"GOOD morning, hija."
It was Monday morning. It was already midnight last night when Adam and I landed in Manila.
We parted ways after he left me at the parking lot of The Tribe, the bar where I met him last Friday night. Thankfully, my car was still there.
I sat down on my chair after greeting my parents. I picked up the bowl of fried rice and put some on my plate.
"How's your weekend getaway with Marcus, hija?" Mom asked me.
I stilled. So that's what Marcus told them? That I was with him this weekend.
"It was good, Ma," I replied, trying to sound as casual as possible. I wasn't used to lying with my parents.
"You went to Palawan?" she continued to ask.
"Yup." I grabbed the bowl of corned beef and put some on my plate. "I wasn't supposed to go with him, that's why I wasn't able to tell you about it. He literally just dragged me along with him last Friday night. I also wasn't able to call you because I left my phone in the office."
I brought my cup of coffee in my lips and sipped from it.
"It's okay, hija." My mother smiled at me. "I can see you really enjoyed that weekend. Look, your skin is glowing," she said, looking at my face. "But why is your body covered, hija?"
I almost choked on my coffee with Mom's question. I was wearing a white turtle neck top under my black blazer.
I failed to conceal the hickeys on my neck with makeup so I had no other choice but to wear turtle neck tops to cover them.
"I was arranging my closet earlier and saw this top and decided to wear it." I shrugged. "I mean, it's such a waste if I won't use all my clothes I used to wear in the States."
Thank God my mother didn't comment any further. Using a fork, I picked up a sausage from my plate. I was about to bite it when an image displayed on my head. I bit my lower lip and slightly shook my head. Shit.
"Well, I'm glad you're having a proper breakfast right now," Mom commented while looking at me. There's a satisfied smile on her face.
I wasn't used to eating breakfast. But I guessed I needed to eat a proper meal from now on if I wanted to last for six months.
I've decided to go back to my doctor today. Maybe this afternoon. I walked out of the hospital last Friday after finding out my diagnosis. I mean, who wouldn't panic if you learned that you'd die in six months, right?
But now, I realized that I needed to talk to my doctor. I needed to at least get proper medication for me not to deteriorate faster. Or maybe… maybe there's still a chance that I'd survive this. Well, miracles do happen, don't they?
"Claire, don't you have an early meeting in the office? " Dad asked me. He put down his newspaper and looked at me.
I pursed my lip. "Nothing, Dad."
"Come on, Alfonso. It's a good thing our daughter's having breakfast with us."
It was the first time I got to enjoy breakfast with them after years. I was always rushing every morning.
Dad cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. "I just wanted to remind her that if she doesn't leave any minute now, she's gonna be late for the office."
Dad was very strict when it came to time. When he was still working for the company, he never once went to the office late.
I looked at my watch. Dad was right. I might get late if I don't leave now. Manila traffic was worse in the morning.
"Yeah." I took another sip on my coffee before I stood up. "I'm going."
"Take care, hija."
I already came up with a plan. I'd go to work for the whole week and finish all my pending work and appointments. Then, I'll take an indefinite leave. I'd fly out of the country. I'd probably go to Europe. I'd enrolled myself in a short art class like what I've always wanted for myself.
Of course, I won't disclose my health condition. I'd just tell them I've been burned out from work that I needed to take a break from everything.
I didn't know how my parents would take this but I've already decided. I wanted to do this for myself. I needed this for myself. I promised myself I'd do things that would make me happy this time.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Jenna greeted me when I reached the office.
"Jenna, please cancel all my meetings this afternoon."
She acted surprised. "But Ma'am, today was your meeting with Mr. Casillas. He told me tomorrow's his flight to New York so he's only available for today.
"Alright. Don't cancel on him," I said. "Just clear all my schedule for the next few weeks. I'd file an indefinite leave by next week."
My secretary widened her eyes. Then she blinked. "M-ma'am?"
I wasn't even shocked by her reaction. Ever since I started working in the company, I never once filed a leave of absence.
"Ma'am, are you sure you're okay?" Jenna asked, this time she was giving me a suspicious look.
I pursed my lips. "Yes. Jenna. Just do what I say."
"O-okay, Ma'am." She finally nodded at me. I walked past her and entered my office. I was already working for thirty minutes when the door opened. It was Marcus. He went straight to me.
"Claire."
I put down the papers in my hand and looked at him.
"Did you really go to Palawan?"
"Of course."
I took out something from my bag and handed it to him. It was a souvenir keychain I bought from a local at the Puerto Princesa airport.
"Here. Proof that I really went there. Sorry, I wasn't able to buy anything else."
His lips parted while staring at the keychain in his hands. "Wow. You really did go there."
I frowned. "And where did you think I went?"
"I don't know." He pursed his lips. He took the seat in front of me. "I just couldn't believe you'd seriously go on a vacation." He arched his brow while examining my face. "Who were you with?"