4 The First Option (1/2)

The search for the man can wait. I have to attend to my job. While I was editing yet another article, the boss went to my cubicle and checked on my work.

”Alright, this is Miss Aguinaldo, our senior editor,” my boss says.

What? Why is he introducing me? I turned my back and I saw my boss with his newest employee. By God, what is he doing here? Mateo! Does he really want to die? All he can do is give an annoying smirk! I could only feel the heat inside my mind. Why is he here?

”Sir, who is this?” I ask. ”And what is he doing here?”

”Ah, this is our newest employee,” the boss says. ”Rosanna, meet Mateo. He will be an editor in for the paper. Mateo, please be kind to your senior.”

”Oh, I'll make sure I will,” Mateo says smugly while looking directly at me.

”That is good, Mateo,” the boss says as he taps his shoulder. ”Rosanna, I'll leave Mateo with you so you can show him around. I have work to do. Good day.”

All I can feel are flames within my mind! He hurt Emma before! All I can do is look away from him in disgust. What a lying and cheating man! She was a fool to fall for him. I would have beaten him up if Emma hadn't interfered. Those were the times Eloisa was still herself, and in those moments, she was as pious as a nun was. She did not do anything except scold us like a nun. Emma was protecting him, and all I could do was attempt to beat him up! She was a fool! How could she protect the man that betrayed her?

”Looks like we meet again, Rose,” he says smugly. ”Are you still that fiery girl I know four years ago?”

”If she hadn't interfered, I would have beaten you up and made sure you regret everything you did to her!” I spat on his face.

”But, she did,” he says. ”She loved me.”

”She was a fool,” I say quietly. ”And now, she remains to be a fool, even on her deathbed.”

I turned to my desk and tried to resist the waters that form in my eyes. I knew I had said too much. She was my little-beloved fool – my foolish sister that I tried to protect from love's painful ways. Sadly, I cannot protect her forever. Perhaps, I cannot see love as she sees it. I still remain cold, but I do know that I love her as a sister. That is the closest thing I can get to actually feeling 'love'.

”Now, Rose,” he says as he tries to comfort me. ”I meant no offense, but thinking about the past where you seem to desire to kill me was laughable. I feel like a nun, a wrestler, and a mother was all over the place. We moved on, haven't we?”

”You and she might have forgotten about it and see it as a comedy, but I do not see it that way,” I say coldly. ”You cheated on her!”

”And I regret it,” he says. ”But hey, I knew she was too good for me. She deserves someone nicer and someone that will love her unconditionally. I'm sorry.”

”Apologize to her,” I say icily.

”I would if I could,” he says. ”No one has heard from her for a long time. I was hoping that you might have a form of contact with her. You see her as your sister, don't you?”

”Ha! I won't tell you where she is!” I exclaimed.

”You have to,” he says coolly. ”You said that she is on her deathbed. Where is her deathbed, exactly? Is it at home? Is it perhaps in a hospital?”

”None for you to know about,” I say as I go to the printing room and attempt to leave him behind.

He won't really give up, will he? He kept on following me even though I truly don't want to talk about it.

”Come on now, Rose,” he says. ”I know what you mean. Now, if you want me to stop bothering you, just tell me where she is. Isn't that easy?”

I look at him oddly and all I can see is the face of a man that remains to be the same as I saw him four years ago. No, I won't let him reach her! I want her to die in peace, and seeing this man would only speed up that process.

”No,” I say flatly.

I walked away from him and went to the printing room. Finally, a moment of peace. I give myself some time to realize what is happening. First of all, my friend's ex-boyfriend is my co-worker. Two, he is my subordinate since he is the newest paper editor. Third, I told him a secret that should never be told. All of those happened within five minutes! You are an idiot, Rose.

Suddenly, he joined me in the printing room with a smug look on his face. I want to punch that smug off and make him regret every bit of harm he caused towards Emma.

”You don't have to be silent with me,” he says. ”I know now.”