Whelving Warmth (LAS #1)

25

Whelving Warmth
Chapter 25

"Is this a set-up?"

Hindi ko maiwasang tanong kay Theo.

My reflex when I saw him earlier is to blink my eyes several times. I thought him being here is just a fragment of my imagination.

Akala ko niloloko nanaman ako ng mata ko... kagaya dati.

The year I left him, I lost count how many times I thought I saw him. Pero bigla din siyang nawawalang parang bula. So, I concluded that my eyes were just betraying me during those times.

It's impossible for him to be there. It's just my imagination playing with me.

Maybe it's because I was longing for him so much.

"Luh, bakit naman kaya tayo iseset-up ni Gov?" he asked innocently but there was a ghost of smile in his face.

I crossed my arms around my chest and looked at him with suspicion. Nilabanan niya naman ang tingin ko.

He didn't even look shock to see me earlier! For sure, he knows something about this!

"Are you sure it's not?" Nagdududang tanong ko sa kanya.

Tumuwid siya ng upo, "Gov messaged me to meet someone here because something came up. Hindi niya naman sinabi na ikaw. So..." he shrugged.

"Really? You don't know that it's me?"

His eyes remained on me. Hindi siya sumagot. I pursed my lips.

"Hindi mo talaga alam na ako?" ulit ko.

He put his tongue in his cheeks and smiled cheekily. "Bakit? Kung alam ko nga na ikaw, masama ba mag-dinner ang friends?" balik niyang tanong sakin.

"So, alam mo nga!"

"You tell me, Sariah. What do you think?"

I reached the menu to hide the smile that is forming in my lips. In my peripheral view, I saw him smiling too.

"Buti pala nandito ka sa Pangasinan?" I asked while deciding what to order. It's Friday. Nakakapagtaka na nandito siya kung sa Manila siya nagtatrabaho.

He suddenly coughed, making me looked back at him. Mukhang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko.

"Oo nga, eh," He reached for his tie and loosen it.

Napataas tuloy ang kilay ko dahil sa ginawa niya, "Hindi ka naman siguro galing sa Manila diba?"

"Bobo ko naman non," he scowled. "Sayang pati gas."

"Yes, that would be stupid"

"Kaya nga! Hindi naman ako stupid. Bakit ko gagawin yun?" parang bata niyang sabi.

He loosen his tie even more. My eyes narrowed. Tinanggal niya ang kamay niya ng mapansing doon ako nakatingin. He looked like he was caught red-handed.

"Mainit lang!" he immediately defended. He waved his hand to tell me to dismiss whatever idea I have in my mind.

"Sure."

"Mainit lang talaga!" He looks so guilty this time.

"Let's pretend that I didn't know you're lying." I know him! It's his mannerism when he's nervous or annoyed. Jokes on him if he thinks he can fool me!

"Bakit naman ako magsisinungaling?"

"Bakit nga ba, Atty. Acuesta?"

He licked his lower lip, "Gutom lang yan, Sariah," naiiling niyang inabot ang menu.