Memories Under The Rain

"A sudden downpour?"

I heard Nicky asked when I enter the office, wet and frustrated. I am rubbing my left arm up and down using the other arm to minimize the cold that wanders inside my system.

Damn, rain. I complained inside.

She then chuckles when she saw me rolling an eyes at her before she stands up and grab her lacy pastel scarf from the wooden rack and throw it straight on my face.

"Can't you state the obvious?" I muttered—annoyingly—while trying to fix my dress using her scarf, rubbing it up and down.

I heard her stiletto made a sound away from me and saw her on my peripheral that she sat down on her swivel chair.

"Fix yourself, Margarete. Mister Gatchalian called for a meeting thirty minutes from now for uh..."

I look at her when she trailed but she just shrug her shoulders and went back to her laptop.

Ladies and gentlemen, she's Nicky Vaundhurst—an officemate, and yeah, a friend. I met her when the network industry from Philippines asked me to transfer here for a year to cover the New York Times Magazine in behalf of the supports from our country to those Filipino candidates. Well, it has been a year and almost two already but one of the candidate is a pain in the ass and won't allow the media to show himself for I don't know his reason. One thing I am just concern right now is me—looking wasted and informal and uh–wet.

"Wilson didn't tell me about this," I uttered while wiping my face using Nicky's scarf. "Emergency, perhaps?" I added with a tone of uncertainty visible on my voice.

"Who knows? Call him if it would relax the shit out of you." She smugly replied but her face is still on the screen of her laptop.

This woman is really rude as ever! I wanna slap her right now straight on her glossy face. If she isn't my friend, maybe my bitchy ass would throw her out in the window. Hell, I'm impulsive...before and uh– never mind.

"Whatever, Nicky. Find yourself a boy. You're always mad and whatever again." I teased and went inside the rest room. I am about to close the door when she shouted from her table.

"Bitch, I have!"

"Show me!" I shouted back then face the mirror that was hanging on the wall.

I chuckled when she didn't reply anymore so I stretch my cheeks, trying to remove the make-up using my bare hand.

"Geez, tissue." I whispered when I find it gross and sticky to remove it without the use of tissues.

I scanned my bag—looking for the tissue paper but it is nowhere to be found. I frustratedly sigh and went out, furious and obviously more annoyed.

"Nick, I forgot my tissue at hom– hey!"

Wilson smiled when he saw me walking out from the rest room then he walk towards me so I go panic. Hey, my face is bare and my hair's still messy and uh, my dress is... wet. It isn't appropriate to face Wilson while I'm on a state of mess!

Damn, rain.

Wait, rain? Why does it sounds so sad to hear? I shove the thought away and went back to my current situation. Holy, I even saw my skirt up to my thighs!

Can this day be even worse?!

I heard him chuckle when he saw my uneasiness but he quicklyly walk to where I am standing. He grab my left hand and pull me to him beforr throwing me a kiss, straight on my lips.

My eyes bulge on his impulsiveness and I even heard Nicky squeal from the corner. Wilson let go of me but he puts his forehead on mine then whispers his "I love you" using his hoarse voice.

I bit my lip—suppressing a smile— but I really can't hold it. I am all smiles when I watch him licking his lips to the left. "You should've at least warn me. I'm a mess." I uttered, still our faces are just an inch away from each other.

"Babe, you are my beautiful mess. I love you no matter how you look. Remember that."

Ihhh! I wanted to scream but I am containing my self. Damn, Erin. Chill! You should be careful this time, right? Don't make your situation harder than what you planned. You might get hurt for the second time around.

But I trust, Wilson...

Yeah, right and you trust that man too before, right?

Ugh. Damn it.

"Girl, your face is already like a tomato red. Makes me wanna eat you right here and now." Nicky butt in—still her attention is on the laptop but I just laugh on her remark then look at my man again, completely ignoring my thoughts earlier.

"Nicky's a loser. I want to eat you alone, Erin Margarete." He whispered under his breath and I immediately felt my blood rush up to my face—heat is already fueling my system.

Sure, I am blushing. Damn, Wilson will take it against me again, and his conceitedness will arose his confidence in teasing me—telling straight at my face that I am very in love with him!

Oh no no.

I can't even! I mentally shout inside my mind, trying to bring out my internal fiascos.

"Hey, I heard it!" Nicky shouted again and it made me ran out from my thoughts. Wilson let go of my hands and I watch him throw the scarf on Nicky but she gladly accept the throw and lick it surprisingly in front of us. "Damn, tastes Margarete." She then wink and laugh sardonically when she saw Wilson's facial expression.

What the fuck? Aren't she ashamed telling those things?! Like, hey! She's talking to a company lawyer for fuck's sake! And... in front to the guy's girlfriend?

And yes, Love Wilson Acosta is my man—a law student who took his Law Proper in Harvard. He's a Filipino tho, yet he refuses the Ateneo's offer five years ago because of some issues between us but we're both fine now. At least it happened and I am thankful it happened. If it weren't about that misunderstanding, we can't be this someone what we are today.

And I'm proud of it.

Everything happens for a reason, indeed.

"Anyway, Mister Gatchalian is calling for a meeting. The artist will finally show himself. Damn, baby, we can finally go back after you'll release this project!"

I nodded my head and cup his face. "Let's settle down in our own country then."

He just smiled and kiss me on the lips then points the sliding door while still looking at me. "Gotta go. The boards might be looking for me. I still have to prepare the by-laws for this project. I love you."

***

"Numerous artists found their way to be one of the fastest growing modeling company here, in New York. And we all know that we still have one artist left to finally finish this project-based in New York. Me, together with Erin Margarete Rowe and Love Wilson Acosta were task to negotiate our artists in this company." Timothea grab the controller and an image is shown on the LED screen. I almost gasp when I saw a photograph of a man I knew for years, a man I tend to forgot for so long and the man whom I loathe seven years ago.

"Lance Hiro Chandler will finally hit the stage this second week of October. The releasing of covers and magazines about him will be out tonight and the Philippine Network constituents finally said their signal after hearing about Hiro. After a long gone, we'll finally welcome him tonight." Timothea take a deep breath before smiling. "Everyone, may we all stand up to welcome the company's pride, Mister Lance Hiro Chandler!"

Everyone stands up as the double door of our conference room swung open and enters a bold, masculine and a jaw dropping man I never seen for ages.

Fuck, am I not dreaming? Fuck! Fuck!

I tried so hard to hide my face but it doesn't help since I fixed my hair earlier in a bun. I only heard the clapping of hands before Lance finally reach in front, on the stage with his face still flash on the screen.

I stared on his physique then back to his photo on the screen—where he is looking at the camera, looking uncanny yet still dazzling. The photo itself shouts something I cannot point out. It obviously look stunning plus the beach behind him as the sun reach its peak during noon time.

He whispers something to his assistant and look at his picture that is still flash on the screen behind him.

I really wanted to hide right now but damn, I am the journalist about this issue so I am seated in front, together with Timothea who is now grinning at Lance.

I tried looking for Wilson's eyes over the crowd and good thing I found it immediately. He let out a short smile before mouthing something I refuse to understand. My mind is in a state of complete chaos! I grip my hand bag real tight when a splitting images immediately digested inside my mind.

The music, the people, and me—dancing is somewhat feels surreal. A hollow images I can't forget. A void, I almost fell as if I am on a cliff.

"Question," Lance started when he finally have the microphone on his hand. "Is Erin here?"

Fuck! How did he knew?

I close my eyes when a fact digested, he obviously searched about this project and if I am not mistaken, he's possibly behind this thing! This scheming whore!

He rummage his eyes inside the room and it finally landed on mine. He transferred all his weight on the left—trying to scan my body up and down. I am praying so hard not to stutter, and raise my right hand as I firmly look at his raging eyes.

"Yes?" I asked trying to remain my cool and not to wreck my poise. Damn, if only I know that this will happen, I will really subject this project to the my co-journalist, damn it!

Lance smirk and he cleared his throat afterwards then went back to where the microphone stand is.

I almost fell on my knees after he makes me feel the unnerving introduction that includes me and then left me astoundingly hanging after he blurted my name out in front.

The nerve of this guy?! Why does it seems like I am the villain on his part when in fact he's the reason why I chose to let go of his hands after that night? Why does it feels like I am the enemy here when all I did is to gave him the favor? Why? Of all this years while trying to cope up with these uncertainties, I realized, I made the right choice of finally letting him go.

After I saw him... uninterested like nothing happened at all.

Like all of those memories are vanished... right after that rainfall...