Kabanata 21
Hindi ako makagalaw sa pwesto ko dahil sa nangyari. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba 'yong nakita ko o namalikmata lang ako. My jaw dropped as I stood there conpletely still, don't know how to react.
Talaga bang nanuntok si Draisen? Totoo ba talaga 'yon?
He didn't say anything after that he just pulled me away from the scene like nothing happened. Dahil namumulikat pa rin ang binti ko ay hindi kaagad ako nakasunod. He noticed it so he glanced at me. Napasinghap ako nang bigla niya akong binuhat.
Wala akong nasabi, as in wala talaga. From everything he has done so far, ito talaga 'yong hindi ko talaga inasahan. Napatingin ako sa kanya pero nanatiling walang emosyon ang mukha niya.
"Mr. Velarde, may nangyari po ba?" tanong agad ng lumapit na security na mukhang nabalitaan na 'yong nangyari. It was awkward because Draisen was still carrying me. The security glanced at me before his gaze went back to Draisen.
"He harassed my girlfriend," he causally said.
Nakita ko ang pagkabigla ng security. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya nagulat, sa harass ba o 'yong sinabi ni Draisen na girlfriend niya ako?
"Gano'n po ba?" aniya. "I-re-report na lang po namin at sisiguraduhin naming hindi na ulit siya makakapunta rito."
Draisen nodded. "I'll deal with it later. Send the report to my office afterwards."
The man bid his goodbye and walked away. Dire-diretso naman si Draisen sa paglalakad patungo sa may building. Malayo-layo rin iyon pero walang nagsasalita ni isa sa amin. I can feel the warmth from his body since he's carrying me.
"G-Good morning, Mr. Velarde."
Nakita kong halos lahat ng empleyado ay napatingin sa amin. Agad na tinago ko 'yong mukha ko sa may katawan niya at tinakpan ang mukha ko.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pa 'yong nakaramdam ng hiya at parang wala lang kay Draisen. I'm sure it was truly shocking seeing the CEO carrying someone.
Pumasok siya sa elevator at nanatiling tahimik. It was so silent, I couldn't utter anything because I was still in shock. Nang tumunog ang elevator ay hudyat na 'yon na nasa tamang palapag na kami kaya lumabas na siya.
"Mr. Velarde!" gulat na gulat ang sekretarya at halos mapatayo pa sa upuan niya.
Draisen just nodded before he head inside his office. He immediately placed me on the sofa. Sa nangyari kanina ay parang hindi ko na inalintana 'yong sakit sa binti ko.
Pumasok siya sa kwarto niya saglit at pagkalabas niya ay may bitbit na siyang tuwalya na mukhang may nakalagay na yelo sa loob. He even brought some ointment or something.
"Anong palabas 'yon?" pagbasag ko sa katahimikan nang magsink-in lahat ng nangyari. His attention was all on my cramped calf muscle. He is pressing the cold compress on it.
Dahil hindi siya sumagot ay nagsalita ulit ako.
"Why did you do that?" tanong ko ulit. "Akala ko ba ayaw mo ng atensyon? Mukhang sa ginawa mo kanina ay magiging laman ka ng usap-usapan."
He wiped the wet part on my leg. Binuksan na niya 'yong parang ointment at pinahid iyon sa'kin. Nagulat ako dahil sa lamig no'n sa balat. I hissed a bit.
"Protective boyfriend ka na ngayon?" I teased to get a reaction from him.
"He's harassing you."
"Kaya nagalit ka kasi hindi mo nagustuhan 'yong nangyari?"
"Who wouldn't be?"
"Bakit ka nanuntok?"
Hindi siya nakasagot sa sinabi ko. I bit my lip because I find it so amusing especially now that he's trying to avert from my question.
"You wouldn't do anything reckless because you always go with your rationality." pinanatili kong seryoso ang mukha ko kahit na gusto kong ngumisi. "So, why did you?"
Hindi ko alam kung bakit natutuwa ako ngayon. I saw him pursed his lips but his expression remained serious.
"That's rational." he answered.
"Hmm, really?"
I leaned closer to him. I lifted his chin so that our eyes would meet. Nanatili pa rin siyang blangko na mukhang hindi man lang naapektuhan sa ginawa ko.
"Yeah, physical violence is rational." sarkastikong sabi ko. "In what sense?"
Tumayo siya pero nanatiling nakatingin sa'kin. I arched my brow, waiting for his reply. I'm sure as hell he'd throw some information with credible source like what he'd usually do.
"You're asking for an explanation yet you already have an answer in mind." he frankly said.
"What I'm thinking doesn't matter. It may differ to what you're going to say," sabi ko. "So, spill."
"What do you think I would say?"
"What are you thinking when you said I already have an answer in mind?"
"You did not answer my question."
"I asked first,"
Nagtagal ang titigan namin sa isa't isa, parehong ayaw magpatalo. Nauna naman talaga ako, hindi ko alam kung bakit iniilagan niya 'yong tanong. Ano bang mahirap do'n?
"You always have an answer," I told him. "Why can't you answer now?"
Napatayo na rin ako mula sa pagkakaupo. The cramp is gone now and I can stand up. Lumapit pa ako sa kanya at nag-iwan ng konting espasyo sa pagitan naming dalawa.
"What's so difficult about it, hmm?" I confidently asked.
Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. I remained unfazed, trying so hard not to feel inferior from that gaze of him. I licked my lower lip while staring at him.
"I didn't like it," he finally spoke.
I was amused by his response. "Why?"
"We're dating,"
Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtawa ko. Going for a safe answer again, I see. Mukhang wala talaga siyang balak sabihin kung ano talaga ang nararamdaman niya. At mukhang wala rin akong mapapala kahit ipilit ko.
"Alright," I sighed defeatedly but I couldn't suppress my smile. "I'm hungry. Should we eat breakfast?"
The following days felt different now after what happened in the fun run event. Alam kong may pagbabago sa pagitan namin kahit konti. We were behaving like we used to, like it was just normal since we're on this set-up.
At sa hindi inaaasahang pagkakataon, maraming mata na ngayon ang palaging nakamasid sa'min. I was now known as the girl who was bridal carried by the CEO. Parang normal lang na inassume nila na magjowa kami dahil sa nangyari.
"Hindi ko inakalang magkakatotoo!" tili ni Donna nang minsan ay pumunta ako sa maintenance. "Sabi na, e!"
Ngumiti lang ako habang nag-aayos ng gamit. She kept on saying how it was similar to the novels she was reading.
"Noong nakita ko talagang binuhat ka niya tapos pinagtanggol, doon ko na nakumpirma, e!" kinikilig pa siya na halos hampasin na ako. "Bagay kayo! Masaya ako para sa'yo!"
"Salamat," I plastered a smile and tried so hard to not make it look forced.
There will always be rumors and issues but I don't care. Kung ano man tingin nila sa'kin, wala akong pakialam. I don't know if it was a good thing but as long as it wouldn't ruin my plan then so be it. Mukhang nagamit ko rin ang pagiging suplado at malamig ni Draisen kaya walang nagtatangkang pag-usapan 'yong nangyari.
May ibang pinilit mapalapit sa akin matapos ng issue na 'yon, may iba namang lumayo na. Hindi ko alam kung anong basehan do'n pero wala rin naman akong pakialam talaga.
"Grabe, daig pa artista." sabi ko habang kumakain kami ng niluto kong lunch. "Kulang na lang pangalanan nila ako bilang non-showbiz girlfriend."
Draisen doesn't seem to care. Mukhang wala naman talagang pakialam ang lalaking 'to sa ibang tao. Wala namang magtatangka na siraan siya kasi siya 'yong mayaman at may mataas na posisyon.
"Anong masasabi mo na kumalat na nga? Ayos ka lang ba do'n?" tanong ko sa kanya.
He shrugged, his attention was only on the food. He was silently chewing and I'm the only one who's talking.
"You hate attention,"
"That doesn't mean I could avoid it." he finally talked.
"But you're okay with it?"
"It's annoying," he honestly said. "But that issue helped lessen those people who kept on pestering me."
"Ay oo nga, 'no?" tumango ako. "Wala na 'yong mga babaeng palaging pumupunta rito."
He nodded. So we ate again, quietly.
"Wait! Kung umabot na do'n, ibig sabihin umabot na rin sa mga mundo ng mayayaman 'yong issue?!" gulat na tanong ko nang maisip 'yon.
His brows furrowed with my terminologies.
"Umabot na rin ba sa pamilya mo?!"
"Darius knew," he said as a matter of fact. "So I guess it already reached them."
"At ayos lang sa'yo 'yon?!"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Ay hello? For experience lang 'to, sabi mo. Hindi dapat umabot sa mga ganito."
"But we can't avoid it, wouldn't we?"
Umawang ang labi ko sa naging sagot niya na parang ayos lang talaga sa kanya kahit pa mangyari 'yon. Ano pa bang inaasahan ko? Pakiramdam nga wala siya, pakialam pa kaya?
Nagligpit ako ng pinagkainan namin at naging busy ulit siya sa pagtatrabaho. It has been a few months since I was assigned here in his office yet so many had happened. And the progress is slow but I'm fine with it as of the moment.
"Crush ko siya," diretsahang inamin ko nang inusisa ako ni Chelsea nang isang araw ay pinakwento niya sa'kin 'yong nangyari.
"Wow," gulat na sabi niya. "Diretsahan mong inamin, huh?"
"He's attractive and I admit that he has good qualities when it comes to work related stuff." dagdag ko. "But that's it, there's nothing more to it."
I do admire him but what I felt is only platonic. I find delight making fun of him and getting a reaction, but it's more likely a feeling of experimenting and nothing else. Mukhang gano'n din naman ang ginagawa niya sa'kin. It's like we're both studying each other.
"Sure kang hindi lalalim 'yan?" tanong ni Chelsea. "Nagsimula na nga, what makes you think it would just stop at that?"
"Because I am aware and I know my limits."
Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mata na mukhang hindi naniniwala sa sinasabi ko. Bakit niya ako pagdududahan e may mga nagamit naman na akong mga tao noon na inamin kong naging crush o nagustuhan ko pero hindi naman umabot sa puntong lumalim ang nararamdaman ko.
"I'm waiting for the time where you'll eat your words." she teased.
"I stay true to my words."
"Well, there's always a first time for everything."
Pumasok ako nang maaga kagaya ng palagi kong ginagawa dahil nga nakasanayan na rin 'yong jogging routine namin tuwing madaling araw. I was wearing comfortable shirt and jogging pants.
Nang makalapit ako ay nakita ko na siya ng maayos. He's wearing a black shirt and his usual grey sweatpants. Inaayos niya ang kung ano sa may suot niyang parang relo. He looks like a model with his stance and presence.
"Good morning," I greeted him.
Napatingin naman siya sa'kin. "Morning,"
Hindi na nakakagulat kasi mukhang nasanay na rin siyang batiin ako sa tuwing binabati ko siya. I started tying my hair up while I do my stretching. Nagulat ako nang biglang tumigil siya sa pagstretch at napansin kong nakatingin lang sa'kin.
"Bakit?" tanong ko.
He handed me a watch looking thing, similar to what he's wearing. It was a white one and I saw on his wrist that he's wearing a black colored watch. I know it's something you used for fitness. Nabanggit na niya ata 'to sa'kin dati.
"Birthday ko ba?" I asked, brows furrowed.
"You should make your fitness program and record it so you could manage it properly."
"Fitness trainer ka na ngayon?" pang-aasar ko pa.
"Just wear it," he insisted.
"Na-stress ka ba kasi walang schedule at random lang 'yong pagwo-work-out ko?"
He pursed his lips and I smirked. Inangat ko ang kamay ko at siya na ang nagsuot sa akin ng binigay niyang smartwatch. He briefly explained its features and I was having a hard time suppressing my laughter since he looks so serious while he demonstrates it.
"You're making fun of me," he narrowed his eyes at me.
"Hindi, ah."
"You're laughing."
"Kapag ba tumawa ako, pinagtatawanan kaagad kita? Hindi ba p'wedeng masayahin lang talaga akong tao?"
Kulang na lang ay irapan niya ako dahil sa sinabi ko kaya mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi ko.
We started jogging. Mabagal muna at sinasabayan ko lang ang takbo niya. He kept on glancing at his smartwatch, probably to monitor. Napatingin din tuloy ako sa suot ko.
Hindi ako mahilig sa gadgets pero naiintindihan ko naman 'to kahit papaano. On the screen, I can see my heart rate and the calories I've burned. I can also see here the distance I've jogged, there's even the route if I want to look at it.
"Umuulan!" sabi ko nang maramdaman ang patak ng ulan. "Sumilong muna tayo!"
"It's just rain." he said.
"Baka magkasakit tayo!"
Alam kong may pamalit naman ako pero ayokong basang sisiw ako pagkapunta ko do'n sa building. Mas mapapadami 'yong lilinisin ko kapag magkakalat ako ng mga basa sa loob.
"Lumalakas!" angal ko at tuluyan nang huminto.
Sunud-sunod ang pagpatak ng ulan at hindi nagtagal ay biglang lumakas na nga. I grabbed his wrist and pulled him. Naghanap ako ng masisilungan kaso nasa open area kami. Mukhang sa may bandang building pa kami makakasilong.
I looked at him, he was staring at me. Mukhang gusto pa talaga magjogging ng batong 'to kahit umuulan. His gaze drifted on my body. Napatingin din ako at mukhang bumabakat na 'yong panloob ko.
"Let's go back." he finally decided.
Tumakbo kami patungo sa may building. Agad na may empleyado na nagbigay ng payong nang matanaw kami. Nang makapasok kami ay napangiwi ako dahil sa mga marka at putik na iniwan namin dahil galing kaming labas.
Nang makapasok kami ng opisina niya ay doon ko lang naramdaman 'yong lamig sa katawan ko. I glanced at him, his top is already showing his body. We were both wet from the rain.
"Magpalit ka na," sabi ko sa kanya. "Pahiram muna pala ako ng payong, nasa maintenance 'yong pamalit ko."
"I'll give you clothes."
Nagulat naman ako sa suhestiyon niya dahil alam kong maarte siya pero hindi naman ako umangal. Sumunod ako sa kanya papasok sa kwarto niya. Napangiwi ulit ako nang madumihan 'yong sahig dahil nga basa pa kami.
Nakatayo lang ako habang kumukuha siya ng damit sa drawer. He handed me a clean white shirt and some shorts. Kahit hawak ko lang ay amoy ko kaagad 'yong amoy na malinis na palagi kong naaamoy sa kanya.
"Walang bra at panty?" pang-aasar ko.
Napalingon siya at nakita ko ang bahagyang pagliit ng mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko. I chuckled with his reaction.
"Paano 'yan? Ito lang susuotin ko? Walang panloob?" I teased.
"Dry your clothes in the dryer."
"P'wede rin makiligo?"
Tumango siya habang kinukuha 'yong malinis na tuwalya sa may cabinet niya. Binigay niya iyon sa akin kaya napataas ang kilay ko at ngumisi nang tumingin ako sa kanya.
"Hindi ka na maarte?" tanong ko na ikinakunot ng noo niya. "Ayos lang sa'yo gamitin ko 'yong mga gamit mo?"
"I gave it to you, didn't I?"
"Hindi ka ba napipilitan?" I added. "Oh, I know. You'll pull the "we're dating" card again as your explanation."
He didn't say anything so I smirked more. Lumapit ako sa kanya nang mabagal. I kept the playful smile on my face. We're still both wet and we haven't changed our clothes.
His hair always looks disheveled, but this wet look of him made him look hotter. Mukha siyang modelo sa mga tabing dagat. Some water droplets were cascading on his face, down to his neck, then to his chest. Hapit ang shirt na suot niya dahil basa ito.
"Shower tayo?" I seductively said.
He kept his face blank, there was no reaction as expected.
I bravely shortened our distance and enveloped my arms around his neck. Tumingkayad ako dahil sobrang tangkad niya at iyon lang ang paraan para maabot ko siya.
"We're dating yet we haven't progress with the intimacy part." I suggestively said. I leaned closer to him, still no reaction.
There was a brief second of silence that we were just staring at each other's eyes. I maintained my composure while still looking at him. I wet my lips while staring at his lips.
"Alright," he suddenly said.
Nawala ang ngiti ko sa biglang sinabi niya. Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya at nanatili lang nakatingin sa'kin. My lips parted a little while my eyes widen in a fraction. Hindi nagtagal iyon dahil pinilit kong ngumisi.
"Huh?" I asked.
Imbes na sumagot siya ay bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. Gulantang ako dahil talagang hindi ko talaga alam ang mga sunod na gagawin niya. Mas lalo lang akong kinabahan nang hinila na niya ako papasok sa may banyo.
I was so stunned that I just followed him inside. Nalaman ko na lang na nakapasok na kaming dalawa sa loob ng banyo. Nanatili akong gulat dahil hindi ko pa rin talaga maisip na gagawin niya 'to.
I tried to smirk to gain my confidence back. "I know what you're doing."
"Hmm?" he asked.
"You're trying to make me flustered."
"Why do you think so?"
"Tingin mo ba kapag ginawa mo 'to, aatras ako at babawiin ko ang sinabi ko?"
Nag-angat pa ako ako ng kilay sa kanya. It happened a lot of times and I guess I finally understood the pattern.
Every time I tease or taunt him, he'd follow it because he probably thinks I can't own up with my words. That if he did whatever I thought he wouldn't do, then it's his win.
"You're wrong," he said.
"Really?" I raised my brow at him. "Then why bring me here and not do anything?"
Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakuha ang tapang ko ngayon. Nasa loob kami ng banyo at nilalamig na ako. But I guess it can wait because I'm still waiting on what he meant by that "alright" of him a while ago.
Magsasalita pa sana ako kaso napatigil ako nang bigla niyang hinubad ang suot niyang shirt. Halos manlaki ang mata ko at malaglag ang panga ko sa ginawa niya.
My body went to admire that body of him which definitely looks like his work-out routines really paid off. He has muscles on the right places and I could see the veins on his arms. It wasn't that buff but it still looks like he would effortlessly be casted for a topless photoshoot for underwear brands.
Sinara ko kaagad ang bibig ko para hindi masyadong halata 'yong malagkit na tingin ko kanina.
Is this how he's going to play this? Waiting for me to back out with my words?
"What you're doing will not work." matapang na sabi ko pa.
"You said you want to shower together."
"Sure," I shrugged.
Bravely, I was about to remove my top as well but I suddenly felt his hand holding both my arms. Pinigilan niya ako bago ko pa maangat iyon. Doon na ako napangisi. Hindi ko naman talaga itutuloy, pero mukhang nagreact na siya, like what I expected.
I smirked while looking at him. "What? Caught you off guard?"
He pursed his lips making his jaw clenched. Nanatili ang tingin niya sa akin na tila ba hirap na hirap na siyang analisahin kung ano ba talaga ang iniisip ko. Nagtagal ang titig niya sa akin bago siya bumuntong hininga.
"You're frustrating, woman." he muttered before he went outside, leaving me with a victorious smile on my face.