PARADISE OF THE DEVIL (GONCALVES 1)

Chapter 5

I looked up at my wall clock to check the time. It was almost 8 pm and almost everyone now had left. Mag-oovertime din ngayon si Clover kaya ay may kasama ako until 10 pm. I had to do the final touch on the finished long gown for the debutant.

I still had two weeks before it was next month, but we had other dresses to make. Hindi ko naman minamadali ang paggawa ng gown, gusto ko lang na may finish product na maipapakita, kung sakaling may request sila ay magagawa agad.

This was not really like a major project, but I wanted it done well. It was a special day, and it was supposed to be unforgettable for my patron. Malapit na namang matapos ang second at third dress pero para sa akin ay ang tagal pa talaga.

Naglalagay ako ng accesories sa long gown nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok doon si Jair. Sinulyapan ko lang sya at agad ibinalik ang tingin sa ginagawa. Naalala ko, nasabi nga nyang babalik sya.

"Let's eat," aniya.

"Busy ako," sagot ko.

"Dito lang tayo kakain. May dala ako at nasa office mo na."

Tumigil ako sa ginagawa at humarap sa kanya. "Kung saan-saan mo na naman nilalagay. Maraming gamit sa office ko."

Napaisip sya at napakamot sa ulo. "A sec."

Nagtaka ako sa inakto nya kaya ay mabilis ko syang sinundan. Masama ang kutob ko. Ano na naman kaya ang ginawa nya? Wala na talagang magandang nagawa itong si Jair. Ang galing gumawa ng gulo.

"What is it?" bungad na tanong ko sa kanya pagkasunod ko sakanya sa loob ng office.

"I forgot. The water from the ice was already leaking on my way here," he said in a concerned tone.

"Why did you forget?" naiinis na tanong ko sabaya lapit sa kanya.

"I was excited to see you," he reasoned.

Napatingin ako sa kanya ng ilang sandali bago ko binalingan ang dala nya na binasa ang papel at fabric sample ko sa lamesa. Hindi nalang ako nagsalita at hinablot ang isang plastic sa kamay nya. Inilabas ko ito at inilapag sa may front desk.

Hindi sumunod si Jair sa akin at nanatili lang na nakatayo sa tabi ng lamesa ko. Wala syang ginawa, naghihintay lang na magsalita ko. Hindi ko sya inimik at kumuha ng rug sa ilalim na drawer ng lamesa ko at pinunasan ang basang lamesa.

After a while, he said, "Sorry."

"It's done," tanging sagot ko sabay kuha ng mga nabasa. I went to the next room to hang them to dry.

"I'll help."

Pinabayaan ko syang tulungan ako sa pagcclip ng mga papel at tela. Hindi ko nalang din pinansin ang paminsan-minsang sulyap nya sa akin. I was on the last paper when Jair stepped closer to me. Mabilis akong napaatras para panatilihin ang distansya namin.

Napaigting ako nang maramdaman ang paggapang ng kamay nya sa baywang ko. Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang masamang tingin ko sa kanya.

Hindi sya nagpatinag at patuloy na hinapit ako sabay tinitigan ng marahan. "I'm sorry."

"Just keep your distance away from me," mariing sabi ko.

"I don't want to," he whispered.

I smacked his chest with my fist. I didn't know why I couldn't take myself away from his hold. I felt like the moment he touched me, I was anchored. Or was it because of his addictive manly scent? Or maybe because he was too giant compared to me his presence was caging me?

He swept his hand up to the base of my boobs as he dipped his head closer.

I formed my fist again and took a deep breath. Before I could lift my foot to take a step backward, the door blasted open. There I saw Clover. Jair voluntarily stepped back when he noticed how flushed I was. No one had caught us so intimate, until now. Wala naman kaming ginawa ngayon pero kinabahan pa din ako.