Forever Trapped

Chapter 17

"What time will you go home?"

Kung hindi ko pa titingnan ang orasan, I wouldn't know that it's already 9. Dapat nga ay kanina pa ako uuwi but it seems like everyone but me already left. Oh, there's Kathea too but she always stays late these days. Hindi ko nga alam kung umuuwi pa ba siya o ano but it's her business, figuratively and literally.

"Ngayon na. I'm actually fixing my things already then magpapa-alam lang ako kay Kath sandali," I told him.

"Okay. Susunduin kita."

"What?" Napahinto ako sa biglaang offer niya. "Phoenix, telling you I'm leaving doesn't mean I'm asking you to get me."

"I know. I'm the one telling you I'll go there." Kakaiba talaga sumagot ang bunganga nito. He can be shameless sometimes, just like now. Hindi ko pa kasi nakukuha ang sasakyan ko and he really took it as an opportunity to drive me home. Oh, I wasn't assuming at all. I did at first but he made his intentions clear-to eat dinner with me. It wasn't even flirting. He really just said he wants to eat with me.

Though I'm really looking forward to the after-dinner festivities.

"Will I lose in this conversation?" I just asked because sometimes, I'd let him win but most of the time, hindi din talaga siya nagpapatalo.

Surprisingly, even with the short time we've spent together, I think he already knows so much about me. He teases me when he can and he really knows when to stop. Pati mood ko ay basa na niya. Lagi na lang akong sinusuyo ng lokong ito.

"Sorry, but I won't let you win this time. Just give this win gracefully to me." I can already imagine him with pleading eyes. Being cute does not suit him at all but he knows how to work his charm. Besides, makukuha ko na din naman ang sasakyan ko bukas. "Please?"

"Whatever."

I heard him laugh on the other line but he stopped then I heard him talk to someone. Hindi ko maintindihan but they talked about some event. I tried not to eavesdrop too much and focused on cleaning my desk. Baka isipin niya, interesado ako masyado sa buhay niya. Well...

"Sorry, my secretary."

"It's okay. So, I'll expect you within thirty minutes?"

"Make that fifteen."

Is he kidding? Paglalakad pa nga lang papunta ng sasakyan, five minutes na. "Are you planning to kill yourself, asshole?"

"I just don't like making Miss Aguirre wait."

"Save the flirting for later, Mr. Figueroa."

"Will you go to Cynthia's party?"

I ended up going with him sa unit niya since it was closer to the Italian restaurant we had dinner in. I was really hungry and I wanted to taste some food I'd never had before so I let him decide. Since nakuha ko na ang sasakyan ko, we can finally eat somewhere farther than where we usually eat. Halos magsawa na kasi ako sa delivery at doon sa kinakainan nami malapit sa condo ko.

"Your cousin will kill me if I won't." I was putting on my pants and Phoenix's eyes are locked on me, specifically in my chest area. I glared at him, "Don't."

"What? I'm not doing anything."

Kailangan ko ng energy para sa special project na tinutukoy ni Kath and something about Phoenix's eyes is telling me to not save energy.

"Ewan ko sa iyo," I threw him his shirt. Surprisingly, for someone who wants to be naked and undress someone, Phoenix sleeps with his shirt and boxers on. Ewan, ang cute lang.

"Sabay na tayo," I raised my eyebrows at what he said. "To the party, I mean."

Going there with him would mean letting my friends know about me and Phoenix. I'm very clear about my intentions. Hindi ko nga lang alam paano iyon sasabihin sa mga kaibigan ko. I know Cynthia pushes me to go all-in but I don't want it. I'm good with this arrangement.