One Last Time

Kabanata XI: BEAUTIFUL LIAR

Beautiful Liar.

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“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, Yturralde?!”

His thick voice echoed throughout the male’s restroom nang makita niya akong kapapasok lang doon. I even heard him quickly zipping up his pants. Iginala ko naman ang tingin sa loob. Lumawak ang ngisi ko nang makitang kaming dalawa lang ang tao sa loob.

“Yturralde,” his dark voice called.

I returned my eyes to him. “Let’s go home together.”

His expression darkened. “Did you really have to come here just to say that?”

“Aww. I’m sorry. I was just...you know…excited,” I grinned.

He clicked his tongue roughly and walked past me. Mabilis naman akong umikot at nilapitan siya sa sink habang naghuhugas na siya doon ng kamay.

“Wala naman akong ibang nakita eh, saka ‘di ba nga nahawakan—”

“Watch your dirty mouth, Yturralde!” He snapped at me darkly.

“It’s true. Hindi ko naman talaga siya nakita.”

“Just stop, will you?!” He shot me a sharp look that pierced through my bones. “Wala ka bang delikadesa? Hindi gagawin ng matinong babae ang pumasok sa banyo ng mga lalaki. Gusto mo ba talagang mabastos?”

Silenced by his reaction, I just shook my head.

Marahas siyang pumalatak ulit, a clear sign that he was fed up with me. He turned his back on me and stormed out of the men’s restroom.

I chased him as he took big steps towards our table earlier.

Wala nang tao doon. Pagkatapos ibigay sa’min ni Ms. Aranquez ang mga paperbag ay nagpaalam na siya na aakyat na sa office niya. Yes, Ms. Aranquez owns this restaurant, and her office is on the second floor.

Mrs. Valerio also left after the meeting. Nagpaalam na rin si Architect Quinoñes dahil may dinner date pa daw kasi sila ng boyfriend niya. Kami na lang ni Levi ang naiwan.

Levi quickly grabbed his stuff from the table and hurried towards the exit door. I did the same. Nagmamadaling kinuha ko ang mga gamit ko pagkarating ko sa table at mabilis na sumunod sa kanya palabas.

Nauna siyang nakalabas ng restaurant. I saw him heading towards the parking space in front of the restaurant. He was taking big steps, clearly wanting to leave me behind kaya lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko para lang maabutan siya.

I was breathing heavily when we finally stopped next to his Maserati.

“Y-You’re too fast,” I struggled to say while trying to catch my breath. Lumingon pa ako sa kanya habang nakahawak ako sa dibdib ko at nakita siyang nakatayo sa tapat ng driver’s seat.

He furrowed his brows firmly at me. “Hindi ko sinabing sundan mo ako,” he said in a grumpy tone before he put his things inside the car.

Samantala, naitukod ko ang isang kamay ko sa hiod ng sasakyan para kumuha ng suporta. I felt like I was about to fall from panting so much.

I was in this state until I felt his hand on my arm. Still trying to catch my breath, I looked up at him.

“Drink or you’ll lose your breath,” he said seriously as he handed me a plastic water bottle.

“Thanks!” I quickly took it and drank the water straight down. Nang masaid ang laman ng plastic bottle, ay isang malalim na hininga ang pinakawalan ko.