thirty-three

Aliyah stormed in Adam's office, she looks at the man fuming with anger throwing the tabloid in the center table, with her hands in her waist she eyed the tanned man sitting prettily in front of her "Adam Vincent ano ito?!"

"News? That I'm living with my fiancé" he stated as he goes back on the documents in his hands.

Aliyah comb her hair in anger "Adam!" she hissed "My fucking name was mentioned! Ilang beses ko nang sinabi sayo na wag kang pumunta sa bahay namin ni Elyse!"

Adam eyed the furious girl in front of him "It was my house too, I am the one who bought it" he stared at the tabloid for a minute "You're right your name was mentioned, but there is nothing wrong with it" he looks at her

"Are you fucking kidding me?! I am not your fiancé!" she protests "Remove the articles, now!" she demanded

Adam shrugs "It was the fact that you couldn't accept, I'm sure you already asked your parents about it"

"It was my parents who agreed! Not me! Sino ba dapat kinokunsulta dito di ba ako?" she frustratedly asks

"Alright. Calm down I know I am not the one who's stressing you but the directors" he stated as he stood up and lead her to sit "I'll remove the articles now" he said as he took out his phone and ordered his secretary to remove the articles circulating.

Aliyah calm down her nerves as she remembers her initial plan of going in his office, those articles distract her a bit, she looks at Adam who's back on reviewing documents in front of her. She bit her lips "Adam" she calls

"Hmm?" he responded before moving his gaze from the document to her, "What is it?"

"You know" panimula ni Aliyah, gaining her confidence she looks into his eyes "Would you like to go with me to the café this afternoon?"

His lips curved upwards, "Are you asking me for a date?"

"No" Aliyah immediately shakes her head in denial, "Actually I decided to meet Gio" she bit her lips

"Oh," he said as he goes back to his documents "Why do you need me there? You want me to be a third wheel?"

She looks at the man who's fuming with jealousy, she rolled her eyes "Are you dumb?"

"That's my line little woman" he looked at her

"Whatever. If you don't want to come, I'll just ask for Dr. Costa" she said and stood up

Looking at his wristwatch "Where is the cafe? I am quite hungry doon na lang ako maglulunch" Adam stood up tossing the documents aside, "Let's go" he said while he passed by Aliyah.

Aliyah just shakes her head and follow the tall man na nauna na sa kanya.

Adam looks at the woman who has been staring at the cafe through his car windows for almost ten minutes "Are we gonna go?" he impatiently asks "Or better wag mo na lang sya tagpuin"

Aliyah eyed the man and narrowed her eyes "Who told me that I need to meet him?" she rolled her eyes as she sighed and open the door. "I'll go now," she said and get out of the car.

"You don't need me there?" he asked in disbelief 'Did she just let me drive for her?' he thought

Aliyah smiles at him "I can manage" she whispered still uncertain on what she has said.

Looking at the frame of the petite woman walking towards the café, he unbuckled his seatbelt and get's out of the car. 'I am just grabbing my lunch there' he thought

Before entering the restaurant, she exhaled once again controlling her breathing, 'You can do it Aliyah' she pondered and push herself to enter the door.

Gio was sitting near to the window, hearing the café's doorbell he immediately eyed the woman who just entered, putting a smile in his angelic face he stood up to welcome her "Long time no see, Aliyah" he greeted and offers his hand

Aliyah stares on the hand being offered to her, gripping on her dress, she smiles at him wryly "So—" before she could finish her line a man appeared in her side.

"Hello, Gio" smoothly shakes Gio's hand "Long time no see"

"Adam" Gio acknowledges him as he nods and moves his gaze to the petite woman beside Adam and to their hands holding.

Adam immediately held the hands of Aliyah that is gripping on her dress a while ago, giving her a sense of comfort, he turned around and eyed the anxious woman, moving his mouth near to her ears "Do you want me to accompany you?" he whispers

Aliyah gulps as she turned around and smiles at him "I can do it" she claimed more on encourages herself.

"Alright" Adam nods "I'll just get the nearest table to you" he pointed out a table in a distance and eyed Gio who's been observing his and Aliyah's interaction "Please take care of Aliyah," he said

Gio just nods at him.

Adam pulled Aliyah's chair before whispering in her ear when she is already seated, "You don't need to be nervous. I'm here" he reassured

Aliyah just nod at him before she looks at Gio "Sorry for that" she apologized

Gio gave her a warm smile "You don't need to" he stares at her

She felt uncomfortable under his gaze, so she looks away, "I'll get to the point, you're not the one who's driving your car when the accident happened?"

Gio reluctantly looks at her and asked for a waiter, he turns his head Aliyah "Should we eat first? Lunchtime naman ngayon I'm sure you are hungry"

Aliyah shakes her head "I don't think na kaya ko kumain, let's just make this short Gio. I'm not comfortable" she admitted

"I'll order some just in case you got hungry" he persisted as he looks at the waiter, waiting for their order.

Aliyah just sighs Gio was persistent, so she let him and just looks at him as he orders the dishes and it was all her favorite dishes. "Gio. Hindi ako kakain you're just wasting your money" saway niya dito.

"Just in case" baling nito kay Aliyah bago humarap sa waiter and give him a nod, the waiter bowed at them and take his leave to prepare the dishes Gio have ordered.

"So how are you Aliyah?" panimula ni Gio getting Aliyah's attention who's currently looking at Adam's table

Aliyah move her gaze to Gio who's sitting across her, "Gio alam mo kung bakit ako nakipagkita sayo, let's get straight to the point"

Gio sighs as he nods at her "Yes, it was my father" he confirmed "The one who tried to kill you" he continued

Her eyes waver as she looks at him, closing her fist tightly "But why?" she mutters

Gio looks outside before sipping water, "Because you are the child of Mr. and Mrs. Argania" he said and eyed Aliyah.

With a creased brow, her eyes narrowed at his direction, meeting his hazel eyes that she once loved "Anong kinalaman kung anak ako nila?"

"You are the reason kung bakit hindi sila nagkatuluyan ni Mrs. Argania and your father was the reason kung bakit nakulong ang tatay ko noon" he reveals

"What the fuck are you talking about?" naguguluhan na tanong niya, she sips the glass of water at her side trying to calm herself.

"Do you know why your parents oppose our relationship from the start?" he asks as the waiter put the dishes in front of them.

Looking at him, she gulps continuously "Because you are out of my league?" she asks which is the only reason her parents gave her.

"Because my father was a murderer" he leans on the table "Murderer of your father's best friend, katulad nang nangyari sa inyo he failed to kill your father and the history repeats itself" he muttered