Programmed Wife

Chapter 38

The whole ride back to the office was so quiet that it almost made Leyla want to bang her own head against the dashboard. She expected Rui to act very differently, since he just met with the people responsible for his trauma but maybe she was too successful on helping him that things turned out very differently.

Rui was so relaxed driving back, wearing a very suspicious grin, almost naughty looking for Leyla. He's exactly the embodiment of a teenage boy who just experienced his first kiss. Every now and then, he sneakily sneak a peak on her as she shyly hide her red face towards the corner of the car door.

After the sudden, unplanned kiss he did nothing else but smile as wide as he could. Past trauma? Worries? Gone. He threw them all out of the window after the blissful kiss. Now he just have to face whatever he has to with Leyla. The shy smile he saw from her face was enough to reassure him that he did nothing to be worried about but she was too silent, he took it as a sign that she doesn't wanna talk about it.

"We're here," bulong niya nang makaparada na siya sa parking lot ng sarili niyang kumpanya. He removed his seat belt and giggled as he realized that the girl beside him is struggling to cover her face with her cute little side bag.

"Leyla, are you really this shy?" he teasingly asked. Leyla waved her hand to try and shoo him away but he was quick, he held it tightly.

"Sir," she whispered. "Mauna na po kayo-"

"Huh, where was the confidence that I saw earlier? Kanina lang ang tapang mong ipagsigawan na girlfriend kita-"

"Sir Rui-"

"Huh, interesting. Where's babe and Rui?"

"Sir, ginawa ko lang naman kung ano 'yong sa tingin ko na makakabuti sa sitwasyon. Hindi ko rin kasi maatim na ganoon ka nila tratuhin."

Finally out of frustration she slammed her bag on her lap. Halatang hindi niya mapigilan ang pangagalaiti dahil naaalala na naman niya ang maduming tingin na hindi maalis sa mga mata ni Anje sa tuwing tinititigan niya si Rui.

"Just acting?"

"Ye-yeah..."

"I've already told you that I hate faking acting."

Leyla was about to dodge the conversation and run straight up the office to bring Rui's laundry back home but he was not having it. As soon as she removed her seat belt he immediately grabbed her arm and this time, it is apparent. At how serious he's starring at her, he's not letting go.

"Leyla," his deep voice called her. "Are you mad at me?"

"What? No, of course I'm not."

"Do you remember what I did to you earlier?" he asked, answered by Leyla with a nod. "So, do you understand what I mean right now as I'm talking to you about it?"

Leyla sat still just looking at his hand holding hers.

"Look at me in the eyes and try to read what I wanted."

Leyla closed her eyes. As she took a deep breath, she managed to pull him closer to her and hug him so tight. She could slightly feel his fast heartbeat as she rested her ear at his chest.

"I understand," she whispered. "You don't need to ask or think about anything about that, I know what you want. And yes, I will not leave you. I'll always be here."

In that exact moment, the dreams and unrealistic wishes for Rui vanished. As he wrapped his arms around her, he saw his whole life change. All prayers through out the years, all his hardships and all the tears that was seen by nobody, it all payed off. He felt it deep inside him, this is what life was supposed to be all along.

"It took you too long to come, you know that?" he whispered.

Leyla giggled and held him tighter, "Let me make up for it, yeah?"

"Sounds good," he said with his eyes glistening. "Thank you Leyla."

They sat in that position for a while. After at least five minutes, it was Leyla who broke it off. He was about to complain with his grumpy pout when she turned to look at him.

"Come on, let's go back to the office. Baka may dumaan pa rito at mapagkamalan tayong nag- eeskandalo," natatawa niyang sabi sa lalaki.

"Just to be clear," mukhang may naalala ang lalaki, "Who am I?"

Naguguluhan man ay nakangiting sumagot si Leyla, "Rui Andrews?"

"And I am your?"

"Boss!"

Rui's face immediately displayed disgust, "You hugged your boss that tightly for almost five minutes and even hold his hand?" reklamo niya habang iniaangat ang hawak- hawak na kamay ng dalaga.

Leyla laughed hysterically at how defeated he looked, "Shush, okay okay. My boyfriend."

Because of how sweetly she said those words with so much sincerity, Rui couldn't contain his excitement. His beautiful face became even brighter with the million dollar smile plastered on it.

"You look so silly," pang-aasar naman ng bagong nobya sa kan'ya. "Minsan itago mo naman 'yong kilig mo. Lalo na kapag may kasama tayo."

Binuksan ni Leyla ang pintuan at nagsimula na itong maglakad papunta sa opisina, nakasunod sa likod niya si Rui na hinahabol siya.

"Why do I need to hide it tho?" he asked and grabbed her hand from the back.

"Sir, 'wag mo ipahala kapag nasa labas tayo. Baka may sumusunod na paparazzi sa atin tapos machismis ka pa."

"I am not a celebrity Leyla, I can do whatever the hell I want to do. And you called me what?"

"Okay, Rui. You don't really understand how many people would try to kill me out of jealousy once they found out huh?" kunwari pang hahampasin siya ni Leyla na kaagad niyang iniwasan.

"You know what we can do?"

"What?"

"Give me a list of those people who will try to hurt you because of me, I will fire them tomorrow."

Malakas na tawa ang naisagot ni Leyla habang umiiling-iling pa, "Kung balak mo na gawin 'yon bilang solusyon, mawawala ang lampas sa kalahati ng nagtatrabaho rito. Mahihinto ang business mo. Ganoon ka kasi ka guwapo!"

"Shut up you stupid," nakangising bulong ni Rui. Dahan- dahan pa siyang lumapit kay Leyla para akbayan ito.

It felt too natural, as if this is a thing that was supposed to happen. The matched up perfectly.

"It's not locked?" Leyla confusedly swung the entrance door open. "I'm so sure that I locked this earlier."

"Baka nand'yan na 'yong mga janitor?"

Leyla quickly shrugged the hand that was around her shoulder and moved three steps away from him, "You're right, naglilinis nga pala sila tuwing Linggo ng hapon. Ang aga naman yata nila? Wala pang lunch time."

Rui was offended, "Excuse me?" tanong niya. Para siyang amoy imburnal kung layuan ng babae na tawang-tawa naman sa kan'yang ginawa. Kahit anong lapit niya sa dalaga ay siya namang pagtakbo nito palayo.

"Leyla! Come one, why are you running?"

She laughed, "Kailangan kong I-uwi 'yong mga damit mo. Maglalaba pa ako!"

"You wash my clothes?"

Tumango- tango ang dalaga, "Of course I do. Can't you smell it?"

Kaagad na inamoy ni Rui ang suot na damit, "Lavenders? Akala ko ikaw lang ang naaamoy ko."

"Well, I knew you loved the scent that I use, so I used it in your clothes too."

Being hit with a sudden realization, Rui failed to enter the elevator door, "Rui? Tara na," tawag sa kan'ya ni Leyla.

"Do you wash all of my clothes?"

"Yeah why?"

Rui aggressively pulled his hood to cover his whole face and walked in, "Don't wash them please. Send it to a laundry shop or something."

"Now why are you getting shy about that- oh..."

"Oh? What ooh?"

Leyla giggled, "You don't have to be shy. It's just underwear you know."

"Don't say it like that-"

"Bro!" putol ng malakas na sigaw sa sinasabi ni Rui.

It was Shawn, mukhang papalabas na ito mula sa office ni Rui. Kaya naman mabilis na tumakas si Leyla. Sa isang iglap lang, nakatakbo na siya papasok doon sa office ni Rui.

"Good morning Mr. Shawn!" bati nito habang dinaanan ang lalaki.

Napaangat ang kilay ni Shawn sa nasaksihan, "Anong problema no'n?" tanong niya sa kaibigan.

"She's running away because she's scared of monsters."

"Monsters? Saan?"

Rui smirked as he witnessed Shawn's expression change as soon as he realized the joke.

"Anong ginawa ko sa'yo? Bakit ka nananakit ng damdamin?" he asked dramatically holding his hand on top of his chest.

"Cut!" mapang-asar na sigaw ni Rui na kaagad namang sinunod ni Shawn. The actor inside him made him end the scene. "What brings you here?"

"Nothing, I was just bored and I don't have anything else to do-"

"So you want to ruin my day by being in here?"

Shawn's mouth fell open, with a naughty look he wiggled his brows, "So... what exactly am I ruining? Your day or your date?"

Rui shrugged, "We just had breakfast. You told her about the spaghetti and we went to eat."

"Spaghetti for breakfast?" natatawa niyang bulalas. "You guys are- wait. You went out to eat in the restaurant?"

"Yeah, it did not end in a good note though. But at least something magical came out of it."

Pagkaupo nila sa couch ng opisina ni Rui, napansin ni Shawn na busy sa paglilinis si Leyla. At parang hindi na nagtataka si Rui sa kinikilos nito. He's too comfortable, kahit saang sulok na pakialaman ng dalaga, wala na talaga siyang hinihindian. He remembered back then that one thing Rui hates is getting his things touched by anyone else. Pero ngayon ay malayang nalilinis ng babae ang mga personal na kagamitan niya.

"She's changing your toothbrush," bulong ni Shawn.

"Hmm?" Rui checked the opened comfort room door and smirked. "Yeah, and I just found out that she personally does my laundry. Even my f*cking undies."

"D*mn," bulong ni Shawn. "So she technically touched your-"

"Don't you ever continue that disgusting sentence."

Leyla was just in time to hear that, "Do you need anything Sir?" tanong niya na inilingan lang ni Rui. "How about you Mr. Shawn? You want something?"

Sasagot na sana si Shawn pero mabilis siyang napigilan ni Rui, "Call him Shawn and no he doesn't need anything. Kung mayroon man, kaya na niyang gawin 'yon."

Instantly, Shawn could feel the tension in the room. Pero hindi na ito nagulat o nagtaka, "God d*mn you're the jealous type huh."

"Shut up!"

"Sir, uuwi na po ako."

"You're not staying for lunch Leyla? We can just order in and bother him more you know."

Napalingon si Leyla sa lalaking seryoso lang ang tingin sa kan'ya habang nakikinig sa usapan nilang dalawa, "Su-sure, what do you prefer for lunch? I can order-"

"Just not pasta," bulong ni Rui.

The joy of winning took over Shawn. Sa wakas ay hinayaan lang siyang manatili roon ng CEO, "Kapag pala kasama ka wala nang aangal na mataray eh!" sigaw pa nito.

"Mukhang na-miss din po kayo ni Sir Rui nahihiya lang siyang umamin."

"Don't lie to him!"

"Miss mo ako babe?" tili naman ni Shawn habang pilit itong hinahatak sa mahigpit na yakap.

"If you want to live, you have to stay away!" sigaw ni Rui habang sinisipa siya palayo.

"Aray! Bakit naman ang lakas mong manipa!"

"Releasing my frustrations."

"Sa akin?" sigaw nito. Shawn massaged the side of his torso that hurt, "Leyla! Ano bang nangyari rito?"

Leyla looked back at them, "He had an unwanted family reunion."

"A what?"

"Arturo and Anje met us during breakfast," kalmadong sabi ng lalaki.

"What?!"