CHAPTER 12

“What kind of trip is that?” asked Serah in a wry voice.

“Is that an effect of pregnancy?” Freya asked sarcastically.

The two burst into laughter and even managed to give a high-five to each other.

“Okay, fine, we won’t ruin your trip. Just tell us it’s a prank!” Serah said with tears of joy.

I rolled my eyes at them and got my phone out. They continued laughing while I was busy with my phone.

“Tell us the truth, Jandie. Share it with us, even if you don’t know the man. We just want to know the truth,” Freya said.

I gave out a deep sigh and turned my phone toward them. They looked at it until their eyes grew bigger and jaws dropped.

“Girl, it is not edited, is it?” Serah asked and snatched my phone, referring to my photos with Achetbir in my gallery.

I glared at her and went back to work. “Just scroll it sideways,” I commanded.

They were too focused in my phone as if they were kids who had just seen candy for the first time in their whole life.

“What the fuck?!” Freya cursed when a video played.

“I love you...”

It was Achetbir’s baritone voice. I stopped what I was doing and looked at the video. My heart beat fast when I heard him utter those words, especially when I took a glance at the clip. I didn’t remember this. I rarely visited the contents of my phone. I didn’t know there was something like this here.

My mouth parted as I saw the video; it was the day before we broke up. I was sleeping soundly on his chest as he was filming the video.

“I love you, babe. Hope that someday you’ll be able to tell the world how you love me, too. I love you so much,” he said on the camera while staring at my peaceful face. 

He moved slowly to kiss my forehead and hug me tight as the video ended.

“Are you okay, Jands?” Serah asked me worriedly while caressing my back.

That was when I realized I was in tears watching the video. I felt like there was a big rock blocking my throat, which made me silent.

“Everything will be okay, Jandie,” Freya said and embraced me. Serah did the same thing.

“A-am I cruel?” I asked.

They parted our bodies, and Serah wiped my tears off. They gave me a smile and tapped my shoulder. “I don’t know what really happened, but I believe that you wouldn’t make a decision just for your own sake,” she said.

Freya also tapped my other shoulder. “We have been friends for years, and I can guarantee that you are the only selfless person I know. Whatever it is that you are now facing—you’ll get through it,” she explained.

I felt a lot better now. Those words helped me to calm myself. I remembered again the reason why this happened to us; I only did that for Achetbir.

“So, mind telling us this dark secret of yours?” Serah mischievously smirked.

“Oh my gosh! Now I fully understand why he always called you into his office before!” Freya said excitedly.

I just smiled at them.

“But why do you look so tired after coming out of his office?” she suspected and raised an eyebrow.

My face turned red, and I avoided their eyes.

“Oh. My. God,” the two exclaimed and quietly squeaked.

“Hey! Keep it down; others might hear you,” I ordered them with a shy face.

They laughed at me and poked me teasingly.

“Please tell us the story, girl!” Serah pleaded.

I rolled my eyes at her and took a deep breath before telling them how we, Achetbir and I, started our relationship and how did it end.

“Why didn’t you fight for it? I mean, don’t you trust him?” Freya asked seriously.

I stopped and played with my fingers. “I trust him…” I whispered loud enough for them to hear my words. “…it is me whom I can’t trust,” I continued and smiled bitterly.

He could save me, but I could never pull him up from the mud once his name got soiled. I knew he would fight for me up until the end, but I was weak. I couldn’t see him fall because of me.

"Come in," Achetbir said in a cold voice coming from the speaker. We stared at each other. If before they were annoyed every time Achetbir called for me, this time, they didn’t know how to react.

I piled my papers, divided them into two stacks, and put the piles on their desks.

“Can you help me with this? My baby probably can’t handle the stress,” I said and bit my lower lip.

They smiled together and nodded.

“Just remember—we are the godmothers,” Freya insisted.

“Don’t take her; this one is too stingy. Your baby won’t be able to get anything from Freya. Just pick me alone,” Serah teased Freya.

I chuckled shortly. “Thank you,” I sincerely said and stood up from my seat.

“Go on; our boss is looking for you. I can now understand why his blood was boiling yesterday. It was because he lost sight of her favorite secretary.” Serah smirked.

I shook my head gently and walked toward Achetbir’s office. I heaved a deep breath before knocking on the door and slowly opened it. I froze instantly the moment I saw Patriza inside. That meant that she came earlier because I didn’t notice her.

Imagine, I was about to feel butterflies in my stomach because she immediately headed to her fiancé after her long work trip in overseas. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a good attitude. I smirked at my thoughts.

“Sir,” I said in courtesy and bowed as I got inside the room.

“Fix these files. I have an appointment with Mr. Villaflor. Once I come back, these should be already organized,” he commanded formally as he put on his necktie.

I pouted while watching him struggle with his necktie.

“Fuck!” he murmured.

“Is there a problem?” Patriza asked and walked near him.

“Can’t fix this fucking tie,” he whispered, annoyed.

“Let me try,” Patriza insisted as she took the necktie. 

I bit my lower lip and avoided their presence. It was just a simple scene, but it broke my heart. What if the day of their wedding arrived? Could I even bare to watch him being tied to another woman?

I tried to look at them again. I stiffened in my place as I saw him staring at me coldly while Patriza tried to fix his tie. It felt like she was learning my every movement based on every glare she threw at me before. I couldn’t handle the view, so I just looked down.

“Argh! Why can’t I do it?” Patriza mumbled with frustration. 

I looked at them again. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing because the necktie was knotted worse. It seemed like not all elites could do all things.

“Forget it; I can’t be late for the meeting,” Achetbir said with a poker face and walked away.

I bowed down when he passed by. He was about to open the door, but he stopped and turned his head toward my direction.

“Good thing you are not sick anymore, Miss Mendoza.” He then left the office.

My lips twitched because of that. “Why? You’ll miss me?” I whispered to myself.

“Make me a coffee,” Patriza ordered, which caught my attention.

“Noted, Ma’am,” I answered and got out of the office.

I was about to walk toward the coffee table when I suddenly stopped and turned my head toward the outside of our department.

Was he now far away?

Without thinking, I stepped outside our department. I was running at a slow pace while wandering around. I just stopped walking and looked for him when our eyes met while he was inside the closing elevator.

I released a deep sigh and shrugged because I wasn’t able to reach him. I turned my back on him and was about to walk back into our department when I heard a deep baritone voice behind. 

"Why did you follow me?" 

I gulped and slowly turned my head. I saw him standing outside the elevator, staring at me coldly. I cleared my throat and tried to walk closer to him.

“I-I just thought I could help you with your n-necktie, Sir.” I blinked hard as I stuttered.

I secretly cursed myself in my mind.

He stared at me for a second, then licked his lower lip. “Fix it, then,” he said in a hoarse voice.

I was trembling as I walked toward him. It felt like I was a teenager who got the opportunity to hold her crush for the first time. I could feel my hands getting sweaty while I was removing the knot of his necktie slowly from his neck. My heart pounded in nervousness, which made me part myself from him so he would not hear my tense heartbeat.

I put my hand on his neck and then fixed his necktie properly. I tried to put my focus on the necktie despite how much I wanted to look at him. While I wasn't able to stare at his face, I could see that he was studying every inch of my face. I saw his Adam's apple move, causing me to bite my lower lip as I finished fixing his tie.

I gradually moved away from him while stooping low. “It is done, Sir,” I spoke in a calm voice. He didn’t answer right away, so I lifted my head up. He was staring at me intently as his jaw clenched hard. Achetbir gave out a deep breath a few seconds later and then looked at me softly.

“You may now go,” he said. 

It wasn’t cold or emotionless like his normal tone these past few months. In a few short seconds, I could somehow feel the Achetbir I once knew, who approached me in a respectful way.

I leaned forward a little as a sign of goodbye; then, he turned his back at me.

Take care on your way, babe...