Cadmus and I repeatedly go out for dates to show Senyor Arcajante that our relationship is really good. But until now he still doesn't talk to me. Unless of course we have to pretend.
Now he is in the company building. I am currently outside and waiting for him. Mang Elmo drove the car with me because I told him we were going to pick Cadmus up from work today.
I intend to take him to my favorite turon restaurant. That's just cheap. Because Manang Aida and I talked about food yesterday and she mentioned to me that the Arcajante family has never tasted turon because they are used to luxurious food. So now I plan to make him taste it. There, I won't let him pay for it because it's cheap.
I've been in the car for half an hour. I keep looking at my watch because it's 15 minutes late and my 'boyfriend' still hasn't come out. Where is it? Maybe there is a problem inside?
"Does Cadmus ever come home really late?" I asked Mr. Elmo who was eating a donut I bought him earlier.
He took the last bite before answering. "Yes ma'am..." He smiled at me. "Thank you for the donut ma'am... And for the toy you bought for my children."
"Oh Mr. Elmo! That's cheap, of course we shopped in Divisoria so it looks like it is expensive but please don't thank me about it!" I laughed. But I really can't stop looking at my watch. It's been a long time.
I was wearing a white tube floral dress that Cadmus had given me just a few days ago and I matched it with wedged sandals. My hair is in a waterfall hairstyle with protruding hair in the front.
I waited for thirty minutes before I decided to get out of the car. Mang Elmo followed me.
"Can you come inside?" I asked Mang Elmo while looking at the building.
"Yes ma'am. You don't even need to make an appointment because as far as I know, you are sir's priority..." I caught a glimpse of his smile. "Come in, ma'am... Those who look a little young are the ones you should talk to if you want to ask where sir's office is. They will show you where to go." He said more.
"Is that so..." He nodded so I smiled and started to go inside. The cold air conditioner made me hold on to my own arms. It sticks to my skin.
People in business attire are quiet and look serious about their jobs. I even saw women in their 20s from some cubicles. Is that what Mang Elmo is referring to?
When one's eyes fell on me, everyone's eyes fell on me next. My presence seems bothersome. It's like a domino that when one stares at me, everyone will next.
"Sorry for the inconvenience... Can I ask where Cadmus Arcajante Jr.'s office is?"
"Chief's office, hey..." The woman with the boycotted hair elbowed the brown haired woman with the bun hairstyle.
The girl in the bun stood up and approached me. "My name is Rachel Peralta. May I know your name ma'am?" She e introduced himself. She also extended her hand to me to shake hands which I accepted.
"Hello, Miss Rachel... My name is Amber Maverick."
Her eyes widened as she looked at the boycotting girl whose eyes also widened.
"J-Just wait, ma'am..." She approached the boycotter. "Fuck... Is this the CEO's girlfriend? Shall we let her inside? There's that... that's what! You know what I'm talking about!"
"Yes you are stupid! That's the Chief's girlfriend! But maybe she's just lying because you know there's another Amber Maverick inside!"
Even though they were whispering, I could still hear what they were talking about. But I don't understand anything. Who is there in the office?
"What if I get scolded? I'm telling you, Kennedy! I'll torture your eyes tonight!" She whispered again before approaching me with a smile on her face. "Sure ma'am... I'll take you there."
We pass a lot of hallways. There are so many rooms it's confusing. Sometimes I hear a phone call from someone. We went up one more floor before we reached the familiar room next to where we used to meet.
"Here ma'am..." Rachel told me. "Just go right and straight and then you will see a door with a sign that says 'Chief Executive Office' then just knock ma'am."
"Thank you!" I smiled and waved at her. She also looked as if she was in a hurry to return to her work earlier.
"You're welcome ma'am," she smiled back.
When I was left I bit my lip. How do I start our conversation now? Maybe what I can say... As for me, what I want to say, I don't stop it from coming out of my mouth. Even if I haven't thought about it one or more times!
I was just about to open the door when it opened of its own accord. I recoiled in shock.
"Erin?" Cadmus asked me openly as he closed the door of his office. "What are you doing here?"
"Uh... I'm here to pick you up." I answered him. "Do you have anything else to do today?" I asked.
He looked at me strangely. "Nothing..."
"Then you'll go with me today," I swallowed my pride and took his hand to clasp it in mine.
He immediately smiled. His face was red! "Go where? You could've called me instead... You should have just called, but instead you waited for me." He said this and kissed my forehead. "Did you go here all alone?"
As long as you come with me today," I answered immediately. "I'm not alone, Mang Elmo is with me and Rachel Peralta brought me here. She's really kind to me."
"I'll raise her salary if so..." He laughed.
I hit him on the shoulder. "What a boast! I'll try harder to be like you—make it harder! I want to be a CEO. After 3 months, I'll go to school, but in another country!"
We started walking holding hands. "In another country? Why there?"
"I just want to experience it... If it wasn't for you, it wouldn't be possible for me, eh..." I smiled.
"So does that mean you will stop studying for now?" He asked me.
"No, I'll take online class instead..." I answered. I thought about it the other day.
When we got out, Mang Elmo greeted us. It even whistled when it saw Cadmus and I's hand. "You are really different sir! You made Ma'am Erin do that with you!" The two of them next to me laughed. "Where are we ma'am?" He asked me before he got into the car.
"Just over there at the little stall we passed earlier. The one with street foods." I answered him.
His eyebrows met. "Where is it ma'am? Is it at Aling Maricar's?"
I nodded. Terrible! Mang Elmo still remember that? Well, he didn't even glanced at that earlier. "Yes, Mang Elmo... We'll be there."
I was about to open the door when Cadmus was there first. He opened the door for me. "Don't do that... I should be the one who opens the door."
"Corny!" I commented but my cheeks were red.
I went inside. He ran to the other side to ride there. Because we are next to each other in the passenger seat.
He held my hand again as he entered. He looked at me and smiled for a moment before looking out the window.
I stared at him... He's really handsome. He does a lot to me that I can't deny is really exciting. You will definitely smile no matter what you hold back. What if I really liked him? What will I do? What if he doesn't like me?
But why is he doing this if he doesn't really like me? What? Chivalry? There are very few men who do it now, so  they might just love bomb me. After I fall for him, he will also cheat on me.
Just like Jarmin did to me.
I thought about the picture I saw of them in the mansion. Are they really friends until now? I would like to ask him, but inside I feel that I should not ask him that because what else is it for, right?
Maybe because... I fell right away. It was only a few weeks ago. Maybe if it takes another month, I will confess to him even if he doesn't like me yet. The pretending of the two of us is over.
But I hope... I won't fall again because I will only get hurt in the end. I will only hurt him in the end.
It's not far for him to cheat because he's rich, handsome, he's a gentleman and more.
"You are beautiful, very beautiful," I looked up from my bow. Cadmus suddenly spoke as he stared at me now. "What came into your mind and brought me here?" he asked.
"I miss you..." I admitted. "I would like to take you to my friends and I's favorite stall. They told me yesterday to bring you here and also yesterday Manang Aida mentioned to me that you haven't tasted turon yet..."
"Turon? What's that?" This is a confused question.
"That's it," I sighed. "You should try it now with fishball, kwek kwek, kikiam, banana cue and more! If not, you can't die because you haven't tasted anything like it."
"I've tasted kwek kwek once! The one with the orange coat, right?"
"Yes!" I laughed. "That's delicious, that's my favorite. When I was in high school, my pocket was always empty."
When we got to the front of the stall, the three of us immediately got down. Aling Maricar's eyes widened when he saw me. "My God, Erin! Where are you from? I heard your aunt kicked you out?"
"She is not my aunt, Aling Maricar," I immediately denied. I wouldn't consider those kinds of people as aunts. "I'm with someone. This is my boyfriend, Cadmus. Mang Elmo is behind us, the one who drove here."
"Oh hija! That's why you're glowing..."
My cheeks were hot. Is she thinking that me and Cadmus had sex or what?! "Come on! Why do you think like that? Cadmus and I don't do miracles!" I defended immediately.
She laughed. "What? What I'm saying is that you're glowing because you're happy. You are! What are you thinking?" Her laughter grew louder, causing my boyfriend and Mang Elmo to laugh. "What do you want with that? Just choose."
"Hmmm..." I was still thinking when she spoke again.
"Wait, are you two together, like in one roof yet?"
"Yes?" I looked at Cadmus. "I-It's like that... But I'm still studying. I don't have a place to live, so I'm living in Cadmus's house right now."
"Is that so..." She nodded.
"What do you want?" Cadmus asked and grabbed my waist.
"I'll cover for this, Cadmus,"
"No," he answered immediately.
"Cadmus." I strongly threatened.
"Okay..." He was like a puppy being scolded by its master. His voice weakened.
"It's 50 pesos each for a fishball and kikiam and then six turons... How much is the kwek kwek?" I still ask.
"One is four pesos..."
"Isn't there a discount?" I joked and laughed.
"Oh! What discount? Your boyfriend looks rich! He's handsome!" It giggled.
"Aling Maricar oh... That man is mine!" I laughed. "Three 40 pesos each kwek kwek."
The old woman applauded. "That's a lot... Can you finish that?"
"Of course! Why can't I? I'm not Erin Hecate Crisostomo for nothing." I jokingly raised my arm muscles but nothing came out but stick-like flesh. "It's just me, Aling Maricar. The only thing I'm worried about is the one I'm with! It doesn't seem like he's used to eating in large numbers!" I pointed at Cadmus who was wondering.
"What?"
"Oh sir... Listen to Erin. She looks like an old woman when she acts like that, but usually she acts like a child. But it's always right." The shopkeeper said to my boyfriend. "Because she's a woman..?"
"Always right!" Mang Elmo and Aling Maricar said together. Cadmus frowned and didn't know what was happening.
We sat on the monoblock chair and waited for our order to be cooked. Cadmus was next to me and Mang Elmo was at the other table. His elbow was still resting on the table just to look at me. I'm outnumbered!
"Let's go back here..." he whispered.
"You haven't even tasted the food yet, have you?"
"It's memorable because of course I'm with you and then you're the one who invited me... You also held my hand first today..." He smiled. His eyes were shining as he looked at me. "There is nothing more beautiful than your eyes."
Wow... He's getting good in these right now, huh?
"Those kinds of words are obsolete, hey..."
"Is that so?" He licked his lips. "You have the most pure, beautiful and unique heart. That's all you, Erin,"
I stared at him. I wonder if he is telling me the truth. He didn't take his eyes off us until my eyes watered because no one wanted to look away.
"It's cooked!"
Aling Maricar put down what she had cooked. Unlike her other customers, she gave us a plate. Not plastic glasses or anything.
"Wow! You're leveling up!" I teased the old woman.
She winked at me. "Of course!"
"How much is it all?" I took out my wallet.
"It's inme," that's Cadmus again. I closed my eyes tightly. "I insist,"
"Cadmus?" There was a threat in my tone as I smiled plastically at him.
"Fine." It seems that it is against him. He just crossed his arms and poked a fishball.
"I just know he'll listen anyway," laughed Aling Maricar. "That's only 280, lady,"
"Oh okay." I pulled out three hundred from my pocket. "The change is yours hehe... It's not plastic that you gave us today." I said laughing.
When I saw Cadmus's face just standing there dumbfounded, I elbowed him. Won't he eat it?
"Hey?"
"What?" He swallowed.
"That's a lot, you won't eat?" I asked him while I looked at Mang Elmo who was still shy to take it. "You too, why aren't you eating?"
Mang Elmo scratched the back of his neck before bringing his monoblock chair closer to our place to poke. "Thank you ma'am."
I raised an eyebrow at Cadmus when he looked at me. "You don't want to eat?"
"I-I will eat..."
"Come on! Aling Maricar will hate you because she'll think you don't like her cooking!" I acted like feel sorry for him. So I will attack his conscience. He stopped and looked at the old woman who acted like she was hurt but laughed when Cadmus looked away. "It is forbidden to come back here without eating what you buy!"
It looks like the poor CEO felt guilty that I just fed him on the side of the road so he immediately ate the kikiam and fishball in front of him one after the other. At first it was difficult for him to swallow, but when he saw it, he started eating properly.
I poked again while looking at him with a smile.
"I'll get back to you, baby," he glared at me while Mang Elmo and I held back our laughter.