her, " Marcus said in a calm tone. Watching them arguing in front of me is no difference in a drama series on television.

"Cause You don't really care about her!" Monique replied. "Because she doesn't want me to take her care of her!" Marcus shouted back.

"That's enough!" Nixon walks in and stops them.

I Don't know why these two are arguing with each other but I'm not here for them. I force myself to come here to see Yngrid, she stands up but eventually loses her balance. My foot moved automatically to catch her but Marcus was there to grab her.

This scenario is exactly the same when Yngrid loses her Mother and Brother in a car accident. I witnessed how devastated she was at that moment. Even if she is only a Minor at that time drinking alcohol becomes her savior from the suffering she feels.

It's fresh in my memories when Yngrid disguises as an adult just to enter the bar and drink there. Luckily Marcus and Nixon help me to find her. We saved her from danger but that issue was spread in the news and posted on the front page of a newspaper. Yngrid's father was very mad at her and brought her to London.