Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 19: If you're not mine to love

TCWDM: Thank you, APM, for making this day extra special. You're all my blessings. I'm happy I get to live this life meeting all of you, kahit na virtually pa lang yung iba. Don't worry because I'm enjoying today kahit na parang inuuna ko ang pagsusulat. Treat ko to sa sarili ko, actually.
To all, this is my special chap, pero wala pa rito yung fave scene ko. 3 parts yata ang Chapter 19, so kapit. Hehe. Thank you for waiting and for reading. <3

***

August second week

Magkasama kami ni Calyx na dumating sa Sabley's. It's a Wednesday. Dapat sana, kahit papa'no ay ready na akong makita si Maxwell since I had Monday and Tuesday to prepare. Nang pumayag si Miss Kylie na mag-review si Calyx for the app, I arrange our schedules and work assignments in a way that would separate the four of us. Iba ang restaurant na assigned sa amin sa kina Maxwell at Celine. Gano'n ko sana i-schedule lahat, but Sabley's offerings need the four of us together.

Pagbungad pa lang namin sa salaming pinto, nagtagpo na ang mga mata namin ni Maxwell. I was about to bite my nails, but Calyx held my hand and squeezed them.

"I'm here with you . . ." mahinang sabi niya.

That usually calms me down, but not today. Kasi naman, tumalas ang mga mata ni Maxwell sa magkahawak na kamay namin ni Cal. Pero nang magkatinginan naman kami uli, maamo siyang ngumiti.

Unang bumati si Celine sa amin ni Cal. Sumunod si Maxwell pero matipid. I looked down before greeting them.

When we sat, silence followed. Nag-overstay. I felt like I should say something but I don't know what. They already received a copy of our schedule for the whole month. Celine and I already checked each other's notes and write-ups. Mangungumusta ba ako? Hu-hu.

My thoughts cleared nang tumikhim si Celine. "I already interviewed the owner kanina. Maxwell already inspected the kitchen." Bumaling siya sa 'kin. "Ikot tayo?"

"Thank you . . . Uhm, yes, ikot tayo, pero we should introduce ourselves muna," sagot ko.

"Yes. Mag-asawa sila na nandito today. Nasa office yata. Samahan ko kayo?" dagdag niya.

"Yes, please."

Naunang tumayo si Celine kasunod si Maxwell.

"Kami na lang," sabi ni Calyx sa kanya. "Maiwan ka na rito."

"Wala namang mawawala sa table na kailangang bantayan," malamig na sagot niya.

"It's uncomfortable," dagdag ni Cal.

"Tiisin mo. Boyfriend ka naman."

Napalunok ako at napatingin sa flats ko.

Calyx sighed. "Nagseselos ka ba?"

"Oo."

"Tiisin mo."

I tugged at Calyx's sleeve. Mahinang-mahina ang boses ko nang pumigil, "Don't fight . . ."

Dalawa silang malakas na nagbuntonghininga.

"Okay," halos magkasabay nilang sabi.

We walked to the office with unease.

***

Nagpakilala lang kami sa mag-asawang may-ari at nakipag-usap nang ilang bagay tungkol sa resto bago bumalik sa table namin. Sabley's specializes in group dining so they have barkada, family, and handaan packages. Our job is to review the selection of food included in each package.

It's hard to focus the whole time dahil kina Calyx at Maxwell. In-expect ko naman 'yong usual na tension nilang dalawa, pero hindi 'yong tipong kahit sa pinakamaliliit na bagay, mag-aaway sila. When I asked Cal to pretend to be my boyfriend, hindi ko na-consider 'yong tindi ng inisan. The day is far from over, pero pagod na akong kabahan at mag-worry. It's harder to handle because it's my fault.