SWNOVELS Chapter 23: Does it hurt?
"Madi."
I heard someone call my name and when I turned around I saw Troy waving his hand on me. I just smiled at him.
"My good heavens, Madi! Why is he here?" asked by an annoyed Sandy next to me. We're having our thirty-minute coffee break
at the cafeteria.
Actually, I'm used to not having this second break of the day, but Sandy has another reason why she dragged me here, so I had
no choice.
"Because this is a cafeteria and the same time as his break," I said laughing at her crumpled face.
"Hi, Madi." Troy was now in front of us and sat on the vacant chair.
"Hi Troy, how are you?" I asked him smiling, but I can also see out of the corner of my eye how Sandy gave him a hard stare.
"Well, it's even better, especially now that I saw you." and he winked at me that made me smile more. Sandy muttered something
under her breath but I could still hear it.
"Old style! Hello, I'm also here."
"Oh, hi Sandy."
"Wow, you noticed me, congratulations! You still have a clear vision," she said faking her smile, so I kicked her leg under the
table.
Troy just scratched the back of his neck.
"Troy, can I have a favor?" she blurted out after a while.
"Yeah, sure, anything," Troy answered having no idea what would Sandy ask him for.
"Are you sure I can ask anything?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah, as long as I can," he said scratching the back of his neck again. I'm sure he's doubting himself at the moment.
"Okay, can you please change your seat on the other chair, I mean can you just sit on the other table?"
"Huh?" his mouth dropped, maybe he didn't expect it would be Sandy's favor.
"Sandy?" I nudged her arm but she just ignored me.
"It's just that Madi and I have something important to discuss with. You know, girly things, girly issues and problems."
"Oh, okay," he said with shoulders down.
"Thank you, Troy."
"No problem." he stood up and took his snacks not before smiling at me. "Madi, see you around."
I just nodded and smiled.
When he's finally out of our sight, Sandy let out a loud sigh.
"You're such a bitch." I exclaimed as I lightly tapped her arm.
"Well, isn't that a good idea? Besides, the reason I pulled you here is for you to share your unfinished story, which has always
been cut by a certain someone!"
"Okay, fine," I said smiling and shaking my head.
"So, where are we?" She asked.
"At the cafeteria." I laughed when she glared at me. "Okay, okay." I raised my hands in surrender position and started to tell her
everything. From the time I saw Stacey inside the boutique, then next was Gabriel, to the coffee and the kiss.
"And then at night---"
"Wait! He... He kissed you?" her eyes were wide open like saucers.
I nodded.
"Oh my God, Madi! You're such a lucky bitch!" she squealed loudly which caught the attention of some employees.
"Your voice, Sandy!" I whispered-yelled at her.
"I can't believe this! I mean the cold-hearted 'Mr Wilsons' kissed you?" she whispered the part of his name. "You're so lucky, girl. I
can't imagine what would be his fans club reactions, especially their bitchy leader Jenny and her second-in-command Ailene.
Haha."
And we laughed together. But after a while, when she finally recovers, she continued her interview again.
"So, how was his ex reaction when he kissed you in front of her?"
"Well, based on her reaction, she can't believe he's got a new girlfriend now."
"Really? By the way, what does she look like? A.pretty, b.gorgeous, c.sophisticated, d.like a model, or e, all of the above?"
"E."
"E?"
"All of the above."
"Ohh... poor pretty Madi, tsk.tsk.tsk." she leaned back in her seat, shaking her head.
"And how did my name suddenly relate to her?" I asked her, wondering.
"Ohh.. because that's maybe the reasons why 'your' boyfriend---"
"Fake."
"Fake boyfriend' as you were saying, still can't move on from his pretty ex-fiancee."
"Huh? I highly doubt that! I mean, just because of physical appearance?"
"Then, who knows what his real reason was." She shrugged.
"Because he still loves her. That's it."
"Ahh... does it hurt?" she asked, making a sad face.
I don't know if she's just teasing me or what...
"What? What do you mean if it hurts?"
"The truth that he's still in love with his ex. Does it hurt?"
"Does it hurt who? I don't get it."
"You. Does it hurt you? My God, so slow." she rolled her eyes and it was only then I realized that I was the one she's referring to.
"Oh my God, Sandy! No, of course not! Where did you get that idea?" I know my face has gone from shocked to nervous.
Nervous to know if it's true and for her to know she was right.
She didn't answer my question, she just shrugged.
"So, what happened next?" she asked again after a while.
"She picked me up and we discussed some matters in the restaurant."
"He even picked you up and you had a date?"
"It wasn't a date, Sandy. It's just like the first time we talked, a boss and an assistant talk."
"Wow! Since when it happened a boss took his assistant to a restaurant and ate 'alone', talked about 'something' that wasn't
related to their work?"
"Uhm... let's just say it was just a casual talk!" I tried to defend myself.
"Ohh... casual talk? Okay, but since when a boss and his assistant ate in a restaurant and discussed their engagement and
wedding, became a casual talk? Haha, very funny! Madi, you're not a comedian, so don't make me laugh." but she laughed
instead.
"Haha... yeah, very funny!" I faked my laugh. "Tell me, when are you going to stop before I decide not to invite you to my
apartment?" and it's my turn to laugh when her laughter has died and she scrunched up her face.
"See? Such an obedient child. Good job."
"I hate you!" she huffed as she folded her hands over her chest.
We finished our coffee break in a minute before we heading back to our offices again.
I decided to skip some information and just keep it to myself. I don't want her to know that I'm now starting to get confused with
how I feel. Maybe someday, when everything's already clear, I'll be ready to share it.