The Brokenhearted Heartbreaker

37

"Oh! Sabi ko na nga ba!" Ani Leal nang nakangisi. Nang lumingon si Iouis sa kaniya ay bigla siyang nag-bow bago lumabas ulit.

Ako ang employer niya pero mukhang mas si Iouis ang nagmumukang boss niya!

I checked the time and saw that we spent only thirty minutes for our lunch but it felt longer! Akala ko nga ay mas natagalan kami dahil sa pag-uusap.

"Doc, what if mag-ex talaga kayo tapos nagkukunwari lang na nagkabalikan para mas kapani-paniwala kasi kilala niyo naman talaga ang isa't isa." Kalalabas pa lang ni Iouis ay ito na kaagad ang pambungad ni Leal sa akin.

I leaned on the door and crossed my arms. I can't help but feel intrigued because of what she said. Kung sinabi niyang nagde-date lang kami ay hindi na ako magugulat. That's the point of this whole fake-dating thing—to get noticed as a couple.

But for Leal to suggest that—the truth—she must know something or observed something.

"Paano mo nasabi?"

She sat on the edge of the couch and shrugged. "Hmm... binigyan ka kasi ng regalo noon tapos parang may double meaning, Doc. It's either away-bati kayo noon at hindi pa official pero ngayon may label na... o baka epekto lang 'to ng gabi-gabing Kdrama."

I chuckled. "Kaka-Kdrama mo nga 'yan. Dami mong naiisip, eh!"

"Sige, sabi mo, eh!" Nginisihan niya ako pabalik at pumunta na sa kaniyang desk.

We continued with our day and I had a few more outpatients. After all my scheduled checkups, I checked my inpatients. Pagkatapos magbilin ng mga instructions ay saka ako umalis.

I was walking towards my car when I noticed a familiar silhouette leaning on the hood of the car parked beside mine.

The parking lot was lined with streetlights and the nearer I got to my car, the more defined the outline of the man became.

With his coat on one hand while the other on his waist, Iouis looked like a professional model posing for a campaign.

Nakatupi ang manggas ng kaniyang puting polo hanggang sa siko. At dahil hinubad na ang coat ay tanging vest na lang ang nasa ibabaw ng polo niya. His coat, vest, and slacks were all light-gray.

For some reason, that color suits him well. And also dark-blue... and white... and black... and brown... damn! Kahit anong kulay pa siguro ang suot niya ay magbabagay pa rin sa kaniya!

Kahit palapit na ako sa kaniya ay hindi niya pa rin ako napansin. His eyes were looking distantly at the front, parang may malalim na iniisip.

"Yuwi." I stepped in front of him, startling him for a bit. Napangisi ako sabay lapit sa kaniya.

I placed both hands on the space beside him, caging him in between my arms. Dumukwang ako palapit sa kaniya kaya mas nagkalapit ang mga mukha namin.

He didn't flinch nor move away, but I saw how his Adam's apple move as he swallowed hard. Mariin ang kaniyang titig sa akin at mukhang nagpipigil. Kitang-kita ang tensyon sa buong mukha.

"You're here for me?" I asked. It was almost a whisper.

Sinadya kong hinaan ang boses dahil napakalapit naman namin ngunit hindi ko inasahan na ganoon ang kalalabasang tunog. It almost seemed like a whimper.

Napalunok ulit siya at mas tumigas ang tingin niya. "Says who?"

I smirked and rolled my eyes. Ang galing magsinungaling. Hindi talaga halata.

"Ah, ganoon ba? Akala ko pa naman pinapanindigan mo ang pagiging fake-boyfriend ko," sabi ko sabay singhal. Lumayo ako sa kaniya at inalis ang mga kamay sa magkabilang gilid niya. "Sige, alis na 'ko. Hintay well—"