Second Chances, How He Loved Again

Twenty Seven

Isabelle

We were both staring deeply at each other. There was an invisible tension on the air as well. Nakasandal ang likod ko sa lababo niya samantalang nakahalukipkip naman siya at nakasandal din sa dining table niya.

Kanina pa kami ganito. He was glaring at me as soon as he opened his unit's door when I knocked on it. Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit ganito 'to eh. Parang ewan.

"Ano puro ganito na lang tayo rito? Uuwi na lang ako kung gano'n. I still have a lot of things to attend to, SIR," I said, starting the conversation. I also pressed on the word 'Sir' since he used his boss card on me earlier.

He scoffed. "You're gonna attend to what things, Isabelle? Is it someone named Jordan Lisbo?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa mga sinasabi niya. Ano ba kasing problema niya kay Jordan? We're just friends, for Pete's sake! To think also na magkaibigan lang din naman kaming dalawa slash mag-amo. We just grew closer through time but I know that we are still an employee and an employer. There's nothing more to that, right?

Kaya please. Will someone enlighten me why my boss has been acting this way since last night? I'm so confused!

"Sabihin mo nga sa akin, sir Dylan. Ano bang problema mo kay Jordan Lisbo?" matapang kong tanong dito.

"Wow. Sa akin may sir, kay Jordan wala?" tanong nito sa akin.

Jusmiyo. Nanggigigil na ako mga kaibigan.

"You used the boss card on me earlier! Saka bakit po ba? Boss naman talaga kita ah?"

"We hasn't been treating each other as that for the past month, Isabelle. We were friends!"

"O kaya nga. We were friends, and then you started acting weird last night, used the boss card on me earlier, at ngayon hindi mo pa sinasabi sa akin kung ano bang problema mo. Hindi ko maintindihan kung saan nanggagaling 'yang pagkainis mo eh! Ano bang ginawa ko kasi sa'yo? Enlighten me naman para alam ko, di'ba?"

"I just don't trust that man for you to be close to him. Okay?"

"What? Why?"

"He's been the talk of the entertainment industry since his debut. Babaero siya, Isabelle!"

"Babaero siya at MAGKAIBIGAN LANG KAMI. He's not hitting on me, ano ba?! Magkatrabaho pa naman kayo tapos ganito lang pala ang iniisip mo sa kaniya. I can't believe you."

Tinalikuran ko siya. I was planning to go home already but what he said next just caught me off guard.

"Nagseselos ako. Okay?" he said that in a very low voice.

Tila nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Ano bang selos ang pinagsasabi nito?

Boss ko lang siya, di'ba?

"Ano?" I asked him as soon as I turned to face him again. He was still on his back since nakasandal pa rin siya sa mesa.

"Ulitin mo nga ang sinabi mo," I demanded and he just turned around to face me as well.

"Alam ko namang narinig mo. Bakit uulitin ko pa?" he said, salubong ang kilay.

"Okay I heard you. Then explain your reasons to me. Why would you feel that way when we are only in a work mode relationship?" I asked. Hindi ko alam pero parang bigla akong tumatapang ngayon. Dahil kaya 'to sa beer na ininom ko kanina bago ako tuluyang pumunta rito?