Zero Option (Options Series #1)

Chapter 7

I did not open up or ask another question about that again. Nilabas ko nalang yung mga notebook at ang laptop ko.

Lumabas na rin siya galing sa isang room
bitbit din ang laptop niya at umupo sa tabi ko. I can smell his fragrance from where I am seated.

Sa paminsan minsan lapit at pagsama namin ay nakabisado ko na ang amoy ng perfume na lagi niyang ginagamit. It smells manly pero di nakakasakit sa ilong.

"kung gusto mong kumain ng snacks kumuha ka lang ng donut at juice diyan Leau, wag kang mahiya" he said seriously while he starts typing on his laptop.

Did I make him felt awkward dahil sa tanong ko kanina? Di ko naman siya pinilit na sagutin yun ih? well, mas okay na rin to atleast makakapag focus kami sa research namin at di niya ako aasarasarin.

So, with that I also started typing on my laptop. Hinati din kasi namin yung parts na gagawin ng isa't isa sa research pero we can always ask questions or help with each other kaya kailangan naming sabay gawin.

Pinagpatuloy na rin namin ang ginagawa namin. Paminsan minsan ay nagtatanong kami sa isa't isa and like we always experienced when we are with each other di na naman namin na pansin yung oras and it's past 12pm na pala and di pa kami nakakapaglunch.

"awit, 12pm na pala ba't di mo man lang sinabi saakin ma'am? di ka ba nagugutom?" he said now with his usual energetic voice

I think he's back to normal now with the way he treats me now and the way he calls me 'ma'am"

"I don't know? Di ko rin napansin yung oras at di ata ako nagutom dahil sa kakakain ko ng donuts" I said while stretching my back and neck na nangalay while typing on the laptop

"nag eenjoy ka siguro atang kasama ako kaya di mo napapansin yung oras" pabirong sabi niya

I raised my brows " well that applies to you too, kasi di mo rin naman napansin yung oras"

"I am" sabi niya ng nakangiti at nagiwas nalang ako ng tingin. "Atleast inaamin kong nag eenjoy ako diba? yung iba diyan in denial lang"

"Did I deny it?" walang pagiisip na sinabi

"so nageenjoy ka talagang kasama ako?" He said laughing

"I never felt that emotion even once" I said looking straight into his eyes. Akala ko magiiwas nalang siya ng tingin pero he did not

"Let me then, and I will make you feel that emotion." natigilan ako at ako na ang umiwas ng tingin "Let yourself and you will feel much emotions more than enjoyment. Don't hold back Leau, you may be still young now but trust me time is running. You never know when will you run  out of time.  You will never know when will be the time when you will have zero option left" sabi niya na sa tingin ko ay nakatingin parin siya sa akin kahit umiwas na ako ng tingin.

Di na ako sumagot sa kaniya and awkward silent atmosphere can be really felt within us but he broke the silent.

"We still need to eat lunch so let's go? pasensiya ka na at di na ako nakaluto kasi nga di ko napansin yung oras. Okay lang ba sayong kumain sa karenderya?"

"yes" tipid na sagot ko but honestly, I never once tried eating there and this will be my first time.

Ang daming first time na nangyari ngayon araw na to but I never regret any of this to happen because i'm thankful for the reaso  that I felt free.

I was about to bring my bag pero sabi niya iwan ko nalang daw to dito at cellphone ko nalang yung dadalhin ko pero dinala ko parin yung wallet ko.

We stride our way to the karenderya with the usual distance between us. He look back at me once in a while kasi naiiwan na naman ako. Pero napansin ko na ang pagbagal na paglakad niya kesa kanina  para lang masabayan ako.