The Switch: Fara's Turn | On-Going

CHAPTER 16

Tumakbo ako agad papunta sa kwarto ni Lara and immediately swung the door opened without knocking. I closed it right after I'm inside her room.

Napaayos siya ng upo sa kanyang kama habang nagtatakang nakatingin sa akin. Ibinaba niya ang librong hawak niya. "Hey, what's up? What's wrong?"

I breathe in, and breathe out. "My God Lara! I didn't imagine this set-up would be difficult!"

Instead na i-comfort niya ako o i-cheer na kaya namin 'to, she just laughed at me. Great! Nakakatulong ka, sis!

"I told you, that's why I'm skeptical about your idea at the very first time I heard it."

Napairap na lang ako sa kanya. "Do you want us to stop this already?" She asked and I saw the glint of hope in his eyes.

What?! No! I mean, hindi pa kami tuluyang nilulubayan ni Hilton kaya naman mas okay kung ititigil namin 'to right after Hilton gave up on bugging me...Er-Lara. I mean, Lara.

"Nope. Not yet, sis. I need to settle things first when it comes to Hilton."

"I will just hide from him," she suggested. I swear, that won't work.

"As if," I uttered.

Umupo ako sa kama niya bago bumuntong hininga. Pumunta ako agad dito sa kwarto niya dahil kakagaling ko lang sa Enderun, at nakita ko ang housekeeper namin sa may hagdan. Magtataka iyon kapag sa kwarto ko ako unang papasok.

Plus, I need to inform her about the call I got from Oliver.

"Aalis ako ulit," anunsyo ko.

That caught her attention and looked at me as if I have another head growing in my neck. "But as Fara," I said.

"So, that's about Treston, this time," she states and sighed.

"Yes. Tumawag sakin si Oliver asking if we could meet and start to work on the midterm paper."

"What?! Ang aga pa para don, Fara." She has a point but Oliver makes sense too.

He said we better start working on it during this time kasi hindi pa ganoon ka-busy. Kapag nag-midterm week na, mahihirapan na kami since magkakasabay-sabay mga subjects.

"Sasabihin ko sa'yo lahat ng napag-usapan namin mamaya, because you'll be working too with him for some other time."

Tumayo na ako para pumunta sa pinto ng kanyang kwarto. Sumilip muna ako kung nandoon pa ba ang housekeeper sa hagdan. Good thing, she wasn't around anymore.

I faced Lara again. "Tell Mom and Dad that I'm out to do school work when they arrived. I'll text them too, pero mas okay nang sabihin mo na rin sa kanila," I instructed.

Nag-okay sign si Lara sa akin. "Yeah, I got the script sis!"

Napatawa na lang ako sa sinabi niya. Agad na kong nagpunta sa kwarto ko at nagbihis. I'm wearing black jeans and a pink sweater. I paired my attire with my white sneakers. Inilugay ko na lang ang buhok ko which I always prefer.

Lara on the other hand prefer ponytail. Kaya kanina, nakatali ang buhok ko. Naglagay na rin ako ng hikaw since I am Fara. Let's say, mas kikay ako compare to my twin sister who prefer everything to be plain.

Bago ako umalis, I make sure that I texted Mom. Mahirap na, baka sabihin nila, tumakas na naman ako ngayong gabi.

Nagpahatid na lang ako sa driver namin papunta sa coffee shop na sinabi ni Oliver. Nakarating din naman kami agad. "Tawagan ko nalang po kayo if magpapasundo na ako," sabi ko sa driver bago bumaba.

I took a deep breath before entering the coffee shop. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? I shooked my head and just brushed it off. Maybe I was just overthinking.

I immediately spotted Oliver at one of the table at tha far end side of the shop near the window.

"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting," I stated when I come closer. I took the seat opposite to him.

"It's fine. Shall we start?" He uttered as if he was dealing with a client. Hindi ko naman akalaing ganito kaseryoso si Oliver pagdating sa acads. Super business mode siya ngayon. I think, he and Lara will get along together. Acad peeps.

Bakit hindi muna kami mag-order, diba? I'll suggest that. "Let's have our coffee ordered first. What's yours?"

"I'll go. What do you want?" he asked.

"Hazelnut frappucino." Tumango siya sa akin bago pumunta sa counter.

Nilabas ko na lang muna ang laptop na dala ko habang hinihintay si Oliver.

Hindi nagtagal dumating rin siya dala ang order namin.

I was about to sip mine when he uttered his suggestions of the topics we could try working on. Nahiya tuloy akong uminom habang nagsasalita siya.

Seriously? It looks like he doesn't mind drinking his coffee at all. Pero, in fairness, ang dami niya nang naisip. Wala man lang akong entry. Dapat pala si Lara pinapunta ko rito. For sure, marami rin siyang masasabi gaya nitong si Oliver.

"What do you think?" He asked after niyang magdiscuss. Mukha ngang nagpresent na siya sa akin. He freakingly treats me as a client. But, I must say, it made him more handsome. I mean, his seriousness adds up to his charm.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

Pakiramdam ko nasamid ako kahit wala akong iniinom. What the hell? Am I staring at him?! Jeez, Fara! I can feel my cheeks and ears burning.

I cleared my throat and try to smile. What will I say? Oh God, come on brain, think!

Thankfully, nakaisip din ako ng dahilan. "It's just that, I was surprise that you already have a lot of ideas in mind. I admire your intelligence."

Which is true. I really admire his intelligence. I'm just stating facts.

"Well, thank you," he said with a small smile.

"About your ideas, I like the fake cosmetic products as a topic. We could interview a dermatologist," I suggested. Sa wakas, may silbi na rin ako kahit papaano.

Tumango tango siya sa sinabi ko. Nagpatuloy kami sa pag-uusap about our topics at ang bilis lang niya mag-narrow down ng mga gagawin. He's really invested at his studies, I can see that.

Actually, hindi ko inaasahang tatawagan niya ako. I did give him my number since hindi kami palaging nagkikita sa school and I don't want to give my social media accounts. It's just that, I took precautionary measures.

Baka makita niyang may kakambal ako, that would probably hint him that Lara and I are switching.

But there's a crazy idea right now on my mind. I'm thinking of pairing him to Lara.

Crazy, isn't it?

Though, I have a little bit of admiration to Oliver-which I totally admit since I have a flirtatious side, I think Lara is the perfect fit for him.

Ugh! Nevermind! I shouldn't be thinking this. I will just make things even more complicated.

Natapos kami mag-usap and may nasimulan na rin na introduction, thanks to Oliver by the way. I am also almost done with my drink when Oliver speaks.

"Fara, I hope you wouldn't mind if I'll go ahead. I have matters to do. Are you fine if I leave by now?"

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango. Wala namang kaso sa akin iyon since magpapasundo rin naman ako sa driver namin. I bid my goodbye and watch him leave the shop.

Now, I just have to call my driver so he will be here in a few minutes.

I was about to finish my drink when somebody sat on the seat Oliver had seated on a while ago.

...and when I looked at the person, I can feel my nervousness starting to eat me up.

What is he doing here?

"Hello, my lady."