What You Mean To Me [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER SIX

"DON'T SAY IT." Sabi niya kay Cade. Kasalukuyan silang nasa loob ng kanyang opisina. Dinala niya ito doon para makapag-usap sila ng masinsinan matapos umalis si Mr. Tianco at ang mga kasama nito. Nakaupo ito habang siya naman ay hindi tumitigil sa kakaroon at parito. Tahimik lang ito pero alam niyang iniisip rin nito ang nangyari. Siguro ay nasopresa ito sa sinabi niya kanina.

"I'm not saying anything." Anito. "And can you please stop doing that?"

Tumigil siya at hinarap ito. "Okay, for the record, I just said that dahil nakita ko kung gaano sila ka desperate na makuha ang Coffee n' Books and you were right. Takot sila sa'yo. They may have tried to hide it but I saw the look on their faces."

Bumuntong-hininga ito at tumayo. He closed the distance between them and for a moment, Yumika thought he would embrace her. "How were you though? I hope you were not intimidated by them."

"Oh, I was intimidated by them." Pag-amin niya rito. Hindi na siya naka-imik pa nang ipitin nito sa tenga ang ilang hibla ng kanyang buhok.

"Don't worry, hindi ko palalampasin itong ginawa nila. I made them sign an agreement last week na hindi nila gagalawin ang Coffee n' Books for the time being. Sa next board meeting ay magre-request ako ng reconsideration with an appeal to emotion." Tumawa ito, but Yumika couldn't laugh with the joke. "Lahat ng board members ay married people. I'm sure they will understand."

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi. "Nung sinabi kong nakatira tayo sa iisang bahay, naniwala kaya sila?"

"I think they did."

"But for how long they would believe?"

"I don't know. Unless kung may isa sa mga board ang magpapa-imbestiga." Anito at naipikit niya ang mga mata.

"Kung malalaman nila na isang malaking kasinungalingan iyon, they would use that against you."

Hindi naka-imik si Cade. Napa-isip ito sandali. Then he sighed. "Let me figure it out. Don't worry, hindi kita pipilitin na totohanin natin ang kasinungalingan. There must be a way. I'll figure something out, okay?" Patungo ito sa pinto ngunit tinawag niya itong muli.

"When you said you would file a reconsideration, what would be the terms?" Tanong niya. Hindi agad ito sumagot. "Tell me, Cade. You're not sacrificing your position, are you? Or even your mother's?"

"I haven't thought of it yet but those are good suggestions." He joked.

"Damn it, Cade. Hindi ako nagbibiro."

Sumeryoso ito. "I honestly haven't thought of it."

Huminga siya ng malalim. She might regret this but she wouldn't accept anymore sacrifices from his family just to save her. Ang dami ng nagawa ang pamilya Hernandez sa pamilya nila. This would be one of those times to pay it forward.

"Don't think anymore. Let's just live together." She said.

"I DON'T SEE THE reason why we need to have a new house." Pagmamaktol ni Yumika kay Cade nang iwan sila ng real estate agent para makapag-libot-libot. Simple lang ang bahay—isang two-bedroom bungalow house na may garage at malawak na lawn area. Mas simple ang bahay na ito kaysa sa two-storey house na binigay sa kanila bago sila ikinasal.

"Maraming masakit na alaala ang bahay na 'yon. I want to start anew with you." Sagot nito at damn, pinamulahan siya ng pisngi. Palihim na kinurot niya ang sarili. Walang rason para muling mabuhay ang feelings niya para rito. Walang magandang naidulot iyon sa kanya. Hindi na siya dapat bumalik sa daan na iyon.