Let's Talk About Us [Completed]

20. She's Here

"Wala. Don't mind me. Let me take that," sabi ko at kinuha kay Ga yung basket. "Ako nalang ang magdadala nito sa kanya, Ga."

"Gardo nalang," he answered with a grin. Ngumuso siya kay Kris pagkatapos. "Si Kris lang ang puwedeng tumawag sa akin ng Ga. Short term for palangga."

Napasinghap ako. OMG! Nakikitawag ako ng 'Ga' tapos term of endearment pala nila iyon. Hindi na ako nagtaka kung ano yung palangga kasi I heard from my Yaya long ago na yun ang tawagan nila ng asawa niya. This is embarrassing!

"Sorry. I didn't know!" I exclaimed and they just both laughed at me. Ang sama na tuloy ng mga tingin sa amin ng nasa paligid naming cubicles.

We only had to stop when I heard a voice called out for my name.

"Alison."

Lumingon ako. Of course, it's Arthur. Who else would that be?

***

"Hindi ko talaga alam na term of endearment pala nila ang 'Ga'. Nakakahiya. I was calling him 'Ga' pa naman," kwento ko kay Arthur habang nagdadrive siya. Hindi naman siya sumasagot. Nakakapikon tuloy.

Tumingin nalang ako sa bintana sa side ko at nanahimik nalang. He's so boring.

"Where do you wanna eat?" He finally asked. Tinignan ko siya. Focus pa rin ang mga mata niya sa kalsada.

"Kahit saan."

And then, I remembered something. Napalingon ako sa backseat dahil dun ko nilagay yung basket of chocolates kanina. "Sino pala si Lauren, Boss?" I asked curiously. "Cool... Siya pa talaga ang nagbigay ng chocolates sayo."

Lumingon din siya sa likod. Ngayon niya lang ba napansin yung basket? Eh bitbit ko kanina 'yan e. "Siya ba ang nagbigay nyan?"

"Yeah. Who's she?"

He shrugged his shoulders and snorted, "A colleague." Sumimangot tuloy ako. What's with the colleague ba? I think, there's something more than that.

"A colleague that gives you chocolates?" I wanna beat around the bush. Wala naman sa rules ang ganitong Q&A diba?

He parked the car in a vacant space. Dun ko lang napansin na nasa parking lot kami ng isang mall. He unbuckled his seatbelt before he spilled his answer. "Lauren's my girlfriend," he replied before leaving me there speechless.

Hindi ko alam na may girlfriend pala siya. Hindi kasi halata. I mean... Whoa. Wait, girlfriend?? He doesn't have much time for himself nga tapos may girlfriend pa siya sa lagay na yan? Seriously?

"Seryoso, girlfriend mo 'yon?" Hindi ako maka-get over. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala.

"Oo nga."

Pumasok kami sa Toy Kingdom. Kahit na naguguluhan ako ay sumunod pa rin ako sa kanya. "Seriously? Why did you hire me as a pretend of your daughter if you have an effin' girlfriend?"

He chuckled and just shrugged me off. Hindi ko siya ma-gets. Hindi ba magseselos yung girlfriend niya? Gosh. Ba't 'di ko man lang natanong dati? Ugh, mas nag-focus ako sa mom ni Venice kaysa sa possibility na may girlfriend ba 'tong si Arthur.

And then, I realized why he put up the rule about having love life even we're bind through the deal. That makes sense, then. May lovelife kasi siya.

"Mamili ka na. Which one is cute?" He asked and I snapped out from my deep thoughts. Dun ko lang napansin na nasa tapat kami ng mga huge stuffed toys of different colors and looks. Lahat sila ay cute pero...

"You sure you'll buy one for me?" Hindi ako nakangiti. Medyo shocked pa rin kasi ako sa sinabi niya.

He looked at me as though I said another sh1t again. "Do you want one?"