El Nido #1: His Only Muse

Chapter 38

"T-that would only cause confusion to people. Mas lalo lang sila mang uusisa kung bigla silang paaalisin. Did you even think of that?" I hissed at my phone.

"Do you care about that? I thought you just want to shop without being mobbed." Sagot niya. "Alam naman na ng mga tao na narito ka, this won't be a shock to them."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at tumayo na sa hapag. I walked to the room while talking on the phone. "It's still not a good move to do. Mang-aabala ka pa ng marami. W-what's all this fuss for ba? Why are you doing this and how did you know I need to shop–" Kusa akong natigilan nang maalala si Celine. I closed my eyes in disbelief. That woman.

"I just want to help."

"Well, this isn't helping, sir! Problema ko na ang mga kailangan kong gawin, okay? Just focus on your work and the damn issue we're tied on para makabalik na rin ako sa trabaho ko. This shopping with you is completely unnecessary." Litanya ko.

I didn't hear him talk. I can only hear his slow breathing from the line. Natahimik din ako at unti-unting ginapang ng konsensya. Huh, what's there to feel bad about?! Nagtungo ako sa kama ko at padabog na umupo. Kunot ang noo ko habang hinihintay siyang mag salita ulit.

"Hello?" tawag ko nang hindi pa rin siya sumasagot. The silence is making me anxious.

"Yes," he answered. "I'm sorry, I started it the wrong way. I just wanted to meet you so we could talk about the investigation. I didn't want it to sound serious, so I asked if you wanna go shopping first. I heard from Celine you're struggling with that. Are you mad?"

Kaagad na nawala ang kunot sa noo ko. Napalitan iyon ng bahagyang pagkaawang ng labi ko. His voice is the most baritone and low I've ever heard on phone, but why does he sound so soft? Napalunok ako.

"W-well.." I caught myself stuttering so I stopped and cleared my throat first. "Uhm, you should've.. said that sooner." Mahinang ani ko. "We can just talk in your office again. It will only take me an hour to prepare."

"How about the shopping?" isinginit na naman niya.

"You really don't have to rent the mall. I'll figure it out myself after we've talked." Sagot ko.

I heard him take a heavy breath, and as if on cue, I did the same.

"Okay, susunduin na lang kita diyan." Napapikit ako sa kulit niya. Tatanggi pa sana ako nang bigla siyang magsalita ulit. "You don't have a car here, commuting would be hell. I'll just wait in your lobby. See you."