Chasing the Void (Magnates Series #3)

Kabanata 11

"Sige po," I told him. "Kukuhanin ko lang po 'yong mga gamit sa may maintenance."

He didn't say anything so I took it as a yes.

Lumabas ako ng opisina niya at para akong tanga na huminga ng malalim. Napatingin tuloy 'yong mga bantay at sekretarya dahil masyadong malakas 'yong pagbuntong-hininga ko. Nahiya ako at nagpanggap na walang nangyari.

I don't mind cleaning his office. Sanay naman talaga ako sa paglilinis. Ang pinagtataka ko lang ay kung bakit biglaan. Anong naisipan niya at bakit bigla niya akong inutusan maglinis?

I was thinking too hard as I carry my cleaning equipments towards his office again. Nang makarating muli ako sa tapat ng pintuan ay huminga ulit ako ng malalim.

Act normal, Riyel. Like what you did last time but draw a line in between.

"Maglilinis na po ako," siniglahan ko pa ang boses ko habang nakangiti.

I won't joke around this time. I could still act like how I was used to but I should limit it now. Hindi ko na siya p'wedeng pagtripan tulad ng dati.

It was quiet. Tanging tunog ng pagwawalis ko lang ang bumalot sa buong opisina. He was quiet, which is not new. But I could sense that he's glancing at me at some point so it made me nervous.

Bumaling ako ng tingin sa kanya at ilang segundong nagtama ang mata namin. He's staring at me as if I can't hide anything from him. And if I did, he'd figure it out in an instant.

"May problema po ba?" I did my friendly smile again.

"You're acting different,"

He stated it with a serious gaze, analyzing my expression. I swallowed hard, still smiling.

"Pa'no niyo po nasabi?"

"You're being polite."

"Bastos po ba ako dati?"

Natigilan ako dahil sa sinabi ko. Parang gusto kong hampasin ang bibig ko. I didn't mean to be sarcastic but I'm sure that's how it sounded.

"Kung nabastusan po kayo sa pakikitungo ko dati, humihingi po ako ng tawad." I added before I continued cleaning again.

Muling tumahimik ang paligid. Nadidistract lang ako sa tuwing mararamdaman kong susulyap siya sa gawi ko.

If I were like before, I'd surely make fun of him by asking if he has a crush on me. Kung kailan ayoko ng atensyon mula sa kanya ay halos ibigay niya sa'kin lahat ng iyon.

"Engineer Loper asked you to give this to me?" he unusually broke the silence which made me stop what I'm doing.

I nodded. "Opo, inutusan niya po akong iabot sa inyo."

"Did he say anything?"

I remembered him asking me if I could force him to agree with the proposal which I wouldn't do. Hindi ko magagawa iyon dahil gusto ko nang umalis dito.

"Wala naman po," I lied but kept my smile. "Iabot ko lang daw po sa inyo."

"I doubt," he said. "I already rejected this thrice so I'm sure he must've planned something that's why he tried again."

Napalunok ako ng laway sa sinabi niya. His gaze never drifted away from me, making me stood still.

"And why he personally asked you to deliver these to me."

Hindi ako huminga dahil pakiramdam ko bawal. Parang bawat kilos ko ay mapapansin niya. I tried smiling but the corner of my lips twitched a little.