Above Her Past

THIRTY - EIGHT

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NADIA

"Congratulations Architects and Engineers! Natapos na ang project natin with Kreall Corporation! Nakaka-proud."

TINUSOK NI ROSA ANG TAGILIRAN ko dahil ang success ng isa ay success ng lahat. My Aunt is standing next to him while holding a glass of champagne. I must say, I love the finished product of Daze's office. Nagmi-meeting kami sa conference room para tingnan ang mga obra maestra ng mga arkitekto at inhinyerong parte ng malaking project na ito. It is not only a meeting, it is also a celebration for the company's victory. He got a huge amount of money and reputation because of this project.

Pinilit kaming magbigay ng konting message kaya napilitan kaming magbigay ng makabagbag damdaming mensahe sa kumpanya. They bought take out from a famous restaurant. Nang matapos ang salo-salo sa conference room ay nagsi-uwian ang mga employees dahil nag-celebrate kami bago matapos ang aming shift.

"Uwi ka na? Sabay na tayo!" pangungulit ni Rosa.

"Uhm..." sinabi pa naman ni Daze susunduin niya ako ngayon araw. "Rosa kasi..."

Tinakpan niya ang bibig niya, halatang nahulaan niya ang sasabihin ko. She smiles playfully. "Susunduin ka ng boyfriend mo, ano? Akala mo di ko napapansin. Palagi kang nakangiti at nagba-blush kapag ka-chat mo siya. Sino bang nagpapasaya sa'yo?"

Napaka-chismosa talaga ng babaeng 'to pero dahil magkaibigan kami ni Rosa, aaminin ko ang relasyon namin. He's not my boyfriend though. Two months has passed already when we visited Pampanga and the announcement of my parents getting married. Our relationship continues but Daze don't touch me anymore, we're kissing and cuddling but there's no too much skin ship—it bothers me so much.

"What's wrong?" I asked after he avoided my initiation for the nth time. "May dapat ba akong malaman, Daze? You're always stopping me before we go all the way."

His Adam's apple bobbed before pulling me into a warm embrace. Napaka-weird ng mga kinikilos ni Daze simula nang makauwi kami galing Pampanga.

"Sorry, Nady." See, I confirmed it. Iniiwasan nga niya na may mangyari.

"You don't like touching me anymore?" I asked, my tears getting ready to come out.

"That's not it, my hope." He said then wiped the tears under my eyes. "I just realized that doing it with you is not right, especially since we're not in a relationship. I don't want to sway your emotions because of lust. What I want is your love. I want your heart and I'll make sure to get it in the correct way."

Sinabi ko noon pa na sa kanya ang puso ko. He wants to have a relationship first—maybe next week, he'll ask me to be his girlfriend. Everything will go back to normal. I already know the answer, I just want him to ask me the question.

STILL not happening. Dalawang buwan na ang nakalipas simula noong sinabi niya 'yon. Hinihintay ko na tanungin niya ako upang maging official na kami—kailangan pa ba niya akong tanungin? Naghihintay lang ako ng tamang tiyempo upang sagutin siya. The project was finished successfully, I can use that to take this relationship to another level.

"Daze Kreall." I revealed.

Natahimik siya bago humalagpak sa malakas na tawa. Akala ba niya nagbibiro ako? Hindi ba kapani-paniwala na magkakaroon kami ng something ng isang Daze Kreall?