CHAPTER 8

Not my usual self, I walked toward my seat and sat down.

"Hey, are you okay?" Serah asked.

I slowly turned to her and cleared my throat at the same time, my tears starting to form in my eyes. "I-I don't know," I rasped in response.

I saw the concern on her face. Freya also turned to us in the middle of her typing on the computer. The two quickly stood up and hugged me tightly.

"We're just here, Jandie," Serah whispered.

I felt Freya caressing my back, causing my tears to burst, which I had been holding back ever since. I sobbed silently as I remembered Achetbir and my past.

This was how he felt when I kissed another man; it was very painful.

I stayed in their arms for a few more minutes before I let go and adjusted myself. "Thank you." I forced a droning smile as I wiped away my tears.

There was still sadness in their eyes as they stared at me.

"All right; go back to what you're doing. If boss found out that we're doing some drama here, he'll be upset," I joked.

The two sighed at the same time. "Do you want me to help you so you don't stay up too late?” Freya said.

I slowly shook my head and smiled at them.

"I can handle this; if Achet—Boss find out that you helped me with this, you would also be punished."

"Oh no! I'm going to attack him then. I'm really thinking about our Boss; he's acting like a pregnant woman, and you're the one who's his favorite thing," Serah said angrily.

I couldn't help but laugh at what she said.

"All right; I'll fix this. Thank you," I said sincerely to the two.

"Are you sure you don't want us to help you? I won't mind being scolded by that freak," Freya insisted.

I smiled sparingly and nodded. "I also have a day off tomorrow, so it's okay even if I stay awake for today," I said.

"It's good that he didn't take off your rest day." Serah raised an eyebrow in annoyance.

Freya immediately slapped her on the shoulder. "What are you? The demon might hear you and even do what you said!"

"Didn't you tell us yesterday that you're going for a checkup tomorrow?" Serah asked as she pulled her swivel chair towards her seat.

"Hmmm, my period is irregular, so I'll get a checkup to see if something bad is happening inside my body," I explained and adjusted my PC.

"Oh! It might be due to stress because our boss tortured you, so it might affect your menstruation. I once read about that in an article," Freya replied in her position.

I winced because of that. Freya really liked to read different types of literature, so it was not surprising that she knew a lot.

"Come on! Yeah, go for a checkup; use your health card so you can even use the payment of our tiger boss torturing you," Serah said.

I just laughed softly and started my work. Maybe they noticed my seriousness because they went back to their routines as well.

It was time to go home, but I was only halfway done with the papers given to me by Achetbir. I leaned back in my chair and twisted my neck slightly.

"We're going first, Jands," Serah said while tapping me on the shoulder.

"Hmmm," I replied.

"Are you really sure you don't want our help?" Freya gasped as she passed behind me.

I smiled at her. "I'll take care of it; thanks for the concern. All right—go home so the traffic will not catch up with you." I said, pushing them away.

They just sighed and waved at me at the same time before walking away.

I looked at my PC again and took a deep breath. "You can do it, Jandie. You still can," I tried encouraging myself.

I turned my gaze in the direction of Achetbir's office.

That one looked busy too.

I remembered again what had happened earlier. I just shook that thought away because I felt like my tears would drip again. I focused on encoding the files on my PC. About two more hours had passed before I heard his door open. I would have liked to lift my gaze in his direction, but I was afraid that he would trace my hidden emotions.

He is doing well, Jandie; he is getting married, and his company has become even more famous. Everything will not be messed up again.

I heard his footsteps walking away. I bit my lower lip and slowly lifted my eyes. I only saw his back as he walked away.

I smiled bitterly. "Always be careful," I whispered into the air, then went back to work.

It was past midnight when I was finally done encoding the files that he gave me. I saved it all to my flash drive and inserted it in my drawer. I took a post-it note and then wrote down, Freya, please just take the flash drive out of my drawer when the boss searches for it. Thanks.

I then pasted it on the monitor where she could easily read it. I felt tired and lethargic in my system as I organized my belongings.

"Samuel," I called to our guard in surprise when I saw him entering our department.

He seemed even more surprised at my presence, so he hesitated, scratching his neck.

"It's you, Jandie. Why are you still here at night?"

I zipped up my bag and sparingly smiled at the old man before walking closer.

"I just finished my job."

"Oh no! Let's go down so you can go home. It's a good thing that he ca—I saw you here. That's right, and I even hailed a taxi downstairs for those who are going to work overtime today."

My forehead furrowed when Mang Samuel seemed to sound nervous at his last line, but I just shrugged it off. I was too tired all day to even understand what was going on around me.

"Thank you, Mang Samuel," were the only words I uttered out of exhaustion.

We exited the department and went down the building together. As he said earlier, there was indeed a taxi waiting in the parking lot.

Could a taxi wait for too long? Wouldn't it be expensive to pay? I thought.

"Thank you again, Mang Samuel." I smiled gratefully at the old man and bowed slightly as we were in front of the car.

"No problem, hija. Go ahead and get on board so you get home to your lodgings right away."

I nodded and got into the car that was waiting. I waved to Mang before the taxi started moving. I told the driver my address and then leaned back in my seat to rest my back straight all day from typing.

I need to buy Salonpas.

Back then, I always get tired because of our daily intercourse, but now I always felt drained because he was torturing me every day, every minute, every second. I winced at the thought.

A few minutes later, I finally reached the building where I was staying. I paid the driver and then got out of his car. My forehead furrowed as I walked into the building, and I saw the guard looking left and right as if someone were watching.

That only stopped when he saw my presence. His eyes widened slightly, and he quickly tried to compose himself.

What was up with the security guards now and their weird moods?

"Oh, Jandie. You are late," he greeted me.

"Yes," I politely replied.

"You should go up to your unit, and I will call—I mean, you can rest," Manong said while laughing forcefully at the end.

Like earlier, I just ignored it and just smiled at him before I went inside.

"Finally!" I cried as I threw myself on the bed.

I didn't even bother to change my clothes because I was really drowsy, and even eating was out of my mind.

I took a deep breath and slowly closed my eyes.

Aren't you still less angry with me, Achetbir? I asked in my mind before finally falling asleep.

It was almost six o'clock when I woke up. The sun was shining brightly, and I could already hear the noises of the city.

"Good morning, sunlight." I winced.

I got up lazily and took a shower. I did my daily routine and ate my breakfast. I looked at the messages on my phone for a while to see if anything was important. I only replied to Serah and Freya, who were asking if I would continue with my checkup, before I closed it.

I put my plate in the sink and washed it. I then brushed my teeth and went back inside the room. I fixed my hair and got my bag. I hovered for a moment to look at my whole being and finally left the room.

I was outside the condo when my phone suddenly rang, so I stopped for a moment to pick it up from the bag that I was carrying. My forehead knotted when I saw Achetbir's grandmother on the line. There was also a little nervousness in my chest at the thought that maybe Achetbir's mother had already told her about our relationship back then.

I took a deep breath and answered the call. "Hello, Madam," I politely said on the line.

"I told you to call me Grandma, right?" she said, emphasizing each word.

I was stunned for a moment.

Didn't she know?

I forced a laugh. “I’m sorry. Why did you call?" I asked politely and continued my walk.

"I noticed you're not here at the company. Where are you, hija?" madam asked with curiosity.

I entered the elevator and pressed the ground floor. "I'm off today; that's why I'm not at the company, Mada—Grandma," I continued hesitantly.

"Oh! I see—are you busy? Do you have something scheduled today?"

"Hmm, there is. I'm going to have a check-up today," I answered and leaned my back on the elevator as I stared at the blinking number.

"Checkup? Why? Are you sick?" she asked instantly. There was a trace of concern in her tone.

"No. My menstruation is a bit irregular, so I decided to get a checkup at Farron Hospital."

The lady on the other line was silent for a moment.

"Mada—Grandma?" I called and looked at the screen because I thought she was no longer in line.

"Oh! I'm sorry; I'm just thinking. All right, hija, I will drop the call. Be careful on your way there."

I smiled sparingly and exited the elevator when it opened. "You too; thank you," I whispered before the line ended. I gasped and shook gently. "I thought it was about work again," I whispered and finally left the building to look for a car.

"Ms. Mendoza?" the nurse called my name formally.

I quickly stood up and approached her.

"Come inside and just wait for Doctor. She's just in the lobby and taking care of something for a while," she politely explained.

I nodded. "Thank you."

After she said that, I went inside the room and sat on a chair to wait for the doctor. A few moments later, a woman finally entered. If you estimated her age, she was like in her forties. She was also holding a syringe in her left hand, if I was not mistaken.

I quickly stood up and bowed to pay my respect.

"All right, hija. Remove your bottom."

"Yes?" I asked in surprise.

"I said, take off your clothes and lie down on the hospital bed," she clarified.

Surprised, I just did what she wanted. Luckily, I was wearing a pencil skirt and not pants; otherwise, my situation would have been very embarrassing.

"Part your legs," Doctor commanded.

I opened my thighs like she said to. The doctor sat down, and then I felt her stretch my vagina. I was startled when she put something inside until I felt liquid flowing from it.

What kind of medicine was that?

She even slightly massaged my pussy as she slowly released the syringe she had inserted. She looked at me and gave me a simple smile.

"Get up after five minutes," she stated and then closed my thighs.

"Hmm, will I be okay after?"

"Don't worry; it will work."

I was able to breathe easily even though my discomfort was there.

The doctor's medicine was kinda sticky inside.