Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 16 part 2

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The day progressed from weird to awkward and questionable. Calyx talked briefly to Miss Kylie and I thought that that's to tell her he wanted a position as a reviewer. It turned out, he just asked if he could tag along for the day. Pumayag si Miss Kylie. Tinukso kaming lalo ni Cal sa opisina habang itinutukso naman si Maxwell kay Celine.

Tatlo kaming nakasimangot nang sumakay sa kotse ni Maxwell papunta sa The Valentine. Nanliliit kasi akong mapatabi kay Celine. She's a goddess in her flowy, white dress. Wala pa siya halos make-up n'on. Lalong mahahalata na pangit ako.

Sina Maxwell at Calyx, nakasimangot kasi weird sila. Maxwell wanted me on the passenger seat, I insisted he asked Celine, and then Calyx sat on the passenger without saying a word. They both grunted while I slipped uneasily beside the goddess.

The silence after was mocking and awkward. Mukhang walang magsasalita sa dalawang lalaki kahit na nakailang sulyap na si Maxwell sa backseat. I pouted. If he wanted to make sure Celine's comfortable, pinaupo na lang sana niya sa tabi niya. Bagay naman sila. Parehas silang naka-white.

Hmp.

"Nguso mo, Au-Au, ang haba," sabi bigla ni Cal.

Lalo akong nag-pout. "Don't call me Au-Au. Hindi ako dog."

"Hindi ka nga dog," sabi niya. "Cute ka."

Huminto bigla ang car. Not so sharp naman, but still sudden.

"Sorry," sabi ni Maxwell. "Akala ko, may masasagasaan ako."

Maybe I'm just imagining it, pero parang malamig ang boses niya. Ano kaya'ng masasagasaan niya? It's lucky that we're still inside the business center and there's not a lot of vehicles on the road.

"Magmaneho ka nang maayos," sita ni Cal. "Baka masaktan si Aurora."

"Oo. Sorry. Nagulat lang."

They're really weird. Even when they talk as if they are getting along, there's still this tension.

"Naka-seatbelt ako," salo ko. "But . . ."—nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ni Maxwell sa mirror. I had to blink to remember what I wanted to say—"please be careful."

Lumingon siya sandali sa 'kin para lang ngumiti. "Oo. I'm sorry."

The gentleness in his expression was attacking me, it's not fair. My heart was throbbing and melting at the same time. Napasulyap ako kay Celine kasi baka masamain niya 'yong pagngiti ni Maxwell, but she's just smiling. It's like . . . she doesn't hate me.

"Why?" she asked after a while.

"Huh?" Kumurap ako.

Tumatakbo na uli smoothly ang sasakyan.

"Oh. I thought may itatanong ka . . .?" aniya.

"Ah . . ." Ayoko nga siyang kausapin eh. Hu-hu. Pa'nong nagmukha akong may itatanong? Hu-hu. "Wala naman . . ."

"Hmm. Okay . . ."

Hu-hu. Ayoko talaga siyang kausap.

"Where did you say you're working again, Cal?" aniya kay Calyx.

"Sa Tashel's Bistro. Business ng isa sa mga family friend."

"I see. Matagal ka na ro'n?"

"One year na rin. Ikaw? You said you're recently resigned?"

"Yes. I thought I'd rest a little before taking over a project that my mom really wanted to do. Kaso Maxwell asked if I wanted to try this gig."

Puwede naman siyang nag-No. Hmp. Dahil ba si Maxwell ang nagtanong sa kanya kaya siya nag-Yes? Hmp.