Can't Help Falling In Love (Estella Series # 1)

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Reciprocate

"I'll go get us some coffee. You two stay here and talk." I smiled at both of them before leaving our table.

Aiden looked at me with pleading eyes na parang sinasabing manatili ako doon at tulungan siya. I just smirked and shrugged before turning my back on him.

Sa totoo lang, natatakot ako at kinakabahan. How will she react? Will she hate me? Or will she hate Aiden? Magbago kaya ang nararamdaman niya? Magbago kaya ang tingin niya sa amin? Ano kayang mararamdaman ni Aiden? For sure, he would be hurt.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago nginitian ang babae sa counter. I told the girl my order. Bumili na rin ako ng tatlong ice cream cake para sa amin.

Nilingon ko sila Aiden sa may dulong table. Nakatalikod sa akin si Sofia kaya hindi ko makita ang reaksyon niya. Meanwhile, Aiden's face was serious. His eyebrows almost meeting each other and sincerity is evident in his eyes.

I saw Sofia move her hand patungo sa muka niya. Tila tinatakpan ang bibig. Parang gusto ko nang umalis rito sa pwesto ko at makinig sa pinag-uusapan nila.

"Here's your order, Ma'am," nilingon ko ang babae.

Ngumiti ako ulit at kinuha ang aming order at nagmadali sa pagbalik sa aming upuan.

"S-so... a-anong gagawin niyo? Itutuloy ba ang k-kasal?"

Natigilan ako sa paglakad nang marinig si Sofia. Her voice cracked when she said the word 'kasal'.

She's probably hurt. Hindi imposible iyon. She told me earlier about Aiden. About her feelings for him. Aiden's courting her, by the way! Paniguradong masakit para sa kaniya iyon!

Lumunok ako at nagpatuloy sa paglakad. Pareho nila akong nilingon. Binaba ko ang mga order namin at naupo sa tabi ni Aiden.

Natahimik ang lamesa. No one dared to talk. Sofia looks like she's in deep thought. Probably finding a way to understand the situation better.

"But I don't understand... why would they want the both of you to marry each other?"

It's because I like Aiden, Sofia. Apparently, Mom and Dad knew about it kaya nag-set up sila ng ganito. Pinalabas nilang para sa benefits ng company para siguro hindi makatanggi ang mag-asawang Rivera.

But you don't have the guts to tell them that, right, Athira?

"We're best friends since we were kids. Kilala namin ang isa't-isa masiyado. They thought that we're good for each other kaya bakit hindi kami ikakasal? They also thought that the both of us have a potential in both of the companies. Hindi nila alam na... nililigawan na kita." Aiden explained.

Sofia opened her mouth then she closed it again. She just let out a sigh.

"I was about to tell them na may nililigawan ako pero naunahan na ako. They pushed the engagement, any way."

Hindi na nakapag-salita si Aiden. Kita ko ang pag-daan ng sakit sa kaniyang mga mata. He's watching Sofia's reaction very well. And every time Sofia sighs, the pain grew stronger and stronger. He's also fiddling his fingers under the table. A sign that he's very nervous and very scared.

Gumuhit ang sakit sa aking lalamunan. He is so afraid to lose her. And I'm also scared that if he does, he might lose himself, too.

Look at Sofia's impact. She could probably break Aiden in just a snap! Crash him into pieces through her tears and kill him with her words.

Huminga ulit siya ng malalim. She bit her lower lip and took a sip on her coffee.

"E, 'di... p-paano kayo? H-hindi niyo s-susundin ang mga magulang niyo?"