Taped-Up Heart

LII. Hurt You

Chapter Fifty-Two

Hurt You

"What's this for?" I asked when he, out of nowhere, placed a cup of coffee on my desk.

"Coffee, as you can see."

"I'm allergic to coffee," I lied. I just didn't want to accept it.

"If you didn't want to accept it, you could've just said so. There's no need to lie," he said like he just read my mind.

Of course he knows. Sa panahon na naging kami, lahat nalaman niya na sa akin. I can't say it's the same for me when it comes to him. I don't know who he is, the real him, because who knows, right? Maybe it was all just an act. Maybe nothing about everything he's said and done was real. It was fucking fake.

Kinuha niya na 'yung kape, I pretended that I was busy browsing through the blueprints but he remained standing there. When I felt uncomfortable, I faced him again. "Aren't you busy? Why are you still here?" I asked him.

"Oh, Ms. Dela Cuesta, I have all the time in the world."

I just rolled my eyes at him before looking at the blueprint once again.

"So serious as always."

My brows furrowed before looking at him. "Are we close?" I asked. He didn't answer, because he was caught off guard by my question. "Hindi, right? So stop pretending that we're friends and that we're on talking terms. I'll only talk to you if it's about work and the project."

"Fine," he said as he sat at the chair in front of the table. We were on a tent that was set up at the site's location. It's still early kaya naman hindi pa masakit 'yung init at malamig din naman ang simoy ng hangin dito sa site.

"So... how about we talk about the beams?"

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"What about the slab? Or maybe the concrete?"

"It's not funny," I said. He was about to say something when he was cut off by my phone's ringtone. I saw Daffin was calling me kaya naman tumayo ako para lumayo at sagutin ang tawag niya.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said. "I passed by your favorite pastry shop. I'll be there in a few minutes, I'll just drop off your favorites."

I smiled to myself. "You're the best."

I heard him chuckle on the other line. "I'll see you soon. Drive safely, okay?" I reminded him.

"Roger that, ma'am," he said. "I love you."

I smiled again. "I love you too. See you," I said before ending the call. Nang makabalik ako sa tent, wala na si Achaia. Nasa site na siya kausap ang contractor namin.

After a few minutes, Daffin arrived. I immediately hugged and kissed him on the cheek. "You missed me that much, huh?" he asked.

Napa-iling at ngiti lang ako sa kanya. "I didn't see you for three days, of course I'll miss you."

"Well, that's the pros and cons of loving Ms. Asia Dela Cuesta. Such a workaholic," he said as he planted a kiss on my forehead. "But don't overwork too much, okay?"

"I know, you don't have to remind me everytime," I said before getting the bag from him. Kinuha ko 'yung iced coffee na dala niya at ininom 'yon. "I missed this."

Kinuha niya naman bigla iced coffee ko mula sa akin. I frowned, he chuckled. Kumuha siya ng isang tinapay bago 'yon sinubo sa akin. "Eat something first before drinking coffee again," aniya at wala na akong nagawa kung hindi nguyain ang tinapay na nilagay niya sa bibig ko.