Hurt

"Rough day huh?"

Felix turns his head. It's Rames, and the man brings two empty tea cups with a pot of freshly brewed tea in a tray. He politely puts the tray on the table, taking his seat next to Felix.

It's a nice evening view, live from the balcony. It connects the two units of the condo; Reis's and Rames'. The wind blows just enough to make the greens dance in joy. The Sun is not too cruel with its shine, sometimes the cloud envelopes it while passing by the sky.

"Gi told me what happened at the Axl..." Rames chuckles a bit before he sips the tea. "I did warn him before, actually. At least he needs to learn how to lock the door."

Looking at how cool Rames is with the situation between Gi and Luke, Felix assumes that the relationship is not a new thing for this family. Everyone knows, and everyone keeps it from the public in a subtle way possible.

"I heard Phaya was there as well..."

"Yeah. He's a project manager. Of course his presence is important," Felix replies.

"I never deny it. But, I do understand why he insisted on coming along with you two..." Rames pours the tea into Felix's cup elegantly. "That man tries to gatekeeping Cè, after learning about your presence as her new PA..."

"Did they have a history...?"

"They used to date during college days. All the way before Cè lived with Gi abroad. They lost contact with each other, only to get back together when they met in London," Rames opens up the background story.

"So, they continue dating?"

"Nope. Reis refused to reconcile. But, they remain friends, start a company together and move on with their life, as you can see now," Rames continues.

"Why did they break up? I mean, come to think of it, Phaya is a perfect man. Charismatic, a great leader with a vision. He looks like he cares about Miss Ratchana. But, why?" Felix's inquiry makes Rames smile bitterly.

"It's normal to have some intimate moments when you're a couple, right? In this case, it's not that Cè didn't want to. But, she can't do it. Whenever they try to get intimate, Cè was having a meltdown due to the traumatic event–you do know what it is, right?"

Felix nods in silence. An event that he himself can't even bring up.

"So, by pressure, she decided to call it off. Phaya was devastated because he did try his best for the relationship but it seems like it didn't work for both of them," Rames sighs. It seems like he, too, share the pain of separation between them.

"You seems to adore Phaya..."

Rames smiles in vague. "I don't. I just wanna see Cè happy. I thought Phaya can help her, but I guess, I was hoping too much..."

And his eyes linger at Felix. Giving the man a meaningful look.

"How did you see Cè, Hia Felix?"

Felix is taken aback by that inquiry. He takes a moment, trying to organize his feeling and what's in his mind.

"A strong woman facades the scar inside..." those words come out from Felix unconsciously.

"Sympathy? Feels sorry?"

Felix shakes his head left and right. "No. She's a strong woman. She doesn't need that..."

Rames nods faintly. He let out a deep sigh. Finally, someone who can talk about her sister in honest. Someone who sees her true self, rather than just a piece of meat.

"Whenever I ask any men who try to approach Cè, they would say that Cè is beautiful, successful and a dream girl. They only saw what they wanted to; her appearance," Rames sneers a bit before he continues. "Don't let me get to the point when I meet several others who only treasure her body silhouette than her kind heart... Those creeps!"

"Men..." Felix murmurs, unconsciously. But later his lips gap a bit, realization hits him when he sees Rames chuckles.

"Well, only men knows men!"

In the end, Felix, too, sneers as he laughs over his stupidity.

***

Reis rubs her eyes. A good nap is nice, but she never expected to sleep soundly like a baby. For all these years, her nights fill in a series of nightmares. Thus, sleeping is not really her best friend.

But today, Reis slept in for she doesn't know how long it is. Coming back from Axl Arena, she dozes off, thinking she only needed her power nap, ended up in her bed until the sky goes dark.

Wait.

She realizes something. While her brain processing some inquiries, she slowly pushes away the duvet and get on her feet.

I took a nap on the sofa. Who brought me into my room?

Reis is pacing around the room when she catches a glimpse of a man at the balcony. He is leaning forward against the rail, watching the starry sky all by himself.

What's he doing here? Reis asks herself. She slowly opens the door and going out from her bedroom, walking subtly towards the balcony.

"Why are you still here, Felix?"

Felix turns around, looking at Reis–still in the same attire that she wore to Axl Arena–standing at the arch of the sliding door between the living room and the balcony.

"I'm working on your schedule. Since I won't be available tomorrow morning, I think, I should give you a brief about it tonight," Felix replies. He walks towards the steel table where he puts his laptop and some papers.

"Where are you going?" Reis asks. Her voice laces in anxious.

Felix, who seems to understand the tone, sighs a bit, before he dons his glasses, ready to read the whole schedule for tomorrow.

"You have a breakfast date with Mr. Nitthitorn at eight thirty. Since he insisted to pick you up, I don't think he is eager to see me joining the crowd," says Felix calmly. "It's a date anyway. Who brings their PA on a date–"

"Can I not come?" Reis cuts off Felix before he continues. "I don't want to meet him."

"Going on a date is good to blossom your relationship, Miss Ratchana. Besides, it's a good PR for both companies; yours and him.." Felix carefully explains the reason. He picks the most suitable words and arrange it in the most delicate way possible.

"I'm not going if you're not come along..."

"Miss Ratchana, I can't..."

"Why?" Reis's inquiry makes Felix feels bitter. He slowly put down his glasses and take a good look at Reis.

She definitely looks angry.

"It's a date. You know what it means–"

"I never said I wanna date Jupe. I never said I wanna marry him. It's all arrange by Por. And for that, a date in unnecessary," says Reis. She's getting stubborn a bit.

Felix grips his pen tight. Thinking about how to force Reis to go. Honestly, he too, doesn't keen of this idea. But, Jupe keeps on pestering him over it, to the extent that the man forced Tan to call Felix to arrange a date for Reis and him.

"What if I told you, it's your Por who arranged this date? Would you say no?"

"What if I say no? Can you cancel it for me?" asks Reis. "My secretary is a pro when it comes to reject invitations. Why couldn't you?"

Felix stares at Reis. She stands firm, envelope her waist with both of her hands. Her hair draps perfectly on her shoulder–come to think of it, this is the first time Felix sees her hair untied. Not to mentioned, her beauty bare face. She looks even more sexier–

Gosh! What was I thinking! Felix snaps. He shifts his gaze away, pretending to check on his laptop.

"Did you just ignore me, Felix?" Reis is getting angrier. The silence from that young man makes her blood boiled inside.

"At ten, you have an appointment at Paragon. And luncheon at twelve at the same venue–"

"I don't wanna hear that! I want you to cancel the date!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Ratchana... The date with Mr. Nitthitorn is already fixed. No negotiation," Felix braces up himself to face Reis's anger. He stands up, packs his bag and ready to leave when Reis grabs his wrist tight.

"You promise to protect me, Felix!" Reis shoots a deep gaze at him. "And you choose to toast me around like a ball? Just like that?"

"Miss Ratchana..." Felix softly untangles Reis's hand from him. "Just go on a date, nothing harmless. It's good to have fun once in a while..."

Hearing Felix's weak response, Reis can't hold her anger anymore. Tears rolling from her eyes as she turns her body, facing Felix.

"And here I am, thinking that you might be different from the others...." Reis grunts. "I was wrong."

Reis sneers sarcastically before she stomps her feet into the condo, leaving Felix alone, devastating.

I'm sorry, Reis! I'm sorry...