Chapter 8 Phrases

• “DO you need anything?” He raised an eyebrow and now leaned back in his swivel chair.
• “Ah, it’s about the issue—” I was about to say something when his jaw tightened on me. “I would like to apologize . . .” I wrapped my two palms in front of me with intense nervousness. Add to that the quiet surroundings and the fierce beating of my heart.
• “Issue about what?” His back rose from the chair.
• “The issue about us.”
• I swallowed when he suddenly burst out laughing in front of me.
• My lips twitched because of his perfect look while doing that.
• “Are you serious?” He can’t stop laughing while saying that.
• I nodded. He suddenly became serious when he noticed I was not moving.
• “Okay!” He nodded at me and drank the juice I was carrying. “I thought you weren’t thinking about that. Gossipers make up stories about the personal lives of others, and if they haven’t been proven yet, that is still gossip. So, nothing to worry about,” he said while shaking his head.
• I could not speak immediately, so his lip rose again. “How could you even believe that?”
• I bowed to what he said as if I was enveloped in shame and self-deprecation because of what I heard. I guess I was wrong.
• “Anyway, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. Be sure you’re ready by that time,” he continued.
• I just nodded. Do not know what to say.
• “Anything you want to ask?”
• “Hmm . . . Nothing, Sir,” I said as I recovered.
• “You may leave now, Miss Banaag.” He looked down at his papers again.
• I just swallowed what he did to me. There was something different here. He didn’t talk like this to me before. He knows how I feel about him, and he knows I am hurting now.
• Without saying a word, I turned my back on him and hurried out. It’s funny that I cry about it, but I just can’t really stop. I feel like I’ve been busted again.
• “Why are you still hoping?” I groaned to myself as I leaned into the hallway. I spent a few more minutes there and calmed myself before returning to work.
• I was greeted by Jacky, who was obviously thrilled. “What did you say? Have you confessed?” She even poked my side, so I blinked.
• “We just talked,” I said without strength.
• “Then?” Her eyes widened, and she waited for me to say more.
• “No . . . no confession happened. Where did you get that?” I have raised my voice just to hide the pain.
• “I thought the news about you is true.” She seemed disappointed in what I announced.
• “Hey, shut it. Someone might hear you. You know that is not true.” I glanced at Yul, who dropped a bottle of wine in front of us.
• “Tss. Yul? E he has known for a long time that you like Calixto, almost all of us here,” she said after a wide smile.
• “Even though it’s still embarrassing that we’re celebrating the news about the two of us,” I insisted.
• “You know he’ll be honest. You’ve been flying air with him for a long time. Maybe he already knows.” She stared at me first and measured me from head to toes.
• “You’re not ugly. You have a model body.” She seemed to be thinking of something else to say.
• I just sighed at what she said. She was right. It’s been a year since I worked here, but why don’t Calix’s feelings for me level up? Does he really consider me just a friend? It hurts to think, but that seems to be my destiny.
• “I just don’t want to talk about what happened. It’s not a big deal for me,” I said fictionally.
• “Really?” Her eyebrows rose at me, and I knew she did not believe what I said.
• “Yes.” I turned to Yul and grabbed the whiskey he placed on the counter table. “To which table will this be taken?”
• “In table six,” he replied, so I turned around.
• The night was over, and Calix and I did not cross paths again. My only concern is tomorrow. So when I got home, I went to sleep to wake up early for our meeting with Logistic Band.
• ***
• “Lipstick? Check! Eyebrows? Check. Blush on? Check!” I smiled after fixing my wavy hair in the mirror. I also glanced at the high-fitted jeans I was wearing and the plain sleeveless shirt tucked in my pants. I pulled my blue blazer to the hanger and put it on.
• “Mae, your boss is here!” Dad knocked on the door.
• “Yes, Dad. I’ll be right there!” I answered loudly while putting on my heels. I looked in the mirror again and smiled.
• “Perfect!” I winked in the mirror, pulled my sling bag, and went out.
• I caught Calixto in front of Dad in the living room, so I straightened my hair before stepping closer to them.
• “Good morning, Sir.”
• He looked up and quickly looked down at what I was wearing before meeting my gaze again. I could see his lips twitching before a smile flashed on his lips.
• “Shall we go?” He stood up immediately then turned to Dad. “Thank you. We’ll go first.” He even reached for Dad’s hand to shake.
• “Be careful,” Dad replied.
• I held my breath when he faced me again, but I was so disappointed when he looked down at the wristwatch he was wearing.
• “The attorney said he is on the way,” he said as he continued to leave our house.
• I shrugged my shoulders and glanced at Dad, who just nodded at me.
• “I’ll go first. Don’t forget to take your medicine,” I always ordered Dad.
• “Yes, be careful,” Dad said goodbye to me.
• After a few minutes of driving, we reached Del’Torre Corp., where we will meet the manager of the Logistic Band and Dawzon.
• “I like your outfit today,” he praised me as he parked the car.
• “T-thank you!” I can’t believe I answered too quickly. My face heated.
• He guided me down so I could not contain my joy as our palms clasped. Maybe my redness was also evident because I feel like my ears suddenly warmed up to what he did, so I closed my eyes firmly.
• “Watch your steps,” he whispered before smiling at me.
• I blew air in my chest because of his reaction. Damn! Shame on you, Cherry!