"So pogi ka na niyan?" pang-aasar ko.
"Dylan is the new pogi," sagot niya with matching pogi sign pa sabay tawa ng malakas. "Alis na nga ko. Ikamusta mo na lang ako kila tita. Nasa ref pala yung cake na pinabibigay ni Mommy. Ikaw na lang kumuha. Bye!"
Umalis din ako pagkaalis ni kuya Dylan. I carefully placed the car on the passenger seat. I called Dona kung may important update sa office. When she said yes, I've decided to spend the rest of my day in the office. Inihatid ko muna yung cake sa bahay namin bago tumuloy sa office.
"How is it going?" I place my bag beside table and settled on my chair. Donna, on the other hand, is standing comfortably in front of me.
"We've been receiving positive response from the public. Marami po ang nagpunta dito kanina at nagpapasadya ng mga damit. Marami din po ang nag-iinvest pati na rin po nagpapa-VIP. Meron pa nga pong gustong magfranchise e," she said the good news beaming beautifully.
I lean a little forward and grin. "Really? That's great! Oh my gosh! Make sure to make an appointment with them. In a fancy place, I think, with great food and ambiance. We want them to feel special."
She raised an eyebrow. "Even in the first meeting?"
I nod. "Especially in the first meeting. Always remember that."
I lean back and look up. Ang saya lang. This is, no doubt, the most successful year in my business. Ang daming bagong investors at customers. Dumarami na rin ang mga partner companies namin. And now, franchise? I don't how it works but I'll review it. If it won't mess up my brand then I'll approve. If it will, then without further a do, I'll deny and throw it away.
Donna left soon after. She delivered the papers and email some to me after that. Nakakapanibago ang katahimikan sa office. It's been a while since Luke and I have been seperated. Feeling ko tuloy hindi ako kumpleto, na merong kulang sa lugar na 'to.
I work on the papers to divert my attention. Parang isang linggo lang naman mawawala si Luke e, di ko dapat siya mamiss ng ganito. Wait, what? Mamiss? Seriously? That's hilarous! Funniest joke I ever think of.
I was about to go out and eat lunch when someone came in and shout at me.
"Why the hell are you avoiding me?!!"
His perfectly 'chiselled?' face is just inches before mine. His hair is wet and messy. His dark brown eyes is totally fixated on mine.
I absurbly push him away. "I am not! Busy lang talaga 'ko," pagdadahilan ko. When in reality is iniwasan ko talaga siya.
He laughed, unbelieving of what he heard. "Oh come on! I'm a detective. I can easily know if your telling the truth or not!"
"So what if I'm lying? Boyfriend ba kita?"
He seems to be awaken in his own dream. Alangan siyang tumingin sa'kin at sumagot. "Hindi."
It's my time para sumigaw at magalit. "Hindi nga! Pero kung sigawan mo ko parang girlfriend mo ko at ang dami kong kasalanan sayo. Wow ha! Wow."
His determined eyes are back. "Hindi nga kita girlfried pero ang dami mo nang kasalanan sa'kin. You want me to enumerate those?"
I rolled eyes. "Nonsense! Wala kong kasalanan sayo dahil hindi naman tayo! Tigilan mo nga 'ko."
He slowly walks towards we, grinning wildly. As an automatic reaction, I step back. Unluckly, my table is just behind me, making me no where to go.
"Hindi kita titigilan hanggat hindi ka nagsosorry. I just want an apology, a sincere apology."
"Wala akong dapat ihingi ng tawad sayo," I tried to pushing him but he didn't even bulge. Note the word 'tried'.
"Sige pa. Ipagpatuloy mo lang yang pagmamatigas mo. Hanggang sa wala ka nang mapupuntahan."
I want to brush off the grin in his face. It makes me too much uncomfortable. He himself makes me uncomfortable. Everything about him makes me uncomfortable, especially his presence. Most especially his presence.
"Lumayo ka nga. Hindi ako makahinga ng maayos. Ang baho ng hininga mo, nakakasuffocate!" pag-iinarte ko kunwari. In fact, mabango naman talaga yung hininga niya. I just that para lumayo siya sa akin.
"Say sorry first. Kung hindi, pagtitiisan mo yang hininga kong amoy listerine," sagot naman niya. At talagang hindi siya magpapatalo a. Kainis!
"Fine. Sorry. Busy lang talaga ko," I finally said. Hindi matatapos 'to kung parehas kaming nagmamatigas.
"See? Madali lang naman 'di ba? Kung kanina mo pa sinabi yan edi sana kumakain na tayo ngayon."
"Huh?" Ano daw? Kumakain na sana kami? Asa naman siyang sasabay ako sa kanya.
"Tara na. Tomguts na talaga ako," sabi niya sabay hila sa akin palabas ng office ko. Hindi na ko nanlaban since naubos na lahat ng energy ko kanina. Plus, gutom na din ako.
Dinala niya ako sa KFC. Akala ko sa mamahaling resto kami kakain, dito lang pala.
"Dito kasi pinakamalapit kaya dito na tayo kumain," sabi niya. "Masarap naman dito, wag kang magalala."
"Alam kong masarap dito. Lagi din kami dito ni Luke," sagot ko pagkaupo sa upuan na nakita ko. Buti na lang may available pang seat kahit medyo marami ang tao.
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Luke. Fvck. I really hate that word. That's a taboo word for us, okay?"
Now, ako naman ang kumunot ang noo. "What? You want me to not say Luke when I'm with you?"
"Yep. Simple isn't it?"
"Why would I do that? Luke's my bestfriend and his name is special to me," I said.
Napahampas siya sa lamesa at lumapit sa akin. "I SAID NO LUKE! END OF CONVERSATION!"
I am shocked. Ngayon lang siya nagalit sa akin much more sigawan ako.
Tumayo siya at naglakad. Susundan ko na dapat siya kasi baka lalabas na siya pero it turns out na oorder lang pala siya.
Pagkabalik niya marami na siyang dalang pagkain. Isang tray ung dala dala niya plus ung dalawa pang tray na hawak ng waiter. Gutom nga ata talaga siya.
"Fiesta sa KFC?" tanong ko.
"Just eat, don't ask. Late na ko sa meeting namin," mataray niyang sagot. Dire diretso siya sa pagkain na hindi man lang tumitingin sa akin. As if I'm not here at all.
Umahon siya ng tingin at nagsalita, "What? Something wrong? You don't like the food? Should I order something else?"
Umiling ako. "No. No need for that. Hindi lang kasi ako makapili ng kakainin."
"Really? Just that?"
I smile at him. "Yes."
He smile back. "I'm glad you finally smiled. I thought you'll wear that poker face whole day."
My face falls. "Ano 'ko emo?"
He lean forward and pinch my cheeks. "Yes, you're a certified emo. Remember when you cried hard just because of a hankerchief? Or when you tried killing yourself because you fail all your entrance exam? Or---."
I cut him, midsentence. "Okay. Okay. I already got your point. Stop reminding me of those things."
He chuckled. "Why are you embarrased now?"
I picked the chicken with the korean flag on it. "Past is past. Kalimutan mo na nga yun. Kinalimutan ko na nga e."
He grab an french fries and replied, "Ayoko nga. Wala na kong maaasar sayo kapag kinalimutan ko yun."
I rolled eyes. "Such a meanie."
We ate in silence after that. Gutom siya, gutom ako, so wala munang usap-usap. We're both focus on eating. We didn't even bother checking the time, well at least not until someone called him and tell him to go back in the quarters. It's not like I'm disappointed or something but it's just that... Ah! Nevermind.
Chapter 5
Start from the beginning
