Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

**Lisa’s POV**

Vacation is over and back to work. Good thing that there is no new program to develop other than the regular running of programs and printing. My skin became a little darker because of the wind from the sea and beach hopping we did in their province and gained a little weight because of constant eating and a nice rest. My morning could have been better with just the disturbance of Lily again.

“How’s the vacation?”

“It was a lot of fun and I got to know Archie’s relatives. How’s it going here during my absence?”

“We’re all good.”

“Good to hear that. Ok, I need to go now, See you later.” I walked away from Lily and proceeded to my office. But with all the luck in the world, I saw Luigi alighting from the elevator and I was there in front of the elevator door that was wide open. We looked at each other momentarily before he went out of the elevator and got down to the basement parking lot. To my surprise, he doesn’t seem to recognize me. He just passed me by and straight down to the basement parking lot. Now I realized that this is his word that he cannot accept my offer of friendship because he wants more than friendship. If this is what he wanted to ignore me, well I can’t do anything about it then. It is just too bad that I can’t do more than be friends with him. He stared at me coldly and why do I feel so guilty? I really feel sorry for him.

I keep myself busy doing my backlog at work, though it was not that rush. I could easily do those three-day work in one day. This way, I will keep myself busy not thinking about Luigi’s cold stare at the elevator. Thankfully, Helen called me from the intercom.

“Hello Lisa, care to join me for lunch?”

“Who’s going with us”?

“Rigor and Luigi are going with us.” A cold run from head down to my feet. What in the world are they going to invite me for lunch including Luigi?

“Do they know that you are inviting me for lunch?”

“Yes, actually it is Rigor who suggested that you go with us.”

“I’m sorry Helen, but I can’t. You go ahead and enjoy your lunch.” What is Rigor’s thinking? Didn’t he know what his friend did to me before I went on vacation? This is what he wanted and I am giving him the dose of his medicine.

I ordered my lunch and ate it in my office. I am not eager anyway to go out for lunch. Later, Rigor is knocking at my door and I motion him to come in. He sits on the visitor chair in front of my table.

“What happened between you and Luigi?”

“Didn’t he tell you?”

“About what?”

“We have already talked, and we have reached an amicable agreement. I doubt he didn’t tell you what had happened before I went for vacation.”

“No, he told me nothing.”

“Well, I guess you need to talk to him. I am not in the position to tell you that. If he is going to open up, just listen and don’t judge, ok? I could say I feel guilty about what happened, but it is his choice what he thinks is best for him.”

“Lisa, what really happened?”

“I told you, I am not in the position to tell you. You should ask him if he is ready to talk. Luigi needed someone to talk to and understand him. I just hope he opens up.”

“I guess it concerns you.” I couldn’t agree more to what Rigor had said, but it is the truth. I just hope Luigi would open up to his friend and Rigor would understand and give him a piece of advice.

I was at a loss of what had happened to Luigi after what happened that morning. I know it was a big blow to him considering I am his first love as he said. Friendship is all I can give him, but he refuses that friendship because he wanted more than that.

Time to go home and I know Archie is already down stairs. I was preparing to leave when the door of my office opened up. I saw Rigor at the door of my office and he came straight to sit on my visitor’s chair.

“I have already talked to Luigi and he told me all about what happened that morning. I am sorry that he did that to you. And I feel sorry for him too that his love for you has not been reciprocated. I tried to calm his feelings for you, but I guess it would take time for him to find something to divert his feelings to something else or someone for that matter. He just wanted to drown his frustration with liquor. I just don’t allow him to destroy himself.”

“Just help him out, please. I do understand how it feels, but I can’t do anything about it. You know that I am now fully committed to my boyfriend. I do pity him, but all I can give him is friendship which he rejected. I can’t do anything to make him feel better. I hope you do understand me, don’t you?” I tried to explain my situation to Rigor. I know how he feels for his friend. I know it really hurts. But it needs to end this way.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

He thanked me for not letting this incident out in the open. If it does, I can sue him for sexual assault, and I could also be on a hot seat and my relationship with Archie will be put into question. I would not want that. But since Luigi was sorry for what he did, I’m fine with it. If he wanted to ignore me, it must be better that way, I guess. For our peace of mind.

When Rigor left my office, Archie almost bumps Rigor at the door and they shake hands, out of courtesy to each other. They have known each other before Luigi does because of Helen. I guess Rigor and Helen are now in a relationship, though they don’t openly admit it. It is fine with me, whatever suits them better.

What really a fine day of tension and hiding. I don’t want to hide things from Archie, but it is better that way to lessen the tension between us. I know, questions will never end once I tell him the truth and I don’t want that to happen.

After some pleasantries between Rigor and Archie, we left my office and went straight home. My mother was expecting us to have dinner at home and it was a relief to be at home. To my surprise, my aunt who is leaving at the same place with Archie has come to our house. She is my mother’s sister. I was surprised that they knew each other. Obviously, they knew each other because of a small place they moved around. My aunt, shooting dagger to Archie when I introduced her to my boyfriend. She dragged me to my room and she was telling me that Archie has a girlfriend at their place and he was just using me to gain access to be hired in my company. Not a good scene to end the day.