Hide And Seek (A Series #4)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Hotelier

"Let me see..." he challenged.

The consequence of him telling me his embarrassing stories from his childhood is to have him my phone wallpaper. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Nakasandal na ako sa kanya ngayon at hawak na ngayon ang cellphone ng dalawang kamay.

I smirked at him. "I'm a woman of honor, Augustine. Don't challenge me."

Ang kanyang litrato noong pagkabata niya, iyon ang nagin wallpaper ko. Sumilay naman ang multong ngiti sa kanyang labi nang hinarap ko iyon sa kanya.

He finished his work while I watched his recommended movie, American series rather--The 100. Sabi niya nakakita siya ng ilang episodes nito dahil ito ang tinatanaw ng pinsan n'ya ngunit hindi rin niya natapos. It took me a whole season 1 and a four episodes of season 2 before he was done with his hard, very hard job.

Nasa aking baywang ang kanyang kamay nang lumabas kami sa opisina niya. Malapit na kasi ang lunch time kaya ayon. Napahinto lamang kami sa east lobby nang may pinapakitang proyekto ang kanyang sekreto. Napansin ko ang aming reflection sa salamin na bilang dingding.

Hanggang dibdib niya lang kasi ako at kahit hindi naman ako gaanong maliit ang katawan, kapag nasa tabi niya, ang liit ko lang talaga. I secretly raised my phone to capture us by the side.

"Just tell Leyox to call me tonight."

"Okay, sir. Uhm, tungkol po sa dinner ninyo?"

"What dinner?"

"Kasama po sila Sir Rodriguez at Miss Stella."

Humalakhak si Fidai. "Kay Cassius mo iyan i-remind, Joe. Not that he forgot that anyway,"

"Oh, okay po."

I pursed my lips a bit and capture another shoot. Nagulat ako nang dumaan si Joe sa banda ng salamin at napatingin si Fidai sa ginawa ko.

He groaned softly and pressed me to his chest. "Snap more photos, darling."

"I won't post this anyway. I deactivated my social medias." sabi ko sa mahinang tono.

"Sa atin lang ang mga litratong iyan," banayad niyang tugon.

Ngumiti ako habang nakaangat na muli ang camera. Kaming dalawa ay nakaharap na ng buo sa salamin. I smiled while he just leaned his cheek on my head before I clicked some shots.

Sa isang italian restaurant kami pumasok. Nakapagreserve na pala siya ng table para sa amin. He fits so much in the place. His usual suit attire and this time it's gray. Ako naman, nakaputing three-forth victorian dress na hanggang ibabaw ng tuhod.

In a classic restaurant, we dined and talked like we're used to this conversation. At hindi naman ako nakailag nang tinanong niya ang aking family tree. Tapos na kami sa courses at nasa punto ng dessert na. Sumimsim ako sandali sa iced tea bago pasimpleng humugot ng mababang hininga.

Kabado akong humalakhak. "Well, Dad..."

"Darling, it's okay." he gently said. "Let's just talk other things,"

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang dalawang kamay. I never thought it's harder to tell the story that involves him than thinking about it.

"So, I can't wait to see you graduate." Fidai grinned.

Natawa ako. "A month from now, yeah."

Tumayo siya at hinila ang kanyang patungo sa aking tabi. He's like barricading me again. I pursed my lips and just let him go touchy again. He kept curling the ends of my hair by his fingertips.