I GLANCED at the watch on my wrist. It was almost nine in the morning, but Xander still hadn't shown up in the office. It was unusual because he never showed up to work late. He always arrived on time.
I couldn't help but get worried. What if… what if something happened to Xander?
Stop thinking negative thoughts, Charity.
"Charity…" I didn't notice Pamela was already standing in front of my desk. "Sir Austin asked me to give this to Sir Xander." She handed me a couple of white folders.
"I'll give these to him once he arrives," I said, putting the folders on my desk.
"He's still not in his office?"
I shook my head.
"It's strange," Pamela commented with a creased forehead. "He never goes to work late." She looked at me with a slightly concerned face. "Maybe he was sick. You should call him, Charity."
Xander gave me his personal number and said I should contact him for important matters. Why didn't I think of that? I took out my phone and dialed his number.
"Charity?" I heard his deep and raspy voice on the other line. Was he really sick, just like what Pamela suspected?
"I… uh called you because you didn't go to work."
"I was about to call you to inform you that you couldn't go to work today. I think I've got flu." I heard him cough.
I bit my lower lip in concern. Was he alright? Who was taking care of him? Xander was an only child. And his parents died years ago. Yep, I know that about him.
"Sir, there are some important documents here that need your signature," I informed him, looking at the folders Pamela handed me.
"Can I ask a favor, Charity?"
What favor? Did he want me to take care of him? I shook my head. Of course, he wouldn't ask for that.
"What is it, Sir?"
"Can you bring me the files that I need to sign?"
"Of course, Sir." I pursed my lips when I remembered something. "But I didn't know where you live, Sir."
"Right." I heard his small chuckle that was immediately followed by a cough. "I'll text you the address."
After ending the call, I received a text message from him. He lived in a condo unit in Pasig. It was only twenty minutes away from the office.
"I heard from Pamela that Xander didn't come to work today," Sir Austin said when we saw each other on the elevator. I saw him glance at the folders in my hand.
"Yes, Sir. He just asked me to bring these files to him."
"You're going to his unit?" I noticed how his dark eyebrows arched a bit. But his face remained impassive.
Damn. Austin Villarama was one heck of an intimidating man. He was really different from his cousin.
"Uh… yes, Sir." I tried to give him a short answer, but he kept on looking at me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable. I felt like he was reading my face. "Uh… Sir Xander asked me this favor, Sir."
The elevator stopped on the eighth floor. I felt a sigh of relief. Before he stepped out, he turned to me and gave me a small smile.
"Tell him to take his medicines, Miss Charity."
I watched as the elevator door closed on me. Did the snobby Austin Villarama just smile at me?
Remembering Austin's words, I dropped by the nearby drugstore and bought cold medicines. It took me thirty minutes before I arrived at the condo building where Xander lives.
The building had tight security, so I had to leave my ID at the front desk first. I drew a deep breath and fixed my hair first before I pressed the doorbell.
A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing Xander.
He was only wearing a white v-neck shirt and drawstring shorts. His wavy hair was a little messy. He looked different from his usual office look. But nonetheless, he was still as handsome as ever. It was the first time I saw him this way. Damn, he was cute…
"Come in, Charity." Xander gave me a smile as he opened the door wider for me. "I'm sorry for the trouble."
He led me inside the unit. It was wide but minimalist. His wall was a combination of brown and cream. Even the carpet was in a neutral color. I noticed the huge black and white painting on the wall and the wooden bookshelf in the corner of the living room.
"Please, take a seat." Xander motioned to the huge black sofa. I noticed his laptop on the center table. There was also an empty plate and mug of coffee there. He's still working despite his condition.
"Do you want something to drink?"
My eyes went to him. He was picking up the empty plate and mug on the glass coffee table.
"No. Sir. Don't bother. Besides, you're sick." I placed the folders in the empty space beside me. "Here are the files you asked me to bring you, Sir." Then I handed him the plastic bag from the drugstore. "I also bought some cold medicines on the way here." I pursed my lips. "I talked to Sir Austin earlier. He asked me to tell you to take your medicine. I decided to buy some in case you don't have one here."
"Oh. I've already taken my meds, but thank you for this." He smiled at me, and I just had to order my heart to stay calm.
"When you get back to the office, tell him this is his fault for not bringing an umbrella yesterday." He coughed a bit, then excused himself to me. "I'll just take this to the kitchen, Charity."
I followed as he left the living room. Is it Austin's fault for not bringing an umbrella? I remembered that it rained yesterday evening. So he was with Austin yesterday and not with his girlfriend?
I shook my head. I shouldn't care if he spends his weekend with a woman. I pursed my lips. I suddenly remembered the umbrella he gave me seven years ago. I still had it with me.
I looked around his unit. My eyes couldn't help but stare at his bookshelf in the corner. I stood up and went to the bookshelf. I ran my fingers through the books displayed there. Most of them were business books. But I noticed that there were also fiction books on the top shelf. I saw some works of George Orwell and Ernest Hemmingway there.
Suddenly, a certain memory flashed back into me.
I bit my lower lip as I tried to reach the book on the top shelf of the fiction section of the library.
"Ugh," I grunted when I realized I grabbed the wrong book instead. Sometimes, I just really hate being short.
"Miss? What book are you getting?"
I stopped when I heard a voice behind me. I turned around. I saw a familiar man in front of me. Xander Villarama. Of course, how could I forget him? He was the one who gave me an umbrella last week. Since that day, his face has been etched in my mind.
I almost gaped at him. I swallowed. "Uh… that book." I pointed at the black hardbound book on the top shelf. "One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel García Marquez."
He easily took the book from the shelf. Of course, he was tall. Unlike me, who already tiptoed but still got the wrong book.
"Here…" He glanced at the book before handing it to me. "You're a literature student?" He asked with a smile.
He looked really good up close. And those dimples, shit, they're perfect on him.
I felt butterflies inside me as I continued to stare at his handsome face. "Uh… no." I shook my head. "I just… like to read."
He smiled. "Oh. Have you read To Kill A Mockingbird?"
My eyes widened a little. "Of course, who hasn't?" Shit. He knew something about books. That means… he's already a reader like me, isn't he?
"Well, yeah, it's a famous book." He chuckled, and it sounded like music to my ears. "Anyway, I'll go ahead. Enjoy reading."
He said then he walked past me. I found myself calling his name.
"Yes?" he said as he cocked his head toward me.
I felt my heart hammering inside my chest. Was this normal to feel this way?
"Uh…" I pushed my glasses to the bridge of my nose. "Uh… your umbrella?"
"Umbrella?" he asked, his forehead frowning in confusion.
My heart fell. Of course, he didn't remember me. Who was I, anyway. I was just an ordinary student on this campus. There's nothing special about me. Even my name, together with my face, was ordinary and forgettable.
"Uh… you lent me your umbrella last week. Outside the library."
"Oh…" His face slightly lit up. "You're that girl. The 'rain rain go away'girl."
My cheeks flushed. Rain rain go away girl? "I forgot to bring your umbrella."
He smiled at me. "It's okay, Miss. You can keep it."
"Xander, babe." A tall woman suddenly appeared and went to Xander. "I thought you already left. Come on, let's go back to our table." I just stood there as I watched how the woman's arm clung into Xander's nape and gave him a kiss on the lips. The book I was holding almost slipped from my hand.
"Frances, not here, okay?" Xander glanced at me and I had to turn my back and exit the shelf to hide my embarrassment.
"Oh… I thought we're alone. Who was that girl? Do you know her?"
"No, let's go."