Rose Between The Thorns (On-Going)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Hindi pa ako nakakalapit ay tanaw ko na agad si Grace sa lobby na nanlalaki ang mata sa akin. Napabuntong hininga ako. I didn't even plan on telling her what just happened but it seems like she already knows. Hindi nanaman ako titigilan nito kakapilit na may something.

"What was that just now, oh my god!" natatawa niyang sabi nang lampasan ko lang siya. Napailing ako at nauna na lumabas ng building.

Grace booked us a facial treatment at The Aivee Clinic today and that's where we're headed right now. It's just a few blocks away from Fuego Realty kaya maglalakad nalang kami. I'm actually used to walking from here and there because I usually just walk on my way to work all the time. My condo is just around BGC lang naman, nakakatamad din kasing dalhin yung kotse minsan. Besides, exercise na rin 'yon.

"I heard complaints about that elevator not working, kayo pala huh!" asar ni Grace nang makahabol siya sakin.

"I didn't know it wasn't working." sagot ko habang busy kakatype ng reply kay kuya. He asked if I'll come over tonight for dinner, hinahanap daw ako ni Jordan. I can't go because I'm not sure what time will our facial end. I might just have dinner with Grace outside after that.

"So what happened?" siniko niya pa ako.

"Just casual talk." I kept my phone inside my bag at humalukipkip ako habang naglalakad. I know she won't stop talking about it until I tell her what happened, but I denied it still.

"Shut up. We all know it's not just casual talk. You were alone with Grayson Clemont at the elevator, for pete's sake!" tumawa siya.

Halos buong oras yata na naglalakad kami papuntang clinic, walang ibang ginawa si Grace kundi kulitin ako na magkwento. Naisip ko na baka hindi 'to tumigil kahit hanggang nasa clinic na kami at marinig pa ng ibang tao doon, so I gave her just gave the gist, I didn't go into detail na. I don't really wanna make a big deal out of it. I know I felt something but it's probably just nothing. Baka kabado lang talaga ako sa presensya niya. I've always been like that whenever he's around. It's normal.

Hindi natuloy ang pang-aasar ni Grace dahil nakarating na kami sa clinic.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Grace and Ms. Calista." bati noong medical receptionist nang makapasok kami. I smiled at her. This is our go-to clinic whenever we want some facial treatment or just a pamper time kaya kilala na rin kami ang mga tauhan.

"Hi! I booked a glass facial for two." Grace answered.

Si Grace na ang kumausap sa receptionist while I was busy checking my phone. Maya't maya rin kasing nagtetext sila Mom para mangumusta.

"I can't even imagine how you remained calm the whole time you were alone with him." umupo si Grace sa couch na katabi lang ng inuupuan ko. Huminga akong malalim habang nagbabasa ng magazine while waiting for our turn.

"I don't know either."

"But why is he interested in your "relationship" anyway?"

Nagkibit balikat ako. "He just said he thought I was dating someone."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at itsurang mang-aasar nanaman kaya sinamaan ko ng tingin. Damn it, she tricked me into spilling more details.

Laking pasasalamat ko nalang nang tawagin na kami ng aesthetician because finally, matatahimik na rin 'tong si Grace. I can handle my own thoughts naman kasi. I think it comes along with living independently because ever since I moved to Manila and lived my own life, I've matured a lot. But with people around me babbling about it, siyempre lalo ko lang maiisip at lalo lang akong maguguluhan sa nangyayari. Even I don't know why Mr. Clemont's being so friendly all of a sudden!