Light Under The Glooms (MPS#2)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Are you sure you're okay, Lein?"

Bakas ang pag-aalala sa boses ni Nate nang makabalik ako galing sa C.R. Pinaghila niya ako ng upuan at miski sa pag-upo ko ay inalalayan ako. Gustuhin ko man tumanggi ay naunahan niya na ako, kaya nagpasalamat na lang ako.

"Maayos lang ako, Nate. Don't worry at me." Nginitian ko siya bago ako uminom ng tubig.

"Are you hungry? I'll talk to them if you're hungry now," he said, ready to leave his chair. I stopped him. Hindi pa naman ako gutom. "Okay, let's just wait for our food."

"You? Gutom ka na ba?" I asked. Baka siya ang gutom na. "Galing ka pa sa trabaho. You must be tired then."

I looked at him. He looked manly in his suit. Yeah, he really is a good-looking man. I would definitely fall for him if I had feelings for him, but I really don't. I can only see him as a friend.

"No, I'm not tired," he said, smiling.

"Marami ka lang ginawa?"

"Yeah. I tried my best to finish my work as soon as possible, but I failed. That's why I was late earlier," he laughed. 

"It's your work. Mas mahalaga ang trabaho kaysa akin, Nate."

"Mahalaga ka rin naman," he said, directly looking to my eyes.

I shook my head. I smiled bitterly before sipping on my glass of water. I felt bad for him. I want him to stop liking me. Wala siyang mapapala sa akin.

Si Jinoh ba may mapapala sa'yo?

I heaved a sigh. Inalala ko ulit ang binata, kung paano niya ako tanawin habang kasama ko si Nate. He was smiling at me. Ni hindi man lang ako nakapaalam nang maayos.

I don't get it.

Bakit niya ako gustong ihatid ulit? He has feelings for Isabela. I don't want her to get sad because of me if she finds out that Jinoh is treating me nicely. Mas okay na ako na ang masaktan, 'wag lang ang mga kaibigan ko.

"Lein," dinig kong sabi ni Nate. Ilang beses akong napakurap at alinlangan ngumiti sa kaniya nang makita ang mga pagkain sa harap ko. "Everything is ready, let's eat."

"S-Sure. Thank you," I said. I bit the inside of my cheek. Tiningnan ko ang mga pagkain na nakahain. Si Nate ang pumili nitong lahat dahil hindi pamilyar sa akin ang nasa menu.

"It was good right?" he asked when he saw me chewing my steak.

I nod my head, it was good! Humiwa siya ng sa kaniya at nabigla ako nang itapat niya sa akin ang tinidor na may steak na hinawa niya.

"Open your mouth, beautiful."

I quickly shook my head, making his smile disappeared. "No thanks. Let's just eat, Nate," mahina kong sabi.

The atmosphere between us changed. No one of us talked. Only our utensils and other customers make noise. I feel bad. If I let him do that, he will think that I have feelings for him, too. 

Ang sama ko ngayon.

"Bakit hindi ka nagre-reply sa mga texts ko?" tanong nito habang nasa soup na hinahanalo niya ang paningin. He lifted his eyes on me. "I thought you gave me a wrong number."

Lumabi ako. "Hindi na ako nagre-reply dahil nagkikita naman tayo kada umaga. Wala ka rin namang sinabi na mag-message ako sa 'yo. You only asked for my number, remember?" litanya ko na nakapagpa-ngiti sa kaniya.

He chuckled. "You have a point. So, if I ask you to reply to my message, will you do it?" He raised his eyebrow, like he was testing me.

I shook my head, then he laughed even more. He even covered his face using his right hand. Tuwang-tuwa pa siya sa sinagot ko sa kaniya.