To Fall Inlove

Chocolates

"Sabihin mo lang na hindi ka mabubuhay nang wala ako," Caden teased, a smile playing on his lips as we all sat at a small conference table in our office at DSHQ.

He was presenting the designs in front of the board members when I came in earlier. He looked shocked when he saw me enter the conference room. Tinitigan niya ako saglit, tapos unti-unting sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. Pagkatapos ng presentation niya, kinaladkad niya ako papasok sa aming opisina saka niya ako niyakap at tinanong if I'd had enough of my soul searching. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero tinawanan lang ako ng hudyo.

I hadn't seen Daxton since yesterday morning when he drove me to the BSI. Wala din siya sa meeting kanina. He called me up a while ago that he was in a business meeting and didn't know when he'd be back in the office.

So here I was, stuck with Caden, Jasmine, Mauve, and Liam. Well, Mauve wasn't included in our design group, but I asked her to come here today to bring me the mechanical plans of DSI, which I forgot at BSI. Jasmine was asking me why I had to submit a resignation letter only to cancel it after a day. Even though I had informed no one about my resignation, Leslie told Caden, and the nosy jerk tattled it to Jasmine and Liam.

Inirapan ko si Caden saka ko ibinalik ang tingin kay Jasmine. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanila ang tungkol sa amin ni Daxton. I wanted to keep it to myself first. This was my first relationship with someone and I wanted to enjoy it muna without telling my snoopy and nosy friends about it.

"Well, I changed my mind since I'm not confident that Caden can do all the work alone," I said, sounding uppity then raised a brow, looking back at Caden.

Imbes na mainis ay ngumiti pa ito ng malapad. "I'm going to a party tonight. Gusto mong sumama?"

Mauve's gaze went to Caden and announced, "Hindi pwede. May date siya mamayang gabi." Then she looked at me and added, "Can I borrow your phone, Sav?"

I ignored Caden and twisted my head to look at her. She was looking at Caden again with a scowl on her face. "What!" gulat na gulat kong tanong.

I had a date, and I didn't even know it?

"I need to call the furniture supplier for Hope," she replied while looking at me as if I was stupid.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. "No. The date," pagklaro ko. "Why do I have a date tonight?"

"I have a friend who had a friend. He's a doctor and doctors are hot. I told her my best friend is single, and she's an architect and architects are also hot, so we set the two of you on a date," wika niya saka ngumiti, animo'y proud na proud sa ginawa niya.

"Hindi ako pupunta, Mauve. Dapat tinanong mo muna ako," seryoso kong saad.

"Kaya nga sinasabi ko sayo ngayon," balik naman niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim para kalmahin ang sarili kung hindi ay baka masabunutan ko siya ng wala sa oras. Andito pa naman kami sa DSHQ. "Telling and asking is not the same thing," giit ko.

Instead of commenting on what I said, she stated, "I need your phone."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago ako tumayo, at naglakad papunta sa mesa ko saka ko binuksan ang drawer para kunin ang phone ko.

"I know the difference between telling and asking, Sav, but you're still going," rinig kong litanya ni Mauve.

"Kahit kaladkarin mo pa ako, hindi pa rin ako pupunta," inis kong tugon habang abala sa paghahanap ng telepono ko.

Where was that darn phone?

"Pupunta saan?"

Agad akong nag-angat ng ulo ng marinig ko ang boses ni Daxton pero bago pa ako makapagsalita ay naunahan na ako ni Mauve.