Her Entrancing Smile [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY

MARTINA'S POV

I am now sitting on my swivel chair, here in my office, pissed at what happened earlier.

Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi maiinis? It was an informal confession, yes I know. Pero tama bang ganon ang maging reaksyon niya?

Tama bang pagtawanan niya ako?

I frustratedly ruined my neatly combed hair. Ghad! Ngayon lang ako nastress ng ganito sa buong buhay ko!

Nakakabaliw ka na, Tere!

"Tere..."

"B-Bakit?"

"Can't I just have you?"

It took a couple of seconds before I saw her change her emotion. From nervous to... laughing?

Anlakas ng tawa niya to the point na napabitaw ako sa pagkakahawak ko sa baba niya.

"Langya. Laugh trip!" sigaw niya habang tumatawa at talagang nakahawak pa sa tiyan niya. "'Di ko na kinakaya tama mo, Martina." Tawa pa rin siya nang tawa.

Anong pinagtatawanan niya? Does she realize that it took time and courage for me to ask her that?

Pikon akong tumayo at umalis sa sofa saka pumasok sa CR sa office ko. Tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin.

I was beet red. I wasn't sure if it was because of frustration or embarrassment.

Bwiset ka, Martina! Bakit mo kasi 'yun ginawa? Now, look at the result! She's laughing her ass because of it.

Napahilamos naman ako. Hay! Ano bang ginagawa ko?

I stared at my reflection and shook my head. Tigilan mo nga muna 'tong kahibangan na 'to. I know that you've finally realized something for her pero kung 'di ka rin naman handa sa magiging reaksyon niyang katulad niyan, aba itigil mo na lang.

I sighed. I should calm myself first. I took a deep breath before staring at nothing for a couple of minutes bago ako lumabas at bumalik sa swivel chair ko.

Hindi ko binigyang pansin si Tere kahit na alam kong ngumingisi pa rin siya kada mapapatingin sa akin.

"Martina, huy! Okay ka lang?" rinig kong tanong niya pero 'di ko siya pinansin.

Ilang beses niya pa ulit akong tinanong pero isinawalang-bahala ko na lang. Bahala ka dyang, babaita ka! Hindi ako marupok! Hmp!

"Martina, sorry na. Huy! Uso mamansin," salita na naman niya habang nakaupo na sa upuang katapat ko.

Minsan lang na ang boses niya eh parang nanlalambing... why does she sound so cute?

Tumigil ka, Martina! My ghad! Di ka marupok!

Ginawa kong busy ang sarili ko sa folder na nasa desk ko. Pilit kong ibinuhos ang atensyon ko doon. Ayokong bumigay! Galit ako eh!

"Tsk. Kung ayaw mo mamansin, edi 'wag. Ikaw na nga 'tong sinusuyo eh," reklamo niya saka padabog na bumalik sa sofa.

Natigilan naman ako. Siya na nga nakagawa ng mali, siya pa galit. Nako! Pasalamat ka talaga at gusto kita, dahil kung hindi eh baka sinabunutan na kitang bruha ka.

So the day went on na hindi kami nagpapansinan.

But before she left my office, she received a call. She was even smiling and chuckling while talking to that person.

Nai-stress na naman tuloy ako dahil doon. Ano ba 'yan‽ Andaming iniisip! Buset ka, Tere! Buset ka rin, self! Buset talaga lahat!

I was about to go back to my clear books when I heard my phone ringing. It was Mama. I quickly answered it. "Ma, are you okay?" nag-aalala kong tanong. Minsan lang din kasi siyang tumawag dahil busy rin.

Narinig ko naman ang mahina niyang tawa. (Of course, my beautiful baby. Napatawag lang ako to ask you to have dinner with me and your papa.)

Medyo gumaan naman ang pakiramdam ko. "Of course, Ma. Just text me the place and I'll go there."

(Okay, sweetheart. Take care. Mama loves you.)

"Love you too, Ma." I ended the call and took my phone, wallet, and coat.

Our family dinner only happens once or twice a month. Ganoon kami kabusy lahat. Mga job-first, kaya naman kapag nagkakaroon ng free schedule ay masaya kaming kakain sa labas o kaya naman ay magluluto si Mama.

Since kakain kami ngayon, meaning nakauwi na sila sa Pilipinas, pero kelan pa? Kaninang umaga?

My drive to the restaurant was quite boring. I was only thinking about work and my family. Ayoko munang isipin si Tere at napipikon ako.

When I parked my car, agad akong pumasok sa restaurant and looked for my parents. Madali lang naman dahil halos nasa may bukana lang din sila. Nang makalapit ako sa kanila, I chuckled at their reactions while looking at me.

Papa was confused and Mama was shocked.

"Who are you?" tanong pa ni Papa na mas nagpangiti sa akin.

"Oh my god!" Mama exclaimed.

"Pa, it's Martina," salita ko. I somehow expected this dahil sa black at standard cut kong buhok.

"M-Marvin... T-Tomboy na b-ba siya?" tanong ni Mama kay Papa.

"L-Lalake ka na?"

I rolled my eyes at Papa's question before taking a seat in front of them. I am having too much fun watching their reactions.

"Nakakaloka kayo. Fafa pa rin naman ang hanap ko, Ma, Pa." Mahina akong natawa.

Para namang silang nakahinga dahil sa sinabi ko bago sila umayos ng upo at inilagay ang table napkin sa lap nila.

"Akala ko pa naman may babae nang nakapagpatuwid sayo." I stilled at Papa's sentence.

I thought of Tere but I shrugged it off.

"Tutuwad na lang, Pa, kesa tuwid." Sinabayan ko na lang ng tawa. I even saw him grimaced.

"Anyways, Martina, anak, how's your business?" Mama asked me.

I finished chewing my food before answering her. "Maayos naman, Ma. Lots of potential investors and upcoming fashion shows."

"How 'bout Theresia? How is she?" Natigilan ako sa tanong ni Papa.

I calmed myself before smiling at them. "We're good friends." I almost frown at my answer. "She's great at choosing patterns and colors for the clothes, and she's still as savage as before."

Napatango naman silang dalawa kaya bumalik na kaming tatlo sa pagkain. We talked about their business trips at kung hanggang kailan lang sila mananatili sa bahay bago ulit umalis.

After dinner, nasa iisang sasakyan lang sina Mama at Papa, habang ako naman ay bumalik sa kotse ko.

On my way to the parking area, I saw a familiar face. It was Tere. Nakatalikod naman sa akin ang kausap niya. She was smiling and even laughing. So, siya 'yung kausap mo simula pa kaninang hapon?

I was about to walk towards them to get between them dahil naiinis na naman ako, when I suddenly stopped. I... I can't move. I was just standing there, meters away while staring at them.

I don't know what it was, but I suddenly heard something crack. Something vulnerable. Something... something like my heart.

I was just staring at them while they hugged each other. A happy smile was plastered on Tere's face.

B-Bakit ako nasasaktan nang ganito?

B-Bakit ang sakit-sakit makitang may kayakap siyang iba?

I stood there until they were gone.

I stood there... frozen... with my shattering heart.