Romancing the Devil

CHAPTER 14

Kinabukasan ay sabay kaming pumasok sa trabaho ni Callum. At gaya ng sabi niya, kapag sabay ang schedule ng pasok namin ay ihahatid niya ako o kaya kapag hindi siya nagmamadali.

“Tell me when you’re going somewhere, okay?” Napatingin ako sa kaniya at napalabi bago tumango sa kaniya.

“Sorry, hindi ko nasabi sa ‘yo na pumunta ako kay Ate Kiana. I don’t want to disturb you because you’re busy with work. Baka lang . . . nasa meeting ka kaya hindi na kita tinawagan.” sambit ko habang nakaiwas ang tingin.

“You could’ve just texted me.” aniya sa matigas na boses.

Marahan akong tumango, “s-sige. Pasensya na.” sambit ko bago binuksan ang pinto ng kaniyang sasakyan.

Pero bago pa man ako makalabas nang tuluyan ay bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking braso at hinatak pabalik. Napalingon ako sa kaniya kasabay ng pagsalubong niya sa akin ng halik sa labi. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at natulos sa kinauupuan habang dinadama ang kaniyang halik sa aking labi. Marahan pero nararamdaman ko ang pagpipigil niyang manggigil sa aking labi. He bit my lower lip slightly before pulling away from the kiss. He put some light kisses again before looking deep into my eyes.

“Just don’t make me worry,” nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Does this mean . . . he’s falling for me? Does he feel . . . something for me now? I hope so, para maging madali ang gagawin ko. At para hindi na rin ako . . . kabahan sa mga dapat kong gawin.

But I need to be cautious too, with my actions, emotions, and words. Kailangan hindi niya mahalata ang balak ko. Kailangan kapag nangyari na ang gusto ko ay dadahan-dahanin ko na siya tungkol sa gusto ni Daddy. Our company . . . needs his company. For it to survive. For it to save us from bankruptcy. I know Ate Kiana’s doing her best for the company, but that will be useless if it can’t stand alone like it is before.

That bothered me while working. His words are gentle and full of concerns. And I am thinking for hours now if he’s falling for me. If he has a feelings for me now.

Kasi kung ako ang nasa kalagayan niya, ako ang inaakit niya para sa kompanya, agad akong magpapaubaya. Marupok na kung marupok, pero kasi mahal ko siya. Simula pa lang noong una ay nahulog na ako sa kaniya. Kaya naman nahihirapan akong paibigin siya dahil alam kong sa umpisa pa lang ay wala naman talaga siyang atraksyong nararamdaman sa akin. Ako lang itong umaasa . . . hanggang ngayon.

“Does your team already done to your project?” Napatayo ako nang may pumasok sa opisina ko at nagsalita. Nang makita ko kung sino ‘yon ay nanlamig ang aking tiyan sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.

It was Dustin . . . and he’s looking at me with indifference.

“Uh . . . almost done, Dustin. I asked my team earlier and they’re just checking everything to finilize it.” I said firmly, not letting myself to stutter in front of him.

He licked his lower lip before looking away and bowing his head a little, then he sighed heavily. I’m just watching him stay silent while doing that. I wait for him to utter more words while he’s in my office. I don’t know how to approach him anymore. I don’t know if . . . he’s still considering me as his best friend.

“Uh . . . anything else . . .?” I asked hesitantly.

“I’m sorry,” bahagya akong nagulat sa sinabi niya. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin nang hindi ako magsalita nanatiling gulat ang ekspresyon. “I’m sorry for bursting out last time. I was just . . . hurt, knowing that you didn’t tell me about your marriage. I didn’t know that you’re already married. And I didn’t didn’t tell you I was already courting you. I’m sorry.”