Embers of Love

Chapter 02

"Where shall I drop you?" the guy asked me when I'm already calm from crying.

We were inside his car for a while now and no one was moving. He guided me here after I asked him to sleep with me. But no one dared to speak between us. He was just letting me sit inside his car and cry my heart out.

How embarrassing, Adrielle.

"Huh?" I asked, confused.

This guy arched his brow. "I was asking where your address is. I will drive you home," he answered.

Mas lalo naman akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya. "I asked you to sleep with me," I said and he arched his brow more.

"I heard that but were you serious about it?" He asked and I didn't know how I would react.

I honestly wasn't serious when I asked him that. I was just really heartbroken and I wanted to prove that Karl was wrong for saying those words to me. Aside from that, I also want to prove to myself that I can still find someone after him.

"I see," he said and started to start the engine of his car. "Tell me your address."

But instead of telling him my address, I shook my head and said, "I want to do it."

He turned to me with his brows creased. "I don't do girls who just came from a break-up," he said.

My mouth parted hearing that. He was there even before I bumped into him and he heard everything Karl told me, probably the reason why he said yes to my offer. He helped me to save face but I felt more ashamed now.

Another set of tears fell from my eyes.

Hay, Adrielle.

Kaya sa huli ay ibinigay ko na lang din ang address ko. Pakiramdam ko ay mas lalong nawala ang pagkalasing ko. Mas may ilala pa ba ang gabing ito?

"Thank you," I told him when we reached my address. Tumango lang naman siya at walang sinabi.

Lumabas na ako ng sasakyan niya at mabilis na naglakad papasok ng building. Hindi ko na siya nilingon dahil sa kahihiyan.

"The f**k, Adie!" I can't help but curse. My hands were shaking as I pushed the button of the elevator. At halos mapaupo ako sa sahig nang makapasok na sa loob nito sa sobrang kahihiyang nararamdaman.

Tangina! Napakamalas naman naman ng araw na ito.

"You did what?" Sasha blurted after knowing what happened last night.

She was hysterical when she couldn't find me in the bar. Kulang na lang ata ay tumawag siya ng pulis para lamang ipahanap ako. Buti na lamang at nasagot ko agad ang tawag niya. Nakahinga lang ata siya nang maluwag noong nalaman niyang nasa bahay na ako.

"Don't make me repeat it please," I pleaded.

My head hurts from all the alcohol I drank last night and I had to tell her everything-detailed as she asks-that happened outside the bar; from when Karl dragged me out to the parking until I was dropped off out the building by that stranger.

And that... I still can't believe myself! I must have gone really nuts to ask someone—a stranger to be exact—to sleep with me!

I f*****g asked someone to have s*x with me!

Jesus!

"You know what? I will never agree with Karl. What he told you last night added more fuel to my anger towards him. But what the hell, Adrielle? You asked someone to sleep with you just to prove him wrong? Are you nuts?"

"I was drunk and broken, alright?" I reasoned and rolled my eyes that I immediately regretted. My head hurts more every time I move.

Fuck, hangover!

"That's not enough reason! Paano kung manyak pala iyong lalaki at pinatos ang alok mo? Paano kung hindi lang iyon ang ginawa niya? Paano kung murderer pala yun?"

"That's so morbid, Sasha..." I commented. "I know what I did was wrong. I was drunk and hurt. I wasn't thinking rationally but nothing happened, alright? Can't we just be thankful that that guy wasn't a pervert nor a murderer?"

I said because honestly, I don't want to talk about it anymore. I don't want to give myself more embarrassment every time I remember what I did. I just really hope that we will not cross paths anymore because I don't think I can face him again.

I was just really glad that we are strangers to each other. Imagine the level of embarrassment I could have got if he happens to be someone I know. I can't really help but cringe.

Drunk and broken Adrielle is embarrassing.

"Goodness, Adrielle. What would I do with you?" Sasha said, looking so stressed. I can't blame her, though. I know it was hard for her to take care of me while she had her own battles to deal with. I was just really lucky to have her.

"A cup of black coffee will do," I said, answering her last statement. Inirapan naman ako bago nag lapag ng bowl ng soup sa harap, may saging pa na kasama.

"Get yourself together, Shanaia Adrielle. You have a life outside your relationship with Karl and obviously, that has ended. You need to move forward with your own life, with that, you can prove to Karl that he was wrong for leaving you," she said.

"It was me who left him, Sha. I broke-up with him," I said and she immediately rolled her eyes to me.

"Whichever happens, get yourself together. Your life didn't end when you broke-up with him," she said instead. "And honestly, I am very pleased that he was finally out of your life. Don't get offended, but that guy was really an asshole in my eyes from the very beginning."

Napailing na lang ako at hinayaan na siya. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko pa alam kung saan ako magsisimula, o kung paano ako magpapatuloy nang wala na si Karl sa tabi ko. I was used to have him in everything I do; to wherever I was, he was there too. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa bang kumilos na mag-isa.

That was the hardest part of a break-up, to do the things you used to do with your partner alone now. Parang hindi ko na yata kayang gawin ulit ang mga iyon ng mag-isa.

And when I said it was hard, what I meant by that was, the sudden emotional breakdown whenever I come across something Karl and I used to do, the casual things we used to share.

Kaya naman, nang bigla akong sinabihan ng boss ko na kung gusto kong maging representative ng department namin na ipapadala sa isang probinsya para i-supervsive ang ongoing project ng kumpanya ay hindi na ako tumanggi.

I grabbed the opportunity just so I would be away from everything that reminds me of Karl and our memories.

"Gaga ka!" Sasha blurted as she watched me pack my things. "When I told you to get yourself together, I didn't mean it this way!"

Inirapan ko siya. "I'm leaving for work, Sunshine. Don't overreact, alright?"

"Sa Aurora? Ganun kalayo?"

I sighed and faced her. "Aurora was only hours away from Manila, Sha. It was not like, I'm leaving the country," I said and continued packing my things.

Kaunti lang ang dadalhin kong mga gamit. Ilang buwan lang naman kasi ang itatagal ko sa probinsya at pwede naman akong mamili ng ilang gamit kung sakaling kakailanganin ko.

Sasha sighed as well and sat beside me, helping me packing. "Will you be okay alone there?"

She asked and I shrugged. "Technically, I will not be alone there, Sha. I will be with Errol," I answered.

"I don't trust that guy," she said and I laughed.

"He's nice. Trust me," I said.

Errol has a little crush on her and Sasha has no idea about his feelings. And of course, I won't be too noisy to tell her that. I want Errol to do his own move. I will not be a cupid for him.

"Still, be careful, okay?"

I nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

And with that, I was set to go.

"Damn it, Adie! You're so pathetic..." I told myself as I wiped the tears that fell on my cheeks.

It was Monday morning and here I was, crying over a cup of coffee; the coffee Karl and I used to share every morning. This should be my usual morning but this wasn't usual anymore. This simple thing is now part of the things I need to get over with, a simple gesture I need to give less value.

"Para namang tanga," I commented when Errol, a co-worker, handed me a box of tissues and played a movie from his phone.

Tinawanan naman ako nito. "Para naman hindi nila isipin na pinapaiyak kita," ani niya.

I rolled my eyes and wiped the fresh tears rolling down my checks. "Bakit kasi rito tayo nag ka-kape?" I said. We were waiting for the Van that will bring us to Aurora and this guy suddenly wanted a coffee.

"This is the nearest coffee shop in the office. Anong gusto mo, lumayo pa tayo para lang hindi mo maalala iyang ex mo?" sagot niya naman.

"Alam mo, hindi ko alam kung paano kita naging kaibigan," I spat. I took a tissue and wiped my tears with it.

Errol was my office-buddy. Partner kami sa mga tasks sa office at madalas din kami sa coffee shop na ito tuwing hindi si Karl ang kasama ko. But this place reminds me of Karl the most.

"Alam mo, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit iniiyakan mo parin yung ex mo na yun..." he said and I want to agree with him.

Bakit masakit parin kahit ilang linggo na ang nakalipas?

"Just let me heal on my own, please?" I said instead.

Errol shrugged and didn't comment anymore. Instead, he started talking about work and I had no choice but listen. Hinayaan ko lang siyang magsalita nang magsalita habang pinapa-kalma ko ang sarili ko. I realized that I really need to be away to move on.

Thirty minutes after when the van arrived. Agad kaming sumakay ni Errol habang hinihintay pa ang ibang mga makakasama namin sa byahe. Nang makumpleto naman ay tumulak na rin agad kami sa byahe.

We came in Aurora fifteen minutes before lunch. Sabi ng manager na kasama namin ay doon kami di-diretso sa bahay ng may-ari ng project na ginagawa namin.

Our company was tasked to construct a dam in the province. And that dam will help to water the rice fields and all the farms within the province.

Hacienda De Jimenez

Says from the signage engraved in the stone above the hacienda's gate. We were welcomed by, I think, the butler of the hacienda and guided inside the mansion—I would like to address this as a mansion because the house was freaking big! This was like those houses I usually see in the movies.

It was designed beautifully and sophistically. Kitang-kita ang lahat ng detalye ng bawat kagamitang narito. Mula sa mga ukit ng kanilang malaking double doors, sa mga muwebles, at maging sa sahig at kisame, malalaman mong pinaglaanan ito ng mabang oras sa paggawa.

I was so fascinated by the surroundings that when we reached the dinning hall and was asked to settle down for lunch and my eyes met another set of eyes—those gray eyes, I was suddenly stunned in my spot.

Holy s**t!