Fearless Love

Capítulo Diecisiete

"Who's that?"

Napatingin ako kay Ivy na siyang nakataas na ang isang kilay at pagkatapos ay tinapunan niya ng look ang paperbag sa gilid ng table ko. Nakalimutan kong naririto pa nga pala siya sa office ko.

"A friend," I answered her shortly.

"Friend? Really?" she asked then chuckled unbelievably.

"Yes," I answered like it isn't a big deal. I mean, it really isn't.

"Mavic, I know na hindi ka naman ignorante sa galawan ng mga lalake paggusto nila ang isang babae. Kaya sigurado akong hindi lang friend ang turing sa iyo ng lalakeng 'yon."

"You are just giving color to his kindness. Mabait lang talaga 'yong tao," saad ko dahilan upang makakuha ulit ako ng isang irap from her.

Minsan gusto ko na lang dukutin ang mata niya dahil sa panay ang irap niya sa akin. Kung hindi ko lang talaga friend ang babaeng 'to, I'm sure of that na dati ko pa siya nasampal at nasabunutan.

"Fine. He sees you just as a friend. Continue to believe that," she said as she shrugged her shoulders off.

After a few more minutes, she bids adieu as she finally left my office.

I sighed.

Peace at last.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang tumunog ang cellphone ko and I saw a familiar number that registers on the screen.

Kahit pa man dinelete ko ang number na iyon ay mahirap atang hindi ko malaman na it's him who is calling dahil memorize ko ang cellphone number niya.

I debated whether I should answer his call until I sighed and gave up. This is one of the step for me to move on, kaya kailangan kong harapin ito.

Nang masagot ko ang tawag ay magsasalita pa sana ako pero narinig ko na siyang nagsalita.

"I love you," he said at ang tahimik kong puso ay nabibingi na naman sa lakas ng kabog nito.

I can't even utter a single word.

I waited for him if ever na may sasabihin pa siya pero there's none until the call died.

What did he say?

No, Mavic. You should not get your hopes up. Baka wrong number ang natawagan niya. Alam mo naman kung bakit ka niya niligawan, di ba? And it wasn't because he is in love. It is all for revenge.

But the mere thought of him loving a lady, breaks my heart.

Hindi naman talaga ito ganoon kabilis mawala. But I believe one day, I will wake up with knowing that I do not love him anymore. And I can't wait for that day to come.

"Mavic, hindi mo na nagustuhan ang pagkain?" tanong ni Adrian dahil kasalukuyan na kaming kumakain ng dinner.

"No. It's delicious, actually." I paused and looked at the food on my plate. "I just remember something," wika ko at naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Adrian na hinawakan ang hand kong nasa ibabaw ng table. I stared at it for awhile. Naputol lang nang magsalita siya.

"Everything will be alright. Kung inaalala mo ang mga problemang kinahaharap natin ngayon, then don't be. We'll get back on track," he said giving me a reassuring smile.

"I know. I'm positive na malalampasan din natin ito." Umiling ako. "I'm not giving up yet."

"Ang buong kompanya ay nasa likod mo lang, sumusuporta sa bawat hakbang na gagawin mo," he said as we continue eating our dinner.

The stillness of the night and the good ambiance of the restaurant help me to let me forgets about my problems and worries even just for a moment.

"Mavic," pagtawag niya sa akin.

"Yes?"

"May gusto sana akong sabihin sa'yo," saad niya at sa pagkakataong ito, his face which is always smiling is converted into a serious one.

I couldn't understand myself dahil nakaramdam ako ng kaba habang nakatingin sa seryosong mukha ni Adrian.

"I like you, Mavic. No. I think I am in love with you," he said without breaking his stare on me.

Para akong nawalan ng voice dahil sa narinig sa kanya. I...I don't know what to say. I don't even know how to react.

He smiled at me gently, wanting to remove the tension that is in between us.

"Pero, Adrian—"

"You don't have to say anything or reply to me if you don't feel like it. I understand dahil hindi pa man matagal nang nagkahiwalay kayo ni Raphael and please... know that I am not pressuring you to return to me the favor. Gusto ko lang talagang ipaalam sa iyo ang nararamdam ko."

"Kailan pa?"

"On our first meeting, I was really curious about you until I accepted to myself that I am infatuated to none other than the princess of the Reyes clan, Maja Victorina. Gusto ko sana noon na pormahan ka rin pero parang bagyo sa bilis si Raphael, naunahan ako. That's why I decided to just let it go. Pero ang gago iniwan ka na lang bigla dahilan upang mas gustuhin kong alagaan at protektahan ka. And recently, I admitted to myself that I am now in love with you."

"Adrian," I uttered his name in a small voice.

"I hope walang magbago sa pagkakaibigan natin," he said and by that moment, I know in myself that there is something that will change even if I don't want to.