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

Chapter 19

"Rose, she's lying," bungad ni Vince kay Rose maya-maya. Tatawagan sana niya ito pagkauwi ng bahay pero hindi siya makatiis. Moira's lies are eating him up.

"Lying about what?"

"Hindi ba nakwento ko sa 'yo na nakita ko si Joem na may ibang kasamang babae last Friday? Joem and Moira were supposed to celebrate their anniversary that night. Kaya nga hindi ko naimbita si Moira na lumabas. Nagpaalam kasi syang aagahan nya ang uwi for their anniversary. But I asked her a while ago how their date went and she told me that they just dined in. I don't know why she's lying to me, Rose."

"Did you call her out?"

"Of course not. Tinawagan muna kita. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng magandang gawin e."

"You did the right thing. Ako na lang ang kakausap sa kanya. Baka sa 'kin sya mag-open up."

He sighed. "Okay."

--

Moira looked at the time in her computer. It's only a couple of hours before dinner time. At dahil sa mga nangyari sa maghapon, sigurado siyang aayain na naman siya ni Vince na mag-dinner. Judging from his inquiries earlier, alam niyang hindi malabong magtanong ulit ito tungkol sa anniversary date nila ni Joem.

She's tired of making up stories. Mahirap kasing tandaan ang bawat detalye. Magkamali ka lang ng isa, it's like a domino effect. Tumba lahat kapag nagkataon. And she's pretty sure that if this gets to Neri and Joem, mag-asawang batok at kabilaang sermon na naman ang aabutin niya.

"Ma'am Carlene?"

Napatunghay siya sa tumawag. Isa sa mga cleaning crew ang nasa tapat ng cubicle niya. May hawak itong milk tea. Ngumiti ito at ibinigay sa kanya iyon.

"Pinabibigay po ni Sir Vince."

She forced a smile and accepted it.

"Thank you."

Tumango lamang ito at saka tinungo ang office ni Vince. May dala pa itong isang milk tea. Siguro ay nagpabili si Vince at idinamay na sya. How thoughtful of him. Lalo tuloy siyang nakukunsensya. Ano nga kaya kung sabihin nya na lang kay Vince ang totoo?

She shook her head. It's not that simple. It's never going to be that simple.

First, she needs to understand Vince. Why did he do those things? Why was he acting concerned? Is it only because of guilt for the countless rejections or is it because of something else?

Gusto sana niyang tanungin sina Red or Vico. They have known him for a long time. Alam niyang alam ng mga ito ang ugali ni Vince. Pero ano naman ang idadahilan niya?

So, she called Rose instead. Rose also knows Vince, so she's hoping that she could shed some light on Vince's odd behavior.

Noong una ay kinausap muna niya ito tungkol sa trabaho, but she sensed something else in Rose's voice. It was laced with concern.

"So, kumusta ka naman?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Okay lang. Hindi naman masyadong mabigat 'yong trabaho."

"I'm not talking about work, Moira."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. She had the feeling that the two of them had already talked about her.

"Well, I was meaning to ask you about Vince. Nawi-wirduhan na kasi ako sa kanya. He's giving me all sorts of things. He invited me to lunch—"

"It's not unusual," putol ni Rose. "Noong ako nga, halos maya't mayang magpabili ng pagkain si Vince. Lahat ng cravings ko, ibinibigay nya. Aakalain mong siya ang asawa sa sobrang pag-aalaga nya sa 'kin."