Chapter 69
"Wait, Jillian," said a voice from behind. I boringly looked back. I want to go home now.
"About what happened a while ago . . ." Kai starts. I waved my hand in front of him. Pinagmasdan ko siya at bumuntong-hininga ako.
"Don't sweat it, Mr. Esguerra. You don't need to fret about anything. I'm not offended or what," I cleared out. It's so obvious that he wants to defend himself. "See," I let out a timid smile, to show him that I'm really okay-well, not quite, but still okay.
"Sure?" His eyebrow arched. "The question wasn't meant to hurt," he added. Oh, fine. But it still did. Not his fault, tho, but mine.
"It's really okay. Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi kita pipilayan sa team building dahil sa tanong mo na 'yun," I kidded. He laughed.
"Crazy," he muttered.
I rolled my eyes and said, "I'm leaving now. I have to run some errands. Bye."
Before he was able to say a thing, I already turned my back.
It still feels odd. The truth is, I'm not particularly close with Kai and Aph-or pretty much with the whole of the Editorial Department. Sure, we spend time together during special occasions; say for example, the annual Music and Lyrics concert, where I was forced to join because my boss told me so. But I'm trying to be really nice. Mr. Hanj and Miss Yohanne know my struggle with regards to this.
"Jillian!" yells someone.
"Oh, Van," I snapped.
"Sabay ka na sa amin?" tanong niya. Hawak niya ang kaniyang pinsan sa kanan niyang braso. Pity on Ran, his cousin is such a bully.
"Okay lang ba? Baka kasi may daanan pa kayo, eh," I said. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa.
Van shrugged. "Nope." Inalis niya ang kapit kay Ran at lumapit siya sa akin. "Naku. Matutuwa si Tita kapag nakita ka niya ulit. It's been a while, right?"
I nodded my head. Naging busy kasi ako sa trabaho. The last vacation I could recall was our Siargao Island trip. Cloud 9 nailed it. Na-miss ko tuloy si Guian. Muntik na kasi siyang malunod dahil hindi siya sumunod sa tamang position sa pag-surf. He thinks he could survive doing things all by himself. He's trying so hard to become a grown up man. And I hate that.
"Si Nick ba papunta na?" Van asked.
"I texted him a while ago. He said he's coming. Kasama niya parents niya," sagot ko. We're going to the Lauren's residence. Cassedie's mom invited us over dinner to celebrate the award Princess got from school. Top 3 kasi siya. Bukod pa doon ay talagang nagiging mahusay na rin siya sa extra-curricular activities. Unlike before, she's becoming more active lately-which was a good note. I wonder when her brother would become one, too. He had always been the quiet troglodyte. Shame.
"Ran, balita ko may pinuntahan ka daw na tea ceremony? Kumusta naman?" I inquired. I positioned myself near to him. Whenever I'm with this guy, I feel like I have a six-month old brother who doesn't know how to talk.
"Good. Boring," he said. Then, that was all. Van and I looked at each other. We both shrugged. He's still the recluse dude I met ages ago.
He led the way and we just followed. When we got to the basement, we saw Sir Hanj and Miss Yohanne walking simultaneously towards his car. She got startled the moment she saw me. I can feel the embarrassment in her reaction.
"May kailangan lang kaming pag-usapan. Work related," agad niyang sambit. I displayed a very meaningful smile.
"Defensive mo. Wala namang sinasabi si Jillian. Obvious nito," singhal ni Sir.
