Programmed Wife

Chapter 26

"Are you listening?" Bahagyang napalakas ang boses ni Rui para malinaw na marinig ni Leyla ang sinasabi nito.

"Huh-Ah! Sir I am very sorry, I spaced out a bit," she apologized while flipping through her notepad.

Ngayon lang siya nakita ng Boss niya nang ganito. Wala sa sarili, hindi mapalagay at parang lumilipad ang utak.

"What was the last thing you heard?" he asked.

"You want me to schedule one meeting with the investors for the next Law Drama-"

"After that, I asked you to collect the reports from all of the departments and then give me a copy of the recently signed contracts."

"Got it, I will get back to you soon."

Since morning, she's been acting really different. She never forgot to give him breakfast, but instead of cooking for him, she bought it from a cafe. After more than a month of him getting her luxurious breakfast, this simple store bought one doesn't cut it. It did not even compare to what he's used to. Parang hindi nga siya nabusog kahit na noon naman 'yon din ang kinakain niya.

"Leyla," pigil niya sa sekretarya. "Is something bothering you?"

He watched her give the saddest smile, "No, there's none. I am very fine."

Hindi pa nakakasagot ang lalaki pero wala na ang dalaga sa loob ng kan'yang opisina.

"Is she still mad at me?" bulong niya sa sarili. "Why is she so sad?" Masama niyang tinignan ang paper bag sa lamesa. His favorite croissant that she got him, he still has one left. "She did not even cook for me."

"Who?" said a tall, handsome man who just entered the room. He immediately sat down at the sofa comfortably.

"Shawn!" Rui called. "You did not tell me that you'll come-"

"Ano? Bawal mag surprise visit ang best friend mo sa opisina? Bakit ha? May tinatago ka ba?" daig pa ang selosang girlfriend kung makasigaw si Shawn.

"Shut up dumb*ss, I just did not know that you're back. After your filming for the reality show you were gone."

"Gone gone ka d'yan, alam mo naman na mahirap maging gwapo! Aba't bigla na lang akong nililipad sa Paris para roon sa fashion show na ano ba 'yon? Nakalimutan ko na 'yong tawag."

Rui smirked and raised his brow, "A fashion show doesn't last for a month you know, that doesn't make sense-"

"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Hindi ako nangbabae sa Paris! Wala akong dinala sa hotel-"

"Stop exposing yourself more than necessary. Wala naman akong sinasabi na gan'yan bakit bigla ka nalang umaamin?" said Rui. Hindi niya mapigilan na matawa dahil sa biglaang pamumula ng pisngi ng lalaki. Kabisado na niya halos ang lahat ng kilos nito, pati na rin ang takbo ng kan'yang utak. Wala siyang kawala.

"Ay! Tumigil na nga tayo d'yan sa kung ano man 'yan. Pumunta ako sa unit mo kahapon pero hanggang noong bumalik ako ng gabi wala ka. Kaya dumiretso na ako rito. Saan ka natulog?"

Rui nodded while listening to his friend, "Dito, masyadong marami kasi akong ginagawa kaya naman dito na ako natutulog."

"Huh? Bakit dito? 'Di ka ba nagsasawa? Buong buhay mo yata nandito ka na sa- Oh, siguro totoo 'yong nabalitaan ko mula kay Albert?" Rui's eyes grew big upon hearing his tone change. Parang bigla nalang siyang naging tsismosa sa kanto. Shawn ran to whisper at Rui's ear, "Gusto mo raw 'yong secretary mo? Maganda raw, at wala kang reaksyon sa kan'ya?"

"Tumigil ka nga! Para kang timang d'yan!" at the exact moment that Rui have pushed his friend, he heard a knock at the door. Doon palang sa mahinang katok, alam na niya agad kung sino 'yon, at hindi nga siya nagkamali. Leyla walked in, she's holding a bunch of folders as she just got back from collecting the papers that Rui needed.

Because of her frowning and keeping her head low, she did not notice that there's someone with them in the room. She proceeded to walk towards Rui and plop down all of the files. Hindi na siya nag abala na magsabi ng kung ano man at mabilis na tumalikod ito para maglakad palayo.

"Hi!"

The cheerful, unfamiliar voice stopped her. She slowly turned around and move away the pieces of hair that were covering her angelic face and faced the man, "Hello, good morning! I am very sorry, I did not realize that Mr. Rui is in a meeting right now-"

"No, it's okay. Binisita ko lang ang kaibigan ko. Not about work-" napahinto sa pagsasalita si Shawn nang malinaw na niyang nakikita ang mukha ng dalaga. His mouth fell open as he faced the CEO who's currently watching his reaction and giving him a 'contain yourself' kind of look.

Shawn took a deep breath, "Mi-Miss, anong trabaho mo rito?"

Leyla carefully studied his familiar face, she's pretty sure that she saw him somewhere before. And because of him saying that he's Rui's best friend, the detailed email from Albert popped in her head, "Oh I'm so sorry Mr. Shawn, let me introduce myself. I am Leyla Ayasya Cruz, Mr. Rui's new secretary."

Hindi makapaniwalang tumango si Shawn bilang pagbati, bakas pa rin ang pagkamangha sa kan'yang mga mata hanggang sa makalabas na ang dalaga.

He's mouth hit the floor as soon as the two of them were left alone, "Rui! May sakit ba sa utak 'yong babae na 'yon?!" he screamed.

Rui can't help but laugh at his exaggeration, "Anong sakit naman sa utak ang sinasabi mo d'yan? She's my secretary, paano naman mangyayari 'yon ha?"

"She's too beautiful! Bakit mo tinanggap na secretary 'yon? Kung kinuha mo siyang artista, kahit tumayo lang siya sa buong drama niya sigurado akong mas marami pang manonood sa kan'ya kaysa doon sa sobrang cliche na high school dramang pinalusot mo last year!"

"Oh f*ck off, you're being too much. Nakita mo lang na maganda-"

"Maganda? Malinaw pa ba 'yang mga mata mo? Maganda lang sa'yo 'yon? Dyosa 'yon Rui! Kaya naman pala kung makapagsabi si Albert ganoon nalang kabigay todo! Sabi niya kasi sa akin natutulala ka raw sa mukha noong bago mong secretary kaya hindi mo na nagagawang matakot sa presensya niya."

"That's not true-"

"Kung sasabihin mo sa akin na wala kang kahit katiting na crush man lang doon sa Leyla na 'yon, masusunog ka sa impyerno."

Rui had his mouth tightly shut.

"Oh ano? Tama ako 'no? Kung gan'yan na nakakatulong siya sa'yo tapos bonus pa 'yong itsura niya, pakasalan mo na kaagad!"

Rui shook his heaad, "Stop it, you know how crazy you're sounding right now right?"

"I'm actually serious right now. Alam natin pareho, hindi pa nangyayari sa'yo itong mga nangyayari ngayong nakaraan. Bakit mo pa papakawalan 'di ba? If I could help you, in any way possible, I will help you. Gagawin ko ang lahat para magkalapit pa kayo-" an evil smirk curved up to Shawn's lips. "Pahiram ako sa secretary mo. Ibabalik ko before lunch!" he shouted before running to get Leyla.

Leyla was acting busy to forget the nasty looks that she's been getting all morning. Hindi niya nagugustuhan na ang ibang mga babae ay sadya pang paulit- ulit na dinadaanan ang puwesto niya para lang pagbulungan siya at tignan nang masama.

"Miss Leyla!" Shawn's loud voice made her jump before bowing and responding to him.

"Mr. Shawn, ano po 'yon?" she asked.

Shawn smiled, "Can we have some coffee somewhere else?"

Naiilang na lumingon- lingon ang dalaga.

"Don't worry, I told Rui about it. May gusto lang akong itanong tungkol sa kan'ya. Alam mo naman siguro ang dahilan ko?" with that, Leyla did not think twice and followed the famous actor to the cafe next door.

They entered the private room which was specialized because of this cafe being near an entertainment company, alam nila na maraming celebrity ang matutuwa kung may ganito silang feature.

The shop owner and barista guided the masked up Shawn to one of them, hindi na niya kinailangan na magpakilala o ano man, he's been a regular here.

"Leyla, do you know that this cafe has secret rooms?" he asked. Leyla quickly nodded.

"Mr. Albert has told me before that Mr. Rui and his best friend likes to drink coffee here and relax."

"Yes, we're regulars here. Lalo na noong nagsisimula pa lang ang mga career namin. Dito kami tumatambay kapag hindi na namin kinakaya ang stress sa trabaho. Okaya kapag may kailangan kami na takbuhan, lalo na si Rui."

"I- I understand what you mean. But lately that did not happen, not in the office at least."

She's quick enough to know that he's talking about Rui's condition and Shawn was impressed by it.

"So did it happen after Albert flew?" the door opened and they were served with their beverages together with some cookies. Shawn was ready to stop Leyla in case she would talk about sensitive information about Rui's condition with the server still nearby, but to his surprise, she didn't. She waited, even after the server got out and closed the door, she still waited for him to be further away.

"It did, about a month ago."

Shawn clenched his jaw, "Ano? Bakit?!" he did not hear anything about that and he's mad about it.

"I am so sorry Mr. Shawn, Sir Albert have informed me to never forget to tell you or him about his episodes. But I just couldn't, Mr. Rui has been keeping it to himself, he did not even tell me the whole story exactly... but I figured it out myself. He did his best to lie about it, I think he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Ayaw ko naman siyang pangunahan," Leyla carefully explained.

"So? Why are you telling me now?"

"I think now that you're physically here, I can tell you and make you decide on how to approach him about this matter."

Shawn kept his mouth shut, waiting for her to continue her story.

"Last month bago makaalis si Mr. Albert, I found out that Mr. Rui and I are living in the same condo building. My friend and I found him about to pass out at the elevator. Mabuti nalang at natapat siya sa floor ko, natulungan ko siya na mapakalma at nakapagpahinga siya sa unit ko. But later on I found out about what happened. Sine then, he's been sleeping in his office. Ayaw niyang umuwi, kahit doon sa unit nin'yo Mr. Shawn."

"Why? What happened to him? Anong nalaman mo?"

"The model... somehow," Leyla struggled to formulate her sentences but she managed to push it all out in the end. "I found out that Ms. Kira was inside his unit. I know that he's not comfortable around her, and during the time that I found him, she's still looking for him."

Parang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Shawn dahil sa narinig niya. If what he just heard was true, he's sure that he had let his best friend down.

"A month?" he whispered. "He's been hiding this for a month?"

Leyla nodded, "I don't know the whole story, but that's what I gathered. And Mr. Rui refused to talk about it. Pinilit niya akong paniwalain na lasing lang siya kaya siya naligaw sa floor ko pero-"

"You seem smart Miss Leyla," Shawn drank his bitter, black coffee and glanced at her. "You did the right thing. Kung biglaan mo na sasabihin sa amin ang nalalaman mo, mas lalo siyang maiinis sa sarili niya. He's trying to lie to himself."

Because of the realization that he's out partying in Paris when chaos engulfed Rui, Shawn couldn't help but sigh. But to his amusement, Leyla sighed louder.

"He's trying to lie to himself, you're right. He forced to make himself believe of a better scenario, he's making himself remember a different story," her voice cracked, and her eyes started to glisten. "He must have been so scared."