An Affair in London

Chapter Five

Umarko ang isang kilay ni Quillian. “You have? Hey...” bati nito sa isang lalaki na pabirong sinuntok ito sa braso.

“Yes. About your... offer the other night.” she said distractedly. Naiilang siya sa mga tao sa likod ni Quillan na kunwa ay deadma pero halatang nakikinig sa kanila.

“Yes?” Quillan prompted.

“I'm accepting it.” mahinang sabi niya, bago inilapit ang mukha dito. Lalong nagwala ang puso niya. He smells so good! “I mean, yes.”

“What was that?” sabi ng kung sino sa likod nila.

“Bugger off.” lingon dito ni Quillan, na sinagot lang ng tawanan. He turned to her. Macy held back a gasp. His face was too near. “Let's talk about this over lunch?”

“Quil, you sod. We haven't met the lady yet.” protesta ng isa sa 'audience' nila.

Naiiling na inakbayan siya ng lalaki, bago marahang iniharap sa mga kaibigan nito. “This is the woman responsible for that smashing new series we're filming in two weeks. This is Macy Del Pilar. She wrote Same Difference.” he turned to her. “That's Rupert, Cedrick, Percy and Sam.”

All the men eagerly shook her hand. At lahat din ay gustong sa mga ito siya sumamang mag-lunch.

“Sorry, mates. But she's going with me.” he winked at her. Tumalon yata ang puso niya. “She has to.”

“Wait 'til the doctor hears about this.” pabirong pagbabanta ni Percy.

“She's Sarah's best friend.” sabi ni Quillan.

“The more that he has to hear you're--”

“Nothing to worry about. I'm gay.” sa wakas ay nasabi niya, matigil lang sa pangungulit ang apat. Napanganga ang mga ito.

“You don't say...”

“Oh yes.” Quillan said smugly. “She can get more hot girls in one night than all of you combined can in a week.” tinapik nito ang balikat niya. “So, if you'll excuse us.” sabi nito bago iginiya naman siya patalikod sa mga lalaki.

Sandaling sumaludo siya sa mga ito, na hindi pa rin makapaniwalang inihahatid sila ng tingin, bago tuluyang nagpatangay kay Quillan.

“Ang kukulit nila.” nakangiting sabi niya nang nasa elevator na sila.

“Yeah.” napailing ito. “So, you're saying Yes, huh?”

Napalingon sa kanila ang isang babae at isang lalaking kasabay nila. Kapwa curious ang tingin ng mga ito. “Oh not again.” muli siyang ipinakilala ni Quillan sa dalawa.

“Before you two think anything's going on, she is Sarah's best friend and she likes girls, all right? I could fancy her, but she will never fancy me.” dagdag pa ng lalaki, na nagpatawa sa dalawa.

Nang tumalikod na muli ang mga kasakay nila ay siniko siya ng katabi. There was a glint in his eyes and something in his smile that made her just a bit more  nervous. “I'm sorry I had to out you like that.”

May choice ba siya? At mabuti na rin siguro ito para mabawasan ang ilangan ngayong magkakasama sila sa isang bahay. “It's okay. I would have made it known soon, anyway.” hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa binata, kahit na pakiramdam niya ay matutunaw siya. Hindi pa nga siya nakaka-recover sa sobrang lapit nito kanina sa hallway ay eto na naman.

“I just had to make it clear, para hindi tayo ma-chismis or aything.” wika pa nito, pabulong.

“Yeah, naiintindihan ko.”

“Now that they know you're gay, and would be living with me, there's no way anyone would think something's going on, right?”

“Right.” tumango siya. Bakit parang may nais ding patunayan si Quillian sa sinasabi nito?