I
In Indonesia, Atty. Lulu has been watching the uploaded video of the talk of the town wedding of Atty. Wilgreg and Atty. Ninia. She smiled, happy that her best friend, Wil had finally found the one for him. On the other side, her heart is mourning still. She thought before that she has already forgotten Atty. Wilgreg, but she was wrong. She could still feel her heart, like being ripped off. It was painful still for her, knowing that any hope that she had in her heart to have Wilgreg had already flown into hopelessness.
Yes, she has Jairo now, who has been there for her anytime, she wishes. He has been so caring and loving, and she thought she had already totally fallen for him. But every time she sees photos of Atty. Wilgreg and Atty. Ninia sweetly posed as a couple, she could still feel that jealousy deep within her heart. She tried to disregard it whenever she feels like that, but every time she does that, it only makes the pain grow even more. She is not totally moved on with Wilgreg, she knew it very well. Jairo was just her rebound in trying to forget her frustrations toward Wilgreg.
And now that she found out that Atty. Wigreg and Atty. Ninia got married already, and in a much grand way, and she could not help to let her tears fall down into rivulets. She could not breathe properly, it was like her heart has been pinched too tightly, making her feel that excruciating pain deep within.
Her tears continued to fall in every browse of the wedding photos of Atty. Wilgreg and Atty. Ninia. She could see how Wilgreg looked at his bride. It was full of love, of adoration, and pride; such a look that she never felt once being given to her by him. She could see how important Atty. Ninia is to Atty. Wilgreg. He proudly announced to the whole world that he was the luckiest and happiest man on earth as he married the woman who fully captured his heart. In every photo, every video of the wedding from the church to the venue of the celebration, there was no photo that would show he regretted marrying the woman he was holding in his arms now. It was a perfect love story, they are a perfect couple. Atty. Lulu, closed her mobile phone unable to continue looking at the photos more. She weakly sat on her executive chair and in one second, her loud scream echoed all throughout the four walls of her big office and everything on top of her executive table fell on the floor. Thereafter, her weeping made the aircon’s sound shy upon that her cries overwhelmed it.
“Wilgreg! Why can’t you love me like the way you love Atty. Ninia?! I was the one beside you for very long years! You are so unfair!” she said almost shouting in between her sobs. If her office is not soundproof, for sure every staff might have been shocked now, hearing everything that was happening inside her office.
At that point, her mobile phone started to ring but Atty. Lulu disregarded it as she curled on the sofa inside her office while sobbing continuously. Exhausted maybe, she fell asleep like that after a couple of minutes.
II
Jairo was wondering why Atty. Lulu was not answering her mobile phone. He then tried calling her office landline phone, and it was her Executive Assistant who answered him.
“Office of the CEO, hello.” Jairo heard the female voice, which he was sure not to be that of Atty. Lulu. Indeed, it was her Executive Assistant.
“Hello, this is Jairo, can I speak with Atty. Lulu, please,” he right away said.
“For a moment, Sir Jairo. Atty. Lulu said, she does not want to be disturbed, but I will try if she will accept your call,” the Executive Assistant replied, and then she tried to connect the call to the local line of her boss, but sadly, none picked up the call inside the office of Atty. Lulu. “Sir Jairo, I am sorry, but Atty. Lulu is not picking up.”
“Oh, that is unusual, you think so? Would you mind checking if she is fine inside her office? I am quite worried because even my calls were left unanswered by her. That is so unusual of her and I could not think of anything that would be the reason for her not to answer my calls or give me a return call or even a message. Please check on her, I shall wait here on the phone,” Jairo said instructing the Executive Assistant of Atty. Lulu. He felt worried suddenly.
“You are right, Sir Jairo. I have a spare key, let me check on her. For a while, Sir.” The Executive Assistant then put the phone down without cutting the line and opened the door to her boss. She was shocked to see the situation inside her office and her eyes grow wide seeing Atty. Lulu curled in the sofa. Out of panic, instead of checking her boss, she ran back to her table and informed Jairo of what she saw inside her boss’ office.
Worried, Jairo cut the call and immediately drove to the office of Atty. Lulu. Good thing he was just nearby for a meeting and he called her with the intent to ask her out for lunch.
Just five minutes and Jairo was already barging in inside the office of Atty. Lulu. Good thing, the Executive Assistant followed his instruction to check her pulse first and if it is just normal, be kept quiet not to alarm the whole staff.
He knocked on the CEO’s office and the Executive Assistant of Atty. Lulu opened it.
“She is still sleeping, Sir Jairo,” the Executive Assistant informed him, to which he nodded as he entered the CEO’s office.
He sat beside her on the sofa and caressed her hair gently. Whatever problem is bothering her, the Lord knows, he will be there for her. Jairo, looked at the Executive Assistant and nodded at her. “It is okay now, I am here. You may continue your work. Thank you for following my instructions. Please call one of your janitresses to clean the mess, but make sure to advise her to keep to herself, whatever she could see inside this room,” he said before Atty. Lulu’s Executive Assistant got out of the room.
Jairo wondered what makes her feel so sad and hysterical to the extent of smashing all her things on top of her executive table, Jairo. He could guess at the onset that he met her again in the airplane that there was something bothering her; her eyes showed such deep sorrow, which he could not comprehend yet. He actually asked her but she said she was fine, which he doubted if true. As days passed by, they became closer until they dated again, kissed, and formally declared to be in a relationship. Yet again, he could feel that something is holding her back, and he wanted to really know what could it be so that he could help her.
When Atty. Lulu, slowly opened her eyes, she was surprised to see Jairo, sitting beside her, looking at her with a serious expression.