Play Pretend

Chapter 4

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 4
Date

Just a few minutes after I walked out of Xaiver's office, lumabas na rin si Knoa. Sinubukan kong huwag siyang bigyan ng pansin dahil sa natitirang hiya sa katawan, ngunit ramdam ko ang pagtitig niya sa akin at nakuha pang huminto malapit sa lamesa ko. Para bang talagang nagpapapansin siya upang mang-inis.

Dahil gustong-gusto ko na siyang umalis, I gave him what he wanted. I gave him my attention as I cautiously lifted my gaze at him.

Agad na ngumiti si Knoa. His smile was hinting something, and he even glanced at the iced latte on my desk before raising his iced americano.

Like he was trying to suppress a laugh, he pursed his lips and stopped himself from smiling. Wala siyang ibang sinabi pagkatapos no'n at tinalikuran na lamang ako upang maglakad papuntang elevator.

What the hell? Ayos lang ba 'yon?

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari. Masyado akong nawindang sa ginawang pagpapansin ni Knoa. Siguro ay hindi niya nainis ang pinsan kaya ako ang pinuntirya.

I bit my lower lip and hung my head low after that disturbing scene. Medyo nahirapan ako sa pagpo-focus sa trabaho, pero nagawa ko naman.

I didn't hear anything from Xaiver right after that. I had a very peaceful afternoon at work. Nang malapit nga lang mag-uwian ay muli kong naramdaman ang pagkabalisa.

"Hindi ka pa uuwi?" tanong ni Joseph habang nagliligpit ng gamit.

"Alam mo namang kasabay ko si Sir Xaiver." Medyo tunog iritado ang boses ko dahil pinaalala niya pa lalo ang kapalaran ko. "May pupuntahan pa kami bago umuwi."

Joseph flashed a small grin. May sasabihin sana siya ngunit tinikom na lang niya ulit ang bibig lalo na nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ni Xaiver.

As if he was caught red-handed, Joseph hurriedly averted his eyes from me and acted like he had been doing something else instead of talking to me. He seemed also slightly nervous, biting his lip while fixing his things.

Nang binalik ko ang tingin kay Xaiver, nahuli ko siyang naniningkit ang mga mata habang nakatingin kay Joseph. He then turned to me after shooting his other secretary a menacing glare. Lumambot kaagad ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"We'll leave in ten. I'll just finish a phone call and fix my things," Xaiver informed me of something he used to do using his intercom. Hindi niya naman na kailangan pang lumabas.

"Okay. I'll text the driver," sabi ko naman.

Isang tipid na ngiti ang pinakawalan ni Xaiver, ngunit nang dumapo ang mga mata sa aking lamesa ay napakunot ang kanyang noo. His lips also formed a thin line.

I followed his line of vision and saw that he was staring at the empty cup of iced latte from earlier. Nakalimutan kong hugasan at i-recycle ang baso para magamit sa pantry.

When I returned my gaze on Xaiver, he hurriedly turned away and walked back into his office. Nadinig ko ang agarang pagbuntonghininga ni Joseph na para bang kanina pa pinipigilang huminga. Ngumuso ako at nagkibit-balikat na lamang saka nagsimulang magligpit.

I went to the pantry and washed the cold cup before storing it properly. Pagkabalik ko sa opisina ay wala na si Joseph at nagulat na lamang ako nang abutan ko si Xaiver na nakaupo sa visitors waiting area.

Once he saw me, Xaiver stood up and cleared his throat. "Where did you go?"

"Uhm, sa pantry lang. Sorry. Kanina ka pa ba naghihintay?" I subtly glanced at the wall clock.