Cubicle

Chapter 10. Cubicle

WHEN everyone became busy right after the verdict was given, Rellie wasn't sure if she's just daydreaming, but she's thinking that she saw the lawyer smiled towards her. Nang ibasura na ng korte ang kaso laban sa akusado ay para siyang binunutan ng tinik at sobrang ipinagmalaki niya sa sarili kung gaano ka-competent ang lawyer. That was why when he glanced at her, then, she mouthed, "Good job, Attorney." And he actually smiled at her! It's different than his smirks awhile ago. It's more of a genuine smile...

"But, what if he wasn't smiling because of me? He didn't smile at me?" Napailing siya at bahagyang kinatok ang ulo ng isang beses. As if she's waking her senses up. "Of course it's not because of me! It's not for me. Assuming!"

Pero nakangisi pa rin siya na parang lumulutang sa alapaap habang naglalakad. Dahil kahit anong isipin niya ay mauuwi at mauuwi pa rin na para sa kaniya ang ngiting iginawad ni Sinned.

"Sinned?" She smiled like an idiot. Ang gaan pala sa pakiramdam na first name basis ang tawag niya rito, kahit sa isip man lang.

His full name was actually Dennis Immanuel Hipolito, and he got his nickname by spelling his first name backwards—Sinned—and she's thinking that name suited him because, gosh, he's sinfully handsome!

Before going outside, she decided to go to the restroom first. Call of nature. At para makapag-retouch na rin. But when she saw the queue in the ladies' room, she just went inside the gentlemen's without further ado. Ihing-ihi na kasi talaga siya.

"Damn me!" Napiling siya. "I really have to go to the loo!" Kaya hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip pa, tutal ay wala namang taong nasa loob ng banyo ng panlalaki kaya nagmadali siyang pumasok sa bandang dulong cubicle. Pero bago pa man matapos ay may narinig siyang mga yabag papasok sa loob ng banyo. At nang matapos na siya ay bahagya siyang sumilip sa maliit na siwang ng pinto at napapitlag nang mamataang may tao pa kaya kaagad niya ring sinarado ang pinto.

Kinabahan siya nang tila may isa-isang nagbubukas sa mga pinto ng cubicle kaya mabilis na ni-lock niya ang pinto. Baka mamaya ay masamang tao pala iyon at hindi siya makaligtas.

Napapitlag siya dahil ilang sandali lamang ay nakarinig siya ng mahinang kalabog sa katabing cubicle, at nanlaki ang mga mata nang mabosesan ang lalaki.

"Fuck you, Candace!"

Candace? As in Candace Ferrer?

Pakiramdam niya ay tila hinalukay ang sikmura niya sa narinig. Mukhang totoo nga yatang higit pa ang relasyon ng dalawa kaysa sa inaakla niya. He wasn't just the defendant's lawyer based on what she was hearing at that moment...

"Yes, fuck me if that's how can I make it up with you!"

Literal na nalaglag ang panga niya sa narinig. Napalunok siya dahil maaaring makasaksi—o mas tamang sabihing makarinig siya ng mga taong magsi-sex sa loob ng cubicle. She couldn't imagine the horror witnessing it if ever especially if the one she's been adoring with was in there. Tuluyan nang nabura ang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi.

"I'll give you a head, too! If you want, you can film—"

Kumalabog ang pader at halos mapatalon siya sa gulat. Gustong mangilid ng luha niya sa samu't-saring emosyong nadama.

"Why are you being rebellious again, Ace?"

"Ace?" naibulong niya pero natutop din kaagad ang sariling bibig.

Parang may nilamutak sa dibdib niya nang mahimigan ang matinding affection sa malalim na boses ng lalaki. That's exactly how she was imagining him utter her name...

After a few, she heard soft moans from the woman and the sound of kissing was so lascivious. Were they French kissing?! She didn't know what to react, that was why she just stayed still; trying to not hear those kissing sounds.

Bakit ganito? Bakit naiinis ako? Hindi ko na alam kung kakatok ba ako o ano!

More like, she didn't know why her tears suddenly fell. Why did she feel like all of her dreams about him just shattered? It's just like that time back in elementary—when she's still not homeschooling—she couldn't enter the competition in Making A Slogan contest because she injured her dominant hand. Parang minaso rin ang dibdib niya noong mga panahong iyon dahil sobrang nadismaya siya, gaya nang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

O, mas higit pa yata. This one was incomparable. It's a new feeling for her.

She sighed heavily and tried to compose herself in order for her to stay focused. Kapag sa palagay niya ay masyado nang immersed ang dalawa sa kamunduhang ginagawa ay saka siya aalis. Kasehodang may tao sa labas na narinig din ang dalawa kung sakali. She just couldn't take more of this. Ayaw niyang marinig na umuungol si Sinned habang pinaliligaya ang babaeng iyon. She had a hint she'd be forever scarred if that happened.

She stood up and fixed herself. But at the moment she opened the door; the next door was opened, too. That was why she immediately went back inside the cubicle and pulled the door. Namamawis na siya sa sobrang nerbiyos, idagdag pa na may kasikipan sa loob niyon. At imbes na i-lock ag pinto ay hinila na lamang niya iyon dahil hinihintay na lang naman niya na makaalis na ang dalawa upang makalabas na siya roon.

"Kung alam ko lang, nagpigil na lang sana ako ng ihi at pumila sa kabila," dismayadong bulong niya sa sarili at napabuntong-hininga.

When she thought it was okay to go out already, just as when she was trying to peek, she nearly shrieked out because someone barged in, but she couldn't shriek because her mouth was immediately covered by a hand—a big hand that almost covered her small face—and her eyes widened when she saw who was that person.

"Hmm!" Nagpumiglas siya pero ni-lock nito ang pinto at isinandal siya sa pader habang nakatakip pa rin ang kanyang bibig. Hindi na niya maramdaman ang sarili sa sobrang kaba, lalo na ngayong nasa harapan niya ang lalaki.