The Aftermath of a One-Night Stand (Aragonza #2)

Chapter 16

"I don't get you two. You obviously like each other kahit pareho na kayong taken. Taken sya ni Joem. Ikaw, married sa work mo."

Napabuntong-hininga si Vince. Right after Moira left, agad niyang tinawagan si Rose dahil litong-lito na siya. He backed out last time. Ngayon naman, si Moira. They just can't meet halfway.

"Akala ko rin e. Kaso akala ko lang pala."

"May sinabi ba sya sa 'yo? Bakit hindi na naman natuloy 'yang long-awaited kiss nyo?"

"She asked me to not give her false hopes," sagot niya kay Rose.  

"Oh, shit. Ang deep!"

"Be serious."

Sumeryoso naman ito. "Now, why would she think that? Na binibigyan mo lang sya ng false hopes? Are you?"

He sighed again. Lalo yatang sumakit ang ulo nya after Moira came by.

"I don't know, Rose," he admitted. Hindi niya alam kung gagawin ba niya ang tama, which is to leave Moira alone o gagawin niya ang gusto niya, which is to get her back and make her fall in love with him again.

"Ano ba'ng dapat na gawin ko?" tanong niya rito. "I've never wanted anyone as much as I want her, but it seems like she doesn't want me anymore. Lipas na yun e. Kung kailan naman ayaw nya na, saka ko gusto."

"Maybe she wants you too. Baka takot lang sya."

"Rose, she already has Joem. Kung nakita mo lang sana kung pa'no sya umiyak nang malaman nyang nalaglag sa hagdan si Joem. She already told me that she loves him so much. How can I compete with that?"

"Mahal nya? Kaya ba nagpahalik sya sa 'yo? Kaya ba ayaw nyang bigyan mo sya ng false hopes, kasi mahal nya si Joem? Wake up, Vince! If she's really in love with that guy, e di sana hindi ka nya bibigyan ng motibo!"

"Pero bakit kung kailan gumagawa ako ng paraan, saka naman sya umiiwas? How do you explain that?"

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Kasi nga takot sya. Ilang beses mo na ba syang ni-reject nung college, ha? For sure, umay na 'yon sa rejection. Ano nga ba naman ang guarantee nya that this isn't college all over again?"

Napaisip siya roon. Is this college all over again?

 

--

Moira was hoping to not see Vince the next day. After what happened back at his house, hindi na niya alam kung paano ito pakikitunguhan. Did he act like that because he was deliriously sick? And what did he mean by 'I tried. I really did.'? What did he try to do?

Lahat ng kalituhan niya ay nadoble nang makita niya ito sa office nito. He seemed okay. May kulay na ulit ang mukha nito. Mukhang wala na itong sakit.

Hindi na sana niya ito papansinin pero bigla siya nitong tinawag.

"G-Good morning, sir," she greeted. It was definitely awkward. "May kailangan po kayo?"

"Yes. Please give these documents to Red. They're already signed."

Tumango siya at kinuha ang mga iyon. Wala na itong sinabi pa kaya umalis na lamang siya. Weird. Cold naman ito ngayon.

Tinungo niya ang office ni Red to give the documents. As usual, wala na naman sa pwesto si Vico. Kumatok siya sa pintuan and entered when told, and as she expected, nandoon nga si Vico. Kumakain ang dalawa ng manggang hilaw.

"Uy! Gusto mo?"

Nginitian niya ang dalawa.

"Sino ba ang buntis sa inyo?" biro niya. Iniabot niya ang documents kay Red. "Pirmado na 'yan."