Play Pretend

Chapter 12

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 12
Talk

"H-ha?" My eyelids fluttered in shock and amusement. Tuluyan na ring gumaang ang pakiramdam ko, though a kick of nervousness slightly rose inside me.

"You'll come with us inside the office," ulit niya.

Bakit kasama rin ako? Ano ang gagawin ko roon? Gusto ko bang madinig ang pag-uusapan nila?

"Xaiver, uhm..."

Zoe moved forward to steal Xaiver's attention. And as if Xaiver didn't want to be any closer to her, he stepped back, and I felt his arm graze mine as he did. Kung ano ang kinalayo niya kay Zoe ay ganoon siya kalapit sa akin.

Nakita ni Zoe ang lahat nang 'yon. Her jaw moved a bit as she licked her lips. I also caught her clenching her fist quickly. Unti-unti ring namula ang kanyang pisngi sa hiya o inis.

"What?" Xaiver snapped.

Nag-aalangang tumingin namg diretso si Zoe sa kanya. Despite being in an embarrassing situation, she still managed to lift her chin. "Kung pwede sana, I want to talk to you privately." She gave me a quick glance. "Can your secretary just stay outside and wait for us? Sandali lang naman. Ten minutes like you said."

"If it's still not obvious, that's already the ultimatum. Take it or leave it," paglilinaw sa kanya ni Xaiver. "It's either you'll allow Chantal to join us, or you'll leave the building. Hindi tayo mag-uusap nang wala siya. Make your choice."

Bawat salita na pinapakawalan ni Xaiver ay palakas nang palakas ang pagtibok ng puso ko. I had no idea if he was just firing those words para sumuko na si Zoe at magalit sa kanya, pero kahit na ano pa ang dahilan niya, I was surely getting swayed.

"O-okay, then. I'll take it," pagpayag ni Zoe bandang huli. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses siyang napahiya in just a day, but she was still standing tall.

Naunang pumasok si Xaiver sa loob ng kanyang opisina at bago ako sumunod ay pinauna ko muna ang aming bisita. Taas-noo pa rin si Zoe habang naglalakad papasok. Sinundan niya si Xaiver hanggang sa makarating sa tanggapan.

Xaiver sat on the main couch, kung saan siya lagi umuupo, while Zoe had the courtesy to sit just right in front of him. Uupo na sana ako roon sa single couch sa gilid, ngunit bago pa ako makadiretso ay bahagya nang umusod si Xaiver upang bigyan ako ng space sa tabi niya.

"Tabi ka sa akin," Xaiver simply told me and lightly tapped his side.

I pursed my lips. Napasulyap ako kay Zoe. Mukhang nagkunwari na lamang siyang walang nadinig dahil hindi nagbago ang kanyang ekspresyon at diretso pa rin ang tingin kay Xaiver.

"Come here," dagdag ni Xaiver nang hindi pa rin ako kumikilos upang tumabi sa kanya.

"O...kay."

I hesitantly took the space beside Xaiver. The couch was huge, so I put enough distance between us. Iba nga lang ang gustong mangyari ni Xaiver. Umusod siya palapit sa akin until we were only apart for an inch or two.

I froze in place and held onto my knees tightly as if I was on a rollercoaster ride. Pasulyap-sulyap din ako kay Zoe upang makita kung ano ang kanyang reaksyon, but she remained looking indifferent. Mukhang aral na kung paano mapipigilan ang sarili.

"Ten minutes," ulit ni Xaiver once he was satisfied with our position. "You can start talking now."

Zoe swallowed hard, then shifted on her seat. "I had a talk with Tita Mira. Gusto kong malaman kung mayroon kang sinabi sa kanya," nag-aalangan niyang sabi. "She asked me to stay away from you and just find someone else."