Erin's POV
"Yes, Mrs. Montemayor I am looking forward on that. Oh I see. How about on Thursday at 1:30PM? That will be great! Same venue?. Oh okay. Very well then, I'll be seeing you. Sure. Bye."
As soon as I put my phone down ay agad napadako ang tingin ko sa desk ko and my eyes widened at napakunot ang noo ko ng makita ko ang isang tangkay ng long stem tulip sa ibabaw ng table ko. I picked it up at namula ang pisngi ko nang makita ko ang nakasulat sa card. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang hindi ko alam.
Napaupo ako sa swivel chair ko habang nakatitig sa tulip na hawak ko. It's just a simple tulip with a Good Morning message attached to it yet I'm feeling like a teenager. Lihim akong napamura sa isip ko. Why does Ivan affects me this much? I just remembered his message last night. Hindi nga ako nakatulog nang maayos nu'n! Bigla nalang nawala yung antok ko.
Pero paano nalaman ni Ivan 'yung number ko? Hindi naman ipapamigay basta-basta ni Danni ang personal number ko nang hindi niya sinasabi sa akin.
"I'll do whatever it takes to take you back, Eunica."
Yeah, right. What do I expect? Ivan and his resources! Ni-hindi na nga sumagi sa isip ko noon kung saan niya nakuha ang mga information ko about my true identity. My mind was locked to the annulment paper that time. Speaking of it, wala pa rin akong balita about sa annulment namin from Stanley. I'm sure maayos naman niya inaasikaso iyon.
I just hope matapos na ang pagprocess ng annulment namin para wala na din laban sa akin si Ivan. But you just give me him another chance, Erin! Iniling ko ang ulo ko. I didn't give him a direct answer yet! I can still say No to him. Or just say yes to him. I cursed the other part of my mind. I sighed. I still have the final decision. Right. I should be thinking like that.
"Erin, are you okay?"
Napabalikwas ako sa upuan ko nang biglang may nagsalita. Tumingin ako dito and confusion was on his face. Napalunok ako at muling inayos ang sarili ko. I cleared my throat.
"K-Kuya! What brings you here?"
It took him seconds before he answered. "Kanina pa ako nandito, it seems like you're idling." Mataman naman niya akong tinignan.
"Huh? H-How come?"
Kuya shrugged his shoulders at napatingin naman sa kamay ko kung saan hawak pa pala ang tulip na galing kay Ivan. Agad ko naman itong itinabi. And I think I saw my brother smirked.
"Ang aga naman niyan." Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba niya iparinig sa akin iyon o binubulong niya lang sa sarili niya. Well, if it's the latter part, malinaw naman sa pandinig ko.
"Any way, going back. I came here to inform you about the company outing."
There's an upcoming company outing na gaganapin sa isa sa mga rest house ng partners ng TGC. I don't know yet kung saan pa ito. I know that there'll be an outing for the staff, usually sa isa sa mga resthouse namin ito ginaganap but for this year I heard it'll be in one of the rest house of one of the partners that we have. I don't have any idea who and why. I had attended once when I was in London but I didn't stay long. Kailangan ko din umuwi agad for some personal reasons.
My brows raised. "Oh. Should you be announcing that to everyone?"
"Yes." Simpleng sagot nito.
"Then why bother coming in here?"
Kuya grinned at me. And by his looks, may kung anong kalokohan ang nasa isip nito. "Bawal ba? Or baka naistorbo ko yung pagmumuni mo kanina?"
Napaangat ang kilay ko at inisip kung ano bang tinutukoy nitong kapatid ko. Awtomatiko namang nag-init ang mga pisngi ko at ang loko ay tawa ng tawa. I rolled my eyes.
"What are you laughing at?! Get out of my office, kuya. I have some work to do."
He scoffed. "Yeah, right! What's with the red face, huh, lil' sis?"
Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. "I-It's nothing!"
Lumawak ang ngisi nito at napa-iling iling pa. "Hindi ko alam na isang bulaklak palang galing kay Ivan natutulala ka na."
Napatigil ako sa sinabi nito. "Paano mo nalaman na kay Ivan 'to galing?"
Bigla naman natameme si Kuya. "Is there something that I don't know between you two?"
He cleared his throat at nag-iba na din ang itsura nito. Oh, ano nangyari dito? He shrugged before answering. "Just a lucky guess." Iyon lang ang sinabi nito at tumalikod na sa akin.
"Kuya!"
Napatigil naman ito sa paglakad at humarap sa akin. "Yes?"
I looked at him skeptically. "What with you and Ivan? As far as I know, you have a 'bad blood' towards him."
Hindi agad nakasagot si Kuya Ethan but instead, he just smirked at me and left me dumbfounded. Seriously? I have this feeling that he's hiding something from me.
Napasandal ako sa swivel chair ko and as on cue, my sight turned to the tulip lying on the side of my table. Kinuha ko iyon at inamoy. Hmm.. it smells fresh. Ivan still has a good choice of flowers. Pumasok sa isip ko nu'ng binigyan niya din ako ng isang bouquet of tulips noon. My heart beats fast. Naalala pa din pala niya ang paborito kong bulaklak.
A few minutes staring at the flower, napatuwid ako ng upo when I realized that I was smiling on my own.
****
It's almost lunch time nang mapatingin ako sa table clock ko and my stomach is screaming at me. I didn't had any breakfast because I was too pre-occupied from last night. I shook my head when I remembered it again. I sighed at binalik ang tingin ko sa laptop. I'm just gonna finish what I am doing then I'll grab some lunch.
I was about to type something nang may kumatok sa pinto ko.
"Come in" I said without looking at the door.
Narinig ko naman ang pagbukas at pagsara nang pinto ko. "What is it, Danni? You can have your lunch now."
"I think you should too, ma'am"
My hands automatically stopped from doing anything and I was stunned when I heard that voice. Good Lord, ito ba ang resulta nang hindi pagkain nang tama? I'm hearing Ivan's voice from my secretary. And what's worse is that I am thinking of Ivan right now! I don't know but he's the first person that I think about. Agad ko naman inangat ang tingin ko sa taong pumasok nang office ko and our eyes met. Those gray eyes..
He's wearing his boyish smile at me at napatulala ako. I rubbed my eyes baka namamalik-mata lang ako. But I'm seeing Ivan in my office crystal clear and just a few inches from me!
"I-Ivan?"
His smile widened. "Hi, babe."
I felt some lump in my throat and a shiver down my spine from what he just said. This is not happening.
"W-What are you doing in here?" I can feel my own voice tremble.
"I'm here to pick you up." Simpleng sagot nito
I got in my senses and my brow raised. "Saan naman tayo pupunta? And kuya Ethan's office is on the floor above."
"You're the reason why I came here. I'm thinking that we should have some lunch."
My heart raised the minute he ask me out. Wait.. did he just ask me out?! Why is he doing this? Hindi ko pa naman siya binibigyan ng another chance.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Clarkson but as you can see, I'm busy." Matabang na sabi ko dito at nagkunwaring bumalik sa ginagawa ko.
"Just as I thought, Ms. Sanders. Well, good thing I am prepared."
Napangat ang tingin ko dito. "What do you mean?"
He smiled at me pagkatapos ay iniangat ang dalawang paper bags na hawak niya. I didn't notice na may paper bag pala siyang dala.
"What's that?" Tanong ko dito.
Ngunit imbes na sagutin ako nito ay tumalikod ito at naglakad patungo sa receiving area ng office ko. Inilapag nito ang paper bag sa coffee table at isa-isa nitong inilabas ang mga laman. I felt my stomach grumbled when I smelled the scent of delicious food. I can feel my mouth watered. Nang matapos si Ivan ay tumingin ito sa akin, agad naman akong nag-iwas nang tingin at binalik ang atensyon sa laptop screen.
Kahit hindi ako tumingin sa kanya, I can feel he's walking towards me and I can't help but be uneasy every step he makes. I tried to focus on what I am doing but Ivan is just too distracting! Just by his presence and I lose all my concentration.
"Eunica.."
"Erin."
Naramdaman kong napatigil ito. "Erin, let's eat."
"You go ahead." I said without even looking at him because I know that from the moment the I am locked in his eyes, mapapasunod niya ako sa gusto niya.
I heard him sighed. "I'm not eating without you."
Naiinis ako sa sarili ko ng biglang tumibok ang puso ko ng mabilis. Bakit ba kahit sa simpleng sinabi lang nito, tila parang may nagtatakbuhang kabayo sa dibdib ko? Kulang nalang ay sumabog ang dibdib ko sa sobrang bilis. Tumikhim ako dito. Still not taking my eyes off the screen.
"Then don't eat."
I know I'm being rude but I can't help it. Hindi man halata pero I am tensing up right now. Knowing that Ivan is in here my office. And we're alone. Ano ba 'tong pinag-iisip ko? I think I really am hungry. Pero ayokong makasabay si Ivan. This will be the first time in five years that we will eat together.
"Skipping meals is not healthy, Euni--Erin."
Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya kasabay nang pagpasok nang isang alaala sa akin. I was the one who's always reminding him to not skip meals pero ngayon siya na ang nagpapa-alala sa akin.
"I'm not yet hungry."
Ilang segundong hindi nakapagsalita si Ivan. At parang nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nu'n. Narining ko namang naglakad na pabalik si Ivan pero agad din namang napatigil at kahit ako ay gustong lamunin nalang ng lupa ng biglang tumunog ng malakas yung sikmura ko. Of all the times ngayon pa! I can feel my cheeks heating up. Napatingin ako kay Ivan pero agad din namang nag-iwas dahil sa hiya. And I don't want to see me turning into a tomato. And right now I can feel his smirk.
Akala ko ay lalapitan niya ako pero nagulat ako ng biglang dumiretso ito sa pagkain at prenteng naka-upo sa sofa at kumuha ng isang bowl ng pagkain. Hindi ko namalayan na sinusundan ko na pala ito ng tingin sa bawat ginagawa niya. Nagtama ang mga mata namin at nginitian ako nito and lifted a spoonful of food into his mouth without breaking our eye contact.
He's obviously tempting me! I rolled my eyes on him at nagbalik muli sa screen. I will not eat with him! Kaya kong tiisin ang gutom ko kaysa makasabay siyang kumain!
Ngunit ilang minuto palang ang nakakalipas ng tumunog nanaman ang sikmura ko. Ugh! Bakit kasi ang tagal pa nitong kumag na 'to kumain? At dito pa talaga sa office ko. Hindi man lang nag-paalam na makikigamit ng table at couch 'to. Talk about being confident. Nagulat ako ng biglang tumiklop ang screen ng laptop ko. I am nearly finish to what I am doing nang biglang mamatay ito. I was startled at tinignan ng masama si Ivan. That was important!
"What is your problem?! I'm nearly finish!"
Ivan looked at me intently. Oh not again. Those eyes. "You need to eat." Seryosong sabi nito
I rolled my eyes. "I can eat by myself. Now, look what you've done! That was important!"
"Why is that so important to you? Ipagpapalit mo 'yan para sa pagkain?"
I scoffed. "It's none of your business. Umalis ka na nga!"
"I'm not going anywhere until you eat." His voice is serious
I put my arms over my chest. Matatalim na titig ang binibigay ko kay Ivan. Nakakainis lang kasi! Kakain naman ako pero tatapusin ko lang naman yung ginagawa ko! And not because gusto ko siya makasabay. Iyon naman talaga ang gagawin ko. I'll finish what I am doing then I will eat. Bigla nalang kasing sumulpot tong lalaki na 'to sa office ko eh.
Walang gustong mag-iwas ng tingin sa aming dalawa. And looking at Ivan, he's just being calm and I don't understand why.
"I know how to recover it, Eunica. So, please can you just eat?"
Bigla namang nanlambot ang mga tuhod ko at parang may humaplos sa puso ko from the way he said those words. It took me seconds before getting up from my seat. Wala na din naman akong magagawa at mukhang kukulitin lang ako ni Ivan. Besides, nahihilo na din ako.
Dire-diresto ako sa table kung saan nakahanda ang mga pagkain na binili ni Ivan. Naramdaman kong tumabi ito sa akin.
"I hope you like Chinese Food."
He's smiling widely. Nawala ang kaninang Ivan na seryoso at yung tipong mapapasunod ka niya sa isang tingin lang. And I curse myself from still being captivated by those smokey gray eyes.
AN: May story na din po sila Alice and Calvin entitled Under His Spell. You can find it in my profile :) I'll be posting my update on it very soon! Sana suportahan niyo din po sila. Thank you! :)