Programmed Wife

Chapter 23

"You're really living with him!" hindi na mawala sa pandinig ni Leyla ang matinis na tili ni Roca nang mapatay ang tawag.

"No, wala kaming relasyon. I am his secretary, normal lang na alam ko pati ang passcode sa bahay niya. And yes Shiela, that is how I know that you're bluffing," Leyla gracefully manipulated the situation to hide the fact that she has been going in and out of Rui's abandoned unit to bring some of his things from time to time. She's also cleaning it during the weekends without his knowledge. Hindi pa rin kasi ito makauwi.

"Now I don't want any other issues Shiela, malinaw na siguro sa'yo na hindi mo ako masisindak at wala akong pakialam, kaya please lang tumigil ka na sa kakapuntirya sa akin, wala ka namang mapapala."

Bago pa makasagot ang babaeng naninigas sa kinauupuan, nakatayo na si Leyla para tumakas sa sitwasyon. Mabilis siyang naglakad patungo sa parking lot kung nasaan ang sasakyan niya.

Roca was having a hard time running after her while processing the information she just got. Parang nabuhayan ng dugo ang dalaga dahil sa nalaman niyang bagong kaganapan sa kan'yang "ship". She has always been the number one supporter of the two, wishing that they could eventually progress into a cute, perfect couple.

"Hoy! Ikaw babaeng mahaba ang buhok! Porket nahuhuli na kita paunti- unti iniiwanan mo na ako ha!" she screamed at Leyla.

"Shut up Rocz, alam mo naman na normal lang ang lahat ng 'yon. Walang halong malisya, nagtatrabaho lang ako!"

Roca sat inside Leyla's car intensely looking at her as she quickly started the engine to drive home. Ito nalang ang naiisip niyang paraan para makatakas.

"Ngayon mo lang ako tinawag na Rocz, kapag ba balak mong tumakas sa usapan doon mo ako bibiglain sa unang nickname ko?" Roca has been forcing her to make a nickname for her. Kasi naman masyado siyang mapilit na kailangan kahit na magkaibigan sila, formal pa rin ang tawagan. Madalas kasi ay hindi maintindihan ni Leyla ang mga malokong salita niya kapag kung anu-ano na lang ang tinatawag nito sa kan'ya.

"You liked it tho," biro ng dalaga.

"Hay, kailan kaya ako makaktanggap ng magandang balita na kayo na nga ni Bossing? Ang perfect niyo malamang, parang god at goddess, grabe baka hindi kayo kayanin ng mundo 'pag nagkataon!"

"It's nothing Roca, I just know his code for work purposes. Secretary ako syempre-"

"Pinagluluto mo rin?"

"I mean, what is wrong with that? I cook for you too-"

"Tinanong niya kung ano ang lulutuin mo bukas, bakit? Araw- araw mo ba siyang piangluluto?"

"Yea-Yes- I mean, Mr. Rui is trying to eat a lot healthier. Kaya ayon, since I am fond of cooking, instead of ordering, I cook for him."

"Shuta ka gagi, lakas maka- asawa!"

"Hay," Leyla sighed. "We've been a lot closer, hindi na rin kami nagtatalo. Mukhang na- realize niya na wala na siyang ibang kakampi sa kumpanya maliban sa akin. But that does not necessarily mean that we're together right?"

Roca forced a nod, pouting, "Kainis, akala ko pa naman natuloy na 'yong ship ko. Sayang naman."

"Don't read too much into it."

Leyla felt a different air around her when she arrived at the office the next morning. As usual, she's bringing her home cooked meal for Mr. Rui's breakfast and her's as well.

There is nothing out of the ordinary from what she can tell, the office is pretty much empty at six in the morning.

"Bakit parang may mali?" she asked herself as she walked towards the elevator. She could sense something but she could not prove it yet, she has no reason to believe what she's thinking but she could not just brush it off.

"Sir?" she called out inside the office when she realized that Rui was not there to welcome her. Leyla entered the comfort room to knock at the door connected to his hidden room.

"Come in," she heard a very weak voice answer from the inside.

"Are you sick?" mabilis na tanong ni Leyla nang makapasok ito. And just as she thought, Rui is still laying in his bed, almost half asleep still.

"I'm just tired, I stayed up all night to finish reading one of the submitted plays."

"Sir, puwede naman na ako na lang ang magbasa sa mga 'yon. 'Di ba masama ang pakiramdam mo kahapon? Bakit hindi ka nalang-"

"Shhh, you sound really scary right now," Rui joked. "Biglaan na dating kasi no'ng story, and the main role is for my best friend. Kaya ako ang nakatutok kasi sinisigurado ko lahat na maayos."

Leyla slightly pouted upon hearing his reasoning. She did not realize that she's acting strangely too concerned with him lately.

"What was that?" she asked herself. But instead of thinking about her behavior, she focused on plating the soup that she was bringing. Mabuti nalang at sakto ang dala niyang sopas para sa lalaki.

She gave him a big bowl of his favorite soup and he instantly stood up to sit at the cute little dining area.

His broad shoulders and well toned abdomen greeted the innocent girl that morning. Halos hindi na alam ni Leyla kung saan ibabato ang mga mata dahil ngayon lang niya nakita na hubo ang lalaki.

"Sir," she called. "Wala po kayong shirt."

Rui looked down at himself wearing his joggers without anything as a top then turned to look at his secretary who is currently staring at the ceiling with her face being as red as a tomato.

"Hmm?" Rui teased. This is something that he would never do, at least not before. This is a first for him. Since he never had the chance to be around with a woman about the same age as him, he haven't really experienced this kind of thrill before. It's almost making him test the waters.

He's too curious as to how far he can go before he needs to stop himself.

"Is it unpleasant?" he asked out of the blue, trying to hide the huge grin on his face. He can feel her getting more nervous.

She was not used to him being this playful.

"What the hell is he thinking?" she thought.

"Leyla, you can eat with me. Why are you still standing there admiring the ceiling?"

Her genius brain could easily tell that he's trying to tease her. Alam na alam niya ang malokong tono na 'yon. Mukhang may binabalak na naman itong kalokohan. Gan'yan na gan'yan ang tono ng pananalita nito noong pinipilit niyang uminom si Leyla ng 7 am dahil lang may nagregalo sa kan'ya ng mamahaling wine na paborito niya.

"Sir, malalamigan 'yon likod mo-"

"Edi takpan mo. Niyayaya kitang kumain Leyla, kung anu- ano pa ang sinasabi mo."

He knows he looks good. Rui can tell that she's being shy because of how hot he looks right now. Of course he does, almost the whole Philippines has been screaming about it for years.

Ngayon lang niya nasubukan nang malapitan, he never felt as comfortable as he is today, with Leyla.

"Do you know that I've been asked to pose on a woman's magazine before? This is a free viewing, take advantage of it for as long as you can."

Parang wala lang kay Rui kung mag-advice ito. Hindi niya talaga iniinda na halos hindi na makagalaw si Leyla dahil sa kalokohan niya.

He's used to sleeping like this, kaya lang ngayon lang siya nadatnan ni Leyla na bagong gising at hindi pa nakakapag ayos. Sa totoo lang hindi naman talaga niya balak na asarin si Leyla nang ganito, but he found her reaction very amusing.

"Hin-hindi na yata ako kakain, baka masuka ako," said Leyla. Trying to act as cool as she can be, ignoring the loud thumping of her heart.

Her nerdy brain started to analyze everything about the weirdest encounter, her heart beat, his playful and teasing look- will this give her permanent heart damage?

"This doesn't seem too healthy," she mumbled.

"What is?"

"Ah!" she almost punched the man standing right behind her. Bakit ba kasi bigla nalang nasa likuran niya si Rui? Kanina lang nakaupo 'yon at humihigop ng sabaw ha?

"Leyla," was it just her? Or is his voice really sounding a lot more deeper than it used to be, "Bakit hindi mo ako sabayan?" he asked, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

He's towering over her, letting her have absolutely no choice but to face his bare chest or look up and face his beautiful morning face up close. She chose to look down and close her eyes without him knowing.

"Sir, ang lapit niyo po medyo nakakakaba," she honestly said. Ito naman ang laging nagugustuhan ni Rui sa kan'ya, in every situation, she frankly says what she wanted to. Hindi na niya kailangan na manghula.

"Bakit ka naman kakabahan? We've been this close before," said the CEO.

"You seem different today," her soft voice said sweetly.

"How am I different? I am not doing anything special, I just wanted you to eat with me."

"Ah-mauna na po kayo."

Rui can smell lavenders all over her. As he watched her softly bite her lower lips, he can't help but do the same. She looks so beautiful, even more up close. He did not expect him to have this urge to forget everything and just kiss her. Luckily he was sober enough to brush off the thought.

Leyla was tired of the silence. When she mustered the courage to finally look up, his captivating eyes were glued to her, as if examining every part of her face. He did not say anything, and she was stuck.

Rui's hand moved on its own, slowly combing Leyla's hair as they stay in that position.

Leyla gulped as soon as she acknowledged that she is in front of a very dangerous and seductive man, ready to attack her at any point.

"This is the first time that I don't know what to do," she thought to herself. The confusion, the anticipation, this has never happened to her before.

"Hmm," Rui raised his brow moving closer to her face, "I bet you are currently doing your analyzing thing huh?" He knows how much Leyla loves to analyze others and the situation, it helped them a lot.

"I am trying..." she whispered.

"What did you conclude?" almost an inch apart, he asked.

Leyla did not move, she took a deep breath and tried to do what she thought would be the best act. She brushed his hair and did her best to not lose the game.

"Sir, kumain ka na..." her voice sounded so seductive, it even sent chills down his spine. "Malapit na ang office hours hindi ka pa naligo."