All For Show (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Why was this even so hard to do? It wasn't as if tatanggalan ko siya ng mana. I would literally just tell him that there wouldn't be any second date anymore. That although I did enjoy the first date, it was mostly because of the surprise na decent human being naman pala siya. And if I were being honest, it must also be because Pablo was somewhat a part of our date. I did wonder na kung kaming dalawa lang ba talaga ni Paul, would I still call the date a success? I didn't think so.

"Have you decided on what you'll wear?" Pablo asked when I answered his call. We didn't get that breakfast that we talked about because I got so busy with work. I told him that and he said that it's fine—work is work. I knew it's bare minimum, I really did I appreciate that. I love my job. I'm proud of my job. Siguro kung sinuman ang makakatuluyan ko, if hindi niya ako maiintindihan whenever I'd have to cancel some dates dahil sa trabaho ko, somewhere along the road, it wouldn't work out. Maybe because ganon din ang gagawin ko for him or her? That I'd be supportive of his job so that's why I'm expecting that I'll get?

I'd never demand something that I couldn't offer—after all, a relationship is partnership more than anything... well, at least for me.

"Yes," sabi ko.

"What's the back situation?"

Napairap ako kahit wala naman siya sa harapan ko. "You'll see."

"Okay," he replied but even then, I could already imagine the little smirk on his face. "Are you free later?"

"No."

"Okay."

Natigilan ako. Should I tell him that I'd meet up with Paul to tell him na walang second date? Had this been before, I wouldn't even bother, but Paul was a nice person. I thought he deserved an in-person rejection. And it wasn't really a rejection—more like a re-direction because obviously, hindi ako iyong tamang tao para sa kanya.

Yeah, I should tell him.

Knowing Pablo? It's better na alam niya na iyon ang dahilan. Ayoko lang ng re-run nung dati kay Leo. Pinakaayoko talaga na cause ng away ay miscommunication. It could've been easily avoided if magusap lang.

"I'll be meeting with Paul."

"Oh."

"Do you wanna know why?"

"Not really," sabi niya.

"Really?"

"What you do with him is none of my business," sabi niya sa kalmadong tono pero ramdam ko nagiba na iyong mood niya kumpara sa paguusap namin kanina.

"Oh, okay," sagot ko sa kanya. "Just don't want any surprises."

"Why will I be surprised? I know that you're seeing both of us."

"Not really."

"Not really?"

"Haven't really seen him since the date you ruined," sabi ko.

"Again, the date wasn't ruined. Not my fault he bores you."

"He doesn't bore me."

"Sure. Tell yourself that."

Napairap ako. It's so unfair that arrogance suits him so well.

"But why haven't you seen him since that last time?"

"I don't know."

"You weren't too busy to see me."

"I know."

There was silence for a few seconds.

No words were spoken, yet weirdly enough, I felt like he already heard the words that I wanted to say.