Invisible Line in Between

Chapter 35

#NewClassicILIB

Chapter 35
Break

"Are you ready?" Lucas asked me, after I got back from eating lunch at the employee's lounge.

I didn't know if he already ate, but when I left the office earlier, he was busy typing on his laptop. I had been away for almost an hour, and found him still pre-occupied with work. He only stopped when he sensed me arriving.

"Uh, ready na..." I answered, slightly hesitating. "Nakakain ka na ba ng lunch?"

Bahagya siyang natigil sa pag-aayos ng kanyang gamit, ngunit ilang segundo lang ay umiling siya bilang sagot. "I was busy working on something," dahilan niya. "I'll just eat after the interview. We can't be late."

Pursing my lips, I became slightly concerned about him. Mukhang sanay na siyang nalilipasan ng gutom dahil sa trabaho, pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n na dapat ay hayaan lamang.

While watching him as he unfolded his sleeves to the cuffs, I suddenly remembered that I bought pastries from Starbucks earlier. Since my car was coding, daddy drove me to work. Dumaan kami sa drive-thru kanina para bumili ng kape at tinapay. I was able to drink my iced caffe latte, but I didn't eat the ham and cheese croissant.

Mabilis ko mabilis kong kinuha ang paper bag sa gilid ng aking lamesa. Luckily, I forgot to eat it.

When I turned to Lucas again, he was already prepared to go out―wearing the strap of his leather laptop case on his shoulder. His eyes scanned his table to see if he forgot to bring anything.

Lumapit ako sa kanya. Agad niya naman akong nilingon.

"Here." I shove the paper bag to him.

Sinundan niya lamang iyon ng tingin bago muling inangat ang mga mata sa akin. "Ano 'yan?"

I smiled at him. "Something to eat," I told him. "And don't worry, tinapay lang 'yan. You can eat it while we're on the road."

Nag-aalangan niyang kinuha sa akin ang paper bag. Mas lalo akong napangiti nang tinanggap niya 'yon.

"Thanks..." he quietly said.

"You're welcome!" I happily replied.

Hindi na rin kami nag-aksaya ng oras. Habang pababa kami sa parking lot ay sinimulan nang kainin ni Lucas ang tinapay na binigay ko. He might not express it, but I could tell that he was also hungry by the way he devoured the food.

It made me smile, knowing that I helped him sate his hunger even just a little.

When we reached his car, Lucas quickly opened the door for me before sitting on the driver's seat. I thought we were going to take the company car, but I guessed it wasn't the case. Medyo nag-aalangan akong pumasok sa kanyang sasakyan. Nagtaka ako nang maisip na wala kaming kasamang photographer.

"Tayong dalawa lang?" kuryoso kong tanong sa kanya habang inaayos ang seat belt.

"Nauna na roon ang ibang staffs dahil mas maaga ang photoshoot," sagot niya sa akin at pinaandar na ang sasakyan.

"Sa next issue pa ipu-publish 'to, 'di ba?" paninigurado ko.

He nodded, his eyes on the road. "But New Classic's management wants the article to be published online on a specific date."

Napatango naman ako at nireview mula sa aking iPad ang mga tanong na inaprubahan ni Lucas kahapon. Naisip ko na siguro ay maglalabas ng bagong album ang banda kaya gusto ng Top Records na maunang ilabas ang online article kaysa sa magazine.

Not long after, we finally arrived at the recording company. Lucas and I presented our company identification cards to the receptionist. We were given instructions right away on where to go.