We all quietly ate at the buffet. Bawat lingon ko ay lumilingon din si Andrei. I can feel him watching every move I make. Nakakakilig, pero iyong mga babaeng halos hubaran na siya kung tingnan eh talang malapit nang malintikan sa akin.
Hinawi ko ang bangs ko, para makapagshades. Ayokong nakikita nila kung paano na ako nanggagalaiti sa inis. May isa pang babae na nagsabi na feeling celebrity daw ako, na feeling ko ako na ang pinakamagaling na babaeng accountant sa company. Well, hindi nga ba? Insekyora kasi sila.
I took another bite in this chicken thing na nasa plato. I can’t taste it better since I’m still sick and everytime I drink juice or anything na may lasa eh mapait pa rin.
“Victoria, drink this medicine. Hindi ka gagaling niyan pag wala sa oras ang pag-inom mo.”
“Ang sweet!” Biglang sumigaw si Amalie na nakaagaw sa atensyon ng iba. I saw the girls on the other table making faces na parang naiinis sa akin na ewan.
“Amalie, please baka mamaya kalbuhin na ako ng fans club ni Andrei. Kung nakakamatay lang ang mga tingin nila, baka kanina pa ako inilibing.”
“Sus, inggiterang mga pangit kasi.” She made face too which made her husband laugh and kissed her on the cheeks.
“Subukan nilang landiin ang asawa ko, baka manghiram sila ng mukha sa aso.”
“Babe, kahit maghubad pa sila ‘di ‘to tatayo ‘pag hindi ikaw!” He laughed and Amalie hit his arm.
“Tse! Wag ka na nga dyan magpacute sa kanila. Kanina nga halos lumuwa na yung mata sa boobs nila eh. Baka mamaya gusto mo talagang magbikini ako para iyong mga lalaki naman ang humarap sa akin?” Hamon pa niya. I just laughed kasi sobrang cute nila.
I felt Andrei arms wrapping my waist which made me gasp. His nose is now lying on my nape and his breathing is too hot I felt it on my sick skin.
“Sobrang bango mo, Victoria. Nanggigil ako sayo.” He whispered on my ear. Nanlaki ang mata ko at lalong uminit ang mga pisngi ko. Sh*t parang may kung ano sa tiyan ko at ‘di ako mapalagay. Sobrang iba ang tama ng lalaking ‘to. Goosebumps!
“H-ha?”
“Sabi ko, sobrang bango mo.” Those words sounded like a whisper but the tone is too husky that it sent lumps on my throat.
“A-ah… thanks.”
“Thank you ba ang tamang sagot dito, Victoria?” Then I felt his forefinger on my ears. Sh*t ano ba kasing problema ni Andrei?
“You complimented me, and I said thanks. Ano ba dapat?”
OMG! He’s flirting with me. He is damn flirting!
“Totoo bang ‘di mo alam ang sagot? I guess I’d sniff other girl’s hair to compliment her and give me a proper answer.”
“Eh ‘di maghanap ka sa iba. Napakachildish ng mga gingawa mo, Andrei. If you want to flirt with other girls, eh ‘di sige! Wala naman akong pakialam. Nakakainis ka na.” Napatayo ako sa kinauupuan ko pero nakaramdam ako ng pananakit sa ulo.
Napahawak ako sa upuan habang hinihilot ang sentido ko. Nakakasakit ng ulo.
“Tara na iaakyat na kita.” Inalalayan ako ni Andrei pero tinapik ko ang kamay niya.
“Ayoko. Ako na lang, stay here and flirt all you want for all I care!” Nakakainis na siya talaga pero biglang umikot ang paningin ko at…
“No. Inaasar lang naman kita just to cheer you up. You’re too dense, Victoria.” Hinatak niya ako pabalik sa kinauupuan ko at mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang kanang kamay ko na nakapatong sa nita niya.
He went back eating while his left hand is making sure I’m not going anywhere.
“Eat. I want you to eat, Victoria. Kailangan mo ng protein para hindi ka manghina. Kahit maganda pa iyang mamahalin mong red lipstick, halata pa ring namumutla ka.”
“Okay.” I answered him while trying to swallow the chunks of bitter meat in my throat.
=-=-=-=-=-=-
They organized a game. It is the all-time favorite ‘tug of war’ which I think is commonly held in every friggin’ team building.
I saw all the guys went top less and the girls squealed like pigs. Tse! Ang aarte nila, buti may iba pa rin na may dignidad at walang reaksyon. Amalie is cheering for his chinito husband na gwapo at may magandang katawan.
“Baby! You go for it!” She shouted and his husband gave her a flying kiss.
Kainggit?
I saw Andrei still wearing his white shirt and his Rayban shades while looking bored waiting for the game to start. Ayan, kahit mga Calvin Klein models maalarma kapag nakita si Andrei. Yung v-line niya is peeking on his flown shirt.
You will literally beg for air to breathe. Ganyan siya kagwapo. Speechless ka. Hindi ko kailanman masisi ang sarili ko kung bakit ba ako nailove sa lalaking ito. I really can’t imagine myself falling for someone. Si Andrei lang talaga.
Sa planta kasi si Christian kaya hindi siya kasama sa team building dahil on-site engineer naman siya. Sana kung kasama siya dito eh may makakausap man lang ako.
I plugged in my iPod and listened to a song called ‘All our endless love’ by ‘The bird and the Bee’ from ‘Endless Love’ 2014, a remake of the Brooke Shields movie about a love full of sexual tension, family conflict, teenage issues, and infinite affection.
[Verse 1: Inara]
At first I was scared
The way these feelings started coming on
I couldn't breathe without you there
I couldn't see without you in my arms
I opened up my eyes to find your eyes already open
I see a piece of me inside
As if it's been there all the time
[Hook: Inara George]
I am just blood, I am just blood
I am just a heart that's beating up every second of your touch
I am just stars, I am just sky
I am falling to the rhythm of all your endless love
[Verse 2: Matt Berninger]
It keeps me up at night
Was there a time I lived without you?
Just living off your air
Every breath is all about you
I'm spinning all the worlds around
To try and rearrange them
I work so hard to say goodnight
But there's too much of you left behind
[Hook: Inara George & Matt Berninger]
I am just blood, I am just blood
(You are just running through my veins)
I am just a heart (Keeping you alive) that's beating up (Pulsing everywhere) every (Inside of me) second of your touch
I am just stars, I am just sky
(You are everything I see)
I am falling (Drifted) to the rhythm (I'm not afraid, just let me fall) of all your endless love
[Bridge: Inara George & Matt Berninger]
Is this really ending?
Is this really ending?
All our endless love
[Hook]
I am just blood, I am just blood
(You are just running through my veins)
I am just a heart (Keeping you alive) that's beating up (Crushing everywhere) every (Inside of me) second of your touch
I am just stars, I am just sky
(You are everything I see)
I am falling (Drifted) to the rhythm (I'm not afraid, just let me fall) of all your endless love
I was awakened by a tap. Nakatulog ako sa kinauupuan ko.
“Amalie? Why?”
“Ang loner mo dito. Pinagchichismisan ka nga nila eh. Balita kasi na galing kang Amerika na dun ka nagaral, tapos matalino at mayaman ka raw kaya ka mayabang. Ayaw mo yatang makihalubilo sa iba.”
“Amalie, nilalagnat ako. I’m 38 deg Celsius. Kakacheck ko lang ngayon. May dala kasi ang thermometer dito sa sling bag ko. Sorry of they got wrong impression of me.”
“May sakit ka pala pero bakit hindi ka sa hotel room niyo?”
“I would feel worse kasi mag-isa ako. I want to feel the vibe kahit may sakit ako. I’ll join you later, medyo gumagana na iyong gamut eh. Kindly explain na lang yung sitwasyon ko, baka kasi mahawa ko sila ng sipon eh nakabikini pa naman.”
“Why don’t you change? Balot ka kasi kaya ka lalong mainit eh. Sorry… kung makulit ako pero RN kasi ako kaya alam ko ang modern treatment sa lagnat. Wear loose-fitting thin clothes at magshorts ka sana para makahinga yung katawan mo. Pag-akyat mo, try drinking two glasses of water then pee.”
“Wow, thanks. Hmmm… buti may dala pala akong maong shorts. Sige magpapalit din ako ng t shirt. Mauna muna ako, Amalie ha. Thanks! Sabihin mo na lang sa mga kasama mo.” I smiled at her and she just winked.
Thank God my head’s beginning to feel better.