The Calculus of Connection (Acad. Rival Series #1)

Chapter 18

"Okay." I said smiling.

"Wait for me, 'kay?" he said looking at me intently in the eyes, I just nod at him before he went back to the main site.

My heart was in full glee, tila nagtatalon sa saya ang puso ko, I hope this happiness won't end in a bitter way.

"Looks like someone's happy." napaigtad akonsa gulat dahil sa nagsalita.

It was Engr. Garcia na kakadating lang sa cottage, I didn't notice his presence dahil nalulunod ako sa thoughts ko.

"Pake mo naman!" inikutan ko siya nang mata.

"Ow, C'mon Ms. Elizalde, maging mabait ka naman sa partner mo sa kasal." he shrugged then entered the cottage at umupo sa kaharap na upuan.

"Hindi required." bawi ko sa kaniya nang hindi siya tinatapunan nang tingin.

I heard him chuckled before talking again. "You back together?" biglang tanong nito kaya napatingin ako sakaniya.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto ngunit hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko sa naging tanong niya, well, we weren't back together, pero doon rin naman yon hahantong, I guess.

"We're still trying to figure it out." I hesitated.

"That's good." I saw him smile through my peripheral vision.

Weird.

We were both invaded with quietness after our conversation, until Nicholas come back to the cottage and looking at the both of us questioningly.

"Did anything happened here?" kunot noong tanong nito at lumapit sa pwesto ko. "You okay?" tanong nito nang maupo sa tabi ko.

"Yes, okay lang ako." I smiled at him.

He smiled back at me before turning his gaze to the person in front of us that is also looking at us intently.

"Do you need anything, Garcia?" he was calm, but I can hear terror in his voice.

Engr. Garcia just laughed his ass off, as usual of course. "Nothing, I just went here to say hi to Ms. Elizalde." simpleng saad nito pero alam kung iniinis niya lang si Nicholas.

"Fuck off, Garcia." matigas nitong sabi sa kaharap.

"Chill man." saad ni Engr. Garcia at itinaas ang dalawang kamay. "Wala akong ibang ibig sabihin, I really came here to say hi." nakangising dugtong nito.

"You already did, you can go now." pagtataboy niya sa lalaki.

"Yeah, whatever man, so possessive." tumatawang paalis na saad ni Garcia.

Well, it's Engr. Garcia's personality to always ragebait someone, that completes his day.

"Baby, i'm sorry about how I act." saad nito  nang makaalis si Garcia at ipinatong ang ulo sa balikat ko at he also hug my waist.

"Okay lang, I understand." naiintindihan ko naman kung bakit ganon ang inakto niya, gagawin ko rin naman yon pag nakita kung may kausap siyang ibang babae.

Damn, we're not even together yet. Napapa-iling nalang talaga ako sa sarili.

"Let's have a date, baby? please...I want to spend time with you." wika nito, nakapatong pa rin ang ulo sa aking balikat.

"Sure, I would love that." I smiled and ruffled his hair.

Mapapatanong nalang talaga ako nang 'what are we' kasi hindi ko rin talaga alam, I clearly didn't know what is between the two of us, well we already talk about it and his just here trying to prove himself that he deserves a chance.

"Talagang dito mo ako dinala ah." I softly laughed while looking around the place.

It was the same place he bring me at noon, the fishballan and sisigan, well it holds memories.

"What can I say? I treasure everything that is connected with you, including places we went to before." he smiled softly as he said those which made me smile.

Iginiya niya ako sa counter para mag order, we ordered two sisig at iba ring street foods like fishball and kwek-kwek, after that we went to find a seat for the both of us while waiting for our order.

"Thank you ah." casual kung wika nang ihatid niya ako sa bahay, not totally hinatid since nag convoy lang kami dahil dala ko ang sasakyan ko.

"Are you happy with the date?" ngiting tugon nito habang nakasandal sa kaniyang sasakyan.

"Happy beyond words can explain, thank you again." ngiting tugon ko.

"That's good to hear." saad nito at lumapit sa akin para yumakap.

I was stunned with what he did, but I also felt ease in his arms, naramdaman ko rin ang paghalik niya sa aking noo bago siya bumitaw sa yakap.

"I should probably get going now." wika nito.

"Okay, ingat ka."

Nakatingin lamang ako sa papalayong sasakyan niya, at nung hindi ko na matanaw pa iyon ay pumasok na ako sa loob nang bahay.

Too good to be true, maybe we're really meant to meet twice in our life.