Run Away, Bride (as published by Lifebooks) - Complete

Chapter 14: Meeting the Parents

HIRED.

Bride read the uppercased bold letters stamped on her resume repeatedly. Nag-apply siya bilang girlfriend ni Slance. Pinrint niya sa opisina niya ang ginawa niyang resume saka dumiretso sa opisina nito nang mag-early-out siya. Nasa may fountain area siya ng malaking travel agency office nila Slance.

Nang maka-get-over siya sa pagbabasa n'on ay tumakbo siya sa loob para makita ito. She needed him to say those words. She needed to know if she interpreted it right. Ang ibig bang sabihin ng hired ay sila na? Ang ibig sabihin ba n'on ay defined na ang relationship status nila?

Dire-diretso niyang binuksan ang conference room nang makarating siya doon. Natigilan siya nang mabuksan ang pinto dahil nakita niyang hindi pa tapos ang meeting ni Slance. Natigil ito dahil pumasok siya. He was standing in front of about ten people, explaining what seems to be an organizational plan in a powerpoint presentation. Everybody was looking at her including Slance who was fighting to smile and looked at her as if waiting for the excuse she had for barging in like that.

"Yes?" ani pa nito para lang inisin siya.

"A-Ahm. I-I was going t-to ask if y-you want coffee, Sir?" aniya dahil iyon lang ang tanging rason na naisip niya.

"But it's six in the evening. Why would we need coffee?" sagot ng isa sa miyembro ng grupo nito na napangiti sa rason niya.

Unti-unting nag-init ang mukha niya dahil sa hiya. "R-Right. No coffee. J-Just...carry on, then." Marahan niyang isinara ang pinto saka nagmadaling naglakad palabas ng establisimiyento. "Tanga, tanga, tanga," aniya sa sarili habang papalabas sa fountain area. "Kape sa gabi, Bride? An'ong klaseng offer iyon? Bakit hindi nalang juice or wine? Ugh!" Marahan niyang sinabunutan ang sarili.

She slumped down the bench beside the fountain. Napangiwi siya saka napabuntong-hininga. Maya-maya pa'y muli siyang umungol dahil naalala niya ang kapraningan na nagawa. "Dapat kasi hinintay mo nalang siya!"

"Iisipin ng tao niyan, may nakakausap kang hindi namin nakikita."

Napatayo siya nang marinig ang boses ni Slance. Naglalakad ito papunta sa kanya nang nakapamulsa. "Slance, I'm so sorry! Hindi ko alam na hindi pa tapos ang meeting niyo. N'ong lumabas si manong guard, akala ko—"

Hindi niya natuloy ang sasabihin nang bigla siyang hapitin ni Slance sa bewang, hilahin papunta rito at siilin ng halik ang tumatalak niyang bibig. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. She didn't expect that. But she liked it. And she assumed that Slance did too because she felt him smile against her lips.

Hindi niya rin napigilang mapangiti. She leaned forward and responded to his kiss. Napapikit siya. Kusa nalang gumapang ang mga braso niya sa leeg nito kasabay ng paghigpit ng mga braso nito sa bewang niya. As if reading that as a yes signal, he started moving his lips above hers. Since she didn't know how to kiss, she just copying that wonderful thing his lips were doing to hers.

Bride felt like she was soaring. Hindi na niya maramdaman ang lupa sa ilalim ng mga paa niya. So that's how a real kiss felt. It was knee-melting, mind-clouding, soul-shattering and addictive. With every brush of his lips, a part of her was being stolen. And she knew it was her heart. Funny, she thought it was already his.

When he withdrew, nanatili parin siyang nakapikit. The kiss left her dazed. Kung hindi pa ikiniskis ni Slance ang ilong nito sa ilong niya ay hindi pa siya didilat. He remained close to her, his forehead touching hers. When she opened her eyes, she had a clear view of Slance's shining eyes. Bigla siyang nagkaroon ng flash ng mukha nito sa bawat umaga ng buhay niya.

"Hi," anito.

"Hi," halos walang boses na wika niya.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"