Kabanata 33
His rivalry cutting in an instant
Time flies so fast in our relationship and academics. I'm already on my first OJT as a fourth-year college student as of now, while Draven is in his second year as a law student. Just like what my mom said, it was better for myself to choose our company for my internships, which I did, in order for me to be familiar with our own environment since I will be working here too. Mabuti na lamang at pinayagan kaming mag-apply mismo sa gusto naming kumpanya at hindi ang school ang pipili ng pagtatrabahuan namin, kaya narito ako ngayon.
Looking at the folders I have on my hands as I went inside the elevator, it was too late for me to realize that I almost bumped into someone. Nang iangat ko ang aking tingin para matukoy kong sino 'yon, ay siya ring pagngiti niya sa'kin nang malaki.
His head tilted, "Oh, Ms. Baguio?!" malakas bati niya.
Good thing that it was only us in here when I glanced around, so his remarks didn't catch anyone's attention. I let out a quiet sigh, "You're mistaken. I didn't join any pageant." matapos sabihin 'yon ay tahimik na pinindot ko na lamang ang floor na pupuntahan ko.
I visibly sensed that he was peeking at me repeatedly after that, so I couldn't help but stare at him from the elevator's door. Bahagya pa nga siyang nagulat nang magtama ang tingin naming dalawa do'n bago muling namuo ang ngiti sa mukha niya.
He cleared his throat. "How are you?"
My brow raised a bit, "Fine..?" tipid na sagot ko pa rin.
Kinamot niya ang leeg niya at binaling sa'kin paharap ang buo niyang katawan. He's now facing me by my side, while my body remains straight towards the elevator. "I'm Khalil. Doesn't that ring a bell..?"
A crease formed on my forehead as I thought about what he said. No'ng una ay walang pumasok sa isip ko, hanggang sa makumpira ko kung sino siya matapos lumipas ang ilang segundo. I was about to answer him that time, but the elavator opened, so I just showed him a smile and a wave before I went outside of it.
Lumapit ako sa front desk, "Is Mr. Alcuriza here? I was asked to give him these documents." tukoy ko sa aking hawak, habang taas-taas 'yon para kaniyang makita.
Her stares, which were on me, went straight to my back. Tumikhim siya at tinuro ang espasyo sa tabi ko. "There's Attorney Alcuriza coming. You can give it to him now."
My eyes blink before I turn around. Ang unang nahagip ng mga mata ko ay si Khalil na naglalakad papalapit sa'kin, habang ang dalawang kamay niya ay nakasuksok sa bulsa ng kaniyang pantalon. His eyes were staring at me already and not leaving even a split second.
Saglit pa akong tumingin nang pabalikbalik sa receptionist, na yumuko bilang pagbati at muling bumalik sa kaniyang ginagawa, at kay Khalil, na may ngiti na ulit sa mga labi, bago ko makita nang malapit ang ID na suot niya.
He licked his lips. "Now, what do I owe this pleasure? Heard you're looking for me, Miss?"
I slowly nodded my head before handing him the stack of folders. I was still shocked and a little bit dumbfounded. "Mrs. Juarez told me to hand these to you, Attorney."
Hindi niya napigilan ang mas lalong paglaki ng ngiti niya sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, pero hindi na 'ko nag-aksaya ng panahon para punahin 'yon at mas lalong nilapit sakanya ang hawak ko. Kaya lang, imbes na kunin niya 'yon sa'kin, ay nilagpasan niya lamang ako. What he did made my eyebrows knit together as I followed him with my eyes.
He stopped in his tracks, a few steps away from me, and looked back to where I was, "Follow me on my office." sagot niya bago ituloy ang paglalakad palalayo sa'kin.
I scoffed quietly before glancing at the folders in my hand. "He could have just taken these." Malakas na hinampas ko 'yon sa aking kabilang kamay at lakad-takbong sumunod na rin sakanya.
Hindi ko na siya nagawang abutan, pero nahagip pa rin naman ng nga mata ko kung saan siya pumasok, kaya alam ko pa rin ang daan. I knocked on his door first before letting myself in without waiting for his approval. Nang masara ko muli ang pinto at harapin ang lamesa niya ay nakaupo na siya at nagbabasa ng ibang papeles na nasa itaas no'n.
I bit my lip and went closer to him. Nilagay ko ang mga folder sa harapan niya at balak na sanang tumalikod para makaalis na, ngunit tinawag niya ang pangalan ko. My eyes unconsciously went down, which made me realize that it was because of my ID that he knew my name.
Tinaas ko ang aking tingin sakanya, "What?" sagot ko.
He poked his inner cheek and leaned on the back rest of his swivel chair while observing what I brought. "Is there anything else?"
I shook my head. "Nothing; that's all."
Tumango siya at sinimulang tapikin ang lamesa gamit ang mga daliri niya. Balak ko na sanang magpaalam, pero nagsalita muli siya bago ko pa man magawa 'yon. "Have you eaten your lunch..?"
"Not yet, but I will." I glanced at my wrist watch, "With my boyfriend." dagdag ko.
"Oh..?" His head tilted a bit. "Kayo pa rin?"
"Of course, who else would I be with if it wasn't him?" Ngumiti ako sakanya at yumuko nang kaunti, "Aalis na ako, Attorney." paalam ko bago siya iwan do'n.
Pagkabalik ko sa sarili kong floor ay dumaan muna ako sa banyo para mag-ayos bago tuluyang bumaba sa lobby. I sat on one of the couches there and dialed Draven's number, but I couldn't reach him at all. Sa pang-apat na ring ay tumigil na ako at pinadalhan na lamang siya ng mensahe. I leaned back and started playing with my phone as the time went by, waiting for him since we had a plan.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo, minuto, o baka nga kalahati na ng oras ang lumipas, pero nasisiguro kong konti na lang ang natitirang bakante ko para sa lunch break. I was still waiting for him on the same spot, with my stomach growling in hunger already.
At that moment, a man sat across from me as he typed on his phone. It was Khalil, but the coat he was wearing a while ago was no longer there. Tanging ang puting longsleeves niya na lamang ang suot niya pangtaas na nakatupi hanggang sa kaniyang siko.
He lifted his head and showed me a small smile. "Still haven't had your lunch?"
"So..?" My brow shot up. "What is it with you?"
Umiling siya at sumandal din sa kaniyang kinauupuan. "Nothing, but you shouldn't skip your lunch, Intern."
"And you shouldn't meddle with someone's life, Attorney."
He shrugged his shoulders before having his legs crossed together, "The company doesn't want its heir to get sick, do we..?" sagot niya pabalik at muling nagtipa sa kaniyang cellphone.
My head tilted. "How did you know about that?"
Saglit siyang tumingin sa'kin at umiwas din kaagad kalaunan, "I'm the head of the legal management team here, so it's safe to say that I got all the data's and info's about the firm's employees and staff — including you, of course." sagot niya.
I pursed my lips and let out a short hum as an answer. Hindi na kami muling nag-usap matapos no'n, pero hindi pa rin siya umaalis sa harapan ko, kahit may ibang tumatawag sakanya sa personal at maging sa cellphone niya. He was just busy playing and typing with his device and postponing their request with words and gestures.
With only the sound of the footsteps from heels and shoes of people passing by, the ringing noises coming from the receptionist's desk one after another, and the whirring of the air conditioning surrounding the entire floor, were the only things lingering around, until he decided to break them off.
Narinig ko ang pagtikhim niya, kaya lumapat ang mga mata ko sakanya, "Twenty minutes left..?" halatang sadyang ipinarinig niya sa'kin 'yon.
I unconsciously glanced at my wrist watch to confirm what he said, and it is indeed the exact time I have left before I return to work. Napaayos ako ng upo dahil do'n at binuksan ang cellphone ko para sana tawagan si Draven, pero may biglang tumabi sa'kin at humawak sa mga kamay ko, kaya hindi ko nagawang ituloy 'yon.
"I'm sorry, Miss." That's what I heard before I felt his forehead resting on my shoulder.
Recognizing his voice, I can only tap him on the thigh before caressing him on the cheek. "It's fine. We could just eat somewhere close here."
Khalil cleared his throat once again before standing up. Maging ang atensyon ni Draven ay nakuha niya dahil do'n, pero wala naman kaming narinig na kung ano pa sakanya. He just walked and went out of the building.
Tinuro ni Draven ang pinto na kaniyang pinaglabasan at tinignan ako ng may kunot sa kaniyang noo. In exchange, I just raised a brow at him to ask why.
He shook his head slowly, "Mamaya na. Kumain ka muna." saad niya bago ko napansin ang mga paper ng take-out na kaniyang pinatong sa lamesa.
"Is this why you're late..?"
"Hindi, ang tagal naming pinalabas, eh. Sinabayan pa ng traffic, kaya napatagal lalo. That's why I ordered online, para makakain ka kaagad pagkarating ko. Sakto namang dumating din dito 'yong delivery no'ng pag-park na 'ko." His lips pouted at me innocently, "Pasensya na, Mahal." nanlalambing niyang sabi sa huli.
I stopped him from arranging the food and put them back in. Nang mabalik 'yon sa paper bag ay hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at hinila siya papunta sa dining area. Humanap ako ng lamesa na pinakamapit sa'min at tsaka itinuloy ang kaniyang ginagawa kanina nang makaupo kaming dalawa.
We began eating after that, while he was trying his best to conceal his sulking face from me, who's confused about why he's like that.
"Hey." I drank my juice first, "What are you thinking?" dagdag na tanong ko.
"Ha..?" His eyes widened a bit before he slowly shook his head at me. "Wala, ah. Wala naman."
Tumaas ang kilay ko sa naging sagot niya, habang nag-iisip ng posibleng dahilan. Sa huli ay isang malakas na hininga ang pinakawalan ko bago ko katukin ang lamesa, na nagbalik ng tingin niya sa'kin.
"If it's about Kha—" I licked my lips, which cut myself off. "That guy is working here as the head of the legal management team. He's just an attorney for our company and nothing more."
His lips pursed a bit before they turned into a long pout. "Ano naman kung Attorney na siya..? Magiging Attorney din naman ako, no." May pagdadabog na itinuloy niya ang pagkain, "Baka nga, prosecutor o judge pa! Anong laban niya sa gano'n?" mahinang bulong niya sa kaniyang sarili.
Some chuckles escaped my lips before I nodded my head at him, not thinking about fighting whatever mood he's in right now.
"Pinanganak lang siya nang mas maaga, eh." He turned his eyes back on me. "Kaya hintay lang kamo siya, diba, Miss?"
Tatango na ulit sana ako, pero naging mabilis ang pag-iling niya. "Ay, hindi pala! Huwag mo na sabihin, para hindi kayo mag-usap. Hintay lang siya... Oo — 'yon na lang."
I rolled my eyes and pushed his juice closer to him, which made him sip on it. "If we're going to talk, it would only be about work related, so don't worry."
Umirap siya sa hangin, na para bang nasa malapit lang si Khalil. "Mas magaling ako, Miss. Ako ang pinakamagaling para sayo, diba, Mahal..? Ang love of your life, your lalabs, and forever, ang pinaka sa pinaka mo, diba po?"
I bit my lip, preventing my laughs from coming out, which made his eyes widen at me.
"Ha!" He shook his head and started making a 'tsk' sound from his tongue, "Bakit 'di ka sumasagot, ah? Nakita mo lang ulit 'yong gagong 'yon, ganyan ka na sa'kin." nakasimagot na saad niya bago ako iwasan ng tingin.
I saw his eyes move a bit as he tried to look at me sneakily for a second, but he realized that I had done so and said nothing back.
Malakas na tinusok niya ang patatas sa pagkain niya at kinagat 'yon, habang nakakunot ang kaniyang noo, "Mahal naman... Ito na 'yong part na susuyuin mo 'ko." nanlulumo niyang sabi ulit.
Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang tawa ko sa pagkawala, na mas nagpasama ng tingin niya sa'kin. "What are you? A kid..? At ano'ng love of my life? And what was that again..?" My head tilted, "Lalabs..? Forever..? It's true, but where did you get those words? Do you have to use those?" tuloy-tuloy na pang-aasar ko sakanya.
He rolled his eyes and mocked the words I said. Even his nose was scrunched, with his eyebrows knitting together, which made him even funnier to me. "You're being childish."
"Say that I'm just being your baby." He said that back, with his arms crossed together.
I gulped and licked my lips after almost running out of breath for the second time that I laughed. "I don't know if you're being real or just the super Draven extra right now."
He snuck his tongue out, "Sorry, pero ang narinig ko lang sa lahat ng sinabi mo ay 'it's true' at wala ng iba, kaya dapat lang na panindigan mo lahat ng tinawag ko sa'yo." ganti niya sa'kin.
Tinuro ko ang sarili ko, "How about me, huh..? If you're the love of my life, lalabs, at forever, just like what you stated, What am I to you, then?" naniningkit ang mga matang tanong ko sakanya.
He smiled widely and did a kiss on the air. "Sharing is caring, kaya syempre, give and take dapat tayo. Huwag kang mag-alala, ikaw pa rin ang gusto ko kahit sa susunod nating buhay. Hindi ka na lugi sa gano'n." His shoulder shrugged at me in an innocent but prideful way. "Buruin mo..? Mas asensado ka pa kaysa sa gobyerno dahil meron kang ako?"
I scoffed and shook my head at him. "Why do I feel like you're turning more arrogant as our relationship goes by?"
"Gano'n talaga. Ikaw na 'yan, at ako na 'to." He flicked his tongue, "Tayo ba naman..? Syempre, may ipagmamayabang ako, diba?" mas malaki ang ngiti na sagot niya.
"Exactly, so are we okay now..?" I bit my lip and raised my brow at him. "You're not jealous anymore?"
"Luh, sinong nagsabing nagseselos ako?" He showed me his arms and started flexing his biceps. "Bangasan ko pa 'yon, eh. Tignan mo, uuwi 'yong umiiyak kagaya ni Azair dati."
What he did and kept on doing made me glance around, and just like what I had in mind, a lot of women were indeed staring at him with their glistening and sinful stares, which turned my eyes to roll in annoyance. Hinila ko tuloy ang pako ng suot niyang damit at tinampal pababa ang braso niya ng hindi makatiis.
His eyes blinked in confusion because of what I did too, "Eh..?" tanging sabi niya lamang.
I poked my inner cheek and shoved a spoonful of rice in his mouth. "Dumbass."