T O R N

42

"I'm sorry hindi kita mahahatid ngayon, love. I'll bring Irene home. Her meeting ended early kasi"

I heaved a defeated sigh and hid my phone inside my bag. I fixed my things and stand up. Wala naman na pala akong hinihintay. Lahat ng officemates ko nakauwi na including Jisoo and Chaeng. It's been a week already na hindi kami nagkakasabay umuwi ni Lisa dahil palagi niyang kasama si Irene. So, I ended up going home alone but in fairness to her, bumabawi naman siya. She always visits me in my unit every night, walang patlang and then we ended up spending the night together. She has some clothes here na rin kaya madalas dito na rin siya nanggagaling papasok sa opisina pero palagi siyang nauuna sa akin umalis. Hindi na kasi kami pwedeng magsabay na tulad ng dati dahil mas doble ingat na kami ngayong andito na si Irene.

I went outside our office to go straight to the elevator. I tap the arrow down button and waited for it to open. Nang bumukas ang elevator ay bumungad sa akin si Irene at isang lalaki. They were standing inches away from each other. Medyo nagkagulatan pa kaming dalawa but we both calmed ourselves right away. Irene smile and greeted me.

"Hi Ms. Kim!"

"Ms. Bae" I uttered and smiled back.

I look at the guy on the mirror and he's taking glimpse of Irene. When he saw me staring at him he turned his gaze away from her. Bumaba yung guy sa ground floor but before he went out of the elevator he look at Irene once again. Naiwan kaming dalawa sa loob ng elevator dahil pareho kaming sa basement pa bababa.

"Ang creepy no? Buti na lang you came" she uttered with a nervous smile on her face.

"Yeah, I caught him staring at you. Do you know him?" I questioned.

Umiling siya.

"I don't" nagkibit balikat siya.

"I don't know him either. First time ko siyang makita dito. Mag iingat ka. I don't judge but we don't know his intention. Lalo na sa'yo. The way he looks at you is different" I said staring at her on the elevator mirror.

She chuckled but nervousness still remained on her face. She nodded.

"I will. Thank you, Ms. Kim"

The elevator door opened and we both went out. Sa hindi kalayuan ay napansin ko agad si Lisa na nakasandal sa bumper ng pick up niya. I watched her stand up straight when she saw Irene. She welcomes her with a wide smile but instatly faded when she saw me behind her girlfriend. Our eyes met and I just give her a little nod before going straight to my car that is parked just beside hers. I bid my goodbye but never look at Lisa.

I am currently watching Stranger Things on Netflix when my door bell ringed. I look at the wall clock to see the time. Alas nuwebe pa lang kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit andito na siya. Hindi ko na rin inexpect na pupunta pa siya dahil ang sabi niya nag-aya raw makipagdate si Irene. So, I've  decided to spend the night binge watching since wala namang pasok bukas dahil weekend na. Tumayo ako at tamad na naglakad papunta sa pinto. Dati rati, sa tuwing darating siya ay excited ako pero simula nung dumating si Irene at nabawasan na ang oras namin sa isa't isa ay parang nawawala na rin ung excitement ko. Siguro dahil alam kong tira tirang oras na lang yung meron at napupunta para sa amin. Nakakapagod rin pala yung mamalimos ng panahon ng isang tao. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at bumungad ang nakangiting si Lisa sa akin. Kahit nakangiti siya ay mababakas mo pa rin ang pagod sa mga mata niya. I kissed her on the cheek and turn my back at her to walk back to the sofa. Bago pa ko makarating ay naramdaman ko na ang pagyakap niya sa aking baywang mula sa likuran. Ibinaon niya ang ulo niya sa leeg ko at marahang pinaulanan iyon ng mga halik.

"I miss you" patuloy lang siya sa paghalik sa gilid ng aking leeg.

Hinaplos ko ang mukha niya.

"I'm sorry we've been distant. Napapagod ka na ba?"