8. Deeper love

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear. I groggily reached over to turn it off, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Another day, another dollar, I thought to myself.

As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my gaze fell on the photo of my boyfriend, Jarred, and me on my nightstand. We'd been together for a few years now, and every day with him felt like a gift.

I got out of bed and began my morning routine, my mind already racing with the tasks I needed to tackle at work. But as I was brushing my teeth, I heard my phone buzz with an incoming text from Jarred.

"Good morning, love," the message read. "Missing you already. Can't wait to see you tonight."

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. It was moments like these that reminded me of just how lucky I was to have Jarred in my life.

Little did I know, today was going to be a day filled with unexpected surprises.

I stood there, frozen in shock, as the gossip spread like wildfire through the office. "Governor Cruz is having an affair with Ms. Villanueva," someone whispered, and my jaw dropped. Kiraz would never do that, I thought to myself.

But before I could even process what was happening, one of our colleagues turned to me and asked, "Clyde, may alam ka?" I was under a microscope. I didn't know what to say. I had no idea what was going on, and I certainly didn't know anything about Kiraz being involved with Governor Cruz.

One of my colleagues sneered at me, "You probably know since she's your friend." The implication was clear: they thought I was covering for Kiraz.

I felt a surge of anger and defensiveness. "No, Kiraz is not a mistress, and I won't tolerate my friends' wrongdoing," I said, trying to keep my cool.

But the whispers and snickers continued. "Kadire, sulsolerang kaibigan," someone muttered, implying that I was a bad friend for supposedly covering for Kiraz.

I tuned them out and tried to contact Kiraz, but her phone was unreachable. Just as the commotion was reaching a fever pitch, our CEO, Mr. Monteverde, walked into the room.

The sudden silence was palpable. "Where is Kiraz?" he asked, his intimidating voice commanding attention.

Everyone scrambled to return to their seats, and all eyes were on me again. "I have been trying to call her, but her phone seems off," I replied.

Mr. Monteverde's eyes narrowed, and I noticed a flicker of concern in his expression. "Do you know where she lives?" he asked.

I nodded, and he said, "Let's go." He turned and walked out of the room, expecting me to follow.

I grabbed my phone and wallet and trailed behind him, wondering what was going on and why Mr. Monteverde was so concerned about Kiraz's whereabouts.

The silence in the car was palpable as Mr. Monteverde suddenly spoke up, "She's not a mistress." I turned to him, slightly taken aback by the awkward timing of his statement.

"Hindi naman ako naniniwala," I replied, And it was true - as long as Kiraz herself didn't confirm it, I wouldn't jump to conclusions.

But then Mr. Monteverde dropped another bombshell: "But she does have a relationship with the governor." My eyes widened in surprise - I had no idea about this.

And then he revealed the shocking truth: "The governor is her father." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut - I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

In the stunned silence that followed, I suddenly asked, "You still love her?" Mr. Monteverde's eyes darted towards me, clearly taken aback by my question.

"You knew?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise. I nodded, and he looked like he'd been caught off guard.

I took a deep breath and asked another question, "Why did you cheat on her?" Mr. Monteverde's expression turned pained, his eyes filled with regret.

"I was a playboy before," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "Jumping from woman to woman. Until I met her, and it changed me." He paused, collecting his thoughts.

"I was a jerk to her at first, playing with her. I thought she was just like all the other women, dating me for my money. So I played her before she could play me, but I was wrong. She was serious about me, and when she left, that's when I realized I'd fallen hard for her. And I changed because of her."

I listened intently, hearing the sincerity in his voice. I'd heard Kiraz's side of the story, and now I was hearing his. It was a complex web of emotions, mistakes, and regrets. But one thing was clear - Mr. Monteverde still had strong feelings for Kiraz.

Mr. Monteverde's eyes pleaded with me as he asked, "Please, don't tell her about this." I nodded, agreeing to keep his secret.

But I couldn't help but ask, "You won't try to win her again?" He looked at me, took a deep breath, and replied, "Not now. I want her to reach her goals first."

I nodded, respecting his decision. I didn't pry any further, sensing that he had said all he wanted to say.

As we arrived at Kiraz's condo, we were met with a surprise. A swarm of media personnel had gathered outside the building, eager to get a scoop.

"Pa'no tayo maka daan?" I asked, wondering how we would get past the crowd.

Mr. Monteverde thought for a moment before responding, "I'll drop you here, and you enter the condo alone. They don't know you, and they don't have any idea who you are. While I, on the other hand, am somewhat well-known. Walking with me would put you in danger."

I nodded, understanding his concern.

He added with a hint of humor, "Besides, baka mapatay ako ni Jarred pag may mangyari sa 'yong masama."

I was taken aback, shocked that he knew Jarred. "How'd you know him?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned nostalgic as he replied, "Childhood friend."

"Go now." He said and I nodded.

As I stepped into the fray, my heart racing with nervousness, I couldn't help but think that Mr. Monteverde had been right. The media swarm barely gave me a second glance, their attention fixed on more promising targets.

I made my way into the building, relieved to escape the chaos outside. My destination was Kiraz's unit, and I stood outside her door, waiting for Mr. Monteverde to join me.

When he arrived, slightly disheveled from his encounter with the media, he apologized, "Sorry, the media went all over me."

I nodded sympathetically, and we knocked on Kiraz's door. But there was no answer.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned worried, and he muttered, "I can't take this anymore." Before I could react, he swiftly typed in the passcode, and to my shock, the door unlocked.

I turned to him, a hint of annoyance in my voice, "You knew the passcode?"

Mr. Monteverde's response was enigmatic, "Respect the privacy." He stepped inside, leaving me to follow.

As we entered Kiraz's room, we found her sitting on the sofa, indulging in a pint of ice cream. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in our sudden appearance. One eyebrow arched, her gaze locked onto Mr. Monteverde, a question implicit in her expression.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice measured, but with a hint of wariness.

Mr. Monteverde's eyes locked onto hers, his expression intense, "We need to talk, Kiraz."

Kiraz's response was a simple, yet firm, "No." Mr. Monteverde's jaw clenched, and Kiraz's smile grew wider, clearly enjoying the upper hand.

"Oh? Ikaw lang ba may karapatan mag reject, Clint?" she said sarcastically, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned cold, and he said, "Your friend is worried about you. I just accompanied her here." I was taken aback, my eyes widening in surprise. Why was he saying that? It was him who had initiated the visit, not me.

Kiraz raised an eyebrow, her gaze locked onto Mr. Monteverde. "Talaga, my friend knew where I lived. So, why would she ask you?" she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mr. Monteverde's face turned red, and he suddenly stood up, his movements abrupt he murmured something before walking out of the room.

Just then, Jarred's voice cut through the tension, "Where are you going, bro?" He walked into the room, a questioning look on his face.

Kiraz teased, "Pikon," and Jarred chuckled, before coming over to me and giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Why are you here?" I asked him, still trying to process the events unfolding around me.

"Clint texted me," he replied, his eyes flicking towards Mr. Monteverde, who was now sitting on the sofa, looking comfortable.

Kiraz turned to us, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Bakit ba kayo nandito?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mr. Monteverde's response was cold, "Asked your friend." I felt a surge of anger at his words, and I stood up, my eyes locked onto his.

"For your information, it was you who went to our office and asked me if I knew where Kiraz was," I said, my voice firm.

Mr. Monteverde's expression didn't change, but I could sense a flicker of annoyance behind his eyes. "If it wasn't me, your colleagues might have eaten you alive," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

I felt my anger boil over, and I took a step forward, my fists clenched. "I didn't ask for your help, and stop lying. It was you who wanted to come here because you're worried about Kiraz," I said, my voice rising.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned cold, and he said, "Jarred, control your girl. I might fire her."

I felt a surge of rage at his words, and I took another step forward, ready to confront him.

But Jarred caught my arm, holding me back. "Stop being immature, bro," he said, his voice calm.

Kiraz stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. "Subukan mo lang tanggalin sa trabaho si Clyde" she said, her voice dripping with defiance.

Mr. Monteverde's expression didn't change, but I could sense a flicker of annoyance behind his eyes. He looked at us, his gaze boring, and I could sense the tension in the room escalating.

The tension in the room was palpable as Mr. Monteverde asked, "Are you not going to offer some drinks to your visitors?" His tone was polite, but I could sense a hint of sarcasm beneath the surface.

Kiraz's eyes narrowed, and she looked like she was about to explode. "Clyde, Jarred, what do you want guys?" she asked us, her voice tight with annoyance.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned even more sour, and he asked, "How 'bout me?" Kiraz's smile was sweet, but her words were laced with venom.

"Hindi ka bisita. Bwesita ka," she said, before storming out of the room.

Jarred and I sat down on the sofa, looking at Mr. Monteverde, who was still sitting comfortably, but with a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

"Stop staring at me," he said, his voice gruff.

Jarred scoffed at him. "I thought you don't love her anymore," he said, his tone dripping with skepticism.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned cold, and he said, "I really don't." But his eyes told a different story, and I could sense the tension between him and Kiraz was far from over.

Jarred raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by Mr. Monteverde's words. "Then why are you here?" he asked, his tone firm but polite.

Mr. Monteverde's expression turned bland, and he said, "I told you, I'm worried about Kiraz. She's been through a lot lately."

I snorted, unable to help myself. "You're worried about her? After what you did to her?" I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.

Mr. Monteverde's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his tone even. "I know I made mistakes in the past, but I'm trying to make amends. I care about Kiraz, and I want to help her."

Jarred leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Mr. Monteverde's. "You care about her? You have a funny way of showing it," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mr. Monteverde's face turned red, and he looked like he was about to explode. But then, Kiraz walked back into the room, a tray of drinks in her hand.

"Hey, guys, I brought some refreshments," she said, her voice bright and cheerful. But her eyes sparkled with amusement, and I knew she was enjoying the tension between Mr. Monteverde and Jarred.

"Thanks, Kiraz," I said, smiling at her. But Mr. Monteverde just grunted, his eyes still flashing with anger.

"Kung pumunta kayo dito dahil sa issue ko, no need to worry about me, I've got everything under control." she said with a nonchalant flick of her wrist. "I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking." Her gaze met mine, and I felt a pang of skepticism. I raised an eyebrow, my eyes narrowing slightly as I searched for any cracks in her cheerful facade. But Kiraz just smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and for a moment, I wondered if I had misread her entirely.

"Seriously, Clyde, I am okay." Her bright smile put me at ease, and I nodded, feeling a sense of relief.

Jarred stood up, "Since Kiraz is okay, we'll go now." I nodded in agreement, remembering the work I still had to do.

But to our surprise, Clint said firmly, "You two go, I'll stay here." Kiraz's eyes flashed with anger, and she shouted when she saw Clint walking towards her bedroom, "Hoy, gago ka! Anong ginagawa mo diyan?"

Jarred and I exchanged a look, and we both burst out laughing. Jarred pulled me into a tight hug, his scent enveloping me. "What's wrong, love?" I asked, but he just hugged me tighter.

"I'm recharging, baby," he said, his voice muffled against my shoulder. I chuckled and patted his back.

But then, I realized something. "Hmm, how long have you known about Kiraz and Clint?" I asked, pulling back to look at him.

Jarred's grin faltered, and he looked at me sheepishly. "Last time you asked Kiraz about her past," I said. "But you knew Clint, and based on what you said earlier, you seemed to know everything."

I raised an eyebrow, "We promised, no secrets. Remember?" Jarred nodded, looking guilty, and kissed my fingertips.

"I'm sorry, love, for not telling you this."

I nodded, waiting for his explanation. "I knew Kiraz and her past with Clint. I knew everything. The reason why I asked Kiraz about her past is because I wanted to know if she still loved Clint."

I crossed my arms, pretending to be mad. "Why didn't you just ask her directly?"

Jarred's tone turned soft, "Because she would have denied it."

I raised an eyebrow, "Why did you want to know?"

Jarred's expression turned serious, "Because Clint still loves her."

I nodded, smiling at him. "Okay, forgiven." Jarred's face lit up with a smile, and he planted a quick kiss on my lips.

"Let's go na?" I nodded, and we both stood up to leave, arm in arm.

As the days dragged on, the office gossip mill continued to churn out rumors and speculation about Kiraz's abrupt disappearance. The tension was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel frustrated by the lack of clarity.

Kiraz had been absent for almost a week, and our superior, Mrs. Dela Cruz, was getting increasingly agitated. "I want to fire her, but I just can't," she confided in me one day, her voice laced with exasperation.

I was taken aback by her words. "Why can't you fire her?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Mrs. Dela Cruz hesitated, glancing around the office nervously. "Let's just say that Kiraz has... connections. Mr. Monteverde, and I don't want to risk any... repercussions."

I nodded, understanding. Mr. Monteverde is quite powerful. I also found out that Mr. Dela Cruz knew about Kiraz and Clint.

But what really puzzled me was why Kiraz herself wasn't doing anything to clear her name. She was a talented and capable employee, and it seemed unfair that she was being maligned by rumors and speculation.

And then there was Clint, who seemed to be taking a similarly passive approach. I had expected him to be more proactive in defending Kiraz, given their complicated history.

One day, I confided in Jarred about my frustrations. "I don't get it," I said, throwing up my hands in exasperation. "Why isn't Kiraz doing anything to clear her name? And why is Clint just standing by?"

Jarred's expression was calm and measured. "Just keep quiet, baby," he advised. "You don't know anything about Kiraz's relationship with her father, or what's really going on behind the scenes."

I frowned, feeling a twinge of annoyance. "But that's just it - I don't know anything. And it's driving me crazy."

Jarred chuckled and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Trust me, Clyde. Sometimes it's better to just let things play out. Kiraz and Clint know what they're doing."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. But Jarred just smiled and said, "Just be patient, okay?"

I settled into my routine, following Jarred's advice to keep quiet and pretend I didn't know anything. But my focus was short-lived, as my phone buzzed with a message from our friends' group chat.

Ashley's enthusiastic message popped up on my screen: "@Kiraz @Clyde, gala tayoooooo!" Kiraz responded with a playful "geh!", while I hesitated, unsure of what to make of the sudden invitation.

"Gala? What's going on?" I thought to myself. I typed out a hasty response, "Can't, I have a lot of work." But Kiraz was quick to respond, "We will pick you up, Clyde. Bawal kang tumanggi. This gala is for you."

My confusion deepened. A gala for me? What were they planning? I felt a surge of skepticism, wondering if they were just trying to convince me to join them.

Ashley chimed in, teasing Kiraz with a joke, "Kahit kailan, bobo ka talaga @Kiraz". I rolled my eyes, chuckling at their banter. But then Ashley's next message caught my attention, "We are on our way na".

I turned off my phone, deciding to focus on my work. "You'll pick me up? Huh! Then wait until I finish my work," I thought to myself, smiling wryly.

Just as I was getting into the zone, our CEO appeared in our office, his presence commanding attention. My colleagues looked intimidated, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as he approached me.

"Early out," he said curtly, his voice cold.

I looked up at him, confused. "Umalis ka na lang, baka mapatay pa 'ko ni Kiraz," he added, before turning on his heel and leaving.

I was dumbfounded, unsure of what to make of his sudden dismissal. I felt a twinge of annoyance, but as I packed up my things, I couldn't help but wonder what Kiraz had planned.

As I made my way down to the lobby, I spotted the two culprits waiting for me. Kiraz waved enthusiastically, while Ashley sprinted towards me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.

"I miss you, sis!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

I laughed, trying to extricate myself from her grasp. "Stop hugging me, you two have something to answer for," I said, pretending to be stern.

But they just grinned at me, their mischievous expressions making me wonder what they had planned. "Mawawala din 'yan, Tara, to the condo."Ashley said, mimicking a line from Barbie and the Dreamhouse.

"To the salon, bobo," Kiraz said with a smirk.

Ashley raised an eyebrow, correcting her. "Condo tayo pupunta eh, hindi sa salon. Ikaw 'yung bobo."

Kiraz and Ashley burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but chuckle along with them.

As we arrived at the condo, I began to feel a sense of excitement and curiosity. What did they have planned? And what did Kiraz mean by "this gala is for you"?

"Is this really necessary?" I asked, looking at the full-coverage makeup and the stunning red glitz and glam cocktail dress they had chosen for me.

Ashley nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, kasi kakain tayo sa fine dining restaurant."

Kiraz teased Ashley, "Kaya, Ash, 'yang pagiging squatter mo iiwan mo ha." Ashley rolled her eyes and continued to fix my hair.

After we finished getting ready, we left the condo and headed to the "fine dining restaurant". But when we arrived, I was taken aback. The sign above the door read "Khia's Cafe". I looked at Kiraz and Ashley, confusion etched on my face.

"Surprised," they chimed in unison, grinning mischievously.

As I entered the cafe, I was even more shocked. My family was there, Jarred's family was there, and even Clint was in attendance. Our friends were also scattered around the room, all smiling and chatting.

What was going on? Kiraz and Ashley walked me to the front of the room, and I realized that we were standing in the same spot where Jarred had serenaded me with a song when I confessed my feelings to him?

I looked at Kiraz and Ashley, but they just smiled at me. I glanced at my family, and they were all emotional, tears welling up in their eyes. Jarred's family was also visibly moved.

Suddenly, it hit me - I had an idea why I was here. Was this the day?

Just then, the sound of a guitar strumming filled the air. I turned to see Jarred, the love of my life, walking towards me, a guitar in hand. My heart skipped a beat as I waited with bated breath to see what would happen next.

I stood there, frozen in time, as Jarred's soulful voice washed over me. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Lift your head, baby don't be scared," he sang, his voice a gentle whisper that seemed to speak directly to my soul. "Of the things that could go wrong along the way."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened to his words. It was as if he knew exactly what I needed to hear.

"You'll get by with a smile," he continued, his voice growing stronger. "You can't win at everything, but you can try."

I felt a smile spread across my face, despite the tears that pricked at the corners of my eyes. Jarred's words were like a balm to my soul, soothing my fears and calming my doubts.

"Baby, you don't have to worry," he sang, his voice filled with conviction. "'Cause there ain't no need to hurry."

As he sang, I felt my worries begin to fade away. It was as if Jarred was wrapping me in a warm hug, holding me close and telling me that everything would be okay.

The music swelled, and Jarred's voice grew louder. "Girl, I'll stay through the bad times," he sang. "Even if I have to fetch you every day."

I felt my heart swell with emotion. Jarred was promising to be there for me, no matter what. He was promising to love me, to support me, and to stay by my side through all of life's ups and downs.

As the song came to an end, Jarred's eyes locked onto mine once more. "You'll get along with a little prayer and a song," he sang, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Clyde, from the moment I met you, I knew that you were someone special."

I felt my heart skip a beat as Jarred's words washed over me. His eyes were locked on mine, and I could see the sincerity and adoration shining in them.

My cheeks flushed with warmth as I listened to his sweet words. I felt like I was melting into his gaze, my entire being focused on the man standing before me.

"Your smile lit up the room, and your laughter captivated my heart," he said, his voice low and husky.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I processed his words. No one had ever said anything so beautiful to me before. I felt seen, heard, and loved in a way that I never had before.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I gazed up at Jarred. I felt like I was drowning in his love, and I never wanted to come up for air. Okay

''You are the sunshine that brightens up my day, and the stars that light up my night. You are my best friend, my partner in crime, and my soulmate.''

My heart swelled with emotion, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I was breathless, my lips parted in a silent gasp. Jarred's words were like a warm hug, enveloping me in a sense of love and belonging. I felt like I was home, like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

"Clyde, I love you for who you are, and for who you help me to be. I love your quirks, your passions, and your beautiful heart."

And then, in a moment that felt like time stood still, Jarred dropped to one knee and pulled out a small box. "Clyde," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Will you marry me?"