8 Chapter 8

Alex's Point of View

Two days after mom and dad visited...

"I already tried to give up the project yesrerday but I can't. Brandon said that already signed a contract to give our company a chance to prove our credibility. And I am the one whose assigned to that. No one but only me." I added when I finish telling the whole story to Shane.

Nandito kami sa sala habang nakaupo sa sofa.

Ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng oras na magsolo kaya ngayon ko lang ikinuwento lahat. Ayoko namang magkwento habang nandito si Darren. I feel uncomfortable.

"Brandon? Sounds familiar," she said.

I rolled my eyes. "'Yon pa talaga napansin mo, Shane? Seriously? Sa haba ng kwento ko, 'yung pangalan talaga ni Brandon?"

She laughed. "Why? I just remembered someone with that name."

"No, Shane. It's him. Brandon, the vice president of our company. The first one who rejected you."

"Whatever."

Hinampas niya ako sa braso nang makita ang mapang-asar kong ngiti. Paano ba naman kasi'y iniyakan niya 'yon noon.

"Stop it, will you? Let's just go back to the topic. So...you can't give up that project but how long is that project again?"

"Three months."

"Three months lang naman pala, e. Why don't you just agree to his conditions? Act professional...for now."

Kumuha ako ng unan at niyakap iyon. "I hope I can do that for three months."

"Of course you can do it. That's basic, Alex," she grinned.

Hinampas ko siya ng unan. "I told you! Wala pa siyang ginagawa, nababaliw na 'ko."

Gumanti naman siya at hinampas din ako ng unan. "Then act crazy and professional at the same time."

"How would I do that?"

"You'll find out."

"Sounds easy when it comes from your mouth. Palibhasa kasi...hindi mo madalas makita si Brandon matapos ka niyang tanggihan."

"Pero hindi ko rin naman siya hinabol."

Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kaniya. "But hearing his name sends spark to your eyes. And you're not looking happy either. Your eyes are telling me so."

Hinawakan niya naman ang mukha ko saka inilayo sa mukha niya.

"Tigilan mo ako sa paganiyan-ganiyan mo, Alex. Besides, I just realize that I cried because he had hurt my ego. That's all. 'Yon lang 'yon. No more no less."

"You're just in denial, Shane. Come on, you can tell me that you've got feelings for him and you're just afraid for further rejection."

Bigla siyang tumayo. "Whatever, Alex. I'm not the issue here."

Napahagalpak naman ako ng tawa dahil sa reaksyon niya. Namumula na siya.

Umirap lang siya sa akin saka nagtungo sa kusina. Pagbalik niya nakahawak na siya ng ice cream.

"Hindi mo man lang ako kinuhanan," pagtatampo ko.

"Ayoko nga. Inasar mo ko e. Kumuha ka rin ng sa 'yo." Binelatan pa niya 'ko.

Napailing na lang ako at nagtungo rin sa kusina para kumuha ng sarili kong ice cream.

Pagbalik ko naka-indian sit siya sa floor habang nanonood.

"Coco na naman? Nakailang beses mo nang pinanood 'yan ah." Umupo ako sa tabi niya at dumampot nang kaunti sa chips na nasa table.

"Maganda 'yung story e. Ang sarap ulit-ulitin. Isusunod ko nga diyan ulit ang moana."

"Isip bata ka talaga," natatawa kong sabi.

"Isip bata your face. Bawal ba manood ng ganito ang 23 years old? Saka...baby face lang ako hindi isip bata." Nagpacute pa ang loka.

"Speaking of baby face, I smell something fishy to our baby friend. Darren," she added while looking at me.

Parang alam ko na kung saan ito tutungo pero ayokong mag-assume.

"What is it?" I asked to confirm what I am thinking.

"Mukhang may gusto siya sa 'yo. Why don't you give him a chance?"

"He's our friend, Shane. Besides, he's younger than me."

She paused the movie and eyed me. "What's wrong with that? He's just younger than you. And for your information, he's already a good kisser."

"Anong kinalaman ng pagiging good kisser niya sa usapan natin? Saka...paano mo naman nasabi? Don't tell me--"

Exaggerated kong tinakpan ang bibig ko habang nanlalaki ang aking mga mata.

Binatukan niya tuloy ako. "Sira. Hind ko siya hinalikan 'no. Nakikita ko lang tuwing nasa bar tayo. Not to mention, palagi siyang nakikipaghalikan malapit sa pinupuntahan niyo ng kamake-out mo."

"Baka nagkakataon lang na doon ang gusto ng kahalikan niya."

"I don't know. Maybe yes, maybe no. But I'm curious kung may ikinama na siya."

"What the--he's just 18, Shane!"

"He's turning 19, Alex. And lalaki siya. Alam mo naman ang mga kabataan ngayon."

"Whatever, Shane. Ayokong isipin. Masyado pang baby si Darren."

"Ayan! Kaya nahuhulog sa 'yo si Darren e. Masyado mong bini-baby. Hindi mo ba alam na kung sino ang tumuturing sa kanilang totoy ay 'yon ang mas nagugustuhan nilang pagpakitaan...ng gilas. Para mapatunayan na hindi na sila totoy."

Hindi na lang ako sumagot.

"And...if one day, he ask you on a date, accept it. Give him a chance, Alex. Wala namang mawawala sa 'yo--sa inyo. At kung ayaw mo naman, edi dating gawi na lang ulit. Everyday, New Flavor. Anywhere, anytime. Medyo humihina ka ngayon e."

-----------------------

First day of 3 months contract...

Nandito ako ngayon sa harap ng Deluxe Company. Dito raw namin gugugulin ang unang linggo ng 3 months. 1 week for planning with Venice and Timothy. Great. Just great.

You can do this, Alex.

I heaved a deep breath before I entered the lobby.

Pagpasok ko, marami kaagad ang bumati sa akin. It seems like they're expecting me today. And they were oriented about what to do.

I just displayed my sweetest smile at them and walked confidently.

Sumakay ako ng elevator at may ilan akong nakasabay. Nginitian ko na lang din sila nang binati nila ako.

Pagdating sa 5th floor, bumukas ang elevator at pumasok ang isang lalaking may mapaglarong ngiti. Kinindatan nito ang ioang kakabaihan sa loob ng elevator bago pumasok. Naghagikgikan naman ang mga iyon.

Hindi ko na lamang sila pinansin.

Tumabi siya sa akin at sinadya niyang idikit ang braso niya sa braso ko. Maluwang pa naman ang elevator pero kung makadikit sa akin, akala mo linta.

When I looked at him, he just winked and smiled. He's teasing me.

Kilala ba niya 'ko?

Nang makarating ako sa 40th floor ay lumabas na ako ng elevator. And to my surprise, sumabay rin siyang lumabas or should I say dito rin sa 40th floor ang destination niya.

Sinabayan niya ako sa paglalakad. "You're Alex right?"

"You're not mistaken," I answered.

"Oh! You've got humor. I like that. By the way, I'm Klein. Nice to meet you."

Inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin at tinanggap ko naman iyon. I can't afford to be so rude. Not today. Besides, he's drop dead gorgeous.

Gray haired. Well built body. Well defined jaw. Brown eyes.

"Nice to meet you too."

"I thought, they're just exaggerating things about you. But they're fucking right. You are so damn hot in personal. Not to mention, you're in a corporate attire now. How are you managing to do that? I feel like I'm seeing a hot modern Maria Clara. No cleavage exposed. And not too much part of the legs to be seen."

I seductively smiled at him and he bit his lower lip.

But we're interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Klein..." he authoritatively called.

Hearing it makes me go crazy again. My heart beats fast again. There's something moving in my stomach. Darn it!

Relax, Alex. Relax. You need to act professional. But you can also be crazy at the same. Figure out how you can do that. Come on! Think quick!

I kept on mentally talking to myself hanggang sa nakalapit na siya sa amin.

I look at him and he look at me too. But, his stare was cold.

Why?