PARADISE OF THE DEVIL (GONCALVES 1)

Chapter 14

Jair waited until I finished my last appointment for today. I didn't want to break a sweat to figure out what he just said. I didn't want to go on my periphery to believe in his nonsense either.

"Are we leaving? Leave your car here. Let's use mine," he said as he followed me to my office.

"I can't leave my car here. I have work tomorrow," I said with a tired voice.

"Then... we will use yours."

Jair would just insist again and say something stupid to convince me. I couldn't get away from him. Also... even though I acted so distant, I wanted him to be near. I undeniably wanted to spend time with him as well. And I missed him.

The past week was hard for me knowing him in Dubai with Lilia. Fortunately, I was busy and was able to give him cold shoulders. However, I couldn't let him know how out of my mind I was.

"I will... stop by at the supermarket," I said.

"What are you going to cook?" he asked.

Grabbing my things from the table, I said, "I'll see what I can cook."

"Sure," excited na saad nya.

I clocked out and departed the studio with Jair beside me. He brought his present for me with him. Sa tingin ko ay magkakadiabetis ako sa dami ng chocolates na dala nya. I was not really fond of chocolates, so I'd share them with Joerex.

I raised a brow, turning my head to him when he put his arms around my shoulder. "You are overdoing it."

"My arms are tired," he reasoned.

"My shoulders are, too. Nagtatrabaho ako buong araw at masakit ang mga kamay ko."

"Let me see," natatarantang tanong nya sabay tanggal sa pagkakaakbay sa akin para kunin ang kamay ko.

"They were healed," I said and was about to pull away, but he kept my hand.

He held it there in his hand without saying anything until the elevator opened. I let him hold me. He clicked the ground floor with his other hand and kept me on his side like he owned me up.

Binitawan nya lang ako nang kailangan kong buksan ang sasakyan ko. Inilagay ni Jair sa likod ang mga pasalubong nya at nagpaalam na muna na may kukunin sa sasakyan nya. Pagkabalik nya ay agad syang umupo sa passenger seat na may dalang maliit na bag atsaka ibinalibag ito si backseat.

I stepped on the gas and went out of the parking. While on the highway, stuck in traffic, Jair suddenly grabbed my right hand.

"I can't drive with one hand," I said as I put my hand back on the steering wheel.

"Malayo pa ba tayo?" nababagot na tanong nya.

"Alam mo na naman ang distansya mula dito hanggang apartment."

"May supermarket ba malapit dito. Dito nalang tayo maggrocery," suhestyon nya.

"Mas lalong lalala ang traffic mamaya," paliwanag ko.

Halos isang oras kaming nasa kalsada bago nakarating sa may mall malapit sa apartment na tinutuluyan ko. Pagkababang-pagkababa ko ay agad akong sinalubong ni Jair para hawakan na naman ang kamay ko.

"Huwag ka ngang lumandi sa public. Maraming tao dito!"

"Ano naman?" nakataas ang isang kilay na tanong nya.

"Mas babae ka pa ba sa akin? Ibaba mo nga yang isang kilay mo," reklamo ko sa kanya.

"Huwag ka na ding magreklamo, Eden," aniya atsaka ako hinila papasok ng mall.