Author’s Note

Hi!

If you are new to my works, you may want to know that I now focus mainly on historical romance stories for a couple of years now. If you enjoy works like Bridgerton, feel free to hop into the worlds of the Town and Sutherland!

All my stories (and the series they belong to) can be found on the Reading Lists on my profile. 

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Cheers!

J.D. Ruiz

Prologue

Most of their guy friends said that I was the luckiest guy in town and I think I believe them. Who wouldn’t want to be in my place? I had three women who were dying to get on me and all of them were willing to share. As a matter of fact, it was their idea to share.

So who were these women in my life?

Okay, so let’s start off with Jackie. She was your typical office girl. She was the bratty one though she was really sweet. I loved it when she was, you know, riding me. Those soft hands were enough to drive me crazy and when she sang those songs while she was on me was not only ecstatic, it was maddening.

Then there was George. Not as soft as Jackie, but still sexy in a different kind of way. She was a rescuer and when I said rescuer, it meant she rides the ambulance. The thing I loved the most whenever she was having her time with me was the rush I would feel. George loved the adventure and so did I. She kind of scared me sometimes what with her recklessness and lack of fear. She usually took me to the weirdest places whenever she was feeling down and didn’t want anybody else to know.

Dannie was like a saint. Literally. I sometimes even felt guilty whenever I was with her and I was wishing I was with the other two ladies instead. She was not boring per se, but she didn’t take me anywhere but the church. But I must admit, and you can’t tell this to the other girls, that Dannie was the most beautiful. She may look plain at first sight, but her beauty would grow on you.

So, what about me? Who am I? How did I get so lucky?

Well, I’m Toto. I am a yellow beetle Volkswagen and I am their car.

Chapter 1

A lot of things happen inside a car or any types of vehicle. I, for one, have a lot of stories to fill your nights and I would start with my three girls, or boys as what most people called them.

Why don’t we start with Jackie?

But before you continue reading this story, let me clarify one thing. You may notice that I would disappear from time to time because I would give you the honor of having a glimpse of things from the point of view of the girls. Whenever they are in the bathroom, in a restaurant, in the ambulance, in the office, in church, or wherever it is I cannot possibly grace with my presence, you will get their point of view.

Now that’s settled, let’s continue…

People called them BOYS because their names sounded masculine. 

Jackie, or Jaquilou Marie Ramos, for one didn’t like it when people called them collectively as the boys . She was too feminine to be called a boy. Sometimes, I even wondered how she ended up with George and Dannie. You could never picture her doing the adventurous things as George and she was not as saintly as Dannie either. In fact, the three of them were very different and it was a wonder how they even became friends.

Today, Jackie was driving me. She drove me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“Can you go any faster? I’m going to be late,” George told her and I felt Jackie’s hand tighten around my wheel.

“Calm down, George,” she uttered, stepping on my gas a little deeper. She was not a very good driver, I tell you. I could feel her sharp stilettos against my floorboard and they were shaking. I knew Jackie needed her caffeine.

But she had to get through the traffic first. Though Bacolod didn’t have heavy traffic all the time, the jeepney drivers were reckless and Jackie didn’t like them.

“Hey!” both Jackie and George shouted when a motorcycle did a sharp overtake. And yes, they didn’t like motorcycles either.

“Calm down, please,” Dannie uttered at the backseat.

“Moron!” George shouted, not hearing her friend. Poor Dannie, she was way too soft-spoken to be heard.

“Where are you going?” George asked Jackie when she guided me to the side of the road.

“Just a quick coffee, please,” Jackie begged.

Her friends groaned. I, on the other hand, agreed with a silent hum. The last time Jackie forgot her cup of coffee, she was nearly clawing at my new leather seat covers.

“Make it fast,” George groaned, looking at her watch.

Jackie climbed out and jogged her way inside Bob’s Café in her office attire of white collared shirt, gray blazer, skirt and black stilettos. When she reappeared, she was holding three cups of coffee. “Okay, I’m good to go.” She uttered as she handed George their cups. Though Dannie didn’t drink as much coffee as the other two, she took her cup and sipped it quietly.

“I can’t believe what happened last night,” George said a while later when Jackie finally turned the corner to where the headquarters of The Philippine Red Cross was located. I was all ears for the story of last night. I didn’t get to witness the scene, but I heard other cars from the parking lot talking about it.

“Please, you’re not talking about that drunk patient again, are you?” asked Jackie. “You should have slapped that old man’s face.”

“ Loca , I’m talking about your suitor,” George uttered. “You know, the one who stood outside the apartment singing? Were you able to sleep at all, Dannie?”

“No, not really,” Dannie answered. “You should just talk to him and tell him you’re not interested, Jackie.”

“I did! I did many times and he won’t even budge!”

“How about the police? You can always go to the police,” George suggested. “He almost broke the door last night.”

Ah, so they were talking about Brian, Jackie’s stalker. I hated that guy. He covered my windshield with a large cardboard that said, ‘I love you, Jackie!” once and didn’t like it. I spent the whole day in the parking lot with the other cars playing jokes on me.

“I can talk to Kevin about it,” Jackie said as she stepped on my break. Huh! Kevin? Did she really expect her boyfriend to do something about that guy? I didn’t think that because I didn’t like the guy. I knew the guy well and he didn’t care about Jackie at all–well, apart from her makeup and her dress, he didn’t. I was certain, from the bottom of my engine and from the first time he sat on my passenger seat that he was gay. If I could just do what Bumblebee could do, I would scan the radio and play This Guy’s in Love with You, Pare over and over again.

And I was very certain until this day that George and Dannie thought the same because none of them commented as Jackie mentioned her boyfriend. George unclasped my seatbelt, the one hugging her feminine, yet muscular body, and took her large bag from Dannie.

“I suggest you talk to your boss about it. Or the police. I’m telling you, Jackie, one more attempt to break our door and that guy will find himself in an ambulance and I will not make any move to save his life,” George warned. She climbed off me. Dannie easily squeezed herself between the driver and passenger seats. When she finally settled herself on the seat George vacated, she looked at Jackie.

“What?” Jackie asked, sipping her coffee.

“Nothing, let’s just go. I’m going to be late for my class,” she uttered. They waved at George before she entered the headquarters in her pants, hiking shoes and loose Red Cross shirt.

 *****

We dropped Dannie off outside Kumon where she worked.

If I could just speak, I would, now that I was alone with Jackie. She had been double parking for a few minutes now because of one thing: she was doing her makeup. It was one of the things I didn’t like about her. She would be very late and she wouldn’t care at all as long as she arrived–every time–with grace and makeup. But she had always been like that. And because I loved her company, I got used to her little whims.

When five or more cars honked at her, she finally closed her vanity kit and started driving.

“You’ve got to get up every morning, with a smile on your face and show the world,” Jackie started singing and I felt white smoke come out of my exhaust. I had always loved it when she sang, you know. She had this cool voice that any guy would fall over for–even cars. “…that you’re beautiful as you feel…” she continued singing as she maneuvered me to her office building.

Jackie worked as an events planner in one of the biggest advertising company in the country. And by big, it meant an international one that decided to build another headquarters in the city ever since the news got out that Bacolod was one of the top sites for big companies in the archipelago. She once went to Manila where she worked the same job, but she decided to go back after she decided she couldn’t wake up every four in the morning to avoid the traffic and then go home late because her work demanded it.

Ever since she got back three years ago, she had been living with Dannie. And then George joined them when she finally had enough of her domineering family. Since they had always been friends back in high school and college, it was only natural that they lived together, they thought. Ever since, Jackie had had the same job at Collins Corporations.

She just parked me in my usual spot at the very back of the parking lot of the building. Why? Because she wanted me to be under the shed of the big Acacia tree. Why? So she wouldn’t have to be burned inside a hot car when it was time to go home. So there I was, back in my lonely spot and I’d have to wait for her for eight hours or so.

Just as when she was about to climb out, we saw Brian approaching with a bunch of flowers. He was in his office attire. Did I mention Brian worked in the same building as Jackie? He was in the HR department, I heard. And he looked like just the nerd type. His hair was too neat, his collar awkwardly closed up to his neck, and his suit too large for his lanky size. But I tell you, guys, he was one persistent man.

“Toto, if you have this hidden power to fire off missiles, it is the perfect time to do it,” Jackie uttered with a sigh as she grabbed her red bag and opened my door.

Oh honey, if I can only do that, the guy will be nothing but black dust on the ground , I answered in a language she couldn’t even hear.

“Jackie,” Brian said in an eager tone when Jackie finally stepped out of me. “Did you get my texts? You did not answer me when I called you last night. I was outside your apartment. Didn’t you hear?”

“Brian…” Jackie uttered in her awkward, sweet voice. “I must not have heard you last night. And I got your text.”

“You did not reply,” the guy stated, still holding the flowers.

“Brian, I thought I told you I already have a boyfriend? Kevin doesn’t like it when I talk with other men.” She was obviously lying. Her no-good-and-gay boyfriend didn’t even bat an eye when she told him about her stalker. That time, they were riding me because Kevin’s car broke down. He was more concerned of my air freshener than his girlfriend’s stalker.

“You’re not married yet, right? Come on, your boyfriend’s gay, Jackie. He wouldn’t even care.”

Okay, I had to agree with that one, Brian. Kevin was definitely gay.

“I love him and I don’t want him to be bothered about other guys courting me. Please, just stop this,” Jackie said, her voice etched with irritation.

“I will never stop loving you, Jackie.”

“I don’t have time for this, Brian. I am running late for work,” Jackie said and started walking. Shoot! Now I couldn’t witness what would happen next.

“Please…” Brian was saying as he tailed Jackie across the parking lot and to the building.

I gave an engine sigh. There went my morning entertainment.

  *****

Jackie wasn’t sure if she should swing her red bag around and smash it against Brian’s face, but it was new. She just bought it a week ago and it would not be good if it smacked against Brian’s stupid face.

“I brought your flowers,” Brian was saying behind her. She quickened her pace and even ran to the entrance of the building where a guard stood by.

“You can’t give me flowers at work, Brian. That’s against company policy,” she said, obviously lying. She never read the company guidelines. Hell, she didn’t even know if her sick leaves were accumulative or not!

“Jackie, please,” Brian was saying just as they reached the elevator. Unluckily for her, she was late and there was no one else around to ride the elevator with them. Her shoes were new as well so she couldn’t very well climb up to the fifth floor.

“Stop this, Brian, I’m getting pissed,” she said seriously, entering the elevator and punching the fifth button. “Just go to work,” she added, pushing the fourth button when he didn’t.

“Just give me a reason why I–” when Brian didn’t finish his statement, Jackie looked up and there she saw the reason.

Dean Gamboa was entering the elevator.

“Good morning, sir,” she greeted with a smile. He just nodded his head and looked at Brian who had stepped aside to let him pass, his bouquet of flowers hidden behind him.

It was one of those rare moments that Jackie was grateful for her boss’ presence. The man was too intimidating that even Brian who was infuriatingly persistent and who worked at another department just had to shut up.

She stole the man a glance. Who wouldn’t? Almost everyone in the building had stolen multiple glances at him whenever he was around. He was the typical handsome guy in office clothes. His suit fit him well, his tie perfect, his shoes without a scratch, and his face…well, too clean. Jackie was not even sure if she would see the pores on his face if she would get the chance to look at him face to face. His hair was neatly brushed up and she had never seen it fall over his forehead. She wondered what hair gel product he was using. All in all, with his too clean square jaw, Dean Gamboa was a certified hot, bachelor boss.

Once upon a time, three years ago, Jackie was infatuated with the man. But that was only for a week because it got boring. The man was nothing but the perfect epitome of “man of few words”. Up to this moment, Jackie could count the number of sentences he had addressed her. And she could remember every scenario, one of them was when he said “thank you” after she picked up the pen he dropped when he passed by her desk. And he didn’t really have to talk to her, you know. She worked with a team and they had a team leader. It was their leader, Joseph, who constantly talked with the man. No one in their office knew a lot of about Mr. Dean Gamboa, just that he graduated in UST with a degree in economics and that he was one of the top students. What he was doing in an advertising firm, specifically the events planning department, no one knew. Hell, they were not even sure if he was born in Bacolod or not.

Brian never said a word. Jackie even guessed he stopped breathing until the elevator stopped on the fourth floor and he had to get out. And before he did, he pushed the flowers in Jackie’s arms and dashed away before a word escaped her mouth.

Still in shock, Jackie warily lifted her eyes from the roses and up to her boss. He was staring at her in his usual flat expression. For a moment, she saw an eyebrow twitch, but it must have just been her, because from the looks of it the man was not interested as to why she just had a bouquet of flowers thrown at her. He looked away just as fast as you would when something caught your attention and then you realize it was not worth a second of your time. Not a minute passed and not a word spoken, the elevator doors opened, revealing their wide open office space. Dean Gamboa stepped aside to let her pass first and she murmured a thank you before she scurried to her table, throwing the bouquet of flowers inside the big garbage bin just beside the elevator door.

Since their office was the entire fifth floor, there were no hallways to walk through and no main doors to open. And of course, almost everyone who had their tables near the elevator door saw Jackie and they witnessed her throwing away the flowers.

“Was that a bouquet of flowers you just threw inside the bin?” Karen asked.

“Yeah,” she muttered as she swung her swivel chair around to face her desk.

“And was that boss Dean with you inside the elevator?”

“Uh-huh,” she answered as she sat down.

“And did he give you those flowers?”

“What?!” Jackie shouted, attracting more people. “No, of course not! What the hell are you talking about? Those were from Brian,” she explained to her office friend.

“Uh, the guy from the HR department?”

“That guy, yeah,” she answered, opening her bag.

“I thought you already told him to stay away from you?”

“I did. It didn’t work.”

“That guy is something, Jackie. You should consider dating him instead of your gay boyfriend.”

“Why does everyone say that Kevin is gay? And to my face? He’s not gay.” Almost everyone in the office knew who Kevin was. He worked in the Finance Department.

Karen just shrugged and continued with her work.

Not ten minutes later, Jackie was busily arranging her desk, a thing she often did whenever she was stressed. Her desk was too orange for everyone, but she didn’t care. Her pens had different orange things at the tip–orange feathers, orange head of a monkey, orange ball…orange everything. Her mouse pad had an orange Aztec design. Her stick-on notes were different shades of orange. Her slippers, the one she would change into whenever their boss was not around, were orange. Her phone was orange. Everything on the table was orange apart from her mahogany table, computer and keyboard which were owned by the company.

She was toying with her orange cat paperweight, trying to figure out if it looked good beside her monitor or her orange pen holder, when Joseph walked up to her desk.

“Jackie,” he said. When she continued to stare at the cat without hearing him, he said, “Jacquilou Marie Ramos.”

She blinked and looked up at their team leader. His hair was a mess as it had always been, his crooked nose was sort of flaring as narrowed his round eyes down at her. “Yes?”

“Did you finish the report?”

Her well-trimmed brows furrowed. “Report?”

Joseph was a cool guy. He was the typical bad-boy in office attire and you could very well see that by how he folded his long-sleeved shirt to his elbow and how his black slacks appeared like they had never met an iron. And it was rare for him to get pissed like he was now as he stared down at Jackie with disbelief. “I’ve assigned that one to you a week ago. It was due last Friday which you said you’ll pass today.”

Her sharp intake of breath made Karen look up from her work. “I–I left it with Toto.”

Everyone knew who Toto was. “Then get it and give it to boss Dean.”

She stopped half-way from her chair. “What?”

“He was expecting that report last Friday. I don’t want to get his sermon today. You deserve to be in the hot seat, so you do it.”

“But aren’t you going to check it first? You know, for grammatical errors, typo errors, any kind of errors?”

Joseph stared at her with warning. “Get it and take it to boss Dean now.”

Jackie stood to her full five-feet-five-inches height, plus the two inches from her new shoes, and gulped. Her eyes went to their boss’ office, the only room on the floor with a door apart from the comfort room. She could clearly see him through the glass walls, doing something behind his desk. Even with his head bent, his hair was still in place. She had secretly called the room the Devil’s Room, or the DR, because no one really knew what was going on every time Dean Gamboa would drop the blinds. And every time he did, whoever was inside the room with him would leave nearly in tears. Joseph was the only person in the team who would leave the room (with the blinds down) with a smile or a neutral look. Everyone else wouldn’t talk about the experience and Jackie had always wanted to know. Not that she wanted to be in that room with the blinds down, because that was one of the things she had always avoided.

But it seemed that she would finally find out today because everyone knew that it was a sin to hand in late reports to Dean Gamboa.

Chapter 2

“Jackie,” Joseph uttered once again, his voice deathly serious.

“Okay, fine,” she muttered and slowly walked to the elevator.

She was trying to come up with a good speech when she would finally hand in the report to her boss while inside the elevator. It stopped on the fourth floor and a man walked in with a greeting. She smiled and then she saw Brian walk by the doors just before it closed. Her problem came rushing back and she took out her phone to send a text to her boyfriend of two months.

We need to talk later.

Just as when she reached the ground floor, Kevin’s reply came in. Okay.

Okay was enough for her. He better prove he was man enough to talk to Brian this time.

---

My engines almost started up when I saw Jackie walking back. I was really hoping she would be having some of her usual out-of-the-office meetings. I was getting bored with no one but the self-centered and narcissistic BMW parked beside me.

But my bumper sagged when I saw Jackie’s face. There was no way she was going out on a meeting today. She had that look she always wore whenever she was nervous or forgot something. And this time, it seemed both.

“I forgot my folder, Toto,” she told me as she opened my door.

Great, I moaned. And then I saw him. What the hell? Could he be for real? Working hours just started and he was out here following Jackie like a hungry dog?

“Jackie, please, let’s talk,” Brian said, walking near.

“Brian!” Jackie jumped in shock, folder in hand. “What the hell are you doing here? Were you following me?”

Okay, it must be time to panic. Jackie was obviously afraid and it might be time for me to sound the alarm. Oh, wait. I didn’t have one. I was just a poor, old, beaten beetle Volkswagen. But someone better give Brian a taste of his own medicine because he was obsessive about this stalking. It was no longer cute or funny.

“Just give me a chance, Jackie,” he was saying.

“Stop this, Brian! I already told Kevin about this and he didn’t like it.” Liar. Kevin didn’t care at all. It would have been more effective if she followed George’s advice. She should have gone to her boss or the police.

“Then I’ll talk to him!” Brian insisted. “Let’s see if he’s man enough.”

“Get out of my way, Brian,” Jackie warned as she slammed my door (ouch!), locked my door (as if anyone would even consider to steal me), and walked past him.

“I’ll talk to your Kevin if you want, Jackie! I’ll do anything for you!”

“Then get out of my life!” I heard Jackie shout back as she walked away with purposeful strides. Oh-oh, Jackie was really pissed.

---

Jackie was shaking with fury as she stormed to the elevator doors.

“Jackie, if you’ll just give me one chance, just one, I will–”

“Brian!” she shouted as she whirled around to glare at him. “Stop this or I will talk to my boss!”

For a moment, he appeared to be stupefied. And then he snorted. “Come on, Jackie, I am not doing anything to hurt you. He wouldn’t care at all. I just want you to give me just a little bit of your attention.”

“You’re sick!” She turned away from the elevator and went to the direction of the stairs. She couldn’t risk riding the elevator with him. Almost everyone was behind their desks by now.

As she climbed the stairs on her heels, she regretted not going to the guard. The man could have helped her in some way.

“Jackie, just talk to me. Why didn’t you answer my texts? And I know you heard me last night. You wouldn’t open the door and–” Brian was saying behind her but the rest of his words were cut short as Jackie sharply turned around and smacked the folder she was holding against his right shoulder. He almost stumbled down the stairs with the impact, but he was fast to grab a grip of the iron railing of the stairway.

“Stop this, please!” Tears pooled her eyes with so much fury and desperation.

“Can’t you appreciate everything I have been doing–”

“No! I would appreciate if you just–” she smacked the folder against his shoulder as hard as she could again, “go away!” she finished. She knew she could have provoked Brian to hurt her, but the man didn’t even appear to have realized that she just assaulted him because he was still looking at her like she was Santa Clause, wishing she would give him what he so desperately wanted. But there was no way in hell she would give anything to Brian. He was sick! So she turned around and ran up the stairs.

“Jackie!” Her ears were ringing with anger that they didn’t bother to hear Brian’s cries of plea behind her. When she reached the fourth floor, she turned around and stared down at him.

“Don’t you dare follow me again,” she gritted out and continued on to the fifth floor.

“Jackie!” Karen said the moment she reached the floor and walked to her desk.

“What?” she snapped.

Her friend looked at her with concern. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing. What?”

“Joseph’s really pissed. You better take that report to boss Dean now.”

She was lost for a moment and then she blinked. She looked at the orange folder in her hand and groaned. It somehow got crumpled during her attack on Brian earlier. Well, it was almost ruined.

“I’ll finally know what happens inside the DR,” she groaned to herself, “with the blinds down.”

“Jackie!” At Joseph’s voice, she lifted her head from the folder. Their team leader was sitting behind his desk at the other side of the room near the windows. He tilted his head toward Dean Gamboa’s office behind her.

“Okay!” she mouthed at him and slowly turned around.

Dean Gamboa was sitting there, his head still bent down on whatever he was doing behind his desk. The blinds were up, meaning the scene was still safe. Jackie gulped the same time she took the first step. She had been a good employee. She never received any warning from her boss though almost everyone in the office already did. And she never spent more than ten seconds inside the Devil’s Room. Dean Gamboa had never shouted at anyone and that was the worst part. The reminder of the eerie silence in the room whenever someone was trapped inside that office with him in the past made Jackie’s innards turn upside down at that very moment she was walking toward the glass doors.

Her hands were slightly shaking, might caused by the hard thumping of her heart against her ribcage. God, it was so hard it vibrated throughout her body. Careful, she tapped her knuckles against the glass door and her boss looked up from his desk, his face neutral. He motioned his hand for her to come in.

When was the last time she entered the office? She couldn’t even remember. Was that when she brought coffee when his secretary, Beth, was absent? Was it when Joseph asked her to get the signed papers from his desk? Or maybe it was when he was not around and she dared herself to enter without his permission and take a picture of herself for proof. That must have been a week ago so it must be it. As she pushed the door open, her hand tightened on the folder she was holding and her mind prayed that Dean Gamboa would never find out that she had trespassed into his office a week ago.

“What is it, Miss Ramos?” he asked in his deep, carefully modulated, baritone voice.

“I…I…just…ah…here’s the report from last month’s event, sir,” she stammered and rushed at the same time, lifting her arm and showing him the nearly-tattered folder.

His too-handsome face slowly frowned and Jackie’s heart hammered harder against her chest.

“Is that the report I should have received last week?” he asked, looking at the folder.

“Uh…yes,” she admitted with a grimace. “I know it’s late but–”

“And ruined,” he cut in, looking at the paper. “So you decided to give me a late report. And it’s physically ruined?”

“Sir, I can explain–”

“Close the blinds, Miss Ramos,” he cut in.

“Sir, I–”

“Close the blinds,” he repeated, looking her straight in the eyes.

Defeated, she nodded and turned around. Through the glass walls, she could see the rest of her team, including Joseph and the other teams, look on. And when she lifted her hand to close the blinds, she saw Karen gasp, her hand dramatically covering her mouth.

“The door, Miss Ramos,” Dean Gamboa ordered behind her. She walked to the door and closed it. “The blinds,” he added.

All hopes left her as she closed the blinds of the door. The room was dimmer now. She turned around and faced her boss.

“Sit,” he ordered.

For a moment, she just stared at the seat across his desk.

“Miss Ramos, I don’t have all the time in the world,” Dean Gamboa’s voice was now etched with irritation and she almost ran to the chair. “Now, hand me the report.”

She handed him the folder. He looked at its poor state before he opened it and started reading. Then his frown deepened.

“Did Joseph review this one?” he asked.

“Well, he didn’t get the chance, sir. He told me to hand it to you immediately.”

“You made it in a rush,” he uttered, looking at her.

Her gaze faltered. “I had been busy last week,” she lied.

His brow arched. “You didn’t have a project since last month. What could you have been busy with?”

This was definitely a new record. She was having a long conversation with her boss! “Well, I have personal things to settle and–”

“And why is this report in a bad shape? Physically,” he cut in, obviously not interested with her personal problems.

Again, she gulped. “I used it to attack someone?” She cringed and shifted on her seat.

“What do you mean you attacked someone?”

“Remember the guy in the elevator this morning? He followed me out to my car when he saw me coming down to get the report. He wouldn’t leave me alone so I guess I lost control and attacked him with the folder.”

For a very long moment, Dean Gamboa just looked at her.

“Sir, I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again. I will check the report for errors this morning and I will give it back to you as soon as I can,” she stated when he didn’t say a word.

“Miss Ramos,” her boss said as he leaned away from his desk. “I don’t care about your problem with that man in the elevator. I don’t care how you spend your personal time. What I care is how you do your work. And I can’t have this kind of work in my office.” He lifted the folder and dropped it on the table.

“Sir, in my defense, can I say something?” When he just stared at her, she continued, “I really planned on passing this report a week ago but Brian, the guy in the elevator, has been very persistent. I couldn’t sleep in peace because he is in my apartment every night. I can’t even do my work without my phone beeping every hour. And I can’t even use my computer without him sending me messages through the messaging system.”

“Miss Ramos, your problem is not mine. But if you can’t control your suitor at your own workplace, then I guess I can’t do anything but find a replacement.”

Anger surged up Jackie’s throat. She just shared her dilemma with him and he threatened to fire her? Her work was greatly being affected here. “But, sir, you said you care about how I do my work–”

“Exactly. I care how you do your work. If that guy is bothering you during working hours, then turn off your phone and change the settings of your messaging system. If he’s bothering you at home or outside the office, then I suggest you don’t take your work outside this building and finish them behind your desk as what you should do. If you can do that, I don’t see any problem.”

“But, sir, he’s been a constant bother–”

“What he is to you is not my concern. As I’ve said, I care about how you do your work, not how you live your life or how you deal with your problems.” He reached for the folder and handed it to her. “Get this done by tomorrow, understand? To be honest, this is crap. Review it, redo it, and do it right this time. Consider this a verbal warning, Miss Ramos.”

Jackie was near in tears. The man was heartless! And George even suggested she went to him! Well, she did tell him of her problem and he didn’t even care! She stood up, her legs shaking with fury. She hated Dean Gamboa.

“Miss Ramos,” he called behind her when she started for the door.

She stopped but did not turn around.

“The blinds,” he ordered.

Jackie gritted her teeth but did as he ordered and opened the blinds.

When she finally walked out of the Devil’s Room, she made up her mind to never ever come to Dean Gamboa for help. She expected him to at least do something, even a little, to help her with her problem about Brian because he was her boss and he somehow should be responsible over his employees. But no, he didn’t. He brushed her problem like he would an ant crawling on his sleeves.

Karen was silent when she reached her desk and slammed the folder beside her computer. She would stay up all night and prove to Dean Gamboa that she could make a damn good report.

Chapter 3

Since she promised she would pass a fantastic report that would blow Dean Gamboa’s mind–literally, she hoped–she stayed in late. Karen had already left and so did Joseph, after he had a long meeting with Dean Gamboa.

The good thing about Joseph was that he never held grudges. He knew she was already aware of the severity of her situation so he didn’t add to her frustrations by giving her a speech that started with, ’I told you so…“. One by one, everyone started to say goodbye.

When she first read the report she did last night, she had to agree with her boss. It was crap. She was not bad in grammar, but her English teachers would definitely start a revolution if they read the report. All possible errors were present in it.

“And I’m going to fix you,” she muttered to herself as she started a new document. There was no time for her to do the report earlier because Joseph had a lot of things for her to do now that a new project had just landed on their team. She had searched for great restaurants around the city that could accommodate a hundred or so people. And it was no easy task. Most of the restaurants weren’t capable of such a large number, while those who could want a definite assurance that they would not cancel the reservation before the date of the event.

Jackie was busily attacking her keyboard when she heard sounds from the Devil’s Room. She frowned.

He’s still here?

Of course, he was still there. Apparently, he was done for the day and he was going home. Jackie checked her orange table clock. It was almost seven!

“You’re not going home yet?” asked the devil himself.

Though his shadow was almost palpable, she did not bother to turn her head and look at him. “No, because I apparently need to finish my work behind my desk,” she answered and she hoped her voice was laced with sarcasm, enough so as he would get the message but not fire her at the same time.

“You can continue that tomorrow, Miss Ramos,” he said in his usual dead-pan voice.

“That’s okay, I am not in a hurry to go home just yet,” she answered and continued with her work.

There was a long silence before he said, “Turn off the lights before you leave.” Without another word, she heard his footsteps walking away.

He was just entering the elevator when she decided to turn her head. “God! I hope it gets stuck. He deserves a nice evening inside a cold elevator!” she uttered allowed as the doors closed.

Now that she was completely alone, Jackie felt a little afraid. Sure, she heard ghost stories concerning their floor, but it never occurred to her in the past that she could experience one because

She shook the creepy feeling away and focused on her work. She had to go home by eight.

After almost five calls from Dannie and three from George, she finally decided her work was done. She checked the time again.

“Shit!” It was almost nine. She hurriedly saved her file, printed the report, threw it inside a new orange folder, and turned off the computer. While she was waiting for the windows to shut down, she heard a sound near the elevator. She turned her head to check it out. There was no one there.

The creepy feeling returned so she took her phone and dialed George’s number.

“Where are you?” her friend demanded.

“You should be home by now, right? You should have picked us up earlier as well.”

“I know. But I had to finish some work.”

“You always bring your work home.”

“This time, I can’t.”

“How come?”

“My boss kind of pointed out that I can’t do that. Long story. Will tell you later.”

“Why did you call?”

“Nothing. I just need someone to talk to while I ride the elevator,” she answered, picking up her bag. “It’s really creepy here,” she added in a hushed tone.

“Did you eat?”

“No, but I guess I’ll just drop by McDonald’s to grab a bite.”

“We still have some leftover from dinner. You can reheat it when you get here,” George said conversationally.

“Great.” She was now riding the elevator down to the ground floor.

She heaved a big sigh of relief when it finally opened and she saw the guard. Good. Now Brian.

“Will be home soon, bye,” she told George and hung up.

And there she was, walking up to me like nothing happened.

She freakin’ made me wait for her for hours! The only decent companion I had, which was a black Honda Civic named Beatle (because his owner was a big fan of the Beatles), had long been gone by now. Apart from the narcissistic BMW, he was the only one who was parked near me.

Where the hell have you been? I demanded from Jackie.

But of course, she couldn’t hear me. Another reason she was not able to tell me the answer was Brian.

Where the hell did he come from?

He had been walking behind Jackie all along and he looked really tired. Had he been waiting for her?

This is why you should never take overtimes, Jackie , I told her.

“What the hell, Brian! Leave me alone!” she shouted. “I’m going to call the guard if you don’t leave this instant!”

“I’m not doing you any harm, Jackie. I just want to talk.”

No talking, girl. Just get in and we’ll drive away. I can run over him if you want!

“I already talked to my boss, you know.”

That stopped Brian for a moment and Jackie took the opportunity to rush to my driver side and open the door.

“He can’t reprimand me, Jackie. He’s not my boss,” Brian said with a scoff.

“Well, he’s my boss and he doesn’t like it that my work is being affected because of you. Just leave me alone!” she shouted before she got inside me and slammed the door shut.

The shaking of her hands as she maneuvered me away from the almost-empty parking lot told me she was both angry and afraid. And she almost ran over Brian if the guy didn’t jump out of the way. Bummer. Maybe next time, eh?

When we were finally on the road, Jackie reached out for her phone.

Not a good idea, Jackie. We’re driving. I don’t have a freakin’ auto-drive! I need your full attention!

But she was not listening. She was already talking on the phone.

“Where are you? I told you we need to talk, right?” she demanded.

She was calling Kevin. Great. She should just go to the police.

“What? What the hell are you talking about? Where are you? Yes, I’m going there! What? Fine! Wait for me!”

Where? Where is he? Where are we going, Jackie?

“Can you believe it, Toto? He’s going to watch a movie with an office buddy!”

He’s watching a movie with a guy? This is a confirmation, girl! He’s gay!

“He’s going to watch a freaking romantic-comedy! With a freaking office buddy named Jason!” she cried out with an incredulous laugh. But I could hear her voice breaking into sobs as she made a u-turn and headed to the direction of the nearest mall, Robinson’s Place.

Oh-oh, I bet this was not going to be the best night of Jackie’s life.

Jackie stormed inside the mall like a tiger. Her nostrils were spitting out invisible fire as she climbed the escalator to the third floor of the mall.

“Where are you?!” she demanded, talking to her phone.

“We’re outside cinema three.”

“Wait for me there and Jason better not be there!”

“Jackie, you should calm down–”

“Just make sure you are alone!”

She spotted Kevin outside cinema three and he was alone holding a bucket of popcorn and a bottle of Coke. He was still in his office clothes, but he looked fresh as he always was. Kevin was good-looking, but he had some feminine features that bothered most girls. He acted like a guy, talked like a guy, but he looked not quite like a guy. But Jackie never really cared. He had always been nice to her and she had always liked him.

“I told you we need to talk and you said OK ,” she said the moment she reached him.

“You didn’t call me again when office hours ended so I said yes when Jason asked if I wanted to watch a movie.”

“I was busy doing something important! And you should have called me when I didn’t! And I don’t want to hear about Jason!” she almost shouted. God, why was she in this situation? Why? “I have a big problem and you are the only person who can help me right now and you’re out on a date with an office buddy ?”

“Come on, Jackie, it’s not a date,” he gushed out.

“Shut up, Kevin! I am so done with you! I can’t believe that I even expected you to at least do something about Brian. I told my boss and he didn’t even bat an eye. But that’s understandable. He’s just my boss. But you are supposed to be my boyfriend. Do you get it? I needed you to do something!” She was almost out of breath when she was done.

“What do you want me to do about Brian?” he asked with a frown.

“Oh my God!” she finally shouted her frustration, catching everyone’s attention behind them. There was a line of people walking inside cinema two and they all turned their heads to look at them.

“Jackie, calm down,” Kevin reached out his hand to hold her but she slapped it away.

“Don’t touch me!” she shouted. She adjusted her bag over her shoulder and added, “We’re over. We are so over!”

“Jackie,” he tried to call her back.

She turned her head over her shoulder and shouted, “My friends were right! You’re gay!” and then, she stormed away, struggling with her heels.

Okay, here she comes! I almost urinated diesel gas with so much excitement as Jackie made her way across the dark parking lot. Once, she almost tripped due to those stupid stilettos, but she managed to regain her balance.

Come on, tell me what happened!

But she didn’t. She opened my door, climbed inside, and cried with her arms on my steering wheel and her head buried in them.

Okay, Jackie, please stop crying. You know I don’t like tears.

“He’s a jerk!”

No, baby, he’s just gay.

“Jerk!”

Gay!

“Jerk! Jerk! Jerk!” she shouted the word over and over as she slapped her hands against my steering wheel.

He’s gay, Jackie–and in a literal sense. How many times do we have to say that?

“Gay bastard!” she finally wailed, her tears streaming down her face.

That’s right, girl. Acceptance is the key.

Her phone started ringing. “Why can’t you leave me alone?!” she shouted at the phone before she tapped the red icon, almost making a hole through the phone. Jackie was definitely, crazily frustrated. Who wouldn’t be?

I was just about to say that she should really go to her boss and tell the man about Brian, but she spoke up, “My boss won’t help me, my friends have their own troubles, my boyfriend–ex-boyfriend–is gay. What the hell do I do, Toto?” she asked me.

Well, I was just about to tell you to go to your boss but now, that’s out of the picture. Why not the police?

When her phone started ringing again, she pushed the answer button and shouted, “Leave me alone, Brian!”

She hastily wiped her face, both in anger and desperation. “If no one can’t help me, the police can.”

That’s my girl.

“Ma’am, if you can’t give us any proof that he’s physically harmed you, we cannot just order him to stay away.”

“But he’s been bothering me for almost a month now!”

The policeman just looked at her, took a bite from his sandwich, munched and stared again. “You can file for a barangay protection order,” he suggested.

“What’s that?”

“It’s like a restraining order, but it is only applicable for fifteen days and only around the premises of the barangay.”

“What?! I work outside my barangay!” A barangay is like a small town inside a town and there are a lot of them in the Philippines. In Bacolod alone, there are 61 known barangays.

The policeman just shrugged. “Then file for a restraining order in court. Good luck with that,” he chuckled as he said the last part.

“The president will know about this!” she fumed, slapping the counter with her hand. “I follow him on Facebook and Twitter!”

The man laughed. “Good luck with that one as well!”

The tears were threatening to come out again as she walked out of the police station. All hopes were gone. Yes, true, she could file for a restraining order but it would take a lot of work and people might not take her seriously. Hell, even her boss didn’t think it was a big problem! The barangay protection order was useless, but she could file for one just so she could keep Brian out of the apartment for fifteen freaking days! It would be enough time for her to actually come up with a good plan to keep Brian out of her life forever.

Jackie was not looking confident as she did fifteen minutes ago. She looked like a defeated warrior as she slowly made her way toward me.

Poor girl, poor girl! What could I do?

Well, nothing, really. Even with the engine on, I couldn’t do a thing but moan.

She silently climbed inside. Her phone rang again.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Where are you? I thought you’re on your way home? It’s almost been an hour,” I heard George’s voice from the other line.

“I got stuck in traffic,” she lied.

“Well, where are you now?”

“Near. Look, I’m driving. See you in a bit.” When she started me up, Jackie was still silent. “Well, I guess you can say I tried my best, right?”

Well, yeah. But you still need help, girl.

The next day, I couldn’t keep an eye on Jackie because George was driving me today and I would be stuck inside the Red Cross headquarters with the ambulance named Dee, who would tell me about her adventures in the streets. I would usually look forward to seeing her, but today, I just wanted to be with Jackie.

She had been silent the whole ride and my engine’s heart went with her as she climbed down when we dropped her off her office building.

“What’s up with her?” asked George as she guided me to Kumon to drop Dannie off.

“I don’t know. You think she has a problem?”

“Of course, she does. We should talk to her about it.”

“Maybe it’s about Brian,” Dannie said.

Right! It’s all about that creep!

“I think he’s getting out of hand. We better do something about this,” George said strongly.

I had always liked how George’s mind worked and this time, it was spot on.

“Not now, Brian, I am really tired,” Jackie uttered when Brian came forward with two cups of coffee in hand.

“I bought you coffee,” he eagerly said, handing her the other cup.

She ignored the coffee. “I told you to leave me alone. Don’t make me file for a restraining order,” she uttered strongly. She didn’t get enough sleep last night thinking about her problem, the one standing before her.

Brian’s brows furrowed. “Jackie, all I want is to have some time with you.”

“You’re having it now. And it’s over. Get out of my way.”

As she said that, Dean Gamboa came into the picture. She saw Brian bend his head as they waited for the elevator doors to open.

The moment it did, she rushed inside and pushed herself in one corner. Dean Gamboa followed, standing right at the center like an unmovable force. Brian entered and hesitated for a moment. Jackie was afraid he would choose to stand beside her, but when his gaze went to Dean Gamboa’s he scurried to the other corner without a word.

Jackie’s eyes traveled from boss’ strong presence to Brian’s cowering one. Slowly, a smile formed on her lips. She was riding the elevator with the two men she hated the most.

And one of them is going to help me get rid of the other, she thought, her brain reeling with a wicked plan.

Chapter 4

If she had to do this, she had to do it right. And once she started, she couldn’t back out. This was the perfect plan she had so far, she thought. It might be a crazy plan but she was desperate. Jackie was certain it was the fastest, easiest one. It would be easy because she would have full control over it.

“Jackie,” Joseph’s voice said above her. “The report?”

“It’s here,” she answered, picking up the folder without looking at him. She was too busy looking at her computer.

“Then give it to boss Dean. What the hell is wrong with you?”

She looked at him blankly. “Won’t you check it first?”

He gave her one of his warning looks.

“Fine, I’ll take it to him.” She minimized the page on her computer, stood up and strutted her way to the Devil’s Room. “Sir,” she said, calling Dean Gamboa’s attention. He looked up from whatever he was doing and raised an eyebrow.

Handsome bastard, she muttered inside her head. You’re the perfect candidate, she added.

“Here’s the report,” she said when he didn’t say a word.

He held out his hand and she walked into the office.

There was a long silence as he studied her report. Jackie was crossing her fingers behind her back as she waited in anticipation. She was completely confident that she did a great job.

“This will do,” he finally said with a frown.

This will do? What the hell! It was the best report she had ever made in three years! When he didn’t say anything further, she slowly backed away and started walking to the door.

“Miss Ramos,” he called.

Jackie closed her eyes before she turned and faced him with a fake smile, one she perfected over the years.

“Don’t ever give me a crappy report again. Yesterday should be the last one.” His gaze was dangerous and intensely gorgeous at the same time.

“I promise,” she bit out before she faced the door and walked. “Arrogant jerk,” she added under her breath as she made her way to her desk. “Now,” she whispered to herself, going back to her work at hand. “Let’s make you a Facebook account.”

  *****

Her intention to put her plan into action was immediately cut short when Joseph told her she needed to contact people for the event, which was going to be a themed runway event sponsored by big companies for the victims of the recent typhoon. As an advertising company, it was their job to make sure that all companies would be well-exposed. And as the events planning department, it was their job to make it right.

She wanted to make a good impression on Joseph so she set aside her plan on making a Facebook account for Dean Gamboa. She accomplished one task as of the moment and that was to make a fake email address for him. Next step, make the Facebook account.

But as she searched her phonebook for the contacts Joseph was talking about, something occurred to her. How could she get a picture of Dean Gamboa, something that would seem real and not–well, stolen?

The good thing about her plan was that she could easily hide everything from her co-workers, thanks to the privacy settings of Facebook. And an additional bonus was the fact that Dean Gamboa was not a friend of anyone else. Well, maybe Joseph, since the two were almost friends. But Jackie highly doubted that Dean Gamboa had an account. The man obviously didn’t have any social life at all. And if he had one, no one was aware of it. He was single as what she heard from gossips (which was another plus) and she was grateful for that because the lady would be the unluckiest girl around.

Another thing she was grateful of, for the first time in months, was that she had not resorted to blocking Brian on Facebook. One, because she rarely checked the social networking site since he started stalking her; second, she rather liked Instagram and Twitter more.

For two hours or so, she forgot about her plan for a while and started calling her contacts. When that was done, she went out for a quick lunch with Karen in the cafeteria downstairs. For the past few months, she mastered the ability of eating fast so Brian wouldn’t be able to corner her. While she busily munched her burger, she saw Dean Gamboa at one corner of the room, the spot he had always taken. And naturally, he was alone. She was reminded once again of her lack of materials for the account.

While Karen talked about the latest gossips in the office, she scanned her phone to look at photos with her team. Surely, Dean Gamboa would have decent pictures around here. But if there were any, they were not good at all. It seemed that her boss had a big camera phobia. He never went with them on any after-work parties or dinners anyway. Not that anyone dared invite him, really.

Disappointed, she chose to listen to Karen. At that moment, she was talking about a local band she heard last night.

“People call them Anon because they can’t even come up with a name for themselves, you know? But they were really good last night,” her friend was saying.

“Hey, you are eating way beyond your diet,” she pointed out, changing the subject. Her friend grimaced. She was not that fat, but she was healthier than most of the female population in their office. Jackie had made it her mission to transform Karen into a sexy gal. But her friend was not helping at all.

“Just let me finish the fries,” Karen begged.

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

“And oh, did I tell you that Troy Brady was there last night as well? He was with his friends. You know them, right?”

“Troy Brady, the professional photographer?” Jackie asked. Of course she knew Troy. Who wouldn’t? It was not every day that you would be friends with a Filipino-American who had women tailing him around, ready to pounce on him, both to get a chance to be one of his subjects and well, yeah, jump in his bed.

“Yes! He was there taking pictures of Anon, I guess.”

But Jackie was no longer listening. Her mind was already somewhere else, wondering where Troy Brady was at that very moment.

  *****

Finally! I almost cried all my gas out when I saw George walk out of the door and toward me.

Dee, the ambulance, had been a good company, but she left about an hour ago to have a run. Some vehicular accident or something, she said. I was left with no one but my handsome and cool self for a while and it was starting to get boring (hey, no matter how awesome I was, I couldn’t entertain myself that long). Good thing George was punctual. As always.

Maybe because she was half-Chinese. Hey, don’t blame me. In my years of existence, I had proven that Chinese-Filipino folks, especially ones with the same background as George, considered time as golden.

Come on, Georgie, let’s go!

As she climbed inside me, her phone rang. She answered while she strapped my seatbelt over her oh-so lean body. “Hey, Jackie, I’m on my way.”

She played with the key for a while as she listened to Jackie’s words.

What is she saying? She’s still alive? That creep hasn’t gotten her yet? I tell you, Georgie, it will not be for long.

Slowly, George’s slit eyes narrowed further as a frown formed on her face. “What? Please, don’t tell me you did that.”

What? What did she do?

George listened further and after almost a full minute, she sighed, inserted the key and started me up. “Fine, I’ll just get Dannie and we will fetch you–Are you sure? Okay, see you.”

Georgie, what was that all about?

“She’s done another crazy thing, Toto,” she said as if she heard me.

My engine groaned inwardly. Jackie girl, what have you done this time?

  *****

Jackie grabbed her bag the moment the clock struck four.

“You seem to be in a hurry,” Karen said, munching a Snickers bar.

“I need to go somewhere,” she answered without looking, her mind focused on her phone. “See you tomorrow.”

“Jackie!” Joseph’s voice called before she reached the elevator.

She turned around, walking backward. “What?”

“Are you done with the contacts?”

“Yes! I’ll follow-up tomorrow!” When the elevator door opened, she went inside with a last glance at the Devil’s Room. Behind his desk, with his perfectly brushed up hair and neutral face, Dean Gamboa was busily signing papers.

One corner of her lips lifted up in a smirk. “If you can’t help me, then I’ll just have to use you,” she uttered in a sing-song voice.

Her phone rang again just as she walked out of the elevator. It was Brian. She ignored it.

But she didn’t have to because the guy was already outside the building waiting for her.

“Jackie! I’ll take you home.”

She frowned. “No, Brian. I already told you to leave me alone.”

“I know you don’t have a ride during Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

Jackie was constantly shocked at how much Brian knew about her life. “I don’t want to go home with you,” she stated matter-of-factly, walking past him. Deep inside, she was hoping she didn’t tell George not to pick her up.

Brian followed her to the side of the road where she intended to wait for a taxi.

“Stop following me!”

“Just let me take you home.”

“I don’t want you to take me home! God! What’s wrong with you?!”

“Jackie–” She did not let him finish because she already waved her hand when she saw a jeepney approaching her way, desperate to get away from him as fast as she could.  “You don’t need to ride a jeepney. I’ll take you home–”

“Leave me alone, Brian!” she shouted before she climbed the rear of the vehicle. The other passengers stared at them in curiosity, but she was now concentrating on how to walk the length of the jeepney in her heels so she didn’t care. She was used to riding the jeepney, but in the past, it was always planned. When she was short of budget, she would wear her flats which she kept under her desk. Today, it was an exemption. She didn’t even plan to ride a taxi home because George was supposed to pick her up, and she surely didn’t plan to ride the jeepney. But she just had to because of that creep!

“Excuse me,” she said to the lady who was almost occupying three slots of one side of the vehicle. “Excuse me,” she repeated.

The jeepney started to drive away.

“Hey! Manong! Wait!” she shouted, gripping the long iron rod attached to the ceiling of the jeepney. “Hey, excuse me!” she added to the lady. The woman just stared at her and moved an inch. “Did you pay for three people? If not, scoot over,” she uttered. The lady gave her a stingy look before she finally righted her position and moved aside. “Thank you.”

Jackie rarely did such a thing whenever she was in a public vehicle, but she was already pissed and the lady didn’t help at all. When the jeepney finally rolled away, she looked behind her and saw Brian standing there like a puppy who lost the scent of his master.

“Crazy,” she muttered under her breath. When the tension between her and the lady finally eased away, she handed out her fare and attacked her phone. “Hey, Troy! It’s me, Jackie!” she greeted with a contained squeal since she was in a public vehicle.

“Hey, Jackie! What’s up?” Troy asked.

“Can we talk? I have a favor to ask you.”

“You know you can ask for anything, Jackie. You boys are always welcome.” She brushed the ‘boys’ word aside. In the past, she would have flipped, but she got used to the collective name most of their guy friends used.

“Are you free right now? I will meet the girls at Sanders. Can you come?”

“Sure!”

She, George and Dannie had known Troy and his friends way back since high school and then in college when they attended the same university. So you could say that the favor she wanted to ask from the guy would be done without second thoughts. And she knew Troy. He liked playing around, with women or other things alike.

Well, this is just the game Troy will play a part in, she thought with a smile.

Chapter 5

“I don’t think this is a good plan, Jackie,” Dannie uttered silently. “It’s not right.”

“Come on, it’s not like he’s going to find out, right? It’s the perfect plan. If Brian thinks I am in a relationship with the guy, he would back away. I am so sure of that.”

“How can you be so sure? For all we know, it could make matters worse,” George pointed out.

Jackie let out a dramatic sigh. “Trust me, it will work. Brian doesn’t even breathe inside the elevator when the man is around!”

“But–”

She stopped Dannie’s words by saying, “What? I’m just going to wait here until things get physical? Because that would be very tragic. My ex-boyfriend,”–Yes, of course she already told her friends about her dramatic breakup with Kevin–“wouldn’t even lift a finger. And the police won’t do anything, remember? They will wait until I walk in battered and bleeding. Or maybe that won’t happen because I’ll be dead since my freaking stalker suddenly decides to commit a crime of passion.”

Her friends seemed to have thought she was right because they just sat there looking at her.

“This is the only way I know. I am planning to file for a barangay protection order just to keep him away from our apartment. But that is only good for fifteen days. And during that time, I will try my best to file for a protection order at court. But , I wouldn’t have to do that if my plan works. And I hope it works because to file for a restraining or protection order will take a lot of time and I’ll be dead by the time someone signs the papers. This plan is a win-win situation.”

“And how do you get away from this? You can’t keep on pretending a fake affair forever,” George said as she lifted her bottle of beer.

“I will stop when the right guy comes along, someone who will be willing to protect me. And if that doesn’t happen, let’s just pray that Brian has already given up. And if he tries to continue on with his antics, then, let’s just hope the court order is approved. Or maybe I can kill him before he gets to me first.”

She appeared to have thought this through and her friend knew that. Dannie was a saint, but when it came to her friends’ safety, she was willing to do anything. George, Jackie knew, was already thinking this was the only solution. Among the two, George was the one who understood about ‘desperate measures’ better.

“So, how do you plan to do it?” George asked and Jackie almost jumped to her feet in success. She knew her friends would back her up no matter what.

“Well, first thing I have to do is to make sure that his Facebook account will appear legit.”

“How do you do it?”

“I need to take a lot of pictures of him. I tried searching for some from the FB account of the people in the office, but I didn’t get a good one. So I thought of a brilliant plan,” she finished with pride.

“What?” her friends asked in unison.

“I called Troy.”

“Troy?” George asked.

“Troy Brady!”

George rolled her eyes and Dannie groaned. “That guy is trouble, Jackie,” Dannie said.

  *****

Well, well, well, if it’s not Troy Brady! I haven’t seen this guy in months! And I would have been glad if I never saw him again. He was the typical cocky, handsome bastard who played around with girls. Good thing the boys were the type of girls who would never fall for this guy.

I think it was the reason why Troy stuck with the boys ever since I could remember. When they purchased me three years ago, he was with them. And he was too vocal to point out that I was not good enough. He suggested the boys buy a brand new car. And up to this day, he never failed to piss me off like he would Dannie. The two of them never got along and it was a wonder how Dannie baby could stand his presence. I think they were friends, but they rather liked their friendship to be spent bantering, teasing and killing each other with words.

Troy Brady was not only handsome, he was rich. Not as rich as George, but rich enough to buy ten cars like me. And he was a freaking photographer and women dig that. Lucky bastard, I thought as he climbed down his high, glossy and stunning black four-wheel drive named Tata. Yes, he named it after he learned the boys named me Toto. He said that we were quite a match.

“Hey there, Toto. I see you’re still alive?” he asked with a smile when he spotted me.

Shut up! What the hell are you doing here anyway?

But the black-haired, handsome guy just smiled and walked to the entrance of Sanders.

The boys loved Sanders. It was their favorite hangout place because they said it was cozy inside and the food and drinks were great. Yeah, like I could freaking appreciate it, right? But they usually went to Sanders on Fridays. Wonder what they are doing here with Troy Brady? I guess I should find out soon. Right now, I just had to content myself with Tata’s company.

  *****

“Hey, boys!” Troy greeted them, taking off his sunglasses.

The girls looked up from their drinks. Jackie stood up and gave him a peck. George just waved. Dannie ignored him.

“So, to what do I owe the honor of you boys requesting for my presence?” he asked them as he took the seat right next to Dannie.

“Sit next to Jackie,” she ordered.

Troy looked at Dannie. “I didn’t know you are here all along, Danica. You could have said a word.” Troy would always call her by her real name whenever he was in a teasing mood and it was almost always.

Dannie looked at Jackie, completely ignoring him. “This is why I think this is a bad idea.”

“What’s a bad idea?” Troy asked, his eyebrows rose in question. He seemed to be oblivious of the secret glances some of the women in the place were throwing him. He was not that famous, but he was that eye-catching.

Jackie cleared her throat. She shot Dannie a look before she turned to Troy and said, “I need you to take a lot of pictures of someone. In secret.”

Slowly, a wicked smile formed on Troy’s face. “You are stalking someone now?”

“More like avoiding one,” Jackie answered.

Troy frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Can’t you figure it out?” Dannie asked. “She just told you she’s trying to avoid a stalker.”

“How bad is the stalking?” Troy asked, ignoring Dannie.

“Bad. Really bad to the point that I don’t want to go to work, I want to change address, leave the city and fly to nowhere.”

“I don’t understand–”

“Figures,” Dannie said beside him.

Troy ignored her again and continued, “Why do you need my help? Can you please tell me the whole story first?”

Jackie patiently told him about Brian and her plan to keep him away using Dean Gamboa. “He is afraid of the guy. And my boss is the perfect candidate.”

“What about that gay suitor of yours? I heard he’s your boyfriend now. Can’t he do anything?”

Jackie tried to calm herself. Everyone thought Kevin was gay except her. Why didn’t she see that before?!

“She broke up with him,” George answered when Jackie kept silent.

“Really?”

George nodded with a smirk. “She finally realized they want the same thing: boys.”

Troy laughed out loud, attracting attention from the other tables. “How about the police?”

“She just told you she tried, didn’t she?” Dannie uttered dryly. “Weren’t you listening?”

“I’m sorry, teacher Danica, I’ll try to stay sharp from now on,” Troy told her with a mocking pout, one that one of Dannie’s student might have used. He had always liked taunting Dannie and it always worked.

“As much as I enjoy your usual banters, let me just remind you that we are here to help me solve my problem,” Jackie told them.

Troy faced her again. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You have a stalker and he’s a big problem. You have a boss that in my opinion is someone you hate–yes, Jackie, I figured that out easily from the way you talked about the man–and this stalker of yours is afraid of him. Now, you are going to use him as your fake boyfriend. And you are going to do that by making a fake FB account. And you need my help to take pictures of him so it would appear real?”

“Finally,” Dannie muttered under her breath.

Troy just shot her an amused look. “I really do admire your sarcasm, Danica.”

“Thank you,” Jackie’s friend answered.

“Hey, stop that,” Jackie told them.

“I just have one question,” George said, raising a finger. “Brian might not believe it if he just sees it on Facebook. How do you plan to keep up appearances in actual life?”

Jackie flipped her hair behind her shoulder. “That’s going to be my problem. I have a plan.”

Her three friends looked at her with doubt from across the table.

“What? I can do it! And it’s not like Brian will have to see us all the time. He works in a different department. All I need to do is make sure that I can post pictures of us together from time to time. And that’s where Troy comes in. You can photoshop us together, but that will come later. For now, I need as many pictures of the man as possible. You know, just to fill his fake account with life.”

Troy looked at her for a long time before he sighed. “Fine, I can do that.”

“Ah!” she shouted with glee. “I so love you!”

“I wish I can hear Danica say that,” he said, blocking Dannie’s slap with a laugh. “So, when do we start?” he asked a while later.

“How about tomorrow?” Jackie asked.

“Sure, why not? I’d love to meet this guy after all. He might just be a good subject.”

  *****

Tata was just telling me about how she almost threw up when Troy and some lady he met last night made out inside her, both of them drunk, when the boys and Troy exited Sanders’ glass door.

Okay, ladies, it’s time to talk about what happened in there! I begged when they finally settled inside me with George behind my wheel. Troy and Tata had already left.

“I don’t think he can do it successfully, Jackie,” Dannie uttered from the backseat.

“Come on, Dannie, you’re only saying that because you hate his guts. He’s good at what he does and I trust that he can do it well.”

“He’s going to follow your boss around for a day or two. He might get caught,” Dannie pointed out.

“No, he won’t. Trust me, Troy can do it,” Jackie said with confidence.

“Where to? Home?” George asked without commenting.

Georgie, don’t kill the conversation!

“Making a fake FB account for your boss is already absurd. Having Troy to take his pictures is totally outrageous,” Dannie uttered, looking out the window. “Let’s go get some pizza,” she added.

Wait, what? Fake FB account? Jackie, you are one crazy girl! This can land you in jail, girl! Georgie, tell her this is not a good idea! Danny baby, give her some scolding! This is not good! I don’t want to add prison in my list of scheduled destinations, you know.

But no one seemed to be listening to me because they were not talking at all. Jackie was busy writing something in a small notebook. Dannie had completely shut her mouth, probably due to suppressed distaste of what was going on. Yeah, and maybe because of Troy. George, for the love of her, was more interested on driving to where food was. And they were again going to Greeno’s, the pizzeria. I didn’t like that place because the guard outside loved sitting on or leaning against me.

And naturally, I would be by myself again!

  *****

Jackie was munching on her pizza, texting the details of her plan for tomorrow to Troy.

I will text you ahead of time if he’s about to leave the office tomorrow. Then you follow him around. You take pictures. Make sure they are good, okay?

Troy replied within a minute. It will make people wonder why he only has candid pictures on his account.

She rolled her eyes. That’s for another day.

Troy replied, What do you mean?

She was already thinking they should have polished the plan earlier as she texted back, If he goes to a place that is not his house, you tell me and I will try my best to come as soon as I can. That way, we can stage something. And I might be able to make him come to a meeting outside the office. We usually do them in restaurants. You can take better pictures there. And he’s not the type to post a lot of pictures of himself so that will be okay, I guess.

Troy only replied okay and she continued with her food.

“Are you sure about this?” Dannie asked for the nth time.

“Yes, I am. Now, why don’t we just enjoy our dinner?” She smiled at her friends as she called the waiter for a beer tower.

  *****

The perfect opportunity presented itself to Jackie the very next morning. Joseph called in sick and Dean Gamboa needed to bring someone from the team to attend a meeting regarding the next project. It would be a lunch meeting at Bar 21.

Karen didn’t want to go, obviously. No, scratch that. No one wanted to go. Jackie was the brave soul to volunteer, now that she had experienced the Devil’s Room with the blinds down and it weren’t so bad. It was just okay; so okay that she decided to make Dean Gamboa her fake boyfriend on FB, really.

“Who’s coming?” Dean Gamboa asked, his voice completely silencing everyone in the floor. The only sound was the copier machine at the corner of the room beside the vending machines.

For a moment, Jackie was silent. “Sir, I’ll go with you,” she uttered when she found her voice.

The man just looked at her and gave a small, single nod. He turned away and started for the elevator in his perfectly ironed dark-gray suit and slacks.

“Good luck, girl!” Karen said behind her.

But Jackie was already busy texting Troy to even give a reply. It’s on! Go to Bar 21!

Chapter 6

The elevator ride down was totally awkward. Jackie knew she didn’t have to be afraid of the man, but she couldn’t help but feel a little bit of anxiety. He had that kind of power.

She waited in pain for the elevator doors to open and when they did, Dean Gamboa stepped aside to let her pass first.

“Hmm, thanks,” she uttered before she could stop herself. Her words were greatly laced with sarcasm she was sure her boss was able to hint it. But if he did, he didn’t mention it for he walked with her out of the building and to the parking long in complete silence.

  *****

When I saw Jackie coming, I was about ready to turn on my engine. But someone was with her, a handsome fellow. Who is that?

And my girl Jackie was looking tense. Was that because of the man? Was he another stalker?

She almost reached me when the guy called out, “Miss, Ramos, where are you going?”

She turned around in her heels and said, “I’m taking Toto with me.”

The man frowned. He was holding a set of keys in his hand. “Toto?”

Jackie pointed over her shoulder at me. “My car.”

The man looked at me for about ten seconds before he said, “You’re riding with me,” he motioned his head at Beatle, the black Honda Civic.

Oh, so he’s Beatle’s owner. I hadn’t seen that guy ever because Beatle had always been the first car in the parking lot.

“But, sir…” Jackie said.

Sir? Okay, now I understand. He’s the boss. The one with the fake FB account.

“Get in, Miss Ramos,” he ordered, opening Beatle’s front door.

And I knew why Jackie hated him. He was the bossy boss she never wanted and she couldn’t do anything about it.

Before she walked to where Beatle was parked, Jackie turned to me and said, “Sorry, Toto, maybe next time.”

  *****

Jackie didn’t know what to do as she walked to the black Honda Civic.

She was obviously confused which door to open. She got hold of the back door, let it go, stared at it and then walked to the passenger side. She took the handle, paused and stepped back.

“What are you doing, Miss Ramos?” Dean Gamboa’s baritone voice asked as he stared at her over the hood of the car.

“I…sir, where do you want me to seat?” she asked with a grimace.

The sun was bright today and Jackie was not sure if her boss was crunching his face because of the heat or because of her stupidity.

“Get in the front seat,” he said stonily before he disappeared under the hood.

“Oh, okay,” she said, stepping right back to the passenger door. When she finally settled inside, she was immediately bombarded by…how do we put this? Cleanliness? Neatness? Anyway, the interior of her boss’ car was far from Toto’s.

“Seatbelt,” said her boss as he placed the car in gear.

She did as he asked. And the moment they drove out of the parking lot, complete and utter silence followed.

“Can we play some music?” she asked before she could even process the question in her head. Dean Gamboa just turned his head and looked at her for a moment. He returned his attention back on the road without giving her an answer. “Fine,” she whispered, taking out her phone. She groaned when it started ringing. Brian. She lowered the volume and tapped the red button on the screen. Creep .

Ignoring the ten messages the guy sent her, she scanned her phone for other texts.

Then she saw Troy sent a reply. She opened it and smiled. On my way!

Jackie looked her boss’ serious face. Such an innocent guy, she thought.

   *****

Closer!

She threw Troy a look as she shifted in her seat. Her friend was sitting at the far corner of the restaurant, pretending to be one of the guests. Dean Gamboa was sitting beside her around one of the square tables of Bar 21. The two men they were having a meeting with were seated across them. Their meal had just been served.

I can’t sit any closer, stupid! We’re on a meeting! Just get the right angle! Get close-ups of him! She replied in haste.

“Miss Ramos,” a voice so near her ear spoke. She could feel his breath warm her auricles and she could definitely feel a flush coming up her face. “If you don’t keep your phone, I suggest you leave this meeting.”

She turned her head and it was a wrong move. For a few seconds, she was just about an inch apart from her Dean Gamboa’s face. Oh, his face does have pores. But why are they so tiny? It lasted for just about two to three seconds because she managed to lean away. He was wearing a small smile for their guests, but she recognized the warning in his eyes. She gulped and blinked. “I’m sorry. I was just texting Karen about–”

“You give a lot of reasons when it is not really needed. Keep your phone away from the table,” her boss said, his head now a good measure away as he turned his attention back to his food.

Her eyes flickered to the corner of the room where Troy was. He gave her a thumb-up and she smiled inwardly. He captured that moment! Well, Dean Gamboa was making this easier than she expected.

  *****

Their meeting finished without more than three suggestions from her. This was Joseph’s job and she was too busy to even listen anyway. Troy was silently taking pictures and she was trying to provide him with good angles by leaning closer to her boss as much as she could.

By the time they stood up from the table, she was carrying folders provided by the two people (she couldn’t even remember their names) who had been sitting across them for almost three hours. Of course, Dean Gamboa, having done with the meeting, was busily attacking his phone to even consider the folders. She threw Troy a look of thanks and motioned to text him later before she exited the restaurant. Struggling with her bag and the folders, she walked to Dean Gamboa’s car and made a move for the door with the hand carrying the folders.

“Let me,” her boss said beside her, gently brushing her hand aside. The electrifying feeling was unexpected. Jackie had never felt it since her first crush in high school held her hand. After a series of heartbreaks, she never expected this kind of feeling and she sure never expected she’d experience it with this man. She didn’t know she was looking at him blankly and only when he raised his eyebrows did she realize the door was already open.

“Thanks,” she muttered and hurriedly climbed inside.

  *****

Send me the pictures ASAP!

No, you’ll have to get it from me. She heaved a frustrated sigh after reading Troy’s reply. Back in the office and behind her desk, she looked at her clock. One more hour before four.

Why?! She texted a reply.

Because you have to treat me to dinner! That’s why.

I’ll do that AFTER you are done taking more photos. You still need to follow him around later.

Then come with me.

No, I’ll be going home. I still need to file for a freaking Barangay Protection Order!

Fine, then you’re not getting the pictures.

Okay, okay! Troy had always been bugging Jackie and her friends to treat him for lunch, snacks, dinner or drinks ever since they became friends. He was just like that. And it was not helping now.

When the clock struck four, Jackie almost panicked because she saw Dean Gamboa stand up from his desk. When he took his bag, she knew he was going home. Why so early?!

She texted Troy in haste. Get here as fast as you can. He’s leaving!

She took her bag and said to Karen, “I have to go home now. See you tomorrow!”

“’Bye!” her friend said without looking up from her computer.

Dean Gamboa was entering the elevator and she cried out, “Hold it! Hold it!”

He looked at her and immediately stopped the door from closing.

“Thanks!” she uttered, panting, when she managed to step inside.

Her phone did not even beep a reply from Troy and she was getting frustrated. But her frustration went further up when the doors opened at the fourth floor and Brian came in.

“Jackie!” he started to say. “You weren’t answering my texts and you’ve been canceling my calls–” but he stopped when he saw Dean Gamboa who was silently standing beside Jackie.

Brian uttered a, “Sorry,” as he walked inside and stood at her other side. “Jackie, why weren’t you answering my calls?” he whispered beside her.

She looked at Dean Gamboa. The man was very still, his eyes facing the closed doors of the elevator.

“I was with my boss,” she answered in a very low voice.

“Why were you with your boss?”

Before she could answer, the most shocking thing happened. Dean Gamboa spoke up. “We were on a meeting and I don’t allow my employees to spend their office hours texting.”

Jackie didn’t realize she was holding her breath.

“Sorry,” Brian murmured once again, his face flushed. Jackie was right. The man was scared shit of her boss! “I won’t bother her during working hours, sir.”

Dean Gamboa just threw Brian a look and said nothing. The doors opened and her boss walked out first.

“Jackie,” Brian called behind her.

“Leave me alone, Brian!” she cried over her shoulder as she rushed outside the building and to the parking lot where Dean Gamboa was also heading. To her surprise, Brian didn’t follow.

Jackie breathed a big sigh of relief when she saw Troy’s vehicle beside Toto.

  *****

Troy and Tata’s presence told me that I would be staying in the parking lot longer than anticipated. If cars could only develop varicose veins for prolonged parking, my veins (if I had any) would already be bursting!

Troy had been leaning against my hood and I had been trying to figure out how to kick his legs with my tire when Jackie finally reached us. “Right about time!” Jackie told Troy. “Come on! Let’s go!” she said, pulling Troy away from me. “He’s leaving!”

And sure, Beatle was leaving the parking lot.

Take me! Take me!

But they were not listening.

“Calm down, Jackie,” Troy said with a laugh as he boarded Tata. Jackie was already running to the passenger side of the four-wheel drive.

I groaned. Tata whispered a reassuring word to me but it was no use. Just make sure you tell me everything later! I shouted before they drove away.

As I mourned my unfortunate lonely afternoon, under the shade of the Acacia tree, I saw Brian. He was carrying a big box and I saw a rolled cardboard sticking up. I groaned. Here we go again…

The moment he reached me, he smiled and said, “Hello, Toto!”

Creep!

He then went to work, placing the box on my hood. He took out the orange cardboard and spread it wide over my windshield. He stuck four tapes to the four corners. And I was partly blinded again. Bastard! I’ll get you for this!

“Now that Jackie’s no longer with that gay boyfriend of hers, it’s my turn to show her what a real man is,” he said with that creepy voice of his.

You’re sick, man! Sick!

And to make matters worse, he sprinkled rose petals all over me. Literally all over me. I was nearly crying as I heard the other cars howl in laughter.

Jackie girl, come back!

  *****

They were closely following her boss’ car to Mandalagan Street and when he turned to the road right across the small supermarket, Lopue’s Mandalagan, Jackie groaned.

“He lives in Mountain View,” she uttered.

“How do you know?” asked Troy.

“I just have this hunch. We’ll soon find out.” She was munching salted peanuts as they tailed her boss.

When Dean Gamboa’s black Honda Civic finally turned left to the entrance of the subdivision, Jackie howled a triumphant cry. “I told you!”

The disappointed look on her face was immediately noted by her friend. “What’s wrong now?”

“He’s going home. It means we can’t really take good shots.”

“Let’s just hope he has a social life.”

She looked at her friend dryly. “The man has no social life, Troy. Not like you.”

Troy shrugged. “I don’t know, I think I saw him somewhere, but I can’t remember where. And I do have a good memory of faces, remember? I’m sure I saw him somewhere.”

She frowned. She wouldn’t question Troy’s facial recognition ability. Faces were his living and if he said he saw Dean Gamboa somewhere, she believed him. But where?

“Okay, okay, get a picture!” she finally uttered when her boss stopped outside a modest, well-maintained, white bungalow.

“Relax,” Troy uttered as he stopped his vehicle across the street and took out his camera. “I can’t believe I’m doing this for you. You should really treat me to dinner.”

“Just do your assignment and I’ll tell Dannie to treat you to fine-dining with wine and candles,” she stated, finishing the pack of peanuts.

Troy snorted saying, “Unless I want to be poisoned to death by a preschool teacher, no thanks.” He positioned his eye against the camera. He had lowered his window a few inches so only the lens would peek out. Dean Gamboa was opening his gate and it told Jackie he lived alone. Not a big shocker, really.

“You guys should really give each other a chance,” she uttered, veering back to their conversation.

“I like the way we are,” his friend said, clicking away. Jackie shrugged.  She let him do his work for a few seconds and when their subject finally disappeared inside his home, Troy sighed in disappointment. “Nothing good. All I managed to take were shots of his back,” he uttered as he reviewed his shots.

Jackie slumped down the passenger seat.

“But he is going out for sure,” Troy said, his tone brighter.

“How can you tell?”

“He has a driveway, dimwit. He would have parked his car inside if he is planning to stay for a long time.”

The smile on her face slowly crept back in. Troy was right. “Then I guess we’ll have to wait!”

  *****

And so they waited patiently. “What’s taking him so long?” she was asking when the door to Dean Gamboa’s home opened. A man in dark jeans, gray shirt, and a baseball cap was stepping out. His face was barely visible because of the cap, but Jackie recognized that walk as the man made his way to the gate.

Her eyes widened.

“Well, well, well…” Troy uttered with amusement, starting up Tata’s engine. “Looks like your boss is not who you think he is after all, Jackie.”

“What the–” She couldn’t finish her sentence. It was like watching a magic show. Dean Gamboa entered the house as a man he knew he was and now he walked out like…what? Someone normal? She had never seen him in jeans or shirts in her three years of working for him. Never!

She couldn’t help but wonder, as her now rugged-looking, handsome boss walked back to his car. Who really is Dean Gamboa?

Chapter 7

Thank God it’s Wednesday, I thought. It meant tomorrow would be Thursday and it mean I’d be with Georgie. I couldn’t believe Jackie would leave me here to be put on shame! Other cars and their owners looked at me with amusement as they started to leave.

The BMW beside me was talking about how unfortunate my situation was. It wouldn’t stop talking! I wanted to kick its shiny bumper and leave it limp for the rest of eternity until it would be weighed for scrap.

I was still partially blinded by the stupid orange cardboard that read, “I love you, Jackie! Please say yes!”

“We’re here! Yes, yes! Oh my God!”

I almost jumped on my four tires when I heard George’s voice. Georgie?

A small gasp followed George’s cry. Dannie?

And sure enough, there they were. Both of them were staring at me with shock on their faces. And then the shock turned to anger. George stormed toward me, her slit eyes now in lines, and grabbed the stupid cardboard. She ripped it away from me and I cried in glee.

“Sick bastard!” George cried, staring at the rose petals on my hood. “Okay, I change my mind! We definitely need to get rid of him!” She used the cardboard to sweep the red rose petals off me.

Dannie was looking at me, still in shock. “I really thought Jackie was just exaggerating when she told me about this guy.”

Come on, girls! Jackie has been in hell since this guy came into her life!

“We should have known he’s doing more than sing outside our apartment,” George said in agreement. “Shoot!” she uttered as she checked her phone, the one she was holding in her other hand. She brought it back to her ear and said, “Jackie? Sorry, we just had a shock when we saw Toto. He was covered with rose petals!”

“And a cardboard!” Dannie added beside George.

“Where? Art District? Why are you there?” George was asking. She threw the cardboard right beside the narcissistic BMW. Good throw, Georgie!

I saw George’s shoulders drop. “Okay, we’ll get there.”

“Why is she in Art District?” Dannie asked, walking to my passenger side.

“They’re following her boss,” George answered, searching her big backpack for the keys. “She should really stop leaving Toto behind,” she added in frustration.

Tell her that, Georgie!

“I was waiting for her outside the school when she called me to pick Toto up,” Dannie uttered conversationally when George finally managed to open my doors. “But you said she was following her boss with who–” Dannie did not finish her sentence. “Right. She’s with Troy.”

“And she said she has a ‘ shocker’ thing to tell us,” George added, putting me in gear.

Drive faster, Georgie! I want to know what this shocker is!

  *****

Art District was located at the back of Lopue’s Mandalagan , a supermarket/department store. It was where most people who would want a night with music and good drinks would go. I used to call it a “park of bars” because there were just different small bars surrounding the amphitheater found at the center. These bars had tables and chairs set up outside so people who would like to spend their night breathing in fresh air could enjoy. And there would always be music. It was named Art District because it was a place that collaborated music, art works, food and drinks. Colorful murals on the walls gave the place a cool look and then there were those exhibits of statues made from scrap! At the entrance, you would find large concrete balls, some of them painted to look like giant billiard balls. Others had pastel colors and they were gigantic. It was cool, actually. I was just unlucky that I was a car and I couldn’t join the boys and their friends whenever they went here. They used to park me at the back, right behind the supermarket, but that parking lot was closed now. So I had to content myself by just hearing and getting a glimpse of the fun from outside the main entrance.

It seemed that there would be a band playing tonight. I could hear someone testing a guitar. I preferred the jazz nights like George, but then, I also liked some of the bands who played here before.

As George and Dannie climbed out of me and crossed the street to where the fun was, I was giddy. I couldn’t spot Tata anywhere so I assumed Troy parked her somewhere far. No chance for me to get some news of her late-afternoon adventure. There were a lot of different vehicles around though, and I could spend my night chatting with some of them. I could forget about the excitement over Jackie’s shocking news for a while.

I saw a pink Volkswagen parked just a car away. It was definitely one of the latest models, but I knew those vics (we call female vehicles ‘vics’ and this word is actually legit among our kind) would dig an old, funny Beetle. Hey, there, sexy! I called.

  *****

Jackie waved at her friends from the table she and Troy managed to get. It was nearly dark and people were starting to arrive, most of them just to grab dinner. Some call center agents were already starting to have fun from another table.

“What’s this all about this time?” George asked the moment they reached the table. She grabbed the seat next to Jackie. Dannie had no choice but the seat next to Troy. “And why are you wearing sunglasses?”

“She’s on an undercover mission,” Troy answered dryly before he took a bite from his burrito.

“You wouldn’t believe this!” Jackie gushed out, dramatically wailing her hands sideways, not minding the fact that she was more likely attracting more attention by wearing a pair of pink-rimmed sunglasses.

“What?” her friends asked.

“My boss wears jeans and shirt!”

Her friends looked at her, dumbfounded. “That’s all?” George asked.

“That’s the shocker?”

Jackie looked at her friends. “Can you believe it? He’s normal after all!”

“Uh, Jackie,” Troy said beside her, “it seems that you are the only person here who actually appreciates this kind of revelation.”

Her face fell when she realized he was right. They didn’t know her boss. They didn’t know what he was at work.

“Why are we here anyway?” asked George.

“I have to treat him to dinner,” she answered, gesturing her head at Troy’s direction. “You know, I still can’t believe it. I mean, he never wears anything in the office other than slacks and a suit. I never even saw him wearing anything else! And yet, he’s now wearing a pair of sneakers!” She motioned her hand behind them, her voice lowering with each word she uttered.

George frowned. “He’s here?”

“Why else would we be here?” Jackie asked incredulously. “You know Art District is only on Saturdays for me.”

“Have you taken enough pictures?” Dannie asked as George called the waiter.

“No, not really,” Jackie answered. She tipped her sunglasses over her eyes and carefully looked over her shoulder. “As you can see, he has his back turned to us.” Then she threw Troy an accusing look before she pulled her sunglasses back down. “If he didn’t take a lot of time chatting up with that girl earlier, we could have grabbed a better table.”

“Hey, it was not my fault,” Troy said in defense, his mouth full of rice and beef and burrito wrap.

The waiter arrived and her friends gave him their orders. “This one’s on you as well,” George stated as the waiter left. “We could have saved a lot if we just went home and cook.”

“Agree,” Dannie voted. “And you look ridiculous with that eyewear.”

“He might recognize me.”

George rolled her eyes. “We recognized you in an instant the moment we entered the place. In case you forgot, you are wearing your office uniform.”

She looked down and her clothes. George was right. Without argument, she took off her blazer, revealing her light blue sleeveless shirt. She then unwound her hair and let it fall down her shoulders. “Better,” she uttered, throwing Troy the blazer. “Keep it safe for a while,” she ordered, leaning on the table to look at her friends. “Tell me what he’s doing,” she said.

Dannie sighed and craned her neck. “Who should I be looking at? The one with the gray shirt?”

“Yes, the one with the black baseball hat. He’s facing the other way.”

“He’s drinking beer, talking to some guys.”

“Woah! Beer! I just can’t believe it!”

George was into the game by then and she was also looking ahead to where Dean Gamboa was sitting. “I think I now understand what you mean. He’s with a bunch of men you cannot really picture out in an office suit.”

“See? That’s why this is such a shocker! I’m telling you, girls, if you just know the guy like I do, you’d flip like crazy.”

Troy was also looking over his shoulder. “They really do look familiar.”

Jackie smacked his arm. “Stop looking! You’re so obvious! And of course they will look familiar to you. You’re always almost everywhere. I said, stop looking.”

Troy turned back to his original position, a frown on his face. “I’m serious. I really think I know them.”

“Then rack your memory! This can actually be good! I can have more information on the guy that will make his Facebook legit. Which reminds me,” she turned to Troy and held out her hand, palm up. “Give me the pictures.”

“Later,” he said with a wink.

She glared at him through her sunglasses. “Troy,” she warned.

“Fine, fine,” he said, his hand grabbing his camera. He took out the memory card and gave it to her. “Give it back to me. It costs a lot.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jackie uttered, already standing up.

“Where are you going?” Dannie and George asked in unison.

“II have to make an FB account now. My laptop’s inside Toto. I need to actually put my plan in action, you know. My life is at stake here in case you forgot. You just witnessed earlier how mad Brian can get and I have been telling you guys that for a long time. Right now, I desperately want to be the official girlfriend of Dean Gamboa.” She walked away without a word. She ignored the curious glances people were throwing her because of her sunglasses. They had the right to be curious. It was already dark, nearly eight o’clock. How did the time fly so fast?!

Hurry, hurry, she told herself. She had to make the account now.

  *****

I saw Jackie walking toward me. What the hell?

Why is she wearing sunglasses? Come on, Jackie, you’re not this crazy!

But she ignored me, not even saying a word as she opened my door. At the backseat, she took the bag that contained her laptop, one that she would always forget to take with her. But it seemed that right now, she remembered it was there.

“We’re going to make an FB account, Toto,” she said excitedly as she turned the laptop on. She took off her stupid sunglasses and waited for about a minute or two, patiently humming a happy tune while the computer was starting. Once done, she turned on the tether of her phone and went online. She went on to make an account, muttering words as she typed.

“Dean Gamboa. What’s his middle name? Hmmm, let’s leave this one blank for a while. Birthday. Uh, no idea either. Okay, let’s make it October 7, 1983, the same one I used with his Gmail account. That will make him around thirty-years old. That’s close enough, I think.”

You’re crazy, Jackie girl! And you dare make his birthday the same as yours!

“Of course, we have to have the same birthday. He will just be about five years older than me. It will be destiny,” she said as if hearing me.

Brian works in the HR department, Jackie. He’ll know his birthday!

“Shit! Brian works in the HR. He would know. Okay, we’ll just hide the birthday then. That’s more like him. Private. What else? Description. What the hell? Man of few words. That’s enough, I guess. Create account. This is it, Toto!” For a few minutes, she busied herself verifying the account and when that was done, she went back to edit Dean Gamboa’s profile. She turned the setting to private, added the photos Troy managed to take yesterday at the restaurant and golly! The man was good! He managed to take pictures of Dean Gamboa smiling like he was a handsome angel and then, there was that photo of him and Jackie looking at each other, their faces too close.

“It’s not what you think it is, Toto. This was actually taken when he was scolding me about texting during a meeting.”

Don’t be too defensive, Jackie. I’m not asking.

When the photos were uploaded, she went on to invite friends. Of course, she invited herself first.

She opened her phone’s FB account and changed her privacy settings as well. She made her list of friends private. Her office friends were grouped together. She changed the setting for that group and smiled wickedly. “No one will ever know,” she whispered. Then she went on to accept Dean Gamboa’s friend request and deleted it from the newsfeed. Once that was done, she went on to search for Troy. Of course, the man was searchable. Next, George. She couldn’t look for George. Shit. Dannie. Great. Dannie was not on a private setting. Next, Brian. And Jackie almost jumped up in joy when she saw Brian’s profile. She clicked the ‘add friend’ button.

“Done! Now, how do we make Brian accept the request?” I could almost see the bulb light up inside her head when the idea struck her. “I’ll make this photo of us our profile picture,” she said, searching for that picture of her and Dean Gamboa looking at each other. “And once Brian finds out that I am a mutual friend, he would accept the request. But let’s just hope that he’s scared shit of the guy and back off for good. It would make things easier–” her words were cut off by the groan that escaped her lips. “He accepted it! The creep!”

And then her phone started ringing. It was Brian. He wouldn’t rest, would he?

“I hate you!” Jackie shouted at her phone without answering. She reviewed Dean Gamboa’s fake account, making sure that his list of friends and other personal information were private. “It doesn’t matter if Brian finds out Dean Gamboa just joined Facebook today,” she said aloud. “I could always tell him I urged my new boyfriend to make one.”

Crazy, Jackie. Crazy!

“Okay, just one status.”

Chilling with friends.

I knew she wouldn’t specify the place because Brian might just come. Anything was possible with that guy. She took the memory card from the laptop, closed the lid, and replaced her stupid sunglasses. And then she opened my door and got out.

Just make sure this is going to work out, Jackie!

  *****

Jackie was too excited to go back to her friends. She had to ask Troy and Dannie to accept the friend requests. And then she had to beg George to–

Her thoughts halted as she passed by a group of guys. For a moment, she thought her eyes were just fooling her, but she had to make sure. She went to a corner and took off her sunglasses and stared.

Her jaw dropped. “Oh my God,” she whispered in awe. “What the–this is crazy!”

Chapter 8

What she was looking at was a group of guys setting up instruments. Obviously, they were the band that would play tonight. But that was not what caused Jackie’s shock. At the back of the group, with his baseball cap covering almost half of his face, sitting behind the drums, was Dean Gamboa!

And he was holding the drumsticks! He wasn’t’ just a lost soul sitting there, right? He was a member of the band, right? He was the drummer, right?

He was not sitting there for any reason at all other than play, Jackie thought.

Sitting there strumming something on the drums was not Dean Gamboa, the boss, she was seeing. It was a completely different person who managed to possess her boss.

“Oh my God, oh my God…” she was muttered to herself as she hastily made her way back to where her friends were.

“What took you so long?” George demanded.

“He just left with his friends, Jackie” Dannie told her.

Of course, her friends didn’t see Dean Gamboa and his friends setting up their instruments. Their table was far from the scene.

“You won’t believe this!” Jackie cried out, her expression still shocked.

“What?” Troy asked.

“What?” George and Dannie repeated when she just stood there to fan her face with her hands in a dramatic way, the other one still holding her sunglasses.

“He’s…oh my God. Now, this is the real shocker!”

“What?” this time, it was the three of them who impatiently asked.

“He’s a freaking drummer!” she cried out. “He’s in a band!”

“What?” George and Dannie cried out.

“I knew it!” Troy exclaimed.

“I know, right? He’s in a freaking band and they are setting up right now!” Jackie announced, jumping on her feet with excitement.

“I knew I saw them somewhere. They’re…what do they call them?” he uttered, his eyes searching for the answer. And then he flicked his fingers. “Anon. People call them Anon because they–”

“Don’t have a name for their band,” Jackie finished. When she saw her friends’ appalled look, she explained, “Karen gushed about them the other day.”

“I featured them in my blog,” Troy added.

“And you couldn’t remember them until now?”Dannie asked him.

“I feature a lot of people in my blog,” he answered dryly. “And do you know that they are not only called Anon? Some folks call them Mang Tomas.”

“The all-around sarsa?” George asked.

“Yeah, the all-around sauce you dip your lechon in.”

“Because they play almost everything?” Dannie asked.

Troy looked at her with awe. “You never fail to amaze me, Danica.”

Dannie rolled her eyes at him. “We have a teacher at school we also call Mang Tomas. He can teach almost every subject.”

“So, you mean they play almost all genres?” Jackie asked with awe.

Troy gulped down his beer and nodded. “Yes, they are pretty versatile.”

“Oh my God! Let’s go see them!”

“Jackie, he might see you,” George pointed out.

“I don’t care! He must probably be busy playing and hiding that he won’t even notice me! Come on, guys!” She cried as she grabbed George’s hand and pulled.

“The bill, boys,” Troy uttered as they started to stand up.

“You’re such a gentleman,” Dannie shot at him.

He just shrugged and watched as Jackie fumbled through her bag and took out some bills. She waved at the waiter and gestured for the bill.

  *****

“You should really lose those glasses, Jackie,” Troy whispered beside her as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“If you care too much about how people would see you, then go find another table,” she hissed at him.

“Can we order for a pizza? I’m hungry,” George asked.

“Me, too!” Troy answered, lifting his hand to call a waiter.

“Order something–” Dannie started but Troy placed his finger on her mouth to stop her. She slapped it away.

“I know what to order. No pineapples because George doesn’t like them. No olives because you can’t eat them.”

“Both green and black olives.”

“I know, Danica. I’ve known you boys for years. I literally know what you can’t put into your mouths.” He followed his statement with a wink.

“I think they’re starting! Oh, my God, this is so exciting!” Jackie squealed in her seat. Their table was at the far corner in front of the small area around the band. Since they got there later than the others, they couldn’t get a better table. Troy even had to stand up to catch the attention of a passing waiter.

Jackie was not hearing a word of what her friends were talking about. She was busily looking at the band. The lead guitarist was smiling at the crowd. He was not that handsome, but it was obvious that the women dig him like they would almost all lead guitarists. The one behind the keyboard looked geeky with his eyeglasses. The vocal was perhaps the coolest-looking guy in the group. The one holding the bass guitar looked like he was transported to a place he didn’t recognize.

But Jackie’s attention went back to Dean Gamboa as soon as she managed to get a good look at the rest of the band. She looked at him behind the drums, his face hidden by his baseball cap. Her eyes travelled down to his broad shoulders, hugged by his shirt (she still couldn’t believe he was wearing a normal shirt!) and down to his arms. The hands that she usually saw holding pens and papers were clasping a drumstick each and they were being playfully and masterfully flipped in the air and through his fingers as Dean Gamboa waited for his band mates to finish their last-minute adjustments. Her eyes travelled back up to his neck and around the collar of his shirt and that was when she saw it.

It was just peeking at the edge of the round collar of his shirt. She lowered her sunglasses to see better, but she couldn’t figure out what the sign was. But she was certain about one thing: it was a freaking tattoo!

“Good evening, guys!”

A few tables howled a cheer as the vocalist started talking.

“It’s good to be back here. I hope you’ll like our set tonight,” he added, flashing a grin at everyone before he faced the rest of the band and nodded his head.

Jackie’s mouth was slightly open as she watched Dean Gamboa tap his drumsticks together three times before all instruments started playing. For a moment there, she almost didn’t want to hear the band. She was afraid to be disappointed. She desperately wanted them to be great.

And they were.

She recognized the song Gravity in an instant. The band played in perfect balance. There was no instrument sounding louder than the others. And the moment the vocalist started singing John Mayer’s song, the girls started howling.

Jackie and some other people sang along with the song while the others just continued on with their conversation and laughter. When the song ended, everyone was clapping and the girls were howling.

“Since we see older folks–no offense–let us play this song we have always wanted to play. Please bear with us for this is quite old. But we do respect Marvin Gaye and his music,” the vocalist was saying as the band started playing once again.

“How sweet it is to be loved by you!” The people around them started singing along. It was one of the songs that was old, yet had endured time, especially among those who had grown up in households with parents who loved classic country rock. Jackie was one of them.

She noted that the band made a good rendition of the song that one wouldn’t feel he was back in the sixties.

 

I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were  With sweet love and devotion  Deeply touching my emotion  I want to stop and thank you baby  I just want to stop and thank you baby 

“How sweet it is to be loved by you!” the crowd started singing once again as the vocalist motioned with his hand for everyone to join him.

“Hey!” she turned to Troy, shouting over the noise. “What the hell are you doing sitting here? Grab your camera and start shooting!”

Her friend looked at her like she just made a joke. “Fine!” he shouted when she didn’t blink an eye. “You’re paying for my drinks!”

“Just do your job!”

“Like you’re actually giving me a paycheck,” her friend muttered as he grabbed his camera and stood up.

Jackie looked behind her and saw that George and Dannie were looking at the same man she was looking at earlier. It was one of those moments when your friends would check out the guy you were interested in. But in this case, her friends were checking out the man she was using to make her problems go away.

And the man I hate, she reminded herself. She looked back at where Dean Gamboa was, the music slowly fading as she was all of a sudden consumed by her anger toward him. Yes, he turned out to be awesome and cool, but he was still the same man who didn’t even blink an eye when she told him about her problem. He was still the boss who only wanted her to do her job whether or not she turned up dead the next day.

She was no longer smiling or gaping with awe by the time the song ended and people started clapping. She was already formulating the next action she should take.

  *****

I was actually not in the mood to go out today. But since it was my job to take the girls wherever they wanted to take me, I just had to tag along. The vic I was with last night turned out to be worse than the narcissistic BMW. She made me want to wish for sound-proof windows.

And Jackie seemed like she was in one of her crazy days. She was busily looking through her phone, specifically the fake Facebook account of her fake boyfriend.

“George, please, just turn off your privacy setting for a minute. I need to send you a friend request.”

“I’ll do that later, Jackie,” George uttered as she parked me outside Bob’s Café. “Go grab your coffee and make it fast. I have a training class in thirty minutes.”

Jackie sighed and climbed off me.

“She was different last night when we came home,” Dannie uttered the moment Jackie closed the door.

Hmm, yeah, I noticed that as well. She was not as excited when they finally came out of Art District as she was when she made Dean Gamboa’s account.

“When she found out her boss is in a band, she was all over the moon with excitement,” George agreed.

Yeah? Of course, I found out about the band thing. And it was a bit of a shocker for me. I never took Dean Gamboa to be a drummer. He was so stiff he could be a drumstick or a microphone stand. But a drummer? I just couldn’t picture it out.

“What do you think came to her mind?” Dannie asked.

George sighed. “Let’s just hope it is not crazier than this game she’s playing.”

  *****

If there was anyone who could forget a sour mood fast, it would be Jackie. Yes, she went home feeling somehow sour because she had to remind herself of the real Dean Gamboa, the one who was cold and heartless. But at the back of her mind, she was guilty as well. She was using him to her advantage.

But I’m doing it to make Brian go away, she had told herself over and over again last night as she lay in bed.

And right now, as she held her coffee in her hand, walking to the entrance of the company building, she was almost smiling. Dean Gamboa, whoever he really was, could go to hell. If he was keeping a double personality, she didn’t care. What he really was would not be her business. What he could be in her life was what that mattered. And right now, he was her fake boyfriend who could really save her from a freaking, sick stalker.

  *****

Joseph was back and he was not being nice to everyone. His voice sounded different because his nose was all clogged up.

“Why did you report back to work if you’re still sick?” Jackie asked.

“Because I heard you were not very helpful in the meeting,” he uttered.

“What?” she asked. “In my defense, I jutted down some notes for you to review. And how the hell could I participate in that meeting? All I know is how to contact people and make great designs for the event. I don’t do meetings on how to properly distribute the budget.”

“That’s why I’m back,” Joseph said dryly, sniffing. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“The meeting.”

“What? We’re having a team meeting?”

He nodded. “Get your ass up. The boss is waiting.”

“What are we going to talk about–” she stopped when Joseph gave her one of his looks. “Okay, okay. Calm down and wipe that runny nose.”

  *****

The meeting started and the six people present, including her, Karen and Joseph, were quiet. As always. Dean Gamboa was talking and Jackie was busily looking at his face. He had light dark circles under his eyes and Jackie smiled inwardly. Karen caught it from across the rectangular table and her friend threw her a questioning look. She so wanted to tell her friend why their boss looked a bit tired, but she wouldn’t want to spoil the fun of knowing the secret of the man who could make everyone in the room fearful.

She was so immersed in her own thoughts, just looking at Dean Gamboa move his lips. He was definitely a good imposter. He would act all cold and grumpy when in fact he was nothing but a drummer wearing a baseball cap at night.

Those lips were singing backup last night and right now they were…they were calling her name?

“Miss Ramos?” the sound of her name came to her like an airplane, just a faint sound at first and then, it got louder.

She blinked.

Her boss’ handsome face turned to a frown as he looked down at her. “Miss Ramos.”

“S-sir, yes sir?” she stammered, looking for something on the table when all she actually had were her feathered pen and orange notepad.

“As I was saying, everyone should know what was discussed in the meeting yesterday, about the contacts and the event settings.”

“The meeting?”

“Yesterday,” Dean Gamboa iterated, looking at her suspiciously.

“Uh…” Shoot! She could tell them how Troy took amazing candid shots of Dean Gamboa during that meeting. She could tell them how the batchoy tasted, or how her iced tea was served perfectly. But she couldn’t tell them a single line said during that freaking meeting!

Chapter 9

“Uh… the meeting…” Jackie uttered, her hands clumsily fumbling through her note. “It happened in uh…Bar 21 and uh…Mr. uh…”

“Miss Ramos,” Dean Gamboa called her attention. She looked up and saw that everyone was looking at her with amusement except their boss. “Everyone doesn’t care where the meeting was held. And it was not Mr. Uh. It was Mr. Kho and Dolosa.”

“Uh, right! Mr. Kho and Dolosa. They uh…we uh…discussed some things that are very essential for the project…” she flipped through her notes as she said it.

Dean Gamboa cleared his throat.

“Okay, I found it!” she almost shouted when she saw the scribbles she made yesterday. “So we talked about the different contacts. The food, the tables, the venue, etcetera. They both agreed to the Sugarland Hotel venue because of the food. And…” she peered at her note. Why didn’t she write it legibly? “The theme is yet to be discount…ted?” She didn’t really read ‘discounted’. She just added the ‘-ed’ because it sounded grammatically correct at the moment.

Dean Gamboa was now frowning. “Discussed.”

“Uh, yes, the theme for the event is yet to be discussed. Since it is happening this April, I thought it would be great if we suggest–”

“What you think was not discussed during the meeting, Miss Ramos. You should have raised it yesterday.”

“Well, sir, I thought it was not right of me to discuss it with Mr. uh…”

“Kho and Dolosa.” Their boss’ tone was more weighed and everyone shifted in their seats like they had an itch.

“Yes, of course, Mr. Kho and Dolosa was more concerned on the budget and their own suggestions that I thought it was not necessary–”

“Thank you, Miss Ramos,” Dean Gamboa said, cutting her sentence short. “I expected you to at least remember the important details of the meeting. But since you obviously can’t, let me do the job.”

Karen looked at her with sympathy. The others tried to avoid eye contact. They all knew what it felt like to be treated that way by the boss.

As Dean Gamboa continued the report like nothing happened, Jackie silently vowed for vengeance.

  *****

“I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!” she cried through her clenched teeth as she kicked the vending machine standing by the elevator doors. “Why can’t you give me the Coke? Why? Every freakin’ time!” she asked the machine, clutching the Pepsi can in her hand. “I punched the red button, not the blue one, you idiot!” she added as she gave it one last kick.

She whirled around to see Karen gaping at her.

“It always gives me the Pepsi!” she explained.

Karen frowned. “That’s odd. It always gives me the right kind.”

“Then it is stupid!” she answered, glancing over her shoulder to throw the vending machine a furious look.

“Anyway, I will be going out tonight. They said Anon will be playing some songs. Would you like to come with?” her friend asked as she fed the machine a fifty-peso bill.

“No, I can’t,” Jackie answered, scanning her phone, specifically Dean Gamboa’s fake Facebook page. “I don’t have Toto today. George has him and she wants to go to Sanders tonight. And we’ve been to Art yesterday.”

“So, you heard Anon?”

She looked at her friend. “Yeah.”

“They’re great, right?”

She remembered Dean Gamboa with the baseball cap again. He was just so cool. “Yeah.”

But he’s a heartless bastard!

“I just wish the drummer would take off his cap, you know. I’ve had a pretty good look at the others except him. Was he still wearing that stupid cap last night?”

“Yeah,” Jackie answered, half of her mind focused on texting George. Her friend had not yet made her profile searchable.

“Well, anyway, I know you’re pretty upset about what happened this morning in the meeting. You alright?”

“Of course,” she scoffed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because our boss burned your ass in that meeting?”

“He burns everyone’s ass, Karen. And plus, karma’s a bitch. He will get what he deserves in no time.”

And just as she was saying that, Dean Gamboa appeared in front of them.

“Sir,” Karen managed to utter while Jackie just stood there with her mouth hanging open.

Dean Gamboa stared at her impatiently. “Miss Ramos, are you going to ride the elevator?”

“What?”

“Are you going to ride the elevator?” he asked again, his eyes boring into hers.

“No,” she answered.

“Then, can you move aside and let me pass?” he gestured at the elevator doors behind her with his hand.

“Sure, why not?” she said before she could hold her words. She mentally slapped herself. Great, just great.

Dean Gamboa just gave a frustrated sigh as she stepped aside with her Pepsi can and phone.

  *****

Their apartment was not big, but it had enough space for three rooms, one room smaller than the other two. Dannie occupied it since she didn’t have a lot of things to put inside like George and her diving gears, backpacks, hiking boots and a lot of other equipment for her outdoor activities. And Dannie definitely didn’t have dozens of shoes, bags, dresses and beauty products like Jackie.

Their living room was directly connected to their small kitchen at the far end of the apartment. At the back was their laundry room, slash stock room. What the boys didn’t have was a couch. They never thought it was necessary. Jackie brought in a lot of large throw pillows and a large customized teal carpet. They didn’t have the time to buy tiles so they thought a carpeted living room and bedrooms was more practical. All they had to do was clean them with the cheap vacuum cleaner they bought at a discounted price in a Chinese store downtown. The kitchen and the only bathroom in the apartment were the only areas covered with white tiles.

It was a bungalow apartment so all the rooms were lined up at the right side, just as you enter the main door. Their right wall was painted white, the right one hot pink, and the kitchen mustard. Since they couldn’t find the time to regularly wash curtains, they had white blinds for all their windows. A potted plant was at one corner, just beside their television set, and their wall decorations were different Aztec-inspired designed fabrics that Jackie bought from local fabric stores in Central Market, which she framed using two-by-two woods George cut and nailed together. With Jackie’s artistic mind, they managed to have a cool apartment which was actually livable and comfortable.

They were sitting around their small, white, square dining table, sipping wine as Dannie cooked dinner. George was busy checking and calculating the bills delivered yesterday.

Jackie moaned.

“What’s wrong?” asked George without looking up.

“Our neighbor activated his WIFI password,” she frowned at her laptop.

“You have your phone. I told you he would find out sooner or later.”

“He’s an old man. How did he figure out his WIFI should be password-protected? My phone’s dying because of too much tethering.”

“Then don’t go online,” George answered.

“Do you want the sauce to be hot or sweet?” asked Dannie from behind.

“Both,” they answered.

“I need to go online,” Jackie continued with the conversation. “Dean’s making quite a few FB friends.”

“So you’re first name basis with your boss now?” George asked.

“His name is too long. Oh, another request from… Johanna. No common friends. I guess it’s safe, right?” When no one answered, Jackie clicked the ‘accept’ button. “She’s pretty. But sorry, girl, Dean’s already taken.” She looked at George who was still busy over their bills. “George, please, just make your profile searchable for even just a minute. No one’s going to find you within that time.” The look George gave her told her she better stop. Jackie just shrugged. She knew how important it was for George to keep her privacy, especially from the people who wanted her to come out from hiding.

George was not really hiding. She was just making it difficult for everyone to track her down. Her family knew where she was, but not specifically. They would call her from time to time, but Dannie and Jackie never asked her about her conversation with her parents. They just knew George didn’t want to come home because of some stupid family business. They also knew that sooner or later, George would have to face it and that she couldn’t get away from it even if she wanted to. Right now, she was just prolonging things while delaying the inevitable.

  *****

Since it was Friday, the boys were supposed to spend it at Sanders or Bob’s Cafe like they usually would, but Jackie had other plans. She wanted to go to Art District again. Jackie came prepared tonight. She went home early and changed her clothes and made herself up.

George had gone to an overnight training out of town. So she was out. Lucky her, really.

Dannie said she was not feeling well so she went home early. And I knew she only said that as an excuse to get away from the crowd and the loud music. I could understand her, really.

So it was just me and my girl Jackie once again. She was in a good mood than she was yesterday when she told everyone about how Dean Gamboa embarrassed her in front of her officemates. I guess the reason for her happy mood today was the fact that Brian didn’t show up in the parking lot.

I was actually surprised myself when he didn’t. I knew he was pestering Jackie about the Facebook account of Dean Gamboa, so it seemed that Jackie’s plan might be getting results.

Tata was already parked outside Art District.

Troy is here?

Of course he was. He was always where the party was and since it was a Friday, he was here. “See you later, Toto,” Jackie said as she parked me right behind Tata.

Alone again, naturally, I sang as she walked away.

  *****

Jackie was feeling great. Brian didn’t show up today and she only got three texts from him. She prayed he was losing hope.

But she couldn’t just think he would give up this easily. She still had to keep up with her scheme if she wanted to permanently keep her sick stalker away. And she would do that by making Dean Gamboa more real than he was yesterday on Facebook.

Troy waved at her when she entered the area. He was with his long-time friends again.

“I didn’t know you guys will be here,” she told them. Miguel and Lee had always been around since high school, being best buddies with Troy. Miguel was the typical no-work-all-play rich kid, being the son of a wealthy farmer, or haciendero as what most people would call their type. Lee was an office guy, a little nerdy, but cool to be with. Whenever Dannie and George were around, Dannie would prefer to talk to Lee. George hated Miguel though, like how Dannie hated Troy. But theirs was a different kind of weird friendship. They all had their differences since high school, almost always bantering and arguing over simple matters, but they would all still call each other friends when people asked.

“Don’t you miss us?” Miguel asked.

“You wish,” Jackie scoffed as she sat down beside Troy. “Ready?” she whispered beside him.

“Always,” he said with a wink, lifting his camera.

Jackie looked ahead and there he was with the same baseball cap from last time; still sitting at the back of the band; still doing his tricks with his drumsticks.

When Troy texted her that Anon would be playing again tonight, she jumped at the chance. She wanted to be familiar with Dean Gamboa’s every move–moves of both the boss Dean and the drummer Dean. So that she could make him more real in his Facebook account. She only prayed Karen would not show up. It would complicate matters and it would make it difficult for her to concentrate.

“Hey, guys!” The vocalist cried out. No one knew their real names yet, and it was a bummer for Jackie. The only guy she knew was Dean Gamboa. Troy said he’d try to find out their names if he could and she held on to that. Knowing his friends meant knowing him more.

There were more girls tonight and they started to cry out when the band started playing.

“Happy Friday, everyone!” the vocalist said before he started singing Friday I’m In Love.

Jackie fought the urge to join the others in jamming along. She loved that song since she heard it in the movie 50 First Dates.

But she had to focus right now. Her friends were not there to help her decipher Dean Gamboa. She had to do it alone. Miguel and Lee were out of the question. Troy was busy taking pictures and if he were not, he was as good as the other two.

The band played another song from the seventies, one that the older tables appreciated with howls. All the time, Jackie’s eyes never left Dean Gamboa’s sight. He never looked up and when he did, it was to talk to his band mates during song breaks. And then he would be back playing like he was in his own silent world. One thing Jackie noted was that he drank his beer in a sexy way. Yeah, sure, he did it like how Troy and the others would, but he did it while he was tapping on the drums! And his throat was just…

Jackie shook her head. She had to remember that Dean Gamboa was her enemy. He was nothing but a big imposter!

She had had quite a few beers so she excused herself from the table due to the call of nature. She turned her attention back to her phone as she walked to the ladies room and did her thing.

Jamming for my girl. She wrote the status for Dean Gamboa.

This would obviously make other ladies swoon. But this was not for anyone else. The status was for Brian alone. Jackie was Dean Gamboa’s girl now. Well, at least on Facebook, that is.

Dannie sent her a text earlier so she opened it.

When she was done, she walked out of the ladies room, tapping a reply for Dannie’s for her friend. When she looked up, she froze. Walking toward her with his head bent and covered by his black baseball cap was no other than Dean Gamboa.

Luckily, her feet were faster than her brain and she managed to hide behind the large pillar to her right. The pillar was painted with a picture of a mermaid who was smiling at her as she pressed her cheek against it. When Dean Gamboa passed by, she slowly circled back and around the pillar, peering at the edge.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

That was pretty close.

Will be home soon , she added in her text to Dannie and sent it.

She started to walk back to where Troy and the others where when someone bumped her from behind.

“Hey! Watch it!” she shouted as she whirled around. And all the cells in her body had a sudden, momentary heart attack of their own, paralyzing her as she stood there face to face with Dean Gamboa himself.

Chapter 10

Well, to make things even, Dean Gamboa was as surprised as she was. It was completely apparent on his face and his round eyes as he stared down at Jackie. God, how did he get more handsome? He was just wearing a freaking cap!

“You…” she stammered. They were outside work and she didn’t find the need to call him sir. “What are–”

“Miss Ramos,” he uttered, cutting her words with his oh-so-familiar cold voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Why? This is Art District. I was just about to ask you the same question. What are you doing…” Okay, if there was something you should know about Jackie’s past, it was that she once joined an acting class back in high school. And she pulled off a good shocking face as she gaped at Dean Gamboa “Wait a minute…you’re with that band, right? Oh my God!”

The look on her boss’ face was priceless. He pulled his cap deeper down to hide his face as he looked around to see if people heard Jackie’s cry.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it–”

“Miss Ramos, please don’t tell anyone about this,” he cut off once again.

Jackie gaped at him. Did Dean Gamboa just beg her to keep his secret a secret?

“Miss Ramos,” he said once more to get her attention, his face serious now.

“Yes, of course. Whatever you want,” she said so with a nod. “But why–”

“And don’t ask a lot of questions. Just forget about this. I have to go.” With that, he walked away in haste, throwing her a last glance over her shoulder.

“Aaaaah!” Jackie cried out. She jumped on her feet with excitement. Dean Gamboa was afraid of her now, right? Of course he was! She knew his secret and he knew she knew. He didn’t want anyone to know and she would keep it that way as long as he didn’t do anything stupid, especially at work.

As Jackie walked back to her friends, she was thinking how fate could be so kind to her. Everything was in her favor.

  *****

I didn’t do a lot during the weekend. Dannie was sick so she didn’t go to the church where she usually taught street children how to read. I was stuck outside the apartment with nothing but the motorcycles and other cars to keep me company. They too even had to leave on Saturday night while I got to be on my own. The boys would usually eat out during Saturdays, but they chose to order pizza since Dannie was sick and George was tired from her trip. On Sunday, we went to church. Dannie just had to go because well, she might have thought she would get sicker if she didn’t.

All in all, it was one of the laziest and boring weekends I ever had. I couldn’t wait for Monday. Jackie was excited for the same thing because of one thing: she wanted to see how Dean Gamboa would treat her now that he knew she knew his secret.

  *****

Jackie almost ran her way to the elevators. But her excitement died down when she saw Brian standing by the closed doors, obviously waiting for her with two cups of coffee.

“I already have my coffee, Brian,” she uttered before he could even make the offer.

He started to speak but then he closed his mouth. And that was when Jackie knew that Dean Gamboa was standing right behind her. His car was not yet around when she parked Toto outside. Did he have a gig last night? She asked in her mind.

She didn’t turn around to face him because she didn’t want to see his reaction just yet. But then she remembered Brian was there so she pretended she was looking over her shoulder and then she feigned a startled look when she saw him just a few feet away, dressed in his usual boss Dean getup.

“Good morning,” she murmured without looking in his eyes.

He just nodded.

Jackie’s excitement died down. Yeah, of course, he would still be the same Dean Gamboa she knew inside the office. But there was something different in his eyes when she glanced at them before she looked away and faced the elevator doors again. There was that look of familiarity one would often wear when they would look at someone they shared a secret with.

Jackie smiled inwardly. Of course, Dean Gamboa had a secret only she in the office knew.

When the elevator doors opened, she walked inside and Brian stepped right beside her, his face curious. She caught him steal a glance at Dean Gamboa and then at her.

She pretended she was busy with her phone. When Brian finally walked out the doors to the fourth floor, she was once again left alone with Dean Gamboa.

Why do I have to ride the elevator alone with him all the time? Why? She asked herself.

“I don’t care if Monday’s blue, Tuesday’s gray and Wednesday too…” she silently sang to keep herself busy as the elevator lifted to the fifth floor.

Dean Gamboa turned his head and looked at her, his eyes slightly narrowing. And it was then that Jackie realized she just sang the song from last Friday. She gave him a small smile as she bit her lower lip.

He was opening his mouth to say something when the doors opened. Jackie walked out as fast as she could. Stupid last song syndrome!

  *****

The rest of the day went by normally for Jackie. She got ten freaking missed calls from Brian, twenty texts and five Facebook messages.

Furious that her plan was not actually working as she had hoped for with Brian, she opened Dean Gamboa’s Facebook account. She was just about to post a status when she remembered her boss was not the type to go online during working hours.

She groaned in frustration. She had to give it time. Brian would eventually realize that he was fighting a losing battle. And how would she show him that?

Jackie opened her own account and posted a status.

Looking forward to see you tonight! She added a heart and tapped the post button.

Some friends commented who she was talking about. She did not answer, just smiling inwardly for she knew Brian would see it. She just hoped that he wouldn’t find the courage to confront her fake boyfriend.

A lot of things ran through her mind and they were mostly plans she had to do for today and tomorrow. And all of these plans were entirely due to Brian.

  *****

My Monday was fair. I didn’t see Brian at all! And I guess Jackie was also in a good mood. She was even excited when she went to the office that morning.

And on Tuesday, I had a great time with Dee, the ambulance. She told me great stories of her run with Georgie last Monday. And I confessed to her the misfortunes I had since Brian came into Jackie’s life. I guess she heard the same thing from me at least ten times, but she never complained.

But Tuesday didn’t end well for everyone.

Georgie and I went to pick Dannie and Jackie to file for a protection order, but it was a lost case.

The boys were furious that the Barangay Captain was not around and the secretary allegedly told them that they had a lot of protection orders to settle before they could help Jackie with her case. And they said that they prioritize more dangerous situations and Jackie’s was not yet what others would consider harmful.

 Jackie almost cried with frustration, but Dannie was able to comfort her saying that her plan might just be working. Brian didn’t go to their apartment for almost five days now and it was a good sign.

Well, I sure hope it is, boys. I sure hope it is…

Now, it was Wednesday again and I was back at the parking lot of Collins Corporations, under my lonely acacia tree and beside the narcissistic BMW. Everyone was throwing remarks at me, asking how I had been since that day I was sprinkled with rose petals. They had asked me the same thing since Monday! When would they stop?

You’ll all have your time, I tell you!

But it seemed that this year was all about me and Jackie because Brian was back waiting for her, his hands restlessly pulling the edge of his over-sized shirt as he waited for Jackie to climb off me. If I could just strap her with my seatbelt for eternity just to keep her away from the guy, I would have. I had not seen him for almost five days and now he was back. Whatever made him come back to his old tricks?

She managed to get a good vibe today after her coffee and she was once again enthusiastic with her plan to keep Brian away. As she told me earlier, it was just all about the right timing. But it seemed that her mood was about to change.

“Brian, please, leave me alone. How many times to I have to tell you that?”

Brian’s face looked like he had been thinking about something for quite some time and now was the time to finally make a confrontation. Psycho! Like he even had to do that! He had been fearlessly stalking Jackie around for months! “Jackie, I saw your boss’ Facebook account. Are you guys together?” Jackie pulled off her infamous shocked face as she stopped in her tracks and stared at Brian. “How did you find out? Oh my God, Brian, how did you find out?”

Brian frowned, his anxiety gone. “He sent me a friend request days ago.”

Jackie placed her fingers against the bridge of her nose as she stared down on the ground, mocking annoyance. “I told him to leave you alone.”

Fear registered on Brian’s face before it turned sour. “What do you mean?”

“I told him about how you have been you know, been persistent, and he didn’t like it. He actually made an account on Facebook to watch over me. I told him to leave you alone and that you will go away and leave me in peace, but he said some things have to be done. He doesn’t trust a lot of people, you know.”

When Brian’s jaw twitched in both fear and anger, Jackie stepped back.

“But don’t worry. I will talk to him. And please, Brian, keep this a secret. If everyone finds out, I will be out of job.”

Nice, move, Jackie! Just make sure the guy is not angry enough to be the cause of your immediate termination!

It took almost a full minute for Brian to calm his features and when he did, he gave Jackie a small smile. “Of course, you can trust me to keep your secret, Jackie. But it won’t be a secret for so long.”

I saw Jackie gulp. “Why?”

“Because you will end things with him sooner than you expect. Because you will realize that I am much better.”

“Brian, Dean and I just started and it is going pretty great–”

“Then why are you alone? Why isn’t he with you right now?” He looked behind him and gestured his hand to where Beatle was quietly parked. “He even came to the office ahead of you. I don’t think it is going to work out for the two of you, Jackie. He doesn’t even want to be seen with you. The man is heartless and you know that. Just wait and see, Jackie. He will leave you crying once he is through with you. But don’t worry, I will be here for you when that happens.”

  *****

Jackie was furious. She really thought her words would make Brian cower away! It was a brilliant, spontaneous excuse she gave earlier. She had never thought of those reasons until this morning when Brian asked her about the Facebook account. But did it work? No, it didn’t. Brian challenged her great plan instead.

She was in deep thought the entire morning. She had to think of some ways for Brian to see her with Dean Gamboa.

What to do, Jackie? What to do?

On her third trip to the vending machine, the idea struck her.

She was kicking it again for giving her another Pepsi can. “I want you to go limp and break down, you idiot!” she gritted her teeth at it. And then it came. The light bulb.

She went back to her table with a good smile despite getting the Pepsi can she hated.

She was definitely brilliant!

  *****

The moment the clock struck twelve, she stood up and told Karen she couldn’t join her for lunch because she would be going out with Dannie for a quick lunch date.

She rode the elevator with some of her team mates. They went straight to the cafeteria while she hurried back outside the parking lot.

“He’s very busy today. He’s still in a meeting and another one is following after that. He won’t have time to fix it,” she muttered to herself, reveling at her brilliance, as she walked to where Toto was parked.

  *****

Hey, there, Jackie girl! What’s up? Another meeting?

She looked too happy after what happened this morning. If I had a heart, it would already be pounding right now because Jackie was having that naughty grin on her face as she opened my door.

Wait, what are you doing?

She was whistling as she searched the dashboard for something. When she found it, my headlights almost popped out of their sockets. She was holding George’s tool kit. It was just a small, black bag Georgie kept inside me in cases of emergencies. It contained almost everything from screwdrivers, knives, ropes, nails, a small hammer and others.

Hey, Jackie girl, what are you going to do with that? Oh God, are you holding a knife? Please, don’t tell me you’re killing Brian without an escape plan. You have to have one, girl! For one, how do you plan to execute it? In the bathroom? How do you plan to disappear? Are you going to fly out of the country? Unless you have those things covered, don’t kill anyone! I would totally support you in committing a crime against that bastard, but please have a plan! A genius one!

But she was still whistling as she looked through the windshield, making sure the coast was clear.

It was. No one really went out during lunch time and I could attest to that, being the car had a great view of the whole parking lot.

Jackie was holding a pocket knife that Georgie would usually sharpen every now and then as part of her maintenance routine. And Jackie didn’t look cool as Georgie was with that thing. She looked more like a deranged pretty girl in heels and skirt.

When she finally climbed out of me, I was screaming. The BMW was asking what the hell was wrong. Beatle was saying something, but I couldn’t hear him clearly because Jackie started to attack him.

Jackie girl! Don’t! Oh my God! What the hell, girl?!

  *****

Jackie had no choice. This was the only way she could think of.

With the knife, she attacked the back tire of Dean Gamboa’s Honda Civic.

What she didn’t expect though was the alarm.

“Shit!” she shouted as it blared loudly in the silence of the hot, quiet parking lot.

Chapter 11

What the hell, Jackie! Get inside! Get inside! Faster!

Well, good thing she finally came to her senses. After jumping around in a circle behind Beatle, she finally managed to run back to me and climb in.

Start! Start! Start!

The alarm was still going off and I could almost make out the guard in white uniform coming our way.

Go, Jackie, Go!

“Oh God, oh God!” she cried after she finally managed to get me started. “Escape plan, escape plan. Where to go, Toto?”

This was what I was talking about! We have to have an escape plan! You know I like Beatle, right? He’s a cool car. And now you’ve ruined the only friendship I have in this godforsaken parking lot!

Okay, I had to focus as well. Jackie was definitely going crazy as she veered me away, almost bumping against the headlights of the narcissistic BMW–the only thing I regretted not happening that time–and zoomed around the parking lot.

Calm down, girl. Calm down. You don’t want to be too obvious. Oh God, the guard is coming! Turn, turn, turn!

I have always wanted to be a getaway car. I had met one a long time ago and the thrill of the vic’s story made me want to experience the same thing. Yes, it was a bonus that it was a feminine vehicle. But there was a big difference between that vehicle’s experience and the one I was in.

Its owner came prepared. That was why it lived to tell the tale.

My owner wasn’t. She did the act on impulse and it was getting us in trouble!

“That alarm was not part of the plan,” Jackie uttered the moment we finally made it out of the parking lot without the guard running after us.

Oh, so you had a plan? I must tell you, Jackie girl, whatever that plan was, it was stupid as hell.

Jackie was obviously still tensed. I could feel her fingers gripping my wheel tightly.

You almost gave my engine an attack to the death, I told her after a few minutes. We were now driving around Bacolod Lagoon, past the capitol and to McDonald’s. She entered the drive thru.

Good thing you decided to get lunch. Eat and your brains might just start working again. I was really pissed with her at that moment. I was still thinking about Beatle’s cry of anguish as we drove away. How could I ever repay that Civic? Not in this mileage, I guess.

Ever since I had been manufactured, I had never experienced such thing. Sure, I liked the thrill, but it was one thrill I was not willing to go through again. It would have been better if it was Georgie. That girl had a lot of guts and cunning unlike Jackie here, who seemed to have shifted from the nice, pretty lady I knew she was to a crazy car killer.

Jackie ordered a meal of burger and fries and then we were back in the road. She drove to the Philippine Red Cross headquarters.

Hey, there, Dee! I called out when I spotted my ambulance friend. The only friend I had left after Jackie did her criminal act earlier. Ah, yes, of course, I still had Tata. But I hated her owner so she didn’t really count.

Jackie climbed off me with her food and I was, for the first time, thankful that she was leaving me.

  *****

“What are you doing here?” George asked her.

Her friend was behind a desk full of radios set in different frequencies. The other rescuers in the office just stared at Jackie as she walked to where her friend was.

“You look like you’ve been to hell and back to tell the tale,” George noted.

“Well, I have been to hell. Or I did get a glimpse of it for a few seconds before I decided to run away.”

George’s slit eyes narrowed further as she looked at Jackie. “What do you mean? What did you do this time?”

Jackie cringed. “I sort of committed a crime.” The moment she said it, the other four male rescuers in the room turned their heads at her. She looked at them dryly. “It was just a metaphor, guys.”

Dan, Fred and Mike knew George’s friends. The men looked at her for a moment before they continued on with their work. Dan, the chubby, tall guy was watching the news. Fred, the skinny guy with glasses was behind his computer. Mike, the handsome team leader of George’s team just shrugged and stood up to get a cup of coffee.

“Jackie, what happened?” George asked her impatiently.

“Well, nothing big, really,” she said nonchalantly, now completely relaxed, sure that she was not caught by the guard earlier.

“Then why are you here?” George asked as she watched Jackie open her burger and take a bite.

“I just want to have lunch with you,” she said, munching on her food. “And I’m also here to tell you that we might have a visitor later.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you might be riding Toto with Dannie at the back.”

“Why?”

Jackie just shrugged and smiled wickedly. “You’ll see.”

  *****

I was still pissed at Jackie and I was afraid of Beatle the moment we entered the parking lot of Collins Corporations. Jackie gave a sigh of relief when no one was around Beatle, who was still standing on his spot with his back tire flat, damaged and obviously pissed at Jackie.

I’m sorry, buddy. I didn’t know she was going to do that. Do you want to hear another story from my friend Dee?

It was no use. Beatle wouldn’t talk to me. He said his boss was pissed and that if he could only talk, he would have given Jackie away without blinking a headlight.

So there went my Wednesday afternoon. Alone with no Beatle to talk to and with the narcissistic BMW asking a lot of stupid questions.

  *****

Jackie tried hard to keep her face as neutral as possible as she stepped into the office floor. Karen immediately jumped to her feet and met her halfway to her desk.

“What’s wrong?” she asked her friend.

Karen stared at her conspiratorially. “Someone stabbed boss Dean’s car tire.”

Again, she put out her crazy shocked face. “What?”

“Yes,” Karen said, pulling Jackie toward her desk when she dramatically stopped and placed her hand over her mouth.

“Did someone see who did it?” she asked, her heart beating fast. For all she knew, everyone knew she was the car killer.

“No,” Karen answered and Jackie almost went limp to the ground with relief.

“It’s really unlucky of him to have his car tire stabbed with a knife,” Jackie uttered.

Karen frowned. “How did you know it was a knife?”

Shit! “Uh…you just told me, didn’t you? Are you sure you ate your lunch?”

Karen was still frowning with confusion when Joseph came in sight. “Jackie, where have you been?”

She looked at her watch. “I’m not late for anything, am I? I had lunch with a friend.”

“I want you to finish up that report. Boss Dean is pissed because of what happened to his car and I don’t want my ass burned because you passed another late report.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll be right on it.” She gave Karen a look and walked behind her desk. She almost gave herself away earlier and she promised to shut her mouth for the rest of the day.

  *****

The rest of the day went slow. Very slow, actually. Jackie was already done with her report by three and she spent the remaining hours searching for the best ideas to present on their next meeting. When the clock struck four, everyone started clearing up their tables. By four-thirty, Karen and Joseph had already left. Their other team members were long gone. But Dean Gamboa was still inside his office, his head bent over some papers.

She checked her watch again. It was getting late. George was texting and Dannie had called twice already. She had to leave, but she couldn’t while her boss was still here.

And then she remembered Brian. He had to be waiting for her by the parking lot later. How could she do that?

Of course! Facebook!

She went online and posted a status: Working late.

She looked over at Dean Gamboa’s office. He was still working.

Pretending to be doing something in her computer, Jackie waited.

When she finally saw him stand up and rearrange his table, she turned off her computer, took her bag and hastily walked to the elevator doors.

“Come on, come on, come on…” she told the elevator under her breath. “Shit!” she uttered when she saw her boss walk out of his office and turn to the direction of the elevator.

“Wait up!” he called.

Jackie moaned as she blocked the elevator doors and waited for Dean Gamboa.

“Thanks,” he said in his usual flat tone.

The doors closed and they were immediately enveloped in awkward silence.

Jackie’s plan had to change a bit. It was now or never.

She took a glance at Dean Gamboa beside her and she almost cringed with guilt. But it was for her plan to get rid of Brian. She gulped and willed herself to speak. “I heard about what happened to your car.”

He just nodded.

“Do you need a ride home, sir?” she asked and she saw the shock that registered on his face. “I mean I do have a car and it’s getting late. I heard you live in Mountain View. I live near the area. I can just drop you off.”

He was already looking down at her and he took his time before he finally said, “That’s not necessary, Miss Ramos–”

“No, I insist. I know what it’s like to have your car break down on you, but in your case it is different, of course. But it is still the same, you know. Toto once broke down on me in the middle of the road and I had no one to help me and it was just like hell. I understand that you might feel it is inappropriate, but you don’t really have to feel that way. I am very much willing to help you out because I believe in karma. Dannie, my friend, once told me that you have to help others if you can and right now, I can help you–”

“Yes,” he said, cutting Jackie’s blabber.

“And I am not expecting anything in return because I believe that–”

“I said yes, Miss Ramos,” he cut in once again, looking her in the eyes.

Jackie’s words stopped in her throat as she was, for a moment, lost into those eyes. “What, sir?”

“I said, yes, I’ll take your offer,” he said once again.

She stopped herself from jumping up and down. Instead, she said, “Well, then, let’s go.”

  *****

The moment Jackie stepped out of the building with Dean Gamboa, she felt like she won the lottery of luck. Despite the craziness of her action that afternoon, her plan was definitely working. For one, she managed to incapacitate her boss’ car. Second, she succeeded in making him say yes to take him home. Third, she had manipulated Brian to wait for her in the parking lot.

Only this time, he was waiting for both her and Dean Gamboa. He didn’t expect that, of course, because she saw it on his face as he stared at them while he leaned against his gray Toyota. He must have expected to have another moment with her. Well, sorry to disappoint him because she was with her boyfriend. And her boyfriend would be riding with her in her car. They were together .

Jackie pretended not to see Brian as she walked to where Toto was. Dean Gamboa was right behind her. When they reached his car, she paused to check the damage she had done earlier.

She gasped when she saw the evidence of her strong knife attack. The tire was completely useless. “You don’t have a spare?” she asked.

“No. I used it last year.”

She nodded and continued walking. “You’re having it fixed tomorrow?”

Her boss shrugged. “Maybe. I am planning to take it today, but I guess the shop I take it to might already be closed.”

  *****

I watched as Jackie walked toward me. I was so focused on hating how she prettily walked that I didn’t notice her boss behind her until she stopped and looked at Beatle’s tire.

This is weird. Why is she with her boss?

And then I saw Brian from afar looking at the two of them.

What’s happening? Why is Jackie talking with her boss now?

It was only when she started to walk toward me and her boss followed did I manage to finally grasp the ingenuity of it all.

“I’ll open your side from inside,” she was telling her boss who was standing outside my passenger seat in a composed, awkward way. Brian was still standing by his ugly gray Toyota, staring at the three of us like the stalker that he was.

Okay, I take it back, Jackie , I said as she unlocked my door with a smile. You are one genius lady, girl! We’re taking your boss home, aren’t we? This is gonna be fun!

Chapter 12

I don’t know what Jackie was thinking as we exited the parking lot of Collins Corporations, but I was certain she was excited. I could tell by the way she gripped the steering wheel and how she shifted her sexy butt every now and then.

Dean Gamboa, on the other hand, was uncomfortable. He was sitting so still, like one of Georgie’s bulky bags.

I’m telling you, Jackie girl, this is one exciting night!

“So,” Jackie finally broke the awkward silence with her cheery voice. It was a wonder how she was confident to talk to her boss now when weeks before she was scared of the man and then days before she hated him. It might be the fact that they shared a secret–his secret. “Who do you think attacked your car’s tire?”

Oh-oh, here we go. Jackie, I think it’s safer if you don’t talk about the crime you committed! Your mouth might just slip, girl! Just enjoy this moment! I’m sure you already succeeded with your plan. I am pretty certain Brian saw you with your boss. That’s what you were planning, right? So please, don’t talk about what you did to Beatle, my friend who now hates my sexy bumpers!

It took a long moment for Dean Gamboa to answer with a shrug. “I have no idea.”

I heard Jackie snort. Dean Gamboa turned his head to look at her, his expression curious.

Jackie girl, watch your mouth. What the hell is wrong with you?

“What do you mean by that?” her boss asked.

Okay, here we go. Just shut up, Jackie.

“Nothing,” my girl answered, stopping me just as the lights turned red. She took the free time to look at her boss. “You have no idea that a lot of people would love to do that to you, right?”

Hey! Shut it! Now you’re telling him everyone hates his guts? Come on, this is not the time for that!

Dean Gamboa’s face didn’t change. Instead, he shrugged. “I don’t really care.”

“You don’t care that a lot of people in the office hate you? One of us might just be the one who broke your car, you know.”

The lights turned green and Jackie turned her attention back on the road. We were on our way to Dannie’s school. “Did you?” Dean Gamboa asked.

This is what I was talking about, Jackie. This is it. You better be a good liar. Pull out your dramatic hurtful act!

“What?!” she asked, probably thinking she should pull out one of her famous acts. “Of course not! Why would I do that?”

When Jackie was lying, I could tell. Her hands would start to sweat and her feet would start to get jittery. And at that moment, those things were happening. Good thing I was the only one who could sense it.

See what your stupid mouth did? Now, just shut up.

“Where are we going? I thought you’re taking me home?” her boss asked, looking out the windshield.

“We’re picking up my friends. It’s my job to pick them up whenever I have Toto with me.”

Dean’s brows furrowed to a frown. “You didn’t mention we will be having company.”

“Well, it slipped my mind. They won’t mind, don’t worry.”

“I could have just taken the taxi,” he said with a faint sigh.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because you almost begged me to let you take me home,” he answered.

Jackie was speechless. She was thinking how she should counter his statement and I could tell by the way she tapped her forefingers against the steering wheel.

But she had none. I knew it because she suddenly changed the subject by saying, “Well, anyway, since you will be riding with two more girls, let me just give you a heads up. Dannie, the one we are picking up first, is a preschool teacher and she’s the religious type. She’s silent so you don’t have to really mind. Don’t be awkward with the silence.”

Dean Gamboa must be thinking along the lines of, ‘This can get more awkward?’, but whatever he was thinking, he didn’t put them into words for he kept his lips in a solid line.

“And then, we will be picking up George. She’s an ambulance rescuer. And honestly, I don’t know what she’ll do when she sees you. But don’t worry, she usually does the right thing.”

Okay, I am enjoying your boss’ reaction, Jackie!

Really, I could feel the man was ready to open my door and jump out. He never expected to be riding with Jackie’s friends. And he sure never imagined he’d be inside me, an old, beaten Volkswagen. If his car didn’t break down on him–thanks to Jackie, for that–he would be out on his own, doing his usual activities.

 *****

Dannie was already standing outside Kumon when we rounded the curve leading to the school. She was not the type who would wear her impatience or frustration on her face, but after knowing her for years, I knew where to look for the signs. And by the way she was standing with one foot forward, clad in her simple preschool teacher uniform, and the way she was holding her bag in front of her with both hands, I could tell that she had been waiting for Jackie for a long time. The usual posh cars outside the school were no longer around, indicating that the children had long been picked up by their nannies or parents. And Dannie was the only one left standing outside.

“Excuse me,” Jackie uttered as she leaned over Dean Gamboa to roll down my window. Her poor boss leaned as deep as he could into my passenger seat.

You could have just asked him to open the window, crazy girl.

“Hey! I’m so sorry, Dannie!” Jackie cried out the moment she managed to open the window, still leaning over her boss’ lap.

It was only when Dannie’s gaze transferred from her to the man sitting on my passenger seat did Jackie immediately straightened on her seat, murmuring, “Sorry,” and looked back at Dannie who was still at a loss outside. “Dannie, get in.” Dannie opened the backseat and sat right behind Dean who was more uncomfortable now than he was a few minutes ago. “Meet my boss, Dean Gamboa. Sir, this is Dannie,” Jackie said nonchalantly as she put me on gear and drove away.

For the first time in my mileage years, I experienced the most horrifying awkward situation. Yes, the boys had a lot of guys hitching a ride with them, one of them Troy, and I had never experienced this deafening silence before. It was different from the kind of silence I would often experience with Dannie. It was a silence that had a lot of unexplainable aura, one that almost made me want to turn on my radio.

Jackie cleared her throat, glancing at the rearview mirror. When she couldn’t get a good look at Dannie, she reached out and adjusted it and met her friend’s questioning glare. She gave Dannie a wink, silently saying, ‘Just go with it.” And then she threw Dean a glance before she returned her attention back on the road. Her boss’ eyes never left the road. Clearing her throat, Jackie explained the situation to Dannie. “Sir Dean’s car broke down and I offered him a ride since he lives near us.”

“Oh, okay,” Dannie uttered, not really knowing what else to say at this very awkward situation.

“How did you know I live in Mountain View anyway?” asked her boss.

Gotcha!

Now, explain that one, Jackie girl! How did you know anyway? Ohhhh…I’m loving this.

“Doesn’t everybody know?” she asked. “I heard it from someone in the office, I guess.”

Dean turned his head and gave her a long look before he finally gave a nod. Jackie’s eyes never left the road and I was guessing she was thinking of another excuse to give him if he asked more questions. Lucky he didn’t because I was not sure how far Jackie’s imagination could go in the current situation we were in.

“How did your car break down?” Dannie asked.

Oh, innocent Dannie. You don’t want to ask that one. Wrong question. Wrong!

When Jackie didn’t answer, because she was pretending to focus on turning me to the left to go to the Philippine Red Cross headquarters, and because the answer was directed toward Dean anyway, he answered, “Someone stabbed one of the rear tires with a knife.”

“Why would anyone do such a stupid thing?” Dannie asked.

Everyone was almost thrown forward when Jackie accidentally stepped on my brake.

Easy, girl. Don’t be too obvious.

“Sorry, sorry,” she cried in alarm, regaining her composure.

“Someone who hates me that much?” Dean answered, his tone lighter than it was a few seconds ago. He had a faint grin on his face as he said it.

Jackie was shocked to hear him use that tone. Well, I was too. Who would have thought he found the situation funny?

“Do you intend to do something about it? I mean, I’m sure there are surveillance cameras around the parking lot, right?” Dannie asked.

Jackie accidentally stepped on my brake once again.

“What’s wrong?” Dean asked her.

“Uh, nothing. I’m sorry,” she hastily answered, gripping the steering wheel tightly. She threw Dannie a hard look through the rearview mirror.

Dannie’s eyes widened in horror and her jaw dropped in shock when she finally realized what Jackie’s gaze meant.

They had been friends for quite a long time and it only took them one look to know what the other was trying to say. And at that moment, Dannie immediately knew what her friend did. And she was horrified. Who wouldn’t? I was pretty sure I was when I witnessed it myself!

“The surveillance cameras weren’t for the past two days. The guard said they were doing some maintenance check,” Dean Gamboa answered Dannie’s question.

“I see,” Dannie said without further questions. Dannie was a loyal friend, so it was given that she would never say a word. One thing was for sure though. Jackie would have a great deal of sermon later tonight.

But you are one lucky girl, Jackie. Who would have thought there were actual cameras around that godforsaken parking lot? One, lucky, girl. Lucky, lucky Jackie.

By the time George climbed in with her brows fused together, it was certain that my girl Jackie would not only get that sermon from Dannie alone.

Unlike Dannie, Georgie seemed to have an idea of Jackie’s plan. Maybe she told Georgie earlier when she came by for lunch.

For lack of a better word, I could say that Dean Gamboa acted quite socially appropriate. He didn’t spend his time on his phone–not even for a second–like most people caught in an awkward situation would. He just sat there and answered the questions Dannie or George threw him.

“You’re in a band, right?” George asked. Everyone knew, except Dean Gamboa, that she did it to taunt Jackie. And it worked because Jackie was gripping my steering wheel again with so much force that if it were connected to my gas tank, flammable liquid would already be oozing through her delicate fingers by now.

Dean threw Jackie a look and she immediately said, “I didn’t tell them, I swear!” she lied. “They saw your photos on Troy Brady’s blog, right girls?”

Dannie and Georgie exchanged looks and then they unwillingly nodded.

“See? And you weren’t exactly doing your disguise perfectly. I was able to recognize you in an instant, remember? And I only doubted it because you are my boss and knowing how you are in the office, it was almost impossible for me to believe. Dannie and George are not familiar of you and when they saw you tonight, they just remembered.”

Her lie was too believable, what with the plausible explanation, that Dean Gamboa only sighed and nodded his head.

“But don’t worry, sir. They don’t know anyone in the office. And they won’t talk, right girls?” she asked, gritting her teeth and glaring at her friends through the rearview mirror.

“Yeah,” they answered dryly, looking out their windows.

“I guess it’s time you tell me the way to your house, sir,” Jackie said when we finally entered the subdivision.

Ha! As if you don’t know! But you’re clever, Jackie.

Dean Gamboa told her the turns she obviously already knew and after a few minutes, we reached his house. Ah, so this was where he lived. The last time Jackie went here, she was riding Tata with Troy. Now I could say that I finally had my chance to get a glimpse of the devil’s home. And it was not as what I had expected. I was picturing something with burning torches, black and pointed roof, leafless trees, and uneven pathway that led to double doors with devil knockers. Or maybe that imagination only came out from what I heard of Jackie about the guy.

“Thank you for the ride,” Dean Gamboa said as he opened the door.

“No problem, sir.”

“Thanks,” he said once again, addressing Dannie and George at the backseat.

“Yeah, no problem,” they uttered.

He stepped out and closed the door. The window was still open and he leaned down to look at the boys. “By the way,” he said, “we have a gig tomorrow. I hope to see you there.”

Really, if I had a mouth, it would have already landed down the concrete ground because I was shocked as hell. And so were the boys. They just looked at Dean Gamboa for a long time, their expressions ranging from shocked, to puzzled, and to suspicious. Dannie was the one looking puzzled. Georgie, of course, was suspicious of the whole thing as she always was. And Jackie was shocked as hell as I was.

Did Dean Gamboa just ask them to come watch him with the band?

Chapter 13

Maybe it’s time we give him a response, boys, I said when I finally got over my shock.

George and Dannie looked at Jackie. And for a long moment, she just stared at her boss, her mouth hanging open. And slowly, finally, she nodded.

“Good. See you then,” Dean said before he straightened to full height and turned toward his house.

Tomorrow’s Thursday, right? This is going to be fun! Georgie, we have to come! We have to come!

“I have an out-of-town thing to do tomorrow,” Georgie said as Jackie maneuvered me back on the road.

What? No, not tomorrow. Please, Georgie!

“But you can make it tomorrow at Art, right? You don’t have to pick us up. I’ll call Troy anyway. He needs to get more photos,” Jackie said.

Dannie was silent throughout the whole exchange.

“I guess I can meet you once I get back,” Georgie finally said, adding, “I will surely need a few bottles after tomorrow.”

No one said a word. We all knew where Georgie was going. How could I be so unlucky? I was sure tomorrow would not be a good trip for me as it had always been these past years. Whenever Georgie would say she’d be out-of-town without any explanation, it only meant one thing. I couldn’t even make myself say where we were going.

But tomorrow evening was enough for me to go through where Georgie would be taking me. It would only be for a couple of hours anyway.

“I still can’t believe he asked us to see him play,” Jackie said, changing the subject. “Do you think he likes me?”

“He asked us to see the band. Why? Don’t tell me you like him,” said Georgie.

“Maybe he knows about what you did,” Dannie uttered. “Which reminds me…why did you do it, Jackie? That’s just so wrong,” she added.

Jackie chewed on her lower lip. “I had no choice. Brian confronted me, asking why he had never seen me around with Dean Gamboa who is supposed to be my new boyfriend. So I had to do something about it. It was the only way I could get the chance to actually be with my boss after office hours. And it worked.”

George had already transferred at the passenger seat and she turned to Jackie as she strapped the seatbelt around her. “You mean to say that Brian saw the two of you inside Toto? However did you manage that?”

Jackie let out a proud sigh. “I am the best when it comes to acting and directing a great story. All I had to do is come up with a good conflict and arrange for the other characters to be at the same place at the same time. It was a piece of cake.”

“It was still wrong,” Dannie pointed out.

“And crazy,” Georgie added. “You are going crazy, you know that?”

“Hey! I am the victim here, remember?” Jackie said in defense as she guided me to the street where their apartment was located.

“And so is your boss,” Dannie countered.

“Come on, he doesn’t have to know. And he’s an arrogant man who wouldn’t even help me in the first place when I told him about my problem.”

“But he turned out to be nice. He even invited us to his gig,” said Dannie from behind, leaning over in case Jackie wasn’t hearing her.

Jackie was silent.

Ohhh…someone is having second thoughts! What now, Jackie girl? The innocent Dean Gamboa wasn’t that bad after all, right? What do you do, girl?

Jackie shook her head. “No, I need to do this. I am desperate to get Brian out of my life. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Just kill the guy,” George uttered with a sigh as Jackie slowed me down.

“I want to. I’m no killer.”

You’re a car tire killer, girl. Trust me, you’re a killer.

“I can do it for you,” George added without showing any sign that she was kidding. Georgie was indecipherable that way. She would joke and you wouldn’t even know it until you realized it too late. Dannie and Jackie could read her too well, but there were still moments when both of them would be in doubt whether or not George was serious and not. And right now was one of those moments.

“You’re not serious, are you?” Dannie asked. Jackie had already parked me outside the apartment.

“Of course, I am,” George said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “But I might if it would mean I could keep you from going insane,” she added, looking at Jackie.

“Don’t worry. I got this covered. Things will be okay.”

“I don’t know, Jackie. I have a feeling that this is not going to turn out good for you or anyone else,” Dannie uttered as she climbed off me.

“Very optimistic, Dannie, thanks,” said Jackie, locking my door and following Georgie.

“I’m just saying,” Dannie answered. Their voices trailed away as they entered their apartment.

I’m afraid I’ll have to agree with Dannie, Jackie girl. This is not going to turn out good.

  *****

“Oh, we have a new neighbor!” Jackie whispered beside Dannie. They were spread out in the living room, George watching the news, Dannie typing her lesson plan and Jackie holding a pair of binoculars as she looked out the window to the direction of the house next door. The house was pretty much the same as their apartment and it was also being put on lease, too frequently on lease, as a matter of fact. It was known among the neighborhood that it was an unlucky apartment because no one stayed there longer than a year.

Jackie had always been on constant watch for the next group of individuals who would take the place. It was a hobby for her. They only had one constant neighbor after all and it was the old man next door whom she had been sharing his WIFI without his consent. But he was history now that he eventually activated the security code.

“Hmm…he’s different from the others.”

“Why?” Dannie asked absently.

“He’s alone. The last three were families. The last one was the loudest. Louder than Brian’s singing, actually.”

“Stop spying, Jackie,” George told her. “You don’t know what people can do.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, still focused on the guy sitting outside his apartment, sipping a cigarette.

“He might be worse than Brian, that’s what I mean.”

With that, Jackie turned away from the window and glared at George.

“What?”

“He’s not even like Brian. He’s kind of cute. Do you know how long I’ve waited for someone like him? But he smokes, I don’t think that’s a good thing,” she said the last sentence with a frown.

“Delusional…” Dannie uttered beside her.

Jackie turned to her with her eyes squinting and lunged for her friend.

“Hey!” Dannie cried out with a laugh. “My computer! Jackie! Stop that!”

“What are you guys doing? I’m watching here,” George said, looking over her shoulder where Jackie was already on top of Dannie, tickling her sides with her hands. “Hey! Cut it!”

Dannie and Jackie looked at her with wicked smiles on their faces.

“Don’t you dare,” George said, a nervous giggle escaping her throat. But before she could jump on her feet to escape, Dannie and Jackie were already on full attack and they tackled George flat on her back on the carpeted floor of their living room. For a while, they managed to pin George down on the ground and attacked her sides. But it didn’t last for long before George’s strength finally gave way and they both flew back against the throw pillows strewn behind them.

“I give up!” Dannie cried out.

“I yield! George! I yield!” Jackie exclaimed as George knelt and crouched above them.

“Good!” George said with a laugh, rolling back on the carpet.

The three of them laid there for a while, catching their breath with constant chuckles.

“But I’m telling you, girls, our new neighbor is really cute.”

“Shut up!” Dannie and George shouted as they threw her one pillow each.

  *****

Georgie and I dropped Dannie and Jackie off to work consecutively the very next morning and then we drove straight to the very place both of us never wanted to be.

Georgie was silent as we drove to Bago City. It was not that far from Bacolod and with Georgie’s fast driving, we only reached it in less than thirty minutes when a normal vehicle would reach it within an hour. So you might already have an idea how fast Georgie really was.

By the time we pulled into the large driveway of the Lacson residence, one of the many around Negros Occidental, I almost wanted to pull away and drive my way back to Bacolod. I would rather spend a lonely day under that damn acacia tree than be here.

Georgie’s family was among the filthy rich in Negros Occidental and she was never proud of it. If you had met her family, you would feel the same. All I got from her older brother was a condescending look. Her parents never even glanced at me the second time when they first saw me.

Even Dannie and Jackie couldn’t stand them.

But Georgie seemed to have a big thing to settle. I even wondered why she would go home now of all days. Was something going on?

The good thing about our trip was that it didn’t take long. Georgie walked out of the house in less than two hours, her face flushed. I knew it was not because of the sun.

She was angry about something.

As we made our way back to Bacolod, I wished Georgie was as talkative as Jackie. But she wasn’t. All I could manage was imagine what might have transpired inside the Lacson mansion that made her grip my driving wheel tight and break her record speed.

By the time we reached Bacolod, we went straight to the Philippine Red Cross headquarters where I spent the rest of the day with Dee. I told her about Dean Gamboa and how he invited the boys to see him and his band later that night. I promised to give her a full recap of what would unfold.

  *****

Jackie spent her day with a good mood.

She finished her work in record time, getting a good compliment from Joseph. Karen even asked why she was feeling giddy and happy.

“Brian never showed up this morning. And I have a big night tonight.”

“Oh, yeah?” her friend asked as she played with her salad.

Jackie nodded. She so wanted to tell Karen about Dean Gamboa, but she couldn’t.

And speaking of Dean Gamboa, she never saw him today. Yes, of course, he reported to work, but he never left his office. The event was closing in on them and he had been on long meeting throughout the day.

By the time office hours ended, Jackie wasn’t sure what to feel. Maybe Dean Gamboa only invited them last time because he felt it was only necessary. But why did she care why he did it anyway? She should at least grab the opportunity to be with the guy to put more stuff in his FB account. She should be happy because Brian never even called her today. Not even a single text! It was almost like a divine miracle!

Jackie was outside the parking lot waiting for George and Dannie to pick her up. Since she didn’t see Brian’s car in the parking lot, she assumed the scene was safe for her so she waited without a tinge of dread.

And just as when she spotted Toto coming toward her, Dean Gamboa passed by, carrying his suitcase.

“Hey!” she called before she could even think about it.

When she realized what she did, she prayed he didn’t hear. But he did and he turned around. His face was unreadable when he saw her.

Did she just call her boss, ‘hey’? “I mean, hey, sir!” she uttered, mentally slapping herself right after. What the hell was wrong with her?

“Yes?” he asked.

Jackie wondered for a moment why he didn’t address her as ‘Miss Ramos’ as he always did. It was not weird to call talk to each other informally whenever you were off work–or even at work. But for Jackie and Dean Gamboa, it seemed like it was an unusual thing. He was too formal at work that she felt it weird to just talk to him informally, but then she also knew he was not that type of guy. And they shared some sort of secret. But why was she even thinking about it, right?

“Your car’s not in yet?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Toto and my friends are about to get here. You want to tag along? Oh, they’re here! Look! Come on!”

Again, Dean Gamboa surprised her by walking toward her saying, “Sure. Thanks.”

Oh my God, he said yes.

“What?” he asked.

Did I say it out loud? Jackie asked herself.

“Say what out loud?” her boss inquired, frowning down at her.

“Nothing. Come on!” And then she waved her hand as George stopped Toto right in front of them.

  *****

Okay, this is really weird. How the hell did you manage it this time, Jackie girl? I wondered as we drove Dean Gamboa to his house. Again.

Georgie and Dannie must have been thinking about the same thing because they kept on stealing Jackie a glance. She was seated at the backseat with her boss. Dannie and Georgie were in front, frequently stealing a glance through my rearview mirror and then at each other. Awkward moment again.

“This is the place, right?” George asked Dean.

“Yes. Thank you once again, ladies,” he said.

I almost barfed out my gas. It had been a long time since I heard the boys being called ladies or girls collectively.

“You’re one of the very few people who call us that,” said Jackie as Dean Gamboa opened the door.

He stopped and looked at her with a questioning look. “Why?”

“Most of them just call us boys ,” she explained.

Dean’s lips gave a quick quirk and it almost turned his dry, emotionless face a full three-sixty. Okay, now I get it. He’s quite handsome.

Lucky bastard. “Then, thanks, boys,” he said as he swung my door open and climbed out.

Jackie groaned while her two friends just chuckled.

“See you tonight,” he added as he shut the door.

Again, Jackie was speechless.

“I never really thought he meant it,” she uttered to her friends as they watched Dean Gamboa walk to his gates.

  *****

And because it was confirmed that Dean Gamboa actually meant his invitation, Jackie urged the other two to go home so they could change. Georgie didn’t, saying she was going with her loose shirt, shorts and hiking shoes. Dannie changed into a simple white shirt, plain khaki pants and black flats. Jackie, of course, came out of the apartment in a yellow dress that stopped just above her knees, a pair of outrageously high bloody-red pumps and fresh waves. However she managed to do that wonderful transformation, I didn’t know. As how Georgie would put it, the exaggerated transformation only happened inside her room.

“I don’t think I’m coming after all,” Dannie said when Jackie confirmed that Troy was coming with his camera that night.

“Come on, you’re not only coming because Troy would be there. You guys can’t stand each other but we all know you both enjoy it,” Jackie said, looking at her friend dryly.

“That’s not true!” Dannie exclaimed.

“I have to agree with Jackie,” Georgie said, starting me up.

The journey to Art District was full of bickering over Dannie and Troy. I wanted to hug Dannie and tell her I felt for her. Troy was never good for any of the boys, much more for Dannie.

When we reached our destination, my headlights almost watered. I saw a vic that I could actually converse with sense. Hey, Tata! I cried out when I spotted her. And thank goodness Georgie parked me right behind her. So, do you have something to tell me about your cocky owner? I asked her as the boys left and entered Art District.

  *****

Jackie was almost pulling Dannie. “We were only joking about Troy. We know you don’t like him, but he’s our friend, right? We’ve been through a lot together.”

“You mean I’ve been through a lot of frustration because of that guy,” Dannie uttered with ire. She was always like that when it came to Troy. It was nothing new to her friends.

“There they are,” George said when she spotted Troy with Miguel and Lee. “Ugh, Miguel’s here.”

“This is going to be fun!” Jackie cried out. She almost skipped her way to where the three guys were already seated. And they must have arrived early because they managed to grab a good seat right in front of the small stage area where the band was setting up.

Jackie’s gaze immediately landed on Dean Gamboa who was still wearing his stupid baseball cap. He was talking to someone wearing the same black cap. Jackie frowned. She had never seen that guy before.

“Hey,” she said to the guys when they finally reached them. She took a seat and let her friends greet each other the usual way: throwing nasty comments which were accepted without feeling hurt. Her attention was focused on the band on stage and their additional member who was still talking to Dean with his back turned to them.

The man must have said something because Dean Gamboa suddenly burst out laughing. Jackie was awed. It was the first time she saw him laugh out loud like that and it was…she couldn’t explain the feeling. It was, for lack of a great word, a beautiful sight.

When the lead singer approached the man who just made Dean Gamboa laugh and whispered something in his ear, he slowly turned around and faced the audience.

As the crowd cheered, Troy, Miguel and Lee uttered in unison, “Damn!”

Jackie gasped and then she uttered under her breath, “No, no, no, no…”

Chapter 14

Jackie felt that the worlds collided against each other and fell down on her–on her plans.

Standing on stage, holding a microphone and making everyone gape in awe was the girl every man in the place wanted. She was just pure perfection even with her simple black shirt, baggy pants and baseball cap. Her face was giving too much of her beauty. Her cheekbones were high enough, her lips full and smiling like they were trying to keep a funny secret from slipping away. And her nose was just the right shape and height, something that Jackie had always wished she had. She was not that tall, but she was in complete proportion.

Jackie prayed that her hair, which was obviously pulled up and completely hidden underneath the baseball cap, was not long, dark and wavy.

And Jackie wished that she would sound awful and that her voice would make the gaping men in the crowd frown with disappointment, including Troy, Miguel and Lee.

But the singing started and Jackie was the only person who was greatly disappointed.

“ Alright! ” the lead singer started, looking at the woman beside him.

And together they sang, “ Yeah it’s been a bumpy road. ” She sounded so cool, her voice just the right one for the song Compass by Lady Antebellum. “Roller coasters high and low.”

And when she sang the part with the roller coaster, she made a waving gesture with her hand and whirled around, getting a collective clap from the audience–except Jackie, of course.

Pedal fast, pedal hard

You won’t have to go that far

 

Jackie turned her eyes back on Dean Gamboa and for a moment, her heart leaped. His eyes met her and she thought she saw a smile on his face before his gaze returned to the woman who was the center of everyone’s attention.

Who the hell is she?

The only way to know the answer was to ask. Jackie vowed to do just that once the band would go on a break. She had to clear the woman’s role in her boss’ life once and for all. She was not that selfish as to ruin a relationship, but she was desperate enough to wish there was no relationship.

Troy, Miguel and Lee howled as the lead vocalist and the pretty singer sang the chorus.

So let your heart sweetheart be your compass when you’re lost

And you should follow it wherever you may go

When it’s all said and done, you can walk instead of run

‘Cause no matter what you’ll never be alone

Never be alone

Never be alone

 

The worse part for Jackie was when she saw Dannie and George look at the lady with smiles on their faces. Dannie rarely enjoyed such events and George had a completely different type of music to even put up a smile like that. It must mean that the lady in front of them was just amazing.

When the song ended, a series of claps erupted from everywhere and Jackie was forced to do the same. Fine, the lady was a great singer. She was pretty–fine, she was beautiful in a lot of way.

“I wonder if she’s single,” uttered Troy. No one paid him any attention because the vocalist was saying something.

“Tonight, we are glad to have here with us our dear friend, Nikki. Be nice to her, guys,” the vocalist said.

Nikki.

But was it even her real name?

“We would also like to address the most frequently asked question,” added the vocalist and everyone was silent. “Who are we? Well, you guys call us Anon, so we’ll leave it at that. We haven’t really figured out a name for our group just yet. But let me introduce you to each and every one of my friends.”

Jackie could almost taste the excitement in the air. Everyone, especially the ladies, wanted to know the names of the guys. She wondered if they would be using their real names.

“I am Phil and most of the time I will be singing the songs and playing the lead guitar alongside Kurt here,” he said, pointing at Kurt beside him, the not-so-handsome guy holding the guitar, but probably the one with the most fans. “And the one behind the keyboard is Rene,” Phil continued, pointing at the man with the glasses. “And our bassist is Spike, say hi, Spike.” The man called Spike just nodded his head. He was the weird one, Jackie thought. “And for the drums, we have Dean.”

Dean Gamboa didn’t do anything but touch the hood of his cap with one finger, looking at the audience.

“Ah, so they are using their real names after all?” Jackie asked aloud. “Phil, Kurt, Rene, Spike,” she uttered aloud, counting with her fingers. And Nikki, she added in her mind.

“I don’t really care. My eyes are on their guest today,” Troy commented beside her. “We should invite the band at our table, guys,” he said to Miguel and Lee who nodded their approval.

After a few more songs from the band, beers, and a lot of bickering around their table, the band finally decided to have a break. Since Troy seemed to have a charming personality–the boys couldn’t really figure out why that was–he managed to successfully invite the band to sit around with them.

“’Evening,” Dean Gamboa said to Jackie when he approached after taking his time talking to Nikki who seemed ecstatic over the success of her performance.

“Hi,” Nikki greeted and Troy and his two goons just stared at her like they were witnessing a natural phenomenon before their eyes.

“Hi,” Dannie uttered before Jackie could say anything.

Because the guys turned out to have a lot of things to talk about such as work and their personal interests, they didn’t have to suffer a lot of awkward moments. George and Nikki seemed to have the same hobbies and they talked about them for a while.

At one time, Jackie turned her head and met Dean Gamboa’s eyes. A long awkward moment passed between them before she smiled and said, “You guys really play great.”

And for the love of all that was holy, his lips formed a stunning smile. “Thanks,” he uttered, tearing his gaze away from hers. Then they transferred to Nikki who was still talking with George. “What do you think of Nikki?”

Jackie was speechless. What the hell did he mean by that? “Nikki?”

His eyes returned to her. He nodded his head.

“She’s really great. I mean, she sings really well.”

“She should know that,” he said with a smile. “She didn’t think she had the talent. We had to practically drag her out of their house today.”

At that moment, Jackie realized she didn’t like how the night was turning out. Troy was busy talking to the other guys while throwing glances at Nikki and slowly inching his seat toward her to even grab his camera and do his task of pointing it at Dean. Second, Dean Gamboa was talking to her about the girl.

“She’s your girlfriend?” The question just came out. She didn’t even realize when her brain commanded her tongue and lips to blurt out the words. When her ears heard her own question she felt her cheeks heat up.

But Dean Gamboa was looking horrified like he ate something cooked from Jackie’s mom’s kitchen (no one ever liked her mom’s cooking). “Girlfriend? No, no, no, she’s not. She’s my cousin.”

Relief washed over her. It felt like a thousand nasty needles stuck at the pads of her foot were taken off all at the same time.

So that was why he seemed so attached to Nikki. She was his cousin. Her plan was still intact after all.

“Why did you ask?”

“What?” she asked.

“Why did you ask?” Dean repeated.

Jackie tried to hide the flush on her cheeks by looking around the table. Everybody seemed busy with their own world of conversation and she realized that she was talking to Dean Gamboa alone. Alone! Where was Brian when he needed to be here? He had to witness this!

But then, she remembered she had to answer Dean’s question. “Nothing. I was just curious. Troy and the others were wondering about it earlier.”

Dean Gamboa just nodded.

Jackie was lost for a moment, watching his face under his baseball cap. She wondered what his hair looked like without his usual Dean Gamboa office look. She wanted to know how his hair would fall over his face if he didn’t brush it up.

“We’re up!” Phil said to the group and all the members started to stand up including Dean and Nikki.

“See you around,” Nikki said to the group and this time, Jackie was all smiles at her. Who wouldn’t when she found another person she could be friends with?

Being friends with his cousin will make it all look legit, she thought.

When all the ladies were done being amazed with Nikki, they were back to their own business. The guys, such as Troy and his two goons, were still in a trance, staring at the lady on stage with wonder and amazement in their eyes.

“What’s wrong with you? You’re drinking more than usual,” Jackie asked George. Her friend, though she seemed to have enjoyed talking to Nikki earlier, was drinking her tenth bottle.

“Nothing,” George answered, looking around, her eyes getting heavier by the second.

Dannie and Jackie exchanged looks. They knew something was up, but they have learned a long time ago that digging into George’s problem would lead them nowhere.

“I want to go home,” Dannie announced after the band finished singing their own version of September.

“Take George with you,” Jackie suggested, looking at George with worry. Her friend was on her thirteenth bottle. “Troy will drive me home.”

Troy’s head turned to her sharply. “I am?”

“Yes, you will.”

“I’m not going home just yet,” George said, her speech slurring.

“You are,” Dannie and Jackie uttered in unison.

“No, I’m not. No one’s going home!” George shouted.

Jackie dropped her shoulders. “Fine. Troy, take Dannie home. I’ll take George later with Toto.”

“Why me?” Troy asked, stealing a glance at Nikki who was talking with Dean and the band for their next song.

“Because you are.”

“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll go get a taxi,” Dannie said.

“No, it’s late,” Jackie insisted.

“Why are you going home anyway?” Troy asked Dannie.

“Because I need to go to work tomorrow,” Dannie answered and then turned to George and Jackie. “And these two should be going home with me as well.”

“I’ll stay here,” George said.

“I’ll stay with her,” Jackie answered, grabbing to chance to stay a little longer.

“Fine. I’ll go,” Dannie said, getting up.

Troy followed suit. Dannie stared at him.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“I’ll take you home,” he answered.

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am,” Troy said, fishing for his keys.

“No, I’ll go home alone. I can manage.”

“He’s taking you, Dannie. Period. Or you’ll stay here until we’re all ready to go home,” Jackie said strongly.

Dannie assessed the situation. And when she finally managed to deduce that no one was going home in a few more hours, she sighed. “Fine. Faster, Brady.”

“Yes, teacher Danica,” Troy said, bowing and gesturing his hand sideways as Dannie passed by.

“Stop that! What the hell is wrong with you?” Dannie was asking as the two of them walked away.

“Hey, I’m doing you a big favor here,” Jackie heard Troy answer before their bickering voices could no longer be heard.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jackie asked George.

Her friend just looked at her dryly.

When she saw Miguel open his mouth, most probably to say something that would piss George off, Jackie sent the tip of her toe against his shin under the table. He almost bellowed in pain but it stopped him from provoking George who was obviously already pissed about something.

Jackie was sure it had something to do with her trip earlier. Deep inside, she hoped her friend would be more open with her problems.

But Jackie knew as well that the only way to help George was to act normally, like nothing was happening, and she did just that. She took Troy’s camera, after a fight with Lee who was guarding it, and started clicking away. She pretended she was documenting her fun night, but she managed to steal more candid photos of Dean Gamboa.

Troy returned and assured Jackie and George that Dannie was home and safe. When he saw his precious camera in Jackie’s hand, he grabbed it out of her hand and said, “Not your property, Jackie.”

“Fine. Then do your job and take more photos of my boss. When they’re done, invite them back at our table. We have to have photos together, please.”

“Okay, okay. Geez, you’re not even paying me for this.”

“Geez,” Jackie mocked, “I’ve been paying you in advance since high school. Remember all those assignments you copied off me?”

“They were not yours. You copied them off from Danica.”

“Yeah? You think you could have copied them if you asked her?”

“Of course not.”

“Then we’re even. I already paid four years of assignments in high school and countless of papers in college. No, no, don’t argue. Just do your job.” Then she turned her eyes at Miguel and Lee and added, “And that goes for the two of you as well.”

“We’re not saying anything,” they both uttered and gulped down their beers.

When the band finally sang their last song for the night, Troy invited them over once again and they agreed. They took the same chairs and Dean was back beside Jackie.

“Where’s your friend Dannie?” he asked.

“She went ahead. This is not really her thing, you know.”

He just nodded. It was that same awkward moment again. They were lacking of more things to talk about.

“Your other friend seems to have returned the bar’s capital for the night,” he said after a few minutes.

“She’s just going through something. I’m keeping an eye on her,” she whispered beside him, looking at George who was calling the waiter for another bottle.

“Where do you work?” she heard Nikki ask and when she turned her eyes at her, she realized the lady was looking at her.

“You were talking to me? I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Jackie answered, giving a laugh.

“It must be the cap,” Troy said. “No one can’t see your eyes so we don’t really know who you’re talking to.”

If Jackie could just reach his leg under the table with her foot, she would have kicked him already. What a lame excuse to ask the lady to take her cap off.

But Jackie was as curious as Troy, Miguel and Lee were.

Taking Troy’s cue, Nikki laughed and took off her cap. And lo and behold, she had long, wavy hair, just as Jackie feared earlier. And she could almost hear the gasp that came from her friends when they finally got a good look of her beauty.

Good thing she’s his cousin, Jackie thought.

“So?” Nikki asked her again.

“I work at Collins Corporation.”

Nikki frowned. “Dean also works at CC, right?” she asked her cousin.

He just nodded.

“Yeah, he’s my boss,” Jackie volunteered to provide the information.

“What?!” Nikki exclaimed. “You didn’t tell me!” Nikki accused him.

“You didn’t ask,” he said.

“So that’s why the two of you seemed to know each other earlier,” his cousin added.

“Yeah, sort of,” Jackie said. “We’re really not that close.”

“Really? Why?”

“Oh, you don’t really want to know what he’s like at work,” she answered.

Dean Gamboa’s head turned to her and she didn’t bother check what look he was throwing at her direction. They were not in the office after all and he didn’t have that much hold on her.

“Come on, tell me,” Nikki said with excitement.

“There’s nothing much to tell,” Dean said.

“That’s what he thinks, but I do have a lot to tell,” Jackie contradicted.

This time, Nikki had already stood up and went to sit beside Jackie.

And that was how she managed to make a friend out of Dean Gamboa’s cousin. As the night turned to morning, Jackie and Nikki talked about a lot of things. Yes, they talked about how Dean was at the office in whispers so he wouldn’t hear, but they also talked about music and food.

It was Dean who finally said, “I think your friend is not doing so well, Jackie.”

It took Jackie a long time to recover from shock after she heard Dean Gamboa call her by her first name. She didn’t know, but she guessed it was the first time that he called her that.

And when his words finally registered in her brain, Jackie looked at George and she gave out a defeated sigh. Her friend was already falling asleep after fifteen bottles of beer. And it was too much even for her. She knew Troy was lost in conversation with Nikki and the other guys to even bother taking pictures of her and Dean Gamboa. And she had to take care of her friend first. “I guess I’ll take her home,” Jackie said, trying to assess her own condition. She had had a few drinks as well while she was talking with Nikki.

“You’re driving?” Dean asked.

“Yeashh,” she answered. She knew her voice slurred a little, but she couldn’t help it. “Leshhgo, George,” she said, reaching out to shake George’s hand.

“Someone should take you home. I don’t think you can drive in your condition,” Dean said, looking at her. Her mind was clear and she could understand his every word, but they travelled to her slowly.

“No, I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. It only made it worse.

“No, you’re not,” he said, his voice back to his bossy one.

“I’lldrivethemhome,” Troy said, his eyes drooping, his head hanging and falling forward.

Dean looked at him and shook his head. “I don’t think you can drive, bro,” he said to Troy. Then he looked at Nikki.

“I’m driving him home,” Lee suggested. “And him,” he said, pointing at Miguel who was already asleep beside him. “And then Jackie and George.”

Lee looked okay. He was the only one in their group of friends who always had the control. And Dean Gamboa seemed to have assessed that as well so he nodded his head.

Oh, no, not again, I uttered to myself when I saw Jackie and Lee dragging George, Miguel and Troy out of Art District and toward Tata. They shoved Miguel inside Tata’s passenger seat first because Troy was still busy watering the grasses with his gastric juices. When he was done, his friends opened the back seat to let him in.

“Just get in!” Lee was shouting at Troy who was crawling his way inside Tata’s backseat.

“Hey! Shhit up!” Jackie was shouting at him when he finally managed to climb in.

She was using too much ‘shh’. It only meant she was almost as drunk as the other three. George was already walking toward me and opened the driver side.

No, Georgie, you can’t drive like this! Jackie! Help! She’s going to drive!

“The boys won’t fit inside if you lay there, Troy,” I heard Lee tell Troy.

“Let’s go home, Toto,” Georgie was saying, her eyes almost a line now. Her grip against my steering wheel was lax. Not a good sign, I guessed.

Jackie! Georgie is going to drive! Hey!

But she was still busy pulling Troy to sit up inside Tata that she didn’t hear. And where was her other shoe? Oh, yes, she was holding it in one hand and she was attacking Troy inside Tata with it.

This is not good! Hey, Jackie girl! Georgie is about to do something stupid!

Good thing a group was coming closer and I saw Dean Gamboa. My savior!

Hey! You! Help us! I know Jackie hurt Beatle and all, but you’ve got to help me, man. I don’t think I can survive another car-wrecking accident!

He approached Jackie and I heard him say to Lee, “It’s okay. Let him. Just take him home.” And then he turned to Jackie saying, “I’ll drive you boys home myself.”

“But–”

“No buts, Jackie. Just let me drive you home. George is already behind the wheel. We need to stop her before she runs your car against the Nara tree,” he ordered, turning to one beautiful lady behind him. “Are you okay driving on your own?”

“Yes, of course, I am,” the pretty girl answered. “I didn’t drink that much.” The other guys with them seemed to be amused of the situation. They were holding guitars and other instruments so I assumed they were the band. It would have been great to meet them in a much better situation, but I was not in the mood to be struck by their awesomeness after hearing great songs from them tonight because I was in a panic. Georgie had already managed to insert the key and was about to turn me on.

Faster, faster, I shouted at Jackie and Dean.

Dean nodded at the group and grabbed Jackie’s hand and dragged her toward me. It was then that I managed to feel a great deal of relief. I was saved. And this was going to be another exciting night.

Dean Gamboa was taking my girl Jackie home!

“I’m shooober, I am faynnn,” Jackie was protesting, but her boss was not hearing her.

Oh, I have a feeling this is going to be a good night!

Chapter 15

“I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fayyyyne,” Jackie was saying over and over again, which pretty much told her me the exact opposite of what she was saying.

“Shut up, Jackie,” answered Dean Gamboa for how many times I couldn’t remember. It was easy to note that he was trying to focus on driving me, an old, beaten Volkswagen, and watching out for Georgie and Jackie who were doing their usual drunk attitude. Georgie was quiet but restless at the back. I could still very well remember how Dean Gamboa pulled her out from the driver seat and almost hauled her over his shoulder and transferred her at the back. Jackie, as usual, was talking a lot and I sure prayed to whoever was up there that she would not blurt out about her secret and evil plans of using his boss to get away from her stalker.

“Why are you telling me to shut up? I know, I know, I know why!” Jackie said, shifting in her seat to face Dean Gamboa. She leaned forward that her forehead almost touched his shoulder. “You’re my boss. That’s why you are ordering me around, right?”

“No, because you’re drunk. You’re talking nonsense.”

“You’re so frustrating. As frustrating as the vending machine on our floor. You know why it is frustrating?”

Dean Gamboa did not answer.

And Jackie didn’t wait for one. “Because it keeps giving me a Pepsi. I always punch the Coke button! I always do! But it keeps giving me Pepsi! You should have that stupid vending machine changed. And you should also fire Brian.”

Still, no answer.

“You know why? Because he won’t leave me alone!”

Okay, Jackie girl, I think this is the right time for you to shut up. Don’t ever mention Brian because that would lead to the stalking and will then eventually end to the tale of the fake FB account and then you will be fired. For real!

“I can’t fire him. He’s not even in our department.”

“But he won’t leave me alone! I am afraid, you know that? Very much afraid. He might resort to hurting me and then he’ll kill me and keep my body inside his house and he’ll talk to it every night. I can’t have that. I can’t.”

“You watch too much TV, Jackie.”

Jackie laughed out loud. Then she followed it with a series of slaps on her boss’ shoulder. “And you’re calling me Jackie! How cool is that?”

“You don’t like it?”

“I love it! You never called me Jackie before. It’s always Miss Ramos,” she said, copying his baritone voice while she said the last line.

“Where should I go?” Dean Gamboa asked instead.

“What?”

“Where is your house?”

“Apartment,” she corrected.

“Fine. Your apartment?”

Jackie giggled. “My boss is taking me home. Can you believe it?”

“Jackie,” Dean’s voice was full of warning.

“Turn right, then the second left, then right and the second house to the right.”

I don’t know about you, but I found it amazing that he managed to correctly follow Jackie’s direction and within minutes, we were parked outside the boys’ apartment. Dannie was already waiting outside, her face full of worry.

“I knew this is going to happen,” she said when Dean opened the driver side.

“I’m just dropping them home. They’re pretty drunk,” he explained.

“I knew it. That’s why they didn’t answer my calls. I’ll help you.”

And so the long struggle to guide Georgie and Jackie out of me and into the apartment followed. Dean Gamboa’s presence was of great help. Georgie’s feet did not even touch the ground.

I eagerly waited outside, wondering what would happen.

After almost ten minutes, Dean Gamboa was out of the door followed by Dannie.

“I need to go,” Dean said and my hood almost slumped down. He was going home? No, the fun shouldn’t be over this soon!

“I don’t think you should go home at this hour. You can sleep here,” Dannie said with concern. “Our neighborhood is not as safe as yours, you know.”

“No, I think I can manage–”

“Mr. Gamboa, I insist. You can go home later. So please, just get back inside. You’ll be comfortable in the living room.” Then Dannie turned around to walk back inside, adding over her shoulder, “What are you waiting for? Get inside.”

That’s my Dannie! No one could really say no to her when she uses that tone! I saw Dean Gamboa struggle with a decision for a few seconds before he finally turned toward the door and walked in.

And then I realized I couldn’t witness whatever would happen inside. Damn!

As I imagined what could be happening behind the door of the boys’ apartment, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked right across the boys’ apartment, right across me. And it was weird to have such car in the neighborhood. It was a black, classy, shiny and extremely well-maintained car. In short, its presence was unusual because it was a freaking BMW!

Should I talk to the vic? I was pretty sure it was a female car.

Hey, there, sexy! What are you doing here? Sorry to say, but your beauty does not really belong here.

No answer. It just ignored me like all vics of its kind.

Great, I muttered.

Then I noticed another thing. There was someone behind the wheel and it was a silhouette of a man. And he was looking straight at me. Or should I say, straight at the boys’ apartment.

What the hell is going on here?

  *****

Jackie stirred when she heard Dannie talking to someone in the living room. She was in the kitchen and had fallen asleep on the table while her right hand was still holding on a glass of water.

“What’s happening?” she asked aloud, trying to peer through her half-open lids.

“Mr. Gamboa is sleeping here for tonight,” Dannie answered. “As for you, get up and sleep. You’re drunk.”

“No, I’m noooooot,” Jackie answered, struggling to sit upright. “And why is he sleeping heeeere?”

“It’s already late and I insisted,” Dannie answered from the living room. “Here’s a comforter. Just turn on the electric fan if you want,” she said to Dean Gamboa who had been silent in one corner.

“Thanks,” Jackie heard him answer.

She thought about the situation for a long moment before she finally shrugged and said, “Oh well, then, good night, Mr. Gamboa.”

“If you need anything, don’t wake me up. Just find it yourself,” Dannie said to Dean who gave a chuckle. “I am way past my bedtime. Good night.”

“Good night. And please, just Dean. Mr. Gamboa’s my office name.”

“Okay then, ‘night, Dean.”

“Good night.”

“Hey, Jackie, go to sleep,” Dannie told her as she opened her door.

“I will, I will,” she moaned. “Where’s George?”

“Asleep in her room. You should do the same.”

“Yeah, yeah, after a moment.” Dannie nodded and walked inside her room just as Jackie stood up and walked to the sink. “I need to drink some water.”

“You were already drinking one,” Dean pointed out right behind her.

Jackie made a mistake of turning around because her head hurt like hell and everything seemed to suddenly whirl around her. “That’s not water. It tasted like beer.”

“This is water,” he said, picking up the glass she left on the table. “Here,” he handed it to her.

“Thanks, sir,” she said, mimicking a soldier’s tone. “I’m parched.” She took the glass from him and swallowed the rest of the water. Then her face crunched up. “It still tastes like beer.”

“It’s water, Jackie. Now, go to sleep.”

“Yes, yes, sleep. We still have to work tomorrow, right?”

“Yes,” he said with amusement.

“I can’t file for a sick leave?”

“I guess not,” he answered.

She nodded and started to walk to her room. Then she stopped and turned around. “Thank you, Mr. Gamboa.”

“Dean.”

“Dean,” she repeated. “Thanks for taking us home safely.” She followed her statement with a giggle. “My boss just took me home.”

“Okay, time to go to bed,” Dean said as he walked toward her.

“Really, thank you. I really thought you’re heartless and all, but you’re not. Thank you,” she said and then did the most unbelievable thing. She stood on her toes and planted her lips against his. Neither of them moved, but it was a long, motionless kiss. And when Jackie’s toes gave way, she smiled at him dreamily and laughed at his appalled look. “Good night, Dean.”

She did not hear an answer as she opened her door and walked in.

  *****

“He slept here last night?” Jackie asked in awe as they were having a quick breakfast.

“You don’t remember?” asked Dannie.

“No, I don’t remember anything like that. I only got until the part where Lee and I were pushing Troy at the back of Tata.”

“I don’t even remember anything after my tenth bottle,” George said dryly.

Dannie sighed. “Well, I don’t even want to know exactly what happened to you guys before you came home a mess. It was a good thing Dean took you home.”

“Dean? You’re first-name basis with my boss now?”

“He asked me to call him Dean. Just finish your breakfast and let’s go.”

“I can’t eat more of this,” Jackie said, lifting her plate off the table. “We’ll be late. Come on,” she said after she placed the plate in the sink.

“I’ll pass,” George said, getting up. “I need more sleep.”

“But don’t you have–” the look Jackie received from Dannie told her she should cut it. “Okay, fine. Let’s go, Dannie.”

  *****

Okay, girls, tell me what happened! Go on!

Jackie was driving again and it was a good thing that she did not seem to remember anything because I had the chance of hearing the story after they all got inside. Dean Gamboa left very early, which was disappointing, but the look of confusion on his face when he walked out the door was very interesting for me.

“So he left before we woke up?” Jackie asked.

“Yes. Just as when I woke up to cook breakfast,” Dannie said then frowned. “I wonder what happened though. He seemed quite at a loss earlier. I can’t really explain it.” She then turned to Jackie with an accusing look. “You didn’t do or say anything stupid to him last night, did you? You should have been thankful to the guy. He went through all that trouble to take you home.”

“Hey! I don’t even remember what I did last night. But I’m sure I didn’t do anything to him.” And when she realized it, she gasped. “Oh my God! I didn’t blurt out about the fake FB account, did I? You should have been there to watch over me!”

“And now it’s my fault? You should have thought about it before you took up drinking last night.”

Jackie was deep in thought as she drove Dannie to school. And was still deep in thought and talking to herself right after. “Maybe he’s just like that in the mornings,” she said aloud. “I would not be stupid to blurt out about my plans to him. I am certain of that.”

I don’t know, Jackie girl, but you have been acting stupid and crazy lately so I will not be surprised if you ever did tell the truth last night.

“If I’m not fired by the end of the day, then I guess I didn’t slip.”

Yeah, that’s the only way to find out.

Jackie parked me under my lonely spot. I checked if Beatle was around. Of course, he was not. His owner slept at our place earlier. And he must still be undergoing surgery –more specifically, tire transplant.

And as Jackie walked off without Brian in tow–her plans must really be working after all–I was back thinking about the mystery car from last night. I should really find out about it and its owner. It was my mission.

  *****

Jackie didn’t dare check if her boss was back in his office. She proceeded to her work and that included reading requests from clients regarding the venue and the theme for the event. Joseph wanted to have a report from her for their brainstorming activity next week and she better get great ideas.

But how could she? She was bothered about what could have happened last night. She should remember!

Should she ask Dean?

But he was her boss right now. He could fire her for asking such thing. But she could be fired anyway. She might have blurted out the truth last night–or this morning, whatever time it was.

“What’s wrong with you?” Karen asked her.

“Nothing,” she answered, getting up. “I need a Coke.”

“Good luck with that,” Karen muttered. “Don’t come back cursing that vending machine though.”

She ignored her friend and walked to the vending machine. “Please, give me Coke this time,” she begged as she inserted her money and punched the button.

“I bet it’s going to give you Pepsi,” a familiar voice said behind her.

Jackie froze. Then she slowly turned around just as the vending machine dropped the can. “Sir! I–I–”

“See? I was right,” Dean Gamboa said with a small smile on his lips. She followed his gaze down at the dispenser of the vending machine.

“Pepsi,” she groaned, bending down to pick the blue can. “I hate this vending machine.”

“Here, take mine,” Dean Gamboa’s voice said behind her once more.

“What?” she asked, straightening to full height and found him standing quite close, his right hand holding the red can she had been craving for. Coke.

“Take mine. I don’t like it anyway. I’d rather have Pepsi but this vending machine keeps giving me this. So I guess it is only right if we exchange.”

“You’re serious, right? This stupid machine gives you Coke?”

He nodded, his handsome face still fresh after last night. Unbelievable! Jackie even had to put on extra concealer to hide her under-eye circles! “Yes, instead of Pepsi. I don’t know if the problem is with our fingers or the pressure we apply on the buttons. So? Exchange?”

For a few seconds, Jackie was just gaping down at the Coke he held in his hand. Was this Dean Gamboa talking to her nicely ? Or was this just a figment of her hangover? But he was so real. His presence was so real. His voice and his words seemed real as well. And no one was looking at her that suggested she was crazy because she was talking to herself. They were just staring at her from their tables with curiosity because she was talking to their boss–and they were not inside his office with the blinds down.

Dean Gamboa was still looking at her expectantly.

“Uh, sure,” she said in a whisper.

He gave a smile and said, “Great.”

He then took the Pepsi from her hand and gave her the Coke.

“Thanks, Jackie,” he said before he turned around and walked to his office.

That moment, Jackie’s mouth hung open. What the hell happened last night?!

Chapter 16

It was not that Dean Gamboa would give her a daily dose of his arrogant attitude in the office, but it was not always, or rather never had he shown her any kind of kindness or friendliness. Never. As a matter of fact, no one in the office, apart from Joseph, ever experienced this side of Dean Gamboa.

And now everyone knew that he gave her a Coke and then smiled at her a few hours ago. It was not for long before rumor would start spreading in their office and travel up and down the building of Collins Corporations.

Jackie thought it would boost up her story of being his girlfriend and would help her finally get rid of Brian. But she was also well aware that people would start acting on their curiosity. They would stalk her Facebook account. And they would look for Dean Gamboa.

The only consolation she had was the fact that she made Dean Gamboa’s fake FB account private it wouldn’t show up when searched.

But they better not look through Brian’s Facebook friends. Or better yet, they wouldn’t ask him because if they did, God knows what that sick bastard could say? She had never heard from Brian today and she wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. It could be that he was just waiting for the right moment to act on his crazy impulses. Or it could be that he was starting to give up.

She crossed her fingers that her boss would continue being nice to her for as long as necessary. But she had to be careful. Eyes would eventually follow her and her boss around. She was sure of that.

  *****

By lunch time, Dean Gamboa proved everyone wrong.

They thought he could only give Jackie a Coke–or exchange drinks with her–and smile at her?

Oh, no. He did more than that.

Everyone was so full of curiosity by the time they went back behind their desks because downstairs, at the cafeteria, they witnessed the most uncommon sight.

What was it?

Going back an hour earlier, when Jackie and Karen were just preparing to go down for lunch, Karen’s phone rang. Her mother was rushed to the hospital.

Jackie went with her to Dean Gamboa’s office so she could ask permission to take the rest of the day off.

“Of course,” Dean immediately said when he learned of the emergency.

“Thank you, sir!” Karen cried out and turned to Jackie.

“Please text me once you get there,” Jackie told her, worried.

“Of course. ‘Bye.”

And then her friend was off. Jackie finally realized that she was still inside Dean Gamboa’s office.

“Uh, uh…guess I’ll go get my lunch,” she said, stammering, when she saw him looking at her. He still looked like Dean Gamboa, the boss, but there was something in the way he was looking at her that made her wonder again. What happened last night?

“Jackie,” she heard him say behind her when she started for the door.

She stopped. He was calling her Jackie. She kind of liked it. “Yes, sir?” she asked, turning around.

He was already standing and walking around his desk. “I know you take your lunch with Karen so I guess you don’t have anyone to share it with today?”

Her heart started to beat faster. Was he thinking what she was thinking? “Yeah.”

“Then, let’s go.”

She kept rooted in her spot as he walked past her and to the door.

“Jackie,” he called.

She closed her mouth, which had been hanging open since he said ‘let’s go’. “What?”

Dean Gamboa frowned. “Let’s go have lunch.”

“Lunch? Me? With you?”

He nodded. “We need to talk about the things you never raised during our last meeting.”

“Huh?”

Impatience started to appear on his face. She knew she was sounding so stupid, but what the hell! Her boss, her fake boyfriend, the one who was saving her from Brian without knowing, the drummer of Anon, was asking her to have lunch with her! “Is there something stopping you from eating lunch with me?”

“No, no, of course not! Sure! Let’s go! Right now! Why not?” she said the words without pause and walked ahead of him out of the door.

The few people who were still in the office followed them with their curious looks as they made their way to the elevator doors side by side.

  *****

“What are you having?” Dean Gamboa asked Jackie.

“I usually get salad for lunch,” she answered.

He looked at her and shook his head. “You’ll need a heavy meal. You don’t look so good.”

Jackie’s mouth fell open. Did he just say she didn’t look good? “Excuse me?”

“You look like you lost weight,” he explained, turning at the man behind the counter. “Two chicken meals, please,” he said to the man.

“It’s because I stayed up late last night, remember?” she asked in a whisper.

He turned his head and looked at her in the eye. “I do remember.”

There was something in the way he looked at her that told her something really happened last night. What the hell could it be? It was not her spilling her secrets for sure because he wouldn’t share lunch with her if that were the case. In fact, she would have already packed her things and left without a job. So what happened?

“And since I am treating you to lunch, I should make the order,” he said, snapping Jackie out from her mental wanderings.

“You’re paying?” When would Dean Gamboa stop giving her mini heart attacks?

He just looked at her and handed the guy behind the counter some cash.

“Why?” she nudged.

He did not answer.

“Why?” she repeated, in case he didn’t hear.

She heard him take a deep breath and then he looked at her one more time. “Just because. There shouldn’t always be a reason.”

“Really?”

She could tell he was losing his patience with the way he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Yes, really.”

“Hmmm…interesting,” the words escaped her mouth before she could stop them. She turned around to hide the flush on her face and said, “I’ll go get us a seat then.”

Two minutes later, Dean went to where she was sitting with a tray. “You picked my usual spot.”

“I know your usual spot, sir.”

He didn’t say a word and sat down across from her.

“What?” she asked as she took her food from the tray he placed before them. He was looking at her intently and it was starting to take effect on her. He never looked at her like that before.

“You don’t really remember anything from last night, do you?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Why? Should I remember something?”

He just stared at her for a while before he shook his head and said, “Whatever it is you should remember, it might not be important. Eat, Jackie.”

He’s still calling me Jackie, O-M-G, she thought as she forked her food. Jackie cleared her throat. “So, what are we going to talk about?”

He raised his eyebrows, munching his food.

“You told me you’re going to talk to me about the things I never talked about during our last meeting,” she reminded.

“Ah, yes,” he said, swallowing. “So, what do you have in mind?”

“You’re asking me now. Why?”

“Because you don’t speak up what’s on your mind whenever we have our meetings. Now is your chance.”

“Why are you suddenly interested in what I think?”

“Because it’s my job to know what my people think,” he answered instantly. “We are the events planning team for a reason. I hired you for a reason. Prove it.”

Jackie was not satisfied. “You never did this before.”

He took a breath, indicating she was asking too much questions. “It’s a new strategy. I noticed that most of you don’t speak up whenever we are in a meeting. I just thought it would be a good idea if I talk to all of you one-on-one, in an atmosphere where you are at ease.”

“Oh, I see,” Jackie said, somewhat disappointed. “Well, I’m thinking about Panaad Festival.”

He frowned. “Panaad?”

She nodded. “We’re going to promote a drinking product, right? And how do we make people drink it? We give them food, right?”

He nodded. “That’s a given. We always have food during such events.”

“But it would be very great if people would enjoy the drink as much as they enjoy their food, right? And since Panaad Festival is coming in a week, it would be a great idea.”

“What are you suggesting, really?”

“Well, why don’t we take the Panaad Festival inside Sugarland Hotel? We don’t have to take all the mini buildings of the different municipalities, of course. We’re just going to take in the foods. We will set up different booths around the place where people could go around and the drink will be everywhere.”

“You do realize that it will take a lot of time and effort, right? What our clients want is just a simple program where the media and the leading restaurants in Bacolod would be.”

“Exactly. There will be the media and the different restaurants in Bacolod. They will love the concept, really. They won’t be there for the product. They will be there because they are curious. And they have the invitation. You know that.”

He thought about it for a long time, his food forgotten. “I’ll think about your suggestion.”

Jackie thought she heard a round of applause everywhere. Did Dean Gamboa just consider her suggestion?

“But you have to be prepared if the clients approve of it.”

“Prepared?”

“You suggested it. If they approve, you’ll have to work on it.”

Jackie nodded. “Of course! It’s my job, right?”

Dean Gamboa just nodded his head and motioned his hand toward her food. “Eat.”

  *****

“We will play again at Art District this Saturday. Nikki will be there and she asked me if you and your friends will be coming.”

Jackie was momentarily pulled away from her own thoughts when her boss spoke up during their ride back up to their floor. “Saturday?”

He nodded without looking at her.

“We might swing by,” she said with a smile. “I like your cousin.”

This time, Dean turned his head and looked down at her, his face bare of any emotion. Jackie wanted to reach up and smack it open to reveal what he was really feeling. “And she likes you, too, I guess.”

“Well, then, see you Saturday, boss,” she said with a small laugh as the doors opened. She stepped out and walked to her table, very much aware of the curious gaze her officemates were throwing her.

  *****

“I think this is getting a little bit too much,” said George when they met up that afternoon after work. We went to this secret place they have which was outside of Bacolod. It was a barren land full of tall grasses and though it was privately owned, no one was really watching over the place. It was supposed to be a big mall a long time ago, but people said the company went down before construction even finished. The unfinished building now stood in the middle of a wide, grass-covered land.

The boys would often take me here with them if they were out of budget and they just wanted to spend time together away from the apartment. The sunset at the back of the unfinished building was great for an afternoon stay with beers and chips.

“Come on, he didn’t really ask me to go. He just asked if we are coming because Nikki wanted to see me.”

Dannie frowned. “I don’t know, Jackie. His sudden change of behavior towards you, as what you have put it, is kind of weird. What did you do to him last night?”

“I don’t know! I can’t remember,” she shrugged, leaning against my hood. “So, we’re coming, right?”

“Of course, someone has to watch over the two of you,” Dannie said, looking at Jackie and then at Georgie.

“Okay, fine. No one’s drinking more than the limit,” George said and Jackie jumped on her feet.

“You guys are awesome! Just be patient, okay? Just let me have a few more time with Dean. I’m sure Brian will back off once he realizes that I am going steady with the boss.”

  *****

Jackie and George waited for Dannie and I to arrive from church that Saturday and when we did, Jackie urged the other two to dress up prettily. Of course, they didn’t. They went out that night as themselves.

As we drove to Art District, I prayed real hard that no one was going to do some puking and kicking around this time.

“Oh, Troy is here,” uttered Jackie. “Great. He better take great shots this time.”

“If you can keep him and his friends away from Nikki,” uttered Dannie bitterly.

That came out a bit off, but we didn’t comment. Dannie never had anything good to say about Troy since I met them.

Hey, Tata, I heard your boss came home drunk last time. I’m afraid he’s still alive? I asked Tata as Dannie parked me behind her.

  *****

Jackie, Dannie and George approached Troy, Miguel and Lee without a tinge of excitement. That was what the years of familiarity brought to them. It was pretty much the same as coming home to your own family.

“What do you boys want?” Troy asked.

“Don’t give them any beers, please,” Lee uttered. “I can still remember last time.”

“Shut up,” George snapped and waved her hand to a passing waiter.

“Don’t drink too much, please,” Dannie said with a sigh.

Jackie was already busy looking at the band. They were already done setting up. Dean raised his head from whatever he was doing and met her eyes. She gave him a small smile and waved.

He just nodded his head and looked away.

Nikki saw her and she waved with excitement at Jackie who returned the gesture with the same enthusiasm.

And then she remembered she had to keep Dean Gamboa’s FB account alive. She fished her phone out of her purse and signed in her boss’ fake account.

She had transferred the photos Troy had managed to take of her and Dean from the last time they were together. There were not much, thanks to Nikki, but some were enough to be uploaded.

She wasn’t planning on exposing Dean’s secret identity so she decided to upload the photos of them taken around the table when the band took a break.

Dean had already gained a few friends, but it didn’t matter with Jackie. What mattered to her was that Brian was one of them and he would see everything.

The band played a new set of songs that night, starting with Slow Down Sister followed by some Beatles songs. The band surprised everyone when they changed instruments. Like literally. Dean stood up and went behind the keyboard while Rene went to take the guitar from Phil who went behind the drums. Kurt had taken down his guitar and was now holding the bass guitar from Spike who took the microphone. Nikki further awed everyone when she revealed a violin.

“What the hell!” Troy and his goons cried out.

“Whoa!” Jackie cried out and started clapping.

The band started playing their version of Love’s Lookin’ Good on You. Jackie realized that the band seemed to be playing a lot of Lady Antebellum songs now that Nikki was in the picture. Not that she was complaining because she liked the group as much as she was starting to love Anon right now.

Things would have went on pretty well if Jackie didn’t receive a text message from Karen.

Where are you?

Jackie frowned.

Why? Is your mom okay?

She just had a bad stomach. Where are you?

Jackie had a feeling that her friend was out right now. She would love to invite Karen over at Art but now was not the right time.

She decided not to answer. It was better she didn’t.

I’m on my way to Art right now. I’m with friends. Would you like to join us?

“Oh no,” she uttered.

Art District?

Yes! We just arrived. Come! :)

Jackie panicked.

“What’s wrong?” George asked.

“Karen’s coming.”

“Karen?” asked Troy.

“My friend at the office. She’s coming!”

“Will be coming back after our short break, guys,” Nikki said after their last song. The band started to walk away from the set and toward their table.

“What’s wrong then?” Lee asked.

“Don’t you get it? Their boss is here…” George was saying but Jackie didn’t hear the rest. She was already on her feet and walking, then running toward Dean who was walking beside Nikki.

“Come!” she said in haste, grabbing his hand.

Surprised, he frowned at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Let’s just go! You need to hide!”

“Why?”

“Let’s just go!” Jackie said in desperation. Nikki and the rest of the band were looking at the two of them with curiosity.

“Jackie, what’s going–”

She cut off Dean’s words by saying, “Karen’s here! She’s here!”

Without a word, he let her pull him out of the bar just as Karen and her friends were coming in.

Chapter 17

Jackie led Dean as far away from the crowd as possible.

“Karen has been coming here for quite some time and she hasn’t recognized me,” Dean was saying behind her. She was still pulling him by the hand toward the exit of Art District.

“You were coming to our table, remember?” she said, shooting a quick glance back at him. “And if she found out I was there, she would invite herself at our table and your secret will no longer be a secret.”

A few more steps and she stopped, seeing the staircase that led to the second floor of another building. She decided to go up there, thinking outside was not a good idea.

She felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She knew it was Karen. Jackie could already picture out the scene back there. Karen would be standing by their table, having recognized Dannie and George. And she would be asking after Jackie. Her two friends better be great liars.

Dean never said a word as they climbed up the stairs.

“What now?” he asked.

“Urgh!” Jackie cried in frustration, letting go of his hand.

“What?” he asked, concern and panic in his voice.

“My purse! I forgot my purse! What if she sees it?”

“I’m sure she won’t,” said Dean, looking down the balcony. Muffled music from the different bars and the laughter and voices of the people downstairs were the closest clue they had of what was happening out there.

“I have to call Dannie…” Jackie said, tapping on her phone.

Dean did not give a comment and just watched her impatiently wait for the call to connect, his forearms resting on the balcony.

“Hello! Dannie! Is Karen there?”

“What? I can’t hear you!” her friend shouted from the other line.

“Is Karen there! Karen!”

“Ah, yes, yes. They took the table next to ours. Where are you?” Dannie asked, the loud music in the background getting fainter. She must have walked out of the place.

“Somewhere. Did she ask where I was? I’m trying to hide Dean, you know.”

“Yes, she did. George said you’re at home. You left your purse.”

“Keep it. Please text me if Karen’s going.”

“I don’t think that will happen soon. What do I tell the rest of the band? They have been asking us what happened.”

Jackie covered her phone and looked at Dean. “What do they have to tell your band?”

He frowned and thought for a while. “Just tell them we had an emergency?”

She nodded. “Good idea.” She addressed Dannie, saying, “Tell them we had an emergency.”

“What kind?”

“Just make up any.”

“I can’t make up stories.”

Jackie rolled her eyes in frustration. “Then just say you don’t know.”

“Okay, copy. Are you coming back?”

Jackie looked at Dean. “That depends.”

When the call ended, she asked, “So, what happens now?”

Dean shrugged. “I’m not the one who dragged us up here. You tell me.”

Jackie circled on her feet. “I can’t think of anything right now.”

Dean pushed away from the balcony and stared at the only open glass doors. “Have you been inside there?”

Jackie frowned. “Orange Gallery?”

He nodded.

“No, not really.”

She saw him take a deep breath and say, “Orange Gallery it is.” He walked ahead and then stopped when he noticed she was still rooted in her spot. “Coming?”

“Ah, yes, of course. Orange Gallery it is!”

  *****

So I was talking to Tata about Troy and his unfortunate fate that night when he had to be dragged out of Art by his friends when I saw Karen.

What is she doing here?!

I knew Jackie would be in trouble if Karen as much as saw her with Dean Gamboa doing whatever she was planning to do tonight with that man. Things might look good for her plan to get rid of Brian, but it might also make things complicated. And plus, Dean Gamboa was keeping this side of him a secret. What if he would be found out and he would blame Jackie girl?

Not good, not good.

Tata asked why I was in a panic mode and I told her the little details she didn’t know. It was not like she would tell others, right? If she did, not a single human would understand anyway.

I was in the middle of telling her about how I thought Jackie was going crazy when I saw it again. The black BMW. Same plate number as the one I saw parking outside the boys’ apartment.

I had the weirdest feeling that it was not going to be the last time I’d spot it. I still couldn’t see who the driver was. It parked far away and stayed in the darkness. The driver did not go out.

Hey, Tata, you know that BMW?

Tata said she didn’t and asked why I was asking.

Nothing, I think I just think that vic’s cute, I lied. Yeah, of course, I could lie as well. What? You think we can’t? We learn from our owners!

  *****

“I can’t believe I never dared enter this place before,” Jackie said with awe. The Orange Gallery was not a big one, but it was a cool rectangular room with different artworks on the walls.

Jackie was walking along the right wall and Dean at the opposite side. They were the only visitors around.

“Me too,” he said, staring at the abstract painting before him. They slowly made their way to the end of the room where a glass wall overlooking the main road below stood.

“It’s drizzling,” Jackie commented with a smile, looking at the tiny drops of water blown by the wind outside.

“It would be a good night if I am home,” Dean said, walking closer to stand beside her.

She smiled and looked at him. “I can picture you in a rainy day, reading a book and listening to music.”

 A small smile appeared on his lips. “I gather you can’t often imagine others doing the same thing.”

Jackie thought about it for a few seconds. “Yes, maybe. But mostly it is because I’d like to believe that men could stay and feel at home for a long time. Most of them get restless, you know.”

“And you think I can stay and feel at home for a long time in a rainy day?”

She nodded. “Can you?”

It was his turn to think for a while before answering, “Yes, of course. Nothing beats a quiet afternoon with a good book.”

“And the rain.”

He nodded. “And the rain.” He was looking at her with a gentle smile on his lips. “You like the rain, don’t you?”

“Of course. Me and my friends enjoy a rainy afternoon in our apartment.”

“Hmm,” the sound escaped his throat.

“What do you mean ‘hmm’?”

He shrugged, taking his cap off his head. Jackie eagerly watched, wanting a glimpse of what his hair looked like outside the office. It was tousled! Tousled! She so wanted to reach up and brush her fingers through it, but she stopped herself. She didn’t want to end up pinned against the glass wall dead. Dean quickly brushed his hand through his hair and his cap was back on his head again. Jackie almost told him that it was disrespectful to wear your cap under a roofed room.

“I don’t know, I just never took you to be the type who enjoys such moments,” he said, answering her question. Jackie struggled for a moment to remember what she asked him.

“Well, you don’t know a lot of things about me to think that.”

He stared at her for a moment before returning his gaze outside the glass wall. “Yeah, you’re right.”

They were silent for a long time before Jackie felt her feet were about to give up. She turned around and saw the bench at the center of the room. “I need to sit down.”

Dean followed her away from the glass wall and the drizzle outside to the bench.

“Why did you do it?” he asked.

“Do what?” Jackie asked, bending down to massage her foot.

“What you just did. Dragging me up here to escape Karen.”

“You’re keeping your drummer side a secret, right? You could have been found out. And Karen would have known I know and it would only complicate things.”

“Complicate things?”

“At the office. You know people talk about us since that–” Jackie stopped herself when she realized she talked too much.

“Talk about us?” Dean asked, frowning.

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Jackie,” he warned.

She sighed. “Remember that time when you exchanged your Coke with my Pepsi? And then you asked me to have lunch with you a few hours after that.”

“And people started talking about us?” he asked incredulously.

Jackie rolled her eyes. “You don’t know a lot of things behind your closed door. Yes, of course, people talked. It was not like you invite your employees for lunch every day. Or even spend a few minutes talking to them by the vending machine.”

He was silent and Jackie bit her lip.

“Hey, don’t think too much about it. The rumor would die before you know it. They always do.”

She saw him nod at the corner of her eye. “Just tell me if things go way out of control.”

Jackie turned her head and looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“When people start doing things they are not supposed to.”

“90% of the people in the building do the things they are not supposed to.”

“I meant against you,” he said dryly.

Jackie blinked. “Against me?”

He nodded. “You just tell me.”

Oh God, I wish you had told me that from the very beginning. Then, I wouldn’t be stuck in this big mess with you, Brian and the fake FB account, Jackie thought.

“You’ll tell me, right?” he asked, his eyes seriously serious.

Jackie could only manage to whisper, “Yes.”

  *****

Dannie texted Jackie that Karen and her friends didn’t appear to have any plans to move. She relayed this to Dean who stood up and said, “I need to get back down there. The band needs me.”

“Okay,” Jackie nodded without moving.

“You’re not coming?”

“I guess I’ve had enough for tonight. I’ll just wait with Toto for Dannie and George. And plus, Karen thinks I’m home.”

He seemed to hesitate and didn’t make a move to go.

“Go, the band will be looking for you,” she said and added, “but tip your cap lower. Karen’s still there.”

He grinned. “Okay. Thanks again, Jackie.”

“No problem,” she smiled and watched him walk out of the gallery and her smile faded. “It’s the least I could do,” she whispered.

  *****

I didn’t have that much energy came Monday. I was still thinking about that black BMW vic.

Jackie seemed to be deep in thought as well for she was silent the whole journey. George and Dannie had noticed the same thing but did not dare comment. They just shared a look that said Jackie might be going nuts.

My mood touched bottom when I saw Beatle was back. And it looked like nothing happened. Whoever operated on him did a fantastic job! He should really tell the boys where to take me next time.

But he wasn’t talking to me yet. He was still angry at Jackie. Who wouldn’t be?

So for the rest of the day, I was back under my lonely acacia tree beside the narcissistic BMW.

As my rustic, metallic mind passed by that thought, all light bulbs (front and back, including the one at the hood) invisibly lit up.

Hey, do you know a lot of other BMW’s?

She said of course, since they were not a lot around town.

Great! Then do you know them by plates?

She said yes again, saying the plates were their own personal pride.

And then I gave her the specific plate number that had been bothering the hell out of my old engines since I first saw it.

  *****

Jackie was lost in her own thoughts during the meeting. She should have been feeling happy because today was another Brian-free day. No texts, no phone calls, no coffee, no stalking–nothing. She should definitely be happy about it, but today she couldn’t make herself feel anything other than guilt.

When their meeting started earlier, Dean Gamboa had opened up to the different teams her suggestion the other day among others he had received from other teams. She felt grateful that he gave importance to her creativity.

He shouldn’t be this nice, she thought. Please go back to the old arrogant boss that you were.

Her thoughts were suddenly put into a halt when everyone in the room suddenly burst out in excited cry. Karen for one squealed with excitement beside her.

She looked at Dean who was wearing his usual I-am-serious-but-not-angry look and her gaze traveled to her friend, her mind blank.

“What just happened?”

“Weren’t you listening?” Karen asked, the excitement still on her face.

“What?” Jackie asked again, her voice lowered.

“We’re going on a summer team building! It’s about time! Isn’t it exciting?”

Chapter 18

I wasn’t comfortable with the thought of Jackie going on that trip, especially with what was happening the past few days. For one, I saw Brian walk up to me while I was waiting for Jackie under my lonely acacia tree in the parking lot. Jackie wasn’t around to witness the scene, but the guy gave me the creeps when he ran his hands over my hood. He didn’t say a word. He just stayed there (even sat on my hood for a minute or two) without doing anything.

Second, I saw the black BMW again. AGAIN! I was taking a rest outside the boys’ apartment. Everything was good. It was a silent night and the boys were probably asleep in their rooms. And then it rolled by once and came back a few minutes after. The windows never rolled down to give me a chance to get a glimpse of the driver. What the hell, right? It stayed there for about five minutes and then it was gone in the silence of the night. I tried talking to the BMW vic, but it wouldn’t even bat a headlight at my direction. Again, what the hell, right?

So yes, you could really imagine what I was feeling that day when Jackie announced that she was going on a weekend trip with her team in Campuestohan. It was not that far away, just a one-hour drive from the city, really. But still, I had this feeling that something could go wrong. Very wrong.

George and Dannie felt the same way. Georgie even suggested that Jackie take me, but Jackie said that I couldn’t possibly make the drive alive. Well, she was right. From what I heard from Tata about the road going to Campuestohan, I would probably go home in scraps.

The only consolation was the thought that Jackie would be riding a small rented bus with the rest of the team. But I didn’t know anyone from her team. They could be just as sick as Brian.

  *****

Jackie first thought that they would be having their team building with the other teams, but it turned out that the HR department decided to do the team building by team in their department like last year. So she would be leaving with only Karen, Joseph and three more namely Jamie, Daisy and Bernie.

She was quite disappointed since she really thought she could have some fun time with the other teams whom she had worked with in the past. They never really had a lot of time to meet and have fun outside the office in the past few months, especially with Dean around. They could have finally have a few days away from the office and away from the presence of their boss who always made them feel nervous.

What devastated Jackie further was when Dean announced that two HR personnel will be coming along to facilitate the team building activities.

She was standing by the vending machine, praying for a Coke, when Dean showed up beside her.

“I’ll give you my Coke if it drops a Pepsi,” he uttered.

The machine did what it always did and dropped the blue can. Jackie picked it up with a sigh and handed the Pepsi to Dean without a word. He fed the machine with his bill and punched the blue button. Lo and behold, it dropped the red can. He bent down to pick it up and handed it to her. “Thanks,” she murmured.

He looked around for a bit before he turned to look at her troubled face. “What’s wrong?”

She was about to blurt out about her fear that Brian might be one of the two HR personnel to go with them, but she held her tongue. “Nothing.”

Dean frowned. “It looks like it’s nothing.”

“Really, it’s nothing.”

“Come on, tell me.”

“It’s just a minor thing regarding the team building activity this weekend.”

“You can’t come?”

“No, of course, I can come. It’s just that…it’s nothing.”

“You’re not making sense, Jackie.”

Jackie. He called her by her first name again.

“It’s just that Brian might come.”

He looked confused for a while then he finally realized what she meant. “Your suitor?”

“More like a stalker,” she said under her breath before she continued, “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. He hasn’t been following me around for quite a while now so I guess I’ll be safe.” She followed her statement with a dry laugh before walking away.

  *****

Jackie would be leaving Friday afternoon and would be back home Sunday afternoon. She would leave with the team and come home with the team. Or at least that was the plan.

Georgie drove me that Friday since Jackie would be leaving. She was back in the apartment, packing for the trip that afternoon. The plans changed when she suddenly called Georgie in the Red Cross HQ, asking for help or whatever.

“What do you mean he’s going?” asked Georgie as she walked to me in a hurry. “Who? Brian? Then why do you want me to come get you?”

She listened to Jackie’s long narration for a long time. And then she stared at me like I was about to be driven to hell–and hopefully back.

I knew what was about to happen.

“You’re going to Campuestohan, Toto,” Georgie told me as she strapped my seatbelt over her and started my engine.

WHAT?!

  *****

“He hasn’t shown his face for weeks, we haven’t heard his freaking voice singing outside the apartment for quite some time and you never received any calls or texts from him. So I think it is okay, right?” Georgie asked Jackie after we picked her up from the apartment.

No, it’s not safe , I said dryly despite the knowledge that I might not survive the road later.

“But you’re right. It is better you take Toto with you. You can get out of there anytime you feel threatened in any way,” Georgie added when Jackie just gave a desperate sigh. “And call us. Don’t forget to call us.”

Jackie groaned. “I can’t believe he’s coming. Why does it have to be him?”

“He works in the HR. It’s their job to facilitate such activities. Did you tell Dean?”

“I don’t know,” Jackie answered. “But he knows I feel anxious knowing Brian might be coming along. But he didn’t say anything about it. After all, he’s not coming and he’s not in the right place to stop anything like this from happening.”

George raised an eyebrow. “Weeks ago, you were willing to wring the guy’s neck for not doing anything. Now, you’re making excuses for him.”

Jackie didn’t say anything. She simply closed her eyes and leaned her head against my headrest.

  *****

“Are you sure you’re taking your car with you?” Karen asked her. They were outside Collins Corporations, waiting for the rest to come.

“Yes,” Jackie answered, looking at her phone as if she was busy with something when in fact, she was doing nothing but scroll down her phonebook.

Joseph arrived a few minutes later, followed by Jamie, Daisy and Bernie. Along with Jackie, Joseph called them the “EEE Guys” because the last syllables of their known names sounded like it: Jackie. Bernie. Jamie. Daisy.

Jackie was busy giving Joseph a lame, fake excuse why she needed to take her car with her when the man who started it all approached them, carrying a large box.

He gave Jackie a small smile before looking away to give everyone instructions before they left. Brian’s fellow HR companion, Victor, was a big, burly man with a small laugh. And he laughed a lot. Jackie thought he did it more than ten times while giving additional instructions.

“Ready?” Brian asked them, looking at Jackie in a neutral way.

Jackie’s heart started thumping against her chest. Yes, he was different. He seemed distant. She should be happy about it. But there was something different in his eyes as he looked at her. Something that told her she should be very careful.

“Jackie,” Joseph spoke as Victor cheered everyone to gather their bags and board the waiting bus before them.

“Yes?”

“Okay, you can take your car. Just make sure it doesn’t break down along the road.”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Of course. Toto is very well-maintained,” she said half-heartedly.

“You’re not riding the bus?” Victor asked Jackie and she saw Brian look her way before walking to the bus.

“Yes.”

Victor thought about it for a moment before he shrugged and said, “Okay, then. Is someone riding with you?”

Jackie opened her mouth to say no but someone answered behind them. “I am.”

And this time, her heart almost squeezed through her ribcage and leapt out of her chest. She whirled around and saw Dean Gamboa in his usual Dean Gamboa the drummer attire: shirt, pants and baseball cap.

“You’re coming?” Joseph asked in awe.

“Yes,” their boss answered.

Everyone boarding the bus stopped and turned around when they heard the commotion, including Brian. And they threw Jackie their teasing look, excluding Brian whose brows were almost in a line. She ignored them and looked back at Dean Gamboa, her mouth hanging open. Really, this guy was like a spoon. He always made her open her mouth.

He raised his eyebrows at Victor and Joseph. “Well? I thought we’re going?”

The two men turned and walked to the bus without a word.

“What’s with you?” Dean asked Jackie who was still looking at him with shock.

“I thought you were not going.”

“I’m the boss of the department. It is only given that I come along.”

“But you’ve never come along before and–”

“I really hate to explain things further,” he cut in. “Where’s your car?”

Jackie didn’t say a word because Brian was looking at them through the window of the bus. Having been used to his annoying presence in the past, she had developed an additional sense she called ‘Brian Alert’. And right now, Jackie was pretty sure Brian was looking at her and Dean. Instead, she led Dean to where Georgie parked Toto earlier. She didn’t know why, but she felt relieved now that Dean decided to tag along.

  *****

“Can I ask why you are riding with me?” Jackie asked when they were finally alone inside me.

And man, I tell you, I was so relieved to have Dean Gamboa behind the wheel. He insisted on it after Jackie said they should take me instead of Beatle. Really, she should have said yes. I was too beaten and too old for a rough road!

“I hate crowds,” Dean simply answered.

“No, you don’t. You play drums in front of them.”

“I hate riding the bus.”

Man, you should stick to one reason. What’s wrong with you?

“You hate riding the bus,” Jackie repeated, her voice filled with doubt.

“Just stop it, Jackie.”

“I hope you take care of Toto. Please be careful driving through the rough road later.”

“This is why we should have taken Beatle.”

Jackie gave a snort. “You named you car?”

“Of course. And as far as I know, I’m not the only one out there who does that. Troy named his Tata, right?”

“I was just surprised Dean Gamboa would name his car.”

“Well, I gave it a name. End of surprise. Just let me drive.”

We were following the bus quietly with Jackie staring outside the window, her thoughts probably far away. Or maybe it was with that bus in front of us where Brian was.

“So, he came.”

“What?” Jackie asked.

“Brian.” Dean stole a glance at her direction.

“Yeah. Perfect.”

“He really makes you that anxious?”

“Yes. So please, let’s not talk about him,” she answered sharply before turning away again.

Oh-oh, Dean, my friend, it seems that we pissed her off. I suggest you drive in silence.

  *****

The drive to Campuestohan was not that long. It was easy for me for the most part because there were more concrete roads than the rough one, which was the last part. Since my bumper was set so low and my wheels didn’t have as much circumference as the bus, we arrived ten minutes later than everyone.

The place was so cool I really felt like I was already in heaven. I must have died along the way, right? Because I could see the clouds hovering over the neighboring hills. We were atop one and to see the mountains and the hills surrounding us with the clouds just almost within our reach almost made me wish I was dead, about to meet my maker, Volkswagen.

There was a big, but not too big, lodging house made of wood in the very center of the highland resort. It has a wide balcony on the second floor which offered a full view of the hills, the pools a few meters away and the tiny cottages that looked like they came out from a Hobbit village of the movie The Lord of the Rings.

Everybody was already settled on the second floor of the lodging house and they were spread all over the balcony, talking and taking photos. They all stopped and looked over at us when we came in and I wondered how many of them were surprised to see me still alive.

Dean parked the car and they got out.

“Let me get that,” Dean said to Jackie (who had been really silent for the whole ride after that talk about Brian) as she grabbed her bags from the backseat. Knowing Brian was with everyone else in the balcony of the small lodging house, she let Dean carry all the bags like a boyfriend should.

“You are not going to help us get away from rumors circulating around the office,” Jackie whispered to him, locking my doors.

Dean looked over his shoulder, his face shadowed by his baseball cap. He saw what Jackie was talking about. He turned to her and shrugged. “Let them think what they want to think. What they think is none of our business.”

And with that, he walked off like a boss that he was toward the lodging house. Jackie could only follow, and I knew that she was hoping that this trip, with the unexpected appearance of Dean, would lead to something good where Brian was concerned. Because really, it was obvious she wasn’t excited about this plan of hers anymore than she was weeks ago.

Chapter 19

I was on the verge of driving myself off the nearest cliff out of pure boredom. Come one, who ever thought that it would be a fun day? Yes, yes, there was this amazing view but I couldn’t enjoy it as much as everyone else. I couldn’t very well take a selfie with the hilltops at the background. And the only vehicle I could talk to, which was the bus, was parked too far away.

No one cared about the yellow Volkswagen sitting near the entrance.

Everyone else was busy with their activities.

I was only left to wonder how Jackie was dealing with Brian’s presence. She should be very careful around Dean. As far as Brian knew, they were together.

But I was more concerned about what that guy could do to her in this place. He had been acting creepy. Not his usual creepy-stalker self, but the creepy-psychopathic one. If I had any hairs on me, they would be standing up.

At the moment, I couldn’t hear what was happening, but I could see that the group was gathering around for another activity. Earlier, they did some sort of game where they had to build some sort of tower using sticks. I didn’t know what that activity was supposed to achieve, but I was pretty sure it had something to do with ‘team building’.

Whatever they were planning now, it seemed like there was going to be some action. Earlier, Victor had hidden something behind me and I wasn’t sure what it was.

  *****

“Now, listen up, guys,” Victor said over the chatters. “There are two groups here, right? We have Jamie, Daisy and Bernie for the yellow team and for the blue team we have Jackie, Joseph and Karen. As always, sir Dean will be participating by helping Brian and I with our next activities. Do you remember the number of points your group has?”

“Yeah,” everyone answered. The yellow team had 50 points so far while the blue team only had 30.

“Blue team, you need to catch up if you want to win the prize tomorrow. This will be our last activity for today and it is worth 20 points.”

Jackie looked at Karen. Her friend had been hard to lift up earlier during one of their activities due to her weight. “It’s okay,” she reassured her.

“You really need to lose weight, Ka,” said Joseph.

Jackie elbowed him.

“What?”

“Just see what I can do,” Karen bragged.

“The only chance we’ll get the prize tomorrow is if the last game will be an eating contest,” Joseph retorted.

“Shut up!” Karen and Jackie shouted.

The three of them cleared their throats when they saw the rest looking at them without any sign of humor. “Sorry,” Joseph murmured.

“That’s okay,” said Brian with his creepy smile. “Victor?”

“Okay!” Victor clapped his hands together and looked at the two teams. Dean was standing beside him in his outdoor getup which still amazed most of Jackie’s teammates. “We’re going to have a mini Amazing Race.”

Jackie and Joseph groaned. This meant they had to double their efforts. The other team jumped with excitement and Jackie secretly regretted not having picked the yellow card earlier that day.

“We have already prepared the different clues earlier. They are hidden within the vicinity of the resort. All you have to do is follow the instructions given to you and do the tasks required in order to get to the next clue and ultimately get to the final destination and win your points. The three members will need to reach the final destination at the same time.”

Joseph looked at Karen who glared at him. “I can do it!”

Their team leader just looked at Karen with doubt.

“She can do it!” Jackie repeated, shooting arrows at him behind Karen’s head.

“Sir Dean will help us with this game. So, are you ready?” Victor finished with a big smile.

“Yes!” the yellow team shouted.

“Yeah,” the blue team said.

“Please step forward and get your mission cards. The race begins NOW!” Victor said and handed them the cards which they immediately read. They didn’t notice Dean and Brian go away and disappear.

“I am alive when everything goes down, black and dead,” Jackie read. “What the hell does this mean?”

“Find me and you’ll find the next clue. The first team to arrive will immediately get to the next location. The last one to come will need to do another task to gain the next clue. Good luck!” Joseph continued.

“Oh, I know what that is,” said Karen.

They looked at her expectantly. “Don’t say it out loud,” Jackie said under her breath. The other team was busy talking about the riddle.

“You don’t know what that is?” Karen asked them like she was talking to a couple of three-year-olds.

“Just tell us,” Joseph said.

“It’s obviously a generator.”

Joseph and Jackie looked at each other for a moment before whirling around in excitement. “Where is it?” Jackie asked. The other team was looking at them with curiosity.

“Now we know why you are in our team,” Joseph was telling Karen as they started to run to the direction of the pool, away from the back of the resort where they were having their activity.

“Let’s just follow them,” said one of the other team.

“No, they might be wrong,” said the other.

“Where is it?” Jackie shouted over her shoulder.

“Now I know why you two need me,” Karen said, catching her breath. “I know things you don’t. It’s up there!” she pointed at a tree house made of concrete. It had a narrow staircase that led upstairs.

“How can you be so sure?” Joseph asked.

“Just look at the warning sign! No one is allowed to go up there. It only means that it is only for the resort personnel. Use your brains.”

With Karen’s last statement, Jackie and Joseph ran upstairs and lo and behold, they found the generator inside the tree house. There was only one mission card and a task card for the team who would come last. They grabbed the mission card with excitement. They were leading.

Because of Karen, they led the race until the last mission which was hidden behind Toto. They had to find ten eggs near the superhero sculptures. Dean was sitting in a wooden stool near them, just waiting for them to finish their tasks. His face was neutral, bare of any indication of whether or not they were looking at the right place.

“Just one more egg and we’re about to win!” Karen shouted. The yellow team was busy doing another task which was obviously harder than finding eggs. They were trying to relay water from one end of the pool to the other using their hands to fill a one-liter bottle. They were halfway through the bottle now and Jackie was in panic.

“You know where it is, right?” she whispered to Dean as she searched the bushes behind him.

He just stared at her and shrugged.

“We really need to win this, you know,” she said.

“Not saying anything,” he uttered.

“I’ll tell everyone about your band if you don’t tell me where the last egg is,” she threatened halfheartedly out of desperation.

He chuckled under his breath.

“I really might tell them!” Jackie insisted.

“Nice try, Jackie. But it’s not working.”

She stared at him for a long time and even tried the “cute act”. It didn’t work. Her shoulders sagged. She turned away to look for the egg again.

“Who’s your favorite superhero among those?” Dean asked behind her.

She turned to look at him and then at the superhero sculptures a few meters away. “I don’t know, Superman?”

He nodded. “I like Hulk,” he uttered with a smile.

It didn’t take her ten seconds to finally realize what he was trying to say. She beamed at him saying, “Your secret’s safe with me,” before she started running toward the giant, green man with the growling face.

“Hey, there, Hulk. I’m here to look for your egg,” Jackie said with a giggle as she searched for the egg around the superhero’s feet. The grasses were tall, making it easy to miss the green-colored egg hiding just a few inches away from Hulk’s left foot.

Jackie cried out as she took the egg in her hand. “I got Hulk’s egg! I got it!”

  *****

Everyone had an amazing dinner together inside the lodging house. It was refreshing to be with the same people you worked with everyday in a different place other than the office and not talk about work. Jackie, of course, knew everyone personally after all their after-office meet-ups, but being in a place like Campuestohan was like knowing them all over again.

Dean was okay with the drinking. Dean was okay with the noise. In short, Dean was okay outside the office and everyone was awed with that fact. Apart from Jackie, no one really knew him outside his suit and tie. And his hair was also different and the ladies had noted that when he took off his cap that evening. Jamie, Daisy and Karen agreed that Dean Gamboa was way hotter with his casual look.

After dinner, the group decided to gather around a bonfire far from the lodging house.

“Sir Dean, we’re glad you were able to join us,” Victor said as he handed their boss a bottle of beer.

Dean took with a small smile. “I have always wanted to join the team building activities in the past but I never found the time.”

Karen arched her eyebrow as she elbowed Jackie. Jackie gave her friend a look that said she better stop whatever she was thinking.

Her attention was snatched away from Dean and the group’s conversation when she saw Brian sitting behind Victor. He was not even drinking. He was just sitting there looking at her in a really creepy way.

The stalker Brian she was used to, but this near-psychopath look he was giving her was entirely different. She tore her eyes away from him and pretended to listen to whatever Joseph was saying. She could feel Brian’s gaze on her. It was too strong it made the hairs on her arms stand. She wondered if making up the lie about her and Dean was actually a good idea. She may have triggered something dangerous in Brian by doing that and it scared the shit out of her.

Victor was the first to announce he was going to bed. Jackie prayed Dean wouldn’t follow and she was glad he seemed to be staying for a while. The yellow team stood up and said goodbye around midnight, saying they needed their energy for tomorrow’s games.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?” Brian asked. It somehow startled Karen, Joseph, Dean and Jackie. Those were the first words he uttered since they gathered around the bonfire and no one really noticed his presence.

Jackie knew he was addressing her but she pretended not to hear.

“We’ll go inside after this,” Dean said, lifting his beer.

Brian just nodded. He stood up and said, “Don’t stay up too late, guys. We’ll have a long day tomorrow.”

No one said a word as he turned to leave.

“That guy creeps me out,” Karen said in a whisper. “Does he still bother you, Jackie?”

“What?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“Brian.”

“Oh, no, he…he sort of understands my feelings.”

“I still think he’s better than that gay boyfriend of yours,” Joseph said with a chuckle.

“Gay?” asked Dean.

“It’s nothing,” Jackie said. “And that gay is my ex-boyfriend. Know the difference.”

Karen and Joseph laughed.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Karen announced.

“I’ll come with,” Joseph said, standing up. “You might stumble and roll down the edge of the hill,” he added.

When their two companions left, Jackie turned to Dean. “You really surprised us when you showed up today.”

He just shrugged.

They shared a long moment of comfortable silence. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the crickets around them. After a while Jackie found herself asking, “Do you have a family?”

He looked at her curiously. “Of course.”

She nodded in an awkward way. She really didn’t know how to follow that up.

Another long silence. She checked her watch. “I don’t think those two are coming back,” she said.

“You want to go inside?” he asked.

Jackie looked at the lodging house. Some rooms still had their lights on and one of them could be Brian’s. “No.”

“Does he really scare you that much?”

She did not dare look at him. “What do you mean? I don’t get scared,” she lied.

“Brian. Does he scare you that much?”

“He’s…different today. I honestly don’t know.”

“You think it is because of the rumor about us?”

This time she met his gaze. Her heart started to race. If you only know, she thought. “Could be.”

Dean scoffed. “Why didn’t you give him a chance?”

“Because I can never really picture myself loving him,” she answered in an instant.

“And how do you picture ‘loving’ someone?”

“I am not sure, really. I think I have never really been in love before. I only thought I was whenever I was in a relationship. But then it would end and I would think it was not love. But how can I be so sure, right? I don’t know, it’s complicated. I think I’ll know if I’m in love if I am actually happy.”

For the second time, Dean scoffed.

Jackie threw him a look. “What?”

“Your idea of love is the one being sold every 14th day of February. It comes in the form of cards, chocolates and flowers.”

Jackie whistled. “Mr. Drummer knows a thing or two about love.”

“I only know that love is not something you celebrate once a year. It is something you live for and live with every day. It doesn’t just come with roses, balloons, kisses and laughter. It comes as a Pandora’s box.”

“You mean it leaves us nothing but hope?”

“No. It means you have to be prepared for all the bad things that come with it and hope that they all go away. If they don’t, then you’ll have to either face them and work and live with them or you can always close the lid and move on.”

Jackie didn’t know what to say. She was both amazed and greatly curious at the same time. His words told her that he had been through a lot in love and she wanted to know what it was. But at the same time she was afraid.

“You’re looking at me like I have grown a halo,” he said before gulping his beer.

“No, I was actually thinking you look like an onion.”

“A what?” He almost spilled his drink.

“An onion. I would like to peel through all the layers but I know it would be a difficult process. I might end up in tears.”

For a moment he just stared at her. And then he laughed. “And all along I am an onion. Great.”

Jackie laughed. After another long silence, she took a deep breath. “Well, I guess it’s time to call it a night.” He followed her when she stood up and walked with her back to the lodging house.

“Good night,” she said when they reached the room she shared with Karen.

“’Night,” he answered and walked to the next door.

“Shit,” she uttered when she found the door locked.

“Joseph left the door locked,” Dean said at the same time.

“I don’t have a key,” they said in unison.

They then tried to knock.

“Karen,” Jackie called.

“Joseph,” Dean said.

No reply from both rooms.

  *****

Okay, so I had already accepted my lonely fate and was about ready to hum to sleep when the two of them came up to me and entered saying they would be sleeping with me. With me!

I was used to sleeping alone. I hated the constant squeaking of my chairs and the weird breathing sound of humans when they sleep.

And now they were talking about music.

“You guys play around a lot lately,” Jackie said, adjusting to a comfortable position in the passenger seat. Dean was behind the wheel, leaning against the door and facing her.

“With the instruments?” he asked, tapping his fingers against my steering wheel.

“Yeah. Does that mean you also play the guitar?”

“Yes.”

“And sing?”

It took him a moment before answering, “Not the same way as Phil. Or Nikki.”

Jackie smiled at him. “Can I hear it?”

“Hear what?”

“You. Sing.” She leaned over to grab his shirt when he started to turn around and dismiss her request. “Come on! No one’s around but me here. Let’s hear it.”

“I don’t really know a lot of songs, Jackie. Let go of my shirt.”

“Not until you start singing,” she said, pulling harder. “Just sing whatever you guys are planning to play on your future performance.”

“I don’t have anything to play with. Jackie, let go of me,” he warned.

“Uh-uh, no, not until you sing a song. Just let me hear your voice. Come on, you don’t need an instrument.”

He tried to pull her hand away but she only made it harder by grabbing tighter, now with both hands. He looked at her for a long time before he sighed. “Fine. Just one song.”

“Game.”

“We’ve been practicing Gone, Gone, Gone lately and it’s the only song that comes to mind right now.”

“Perfect. I haven’t heard it before.”

“Will you let go of my shirt now?”

“No, not until you finished singing.”

“It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“I can’t risk it,” she said, shaking her head.

“Fine.” He took a deep breath and started singing. His voice was not as powerful as their lead vocalist, but it was okay. And it seemed that Jackie liked it.

 

I’ll be at your door tonight  If you need help, if you need help  I’ll shut down the city lights,  I’ll lie, cheat, I’ll beg and bribe  To make you well, to make you well 

When enemies are at your door  I’ll carry you away from war  If you need help, if you need help  Your hope dangling by a string  I’ll share in your suffering  To make you well, to make you well 

At that time, Dean stopped singing and said, “Okay, enough–”

But Jackie pulled at his shirt even more with a warning look. “Finish it!”

“Jackie, I’m tired.”

“Liar. You don’t sound tired. You didn’t even do anything today but sit and watch us run around.”

They did a gazing battle. Jackie won. Dean shook his head and continued singing.

Give me reasons to believe  That you would do the same for me 

And I would do it for you, for you Baby, I’m not moving on  I love you long after you’re gone.  For you, for you.  You would never sleep alone  I love you long after you’re gone  And long after you’re gone, gone, gone. 

 

I’m gon’ be there to catch you  Put you on your feet, you on your feet  And if your well is empty  Not a thing will prevent me  Tell me what you need, what do you need 

I surrender honestly  You’ve always done the same for me 

So I would do it for you, for you.  Baby, I’m not moving on  I love you long after you’re gone.  For you, for you.  You would never sleep alone.  I love you long after you’re gone  And long after you’re gone gone gone. 

You’re my back bone,  You’re my cornerstone  You’re my crutch when my legs stop moving  You’re my head start,  You’re my rugged heart  You’re the pulse that I’ve always needed  Like a drum, baby, don’t stop beating 

He cut the song short. “Okay, it’s over,” he said, clearing his throat.

Jackie didn’t say a word. She was looking at him in that dreamy way of hers and I knew she was in big trouble.

Oh, Jackie girl, you’re freaking falling! It was just a song, girl! The composer of that song doesn’t know you so don’t ever, for a second, think that it was for you. But of course, you already think that.

“Let go, Jackie,” Dean said and this time, his voice was below a whisper. I didn’t even realize they were too close together now, what with all of Jackie’s pulling. “Jackie,” Dean said and I almost didn’t hear it myself this time. He reached up to grab her hands and that was when she felt his touch that she snapped.

Her eyes blinked a few times and she drew in a quick breath. “Sorry,” she uttered and tried to let him go, only this time his grip on her hands tightened and he pulled her back. Their eyes were locked and his hand was still over hers against his chest.

I had heard enough stories from Tata. She had told me a lot about Troy’s activities while he was onboard his precious vehicle with a girl.

Please, guys, don’t do this to me. I beg you to please don’t kiss–yeah, right.

Okay, fine. They’re kissing.

Right.

They’re doing it.  

My engines almost groaned in protest. It was so freaking awkward!

They were kissing like there was nobody watching. I could clearly hear how their soft breathing turned rugged. Jackie was strongly pulling on Dean’s shirt now. His left hand was holding her nape, pressing her mouth closer against his (like it could get any closer!) while his right hand travelled to rub the edge of her shoulder and then down her arm and finally around her waist, pulling her closer to him that she almost ended up straddling him.

At that moment, Jackie’s hands were also freely roaming around Dean’s hair, his shoulders, his face, back to his hair, to his nape and back to his shirt to pull him closer.

Hasn’t anyone told you to get a room? Do I look like a room? What is wrong with you two?!

And now their position changed. How in the hell did that happen so fast? Jackie was now leaning against the passenger door and Dean was adjusting his position above her.

Please, don’t let this happen! Not now, please! Not here!

And something from above must have heard the poor cry of the yellow Volkswagen because my honk suddenly rang out in the silence of the night and the rugged breathing of the two persons inside me. Dean had accidentally pushed it with his butt or feet or elbow (I couldn’t really point it out because it was a tangle of limbs everywhere). The sound of my honk did the trick and they both stopped. Dean let go of Jackie and jumped back so fast and strong that his head bumped against my hood.

“Ouch!” we both shouted at the same time.

There was a very long, awkward silence as the two of them tried to catch their breaths, their eyes still locked with each other.

Is anyone going to say anything here?

“I need to sleep,” Jackie murmured, pulling her gaze away from his. Her hand reached for the lever of my passenger seat to lean it all the way back. It was amazing how she managed to straighten on top of it in one motion and pretended to be sleeping, her back facing Dean.

“I need some air,” Dean said under his breath and walked out to pace behind me, brushing his fingers through his hair time and again.

I must admit, I am excited for later when the sun comes up and these two would have to face each other again.

Chapter 20

Dean woke Jackie by gently shaking her shoulder.

“Hey, wake up. I think the doors are open now,” he said.

Oh, yeah, Jackie was fully awake. He just didn’t know that. She had been awake for almost the entire night. And so was Dean. After almost an hour outside pacing after that kiss, he came back in and stared at my ceiling. I wish I could have made him see the answer to the questions that were obviously running in his mind. He didn’t move a lot. Maybe he was afraid to wake Jackie up. And Jackie didn’t move an inch as well, thinking it would give her away.

So yeah, they just lay there all night without moving, pretending to be asleep. But the sun had to come up and they had to face reality. They had to go back to their rooms.

Jackie gave a moan. She didn’t pull it off but I think Dean was not at the right state of consciousness to even notice.

“Jackie,” he said, clearing his throat. “The rooms are open. We better get inside.”

“Okay,” she said in a very low voice, still facing the other way. God, her body must be aching by now.

“I’ll get inside first. Hey,” he called when she didn’t give an answer.

“Okay,” she whispered. This time, she turned and faced him. Their eyes met and I was afraid I would witness another lip-locking scene for they stared at each other’s eyes for too long.

Thank goodness Karen’s voice rang out from the balcony of the lodging house.

“Hey!” she called.

Both Jackie and Dean blinked and the magic or whatever was suddenly gone. Dean cleared his throat again and said, “We better get inside.”

“Okay,” Jackie answered and straightened in my seat. They both got out and walked to the lodging house.

  *****

“You locked me out last night,” Jackie said to Karen before her friend could comment on why she and Dean were together inside Toto.

Realization hit Karen and her eyes bulged. “I did?”

“Yes,” Jackie uttered tiredly. She didn’t get enough sleep. She turned her head and found that Dean was right behind her. She consciously brushed her fingers through her hair. And then she tried to fix her shirt.

“You mean you slept inside your car?”

“Yes!” she snapped at her friend.

“With sir Dean?” Her friend looked at Dean.

“Joseph locked me out too,” he answered behind Jackie.

“Oh my God! We’re sorry! I mean, I am sorry. After we left you guys last night, I decided I wanted to sleep so Joseph took me to my room. I didn’t know he locked the door when he got out.”

Jackie arched her eyebrow. “Is it open now? I need to shower.”

“Yes. I’m really sorry, Jackie,” Karen said, leading the way to their room.

Jackie looked over her shoulder to take one last glance at Dean. Their eyes met. The most amazing thing was he gave her a small smile. She returned it shyly and turned her attention back to the direction of their room.

Once inside the shower, Jackie was finally able to understand and absorb last night’s events. She shared one, hot kiss with Dean Gamboa. Shit.

“Shit!” she said aloud. “Shit, shit, shit!”

“Hey! Are you okay in there?” asked Karen from outside the door.

“Yeah! I dropped my uh…soap.”

“I’ll go right ahead. Breakfast is ready downstairs.”

“Okay, will be there in a few!”

When she heard the door of the room close, she quickly finished her bath, wrapped herself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom. She took her phone from her bag and dialed George’s number. Dannie would be at church by now so she was obviously not reachable.

“Yeah,” George answered after three rings.

“I kissed him. I mean, well, he kissed me too, so I think we kissed. Oh my God! We kissed! And it was not a friendly kiss. Not the cheek-to-cheek kind of kiss. It was the share everything-inside-your-mouth kind of kiss and I don’t know what the hell I should do–”

“Hey!” George cut her off. “What the hell, Jackie. Please don’t tell me the gross stuff. I understood what you meant when you said you kissed. Just don’t tell me more about the–ugh. Now, I can’t get it out of my head. So what’s your problem?”

“We kissed! Don’t you understand? We kissed!”

“And?”

“And…well, isn’t that a problem?”

“You’re single. He’s single. What the hell is wrong with that?”

“I don’t know what that kiss meant to him!”

“Do you know what it meant to you?”

She closed her mouth. Yeah, right. What did it mean to her? “I don’t know,” she groaned. “I don’t know if I can face him again. But he smiled at me this morning. You think that’s a good sign?”

“Do you want it to be a good sign?”

“You’re making fun of me.”

“No, of course not. Jackie, if you can’t even decide whether you want the kiss or not, then I suggest you just go with the flow.”

“But what if I liked it?”

“I already figured that out.”

“And what if he also liked it?”

“Then isn’t that a good thing?”

“Then what if he finds out about the fake FB account and the lies I told Brian? And then he’ll hate me. And then he wouldn’t want to see me again. I’ll have to resign from my job and–”

“You are thinking way too much. Just let things happen as they should. Do we have to talk about this right now? I don’t think you’re in the right mind to even absorb everything I am saying. Just get home and we’ll talk.”

“Okay,” she said after thinking it over. “But how do I face him? Please, help me.”

“Just be your usual self. Just be Jackie. Crazy and unpredictable.”

“Great. Great, thank you,” she said sarcastically. “Okay, ‘bye.”

  *****

Jackie didn’t have to face Dean for the next few hours. Victor and Brian immediately went back to work and that meant the games and their activities started without delay. Dean, as usual, was observing everything at the background and sometimes helped in facilitating with the activities.

By lunch time, they had a buffet. Jackie was serving herself a bowl of native chicken tinola when Dean came up beside her.

She looked at him, gave him a smile and turned her attention back on her task. She didn’t know what to say so she chose to keep mum.

She heard him clear his throat. Her heart started to hammer. Was he going to say something? She wasn’t ready for that. Without thinking twice, she stopped what she was doing and took two steps toward the next dish. Dean followed, standing beside her. He took some rice and placed it on his plate. Jackie took two more steps to the left and found herself facing the desserts. Dean followed and was instantly beside her again.

She swallowed and closed her eyes. She had to be calm. She checked her plate. Shit, she took too much rice.

“Are you avoiding me?” Dean asked beside her.

Her eyes were fixed on her plate while her hand was busy scooping some buko pandan . “Who? Me? No, of course not.”

She heard him chuckle. “Is it because of last night?”

“Last night?” Stupid question.

“The kiss?”

Her head snapped up and she met his amused eyes looking at her. “Uh, Dean, no, I mean, sir, uh, mister, no, Dean–”

 His chuckle snatched her of whatever stupid thing she was about to say. “Jackie, I guess it is okay if you call me by my name.”

She could feel her cheeks heating up and she didn’t know why. Was this really happening? Did Dean Gamboa just ask her to call him by his first name? Or did he already do that days ago? She couldn’t really remember!

“And after sharing our second kiss, I guess formality is off the table,” he added.

Jackie was confused for some time. “Second kiss? What do you mean–“ but he was already walking away with his plate. “Hey!” she called out. “What do you mean by–” she stopped herself when she saw Brian approaching. His eyes were focused on her. Closing her mouth, she picked up her plate and walked past Brian without a word.

  *****

By the end of the day, Jackie’s team lost. But it was a good fight. They had another chance that day to win over the yellow team, but the other team really had a good rest. All the while they thought today’s activities would be about their mental capabilities, but they were wrong. The games were more physical and critical and Jackie was drained. She didn’t get enough sleep and she figured Karen and Joseph were too.

They would be staying for another night, but there would be no more games. It was finally time to unwind. After all the games they’d had, they decided to dip in the pool and just have fun. Since it was cold, no one dared wear their bikinis. The personnel in the resort gave them permission to wear their shirt after assuring that they were all higher than five feet and that they all knew how to swim. Dean vouched for everyone and so did Victor and Joseph who didn’t join the swimming.

Brian said he was not feeling well so he went back in his room and never came out again after dinner.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Jackie told Karen.

“Go,” said her friend who was trying to keep afloat on her back, a new talent Jackie taught her.

“Will you come with me?”

“The bathroom’s just a few feet away, Jackie,” Karen answered.

She hesitated.

“Okay, fine, I’ll come with you,” Karen uttered but Jackie held up her hand.

“No, don’t worry. You’re right. It’s just around the corner. I’ll go.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. No one else is here but us.”

She was right. There were no other visitors in the resort. Jackie climbed out of the pool and walked to the bathroom. It was already locked. She looked over the pool where Karen was. She changed her mind and walked to the direction of the lodging house on her own. She’d have to use the bathroom in their room.

“I’m not afraid of him, I’m not,” she chanted under her breath. If Brian would show up like she feared, she could just scream. Dean and the others would hear her and they’d rescue her in time, right? Or she could just kick the man in the groin like how George taught her to do. “Yeah, I can do that,” she said strongly, walking inside the room she shared with Karen.

Inside the bathroom, while she did her thing, she remembered the last conversation she had with Dean. What did he mean by second kiss? She was still as confused five minutes later when she walked out of the room. She almost screamed in shock when she saw Brian standing just a few feet away.

She reminded herself that he didn’t do anything yet. She could just pretend she didn’t see him.

“Hi, Jackie,” he said, his voice bare of any emotion. It was almost controlled.

“Hi,” she uttered, gritting her teeth while closing the door behind her. She could see their companions from her position and the fear inside her was eased a little. She started walking away but Brian stopped her by stepping right in front of her.

“So you really like him?” he asked.

“Brian, please, don’t start again.” She attempted to circle around him but he took another step to block her path.

“Jackie, please, let’s talk.” The desperation in his voice was back. For a moment, she got another glimpse of the old stalker Brian.

The same old anger flared inside her. “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t like you? I thought you already understand that? Everything was okay until you decided to speak up again and do this!”

His face was back to the blank one he had been using the past few days.

“I am happy with him, you hear me? I am utterly happy! Why can’t you just accept that you are not part of that happiness? So please, leave me alone!” she bit out, tears of anger welling her eyes. She didn’t care what he did to her at that moment. All she felt was the same desperation she had felt for the past few months.

Without thinking, she pushed Brian and half-ran to the stairs and down the lodging house.

She bumped into someone on her way down.

“Hey, are you okay?” Dean asked, holding her by the arms.

Jackie swallowed, trying to control her tears. “Yes,” she answered.

“Jackie, look at me. Are you okay?” Dean asked, this time more strongly.

“Yes. I just need some air,” she said without looking at him, her voice controlled. He let her go and she went to the only place she felt safe.

  *****

Okay, here we go again. She was coming my way and he was walking behind, following her. I wanted to lock my doors and put up a sign that said, ‘This is not a room, so go get one!”.

But my thoughts were immediately stopped when I saw Jackie wiping her eyes. Was she crying? Okay, what did Dean do, girl? Did he sexually assault you? Because that would be hard to believe knowing you’ll jump at the chance. Or did he say the kiss was nothing? What?

But when I saw the anger in her eyes and the worried look on Dean’s face behind her, I knew it was that psychopath stalker, Brian. And I was right! I could see him standing in the balcony, hidden by the darkness and he was looking at us, his face expressionless. Creep!

Jackie girl, what’s wrong? Come on, tell me. Do you need me to run that guy over and drive him off the cliff? I’d try not to break down before he’s dead. Just tell me what you want.

“Jackie,” Dean said behind her.

She opened the driver’s door and sat down behind the wheel, trying to calm her nerves. She gripped my steering wheel tightly. And when I thought she was doing fine, she suddenly cried and buried her face between her arms which she rested over my steering wheel.

“Hey, Jackie, is it Brian?” Dean asked, bending down to rub her back. They were safely covered by my door which Jackie left open, hidden from view of the people at the pool area. Except the creep Brian who was still standing there looking down at us. Dean must have sensed his presence because he looked over his shoulder and up the balcony. When Brian saw him looking, he stepped back and disappeared. “What did he do?” Dean asked, his voice angry now.

Oh, interesting. I thought he didn’t care about the personal affairs of his subordinates? That kiss must have meant something, Jackie, because he sure is ready to kill that bastard now.

“Jackie,” Dean said when she didn’t say a word but continued crying.

“I’m fine. I’m just really angry.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“I thought he finally understood that I don’t want him! And just now, he wanted to talk! I was so afraid. The look on his face and–ugh! But I was angrier. I am angrier I can’t stop crying!”

“I can talk to him if you want–”

“I just told him to back off, so no, thank you. I think he finally understands. And my personal problems are mine to deal, right?”

“I’m sorry,” Dean said after a while.

“For what?” asked Jackie, her face still buried between her arms.

“When I told you about the personal problems. ”

“It’s nothing. Just forget it. This is my problem. I’m solving it.”

“I can talk to him if–”

“No, you don’t need to. It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

Oh, I knew why she didn’t want Dean to talk to Brian. The guy might just say something about the lies she made up and everything would go wrong and Brian would find out the truth and he’d be back in action.

But you can always tell Dean the truth, girl.

It seemed that Dean didn’t know what to say so he just squatted beside her, saying nothing as she silently cried. When she calmed down, she lifted her head and said, “I think I’m okay. I want to go back and swim.”

Dean let out a small laugh and stood up. “Okay, let’s go.”

  *****

When we got back home the next day, Jackie was quite in a good mood. I think I knew most of the reasons why. One, Brian didn’t dare approach her again. It was like she was invisible. Two, Dean took a ride back home with her like it was only natural and they talked like it was only natural, so naturally, they had fun while I braved the rough road back home and suffered a few scratches for it. Three, he gave her a very simple, short hug when we reached the parking lot of Collins Corporations after everyone was gone. He hesitated at first, but he did it anyway much to Jackie’s surprise. Four, he followed the hug with a quick kiss at the corner of her lips, giving her another shock. Five, he looked over his shoulder and waved goodbye as he walked back to his car.

All in all, Jackie was happy. I didn’t know if she should be because it only meant things were getting more and more complicated. And I couldn’t handle complications! I still had this black BMW mystery to solve. And then there was this case with George that I knew bothered her though she wouldn’t tell me or her friends. Having Jackie crying over some guy when all of this would be over was just not what I wouldn’t want to happen. She had to sort this problem once and for all.

But of course she couldn’t because right now, I was pretty damn sure she was walking on air.

  *****

Jackie knew that Dean’s actions yesterday could just be because of the trip. Though she wanted this to be real (because she just didn’t want this charade of hers to continue anymore), deep inside she couldn’t help but worry whether or not this could actually turn to something serious. But as what George told her last night and this morning, she had to just let things happen as they should. Or she could just ask Dean if he continued on with his…she couldn’t even put a word on what he was doing toward her.

The rest of her teammates were busy talking about their trip to the other team when she arrived. She joined in and when it was time to work, she went behind her desk. She never saw Dean come in and never even saw him during her fifteen-minute break.

Jackie found herself thinking about him and wondering where he could have been all morning as she stood in front of the vending machine, eating her potato chips. She was expecting he’d show up again and offer her his Coke but that didn’t happen. Punching the Pepsi button this time, she hoped to get a Coke. It dropped a blue can. She kicked the machine again saying, “Idiot,” under her breath before she walked back to her desk.

“Here, it’s yours,” she said to Karen, placing the can on her friend’s desk.

“Again?”

“Stupid machine,” Jackie answered.

  *****

When Jackie went back from lunch that afternoon, she found a Coke in can on her desk. When she picked it up, she saw a small note stuck underneath it.

“Stop assaulting the vending machine, Jackie.”

Jackie stifled a chuckle and her eyes flew to Dean Gamboa’s office. He was inside behind his desk, his head bent on paperwork. She couldn’t help but feel excited and happy. For someone who hated her boss weeks ago, she surely didn’t show it now as she popped the can open and smiled like crazy, swiveling her chair around.

Chapter 21

It was not a very unproductive Monday for me because the narcissistic BMW was finally able to give me news about the owner of the mysterious BMW lurking around the boys’ apartment and at Art District. And I had to praise my parking lot neighbor for being thorough with its inquiries because it gave me a specific name.

Jordan Ledesma.

Of course, I didn’t know the guy! I hadn’t heard his name before, but I had a strong impression that he was someone powerful or something. For one, he owned a BMW and like the owner of the narcissistic BMW, he should be rich. And second, the last name Ledesma was common among the upper class around town.

But why is a Ledesma watching the boys?

Now this was another mystery I had to uncover. No one was hurting my boys over my dead, rusty, metallic/tin body!

  *****

Late that afternoon, Jackie’s team had an emergency meeting with Dean Gamboa.

“Our clients need a concrete plan for the event as soon as possible. They want to push the event earlier than scheduled.”

Everyone groaned.

And the conference room was full of buzz when Dean added, “The event’s in two weeks.”

Jackie was busily muttering a complaint to Karen while her friend was doing the same.

“So I guess we should go with Ms. Ramos’ Panaad Festival concept,” Dean said over the collective noise.

Jackie was still in her own world saying, “and I have already contacted everyone! How do I call all of them and re-schedule? The photographers are very hard to negotiate with in the first place and–” when Dean’s words finally reached her ears and eventually her brain. She whirled around sharply and cried, “What?!”

Everyone fell silent. No one had ever raised their voice in the conference room except Dean Gamboa himself.

But their boss didn’t seem to mind because he was busy looking at the papers before him saying, “Yes, Ms. Ramos, we will push through with your idea. And as I remember,” he looked up and met Jackie’s eyes this time, “you promised you’d handle this project more actively if your idea happens to be chosen.”

Jackie could already feel the pressure building up. All those contacts she had to call back, the venue she had to re-schedule and the theme! And it just dawned on her that her ambitious idea might just get her in trouble, or worse, fired.

But she had to do it. It was her idea. She had to prove to Dean and everyone else that her idea would work. She just needed to focus and act fast!

She felt Karen nudge her side. “You should probably answer something.”

“What?” She then looked at their boss who was looking at her expectantly. She cleared her throat, trying to brush aside the image of Dean Gamboa closing in on her face for a kiss. “Yes, of course, sir. I will do my best.”

“Good! Everybody get back to work. I need results by the end of this week.”

Chairs were pushed back and feet rushed to the door.

“Ms. Ramos, please stay behind,” Dean said when she started to stand up.

“Me?”

“Yes,” he said, his head bent on the papers before him.

He waited until everyone was out before he looked up and met her gaze.

It was still awkward for her. Awkward!

Dean was looking serious, like business serious. Jackie then knew that inside the conference room, during working hours, he was her boss and she worked for him. It somehow eased her to know where she should stand. “I trust you’ll do your best in this project. You’ll be doing more stuff than the previous ones. I’m just making sure you’re still enthusiastic about it as you were when you proposed it.”

She gulped. “Yes, of course. I will make sure it goes smoothly and according to plan.”

“Good. What do you do after this? What’s your first step?”

She honestly didn’t know. She had to think about it without him looking at her like that. As a matter of fact, she had to think without him invading her thoughts! “Uh, food tasting?”

He frowned. “Food tasting?”

“Our client’s product is a beverage, right? We should promote it with food, thus we have the Panaad Festival as our theme. But in order to make sure that people will like the drink, we should check the dishes we want in the venue first. That drink doesn’t suit all kinds of dishes and I think we should first check which dishes to pair it with.”

Dean leaned back against his chair, his face thoughtful. Then he slowly nodded. “Good idea. Okay, when do you plan to do that?”

“First thing tomorrow. I have to make a list of the different dishes we want so I can start making contacts. And I have to check with the hotel if they would allow such dishes in their venue.”

Dean nodded. “Okay, so you’re going to Panaad tomorrow?”

The Panaad Festival had just started. She nodded. “Yes.”

“What time do we leave?”

Jackie was almost thrown out of her chair. “We?”

He shrugged. “I don’t think the rest of your team can come with you tomorrow. They all have their hands full and I am willing to work with your guys on this one. The other teams are doing fine with their projects. Your team needs some extra help. We don’t want to disappoint the clients, do we?”

Jackie blinked a few times before she nodded. “Yes, of course. Eleven.”

“What?”

“We leave by eleven. Just before lunch.”

“Okay. You can go now.”

  *****

“Why do you think he’s doing this?” Jackie asked aloud that evening.

“Doing what?” George asked. They were all sprawled in their living room, watching TV.

“Weren’t you listening? I just told you two about the things we did together that shouldn’t have happened! And he’s coming with me tomorrow to Panaad. It’s strange. He never went out with any of us before when we did our field works.”

“You said he said he’s trying a different approach,” Dannie commented.

“Yes, but he could have just said it to give me some reasonable rationale for his hidden agenda.”

“And what agenda is that?” George asked.

“That’s what I was asking! Why do you think he’s doing this?”

“You know,” Dannie turned her head to face her, “I think you know why. Or at least you wish it is what you think it is.”

“Are you implying that I want him to court me?”

“You said it,” George said with a shrug. “Come on, Jackie. You obviously changed your opinion about the guy! He is not what you thought he was and the series of circumstances that threw you both together has made you develop something towards him. Admit it, you like him.”

Jackie’s mouth fell open.

Dannie chuckled beside her. “You obviously like him, Jackie. You’ve been talking nonstop about him. Almost all sentences you say has the words ‘boss’ and ‘Dean’ in them.”

Jackie closed her eyes. “Fine! Fine! I like him! I was wrong about him! I don’t hate him anymore, much to my great disappointment. Now what do I do?”

George sat up and looked down at her and Dannie. “Do whatever you want. Just get yourself out of this trouble you’re in first.”

“What trouble?”

“Your lies. The fake FB account. Brian,” Dannie answered, also sitting up to look down at her.

“Stop looking at me like that, you two,” she said. “I’ll get myself out of this mess once I’m sure Brian stays away. And he might not be doing that just yet. You both know what happened in Campuestohan.”

Dannie and George looked at each other, shrugged and fell right back on the carpet beside her. “Just make sure you’ll not regret it,” Dannie uttered in her soft voice.

“Or cry over it,” George said with warning.

As they continued to watch the movie, Jackie was deep in thought. There were a lot of possible outcome to all these, one of them with her getting killed by that psychotic Brian, and she feared she’d end up just as what George said. She shook the worry out of her head. She’d go with the flow. And Dean Gamboa might not be doing what he was doing because he liked her. He might have his own agenda for all she knew.

Yes, that’s right. I’ll just go with the flow. Enjoy it while it lasts, Jackie, she said to herself.

  *****

George was going to an out-of-town training the following day so I was back under my lonely acacia tree.

Jackie immediately went inside like she was going to battle. She had with her a bunch of folders for work.

You’re putting way too much effort, Jackie girl! I cried after her as she rushed her way to the building.

Just a few hours later, she was walking back and this time she was with Dean.

What now? I asked

But they didn’t go all the way towards me. They went to Beatle and boarded my ex-friend only to get out a few seconds later.

Beatle wouldn’t start. And I knew why. He didn’t like Jackie riding him.

Serves you right, Jackie! I told you stabbing Beatle’s tire was a bad idea!

And now you have to ride me, do you?

I could also do what Beatle just did. Not start. But then, I could never say no to any of the boys.

So I welcomed Jackie and Dean, who was looking troubled after his car wouldn’t start again, with open arms–or doors. It was better than stay under the acacia tree, anyway. And the narcissistic BMW wouldn’t stop babbling about anything it could think about. It must have thought we were friends after the trouble it went through to give me the information about Jordan Ledesma, the mystery guy.

After the Campuestohan incidents–yes, plural–I found Jackie and Dean’s behavior strange. Jackie drove me like she was just about to go to a shopping spree. I knew she was excited by the way she gripped my steering wheel. And Dean couldn’t stay still. He shifted in my passenger seat a couple of times on our way to Panaad.

Awkward. Yeah, that must have been the word.

But, man! They had shared more than one kiss while onboard me last weekend. What was there to be awkward about?

“I thought your car’s okay,” Jackie said, breaking the ice.

Thank God. I was about to suffocate with the awkward air.

“Thought so too,” Dean answered, looking out the window.

“It’s tire is okay, right?” she asked.

Come on, Jackie, don’t bring that up!

“Of course. It just wouldn’t start.”

“Do you need a ride home later?”

Dean seemed surprised. “Are you offering?” he asked with a smile.

Dude, you’ve been smiling a lot lately. Why?

“Sure, why not?”

“If Beatle won’t start again later, I’ll take the offer.”

  *****

Panaad is a large place with an open football field, a vast area of trees and an Olympic swimming pool. People would come there to do various activities such as swimming, jogging, sports practice, rappelling and many more. At the heart of the place is a park with a lot of little houses or buildings, duplicates of the different municipal buildings of all the municipalities in Negros Occidental. These small buildings serve as museums of their own cities or municipalities. Inside, people could see the history of the places without personally visiting them.

During Panaad Festival, these mini buildings are surrounded by different stalls that sell the different crafts and foods representing the municipalities. For example, the city of Cadiz, known for their dried fishes, would sell different kinds of dried fishes around the premises of its mini municipality building in Panaad. During the course of the festival, people could get the chance to buy and eat all the dishes they want from north to south of Negros Occidental without driving for miles. The festival is like a week-long reunion of all municipalities and people all over Bacolod wouldn’t miss it for the world. It is a food haven.

Jackie and Dean roamed around the whole place, tasting different dishes at a time. They had brought along with them samples of their client’s product to test its compatibility with the different dishes.

They tried everything from the oysters of Ilog, sizzling blue marlins of Sipalay, dried fishes of Cadiz and to the squid rings of Sagay.

Dean had loosened his tie and unbuttoned two buttons of his long-sleeve shirt, the sleeves folded up to his elbow. The v-shape drench on his chest told Jackie he was feeling hot because of the sun, but he didn’t seem to mind it.

After they listed down possible dishes and acquiring the contact numbers of the stalls they were interested in, they took some time to help their bodies digest everything they had eaten by taking a walk to the direction of the football field. Apart from two serious joggers, the field was empty. Everyone else was jumping the different stalls ten-minutes of walk away.

“Question,” Jackie said when she felt business or work was finally out of their agenda.

“What?” Dean asked, his tone more relaxed now. He threw the empty bottle of his drink at the black bin they passed by.

Jackie faced him as they walked. “Was that really our second kiss?”

He almost choked. He coughed and cleared his throat a few times. He then looked up at the sky, his eyes squinting. “We better go now,” he said without answering her question.

He turned around and retraced their steps out of the field.

Jackie ran to catch up, grabbing his arm. “Dean! You’re not telling me something! When was it? When? Come on, tell me! When was it?” She pulled at his arm when he twisted away from her grasp.

“Jackie, not now. It’s almost one and we’re needed at the–hey!” he shouted with a laugh when she pulled harder, giving him her full weight by going down the ground. “Jackie, come on, let me go!” He chuckled.

“Then answer me! Was that really our second kiss?”

He looked down at her pleading face, grinning. “Why are you interested?”

“Just tell me! Yes or no?” she asked, pulling harder.

“Hey, careful!” he said, bending a little to accommodate her position so she wouldn’t fall all the way down. “Let me go and I’ll give you an answer.”

“No, you might just run away.”

“No, I won’t,” he promised.

“You will. So just answer me. Was that really our second kiss?”

“Third, actually,” he said.

“Third?”

“We kissed last Sunday.”

“You can’t consider that peck a kiss!”

“Still our third.”

“That’s the second for me then, if you really consider that a kiss. But when’s the first one?”

He chuckled. “Let me go and I’ll tell you.”

“Was it when I got drunk?”

Something in his smile and the amusement on his eyes told her she guessed right.

Jackie gasped and without her knowledge let him go. “You took advantage of me!”

He looked down at her incredulously. “What? It was the other way around!”

“When was it? Where? At the apartment? I can’t believe it!” she shouted.

“Hey, Jackie, I’m serious. Get up and let’s go. Let’s talk about this later. I feel a storm coming,” he said, bending down to grab her hand.

She let him but only to pull him with all her might so he joined her down the ground. “This is not funny,” he said, feigning to sound serious. “We still have to spend half of the day at work.”

“You took advantage of me, I can’t believe it!” she cried out.

“I didn’t!” he said laughingly. “You kissed me. It was a shock, actually.”

“I wouldn’t kiss anyone out of a whim just like that!” she denied.

“Well,” Dean said with a grunt as he stood up, “you did just that. Okay, let’s stop this game and let’s get back to work,” he said, holding out his hand for her.

“I still can’t believe it,” Jackie muttered when she finally took his hand and he pulled her up.

“You can always forget about the first one and start counting from the second one,” he said, his voice serious.

Jackie looked at him and the question about his real intentions almost sprouted out of her mouth but the rain stopped them.

“Rain! Rain!” Jackie shouted, running for the closest shelter.

Dean followed right behind her. “I told you it’s going to rain!” His voice grew louder as the rain poured heavily on them. He grabbed her hand as he passed by her, dragging her faster to the empty audience stand of the football field.

Jackie’s blue dress was wet, her flats almost covered with mud and her hair a mess. She was nearly in tears when they finally reached shelter.

Dean chuckled when he saw her expression. “I told you it’s going to rain,” he repeated.

“Shut it, you don’t have to say it again and again,” she snapped, dropping down on the bleacher.

Dean followed suit, his shirt almost drenched as well, placed his hands on his knees and turned his head to look at her.

“Now what?” Jackie asked.

“I guess we’ll have to watch the rain again.”

Chapter 22

My engines were about to throw up all their juices when I saw Jackie and Dean running toward me with their hands over their heads, both of them laughing in the rain. Jackie was holding her flats in her hands and she was running barefoot on concrete.

My headlights wanted to roll around their sockets. The sight was too cheesy for me.

Do you really have to run like that? I demanded when they entered me, catching their breaths. And they were wet. You were not shooting a music video, were you? You should have said so and I could have tried to put on some music , I said in an engine roar of sarcasm.

The ride back to Collins Corporations was the exact opposite of the first one. Jackie and Dean talked animatedly about anything, jumping from one topic to another, talking about work and something random another moment. And the most amazing thing for me was that neither of them seemed to get lost. The other always knew what the other was talking about and could easily tell when the other had shifted from one topic to another.

I hated to remind Jackie that she had to clear things up with her boss as early as now. He might just understand what she did if she told him now. And if she would just delete that fake FB account, things might just fall into place.

  *****

The two of them arrived in a near-damp state and everyone’s attention was immediately on them. Karen was wearing one of her teasing looks. Joseph was looking skeptical and super curious. The others were just in awe to see that Dean Gamboa came in the office in a rather not-too-presentable look.

Jackie’s clothes were almost dry so she decided against changing her clothes. Dean on the other hand might have some extra clothes in his office because he closed the blinds the moment he entered and reappeared looking like the Dean Gamboa who came in the office that morning.

Jackie wondered how he could manage to achieve such look in less than ten minutes.

She joined him in the vending machine, munching on a potato chip she kept in her little pantry under her desk.

“Want some?” she offered.

His gaze travelled to hers and then down at the blue plastic in her hand. He lifted a hand and dived in. “Thanks,” he muttered before he threw three pieces of cheese-covered potato chips in his mouth. “And I believe this is yours.” He handed her the Coke he picked up.

“And let me help you with yours,” she said, stepping forward to insert her money. She punched the red button and the Pepsi dropped. “You should really consider having this machine changed. It has some sort of facial recognition in it.”

Dean chuckled as he picked up the Pepsi can. “It drops the wrong drinks for those it hates?”

“What? Of course not. It drops the wrong drinks for those who are great. There’s a big difference.” Jackie gave a dramatic sigh as she took a step back to leave. “But it is bias. I feel for those who get their drinks right.”

She heard Dean’s light laughter as she turned around to walk back to her desk.

  *****

That very afternoon, I heard Beatle say that he was on a “breakdown strike”. That meant he wouldn’t start just because he was not in favor of something–or someone. And I knew who Beatle had in mind.

So that afternoon, when Dean Gamboa and Jackie walked to the parking lot together–really? When did they start being inseparable?–Dean tried to start Beatle one last time.

Ten minutes later, he joined Jackie inside me and started calling someone about taking his car to maintenance. Yeah, right.

I suggest you get rid of Jackie, Dean. Beatle would go back to life without a key to that!

“We’re not picking up George?” Dean asked when we finally picked up Dannie from school and headed straight to home.

“She’s on an out-of-town training.”

“What does she do exactly?” Dean asked. “If you don’t mind, of course.”

“You already know she’s a rescuer,” Dannie answered from the backseat. “She’s also a certified Basic Life Support and First Aid instructor so from time to time she has to go out-of-town to train local schools, barangays and others.”

“She can do a lot of things other than that, though,” Jackie butted in, her eyes focused on the road. “She can do almost any outdoor activity. She’s a rappel instructor and she teaches policemen on-training climb and jump down buildings. She is also a water safety instructor or something. I don’t really know. She’s just all over the place when it comes to stuff like that.”

Dean whistled. “Wow.”

“You don’t have to say anything. You’re not the first,” Dannie uttered.

And she’s filthy rich, right, boys? I added. But of course, they wouldn’t mention that. It was a silent rule between the boys. Never ever mention George’s family background.

  *****

After they dropped Dean at home, Jackie and Dannie cooked for supper together.

“Oh my God!” Jackie cried out, dropping the banana she was peeling out of shock.

“What is it?” Dannie asked, alarmed.

“Dean sent me a friend request on Facebook!”

“He what?”

“He has a Facebook? I can’t believe it! He has a Facebook! Oh my god, this is a problem! What do I do?”

“Don’t accept it if you are planning to keep up with your crazy fake FB plan. Accept it only after you take down that fake FB account.”

“So I don’t accept it?” Jackie asked.

Dannie gave her a look. “Then are you saying you’re not planning to take down that fake FB account?”

Jackie leaned back against her chair in defense. “I am! I will! In time. I have to make sure that Brian stays away for good first. We don’t know how he would react to the disappearance of the fake Dean Gamboa from Facebook. He still creeps the hell out of me. I need some more time.”

“Then don’t accept that friend request, Jackie,” said Dannie as she stood up to return to the stove.

Jackie followed her friend’s advice. “Maybe next time,” she murmured.

  *****

Jackie’s week was getting more and more stressful and she knew everyone could notice that, especially Dean. To everyone’s surprise, he offered her a lot help especially with the contacts. He talked with the hotel and everyone was surprised to hear him raise his voice from inside his office as he talked about the change of schedule. Jackie was relieved she didn’t have to do that job.

Joseph had noted at one point that it was the first time he had seen Dean be this hands-on since he worked at Collins Corporations. Jackie tried not to think too much of it and focused on her work instead.

Dean was all business the whole time and apart from his constant ‘help Jackie’ mission, nothing exciting than the usual drinks exchange happened.

But the big shock was yet to make a comeback for Jackie that Friday. She was still taking Dean home because Beatle was still being assessed by the service provider. She worked behind her desk, finishing up some work while she waited for him to get out of his office. And when he did, he was carrying a bunch of folders piled on top of each other and they were about a foot high. When he reached Jackie, he said, “We need to finish all of these,” he dropped them on her desk, “this weekend. The clients are expecting a full report by Monday.”

Jackie’s shoulders dropped. “All of that? I can’t even do three in a day!”

Dean’s head looked around. There were still two with them in the office, finishing their own works. He leaned down at her, his hands flat on her desk. “Did you not hear the word ‘we’? I said we need to finish all of these,” he patted the top folder with one hand, “this weekend. So,” he straightened to full height, “your place or mine?”

The two women from the other team heard him and they both straightened on their chairs, too happy to witness something other than papers and prints.

“Will you shut it down?” Jackie hissed. “My place, sir,” she said aloud for everyone to hear. “My friends may be able to help us with some parts of the plan,” she added, pushing away from her desk to get up. “Now let’s go home,” she whispered to him, “before any more rumors start spreading.”

  *****

Jackie had asked Dean a lot of times if he was sure they had to continue work that weekend.

She had a few issues with working during weekends. For one, she never liked working during Saturdays because it was supposed to be the day for her to go out and have fun. And Sundays meant church, being lazy and hibernating before work started.

I was sure she didn’t like it, but why was she excited when Dean said, “See you tomorrow,” when he climbed off me?

This is not good, Jackie girl. I tell you, spending more time with that guy is not going to end up good. I can feel it.

  *****

Dean and Jackie worked first thing that Saturday. George was back by then and she and Dannie had been quite helpful if the two had any questions as to food, venues and people.

It was Jackie’s turn to take out the trash so she did it that morning. And just as when she was entering the house, she saw their new neighbor step out from his with a cigarette in hand.

“Hey,” he said when their eyes met.

Jackie smiled and nodded at him. “You’re the new neighbor, right?”

“Yeah. Jam,” he said, reaching out a hand for a shake.

Jackie took it. “Jackie.”

She didn’t really like the idea of men smoking, but there was something with the smell that she somehow liked. Crazy, right?  

Jam was as handsome as she first saw him through the binoculars. His tattoos were more visible and they looked too abstract for Jackie to even recognize.

“You’ve been here a long time?” he asked, throwing his cigarette on the ground and blowing a thick smoke in the process. He cleared the air in front of Jackie in haste saying, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Yes, we’ve been here for quite some time.”

Jam nodded. “You girls are siblings?”

Though she liked his wavy hair, dark eyes, thick bristles and long eyebrows, Jackie thought it was not the right time for him to ask such questions. “Sort of,” she answered safely.

“Jackie!”

She turned to see Dean standing by the doorway, frowning at Jam.

“That’s my boyfriend,” she said to Jam before she turned around to leave. “See you around!” She wanted their new neighbor to think someone could protect her and her friends if someone would choose to do harm. Someone like a nosy, handsome neighbor named Jam, she thought.

“Who was that?” Dean asked as she passed by him.

“Who? Jam?”

“Jam?” George asked from the kitchen.

“The new neighbor.” She sat back down on the dining table where they had been working.

“You spoke with our new neighbor?” Dannie asked.

“What did you talk about?” Dean asked.

“Hey, calm down, people! We just had a small talk. We bumped into each other outside and I thought it was rude not to at least say hi,” she explained.

“You don’t know him,” said Dean before sitting down beside her.

Jackie rolled her eyes and went back to work without comment.

  *****

That afternoon, Dean announced that he had to go back home by five. Anon would be playing at Art and they were free to join them later.

“We can try,” George said, looking at Dannie.

“We can come,” Dannie answered with a shrug. “Someone has to watch over Jackie and George.”

“Hey, I won’t be drinking–” Jackie started but Dannie and George waved her off by facing away. She turned to Dean and said, “I won’t be drinking.”

Dean just looked at her and smirked.

When the sun finally left the sky bare of any clouds, Jackie, George and Dannie drove to Dean’s house to pick him up.

“I guess being a drummer is cooler,” said Jackie.

“Why?” he asked.

“You only have to bring drumsticks,” she answered. “What are you guys playing later?”

“You’ll find out,” he said, his voice a bit excited.

  *****

The band played Gone, Gone, Gone with Phil singing. If others would judge it, they’d say Phil pulled the song off pretty great but Jackie was a little biased. Dean singing the song acapella style was better. As she listened to the band, her mind was reeling with memories of her and Dean kissing inside Toto. When she came back to the present moment, her heart skipped a few notches when her eyes met Dean’s. They shared a knowing look for a long time with her sitting at her usual spot around their usual table and him playing behind the drums.

 

You’re my back bone.

You’re my cornerstone.

You’re the crutch when my legs stop moving.

You’re my head start.

You’re my rugged heart.

You’re the pulse that I’ve always needed.

Jackie sang along with the band. Of course, she had mastered the song right after she returned from Campuestohan. Jackie and Dannie stared at her dryly. They had been key witnesses of her obsession over that song and now they might have figured out the reason behind it.

Troy, Lee and Miguel weren’t around, but it was fine with Jackie. She didn’t care if Troy wasn’t around to take photos of her and Dean. Because she could do that on her own now. And he would allow it. And because she wanted to do it for different more reasons other than keeping a fake Facebook account alive.

  *****

Anon joined their table after their time was up. They stayed for a couple of more hours chatting and getting to know each other more.

And Jackie was already feeling the burden of her lies. Maybe it was really time to face the fact that she would be facing a great deal of regret if she continued on with it. Dannie was right. She had to delete that fake account soon.

“You haven’t approved my friend request.” Dean’s voice was just a few inches away from her.

She feigned nonchalance. “What?”

“My friend request. Facebook?”

Her acting skills went full gear. “Oh, I haven’t visited my account since Monday. You know how busy we’ve been at work, right?”

“You have a Facebook account?” Nikki snapped at Dean.

Dean looked startled. And then he looked like a child who had been caught doing something he was not supposed to do. Or someone who never had a Facebook account and now, for some reasons, does. “You don’t know?” he asked his cousin.

Nikki’s eyes narrowed at him. “You said those things are bull. And now we find out that you have one?” Everyone around the table now had their eyes on Dean, especially the other boys.

“Hey, I just thought I’d give it a try. My phone has an app and I tried it. Don’t make a big deal out of it,” Dean said, his tone a little bit too defensive. He looked at Jackie who was looking at him with shock and amazement. “Forget it. All of you are not going to get a request from me. And don’t expect me to accept yours,” he said to his band mates who joined the jest.

“Fine. We ruled the FB world without you. We can continue doing so,” said Kurt with a laugh.

Jackie couldn’t help but chuckle beside him. She didn’t want to think he made an account because of her, but all the signals were there! “That includes you,” he told her. His face was serious but his eyes were laughing in contradiction. “Don’t accept that request.”

“Why?” Jackie said, a small laugh escaping her lips.

“You’re making fun of me,” he answered with a shrug before he drank the last of his beer.

“No, I’m not. I’m just amused.”

He just shot her a look and shook his head.

“But I’m curious as well,” she added in a lower tone, her eyes looking at Dannie and George who were busy talking with Nikki and the others, their attention now far from Dean and his new Facebook account.

“About what?” He shifted his position so he was facing her.

“Why you suddenly decided to make an account.”

He could have just repeated the same reasons he gave the others earlier. He could have just shrugged and ordered for another beer. But he didn’t. Instead, he held her gaze and said, “So I could pursue you both the conventional and contemporary way. Facebook makes the latter easy.”

Chapter 23

Jackie was very certain it was not the alcohol working to make her hear those words from him. She had not been drinking as promised and she was at the most sober state ever. For a moment, she doubted that one because she felt as if she was in a trance. Everything around seemed to be moving except her and Dean who was looking at her with anxiety.

And the anxiety she saw in his eyes as he tried to look away and then struggle to look back told her that she must have heard right.

“Pursue me?” she hissed, her eyes bulging in shock. She didn’t really intend her reaction to be that way, but she was really blown by his announcement.

Dean lifted one eyebrow in question. “Shouldn’t I?”

Jackie blinked. “Should you?” The frown on his face told her she asked the wrong question. “I mean, why?”

His frown deepened. He looked around the table and when he thought they were not being noticed by everyone, he shifted his position so he was halfway facing her. “I like you. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Jackie blinked a few more times in disbelief. Her boss, the office devil Dean Gamboa just told her he liked her. The band drummer Dean Gamboa wanted to pursue her. “But–”

“You don’t have to answer me back, Jackie. I don’t want half-truths. If the time comes, I want utter honesty from you.”

His statement meant so much in different ways to Jackie. She was hiding something quite big from him. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted this–this “pursuing” thing. Sure, he was hot and he was nice, but she didn’t know a lot of things about him. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to get into another relationship.

But he told her she didn’t have to give him any answers right now. It meant he was willing to wait. And she could use that time to make things right. She should definitely take down that Facebook account for good. And then she had to come clean and tell Dean everything she had done. And maybe, if he learned to forgive her, they could start something together.

“Don’t think about what people in the office would say,” he said, looking her in the eyes. But she was not thinking about the people in the office. The hell with them! The only person in Collins Corporations that she cared the hell about enough to commit murder was Brian. If it was not for him, she didn’t have to have a dilemma at the moment. She could just easily say yes to Dean and enjoy the moments they could create.

But if it was not because of Brian, she might not be here tonight listening to Dean. She could be at home and hating the man for giving her hell in the office.

“So,” Dean said after a long speech that Jackie didn’t even hear, “what do you think? Are you okay with it?”

She raised her brows. “Huh?”

“The dating?”

“Dating?”

He heaved a sigh. “You’re obviously still in shock.”

“Well, I am! I am definitely in shock!” She turned her head to check their friends. They were still oblivious of what was happening between her and Dean.

“Don’t take it big. Just think of this as a special relationship. If you are still uncomfortable with it, then call it a special friendship. We date, I try to pursue you–but don’t think I am good at it because I don’t really like it. I just want to see where this thing between us can go–how far we can make it. Let’s not think too much of the day you will say yes to me or the day I will tell you I love you because they will come if they will. Do you get what I mean?”

She just nodded. This was new to her. When she thought of Dean pursuing her, she was thinking of flowers, balloons, chocolates and dinners. This dating and ‘see where this leads us’ kind of thing was new to her. As a woman, she wanted every T to be crossed and every I to be dotted. She wanted something that would reassure her she would be landing in a safe place. What Dean was proposing was an open sea with no horizon. They could go on sailing forever and not go anywhere.

Would she like that?

She mentally shook herself.

She had to clear things on her end first before she could make demands of a paradise at the end of the horizon.

And it was a good thing he was not really courting her the traditional way, right? This way, he wouldn’t expect anything from her and vice versa. She could do her thing while he did his and at the same time, they could enjoy each other’s company. She would have time to clean up the mess she had created.

“Yes, I get what you mean,” she answered his question.

“And?” he asked, peering down at her with a mixture of anxiety and impatience.

“And I want to give it a shot,” she answered with a smile.

For a long while, he just stared at her with a slight twinkle in his eyes. He didn’t jump out of his seat with his fist pumping in the air, he didn’t even make a move to grab her hand, nor did he do something dating couples would do. He just looked at her with tenderness, his eyes telling her he was grateful and that she made him happy. They shared a low chuckle and joined their friends with a newfound energy.

  *****

“You’re spending the night here?” George asked Dean later when we arrived home. They all hopped out of me one by one.

“We told you yesterday,” Jackie said. “We are working on a project, remember?” It seemed that the conversation was not going to reach the apartment because they were all standing by my driver side.

George eyed them curiously. “Are you two sure you are just working on a project?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry, Dean, I know that you are Jackie’s boss, but she’s our friend. We think this staying over for work is not really a valid excuse.”

“George!” Jackie cried out in horror. She looked over George’s shoulder to ask for Dannie’s help but Dannie kept quiet.

We heard Dean give off a chuckle as he scratched his head looking guilty.

Wait , don’t tell me…oh, man! Please don’t tell me you are–

“We just decided to start dating tonight,” he admitted, looking at Jackie and then at George and Dannie.

Dude, what about me? What about the beetle Volkswagen who witnessed you lavish Jackie like a hungry diabetic? What about me who knows more than you will ever know? Huh? What about me? Care to tell me?

Of course, they didn’t even pay me any attention because George was looking at Dean as if she was taking a very hard Math examination.

And then she nodded. “Glad you’ve settled it,” she said to Dean and then threw Jackie a meaningful look before she turned to walk to the door of the apartment. Dannie just smiled at the new dating couple and walked away.

Oh, oh, Jackie, girl, you will get quite a long sermon once Dean is gone.

  *****

When everyone was finally inside the apartment doing whatever humans do, I saw the familiar BMW again. And this time, I was ready to collect as much information as I could. I looked at every detail of the BMW owned by one Jordan Ledesma.

I thought the car would just pass by or park outside for a few minutes like it had always done, but it didn’t. This time, something happened that I almost had an engine attack and my tires could have popped out and rolled down the street in shock. This time, the driver’s window opened and I finally saw the face of the man behind the wheel.

  *****

Jackie woke up in her room when she heard Dean and her friends talking in the kitchen. She checked her phone and saw that Brian sent her a message. Her heart pounded against her chest in fear and anxiety. Brian had always had this effect on her ever since, but this time, the reaction was getting intense. She deleted the message without bothering to read it and joined her friends and Dean outside for breakfast.

  *****

The four of them went to church to attend mass the very next day and I had to be driven by Dannie who seemed bothered by something. I was sure it was about Jackie and her lies. Sure, I could understand why Dannie and Georgie would feel anxious about it–even dislike the relationship–because let’s face it, Jackie could get her heart broken in the end and this lie she had going on could only get worse if she didn’t stop it.

I didn’t bother to think about Jordan Ledesma because I didn’t who he was even after I saw his face last night. If only the boys would utter something that could connect him to any of them, I would be at peace. But as of the moment, they were busy about Jackie and her problems.

Dannie and Georgie finally had the time to talk to Jackie alone when they dropped by Dean’s house so he could change into fresh clothes.

“You’re going to stop this crazy FB account soon, right?” asked Dannie.

“Sure, soon.”

That was not a very good answer because Georgie and Dannie snapped their heads at Jackie who was sitting at the backseat. “ Now would have been a much preferred answer, Jackie,” Georgie said.

“I just want to make sure that Brian gets the message. Do you know that he sent me a long message this morning?”

“What message?” both her friends asked at the same time.

“The usual. I didn’t reply, of course. He has been very quiet lately that I was even surprised he sent me a message. I guess he is getting desperate? I don’t know, but it still scares the hell out of me. But I will really stop this FB account soon. Maybe next week once I get settled with Dean.”

What the hell did she mean by that? That didn’t sound right.

“What do you mean ‘settle’?” Georgie asked, horrified as I was. Jackie have this tendency to use the wrong words for things and this was just one example.

“Don’t get it wrong, okay? I mean, what we have right now is very fresh. I want to see if it is really going to work for us. And if I think it’s cool, I will get rid of that FB account and finally get the chance to have a real relationship with my fake FB boyfriend.”

“And you are going to tell him the truth about what you did, right?” Dannie asked.

Jackie fell silent. “I will. In time. Come on, cut me some slack. I didn’t expect this to happen. Did you? You didn’t, right? Who would have thought that my boss would actually grow fond of me and like me to the point of dating me?”

“Shut up, Jackie,” Georgie uttered.

“What? Don’t ‘shut up’ me–”

“He’s coming,” Dannie explained. “Shut up and clean this mess up, okay?”

“Okay, okay,” Jackie said just as Dean opened my door and climbed in.

  *****

They cooked for lunch early because George had to go somewhere.

“Where are you going?” Jackie asked.

“Somewhere,” their friend answered. It meant one thing: they didn’t have to ask more.

They knew George had this place where she usually went to whenever she wanted to be alone and they respected her privacy.

“Drop me by the church before you go,” Dannie uttered, changing the subject.

“We just went to church, didn’t we?” Dean asked.

Jackie looked at him and explained, “Dannie volunteers at church. She teaches street children.” That stopped his curiosity and he looked at Dannie with awe.

Dean joined the cooking and surprised everyone with his great-tasting tinola.

“We never had a tinola this good,” Jackie gushed.

“You’re not just saying that because we’re dating, right?” he asked her. They were cramped around the small table in the kitchen.

Jackie felt herself blush, knowing Dannie and George heard him, but he didn’t seem to mind and continued eating.

After lunch, Dannie and George left, leaving Jackie and Dean to work on their actual work .

“I think I need to stretch for a while,” Dean said, leaning away from the table and against the chair.

“We have to finish this,” Jackie uttered, slapping the three folders in front of them.

Dean stood up and stretched his arms in the air, walked to the living room and dropped down on the carpet to turn on the television.

“Dean! You have to help me here!” Jackie cried out.

“We still have the whole afternoon to work on that,” he said in his lazy voice while scanning the television. “Join me here and rest for a while. Don’t stress yourself too much.”

Jackie’s eyes narrowed. “That didn’t sound like the boss Dean I know.”

“Well, we’re not in the office. Why? You want me to pull off the devil Dean?”

“What?” she asked, feigning ignorance.

He turned his head over his shoulder to look at her dryly. “I know you guys call me the devil, Jackie.”

“Of course, not!” she uttered, standing up and walking to where he was. She’d take a few moments to relax and then go back to work.

Dean slapped the space beside him, telling her where to sit.

“Better,” he uttered, leaning against her and focused his attention back on the television.

“Dean,” Jackie said after a few moments.

“What?”

“Do you really think it’s okay? I mean, us dating? People at the office will certainly–”

“You think too much,” he cut in. “I told you it is not our business what they think, didn’t I?”

She didn’t answer. Her thoughts were scattered all over the place and she didn’t know where to start picking up the pieces.

“Hey,” Dean snapped her out of her mental wandering. He turned to look at her and added, “at least now we can kiss and make up knowing we can, right? We don’t have to wonder if what we did was right or wrong because now, we are officially dating.” He started to lean toward her with a grin but Jackie leaned back to look at him curiously.

“You’ve been thinking about that?”

“Bothered is more like it,” he answered, leaning further toward her.

She leaned further away. “Wait, you’ve been bothered about kissing me without the dating status?”

He frowned and she noted the slight impatience in his eyes. “Yes, of course.” He moved forward once again and this time, Jackie met him halfway.

“Nice to know,” she uttered before their lips met.

It was nice to finally kiss him knowing he liked her as well, that it was not just some spur-of-the-moment thing.

The kiss was patient, slow and sweet. It was nothing like their previous ones. Maybe because they both knew they could do it again. They both knew they didn’t have to have any more stolen moments.

And then she felt it.

Jackie broke away from the kiss, pushing Dean away in a hurry. She suddenly stood up and went straight to the bathroom.

“What is it?” he asked, alarmed. “Jackie,” he called out behind the door with a knock.

“Oh God,” Jackie gushed.

“What is it?” he asked once again.

“I can’t tell you,” she said, her eyes closed.

“What is it? Jackie, don’t make me take down this door. Tell me.”

She cringed. She looked around the small bathroom. She opened the cabinet where they keep their napkins and realized they were yet to do their groceries later that night. There was not one extra pack left. “Oh God,” she uttered. “What do I do?”

“Jackie,” Dean’s voice was filled with warning behind the door.

“My period came, okay?” She snapped loudly for him to hear. “Oh God, what do I do?”

There was a long pause before she heard him say, “Well, what’s the problem with that? Don’t you girls have some stuff for that?” He sounded awkward when he said it.

“That’s the problem! There’s no more of that stuff here!”

“Then what do you do?”

“Nothing! I can’t go out!” She didn’t want to think too much about her state right now. “You have got to help me.”

“What can I do?” he asked behind the door.

“Please check my bag and see if I have some spare inside the orange pouch.”

“Okay,” he answered and she heard him walk away. He came back a while later and said, “No, nothing’s there.”

Jackie covered her eyes with her hands. “Then can you buy some for me across the street?” she asked in desperation. If she was with George or Dannie, it wouldn’t have been a problem. If she was by herself, she could find some ways to handle the situation. But it was different with Dean outside.

“How much will that cost?” he asked, surprising her.

“You’ll buy them for me?”

“You can’t stay inside the bathroom the whole day, can you?”

“Just get my coin purse from my bag,” she answered. “And I’m sorry!”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said and then he was gone once again.

Jackie waited inside the bathroom for almost five minutes and when Dean came back, he knocked on the door. “I didn’t understand what the lady said when she asked me if I want ones with wings or without so I just bought three of each. Is that okay?”

She felt she was going to flush herself inside the toilet bowl after hearing Dean talk about the wings .

“They also have one for night time but since it’s day time I–”

“You did great!” she cried out to cut him off. “Just hand it over,” she said and stood behind the door to open it a crack. His hand reached inside, a yellow plastic back hanging by his forefinger. Jackie grabbed it and closed the door. “Thank you so much! I’ll make it up for you, I promise,” she uttered with embarrassment.

“Don’t worry about it. Do you need anything more?”

“Uh, no, you can go back to work. Or watch TV.”

  *****

“Don’t look like you’ve been swallowed down the ground,” Dean said with a laugh when she finally emerged out of the bathroom. She changed into a bathrobe after taking a bath.

“Shut up!” she cried out before she entered her room. “This is not the first date I wanted,” she said to herself, wanting to cry.

She heard him laugh from the living room. “We can always go on one and more,” he said in a voice enough for her to hear.

Despite the worries at the back of her mind, Jackie couldn’t help but feel giddy, excited and utterly happy.

Chapter 24

That evening, they had an unexpected visitor by the person of Troy Brady.

Jackie was already cramming with all the paper works, thanks to Dean for making her waste one whole afternoon, and now Troy was here, popping out of nowhere with a claim that he was trying to get away from a date.

“And that’s our problem?” Dannie asked. “What did you do, exactly?”

“Nothing,” Troy said in defense, walking over to the fridge. “You should get a bigger apartment, by the way.”

“Troy, we don’t have time for visitors right now,” Jackie said, her head bent on papers. Dean was sitting right beside her in his full ‘office Dean’ mode as he tried to correct the mistakes Jackie did with the previous ones.

“I won’t bother you, I promise. I just needed to make an excuse.”

“Then just go home,” Dannie snapped at him.

“Can’t. She knows where I live.”

“And what makes you so sure she’ll go over your place?”

“They always do,” Troy answered with a shrug before he drank a glass of water.

“Why did you even make us your excuse?” George asked dryly from the living room.

“Because you are the only friends I have that might intimidate any girls I date,” Troy answered with pride as he walked to where George was and dropped down beside her, grabbing a throw pillow along the way.

Dannie just shook her head and went to her room without a word.

“What’s her problem?” Troy asked.

“You,” answered George and Jackie.

  *****

“Shouldn’t you go home?” Jackie asked Dean when they were almost done.

Troy had fallen asleep in their living room.

George went out for a short drive with Toto.

Dean was frowning down at the last paper he was reading. “Will you drive me home?”

“You know George took Toto out.”

“Then that’s settled.” He looked up to meet her eyes. “I’ll be staying the night. I brought extra clothes for tomorrow.”

“You’ll have to sleep with that guy.” Jackie nodded her head toward Troy who was hugging one pillow as he slept.

He was about to say something when Jackie held up her hand and declared, “No, you cannot sleep with me. That’s against the rules.”

“Rules?”

She nodded. “We can’t have guys inside our rooms. And my mother will kill me if she found out.”

“We won’t do whatever you are thinking.”

Jackie gasped. “I’m not thinking of whatever you think I am thinking!”

Dean pretended to be deep in thought for a while. When he spoke, his eyes were full of mirth. “But then, you’re having your you-know-what so I think I’ll sleep with Troy.”

“Hey!”

He gave a short chuckle. He placed the last piece of paper back in the envelope and said, “It’s all good. We can give these to the clients tomorrow. We need to go to sleep.” He stood up, but not without leaving a kiss on top of her head. “’Night, Jackie.”

  *****

Later, in her bed, Jackie was wide awake.

She was looking at Dean’s fake Facebook account.

It would just take one click and everything would go away. He didn’t have to know, she thought.

She shook her head. She didn’t want to keep such secrets from him. He’d have to know.

Jackie took a deep breath and decided she’d take it down. Now.

Then she received a message. The fake Dean Gamboa received a message.

It was from Brian.

Jackie’s heart hammered against her chest.

It was the ‘Brian Alert’ blaring inside her once again. And it got stronger as she read the message:

You think you deserve her, don’t you?

You think you can make her happy as I can, don’t you?

Think twice, Mr. Dean Gamboa.

I KNOW YOUR SECRETS. And I know your kind.

You will make her fall in love with you and then you’ll break her heart.

Don’t think I am afraid of you.

I am not.

Watch your back because I am always watching.

Always.

Anger, fear and hate surged up inside Jackie like a ball of fire. It ate through every single cell in her body, rapidly consuming her.

Her hands shook as she threw her phone out of reach as if it was infected, about to cause an epidemic.

Dean was just a few steps away from her room.

Should she tell him?

But what if he would do something that Brian wouldn’t like?

And then he would be in danger.

Jackie couldn’t bring herself to climb out of her bed and knock on Dannie’s door. It would wake Dean and Troy.

George was not home yet.

What should she do?

  *****

Georgie had been driving me around Bacolod for a few hours now.

A big problem was obviously bothering her right now.

We were circling the empty Bacolod Lagoon Park when I noticed the black BMW parked outside Chowking. We passed by it and when we did, I saw Jordan Ledesma peer through the small opening of his window, his dark, hooded eyes following us intently.

The creep! He must be Brian’s twin brother from another life!

At that point, I was pretty sure, from the bottom of my trunk and all the pipes in my body, that Georgie was his target.

The question now was: Why?

  *****

The following day, I was cramped.

Tata wouldn’t start. She said she hated Troy right now for ditching her outside the apartment with her windows open.

Well, she had the right to be mad. The boys never did that to me before. Ever.

Oh well, I just hoped that she would like our neighborhood.

So I rode the main streets of Bacolod early in the morning with Jackie behind the wheel, Dean at the passenger seat; Troy, Dannie and Georgie at the back.

“You could have just taken a taxi!” Dannie was nagging at Troy the whole ride.

“Excuse me, I don’t remember you guys giving me that option earlier. You just ordered me to go climb inside Toto!”

“Hey! Stop it! My head is aching and you guys are not helping!” Jackie shouted as she turned me to the direction of the Red Cross Headquarters.

Everyone got out except Jackie to give way for Georgie when we stopped outside the HQ.

She had been silent the whole ride, even last night.

This girl was not helping me with my troubles! I had a lot in my mind as it was!

Troy and Dannie climbed back inside, nudging each other along the way, followed by Dean, after the passenger seat was straightened back in place.

When it was time for Dannie to get out, Troy said, “Can I come with you?”

“No!” she shouted and then walked off.

“She never changed. She still hates me.”

“Where to, Troy?” Jackie asked irritably.

Now, what the hell is wrong with you, Jackie girl? You’ve been irritable since you got in!

“Home,” Troy answered, clearing his throat. Dean looked over his shoulder at the man and gave a signal with his hand.

“What?” Troy mouthed, not understanding.

Dean pointed at his watch, then at Jackie, then made a motion with his finger, twirling it right beside his temple.

Troy opened his mouth in understanding, nodding his head. “I get it.”

I don’t know why, but I didn’t get it, dudes. Seriously, however did you manage to talk in secret codes like that and understand each other?

“You got what?” Jackie snapped.

“Nothing. Just calm down, Jackie. It’s not like you don’t go through it at all.”

Dean threw him a warning look.

“Go through what?” Jackie asked sharply.

“A bad morning. You should actually be jolly right now. I heard you guys are officially dating. Good for you.”

Dean didn’t say anything. He just focused his attention outside my window.

Jackie answered, “Let’s get you home. I am really starting to hate you right now, Troy.”

Troy was quiet. If there was something I liked about this guy, he knew when he should shut up. And he never slipped his tongue about the crazy things Jackie did. The subject of his photography project for Jackie was not even raised ever since I learned about it. They took Troy outside his home, which was pretty large, with a promise from him that he would send someone for Tata later.

“You okay?” Dean asked when they were finally alone inside me.

Correct question, Dean. Yeah, Jackie girl, what’s wrong?

I knew it was not about her period. She could get cranky, yes, but not like this.

For the love of God, what it is now? Please, don’t let this be another big problem!

“Nothing. I just–I just didn’t get enough sleep.”

Not good enough reason, you liar! I know you. I know you are hiding something. You better tell me later!

  *****

When we reached Collins Corporations, I saw a sight that I almost missed: Brian.

He was standing right where he used to stand since he activated his stalker mode. He was still lanky and unkempt. And the fire in his eyes was there. The eagerness and the restlessness in his features almost made me lock all my doors so Jackie couldn’t get out.

She gripped my steering wheel with a mixture of anxiety and fear. And hatred. So much hatred that she was almost shaking.

“What’s he doing here?” Dean asked.

Brian must have seen Dean as well, but unlike what any of us would have expected, he parted his legs, as if he was going to battle.

This is not a good sign, Jackie.

Wait, is this why you’ve been acting like a bitch? Did he bother you again?

I didn’t need an answer. I knew Brian was back in action.

Dean, deal with this for me, will you? I asked as they both climbed out of me.

I watched them walk to where Brian was, Jackie in an unsteady gait and Dean in his usual confident self.

  *****

“What?” Jackie asked, trying to sound irritated, when Brian blocked their path. Deep inside, she was nervous and afraid.

She didn’t know what Brian was doing here. He should be running away after seeing Dean like he used to before. But his message last night told her he had gathered up some nerves.

“I want to talk to Jackie.” He didn’t address her, he addressed Dean.

The two men stared at each other for a long time. Dean’s gaze never wavered. He held Brian’s like he would the people who worked for him. It was one of the rarest moments that Jackie was grateful for this side of Dean.

Brian’s gaze wavered, but Jackie noted the hatred in them as he forced himself to look back at Dean, expecting a round two. But Dean said in an icy tone, “No. She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

Dean took her hand and they started to walk away.

“Jackie, wait–”

She felt Dean’s grip tighten around her wrist as he stopped. He looked over his shoulder and said to Brian, “If you bother her again, I will report you to your superior. Go back to your work.”

Jackie couldn’t remember how they managed to get inside the building. She just found herself inside the elevator with Dean who was still looking furious.

“If he as much as shows himself through the corner of your eyes, you tell me,” he said through clenched teeth.

Jackie gulped. She no longer cared about her lies. They no longer mattered now that Brian seemed to be taking a different method. The way he looked at Dean earlier said it all: he was ready for battle whether or not he won. And Dean’s anger toward him was not making things easier. It could aggravate the situation. If she believed Brian was just some ordinary guy, she wouldn’t be bothered at all. But he had been acting crazy since day one and God knows what he could do.

“I need to talk to you later,” she said before the doors opened.

“About what?”

“Just…we just need to talk,” she repeated and then walked out the doors with determination. She’d tell him everything. She’d tell him about Brian’s threats.

  *****

Jackie found the Coke can on her table after her morning break with Karen. A small smile appeared on her lips as she took it.

“That’s from boss Dean, isn’t it?” Karen asked with a teasing look.

“Why would he give me a Coke?” Jackie huffed.

“Don’t deny it, girl. You two have been exchanging drinks. We all know that.”

She didn’t comment. She figured the rumors would eventually die down if she and Dean didn’t say anything. It was not against company policy to date a co-worker or a boss. It was just discouraged.

Yes, she knew that because she finally read the company manual a few nights ago.

  *****

Later that morning, she reached for her Coke with a sigh. She was tired after last night and this morning’s events.

“Why are you opening that?” Dean’s voice asked behind her just as when she popped the can.

She whirled her chair around in shock. “I can’t? Isn’t this for me?” she asked innocently. She could sense they had once again stolen everyone’s attention, especially Karen’s.

“You haven’t had your lunch yet.” He motioned with his head and added, “Come on.”

“Huh?”

Dean raised his eyebrow. His gaze swept the whole floor and everyone immediately returned to whatever they were doing. “It’s almost lunch time. Let’s go.”

“But–”

“We need to discuss something,” he said, waving the papers in his hand.

“Oh, okay.” Jackie stood up with her can of Coke and hastily said to Karen, “See you later.”

  *****

“What do you want to talk about?” they both asked in unison. They had ordered their food and were now sitting at Dean’s usual spot.

“No, you go ahead first,” Jackie said before he could.

Dean looked at her for a long time.

“I’m serious. Yours is obviously more important,” she lied.

He thought about it. “You’ll tell me later,” he reminded her.

“Yes, I will.”

“Okay, then, let’s talk about the event,” he said, giving her some papers. “This is the schedule we’ve made yesterday. The clients approved them. The event is by the end of this week. It’s time to take everything into action.”

Jackie took his last words seriously and in a different way. She nodded her head. “Yes, it’s time to take action.” But am I ready? She asked herself.

Dean frowned. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“It’s my time of the month, remember? I get weird, that’s all.”

Again, he stared at her with concern but didn’t ask further. “The party will be quite formal so ask people to dress in semi-formal to formal attire. What will you be wearing?”

Jackie smiled this time. “That is something I haven’t decided yet. That will need some careful planning.”

He smiled, shaking his head. “I’ll drive this time.”

She laughed. “Hey, this will not be a date. This will be work.”

He cleared his throat. “Right. Lets finish our food first and then talk about the rest of the detail in my office later.”

Jackie gulped. “In your office?”

He frowned. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I kind of have a phobia when it comes to your office.”

“What?” he asked incredulously. “You’re not serious, are you?”

She nodded her head. “Especially with the blinds down.”

Dean chuckled. “Then it’s time to desensitize, Jackie.”

For the first time, Jackie felt excited to enter the Devil’s Room.

Or maybe not because Dean might not like what she was planning to tell him.

Chapter 25

Later on that day, Jackie stayed behind to finish a few things left undone for the event, most of them her job. Her other team mates had done theirs perfectly. She didn’t want Dean to think she was not doing her job well because she was no longer afraid of him.

Well, she was afraid of a few things. One, Brian himself and what he might do to Dean. Two, Dean and his reaction tonight after she told him everything she had done.

Dean’s office lights were still on and she knew why he was still lurking around. He was waiting for her to finally say whatever she planned to say.

And she saw that in his eyes when he looked up at her the moment she entered his office. For a moment she felt so proud of herself that she could enter the Devil’s Room without her heart racing in fear. It was racing, alright, but it was because of the intense look he had on his eyes and the confession that she was about to make.

“So, you are ready to talk?” he asked.

It was getting dark outside. Everybody else had gone home. It was just her and Dean.

When Jackie just stood in the middle of the room, rooted to the spot, Dean pushed his chair away from the table. He motioned with his head. “Come here,” he said, holding out his hand for her.

Jackie tried to muster all the courage she had to do this. She had to tell him. She couldn’t go on pretending that everything was alright. She couldn’t be that unfair toward him.

Slowly, she made her way to where he was sitting and took his hand. She sat on the desk before him, sitting on the papers he had been reading a while ago, and facing him as he sat on his chair, looking at her with worry.

“Tell me. I know something’s bothering you.”

“You will probably hate me for it.”

He smiled. “Try me.”

Jackie opened her mouth, closed it again, opened it and then closed it again in frustration.

She gave off a small whimper. She didn’t want him to stop looking at her the way he was now. Calm, patient and loving.

Jackie continued to study his face as she sat down before him, engraving in her memory that smile he had on his face, the slight twinkle of his eyes and the calmness despite the awaiting news she had for him. She could feel his thumb gently massaging the back of her right hand, telling her it was going to be alright.

She couldn’t imagine how his gentle face would turn into the one she never wanted to see. That look he only wore during bad meetings behind his closed door. And it could be worse. That was what she feared the most.

And she couldn’t bear the thought of him letting go of her hand.

She used him to protect herself from Brian and now she realized she had depended on him far more than she intended or even wanted. She was falling for this man who could give her the protection that she wanted, the feeling of security and love that she had been looking for ever since she decided to leave her home and family to be independent. He could be everything the police or the president of the freaking country couldn’t: he could protect her and love her. She could see it in his eyes and she could feel it in the assuring hold of his hand in hers. Love was coming her way. And she wanted that–desperately so, in fact.

But she had to make it or break it tonight. It would be Dean’s decision.

When she took more time than she intended to try to speak again, Dean sighed and reached out his other hand to hold her free one.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” he tried again.

Jackie lowered her gaze and closed her eyes.

“Hey.” Dean stood up, his full height looming over her. Standing close before her, he let go of her hand and with his forefinger lifted her chin so she was facing him. “Look at me. Is it about Brian? Did he do something?”

A tinge of anger was now visible in his eyes as he scanned hers for answers.

Jackie couldn’t turn her head so she just lowered her eyes. She had to gather all the courage she had left. “He is the reason why I am going to talk to you, yes, but–”

“I will talk to him.”

“But, Dean, I have to tell you–”

He stopped her words by swiftly claiming her mouth for a kiss, the kind that was hard and aggressive at first but slowly changed to something soft and patient.

Jackie felt his lips against hers, the warmth they offered and the promise they represented. She took it like it was the last drink she could have before she goes to a long journey to the desert.

Dean’s hand slowly travelled from her chin, around her neck and finally resting at her nape, pulling her close for a deeper kiss. His other hand had let go of her hand to land behind the small of her back, slightly pushing her to the edge of the desk, pressing her closer against him.

Jackie’s hands had not been behaving like they would in church as well. They went around his back to cling on to his shoulders. She didn’t want to let go. She wanted to stay like this forever–with him, just Dean Gamboa and his moods and fantastic self.

But she had to tell him. Like right now. Maybe after a few seconds.

But what were seconds at a moment like this?

She had to do it now.

“Dean,” Jackie forced herself to say when their lips parted for a breath. “I really need to tell you something–”

His heavy-lidded eyes looked at her with warning. “Jackie, don’t talk about that guy at moments like this.”

“But–”

Dean stopped her words by claiming her mouth once more.

“Stop thinking about that guy while we’re kissing,” he said against her lips. “I don’t find it sexy,” he added before finally claiming her mouth for another shattering kiss.

Jackie groaned and let herself enjoy the moment. Everything she had to tell him disappeared with the sunset outside the window.

  *****

Georgie drove me the next day and it was boring. I didn’t feel the usual thrill I would often feel when she was behind the wheel. No breaking the traffic rules, no over-speeding–just plain boring.

She was definitely bothered about something and I had an inkling it was about that Jordan Ledesma guy who had been following us last Sunday.

But the following day, when I was back under my lonely acacia tree, was a little exciting.

Beatle was back.

Again.

Hey, buddy!

It didn’t answer. It ignored me.

Come on, you’re still angry over what happened with your tire? It looks awesome now, doesn’t it?

Still, no answer.

Jackie climbed out excitedly saying, “Oh, Beatle is back!”

Yeah, you can murder him again. I might consider being an accomplice this time. He is getting in my nerves like a woman with PMS.

“Hey, Beatle!” I heard Jackie say to him. “I am so sorry about what I did to you. You should forgive me. I was just getting desperate and…”

And then I heard Beatle accept her apology.

Really? That was all it would take?

It said yes.

Oh, so now you are talking to me?

It said yes again.

Honestly, I was quite happy. I didn’t have to put up with the narcissistic BMW now that I had my old friend back!

  *****

Jackie had been very busy the rest of the week. She barely had time to think about her problems and even Dean. There were a lot of people to talk to, details to follow up and even more people to talk to.

And when the day of the event finally came, a horrifying realization came to light.

She didn’t have anything to wear.

“Just wear any of your dresses,” George said dismissively.

“You have a lot of them,” Dannie added.

“I need to look fabulous tonight!” she cried out.

“Yeah, because of Dean,” George commented with a yawn. “I need to take a nap. Solve your problem on your own.”

“But–”

“We know you can pull it off,” Dannie cut in as she stood up to go to her room.

“Guys! Girls! Boys! Help me!”

But her friends didn’t hear her plea.

For almost two hours, Jackie had changed from one dress to another.

It was too late to buy a new one. And she didn’t have the budget for that anyway.

In the end, she settled for a cream-colored cocktail dress with a square neckline. The shoes were not a problem. She wore the nude pumps she bought a year ago.

“Less accessories,” she uttered as she looked at herself in the mirror. “What about the hair?”

As if in answer, a knock rang out from their front door.

Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the time. It was six o’clock!

“Dean!” she cried out as she ran to the door. “I am so sorry. I am not ready yet,” she said as greeting. “And you look so cool, by the way.”

He was wearing a white shirt with a v-neckline and layered a black suit to make it look formal. And of course, he was wearing dark pants and black, formal shoes. His hair was the usual one he would wear in the office: neat and brushed up. However he pulled off such a cool outfit and still look like the office Dean Gamboa was a wonder.

“You look great,” he commented with a smile.

“I still have to do my makeup and my hair. What do you think? Should I pull it up or just leave it like this?” she asked, stepping aside to let him in.

He looked at her for a moment before answering, “What would you do with it if you leave it like that?”

Jackie shrugged. “I don’t know. Curl it, maybe?”

He winced. “Then pull it up.”

“You don’t like the curls?”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t like the waste of time. If you pull it up, we might get out of here sooner.”

Jackie slapped his arm. “I hate you!” She walked back to her room.

He followed her with a laugh. “You look great whichever way you fix your hair. So just pull it up.”

“I can’t believe you were actually thinking about the time.”

“I am serious. It doesn’t really matter,” he said as he watched her do her work before the mirror. “See? Saved more time,” he chuckled when she finally managed to make a messy bun.

Jackie groaned. “I really need a girl’s opinion. You’re not helping.”

“Why? You’re not trying to impress the girls, are you?”

“Girls know better!”

“Not always, no. I am a guy and I know that you look wonderful tonight and that we are going to be very late.”

When Jackie just stared at him dryly, he smirked. “ It’s late in the evening, she’s wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her make-up, and brushes her long… black hair …” he sang and made her chuckle with the slight change in the lyrics. “ And then she asks me, ‘Do I look alright?’” he continued, stepping close to her and taking her hand in his. He twirled her around with his hand and continued, “ And I say, ‘You look wonderful tonight,’…” He planted a chaste kiss on her lips before stepping back to say, “Now, get ready fast. Because really, you look wonderful tonight.”

“Awww…” Jackie couldn’t help but feel the butterflies in her stomach. “Why do you have to be so wonderful?”

Dean shrugged. “I try to be.”

Jackie laughed. “Okay, give me five mintues.”

  *****

The clients loved the event. They liked how the team was able to pull off a mini-Panaad Festival inside the hotel’s function hall. Local radio and television networks were present to witness the event. The variety of food was perfect for the product.

The next step was how to meet the expectations after the event. The clients were already making plans on how to market the product with as much success. But that was for another team to handle, Jackie thought.

For the first time in her career, she was proud of what she did. It was her idea, she worked hard for it and it finally came out just as she had imagined it.

And Dean being beside her was a plus point. He was there as her boss, but she knew he was there to make sure that her plans didn’t go awry.

“I am beat,” she sighed when the last of the guests finally walked out, bending down to remove her pumps. She looked around the function hall. “Look at all the mess!”

The different kiosks had left a lot behind them.

Dean laughed. “Well, at least the mess came after everything was over.” He looked at her and added warmly, “Congratulations, Miss Ramos. You did a great job.”

“Not without your help, I guess. Thank you, boss,” she said with a wink.

“I hate to say this, but would you like to dance?”

“I hate to say this, but no.”

Dean chuckled. “A painful rejection.”

“Stop moping. Let’s go.” She stood up and started walking to the doors, shoes in hand.

Dean walked behind her, but before they reached the exit, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the center of the hall.

“Dean, what now?”

“Just one dance. Here, let me get these,” he said, taking her shoes from her hand and held them himself.

“There was even no dancing earlier! What’s up with you? You don’t act like the drummer Dean or the boss Dean. Is this another side of you?”

He pulled her close and started swaying. “I guess so. You should enjoy this side of me. I don’t show it very often.”

“And why is that?”

He bent down to look at her. “It only shows up at moments when I am completely overwhelmed with wonder. Did I tell you that you were wonderful tonight?”

“You’re not going to start singing again, are you?”

“ We go to a party and everyone turns to see…” he started anyway and Jackie pushed him to walk away. People might see them! And if she was someone else, she would probably puke seeing the scene. And Dean was obviously doing it because he was enjoying her reaction. “You can’t go anywhere. I have you shoes. Come on, just a little bit more,” he said in between his laughter, pulling her against him once more. “ This beautiful lady that’s walking around with me. And then she asks me, ‘Do you feel alright?’ and I say, ‘Yes, I feel wonderful tonight.’…”

His singing voice was husky. Not as husky and sexy as Eric Clapton’s, but it still got to her. She suddenly forgot about her inhibitions. Every girl secretly wants this. Every girl secret wishes for a guy to sing them a sweet song. She didn’t realize she leaned her head against his right shoulder as they swayed in the middle of the messy hall and the only music she could hear was the gentle beating of her heart. She felt so calm and at peace. It was a perfect moment with the man who had unexpectedly given her a lot of reasons for so many things in her life.  

“And that’s the reason why,” he said, his chin against the crown of her head.

“What?” she asked lazily.

“Why I am so cheesy tonight. I feel wonderful.”

Jackie smiled. “So do I.”

She hated to think about the things she needed to tell him. She’d keep them inside the tiny room at the corner of her mind for a while. Ruining the evening would only make things harder for her. But she had to try again soon. And he better listen and not give her any distractions again.

Chapter 26

I heard somewhere that dates are the sweetest fruits but for some reason they could not be converted into refined sugar for everyday use. I would say that their human counterparts are Jackie and Dean because, really, I could not even describe how their relationship evolved to the cheesy one I had to suffer every now and then.

They would steal kisses while onboard and Dean would drop, if he was in the mood, the most nerve-wrecking lines you could only hear from songs after a kiss or before that.

And I was grateful that I was not within their fifty-mile radius right now because I needed a break.

Georgie was driving me out of town again and I knew where we were going based on her grip around my steering wheel. I was very certain she was eager to get to our destination as fast as she could and then leave as fast as we came.

She was going home again.

Did this trip have anything to do with that Jordan Ledesma guy?

I wanted that guy out of the picture. Jackie’s crazy problems were enough to drive me crazy as it was.

When we finally arrived, my earlier theory was finally proven because right there where Georgie used to park me was the BMW of no other than Jordan Ledesma himself.

Plate number JDN000. Yes, it was that same customized plate number I very well remembered.

Georgie parked me right beside the BMW and climbed out. She stayed there watching the BMW with her chest heaving and her hands on her hips. She was trying to calm herself down, I knew it.

When she walked to the house, I prayed I had supersonic powers because I desperately wanted to hear what was going on inside.

Hey there, I said to the BMW.

It didn’t answer. It ignored me like I was just some yellow poop on the ground.

Racist, I muttered. I didn’t bother to build rapport with the car once again.

After a long, awkward silence on my part (the strongest I had to endure), Georgie finally emerged out of the double doors. Well, she actually slammed the doors open, turned around and slammed them shut with her full might.

Ah, yes, the bratty side of Georgie not most of us would often see.

She stormed toward me and to my full surprise, she didn’t immediately climb onboard. She took out her tool bag and then the knife.

My headlights almost popped out of their sockets once again.

Hey, Georgie, what the hell are you doing? I asked after her as she stormed to the BMW and stabbed the right front tire.

No! What the hell is wrong with you, boys? Tire killers!

But she was not even hearing me–if she could–because unlike Jackie, she didn’t mind the sudden blaring of the alarm. Instead, she walked to the left front tire and stabbed it as well. Next were the back tires.

She climbed inside me and started my engine. It was that same time when Jordan Ledesma ran out of the house, Georgie’s family tagging along.

“Georgina!” her mother, an older version of Georgie, cried out in anger.

“What the hell did you do?!” Jordan Ledesma’s angry voice cried out but Georgie drove off without a word.

“That was Jackie-inspired, Toto,” she told me as we exited the large gates.

I was hoping you wouldn’t say that, I groaned. 

---

Jackie was feeling weird the entire day in the office.

Almost everyone in the office was stealing meaningful glances at her and she had a strong inkling why.

“I know a secret,” Karen said in a sing-song tone.

Jackie snapped her head at her friend. “What do you mean?”

Karen winked at her. “Oh, nothing. It’s just that someone saw you climbing out of boss Dean’s car this morning.”

Jackie opened her mouth to say something only to close it again because she didn’t know what to say.

“Don’t worry about it, girl. It’s not like it is a crime to date the boss,” Karen uttered with a wink.

She chose not to say anything. Instead, she just popped the Coke Dean left on her table that morning. He was out for a meeting with the other big bosses so she spent lunch with Karen and now they were back behind their desks.

When she thought no one was watching, she took out her phone and turned on her data connection.

She would delete Dean’s fake Facebook account right now.

But before she could do that, she saw another message from Brian.

 

You make Jackie cry and I will hunt you down. I don’t care anymore.

I am always watching.

 

If her phone was not worth six months of savings, she would have thrown it across the room. But she had worked hard for it so she chose to think things through.

What should she do now?

Don’t take down the account just yet. Keep tabs on Brian’s threats.

Okay, that was a good argument.

But she had to tell Dean. He had to know so he could make necessary actions. Maybe get Brian fired? After all, the threats were pretty legit.

Decided, Jackie mustered all her courage. She really had to tell him.

---

“What’s wrong?” Dean asked her later that afternoon.

They were walking together to where Beatle was.

Jackie was looking at her phone with a frown. “George is not coming home. She said she’s staying somewhere out-of-town.”

“And that’s unusual?” he asked, unlocking Beatle’s doors.

“No, not really, but she has been acting different lately. I am worried.”

“She might just be going through something she doesn’t want you boys to know,” Dean said once they were inside Beatle.

Jackie looked at him dryly. “You, too?”

He frowned. “Me what?”

“You just called us ‘boys’.”

He shrugged. “It sounds cool. And who doesn’t get carried away with Troy?”

Jackie sighed exasperatedly.

“You told me you are going to tell me something.”

She straightened in her seat. “Yes. And this time, no interruptions.”

“What interruptions?” he asked as he turned on the engine.

“No kissing me while I am trying to say something.”

He snorted. “Then you have to stay away. Stand in one corner of the room.”

“Or at the doorway. You might want me to leave the moment you hear me out.”

He stopped the car just as before they exited the parking lot. “It is that serious?”

Jackie averted her gaze. “Yes. It is about Brian.”

Dean drove Beatle to the side, turned off the engine and unfastened his seatbelt. “Okay, tell me now.”

“What? Here?” She could now picture herself stepping out of Beatle and riding the jeepney home because Dean would definitely not like her revelations.

Dean shrugged. “Why not? What do you want to tell me about?”

Her heart started to hammer once more. “Why don’t we eat first?”

“Jackie,” he said impatiently.

“Just take me home first and then we’ll eat. I promise I’ll tell you about it after that.”

“Okay,” he said after a long moment of silence.

Jackie wanted to punch herself. She should have grabbed the chance. She should have not let fear stop her.

---

They were near the apartment when Jackie received a text message from her mother.

Come by the house as soon as you can.

“Go back,” she said to Dean.

“Jackie, if you are trying to buy some time–”

“No, no, it’s not that. I need to go home.”

“We are heading–”

“I mean my real home. My parents.”

Dean stopped the car. “You mean you want me to drive you to your parents?”

The look on his face almost made Jackie laugh. But he was seriously looking scared that she had to say, “You can just drop me somewhere on your way home. I’ll just come by later your place for that talk.”

He didn’t say anything at first. He was looking anxious but when Jackie was about to open her mouth, he shook his head and said, “No, I will take you there. I just need to change and maybe we can go get something to bring and eat.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “Don’t you think it is too early for you to meet my–”

“Well, it would happen anytime soon. So why not now?” he said and started to head to the direction of his house.

That might not happen soon if you find out about my lies, Jackie said inside her head. She was not sure if taking Dean home was a good idea.

---

Georgie took me to the usual place where she would think, drink and talk to herself.

We were in the middle of a sugarcane plantation, actually. There was a clearing in one of the vast sugarcane plantations just outside Bacolod and I was not even sure if it was okay to go there and park under the big, Nara tree. George sort of accidentally stumbled upon the place and we had been coming here every now and then along with her other secret places.

“I hate this!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. “Fuck everyone!”

That was the first time I heard Georgie get that angry.

Georgie, what’s wrong? Just tell me.

But all she did was kick the grass with her sneakers. Even the trunk of the Nara tree couldn’t run away from her wrath.

Okay, keep calm, Georgie! God, what’s wrong with you, boys?

“I want to get away. I want to disappear. What the hell!” she continued.

Fine, do your thing. Just don’t start kicking me because I am telling you, I might not survive that.

---

Jackie’s parents were cool folks.

They welcomed Dean like he had been a constant visitor.

If someone was shock, it was Jackie.

“I thought there’s a problem?” she said as her mother ushered Dean to the living room.

“What problem?” her dad asked, reading the newspaper. He was already seated at his usual spot in front of the television.

“Ma, you told me to come over as soon as I can. I thought there’s a problem,” Jackie said.

“I just wanted to see you, that’s all. You haven’t visited for weeks now.”

“I have been busy,” she lied.

Dean looked at her with raised eyebrows. She shot him a warning look.

“Hijo, go get us some plates from the kitchen. This food looks delicious,” her mother said to Dean.

“Ma! Dean’s our guest. I’ll go get the plates,” she said, heading to the kitchen.

Dean was fast to jump off the couch and go after her. “It’s okay.”

“Sorry about my parents. They always act like everyone is a family.”

“I like it. No pressure,” he said, watching her as she gathered some plates.

“And they like reading the obituary,” she added grumpily.

“The what?”

“Obituary. They always check if someone they know has passed away. I am serious,” she added when he started laughing.

---

After eating the sotanghon guisado Dean and Jackie brought, the interrogation began.

Dean was back in the hot seat. And it was a sight for Jackie to see him so discomposed.

“How long have you known Jackie?” her dad asked, now looking Dean squarely in the eyes, the paper he was reading earlier was long gone.

“Long time, I guess. We work together.”

“He is my boss,” Jackie answered.

“Really? Can you give her a raise?” her mother asked, returning from the kitchen.

Dean laughed. “I am afraid not.”

“How long have you been dating?” Mr. Ramos asked.

“Not that long,” Jackie answered for Dean. “Weeks.”

Both her parents nodded.

“Where were you born?” her mother asked.

“In the States.”

“And why are you here?”

“I didn’t like it there. I transferred back in the Philippines after high school.”

Jackie was listening intently now. She had never known details such as this from Dean. It surprised her that she didn’t know a lot about him after all.

“How about your parents?”

“My dad is still in the US. My mom passed away when I was in college. No siblings.”

When no questions followed, Jackie finally spoke up. “Done? Over? Are you happy now?”

Mr. Ramos leaned against his chair and asked, “How strong of a drinker are you, Dean?”

Dean looked at Jackie with a smile and his gaze went back to Mr. Ramos. “Not as strong as your daughter, I guess.”

“Well,” Jackie’s dad slapped his hands. “Since I am a bored, retired engineer, I guess we can fix that problem. We have all the time in the world.” He got up and looked down at Dean inquisitively. “Well? Get up.”

“What?” Dean asked, his voice etched with nervousness.

“I can’t carry one case of beer anymore, boy. I’ll need your help.”

“Pa! We have work tomorrow and Dean cannot–”

“Jackie, cook us something good,” her father cut in, not hearing her argument.

---

“Where’s Josie?” she asked her mother.

“Your sister’s having her night shift today. She won’t be home until tomorrow.”

“And why was she not here now?” she asked, looking at her watch.

“She’s with a friend,” her mother waved a hand to brush the topic off. When Jackie didn’t say anything more, her mother leaned against her and whispered, “He is hot, Jackie.”

“What?! Ma!” she cried out. She turned her head to see if Dean heard a word, but it seemed that he was into the conversation he was having with her dad. The four of them were sitting around the garden table in the lawn just outside the house Jackie’s parents owned.

“But I already gave you the sex speech, right?” her mother asked again.

“Ma! Oh God, please, don’t start!”

“Jackie, I am serious. I hope you remember that one.”

“Yes, I can very well remember every word. Now, please, stop that.”

Her mother laughed and joined the two men in their conversation about the music industry.

---

“I hope you’re not drunk,” Jackie said to Dean when her parents finally stood up to retire for the night.

“Of course not,” he said with a smile. He had his baseball cap on and his face was hooded, but his eyes were glistening against the light coming from the lamppost just outside the gates. And he was holding an old, acoustic guitar Jackie’s father owned.

“What’s with the guitar, anyway?” she asked as he strummed the guitar with a tune she couldn’t recognize.

“Your father asked if I could tune it right for him,” he said, turning a knob on the guitar and plucking the string attached to it.

“Can you sing a song?”

“What song?” he asked absentmindedly, his focus on the guitar.

“Something I know.”

“Like what?”

Jackie shrugged. “Something Tagalog?”

Dean looked up to the sky. He appeared to be thinking.

“And then I’ll translate.”

He looked at her incredulously. “What?”

“I will translate it in English. What?” she asked when he just laughed, “We do it all the time with the karaoke.” When he just chuckled and shook his head, she challenged him by saying, “Well, if you can’t do it, that’s fine.”

“I know some Filipino songs,” he contradicted.

“Then let’s try it!”

He arched an eyebrow and Jackie sensed that he was accepting the challenge. “Okay, let’s see the extent of your English vocabulary.”

“Huh! Try me!” she said with confidence, crossing her hand over her chest.

“Okay…” he said as he thought of a song to sing. When he began, Jackie immediately recognized the song. It was one of the songs her father used to sing to her mother when they were young.

“Ipagpatawad mo, aking kapangahasan,” he started in a very soft voice she never thought he had. He raised an eyebrow at her when she didn’t say anything.

“Oh, right, sorry,” she uttered.

“That’s not really the right translation,” he said with a chuckle.

“Please forgive my boldness,”she said with a grimace, thinking the translation was awkward.

Dean just nodded and continued, “Binibini ko, sana’y maintindihan…”

She squinted an eye at him as she said, “My lady, I hope you understand.”

“Alam kong kalian lang tayo nagkatagpo…”

“I know we just met recently,” she said, now trying to sing the translated words.

“Ngunit parang sa ‘yo, ayaw nang lumayo…”

“But from you I no longer want to be apart,” she said smugly, proud that she was able to quickly think of a translation.

“ Ipagpatawad mo, ako ma’y naguguluhan.”

“Forgive me, I, too, am confused.”

“Di ko masisi na ako ay pagtakhan. ‘Di na dapat ako pagtiwalaan.”

“I won’t blame you if you doubt me. You don’t have to trust me.”

Dean was smiling now as he continued to strum the guitar. “Ngunit parang sa ‘yo, ayaw nang lumayo.”

“But from you I no longer want to be apart.”

“Ipagpatawad mo, minahal kita agad.”

Jackie looked at him and the smile they shared was something only the two of them could understand. “Forgive me, I loved you in a flash.”

When her last word registered in his brain, he laughed and reached out to her. Jackie was crushed against his chest as he bent down to plant a big, exaggerated kiss on her forehead.

“Ready to go home?” she asked.

“Just one last tune test and we’ll go,” he answered and went back to his original task. “And you have to tell me something, right?”

Jackie’s smile disappeared. She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah,” she said weakly. She reached out and grabbed a bottle of beer for strength.

***To those who wish to know more on the English translation of the song I featured, you can check out the external link. That one is the original version, but the video on the side is by Noel Cabangon, whose version of the song I like best. :) P.S. Jackie’s translation is fully my own. :)

Chapter 27

If I may have my say, I could definitely make a full report on the boys without any bias.

I could say they were crazy, stupid and crazy. Did I already say crazy?

I would also add all synonyms of the word, but that would be a long list. Their names would be included, of course, because they were the perfect puns.

That night, when Georgie drove me somewhere out of town so she could continue cussing and word-murdering Jordan Ledesma and her family, I knew I was about to die. I was almost certain I was at the end of my mileage years.

So this was what happened:

We were driving through the winding road of Don Salvador (please, don’t ask how she came up with the idea to go there) when we almost ran over a cliff. Seriously, I had volunteered myself to run over Brian off a cliff back in Campuestohan, but I was not really serious. Do you get what I mean?

Good thing I had great breaks. Georgie could have been trying a drift technique on a huge bend and failed so we kind of turned a hundred and eighty degrees, my skid marks clearly visible on the road. If it were not for her fast reflexes and my well-maintained breaks, one of the very few things the boys made sure I had on that was working, I would now be drinking the best diesel gas in a gas tank made of glass with Volkswagen, my creator.

But fate had stored more crazy things for me to experience and it spared us both.

Georgie was breathing so fast and neither of us said anything for almost thirty minutes. No other vehicles passed by during that length of time and we were left in the middle of the road doing nothing, trying to convince ourselves that we were alive.

“Something has to be done,” was all Georgie said after a while.

Yeah, right. Sell me to someone who is not crazy. Please, I beg you!

---

Jackie felt lightheaded when they left her parents’ home.

“I should probably take you back to the apartment. We can have that talk tomorrow,” Dean told her.

She shook her head twice and regretted it. The dizziness got worse. “No,” she said, swallowing hard. “I need to say what I have to say before any other distractions or delays happen.”

Dean glanced at her direction and nodded. “Okay. We’ll talk at my place.”

She groaned.

“There’s something wrong with my place?”

“No, it’s just that I don’t want to step inside your place if we are going to talk about what we are going to talk about.” She could hear her speech slurring but she could still comprehend everything. “And don’t tell me I am drunk. I am not. Just a little tipsy.”

“Then where do you want to talk, Jackie?”

“Let’s go get some coffee first.”

He took a breath and let it out slowly, making her aware that he was trying to be patient. “Okay. But you have to make up your mind after that. Because in my own point of view, you are not even sure if you want to tell me whatever it is. You’ve been trying to delay everything. You say you want to talk and then the next moment, something happens.”

“No, this time, we are going to have that talk. Just get me my coffee first.”

---

“Why did you move out of your home?” Dean asked as a while later as Jackie finished her coffee. They dropped by a convenience store, the only place open during that time and ordered a coffee on the go.

“I wanted to become independent. And the apartment is really near Collins Corps.”

He nodded and silence reigned between them again. Jackie grimaced at her coffee.

“I think I am done. This coffee is not that good.”

“At least it worked. Ready for that talk?” Dean raised an eyebrow in question.

Jackie sighed. She looked out the window. They parked just outside the apartment.

“You want to talk inside?”

She shook her head. “No, Dannie is inside.”

“Well, then, by all means, do tell me what it is,” he said, shifting in his seat behind the steering wheel to face her.

Jackie swallowed. For a moment she was distracted when she saw Jam walking out of his apartment, smoking a cigarette.

When Jackie returned her gaze to Dean, he was eyeing her with patience. She was aware that he was almost forcing it, but she couldn’t help it. She was scared with his possible reaction.

But she had to do it for his sake and for her own peace of mind.

Clearing her throat, she started, “I am actually going to confess something.”

She saw a slight twitch in his eyebrows. He was about to frown but he stopped himself. He didn’t say anything but fixed her with his gentle gaze.

“I told you about how Brian has been bothering me ever since, right?”

This time, his brows furrowed as he nodded. “Yes.”

“And the first time I did, you didn’t do anything.”

“Jackie–”

“No, no, it is okay. I understand now. You were doing your job and you didn’t care about me that time. You must have thought it was just nothing, but I was desperate that day. I never got any proper sleep and my phone won’t stop ringing, the works.”

He opened his mouth to speak but she held up her hand. “And I tried going to the police. I went to the barangay. I opted for a restraining order but they told me I was not physically harmed to even file for one. A barangay protection order was a good idea but it would only last for a few weeks. I was that desperate. And then a solution presented itself.”

She paused to take a breath and to steady her heart which was beating fast and strong against her chest.

“Jackie?” Dean said in a whisper when she didn’t continue.

Her eyes blinked, shocked to realize she had been gazing. “So, yeah,” she continued, “a solution presented itself and I didn’t even think twice when I thought of it.” She looked at him guiltily and then looked away, afraid that the next thing she was going to tell him would either make or break what they had.

“What solution?”

She looked him in the eyes. “You.”

Dean’s frown returned. “Me?”

Jackie nodded and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Yes, you. I don’t know how to put this…”

He didn’t say anything. He waited until she gathered all the strength left in her system.

“I hated you back then, you see. I hated you more especially after you refused to do anything when I told you about Brian. You didn’t care about anything but how I did my work. And so, when I noticed how Brian would cower in your presence, I decided to use you.”

“Use me?” Etch of bitterness was transparent in his words and Jackie almost pushed the car door open and climb out.

“No, not you. I don’t know how to put it, but I will try to explain the best way I can so you would not throw me out the car before I even finished,” she blabbered. When he didn’t say a word, she went on, “I made a Facebook account with your name so I could show Brian we are in a relationship.” She said the words as if they were tightly woven together. In fact, she said it too rapidly that it took Dean a moment to finally give a reaction.

And it was the reaction she feared.

“You did what?” he asked incredulously, leaning away from her. His face was full of disbelief and…something else. Jackie thought it was disgust, but she hated to think so. Her hands reached out for him but he leaned further away and she dropped them on her lap in defeat.

“I was desperate. And it worked for a time. It did and I felt the safest then.”

“What else did you do, Jackie? Huh?” he asked, his voice turning ice cold with every word that she flinched, pressing close against the back of her seat.

This was the Dean she had feared a long time ago; the Dean everyone was afraid of; the Dean behind the Devil’s Room; the Dean before everything became alright. Jackie felt the tears coming and she didn’t make an effort to stop them. She was thankful for the darkness though because she hated the thought of Dean thinking she was crying to get his sympathy.

“I asked,” she choked, cleared her throat and continued, “I asked Troy to take pictures of us together in secret so I could make your account appear real. Dean, I am sorry that I–”

“All this time you’ve been doing that–”

“No! We even forgot about it when we started hanging out with you guys! I was planning tell you. I planned to take down the account but–”

“But what?” his voice rose higher. “You thought it is getting more convenient now that I decided to pursue you?”

“No,” she said faintly. “Brian started to–”

“And it is still because of that jerk, isn’t it? You could have just told me and I would have done something. Do you know what I think about what you did? About everything?”

No, she didn’t. She didn’t want to know what he thought because she was not certain if she could handle the impact. She desperately wanted him to understand–to be the normal rational Dean.

But right now, he was angry. He was not thinking straight.

She understood that very well because everything she had done when she started her plan was caused by her own anger as well.

“Everything you did was just to protect yourself, Jackie. Everything from the moment you made that account was for your own convenience. But you could have done things the right way,” Dean bit out in the deadly silence.

“Dean, this is why I am telling you the truth right now! I don’t want this thing to come between us and–”

“That will be hard to manage at the moment, Jackie, not after what you told me,” Dean cut in. He looked her in the eyes, his expression grim. “I am trying to understand why you’ve done what you’ve done, but I can’t, not after everything we did together. It seems like everything was part of your plan as well.” She saw his jaw clench as he looked away.

“But what I feel for you is real! It is real! Dean, you have to at least believe that!”

Dean scoffed bitterly as he shook his head. Brushing his fingers through his hair, he returned his gaze to Jackie. “I am not actually sure which point of our relationship did everything feel real for you, Jackie. I can’t help thinking if I could make myself believe you again if we continue with what we have right now. I would constantly wonder when and which moments were you real.”

Jackie was not able to hear everything he said. Her mind stopped working after she heard the words, ‘if we continue with what we have right now’.

It only meant one thing: he was not thinking about moving on with her.

She should tell him about Brian’s threats, but she was not going to do that. At his state right now, he would only think she told him the truth because of it. It would only make things worse.

“Are there more lies you want to tell me about?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm. He reached over the dashboard and grabbed his baseball cap. He put it on and turned his gaze back at Jackie. “I have somewhere else to go to.”

She didn’t know why but anger suddenly surged up inside her. It took a lot of courage for her to tell him the truth. She risked having their relationship ruined because of it and he reacted just the way the old Dean she knew would: Heartlessly.

If it was wrong to feel anger, then she would be willing to sacrifice a picnic in heaven because anger was the only thing that was keeping her from begging and making a fool of herself in front of him.

The tension between them had long intensified, spreading in the air around them.

It was suffocating for her. She could barely breathe.

With her hands shaking, she shouldered her bag and opened the car door. Before stepping out, she looked over her shoulder at Dean. “It was on that day you gave me your Coke.” She didn’t care that her voice was shaking with each word.

For a moment, he frowned under the hood of his cap. “What?” he asked without looking at her. His hand was ready to turn the key on the ignition.

“It was the moment that everything started to get real for me,” she answered before climbing out of the car. Keeping it open, she bent down and said her final words. “And I have been certain up to this moment that I am this close,” she lifted her hand and showed him her fingers as if she was holding a grain of rice between her forefinger and thumb, “this close, to actually believing I could love you if I already don’t. And you just snatched away the chance for me to figure that out. But don’t worry, Dean, I won’t throw myself at someone who obviously doesn’t want the whole of me–both the good, sweet Jackie and the crazy, stupid and impulsive one.” She almost choked with each word, but she wanted to let them out– all of it. Jackie didn’t wait for a reaction from him and slammed the door close behind her as she walked away.

She walked to the apartment without looking back.

She heard Jam call out her name from next door but she didn’t turn. She focused all her energy on her wobbling knees and the most difficult task at hand: Reach the door and get the hell inside to cry her heart out.

Chapter 28

Jackie spent a few seconds outside the apartment door, her senses barely working as she struggled with the tears. Dean had not driven off yet because she could still hear Beatle’s engine.

There was only one key but why wouldn’t it work?

“Shit!” she shouted when it fell off the ground. She did not dare turn around because she could still feel Jam’s presence and he was looking at her, probably wondering what the hell was wrong.

And Dean was still there, probably still assessing her speech or maybe acting as a gentleman that he was and waiting for her to finally get inside.

But her key is not working.

She stomped on it as a tear fell off her eyes. “Stupid key!”

She straightened and faced the door again. “Dannie!” She banged on it with her palms. “Dannie!”

As she bent down to grab her key from the ground, the door opened. She hastily wiped her eyes.

“What’s wrong with you?” Dannie asked at the same time Jackie heard Dean drive Beatle away.

“Nothing,” she murmured, stood up and entered the apartment.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” Dannie asked behind her.

“Yeah,” she answered, heading straight to the kitchen to get a glass of water, throwing the key and her bag on the carpet along the way.

She poured herself a cold one and as she drank, she saw Dannie looking at her with curiosity from the corner of her eye. And then her shoulders started shaking, her lips closed and the water started spilling down her chin, dripping on her clothes.

“Oh, God, Jackie,” Dannie softly said, taking the glass from her and setting it on the table as Jackie started to slump on the floor, crying her heart out.  Her friend joined her on the floor. “What happened?”

“I told him everything,” Jackie said between sobs. “I told him the truth and he didn’t understand! That moron! That heartless bastard! I hate him!”

Dannie was silent. She stayed with her at the kitchen floor, caressing her back as she cried.

A while later, Jackie was crying without tears.

“I won’t have the chance to see his tattoo.”

“What?” Dannie appeared to be lost.

“He has one. Just below his collarbone. I won’t get the chance to see it!” And then she started crying once more.

---

They were now in the living room, Jackie’s head lying on Dannie’s lap.

“And I can no longer go to Art. I cannot see him play again.”

“You can always wear your stupid disguises,” Dannie tried to jest.

“And I won’t get to hear him sing again!” she cried out.

“He doesn’t really sing well.”

“I can’t wear his cap anymore. It smells nice.”

“We’ll get you one.”

“Toto will miss him.”

“Toto doesn’t like men.”

“I will miss him.”

“It will pass.”

---

“You should take a bath,” Dannie ordered.

“I want to drown. Then you call him. Tell him I am dying.”

“You are not thinking straight. Go take a bath and let’s eat.”

“I already ate. With him and my parents. I can’t believe I took him home! The bastard!”

“He will come around, Jackie. I know he will.”

“He will come around when I am dead. I should probably go.”

“What?”

“Away. Far away. I want to escape.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Of course, I can. I can resign! Then I will go away.”

“Do you have the budget?”

“I…that’s the problem. But I should resign. I will hand in my resignation tomorrow.”

“You should think about this for a few days, Jackie. You cannot just be too impulsive about this.”

“It will solve everything. I can stay away from Brian. And I can get away from Dean. I no longer have to see that stupid vending machine again!”

Dannie just looked at her blankly, letting her pour out everything.

“But he had always given me his Coke. Who will he give it to when I am gone, huh? Who?” When Dannie didn’t answer, Jackie slowly turned around. “I’ll go get that bath.”

“Don’t lock the bathroom.”

---

“He’s not going to fire me, is he?” she asked later as she ate a spoonful of ice cream.

“That would be very unprofessional.”

“He will not give me a hard time in the office, right?”

“That would be unethical if he would.”

“Dannie, what do I do?”

“You’ll have to face it,” her friend answered, looking her squarely in the eyes. “This was your decision from the very beginning, remember? You knew there would be consequences. Face them as you faced the great things that came your way when you went on with your plan.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“You can. You have always managed.”

---

The following day, Georgie and I were back. And she went directly to her room to sleep because she never got any.

Jackie drove me to work.

Your eyes are puffy, Jackie girl. What’s wrong? I asked dryly. I was getting annoyed with all the drama. Had anyone ever noticed that my tires had a few burns? I almost died and no one noticed that?

Like always, they were too busy with their own problems and  I had to act like the good car that I was. Tell me, did Karma, my best friend, hit you back? Did she pay a visit? I told you she’d come sooner or later.

I was not actually surprised that Dean got angry. The guy had every right to be angry, but I also understood Jackie–why she did all those things.

She was too desperate to make the right decisions that time. And Dean had been making things harder for her. Of course, he was the best solution to her problem.

But no one could deny that fact that it was a crazy plan and it was bound to crash.

And it did.

Hard.

Dannie tried to reassure Jackie that things would be alright before she climbed off me.

Jackie girl, you have to be strong. Stop crying, I told her when she started crying again the moment we left Dannie’s school.

I think you need to retouch, girl, I told her when we finally arrived at Collins Corporations. Beatle was already there.

Hey, buddy, is your boss really that angry?

It said yes.

Oh, poor Jackie girl. You definitely need a retouch. He is still not in the mood for you, I told her as she opened her bag and looked at herself in the mirror. She applied something under her eyes and then put on some lipstick. She loosened her hair and tried to hide most of her face with it.

Your face looks like a window with black curtains at the sides, but that is better.

She finally climbed down after a few relaxing breath.

Go, Jackie girl!! It is okay to come back crying later!

---

Jackie felt that her luck ran out after last night when she entered the building because the first person she saw was Brian himself.

He did not run toward her like he normal would in the past.

And that was what gave her the creep.

He just stared at her and smiled when she approached the elevator.

“Morning,” he said.

Jackie nodded, feeling the fear she felt inside slowly ebb down.

Maybe Brian finally realized that it was better to leave her alone and start acting like a normal person.

“After you,” he said when the doors opened.

Jackie stepped inside and he followed. Another employee caught up and the three of them shared the ride in silence.

“’Bye,” Brian said with a smile when the doors opened on his floor.

Jackie returned his smile just a little.

She let out her breath when the doors closed again. Whatever she did might have worked after all.

Just as when she was feeling good about her luck not turning on her, it all went away when she stepped inside the office. Everyone was silent. Not the normal silence, but the tense silence.

Slowly, Jackie walked to her desk.

“What happened?” she whispered to Karen.

“He is not in a good mood,” her friend hissed. “Go to work immediately.”

“Why?” Of course, she didn’t have to ask the question, but she wanted to know what happened.

“How do we know? Did you dump him?”

Jackie’s eyes widened. Did her officemates think that way of her and Dean? Yeah, sure, there were rumors, but she never expected they would have already went all up to such conclusion. “What?”

“Never mind. He entered the office just a few minutes ago with the look. The monster look.”

Jackie understood what Karen meant and did not ask further.

She knew Dean was back to his old office personality.

---

Jackie was standing by the vending machine after lunch, her brows knitted together in a frown.

Dean was not around in the cafeteria. And Karen was even surprised that she joined her for lunch.

She wondered where he went or how he spent his lunch time as she inserted her coins in the machine. She punched the blue button and received a blue can in return.

“Stupid!” she growled at the machine and kicked it with her toe. “Stupid!” she added, giving it another kick. She followed the second one with three more.

And that was when the elevator doors opened.

And out came Dean Gamboa himself.

Time seemed to have stopped when their eyes met. Jackie’s right leg was bent backward for one last kick and Dean seemed to have caught himself in a sticky pile of mud that for a few seconds he was stuck.

Jackie could feel all eyes looking at them from behind. She was aware that everyone was watching her and Dean, thirsty for information so they could finally prove that it was Jackie who was causing Dean’s foul mood that morning.

And then the clock started ticking and he walked away without saying a word. He tore his gaze from hers as if he thought he saw a familiar face and then decided it was not important and looked away without second thoughts.

Jackie was almost ready to release all fury and throw the blue can of Pepsi, right at the back of his head. But she was never good at darts. Sparing herself from a possible blooper alert, she dragged her feet back to her desk and continued with her work.

---

Dean left early, right after the clock struck four.

He walked by her desk in a rush.

Jackie couldn’t hold her tears so she went to the powder room and locked herself in and cried.

She emerged looking fresh with her eyes all puffy, but thanks to her hair, she was able to hide the evidence of her tears.

“I need to go home,” she said to Karen.

Her friend just looked at her and nodded.

She didn’t care if everyone was already of conclusion that she and Dean were not in good terms.

All she wanted to do right now was grab a beer and get drunk.

---

“Well, you started it, Jackie,” Troy told her.

“You don’t have to tell me that. I know it is my entire fault!” she shouted at him.

“And you are obviously drunk,” Miguel added.

“True, but don’t worry. We’re here. We’ll take you home,” Lee reassured her. “So let’s get you another bottle.”

“You are my true friends! And I love you!” she cried out, wiping a tear before it fell from her eye.

“No, not really, but your true friends are coming,” Troy said, looking at his phone.

Jackie looked at him with accusation. “You texted Dannie, didn’t you?”

“You are getting drunk, Jackie. You might need the rest of the boys here.”

“And I think George is on her way,” Lee uttered. “Someone needs to drive Toto later.”

“I hate you! The three of you!”

“You just told us you love us a few seconds ago,” Troy reminded her.

“I take it back. I am not capable of love at the moment. I want to cry. Can I cry?”

She saw her three friends look at each other dryly.

“Cry your heart out, stupid,” Troy told her, patting her shoulder. “But be sure never to cry over him again in front of us. We might just do something.”

“You just said it was my fault.”

“But he should have understood, Jackie. And if he wouldn’t come to his senses soon, and if you are still crying over him the next time I see you, I will definitely do something.”

“Even if it means we’re going to lose Nikki in the process,” said Miguel with regret.

“That would be hard, but we will sacrifice that for you,” Lee seconded.

“You are the best guy friends ever! I love you!” Jackie said, sobbing.

---

When Dannie and George arrived later that afternoon, Jackie was already sleeping with her head resting on Troy’s shoulder.

“I told you not to let her drink!” Dannie shot at Troy.

“She needed it!” Troy explained. “We guys deal with this problem in a different way. We didn’t know what to do when she started crying. And we noticed the alcohol helped.”

“I want to go home,” Jackie murmured, her lips barely moving.

“Okay, go get her to Toto,” Jackie heard George order the three men. “I am driving.”

---

I hated that afternoon.

Jackie was so drunk we had to stop beside the road so she could puke out whatever she drank earlier.

Keep it clean, boys, keep it clean!

Tata was right behind us and Troy got out, his face worried.

“Is she okay?”

“She would be perfectly fine if you did not give her any drinks,” Dannie shot at him.

Troy just stood there, joined by Miguel and Lee who looked equally worried.

“Do you think we should get her to a hospital?” Miguel asked.

“No, I am fine!” Jackie tried to shout.

Dannie was holding her hair for her as she poked her head out of the window.

Georgie waited patiently, preparing some wet tissues.

When it was all over, we drove back home with Troy, Miguel and Lee tailing us.

This is getting old, boys. All this drama has to stop soon. It will, right?

---

Jackie woke up late and was surprised to find out that Dannie and Georgie were gone.

“Where the hell are you? Why didn’t you wake me up?” she asked them through their voice chat group.

“We are at work. We asked you earlier if you are going to work and you told us you are not ever going back,” George answered.

“You said you will burn Collins Corporations to pieces,” Dannie answered.

“I am late! I have to go now!”

She rushed to the bathroom, took a quick bath and went out without wearing any makeup or doing any of her routine stuff. She climbed on a jeepney and fought with the driver to go faster.

When she reached the floor, everyone looked up from their work and by the look on their faces she figured she looked like someone who spent the whole night in the eye of a tornado.

“What happened to you?” asked Karen, her mouth agape.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Boss Dean looked for you.”

Jackie’s hope surged up but when she saw Karen’s face, her shoulders dropped.

“He seemed really pissed when he didn’t see you behind your desk when working hours started.”

“I had a rough night,” she murmured. And it was not like it was illegal to be late, right? They would just deduct the missed hours from her pay.

“And just before you came in, he walked out of his office and looked even more pissed when he saw the same empty chair.”

“Well, I am here now, aren’t I? What does he want anyway?” Jackie was starting to get irritated as well. Her head was aching, she looked like a mess, and everyone in the office was acting like she was getting into trouble. Well, then, let ‘trouble’ come because she had enough of it! If Dean was not willing to talk to her after almost three days now, then it was his problem.

Did it really have to take him that long to figure out what he wanted to do? Or was he even planning to talk to her at all?

“He didn’t say,” Karen answered.

“Well, then, I will ask him myself!” she stated, standing up to full height.

As she made her way to the Devil’s Room, she was not thinking about her frizzy hair, her lack of makeup or her puffy eyes.

Without knocking, she opened the door and stopped. Sitting behind his desk was Dean, his face calm and handsome as she last saw it. His hair was perfectly brushed up, his clothes clean.

And she looked like a mess.

And it was all because of him.

He looked up and she didn’t even see any reaction on his face but shock upon seeing her standing by his doorway.

“You were looking for me?” she asked before he could open his mouth. “Sir?” she added awkwardly and sarcastically.

A frown formed on his face. “You’re late.”

“I stayed up late doing personal things,” she answered in the flattest tone she could muster. If he could act cool and cold, so could she. “But I know you would not understand that, of course. It won’t happen again.”

His mouth opened but he did not say anything. He closed it again. “It won’t?” he asked and Jackie thought he saw a glint of amusement flash across his face before he took over and had it controlled.

“Yes,” Jackie uttered, lifting her chin before she continued, “because I am handing my resignation tomorrow.”

That obviously shocked him because he stood up, his hands resting on his desk. He looked angry and irritated. “Jackie–”

“I just realized I cannot work with you anymore. And it is not just you. There are a lot of reasons why I can’t stay here. So don’t think it is just because of you…sir. I need more time for myself. I need to learn how to forgive myself for what I have done because if I cannot do that, I don’t think I will ever understand why you can never forgive me,” she said, looking him in the eyes. “So,” she forced a smile on her face. “Expect a resignation from me tomorrow morning, sir,” she finished, stepped back and closed the door.

She could not move when she started to turn around to walk back to her desk. It seemed that all her energy was wasted on that speech. But she was glad she had said it. It was an impulsive decision for her–again–but she thought it was a right one.

A small part of her wished that the door behind her would burst open and Dean would drag her inside the Devil’s Room and make up with her. But that was not possible. Five seconds passed, ten seconds…and she started to move.

She walked to her computer and started working on her resignation letter.

---

Dean went home early, they said.

Jackie was just returning from her afternoon break with Karen when Joseph told them Dean took the rest of the day off early.

At first, she thought she may have been the reason for that, but then she realized he would have done something earlier if he really wanted her back or if he even wanted to fix whatever they had.

“I think you did a stupid thing,” Karen told her later.

“I am doing the right thing, trust me,” she said as she continued to stare at the blank document on her computer.

“Aren’t you going home? You can do that tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “I have to finish this. I have to hand it in tomorrow.”

Karen sighed and stood up. “Well, then, see you tomorrow.”

Jackie texted George that she needed Toto when Karen left.

Why? George asked.

Because I need to carry some stuff. It is okay if you need him, though.

No, it’s fine. I am going somewhere anyway. I will have a ride. Will drop Toto in a few minutes. You have your keys?

Yes, thanks!

Okay, so Toto would be delivered any minute. One problem solved.

She printed her resignation paper and locked it inside her drawer. She emptied her desk and threw all her personal stuff inside a box she found inside Dean’s office. Well, yes, of course, if she was leaving, she would at least steal something from the Devil’s Room!

Since she had a lot of things, she left the unimportant ones behind to bring tomorrow. She had to exit the office with grace, after all.

Everyone else was gone and she just realized that she was alone again.

In the quiet atmosphere, Jackie felt a lot of emotions surging inside her. She had had a lot of memories on this floor. She had shared secrets, rumors and a lot of other good and bad things with the people she worked with. And with Dean.

She was crying by the time she entered the elevator.

Did she make the right decision?

She was doubting her own judgment when she remembered the very words she spoke to Dean. Yes, she needed this. She needed some time to be alone and think things through. She had to start by forgiving herself and she could not do that if she would see Dean every day and be reminded of the stupid things she had done and what she had lost in the process.

---

Jackie was approaching me carrying a big box.

Jackie girl, what the hell is that–wait, are you crying?

Okay, tell me what’s going on, girl!

But she did not say a word. She placed the box on my hood and fished for her key.

When Georgie dropped me here this afternoon, I knew something was up. I knew that something other than Jackie was boarding me and it seemed that it was a big box of grief and heartache.

Come on, girl, please don’t cry. I can’t take it when you cry like this–

My speech was cut off when I noticed a car slowing down before us.

Oh, oh.

Brian.

Brian.

Jackie girl, I don’t feel good about this!

But Jackie was too busy looking for the key in her bag to even notice that Brian had climbed out of his ugly gray Toyota.

“Jackie,” Brian said, his voice creepier than ever.

Startled, Jackie jumped.

“Brian! You scared me!” she uttered, wiping her face with the back of her hand.

I looked around. There was no one around. There were a few cars, but no other people. I really felt something bad was about to happen.

“Are you okay?” Brian asked, peeking at Jackie’s face.

“I am fine.”

His eyes travelled to the box. “I heard you are resigning. Is that true?”

“I wanted a new environment. I need to go–”

“Is it because of him?” His voice had turned a hundred-eighty degrees colder. And Jackie noticed it too because she looked up at him, her eyes fearful.

“No, of course not. I just need to settle some stuff–”

“I knew he would hurt you, Jackie. I warned him. I told him to never hurt you or make you cry. And he didn’t listen to me. And now I am left with no choice.”

“What do you mean, Brian?” Jackie asked, completely alarmed.

If I had any hands, I would have grabbed Georgie’s black tool bag, take the knife out and threaten the guy to back off. But I couldn’t do anything but watch and listen.

Brian’s eyes were dark behind his glasses, his gaze devouring Jackie like a hungry wolf. “I have no choice but take care of you myself, Jackie.”

Jackie took a step back in alarm. “Don’t come near me, Brian. Don’t!”

“I knew from the very start that I am the one for you, Jackie. I can take care of you like that guy can’t. Like how your previous, gay boyfriend can’t. I can be the man that you had always wanted,” he said, his voice growing more desperate and crazier at the same time.

“If you take one more step, I will shout!” Jackie warned.

“I will take good care of you, Jackie,” Brian said, not hearing her, probably lost in the labyrinth of his own, insane mind.

Someone help! We’re in trouble here! Oh, God, if I could just transform into a giant robot, I would! Jackie, run!

And it seemed that she heard me because that was what she did. She ran as Brian took a step forward. And she started to shout.

But surprisingly, the man was fast and strong. He was driven by his own desire and craziness that he was able to cover Jackie’s mouth with one hand while his other held her close to him. He lifted her up and carried her to his ugly gray Toyota.

Where are you taking her? Hey! Brian!

Jackie was screaming through his hand. She tried to bite him but he slapped her hard that she fell unconscious, falling limp around Brian’s arms.

“I am sorry, Jackie,” the guy grunted as he dragged Jackie girl to the front seat of his ugly gray Toyota.

You will pay for this, I swear, you bastard! I will make you pay!

I shouted with all my might as he drove away with Jackie unconsciously strapped in the front seat.

I was left alone under my acacia tree and everything else seemed normal except Jackie’s box on my hood, her bag and the key on the ground.

Everything was back to quiet and no one noticed what happened.

No one else knew Jackie got freaking kidnapped by one, crazy man!

Chapter 29

I was cursing all the gods of all vehicles and even the boys for not giving me a freaking alarm. If they could install Siri or S Voice into smartphones, why couldn’t I have one? Why?!

What I felt that night was not something I wanted to experience again. I felt like I was in outer space floating around in an endless space of zero gravity. I could have strained all tubes, wires and leathers in me, but I didn’t move an inch. I couldn’t move an inch–or even a centimeter for that matter.

Georgie! Get your ass down here now and let’s go kill some sick, lanky HR personnel! I swear I would drive him down a cliff soon. I swear in the name of all Volkswagens, I would kill that guy if he as much as lay one finger on Jackie. I swear I would kill him to the point that hell would not even give him an admission pass.

Georgie! Dannie! Where the hell are you! Jackie is in trouble! Big, big trouble!

Shit!

No one was listening, no one even cared that a yellow Beetle Volkswagen was standing under a stupid acacia tree with a box on its hood and an orange bag just right beside the door. If everyone thought it was normal then I must have went through some portal and arrived in some weird dimensional world.

Shit! Jackie girl, hang in there. Be tough, girl!

---

Jackie stirred from the sudden bump she felt.

Feeling a slight ache at her temple, she groaned.

If she was having a hangover, it was the worse because she couldn’t see a thing when she tried to open her eyes. They found it hard to focus when everything else seemed to be moving.

But wait.

She was moving.

Her hand went to her aching temple and realized that her face stung as well.

This is not hangover, she thought.

Little by little, piece by piece, she remembered everything.

Dean. The resignation letter. The box. Toto.

Her brows furrowed into a frown when Brian’s face flashed across her mind.

Brian!

“Don’t panic, Jackie, it’s just me,” that creepy voice said beside her.

Her eyes widened. She heard herself gasp in fear and alarm.

Jumping on her seat, she realized she was strapped against it.

She looked around, trying to adjust her vision. She was inside his car.

“Brian!” she cried out. “Where are you taking me? Stop the car!”

“And then what, Jackie? You’re going back to that stupid car of yours and drive yourself to your jerk of a boss? There is no way I am going to let that happen. I warned him never to make you cry.”

“He didn’t make me–”

“Don’t defend him. I’ve seen how he had been treating you for the past few days. And you’ve suffered enough.”

Something in his eyes, as he threw her a fast glance, told Jackie that she was in real danger.

She was familiar of the route he was taking. They just passed by a familiar road, but if he was taking her to his home, she was not sure anyone would find her. Bacolod didn’t even have traffic cameras.

For all she knew, no one was aware she had been kidnapped.

The only witness she had was Toto who couldn’t even do anything for her.

Jackie realized that she was on her own.

Oh God, this might just be that moment I was telling the police about. Maybe this will be the night that will make it possible for me to file for a restraining order. If I don’t end up dead, that is.

 

---

The thought that I had been standing in the dark for almost an hour now was just irrevocably frustrating. Hundreds of thoughts had already passed by my diesel-powered brain.

I had rescued Jackie in different ways, one of them with me transforming into some sort of robot.

I had killed Brian in countless ways, one of them running over him, keeping him in my trunk and then driving him away to be buried in a dumpsite outside of town. I was very ready to give him a taste of his own medicine, and no it was not Haloperidol or any other antipsychotic drugs. It was one with ETERNAL effects. Yes, that was caps-locked because I meant it from the bottom of my engine.

I had thought of numerous scenarios, but none of them involved Jackie getting hurt or worse, killed.

Jackie’s phone had been playing the Gone, Gone, Gone ringtone three times now. Whoever the caller was, I prayed he or she would get an idea that something was wrong.

If someone could just come and–.

Wait, I think I am seeing Beatle.

Oh my God, yes, it is him! Hey! Buddy! Hey! Tell Dean his stupid, crazy, almost-girlfriend just got kidnapped and she needs help! Please!

Beatle told me to calm down as Dean, in his shirt and pants and baseball cap, climbed out of the car.

Beatle told me they went to the boys’ apartment earlier but only Dannie was there and she had not seen Jackie. They had been trying to reach her, it said.

Well, how could you? She had been kidnapped! Shit, what do we do, man?

But his stupid owner just looked at me for a second and then walked away toward the main building.

Hey! Dean! What the hell! Where are you going? Didn’t you see the box? The bag? Are you crazy? Hey! Come back here! We don’t have much time!

Beatle asked what happened and I told the tale like it was a dream I was about to forget. Oh Lord, I really wished it was just a bad dream. But it was not. It was really happening and the only person capable of doing something was so stupid to just give me a quick glance and then run to that building. That moron!

---

Jackie felt the dizziness slowly ebb down as they continued to drive. Her hope started to go down with it when Brian turned a corner she couldn’t recognize.

“Where are you taking me? Just let me out, Brian. I won’t tell anyone. Just let me go,” she begged. She tried to open the car but it seemed that his car had a child lock. She couldn’t open it.

She rolled down the window but he quickly pushed the button to roll it back on top before she could even shout.

“Behave, Jackie. You never listened to me and that’s the problem,” he said, his voice etched with irritation. “If you did, we wouldn’t be in this situation. But that will change now. From now on, you will listen to what I have to say and I say you stay put and behave.”

“Brian, I swear I will not–”

“Shut up, Jackie! I say, shut up!” he shouted, shocking her. “God that felt good,” he said with a satisfied smile.

The hair on Jackie’s arms and nape rose up, giving her a shiver she only experienced with scary movies.

Brian was definitely sick. She never seriously thought he could do something as stupid as this, but now she realized she should have been more wary. She should have paid more attention to the signs. Surely there were a lot of them. In short, she should have taken his stalking seriously.

“Where are we?” she asked when he pulled the car outside a building.

“My place,” he said with a sneer. “We are going out. And no shouting, Jackie, unless you want me to use this,” he warned, taking out a small knife from the dashboard.

Jackie’s eyes widened. “Brian,” she said, her voice shaking. “Please.” Her eyes were now pooling with tears. God, she hoped they would work their magic.

“Stop crying, Jackie. I hate it when you cry.” He climbed out and ran to her side and opened the door. “Now, climb out and don’t you dare say a word,” he whispered before he stepped aside to let her pass. As Jackie worked with her seatbelt, dozens of thoughts ran through her mind.

She could kick him in the groin and run as fast as she could. But where would she go? Where? She could take his car, but he might recover fast and things could go really wrong before she could even start the engine.

She had to find a different way to escape or call for help later. For now, she had to do what he wanted. For the first time, maybe she had to satisfy his desires.

Gain his trust.

“Good girl, Jackie,” he said with a sneer as she climbed out with her shaky legs.

He led her to the stairs that led to the third floor of the building. They turned right and as they walked, Jackie searched the place for anyone to give a signal to for help. But it seemed that the place was empty. She did not see a single shadow lurking around the hallway. They stopped by a door and Brian opened it with one hand while the other held her arm in a firm grasp.

“Welcome home, Jackie,” he uttered in that creepy way of his.

---

Beatle was telling me to calm down when I saw Dean walking back to us, his face both worried and confused. He walked directly to me, holding his phone against his ear.

I hope you are calling the SWAT, Dean, because we need them. Or the entire freaking Philippine Army!

“Hey, it’s me, Dean, I just want to ask–” his words were cut off as he took his phone a few inches away from his ear with a small cringe on his face.

I bet someone’s shouting at you for being so stupid, I told him.

“George, wait, I know what I did. Can you stop yelling? Look–”

And he moved his phone away again as another series of shouts burst from the other line.

Oh, Georgie, I know you are angry, but listen to the guy first!

“Yes, I get it that you are angry, but can you listen to me for one second? I can’t find Jackie. Do you know where she is?”

She was kidnapped, you moron!

“She’s still here? I didn’t see her. Maybe we missed each other. I’ll just wait for her here, I guess,” he uttered. “Okay, fine, I’ll call you. Yes, I will not make her cry. Yes, I believe you will kill me. Yes, I know. Yes, yes.”

He heaved a sigh of relief when the call disconnected. He turned around and started pacing. And then he started talking.

“I am sorry,” he started, walking back and forth, his hands on his hips, his head bent. “I’m sorry, Jackie,” he repeated in a different tone.

What the hell? Hey, stupid! Yohoo! Just take a few seconds to look at me! Look at the box! See the bag on the ground? Hey! You won’t be able to say those words if she ends up dead, you dimwit!

But no one was hearing me except Beatle and some other cars who had shouted their concerns earlier.

“I know I have acted stupid lately, but you can’t blame me–shit, I am doing this wrong,” Dean said in frustration as he walked around. He took off his cap, brushed his fingers across his hair and replaced the cap back on his head. “I am sorry we hurt each other. But I am even sorrier that I never heard you when you asked for help from the start. Shit,” he said, shaking his head. “I am sorry. I know we’ve hurt each other in our own ways, but I don’t regret anything that happened to us from the start. No, this is wrong, I am saying it wrong,” he uttered once again.

Make up your mind, brother, and freaking pay me some attention!

“Jackie… Jackie, when you told me earlier that you are leaving, I panicked.” He paused for a long time before he shook his head. “Again, Dean. Calm down. She’s not going anywhere yet.”

You think? Sure, she’s not going anywhere. She was just kidnapped. You can sit back and relax.

“Jackie…Jackie,” he repeated, now turning around, his eyes on the ground as if the words he was searching for would sprout out from there. “Jackie, I am sorry that we have to hurt each other. But I am not sorry everything happened. We would not have reached this far if you did not do all those crazy things you did. And you are wrong. I do respect the whole you. I do like the good, sweet Jackie. I do adore the crazy, stupid and impulsive Jackie. I do love the whole you.” He paused for a long time, thinking his words over.

Too cheesy, man, but that would work for women. So, could we move on now?

“I forgot the words, shit,” he cursed under his breath.

No, no, no! Please don’t start over, you moron!

Well, he did listen to me. But he did not look at me. He walked back to Beatle, opened the backseat door and reached inside. When he came back, he was carrying a bunch of flowers.

Yeah, right, to whom do you plan to give it to? Come on, man, the more time we waste here, the more possibility that those flowers are going to end up on Jackie’s grave!

Holding the flowers, he checked his watch. His frown returned.

He took out his phone again and started calling.

And when he heard the ringing from inside Jackie’s bag on the ground beside my tire, he ran toward me.

Oh, thank goodness! Finally!

Dean’s face was now full of alarm when he bent down and grabbed Jackie’s bag on the ground, picking up the keys a foot away as he did so. He took out her phone which was still ringing.

“What the–”

He looked around and saw the box on my hood filled with Jackie’s office things.

“What happened?”

That was what I was trying to tell you, stupid!

He dialed a number on his phone again.

“George, no, please, this is urgent. I just found Jackie’s bag lying on the ground beside Toto in the parking lot.”

He listened to Georgie for a few seconds.

“I will alert the guard and try to see if there was anyone who knew what happened. I will call the police while I am on it. I will let you know. Call people who might know of Jackie’s whereabouts. Yes, I know what you mean and I will see where that crazy man is.”

When the call ended, he took one last look at me and at the bag he was holding in his hand. And then he started running, stopping by Beatle to throw Jackie’s bag and the flowers in the backseat.

Run like lightning, Dean! Go! Go! Go!

---

It took a few more seconds for Jackie’s vision to adjust to the light when Brian flicked the switch.

And when they did, she gasped aloud.

There, a few feet away from her, across the room, was a wall full of her photos.

Her walking out of Bob’s Café; her laughing with Dannie and George outside Calea; her in the mall; her with Troy, Miguel and Lee inside Sanders; her with her parents; her with her sister; her with Dean and Toto.

It was her life story on that wall.

Her with different hair styles; her with different bags and clothes and shoes; her with different expressions.

“You’re crazy!” she couldn’t help but cry. “Brian, just let me go!”

“You see now how much I love you, Jackie? I have always been there like a shadow. I watched you for years, making sure that you are okay,” he said in a gentle voice as he walked to the ‘Jackie Wall’.

“You are sick! This is not right at all, Brian! You cannot do this!”

Brian swiftly turned around, his face grim.

Jackie took a step back in fear as he approached her.

“Don’t tell me what is right or wrong, Jackie. For all I know, for all the days I have watched you, it was you who have been making the wrong decisions. You chose the wrong men to love. And now you are hurting because of one. I cannot let that happen. I have felt your happiness during those days that you laughed and I felt your pain on those times you cried over stupid things, and over stupid guys. If you choose me, I will never do anything to hurt you. You will feel like a princess, Jackie.”

A whimper escaped her lips. If she continued to disagree with him, he would only be more aggressive. He would fight for his fantasies. And who knew what he could do to prove that? What could happen to her?

Maybe it was time to try that different approach.

Slowly, Jackie forced herself to nod. “I guess you are right.”

It took him by surprise. His eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Jackie urged her eyes to look at Brian’s. “I made the wrong decisions in the past. The biggest one of them all is when I didn’t pay you enough attention. What you said to me is just so sweet.”

He scoffed. “Yes, you did not pay me enough attention. You,” he said, pointing the knife at her, “never batted an eye at my direction. But I am glad you realized that.”

Jackie’s lips quivered. “Yes. I think I will give you a chance. That is the most unbelievable thing anyone had ever done for me,” she said, nodding at the wall across the room. “No one had ever spent so much time and effort for me like that. I wonder how you ever managed,” she added, taking a step forward. Her legs were still shaking, but she had to keep her cool. Every second she could fool this psychopath was a minute to save her life. She had to get hold of a phone and call George or Dannie.

“It was not that hard, Jackie. Because if you love someone you will be willing to give up your time and your energy because you always have that hope that in the end, they will see you and appreciate all you have sacrificed,” Brian answered with satisfaction. “This wall gives me the motivation. I never lose hope whenever I see it. I have been dreaming of the day that you will see this masterpiece, Jackie. And I am glad you like it.”

Jackie nodded, her eyes darting at one corner of the room. There was a phone and she hoped to all that was holy that it was working.

“If you accept me, I will give you all the luxury you want.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You don’t have to work anymore. I will provide for you. I will give you everything. You can live here.”

Jackie swallowed. “Live here?”

Brian smiled at her, his dark eyes dreamy. “Yes. You don’t have to leave this place. This will be your new palace. I will paint the walls with whatever color you want.”

“But my friends will wonder where I am, Brian. My family will wonder where I am.” She tried to make her voice sound normal, like she was having a normal conversation with a normal person, which was pretty hard to do because she was talking to a crazy one whose fantasies had gone overboard.

“They don’t have to know everything,” he snapped.

“But they might alert the police. And they might start looking for me. I don’t want that to happen. And I don’t want my parents to worry.”

His face lit up in understanding. “Yes, you are right. As always, you are brilliant, Jackie. Beautiful and brilliant.”

Jackie felt herself shiver hearing the last line. If it was under other circumstances, if someone like Dean had said that, she would have swooned. “Can I call them? Let them know I am not coming back and that I am in a safe place?”

She laid all her cards on that request. It was now or never.

Brian thought for a moment. And then he nodded. “But you can’t tell them where we are, Jackie.”

She nodded vigorously.

He walked to the wireless phone and handed it to her. With shaking hands, Jackie took it and dialed the first number she could think of.

---

Dean was running back toward me, his phone back against his ear.

“Where are you? Where?” he turned around and there, running toward us was George in her pants and combat boots.

“What did you find out?” she demanded, placing her phone back in her pocket.

“The guard didn’t notice anything. Said it was just a normal day today. I asked for the footage of the parking lot but they didn’t catch anything suspicious. The back portion of the lot is not well-covered. They are trying to investigate further. They also called the police.”

“I know it is that crazy jerk! I just know it!” Georgie spat out. She held out her hand for Dean. “Give me the keys.”

“Where are you going?”

“I am going to find that bastard!”

“We don’t know for certain what happened, George. I called the police but they can’t do anything unless we give them more details. Some of them are going here to check the footage with the guards and–”

“Fuck the police! They are always the last people to come for a rescue and when that happens, everything is over.” She started working toward me.

“I’ll come with you,” Dean said, following her.

And that was when Georgie’s phone started ringing. She took it out of her pocket and stared at the screen. “Yes?” she asked. Then her eyes widened. She motioned to Dean with her finger to keep quiet.

“Jackie, what do you mean you are not coming back?”

Dean almost bumped against Georgie as he jumped to her side to listen.

“What? Who took you? What do you mean? What? You are not making–” her words were cut off by whatever Jackie told her. And then understanding washed over her face.

“Okay, I understand. I will tell Dannie and your parents.”

“What the hell was that?” Dean asked.

Yeah, Georgie, what the hell was that?

“She’s with Brian. And she said she’s staying with him for good.”

“What?”

“She is obviously playing him. And I believe she is afraid. I changed my mind about the police. Let’s go call them.”

“But we don’t know where he took her.”

Georgie looked at Dean seriously. “I do. Jackie just told me.”

“She did?”

“In codes. We all learned how to use the Morse code. She had been tapping the real message with her finger as she talked to me.”

“And where is she?”

“At his apartment but she doesn’t know where it is.”

Dean did not ask anything more. He fished his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. “I am calling the head of the HR department to get that bastard’s address.”

Georgie nodded. “I’ll drive.”

---

As Jackie gave the phone back to Brian, she prayed she did not mess up her message. She was the weakest when it came to Morse code and she almost gave up learning it if not for George’s insistence. Well, her friend was right. The time came for her to use it. But did she use it right? It was not easy to tap her finger to deliver the real message as she talked on the phone.

“Well?” Brian asked.

“She took it well,” she lied.

He heaved a sigh of relief. “Now that it’s settled, let us make some dinner.” But before he walked to the kitchen, he returned to the door to lock the four locks inside.

How crazier could he get? Jackie asked.

There was no way she could escape from here through that door, she thought as she watched him place the keys in his pockets. Her eyes flew to the window. They were at the third floor and jumping was out of the options if she had any.

“I dreamed of making dinner with you. A perfect first date, isn’t it?”

Jackie nodded, giving a wan smile. “Yeah,” she whispered.

In her mind, she was thinking about her family, her friends and Dean. And she sure hoped any of them would come find her soon.

Chapter 30

That night, as we drove out of the parking lot, I realized being a getaway car was better than being the rescue vehicle. One reason was that we only had to run away and hide. Second, there was a faint chance that we would be caught if we just knew where to go.

But it was different now. I was the rescue car and my engines were pumping too much gas at the moment they could suffer a big, blast of engine attack. I prayed that wouldn’t happen because I was yet to make sure that Brian would end up dead or imprisoned.

And Jackie girl better be alive.

As we drove away from Collins Corporations, two police cars were speeding toward the building, probably to find out more about Jackie’s disappearance with the help of the stupid security guard.

Dean just replaced his phone in his pocket. “The HR head is sending me Brian’s information in a moment,” he said.

“We have to go to the police,” George uttered with a nod. “Dannie’s been calling me. Can you call her and update her with what’s happening?”

Dean obliged like a lost child.

I knew he was deeply worried and I bet his fears mirrored mine.

Well, I hate to blame you buddy, but I guess a little of what happened was because of you.

Okay, fine, I shouldn’t have said that. But as I said, when it came to the boys, I could be hard. And I could say the wrong things.

As Dean tried to calm Dannie down with the most soothing voice he could muster at the moment, Georgie sped us to the nearest police station.

“She said she called Troy for help and asked if we should alert Jackie’s parents,” Dean said to Georgie.

“Okay, tell her to do that. They would want to know. And they might know something,” Georgie answered.

Dean nodded and relayed the message back to Dannie.

Once it was over, a long silence lingered between the two of them. Georgie focused on driving as fast as she could. Not one of them said a word until we arrived at the police station.

Georgie climbed out and ran to the entrance of the building followed by Dean.

I swear my engines were still pumping gas even though Georgie turned off my ignition. It must be the adrenalin. Okay, fine, I don’t have an ounce of adrenalin in my body–never did, never will–but I hope you get my point.

I heard Georgie shouting inside and a voice telling her to calm down.

That was not a good sign, was it?

Shit, what the hell are they doing in there?

---

Jackie stayed very still as she sat down around Brian’s dining table. He was busy cooking something, whistling a happy tune as he did so.

Her eyes went back to the door and her shoulders sagged in defeat.

She tapped her finger against the table, trying to remember the message she sent to Georgie. She couldn’t help but think that she did it wrong. Morse code was hard enough and the stress she was under earlier was not helping.

She practiced more messages she could try to relay if ever she could get another chance to call someone in Brian’s presence.

Giving up, she sighed and thought about the things she should and shouldn’t have done.

She should have placed her phone in her pockets.

She should not have stayed late.

She should have asked Georgie or Dannie to help her with her things.

She should not have made that stupid Facebook account.

She should have resigned months ago before things got complicated.

But it was too late for those thoughts. Right now, she had to find a way to escape.

Slowly, she turned around in her chair to look at Brian’s small apartment again. Her eyes lit up and her heart started to race against her chest when she saw his smartphone beside the television set.

She cleared her throat.

“Can I use the bathroom?” she asked.

Brian turned around with a smile, giving her a shiver. “Of course, princess. This is your home now. You can do whatever you want.”

Jackie willed herself not to flinch. God, he is really crazy. He is so desperate to believe this was the conclusion of his fantasies!

“Thanks. Can we watch the news?”

“Of course,” he said, nodding his head. “The bathroom’s that way,” he added, pointing at the door right beside his bedroom.

Jackie stood up and walked to the television set. She turned it on, her eyes fixed on his phone. As the sound of the television erupted in the room, she quickly pushed the menu button of Brian’s phone and sighed with relief when it could be unlocked with just a swipe.

She looked over her shoulder and jumped in her feet when she saw Brian looking right at her, his face unreadable. Jackie found herself rooted to the ground in fear and anxiety.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

---

Georgie looked red with anger as she ran out of the police station with Dean behind her looking angrier. He stormed toward me like a tiger.

“I will drive!” Georgie cried out when he tried to open my door. “I know Toto better than you,” she told him as she fished for her ringing phone. “Yes, Tita? Yes, we just came from the police station. They said they will help us but they will not let us come along. Yes, we now know where the address of Jackie’s possible abductor,” she told Jackie’s mother on the phone as she started my engine.

Okay, tell me what happened!

Dean was busily looking at his phone, opening a map application. He opened an email message, copied an address and pasted it back on the search tab of the map.

This better work, guys.

“Hey! Where are you going?” one police officer shouted as he ran out of the station.

“Saving our friend!” Georgie shouted before driving away. “That briefing is taking too long! Are they even aware that first few hours of a kidnapping case is the most crucial?” she spat out, talking to no one in particular. “This is why they are always late in the movies!”

Dean was not listening to her. He was already busy looking at the map. “I know his place. Let’s take the Gatuslao road.”

Georgie nodded. Two patrol cars were already following us and I was not sure if they were after us to arrest my two passengers for disobeying orders or if they were also headed to the same direction to save Jackie girl.

I would love to vote for the latter one because we could not waste more time.

---

“Nothing,” Jackie answered in haste.

“I thought you want to go to the bathroom.”

She took a few seconds to relax and keep from stammering. “I wanted to turn on the TV first.”

Brian nodded and the smile returned on his face. “Okay. Make it fast. Dinner is almost ready.”

Jackie forced a smile on her face. “I will. I am famished.”

He turned around and continued working on the stove.

Jackie grabbed his phone and almost ran to the bathroom door. It was now or never! She locked the door as soon as she entered and opened Brian’s phone.

She dialed George’s number again, her thumbs shaking.

“Yes,” her friend answered. Jackie could hear some honking and was that a police car?

“George! It’s me!” she whispered. “Please help me. I really need your help. I don’t know where Brian took me, but we are in his apart–”

“We are on our way, Jackie. Hang on, here, talk to Dean. Calm down, okay?”

What? Who? Dean?

“Jackie, are you hurt?” was Dean’s first question.

Hearing his voice was her breaking point and her tears started to fall. She choked as she answered, “No. Please help me!”

“We are on our way. Which part of the place are you?”

“I am in the bathroom. I am hiding. I just took his phone and he might find out soon. Dean, please help me.”

“I will not let anything happen to you, do you understand? Is the door locked?”

“Yes.”

“Can you hear him?”

She listened for Brian’s activity outside the door. “I guess he is still in the kitchen. Dean, I am afraid. What if he kills me before you get here?”

“Don’t think that, Jackie. Stay alert. You will get out of that place. Where is it exactly? Do you know which floor you are in?”

“Third. Door number 307. Dean, please hurry.”

“Jackie, we are almost there. Can you hear that? That’s the police and they are coming to help.”

“Oh God, I am so afraid.”

“Does his phone have enough battery life?”

She took the phone away from her ear to check. “Yes. Fifty-two percent.”

“Good. Don’t disconnect the call, okay? Now, stay calm. We are almost there. You know how fast George drives.”

Jackie gave a soft smile despite her tears. “Yes.”

“And you know I love you, right?”

Jackie’s tears started to fall even more. “Please, don’t say that right now.”

“I am not saying that because of the situation. An hour ago, I was practicing my speech.”

She knew he was trying to calm her down, but Jackie only wanted to cry harder. “I meant don’t say that right now because I would love to hear it from you once I get out of here. In person. With me alive.”

She could almost see his smile from the other line. “I will. I will.”

“And I do love–” her words were cut off when the knob of the bathroom door turned.

Brian’s voice spoke from the other side of the door. “What did you do, Jackie?”

Jackie’s heart stopped. She knew he knew what she did.

“Jackie?” Dean’s voice was saying but she could not even say a word.

And then she jumped as the banging started.

“What did you do, Jackie?!” Brian shouted behind the door, banging on it with so much force.

“Jackie?” Dean’s voice called once more.

Jackie went to one corner and crouched down on the tiled floor. “Dean, please help me! He’s at the door and he is forcing himself in!”

---

“George, faster!” Dean said in haste.

“I am trying my best here!”

“He’s about to open the door,” he said, listening to whatever was happening with Jackie.

Oh God, please help her. Help her and keep her safe.

“Jackie, please calm down. We are almost there. If that door opens, try your best to get through it and run. Grab something you could use as a weapon. Do you hear me, Jackie?” Dean said to her, his jaw clenching. “Grab anything. Yes, that’s okay. Hit him with that as hard as you could and whatever weapon he may have, kick it away or grab it from him and use it against him. Just keep your focus. And remember, I love you. We all do. We will do everything, okay? We’re here, Jackie, we just arrived,” he said, opening my door and jumping out of me before Georgie stepped on the breaks.

Dean was already running up the stairs of the apartment building even before the police cars pulled up.

“Hey! You can’t go up there! It is not safe!” the cop shouted after Georgie who was on her way there as well with her knife.

Get that bastard for me, Georgie! My trunk is so ready for a dead body!

“Why can’t they listen?!” the police officer shouted as he ran to the building with his other two colleagues.

---

Jackie grabbed the barrel of the toilet pump with firm grasp as she tried to calm herself down. Hearing Dean’s fast breathing as he climbed the stairs gave her the strength that she needed. And she could hear the blaring of the police cars outside the building.

But Brian was still banging on the door and it was about to give in. She positioned herself right beside the opening of the door so she could have better access and attack him by surprise.

“Shit!” she heard Dean’s shout. “The door is locked!”

“Let’s take it down,” George’s voice said.

They’re outside. They’re outside, Jackie chanted in her brain.

And that was when the bathroom door finally gave out. Brian swiftly stepped in, his eyes blazing with anger and Jackie made her attack.

She swung the toilet pump from over her shoulder and toward his head. It hit him and before he could recover, she hit him once more and then again and again. He stumbled on the tiled floor and hit his head against the toilet bowl.

“Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Sick! Bastard!” Jackie cried out as she hit his motionless body five more times.

When he didn’t move, she bent down and grabbed the keys from his pocket.

Jackie shouted in alarm when his hand grabbed his wrist. He groaned, his mind probably reeling with the impact against the toilet bowl, but his grasp was strong.

Dean and George were still banging against the front door, trying to take it down. Someone shouted, “Step aside, you two!”

“The hell we are!” Dean shouted back.

“Let go of me, you sick bastard!” Jackie shouted, making another toilet pump attack. Brian rolled over and Jackie struggled with the keys inside his jeans.

When she finally managed to grab them, she straightened and stomped her heeled shoe on Brian’s back. He shouted in pain and went limp. Jackie ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife.

And then she went to the door.

“I am opening it, I am opening it!” she shouted at Dean and George and whoever else they were with. “Shit, my hands are shaking. Blasted padlocks!” she shouted.

“Stay calm, Jackie. Where is Brian?” Dean asked from the other side of the door.

“He’s sort of unconscious. But he might get up soon.”

“Good. Work with the locks as calmly as you could, Jackie.”

“I am, I am…” she said, working on the first lock. And then the second lock. “There’s freaking four of them!”

As she inserted the key for the third lock, Brian’s raspy voice spoke behind her. “You shouldn’t have betrayed my trust, Jackie.” She whirled around and found him advancing toward her. Blood was running down the right side of his face, his shoulder hunched forward, his eyes manacing.

She ran to the other side of the room, holding the knife before her.

Jackie’s scream alerted Dean and the others outside the door.

The banging started once more and Jackie prayed that two locks down would make the job easier for her rescuers. And it seemed that they were using something heavy to break down that blasted door.

“Brian! Don’t you dare lay one finger on her!” Dean was shouting.

“I swear I will kill you, you bastard!” George shouted.

“Step aside!” a man’s voice ordered and the banging started once more, this time stronger.

“Stay away from me,” Jackie shouted at Brian, her voice shaking. She shook off her high heeled shoes to gain more stability. “I said, stay away from me!”

“You think I will do that, Jackie? You have been saying those words ever since I met you. And look how it ended for the both of us.” His expression changed to a pained one, the shift was almost unnerving. “I was ready to give you everything, Jackie. I thought you wanted this. Why couldn’t you give me the chance to prove to you that I am worth your love?!”

“You are sick, Brian, you need help.”

A creepy sneer crept up his lips again, changing his entire face once more. “I don’t need any help, Jackie. The ones who needs help are the ones who don’t know what they want. I know what I want. And it is you. It has only been you all along, all this time,” he hissed at her, stepping closer. “I am not afraid of that knife or that banging on the door. I don’t care anymore, Jackie, because I only want you.”

“It’s too late, Brian. The police are outside that door. You don’t have any other choice but to give up. Please, just give up,” she pleaded.

He gave a throaty laugh that seeped through Jackie’s nerves, sending a shiver through her spine. “I’d rather die with you than to see you go to that bastard boss of yours, Jackie. I’d rather kill you myself than to see you be with someone else!”

And then he jumped at her, taking her by surprise. The next moment, Jackie found herself being tackled on the ground just as the front door burst open.

She didn’t know what happened next because her vision was obscured by Brian’s face looming over her, his body strapping her on the ground, his hand grasping hers, the one holding the knife, over her head.

“Dean!” she tried to shout.

“Let go of her, you sick bastard!” she heard Dean’s voice shout and she felt Brian’s weight leave her body.

Someone was dragging her by the arm.

George.

“Jackie, Jackie!” she felt a gentle slap against her cheek.

Jackie knew her eyes were open, but she couldn’t see anything clearly. Everything was hazy. Like a movie in a very slow motion. And her ears were ringing.

“Jackie!” This time, a stronger slap followed and it seemed to have pushed the play button and everything snapped back to normal. Jackie blinked.

“George!” she cried out.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She looked down at her hand and she flinched when she realized she was still grasping the knife. She threw it away. George was busy checking her eyes, her arms and her body for any signs of blood or other injuries.

And then she heard the commotion just a few feet away. She turned and saw two policemen trying to pull Dean away from Brian on the ground.

“You bastard!” Dean was shouting as he threw a punch down at Brian on the floor. The two policemen were finally able to pull him away but not without Dean throwing two more kicks against Brian’s side.

“Stop that or I will arrest you!” the policeman shouted at him.

“Dean!” Jackie shouted and he whirled around, his chest heaving and his face full of anger. His expression immediately changed to that of tenderness as he crossed the room to where Jackie was. Within seconds, she was in his arms. “Thank God you are okay.” He leaned away, holding her at arm’s length. “You are okay, right?”

Jackie nodded, causing her head to feel dizzy. “But I might need some rest.” The two policemen were bending over Brian’s motionless body on the floor while another one checked the entire apartment.

Dean roughly pulled her back in an embrace. “I thought I was going to lose you. And I love you. You know that, right?”

Jackie smiled faintly. She saw George rolling her eyes behind Dean as her friend started to get up. “Yes, and I love you too. You know that, right?”

She felt Dean nod his head against her shoulder.

“And that’s not something I cooked up. You know that, right?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “Yes, I know that.”

---

I was greatly disappointed that Brian’s corpse would not grace my trunk. Instead of being placed in a black bag as I had hoped, he was mounted and strapped on a stretcher and wheeled to an ambulance.

But I was glad that Jackie girl was okay.

Two ambulances arrived at the scene just in time it almost surprised me, really. From what I heard, these vehicles would always arrive late.

But of course, Georgie’s colleagues would do anything for her so I saw Dee the ambulance again.

Keep her safe, Dee! I shouted after it as they drove Jackie away with Dean at her side.

Georgie and I followed them to Riverside Medical Center where she parked me right beside Dee.

As Georgie went inside the hospital, I told Dee of the agonizing night I had to suffer because I was nothing but a Volkswagen who could not be heard by a single human being.

---

Jackie’s parents and sister stayed with her in the hospital that night.

Troy, Miguel and Lee rushed to the hospital with Dannie earlier so they were all cramped inside her room.

None of them moved an inch closer to the door when Jackie insisted that she was okay and that she would be fine with her family.

Sleep took over her fast before she could complain of their presence in the room.

But everything she went through that day must have lingered in her mind because she suddenly shot up in her bed, gasping for air in the middle of the night.

Someone was sitting right beside her bed and she flinched when she felt a hand touch hers.

“Hey, it’s me,” Dean’s croaky voice whispered.

She heaved a sigh of relief and she lay back against her pillow, staring at the ceiling. Her heart was still racing, her brain trying hard to tell her she just had a bad dream.

She looked to her right and saw Dean looking at her with worry, his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand. Behind him, sitting and sleeping with their heads against the wall were George and Dannie.

“Where’s Mama and Papa?” she asked.

“Your sister took them home. George and Dannie insisted that they take a rest and come back early tomorrow morning.”

“I want to go home tomorrow. I don’t have to stay here in the first place.”

“You need this, Jackie. You know that,” he said strongly.

She did not answer.

“Tell me about it,” Dean’s gentle voice asked.

Jackie turned to look at him. “What?” she asked.

“The dream.”

Jackie sighed. “It was nothing,” she said.

“You have to talk about it, Jackie. I am here. I am listening.”

She did not look at him this time, not wanting to remember. But she had to tell someone. She knew it would help. She swallowed before she opened her mouth to speak. “I dreamed no one got my message, that you guys did not understand the code I sent. And I couldn’t escape. I tried to escape but he…he caught me and drowned me in a bucket full of water. I tried to fight and–I was afraid I was going to die, Dean,” she choked, tears streaming down her face.

She felt his thumb wipe the tears off her face. And she felt his head drawing closer. She turned and he planted his lips against her forehead. Then he bent his head against her, his warm breath brushing her cheek. “You’re not going to die. Maybe in fifty more years or so, but not now. I will not let that happen,” he whispered.

Jackie didn’t find the need to say anything so they stayed like that for a long time, his head resting against hers in the bed.

“I’m sorry,” he said later on.

“For what?” she whispered back.

“None of this would have happened if I just–”

“Shut up. I don’t want to hear anything about anyone blaming themselves. Brian is sick and we could not have done anything about it. Hell, he even passed the psychological exam of the company, right? No one could have known.”

Dean leaned away and looked at her with a smile. “I already told you I love you, right?”

Jackie weakly rolled her sleepy eyes. “You’re being cheesy. Stop that.”

He chuckled and lightly kissed her lips. “I know you like it. Admit it.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, pulling her blanket over her shoulder. “Let me sleep,” she uttered with a smile as she closed her eyes.

“I told you I was practicing my speech earlier before I found out you’ve been taken,” he whispered, not letting the matter drop. “You want to hear it?”

Jackie did not answer and pretended to sleep.

“Jackie, I know you’re awake. Do you want to hear it or not?”

Of course she did! But under better circumstances, of course.

“Jackie,” he called, squeezing her hand in his.

 “What?” she asked, feigning irritation, eyes still closed.

“Do you want to hear it or not?” he asked again.

Jackie finally opened her eyes and looked at him, feeling the longing she had felt for days. She desperately wanted to hear the speech. But not now, she thought. “Yes, but in due time.”

She tried to relay the message through her eyes.

The smile on his face slowly disappeared. “What do you mean in due time?”

Jackie was not sure when or how she decided on it. Maybe it was her impulsive side kicking again. But she knew this was the most important and right impulsive decision she had made.

“Jackie, what do you mean in due time?” Dean repeated, the apprehension apparent in his voice.

Jackie composed herself for a couple of seconds before she said, “I need to have some time for myself.” She looked him in the eyes and forced herself to add, “I need to be by myself for a while, take some time off. I want to stay away for some time, Dean.”

Jackie saw anxiety, confusion and understanding flash in his eyes in just a matter of seconds. “Stay away like going away somewhere?” he asked.

She nodded.

He nodded in understanding, squeezing her hand once more as if silently telling her not to go away but he would understand if she would not heed his plea. “How much time do you need?” he asked.

Jackie sighed. “I don’t know.”

Epilogue

Guess where I was two months later?

I was at the airport.

Yep, the airport.

And I was eager to see Jackie girl again.

And so were Georgie and Dannie.

And yes, of course, Dean, the ever patient boyfriend.

He took Beatle with him and right now, my Collins Corporations parking lot buddy was talking to me about how he had to suffer a few rides with Dean talking on the phone with Jackie who went away somewhere in Palawan two months ago. My buddy talked to me about how Dean would ask Jackie where she was or when she was coming back and that say it was okay whenever she answered she was not sure yet and how Dean would then start getting sour the rest of the day.

In return, I told Beatle how things had been with George and Dannie; about Brian who would spend a few years in a mental institution; about my new alarm system (yep, you got that right! I got my alarm system after years and years of mileage) and a lot of other things.

We waited while our dear owners waited for Jackie girl to step out of that plane and finally be home.

---

Jackie was feeling restless as she walked toward the exit of Silay airport.

Of course, she was feeling fine–renewed as a matter of fact. But this was the day that she would finally be with Dean again after that tragic night two months ago.

That night when she decided she would leave for a getaway to be with herself and to come to terms with everything that had happened and everything that she had done due to her crazy ideas, she immediately put her plans into action and flew away to Palawan.

Dean had been supportive, but she had always got that feeling he was getting impatient as well.

For two months, she constantly had to fight the urge to go back home just because she missed her family, her friends, her job and Dean.

But every time she was about ready to leave Palawan and her modest rented nipa house, she would remember the purpose of her trip. And once she did that, she would start unpacking her things again and get out, travel around the province with her limited budget and the willingness to discover things on her own without a care in the world.

She met the nicest people, explored the hidden beauties of the place she had never seen in brochures before, and tasted more than one of the best foods in the country.

All of those things she did to enjoy life and what it could offer her and by doing so, she was able to heal and forgive herself for all those crazy things she had done. And finally, she was able to accept the fact that Brian was crazy. She learned to forgive him. But she figured she could not easily forget that traumatic night.

Maybe she would, in time, but for now it was enough that she no longer had nightmares.

And she was again ready to step right back into the life she left behind for her hibernation.

She squared her shoulders as she approached the glass doors of the airport. The moment she stepped out, she saw the group standing right in front of her, the smiles on their faces unwavering and telling her how she had been greatly missed.

And she remembered those nights she had thought and longed for them.

Jackie’s tears were blurring her vision that she didn’t see Dean, dressed in a simple blue shirt and his black baseball cap, briskly crossing the distance between them. Before she knew it, she was trapped in his arms, her cheek pressed tightly against his chest.

“Welcome home, Jackie,” he whispered.

And did he just take a lungful of air to smell her scent?

She gave off a chuckle. “I missed you too.”

“You’re wiping your tears against my shirt,” he noted, catching her in the act.

“You can have all the time in the world later, but right now we want a few moments with our friend as well,” George’s voice said behind Dean.

Dean loosened his hold on Jackie and stepped aside to let George and Dannie pass to grab the opportunity to greet Jackie.

“Your parents are waiting in the restaurant.”

Jackie frowned. “Restaurant?”

“They thought it is necessary that you get your own welcome party,” Dean explained.

“I only went away for two months!”

“You don’t know how we all spent those two months without you,” Dannie informed her, secretly motioning her head at Dean.

“I saw that,” Dean uttered.

“Well, it’s true. You have been miserable without her,” Dannie said with a smile.

Before he could protest, George butt in saying, “We better get going. The restaurant doesn’t have all day.” She then proceeded to grabbing one of Jackie’s suitcases.

Dean followed, taking one suitcase and took Jackie’s hand. “I brought Beatle.”

Jackie groaned. “But I missed Toto!”

“You’ll be riding him soon enough. Right now,” he said, looking down at her as they crossed the pedestrian lane to the parking lot, his eyes hooded by his cap against the sunlight, “I need to be with you.”

Jackie playfully jumped to his side, hooking her arm around his, “I know that, right?”

He chuckled as he reached for his cap. Removing it from his head, he said, “Take this. It is hot today,” and effortlessly placed it on top of her head.

This was one of the moments she had always dreamed about during her stay in Palawan. She dreamed of smelling his cap, of putting it on her head. She had dreamed that scenario in numerous ways and this was one of them. And yes, of course, she dreamed about his tattoo and what it would look like.

She had all the intention to find that out. As they followed George and Dannie to where Toto and Beatle were parked, with her arm hooked around Dean’s, Jackie realized she had all the time to find out.

They had all the time to find out more about each other. They just had to take one step at a time.

---

Jackie! Jackie girl! I messed–I mean, I missed you like hell, girl! Oh, you are looking sexy!

I almost jumped on the ground on my four tires when I saw her walking toward us.

But unlike before, months and months ago, she was walking beside another man other than me. Her arm was looped around his and she had that dreamy look again.

My engines groaned, half in protest, one-fourth in denial and another quarter in acceptance.

I was happy to see her happy, but I was not so sure if I would love her absence behind my steering wheel often. Beatle would definitely be graced with her presence most of the time now that Dean seemed like he was not going anywhere.

Why so fast, girl? Why? I cried for her when she walked with Dean toward his car. I refuse to accept this. Just ride with me for now, Jackie. I missed you, you know!

And then, as if she heard me, she turned around and looked at me, her eyes twinkling.

She left Dean’s side and started walking to where I was standing. “Toto, you are looking flashy!”

I know, right? Georgie gave me a good bath just this morning. Dannie helped with the polishing. And have they told you about my new alarm? You can try it out!

“I missed you, Toto,” Jackie said, smiling at me, caressing my hood with her soft, delicate fingers.

“I’ll load these at the back,” Georgie told Jackie as she opened my trunk to throw in the suitcases.

“How about these?” Dean asked, lifting the one he had been carrying.

“Put them with Toto,” Jackie answered with a smile.

I almost cried a bucket of gas.

If I was to carry Jackie’s entire luggage, it only meant one thing: she was not going anywhere else soon.

Huh, Dean, my boy, it would take a few more years for Beatle to get the chance to carry her luggage. For now, they stay with me.

“Let’s go?” Dean asked Jackie as Georgie and Dannie climbed inside me. He held out his hand for her.

“See you later, Toto,” Jackie said before she reached for Dean’s hand and they walked toward the excited Beatle.

“I’ll lead the way to the restaurant!” Georgie shouted at them.

Jackie and Dean answered with a “Yeah!” before they climbed inside Beatle and closed the door.

---

Tata was already parked outside along with some other vehicles outside the restaurant when we got there.

I didn’t know Troy would be here, I told Tata.

It answered that Troy had been excited about Jackie’s homecoming ever since Dannie texted him about it.

You tell that man to stay away from Dannie, I told Tata.

And while we watched Georgie and Dannie walk inside the restaurant followed by Jackie and Dean hand in hand, I noticed the black BMW again.

Jordan Ledesma.

I was not actually surprised he was around.

For the past two months, his presence no longer gave me alarm. But rather, he made me want to pee old gas all over him and put him on fire.

Oh, don’t ask me the reason for that because there were a lot. But the most ultimate one was Georgie herself.

I knew she was having a hard time because of the arrogant jerk.

He was nothing but a pain in the trunk for two months now.

He parked his black BMW right behind me but did not turn off his engine.

Tata and I didn’t know what to do so we just stayed quiet.

A good ten to fifteen minutes later, Georgie came out looking irritated and pissed like she had always been since she got that visit from Jordan Ledesma at work two months ago.

She walked directly to the BMW. Its windows rolled down and I got another glimpse of the arrogant bastard’s face again.

“What do you want?” Georgie asked him.

“We’re going somewhere later. You better prepare,” I heard him say in his deadpan voice. If all men talked like that, I didn’t know how the world could ever get more babies.

“No. You didn’t tell me beforehand. I am doing something,” Georgie said before she straightened and start walking away.

“Georgina!” he called out.

“This was not part of our agreement!” she said over her shoulder as she neared the restaurant’s entrance door. “Make an appointment next time!” she added.

---

When all the eating and laughter finally ended, everyone went their separate ways. Jackie’s family went home after ensuring a promise from Dean that he would take their daughter to their place that weekend. Everyone agreed to come along, including Troy much to Dannie’s disappointment.

Back at the apartment, Jackie’s suitcases were put aside as they all lay on the carpet feeling full and tired.

“Let’s go get a cup of coffee,” Jackie invited them, sitting up with renewed energy.

“Let’s just stay here,” Dannie said without energy, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“Yeah, I am tired,” George agreed, turning to her side and closing her eyes.

Jackie turned to Dean who was about to open his mouth, probably to say the same thing, but he sighed and said, “Fine. But no other activities like shopping or stabbing other people’s tires.”

Jackie gasped as she stared at him looking at her in a meaningful way.

She shot Dannie an accusing glare and her friend rolled her eyes at her. “You know I can never sleep with my conscience bothering me. And I made sure he was okay with the whole thing before I told him.”

Jackie groaned. She warily looked at Dean. “I’m sorry,” she said with a grimace.

Dean smirked. “If you will do the driving and if you treat me to a cup of coffee, I will forgive you.”

She shot to her feet. “Deal. Come on, up!” she said, holding out her hand to help him to his feet. “You guys sure you’re not coming?”

“Yes,” her friends answered. “See you later for dinner,” Dannie added.

“We can get dinner at Art later,” Dean suggested.

“Good idea. I need a bottle of beer,” George said, turning on her back.

“See you then,” Dean told them before they walked out the door.

---

Ah, so Jackie girl couldn’t keep her hands off me after all!

Oh, how I missed her hands gripping my steering wheel and though I hate to admit it, I missed those heels, girl! It was way far different from Georgie’s combat and hiking shoes and Dannie’s soft flats.

She drove me to Bob’s café along Lacson Street. They picked an outdoor table with a huge umbrella right beside me. Jackie ordered fraps and baked ensaimada for the both of them.

When they both settled down, Dean and I listened to her adventures in Palawan she had not mentioned during her phone calls. She animatedly talked about the people she met and the things she did.

My oils almost leaked out of my headlight sockets as I stood there against the gentle heat of the sun, witnessing Jackie and Dean’s moment. They talked and laughed like nothing happened two months ago and I bet that incident would no longer be a part of their future as much as it was a part of the past.

And though a big part of me still couldn’t accept it, I was certain Jackie finally found the right guy. It might have been one hell of a crazy ride, but she did find him. She got him. And she was happy.

That’s what really matters, right?

Finding happiness within yourself despite your imperfections and wrong decisions could definitely make any simple day a special moment, especially if you have people around who accept the whole you.

---

I was happily talking to Tata outside Art District later that night, the faint sound of Anon’s music in the air, when Georgie walked out looking like a warrior ready for battle.

Hey, what’s up, Georgie?

Of course, she didn’t answer. She just stood there leaning against my passenger side.

Are you waiting for someone?

And to answer my question, Jordan Ledesma’s BMW was rolling toward us. It stopped right before Georgie.

He rolled down the window and his face, though not undesirable, was already frowning at George. He was not as handsome or cool-looking as Dean, I tell you. His nose was okay, his eyes were okay, his face clean, his hair had the right haircut, but the way he wore the whole thing was not making him any way attractive.

“I thought you said you’re busy.”

“I am. With friends. They are my business,” George told him. “What do you want this time?” she asked. “You’ve been calling for like every damn hour. You are not acting according to our agreement.”

Oh lord, that agreement again.

Jordan Ledesma’s BMW snorted like its arrogant owner. I didn’t know its name and I didn’t even want to find out.

“I told you we need to go somewhere important. You have to be there.”

Georgie frowned. “If it is another family dinner, just tell them I am sick.”

Irritation flashed across Jordan Ledesma’s face. “I don’t have time for this. You know I won’t even bother calling you unless this is important.”

“Then tell me where we’re going.”

The man just sighed impatiently. “Just get in the car.”

George leaned further away from him. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Just tell me.”

Jordan Ledesma stared at Georgie, his face bare of any emotion. “Our parents want to talk to us.”

“They already did that. The folks settled the matter, right? And why does my presence matter anyway? It’s not like my words would be heard.”

Jordan looked at her for a long while, his face giving a hint of apprehension and stress though he was fast to cover it with that pathetic flat mask of his.

“They want to set our wedding date before the year ends.”

My headlights almost jumped out of their sockets.

I heard Tata gasp beside me.

Georgie jumped away from me in surprise. “What?!”