Chase Me, Ara Portia (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

10:

Inayos ko lang naman ang sarili ko bago nagbalik sa upuan. The normal conversations flowed when I came back. Just like what Ara have said, she really did come for the business. Parang hindi niya ako kilala habang lahat ng mga posibleng butas at problema sa proposed business partnership ni Luhan ay binubusisi niya. Sa tantiya ko nga rin ay kung hindi sanay na magpresent si Luhan at kung walang nakukuhang suporta sa akin ay tataob na ito nang tuluyan kay Ara.

She's a damn fierce businesswoman.

Time passed by so soon. Natapos ang usapan as we sealed the deal. Nagkapirmahan na. We four are now officially business partners. The final and more clear agenda of what we have talked and recommended will be sent by Luhan himself to us via email. Iaayos niya lang at hihintayin na lang namin iyon. After that, ayos na ayos na. We will take on the project as soon as we finalize the partnership.

"So, Mr. Valenzuela now that we're done in here, would you like to go out with me?" Mayamaya ay si Lilac. Her looks gave me the obvious intentions. "You do not have anything to do after this right?"

"Yes, baby?" Si Ara.

May kausap na maman siya sa cellphone at balik na naman ang ngiti niyang hindi matawaran. Halatang gustong-gusto niyang kausap ang kausap niya ngayon.

Who is that anyway?

"Oo. I promised you that date, didn't I? You know I take my words seriously. No. Tapos na ako. Wait for me na lang. You do not need to come here."

"Kurt?" Basag ni Lilac sa akin. "Are you still with me?"

"Ha? I mean yes. Saan ba?"

I tried not to sound confused and distracted lalo na at nasa harapan ako ni Ara at ni Luhan. Ayaw ko namang pagkamalan ako ni Luhan na naiinis or whatever the wrong thoughts he has inside his mind dahil alam kong nabasa na niya ang tensyon sa pagitan namin ni Ara. One hundred percent sure akong alam niyang kilala ko personally si Ara.

"If it's okay with you, sa condo ko."

Straightforward.

Sinipa ako ni Luhan muli sa paa. I got his warning and his sign. Hindi dahil sa natutuwa siya sa sinabi ni Lilac but the fact na nag-uumpisa nang umalis si Ara. She's still talking over to the other line and just signed us na kailangan na niyang umalis. She even gave Lilac a peck on her cheeks as she waved goodbye.

"No. You should not go here, baby. I'm going to text you na lang kung saan ako pupunta. A nearby coffee shop is fine, right?" She chuckled as she walked. "Sige, sige. See you!"

Hindi man lang ito nagpaalam sa akin. Yes, she signed me that she's going out but it's the same sign as what she did to Luhan. I should feel nothing by that though. But why is that making me so damn annoyed? Wala pa rin akong ideya kung sino ang kausap nito at tinatawag niyang baby. The way she's smiling annoyed me even more. She always does that in front of me and now I discovered she can smile like that with just even talking over with a damn machine makes me damn mad.

 

Should I be worried that maybe I'm already falling with her? That I want her attention all to myself?