Programmed Wife

Chapter 34

Sunday morning was usually the worst day for Rui. By now his headache would've killed him already because of his weekly habit of drowning himself with alcohol at Saturday nights. His own way of relieving stress and forgetting about his problems. But ever since he stayed in the office, it stopped. Leyla was clever enough to strategically confiscate his unnecessary amount of hidden alcohol when she delivers his breakfast on Saturdays.

"You did it again," he said as a welcome to her when she entered his office room. As if the rays of the sun itself followed her every move, she shined brightly in her yellow summer dress. To greet him, she just smiled and waved her packed lunch box.

"Alcohol? Of course I did it again," she said giggling. "You always buy a bunch of wine, little by little on weekdays kukunin ko rin naman lahat para iuwi. Mapupuno na 'yong cabinet mo sa kusina."

"You're bringing them in my unit?"

"Yup yup! Saan ko naman ilalagay?"

"You know I could order some more right?"

"Sure you can!" tumatango-tango pa siya na sumagot. "But if you really want to, you can order some after I leave every Saturday, but since you don't do it... I assume there's only one reasoning."

"And that is?"

"Ibig sabihin babae 'yong nagdedeliver. Hindi mo makukuha kasi kailangan na magpakita ng ID for liquor deliveries. And on weekends, ikaw lang mag-isa ang nandito."

Rui smirked watching her open up the curtains on every window, "Yeah you're smart I get it. Don't need to show off tho."

"I'm not showing off, sinasabi ko lang naman kung ano ang naisip ko na dahilan. 'Wag kang masyadong affected d'yan baka maiyak ka pa."

Umiiling-iling nalang na sumunod si Rui sa babae noong naglakad na ito patungo sa pantry. Parang bata na nakaabang sa pagkain. He watched her grab plates for him and started to make him a cup of coffee.

"You said you wanted spaghetti and meatballs right? Is it too early for that?" she asked.

When she asked him what she should cook for him next, he instantly asked for spaghetti and meatballs. Although it was a dish that was easy for her to cook, she heard a really interesting fact from Shawn and that brought up an idea.

"For breakfast?"natatawang tanong nito pabalik. "I'd like that actually."

"Good!" she opened up the tupperware in front of him. But instead of a warm pasta, he saw a delicious sandwich.

"I thought-"

"Mr. Shawn told me that you like the pasta they serve on Janestone?" she giggled, giving him a very suspicious look.

"Nope!"

"You know I'll take you there so you're saying no. But you really want to. They don't do deliveries," Leyla picked up the sandwich and directly forced the food into his mouth. "Come on, sasamahan naman kita eh."

"I have to do so many things today-"

"Lies." As his secretary, Leyla knew that this day would be a free day for him. He had nothing else to do. And based on what she know of him, he will just sleep and lounge around all day. She would rather mess around with him the whole day than let him trap himself in the cramped office.

"Leyla, you know my condition. There is no secret about that."

"You told me that when I am with you, you get no reaction at all. That you think I can help whenever I'm close to you right?"

Rui nodded but the hint of worry is still evident in his eyes. He never tried to do what his secretary wanted to try. It's too risky, and he's not sure if he could handle that.

"Janestone opens at eight. We have thirty minutes to drive there. And people usually eat there during lunch, so that means-"

"If we go now, less people would be there?" a glimpse of excitement crossed his mind.

"Yes. Unless you still don't want to-"

"Let's try it."

She squealed in joy, she couldn't even stop herself from clapping a little. "Don't wear a suit!" she reminded him. In which he responded with a weird look.

"Wide shoulders, exquisite posture... plus the aura, that would be too risky," she thought to herself. Nakakunot pa ang noo nito habang umiiling-iling. Isang malakas na buntong hininga ang binitawan niya.

Napahinto si Rui sa pagnguya, "Not wear a suit? Anong susuotin ko? You know that I only wear suits. Should I just wear it with a white tee on the inside? And by the way, why are you so stressed about it?"

"I bought you a white hoodie. You need to wear that one specifically, together with this!" she pulled out a case from her side bag and pushed it across the table.

"Glasses?" he picked up a slim frame with circular lenses. Looking back up to Leyla then to the glasses in his hand once again.

"Yup!"

"You want me to wear glasses? Wha-Why?"

Leyla moved a chair closer to his, she sat down to examine his face. She traced the tip of his nose, his full brows, and his sharp jaw. Lumiliit ang mga mata niya habang inuusisa ang bawat bahagi nito. She pouted and nodded, that made Rui show her a weird face as if asking "What the hell are you doing?"

"You told me about your situation- I mean, the triggers, you know. Isa sa mga hindi natin maiiwasan 'yong mga babae na hindi mapipigilang sumubok na lapitan at kausapin ka."

An inch apart. He could feel her warm breath as her soft fingers brushed his fluffy newly showered hair.

"You are too handsome and that's a huge problem. You forgot about that part?" she innocently asked. "Now you have to stop blushing and wear what I told you to wear. Kailangan nating itago kahit kaunit 'yang kaguwapuhan mo, hindi nakakatuwang tignan. Hindi ko pa naman alam kung kaya ko makipagsuntukan.

"Suntukan?"

"Sir, kung may sumugod sa'yo. Battalion ng mga kababaihan na handang nakawin ka, hindi ko alam kung kaya kong lumaban. Paano kita hahatakin pabalik? Hala, 'wag kang bibitaw sa akin. Susubukan ko nalang na tignan lahat ng masama para matakot sila kaagad."

"Shut up you dummy," he whispered. Trying to hide his red cheeks and shy smile on his face. Hindi pa rin siya sanay sa nararamdaman niya sa tuwing nakakasalamuha niya ang babae.

Leyla smirked, with her hands crossed. Watching him hide his tomato red face, "Kilig, 'yan yata 'yong tinatawag na kilig. Tama, gan'yan nga yata."

"Shush your stupid pretty lips."

"Hear me out, you are what people define as hot and cute, a target to everyone!"

"I said hush," he almost growled.

"Well dang, sure... You don't have to show how hot you can be, jeez. Calm down with the deep voice Sir."

"Are you teasing me?"

"Is it working?" she cheekily winked.

With his eyebrows raised and his smirk forming he asked, "What happened in a night? You turned... daring?"

"When a person shows interest in you, and giving the signals to encourage them usually help."

"Wha-Huh?" napakamot ito ng ulo sa kakaibang paraan ng pagsagot ni Leyla. Para sa babae, malinaw pa at maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw ang sagot na naibigay niya. Laking pagtataka nalang nito ng naguguluhan na hinarap siya ulit ng Boss.

"Are you trying to say that I am interested in you?"

"Are you not?" she quickly asked back making him gulp. "Honestly, I can smell tension. I am not going to avoid this topic, so don't expect me to magically just stop."

"W-well..."

Leyla giggled, " No need to act surprised, let's be honest. We did a lot of flirting, a little questionable... you know, the kind that gets other people in trouble on different situations."

"What the f*ck?" hindi mapigilan ni Rui ang matawa sa inosente pero prankang babae. She even shrugs her shoulders, clearly she knows how to tease him and make him as shy as a little kid caught stealing a piece of candy. "When I chose straightforward, I did not expect it to turn out this way."

"To what?"

"Nothing you dummy. Acting all grown up all of a sudden, speaking about flirting and sh*t. You don't have to bring that up, it's pretty evident. I think you just want to see me act all shy- are you playing with me?"

"Tignan mo nga 'yang ngiti mo, kunwari ka pa! You have to admit."

"Admit what huh?"

"Come on, we both know what's been happening. And also, you are a flirt. At least to me you are."

"You doughnut!" poor Rui had to cover his face with his hand. Luckily it was big enough to hide most of his red face.

"I see...So whenever I make you blush, you call me different names huh?" she was bold enough to boop her boss' nose. Tinataas baba pa nito ang kan'yang mga kilay para lalong pag- trip-an ang lalaki. "But I don't want to be a doughnut. You like croissants, call me croissant maybe?"

"Now I get it. You ate a bunch of courage last night huh. Seems like you also woke up and decided to tease me the whole day."

"Not really, I have different plans you know."

"Different plans? Mukhang balak mo lang akong biruin buong araw."

Rui bit his lips hard enough to stop the huge smile curving up his lips as he watched the beautiful woman tie her hair up with a piece of yellow ribbon.

"Sir, you really think I asked you to eat out just to make fun of your cute shyness? Duh, that's what the kids call as a date!"

"Shush you little- shut up you dummy croissant!" said the embarrassed man who stood up and escaped to his room in a second. Leaving the cheeky girl laughing loudly at his office.

"Be quick! Stop getting all flushed Sir!"

"Cut it! Don't make me fight back!"

"Oh really? Bite me!"