twenty-one

Aliyah was now busy preparing her presentation for the project she's been working on for the past few months, she leaned on her chair as she massages her forehead, she's been working for at least six hours straight having just a few bites on her lunch that was delivered by Charles, who brought back the package he stole, he just says that he just wants it to have accompanied because it will be bored in her office. A small smile slipped on her lips as she remembers how nonsense his reason is.

Her secretary knocks on the door before opening it, "Mr. Diaz is already here" sabi niya at pinagbuksan ng pinto si Adam.

Adam walked inside of her office in his black suit, eyeing Aliyah whose been surrounded by documents in her desk, "I'll give you ten minutes to get ready" he said and sit on the couch.

Widening her tired eyes, she looked at the clock, "You are too early!" she said

Adam looked at her indifferently "It is now one forty-nine Our appointment was at two o'clock and I gave you ten minutes to prepare, so?" he leaned at the couched as he presented his arguments

Aliyah's anger was kicking in as she remembers her medicine, she opened her drawer to get the medicine and drink it up, standing up she fixes the documents in her table "Wala ka bang magawa sa buhay mo? Bakit nandito ka? I could just go to the meeting place"

Adam looked at her crossing his legs "Do you know where the meeting place is?"

She was shocked for a moment "I could ask my assistant, or I'll ask google about it" she stated and place her necessities in her purse "Where is it? I'll drive there" she said as she walks towards her office door.

"You can't find that place" Adam stood up and walk towards her "Because I didn't set a meeting place" holding her chin up, "Why?" he voiced out because he knew Aliyah would ask him that.

When Adam holds her chin up, she can feel herself trembling again, so she immediately dodges his touch "I don't care about your why's" she said and immediately walks outside of her office.

Seeing how Aliyah reacts to his touch, a confused look was plastered on his face "Because I'll be picking you up" he continued as he looked at the woman's back leaving hurriedly.

Aliyah stop her tracks as she looked back "Nasan na ang gagong yon?" she asked "I don't know where we will go" she murmurs as she looked around the parking area.

Walking on the side trying to find the car of Adam she remembers from the other day a car horns caught her attention. Looking at her back, she easily recognized it was Adam's car, she was about to open the backseat when the window opened.

"Don't you remember? I hate people making me look like a driver" he said as he opened the passenger seat inside "Did you forget that?" he asked when she gets inside the car

Aliyah just look at him for seconds before looking away "I knew someone who wouldn't allow anyone to sit on his passenger seat unless it's his girlfriend" she said as she clasped her seatbelt

"Who is it?" he curiously looked at her

"Dr. Costa" she said flatly

Starting his cars "It was the same for me" he murmurs but Aliyah was not able to hear it because her mind was preoccupied with calming things, she needs to calm her nerves.

No one dares to speak when the drive starts, Aliyah felt so awkward that she suddenly laughs.

Adam took a glance at Aliyah who just laughs "What are you laughing about? Are you insane?" he questioned as he gave her a confused look.

Aliyah immediately racks her brain to look for reasons, "I just realized that you are kidnapping me, you are not telling me where we will go" she stated

"You're not a kid" he jokes

"Funny na yon? Last entry mo na yan ha" she said as a small smile planted on her face

"You" he warned, clearing his throat "You are the one who is not asking where the heck we will go" he stated

Aliyah looked at him "So kailangan tinatanong pa hindi ka magkukusa magconfess ganon?" She rolled her eyes "Oh, so where are we going Mr. Diaz?"

"In the restaurant," he said casually

"Did you just book an appointment for two hours and all we are going to do is to eat? For two hours?" she questioned looking at him raising her eyebrows.

"Is it not a good idea? We will not waste our energy on a nonsense thing" seeing dissatisfaction on the face of Aliyah, he fell silent for a minute "Do you have a better idea?"

"None" she shook her head "But it was just lame" she murmured.

"Zania told me that it was the best way on being comfortable to each other," he said stopping his car when the red was flashed on the traffic light

She turned around and look at him "Zania?"

"Oh she- "he was about to explain

"No need I just found that name familiar," she said immediately "We better hurry up, eat and leave," she said as she looks outside, and they fell silent again.

She licked her lips once again as she glances at the man in front of her eating quietly 'This is awkward' she thought.

Adam cannot help but to chuckle when he saw the complicated expression Aliyah has, "Do you have anything to say?"

Aliyah looked at him for a second and focuses on her plate again, "It's more awkward than I thought" she admitted "Should we just talk about business?" she eyed him with a glitter eyes "Do you have any questions about it?"

Adam was amazed how she tries to ease the awkwardness between them, but he just shakes his head "I already asked all the question I've been curious about the project, to your representative" he stated and put down his utensils as he is done eating "But I have something else I'm curious about" he added

Aliyah who is not yet done with her food glances at him "What is it?" as she sipped on the glass of water

Crossing his arms, he eyed her "Why do I feel that you're so close with Dr. Costa? Is he your boyfriend?"

"What?!" Aliyah said as she coughed, Adam just caught her off guard by his question

Adam just looks at her, sipping on his drink he has no intention to repeat his question seeing that she spilled some juice on her desk because she was shocked by his question a while ago, he leaned down to wipe those spilled juice.

When Adam leaned on her direction, she immediately stood up, pagkatayo nya ay natumba ang kanyang baso na may laman pang tubig "Tangina naman oh" she cursed as she wiped herself and even her clothes.

Adam hurriedly goes to her side to help her but before he could touch her, Aliyah dodges his touch as she moves a few steps away from him saying "I need to go to the bathroom" and she hurriedly left to the bathroom and leave him dumbfounded there.

Aliyah, who is now in the bathroom, was trying to catch her breath, staring at her restless reflection in the mirror, 'how can I survive with the next meeting?' she asked herself. Opening the faucet, she starts to splash water in her face but still, her hands were trembling and now she is gasping for air. 'Fuck' she cursed under her breath her phone and medicine are in the table she was in a panic a while ago that she could not think straight and bring her phone with her.

Luckily when her mind starts to become fuzzy a girl in her teens entered the lady's room. She immediately comes to her side "Anong nangyayari? Kailangan mo ba ng ambulance?" she asked as she rubs Aliyah's back.

"Please get my purse on the table near the window, a man in his 20's wearing a blue suit is there and maybe wearing a grimaced face named Adam," she said not even gasping for air to pause, as she holds tightly to the edge of the sink "Faster, please" she pushed the little girl towards the door.

The girl was reluctant to leave her at first but immediately run outside of the lady's room.

Adam who is waiting near the ladies' room, saw the little girl and stops her "Is she okay?" he asked

"Kailangan nya ng purse nya! Emergency!" She said and immediately get the purse in Adam's hand when he handed it, instantly leaving the guy behind.

Aliyah who was gasping for air inside the lady's room was now sitting on the floor, the girl immediately handed her purse.

"Thanks" she murmurs as she rummages in her purse, getting her medicine and inhaler.

The little girl just stayed by her side until she is okay again, "Are you really okay? Gusto mo tumawag tayo ng ambulansya? Baka napaano na kayo ng baby mo, yung asawa mo nag-aalala sa labas" she said while rubbing Aliyah's back

Aliyah's mind was still fuzzy, as she looked at the girl, only one word just got registered in her mind and it was the 'asawa', she try to focus her gaze on her "What are you taking about? Whose husband?"

The girl paused as she rolled her eyes, "Duh it's yours alangan naman akin ang bata bata ko pa no dami ko pang pangarap sa buhay"

"I don't have a husband" she declared.

"Oh my! Hindi pa kayo kasal? Kawawa naman si baby" sabi nito at hinimas ang tyan nya

"What?!" she exclaimed "I don't have a baby! Who told you that?"

"It was your husband! Opps hindi pa nga pala he told me na sundan kita dito because he is afraid na you will lose your baby because you are too furious at him daw!" paliwanag nito with some gestures.

"Tangina kung ano-ano na naman pinagsasabi ng gagong yon" sabi ni Aliyah at tumayo na sa pagkakalupagi niya sa sahig. Fixing her clothes, she looked at the little girl "Wala akong asawa at lalong wala akong baby. I am a single independent woman" she said "Thanks for your help by the way. I need to go. Remember if you have troubles in the future just find Aliyah Rose Argania" she said and left the restroom.

Seeing Adam who's leaning on the wall near lady's bathroom she walk towards him, "Adam Vincent ano na naman pinagsasabi mo" tanong nya agad dito

Adam looked at Aliyah "Are you okay?" he examined her; he holds her wrist "Is it the time of the month?" he asked straightforwardly

Aliyah immediately pull out her hands, trying to calm her nerves she eyed him "What are you talking about? Wag mo nga binabago ang usapan" she exhaled deeply "And don't touch me" she added

Adam got something to say but he just pursed his lips as he looked at her for a second and turned around "Let's go" he said as he was walking away.

Looking at his back Aliyah bite her lower lip, 'Am I too harsh?' she thought as she followed Adam.

Getting into the car, she glances at Adam who just have a straight face, gulping down her saliva "Where are we going?" she asked

His eyes were focused outside, not looking at her direction, "Ihahatid na kita sa company nyo" he answered as he casually starts the car.

Aliyah who is not used with this kind of atmosphere, she glances at her watch "We still have an hour and twenty minutes" she stated

"It's alright you can use that time to rest, I heard that your schedule for today was full" he stated still not looking at her

Chewing her inner cheeks "Hindi ka ba nanghihinayang na masasayang ang oras mo? We should use our time wisely" she said

"It's fine"

Inhaling deeply, she smiled awkwardly as she looks at Adam's side view, "Can we go to the mall?" she suggested as she pursed her lips tightly while waiting for his answer.

Hearing her suggestion Adam did not respond immediately, looking at the traffic light turns red he turns his head towards her, narrowing his eyes at the awkward woman "Why?"

Avoiding his gaze, she looks at her clothes that were stained by the juice a while ago "I need to change to cleaner clothes" she said

Sighing and he fell silent for a moment before he looks at her again, "Okay. Let's buy you some clothes" he complies

Aliyah eyed him "I was the one who will buy my own clothes" she corrected

"Hmm," he hummed as he starts the car again when the light turns green.