C5 No Time For Love

It was only after she arrived at the penthouse in Robinson's Tower, did Alondra finally felt tired. That's where her boss, Tracy, sent her to stay. She was the executive assistant and cousin of the owner of Zest Snacks where Alondra worked as her assistant. When she heard of what had happened to her boardinghouse, she offered this condo.

According to her, no one lived there because the owner was outside of the country. At first, she declined Tracy's offer. Isn't it too presumptuous of her if she lived in her boss' condo. But Tracy said she didn't want to leave the condo unoccupied in fear of it being inhabited by ghosts. That's what people believed in. An abandoned place gets inhabited by ghost. She didn't really know if she was serious or not with her offer but who is she to say no? The owner of the condo is currently wandering around the world and no one knew when he'll be back.

She was met with silence and darkness. She pressed the dim-light switch and the living room partially lightened up. She preferred the darkness, but she didn't want to feel alone. She missed the boardinghouse and her board-mates. They all have different personalities, some even argue but it was fun. She was an only child and she dreamed of having a lot of siblings. If only Nana Bertha's house would be rebuilt, she would want to go back there. But while she still haven't gotten her pay and had nowhere to go, she would have to settle with the silence and loneliness of that condo for the meantime.

According to Tracy, the president of the Zest Ads, Micah Bergonia himself, was the owner of that penthouse condominium unit. He was supposed to live there with his wife but unfortunately, the wedding was cancelled because the bride eloped with another man. Maybe that's why this house was reeking with loneliness. It was filled with the aura of unfulfilled love.

She inhaled deeply, "As for me, I don't have time for love. All I want is to rest, sleep, and have beautiful dreams."

She went inside the guest room and throw herself on the bed. She was dozing off to sleep when she felt something waking her up. That's when she heard the sound of running water from the other room.

She inhaled sharply. The sound was coming from the Master's bedroom. She never went to that room and it was impossible that the house keeper left it open. The house keeper went to the condo yesterday and according to Tracy, she won't be back until next week. That means it was really impossible that it was her who left it open. She remembered it was not open earlier either and she had not gone to the master's bedroom since she toured the house yesterday. So what was the sound she's hearing now, mean?

She tried to ignore it by whistling. "It's nothing. It's probably just my imagination. There's no such thing as ghost." Even if they do exist she begged they won't appear in front of her. She's not afraid of ghosts, as long as they don't show up in front of her. "I might not get any sleep. I still have to go to work tomorrow. I beg you. I won't bother you. I'm just staying here for a while."

The sound of the running water stopped and she felt relieved. But not for long because next she heard a lonely sound of a man's voice, singing.

"All by myself... don't want to live. All by myself..."

She felt her skin shiver. The sound of water stopped but was replaced by the sound of a man's singing voice. A voice full of misery... of loneliness. There really was a ghost in that place!

It could only be a ghost. If someone would go to that penthouse to steal something they won't stay to take a bath of course. It really is a ghost.

But why would he choose to appear there? And why, instead of an image of a skeleton under the shower or a thin and scary man in barong (a traditional Filipino formal wear for men), did she the imagine a naked body of a hunk man for a ghost.

She shook her head. It was a ghost, haunting that place, not a gorgeous hot man. He had a beautiful voice but a lonely one. Like he had been through so much pain. Could it be that ghost can relate to the owner's feelings? Was he left alone by his lover for another man too?