CASA VALLE #1: Trapped by the Wind

Kabanata 16

"Ma'am, can I have one tarpaulin?" Bulong ko sa EA. "Save one for me."

"Sure, Ma'am Macy." Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Hindi rin naman namin itatapon 'to. Ilalagay namin sa bahay." She laughed.

May nakita akong stickers doon sa may table kaya dumampot na muna ako bago sumunod sa kanila. They're already in the veranda of the mansion.

Isa-isa na rin na umalis ang trucks para maghatid ng ayuda sa bawat barangay.

I might be assuming but it felt like Mayor Silas was looking for me before I arrived. Masyado naman itong clingy porket hinalikan ko siya. Wala pa namang kami. Well, we never talked about it because he was so busy. We didn't even have midnight snack for a week because we were packing goods.

"What?" I mouthed when our gaze met. Tinago ko iyong stickers sa bulsa ko dahil baka biglang bawiin niya. Ipapakulam ko pa naman siya.

Umiling lang siya saka ngumiti bago kausapin ulit ang mga pinsan niya. They were all here except for Sir Nic who's still recovering from the accident.

"Ang KJ talaga nito. Ang ganda kaya. For sure, talong-talo natin ang naglalakihang tarpaulin ni Governor Simson dyan sa tarpaulin na ginawa ko." Ma'am Naia was still complaining although no one is listening to her. Kausap niya ang EA ni Mayor.

We were just waiting for his order. Kausap niya rin kasi sa telepono ang ilan sa head ng mga department pagkatapos ay nag-usap na ulit silang magpipinsan.

I pretended I wasn't paying attention by talking to Uno. Gusto ko pa nga sanang lumapit dahil hindi ko sila maintindihan pero mahahalata na ako.

"By the way, Macy, wala kang boyfriend, right?" Sumingit si Archie sa usapan. "Tama ba ako?"

"Yes, why? May irereto ka ba?" Nilakasan ko ng kaunti ang boses ko baka sakaling marinig ni Mayor Silas. For sure not as he was busy talking to them.

"Sure ka dyan? Bigay ko ba number mo kay Councilor Jude?" ani nito. "Hinihingi niya number mo. Type ka raw."

"Sino 'yon?" I acted as if I was interested.

"Iyong nakipag-kamay sa'yo three days ago. Naalala mo ba?" tanong ni Archie.

"Hmm. The one with the dimple? The cute one?" I raised my brow and pretended that I did not know who he was talking about.

"Oo. Nakuha mo. Bigay ko ba number mo?" Archie looked at me. I wasn't sure why he was suddenly telling me that.

There were still moments that they would tease me with Mayor Silas but I guess they thought it was just a joke. Mas maigi na rin na ganun ang isipin nila dahil hindi rin naman kami hanggang huli. We're going to be enemies soon.

"Maybe? Okay naman ba—"

"Miss Decano," Mayor Silas called me.

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Archie sa kanya. He has his plain look. Did I catch his attention? Lihim ako na napangiti.

"Yes, Mayor?" Lumapit ako sa kanya.

"I forgot my personal phone in my office. Can you get it for me?" utos niya bago tumingin kay Archie. "Pakihanda na rin ang sasakyan dahil aalis na tayo."

"Sure, Mayor."

Mabilis na pumasok ako sa loob ng mansyon at umakyat sa opisina niya para kunin ang cellphone. It wasn't there. I checked the drawer and the shelves but it was not there. Maybe he misplaced it.

Since we already exchanged personal numbers, I decided to call his number. It was ringing but I couldn't hear it from the inside. Lalabas na sana ako para sabihin sa kanya nang biglang may pumasok.

"Mayor?" I raised my brow. "I cannot find your—"

He pulled the phone from his pocket and shrugged. "Sorry, I lied. It's actually here in my pocket."

I laughed upon realizing what he just did. "Okay, what's going on?"

"Okay," he mimicked my voice. "Why are you giving your personal number to Councilor Jude."

"You heard that?" I bit my lower lip.

Mayor Silas leaned on the door as he crossed his arms, intently looking at me.

"You made me. Ang ingay niyo kaya. And you know that I always pay attention to you."

"Well, I did not give it yet. I was just thinking—"

"You are thinking of giving your personal number to someone else after you kissed me? After we kissed? Oh, by the way, you have to thank me because I have control of the CCTV or else Tiel would have seen it and he would have probably told everyone in my family."

I blushed. Ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko.

"Damn it. I am sorry, Mayor. I hadn't realized that. It was the spur of the moment." I defended myself. "I am really sorry and I will not do it again."

"Yeah, you won't because I will be the one to do it from now on." He crossed the distance between us and cupped my face.

I blinked for a second until my eyes automatically closed when he kissed me. It was just a second. Damn it. Why am I expecting more?

"If you are gonna kiss me, you should kiss me for like five minutes and not just a smack." I flirted, flipping my hair on the back so he could see my neck.

"I want to but we have to clarify this thing between us because I am furious when I heard you are still giving your number to someone else when you already kissed me. Are you a playgirl?" Naningkit ang kilay niya. He tucked my hair behind my ear.

"I am just making you jealous, love." I winked. "I guess it worked."

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, it is working, Miss Decano. Or should I call you my lady now?"