Episode 13

Episode 13.
By the time I returned back home,Katie was sitting at the couch,flipping through the TV channels.
"Hey,Kay" I greeted her as I entered the kitchen,Luca right behind me and dropped the grocery bags on the counter.
"Hey. How did it go?" She replied,only turning to give us a glance before turning back to the TV.
"Good. Hey,guess....."
"Hey,I'm gonna hit the shower real quick"Luca interrupts, and I awarded him a scowl till he disappeared out of the kitchen. We both knew he was a scardy cat,running away because he feared Katie was gonna blow up and yell once we told her about Robin. He was leaving me alone to face her and get all the blame. Typical Luc.
Slowly, I walked over to the couch where she's sitting and handed her a mini carton of chilled beverage that I'd purchased at the store earlier.
" oh thanks"she sits straight up and took it from me,I myself sitting comfortably beside her.
"This tastes good,is it new?" She asks,gulping down the beverage with arrant delight.
"Yeah. Um....can I talk to you about something real quick?"
"Mhm" she nods,drinking more of the beverage.
"Well.....while we were at the store today,we came across somebody...," her eyes meets mine and for a second she slowly began to gulp the contents in her throat "it's Robin"
She coughs instantly, spilling the liquid in her throat all over her arm. It doesn't take a full second for her to regain her composure and look me straight in the eyes.
"Okay,that's good" she says nonchalantly.
"I know I should've told you first but he asked about you and wants to give us a visit sometime"
"What?!," she exclaimed "why?! Why would you do that?"
"Katie,calm down. I know that things really didn't go down well with you two but it's been so long and I think it won't hurt a fly if you just see him after so long"
"Okay,I don't wanna see him again,okay?" She stands up.
"Kay,"I stand up too " what did Robin ever do asides from breaking up with you because he had to leave for good?"
"He cheated, Ash! He cheated on me on the day that was supposed to be my happiest day!"
I starred at her,surprised. How come she's just revealing this side of the story now? What I remember is finding Katie at the school's gymnasium after a series of mine and Luca's search through the school. It was prom night,the day Katie had waited for so much that she could barely contain herself. And just when Cindy's about to be crowned the prom Queen, Katie was nowhere in sight. I thought maybe she's just out with Robin,they could barely let go of each other even for a second back then. But after the crowning and I couldn't see Robin or Katie yet,I decided to go search for her but when Luca and I saw her in the gymnasium, she was crying, her make up tear reeked. We'd came across Robin on the through the hallway and he'd said he hadn't seen Katie. As much as alarming as that was,I couldn't begin to question him. I needed to find my best friend. Katie had hugged me and cried more. She cried for over an hour refusing to say a word and we'd had to abandon the prom and go back to my place. In the middle of the night,she'd woken me up,unable to sleep. That's when she told me that Robin had broken up with her because things couldn't go according to their plan. They were gonna go to Harvard university together. But there's been change of plans. His father wants him to take over the family's business and he's gonna be sent out of the country for good. He'd be staying in Spain for good. He'd broken them because he couldn't deal with the distance. I'd thought Robin was being stupid but couldn't get to talk to him because he'd avoided me throughout the week and left town before I could go to his house. I knew like everyone did that they loved each other too much,and I knew distance was merely nothing to the two of them. I couldn't quite understand why he'd do such a stupid thing. Soon after,Katie didn't wanna talk about it. After seven good months,she was finally getting herself back and getting over him. I felt happy. And although we went to different colleges in the same country, we saw each other almost every day and it was good enough for us. Over the years,Katie was able to love again,she dated,had fun but none ever lasted and most of the time she was the one breaking up first. I thought it was quite understandable.
"What are you talking about,Katie?" I asked her,still not believing what she just said.
"I....I caught her a few minutes to the crowning with Cindy," if I was just noticing the tears rolling down her cheeks then they are a lot "they....they were in a heated make out session in the bathroom, Ashley. I felt upset and most of all,betrayed. And when Cindy said all sort of stupid things to me,like how he'd give my boyfriend a blowjob in front of me,Robin didn't say a word. We had a plan Ashley, a plan that was almost so real it felt like we only needed to be present to make it into reality. And....and..." She broke into sobs. I quickly reached for her,embracing her "I......I broke up with him,Ashley. I didn't know what to do"
"I know. It wasn't your fault"
"He never called back,Ashley. He never even begged me or cared to explain"
I patted her back,hoping that would give her composure of any sort. Now I knew why it took Katie so long to move on from the break up. How could he have done a thing like that? Soon her sobs turns into ragged hiccups and I slowly let go of her.
"I'm sorry,Kay. I had no idea"
She nods before saying "Robin really hurt me,Ash. That's why I never wanted to talk about him. Two weeks ago he suddenly appeared at my yoga class. He wanted to talk but I couldn't bear the sight of him so I just ran off.....like a coward"
Now I know the reasons behind her bad moods.
"You're not a coward, Kay. You did what anyone would do,protecting your sanity."
"And you know what really hurts me more?," she gulps hard "after five good years,I still foolishly like him. Why?"
"It happens, Kay. Don't be too upset with yourself. You haven't really talked at all?"
"We met the other night. I don't know how he got my number but he did and called me to a restaurant. I didn't know it was him and he lured me to him. When I saw him I wanted to run off but he caught me and said he just wanted to catch up. I couldn't catch up with him and I end up running away"
"Listen to me,Kay. Robin is gonna come here one of these days and you're gonna talk to him okay? You're gonna feel a whole lot better after you do that okay?"
She nods and I ran a thumb over her tear and whipped it off. Pulling her into a hug again,I soothed her back with my palm.
**
By the time I got to the office the third day,Mr Marcello wasn't in.
His schedule was full today and I wondered why he was running late of all days. When he arrived I wasn't at the desk so when he phoned me shortly after to get into his office,I was surprised. I wondered if he was even there the whole time even before I arrived.
When I walked in he was sitting on his chair,his back leaning into the chair's backrest. His eyes are pale today,like they'd been drained of colors that once made them lively. Of course I'm not supposed to notice this but I suddenly do.
"Yes?"
"I need my morning coffee" he said plainly.
He has a morning coffee?
"You know where to get it don't you?"
"From the office eatery"
"Wrong. Anna,fifth avenue, seventh block. Black espresso coffee. Minimum, little sugar. Preferably brown"
What? He can't be serious about that. That café is like a twenty minutes ride from here and almost an hour walk from here. Is he being serious?
"What's the problem? Haven't I given you more information than I should have given?"
"That cafe is really far,sir. Why don't I just call and make the order?"
Wait,they don't deliver to this side.
"You could try" he shrugged.
"That place is really far to go this morning"
"Then perhaps you should start going. You have twenty minutes and your time starts now" that said,he turned his chair around,turning his back to me.
I felt angry,I wanted to stand and argue but my time was ticking. What was his problem with mood swings?! Last time he was being nice -if I hadn't just imagined it- and now he's being a cold bastard again.
I turn around and stormed out of the office building. I took a cab at the front and urged the driver to go as fast as he can. I'm gonna pay for this from my pocket! The cab fare and the coffee too! Why didn't I ask him for the money?
Fifteen minutes later,I was dropping in front of Anne's. I picked up his coffee just as soon as I got in and headed back to the office. When I got there,He was standing at his window. He must've seen me walk into the building. Scumbag.
"Here it is" I announced,dropping it on his table.
He turned around and scanned the coffee cup for a while before saying "I usually drink two coffees in the morning"
"Why didn't you say that?!"
"I'll forgive you for misconduct. Now run along and be back soon,we have somewhere to be"
"You can't be serious, are you? You want me to go back these? For a coffee?"
"You like asking a lot of questions don't you?"
"You don't exactly leave me any choice"
"I'll be here" he said and sat back on his chair,a smile dangling on his lips. I wanted to smack that smile off his face but I pulled my fingers into a fist and turned around,disappearing outside. Once out,I took in a sharp breath and tried to calm myself down. After taking a series of breaths, I was going to leave when I realized I hadn't taken money from him. Screw him if he thinks I'm going to pay for this with my money.
I walked back in to find him still sitting on his chair.
"You didn't give me money" I told him the obvious.
He doesn't seem surprised, instead he said "I thought you'd never ask"and pushed an ATM card on his desk towards me.
Eyeing him,I snatch the card off the table and hurried out again. As I walked out,all I was thinking about was all Katie told me the other day? I seriously don't see myself working with him! I can't believe I actually thought of not confronting him about his foolish attitude anymore!
It took me another thirty minutes to get him another coffee and when I returned, the conference room was pilled up. When I walked in,all eyes were on me and I felt really small and stupid. While I couldn't get my eyes off the annoying smirk on Marcello's lips,I also couldn't wait to get the hell out of there.
The meeting was about nothing else but the Manhattan project. Mr Gregory gave a report that the government wanted to put the project on bidding by the end of September, nearly four months from now. That's just barbaric! Who are these people?! I know that I'm really new here but I know too well that those people behind this government ain't doing what's right. But each time that I felt bad about this,I see Mr Marcello's face and I just don't know what I feel anymore. That he deserves this or not?
Maybe he does.
Jerk.