Collide

Chapter 16.

"Do you want to go back to the party? I'm good now." Maya maya ay sabi ni Kade. Sumandal sya sa back rest ng sofa. He seemed relax pero halata pa rin na parang nanghihina sya with the way he looks.

Sumimangot ako. "Maiiwan pa ba kita ngayon sa lagay mo? Halatang nanghihina ka pa rin," Pigil ko ang inis ko but deep inside nag-aalala pa rin ako sa kanya.

Naubos nya na rin ang isang bote ng orange juice.

"I didn't peg you for the nagger type, Miss Lim."

"Anyway, what's happening? Are you really sick?" Hindi ko alam pero biglang lumakas ang loob ko na kausapin sya ngayon ng informal. I did this a few times, pero wala na akong pakealam ngayon. Sa nerbyos at takot ba naman na pinagdaanan ko?

"It's nothing," he said in a cold and dismissive tone.

I feel like I hit a nerve kaya kahit curious ako, I let it go. Maybe he just doesn't want to talk about it. Okay lang naman, I don't want to intrude. Nag-alala lang talaga ako dahil twice ko na syang nakita sa ganitong sitwasyon.

"Fine, kung ayaw mo sabihin. I'll leave when you leave."

"I can drop you off,"

"Hindi na. Mas mauuna pa 'yung bahay mo sa akin," Kunot noo na sabi ko sa kanya.

"I insist,"

"Kahit mag insist ka pa dyan." Inirapan ko sya. "Anyway, ano sasabihin ko sa mama mo? Sigurado ako kakausapin nya ako." Kung ayaw nyang ipasabi ang nangyayari sa kanya, paano ko ipapaliwanag 'yung sakit nya? Na alam ko ang tungkol doon?

"Tell her we're dating,"

Nasamid ako sa narinig ko. "Ha? Anong dating?"

"You asked me kung ano ang dapat mong sabihin, right?" He looked confused.

"I mean, about sa sakit mo!" Napa atras ako sa kanya. My hands started to shake.

"Oh," Napa tigil sya sandal at parang nag isip.

Mariin akong pumikit. "Mukhang okay ka na nga, nakakapag joke ka na." I'm calming myself down. Mahina lang ako, Lord. Do not test me like this.

"I was always sick when I was a child so it's not a very uncommon situation." He shrugged his shoulders. Kaya siguro hindi na nag panic si Mr. Montes kanina. "I thought you were asking about how they found us a while ago,"

Napakurap ako. "I don't have to lie about us dating. Unang una, it's breaking the company policy. And they know how I love my job. Second, who would buy that crap?" Mahinang sabi ko. "I was just your secretary trying to make you feel comfortable because you're not feeling well. Mrs. Montes would understand."

Bumuntong hininga sya at tumayo. "Suit yourself," Pinagpagan nya ang suit nya.

Nag inat sya sa harap ko.

Tumayo na rin ako. "Are we leaving?"

"Why don't we go back to the party?"

Napakurap ako. "Sure, ka ba? I mean..." Iniisip ko kasi na mas okay if he will continue resting and Doc Dan will probably agree with me on this. He already told his parents about it anyway.

"I feel better now, thanks to you. And it's my birthday party anyway," He smiled at me habang naka tingin sa akin ang malamlam nyang mga mata.

Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil nanghina ako bigla. "Ikaw ang bahala. Sasamahan na lang kita." I had to.

I was biting my tongue when we walked towards the elevator na nasa likod ko ang kamay nya at inaalalayan ako hanggang makapasok na kami sa executive elevator.