Under The City Lights Of Chicago

Chapter 31

Nag aalinlangan pa ako kung ibibigay ko ba iyong pera niya pabalik o hindi na lang? Para din naman iyon sa anak niya. Pero Nakakahiya naman kung hindi ko ibibigay.

"Zaiden!" I called him. Hindi sa kalayuan ng makita ko siya na nakahilig sa pader malapit sa isang private room.

Mabilis siyang napabaling sakin. At tumayo ng tuwid.

I sighed. "I'm going to give you back the cash, you can have those pastries free."

Hindi siya nagsalita at tinitigan lang ako. I saw how he clenched his jaw while looking at me. Pero hindi ko pa nga nabibigay when Ryle came to picture. He looked at me and Zaiden like he couldn't believe nag kita kami ng ganito kalapit!

Zaiden just looked at me. "Let's just see each other, later."

'Yon lang ang sinabi niya bago ako tinalikuran at sumama na sa kaibigan! Hindi na ako umimik pa dahil alam kong busy 'yon.

"Lunch tayo? Hahatid ko lang 'to sa Pharmacy." Cha said while holding a tray of medicines.

I nod. "Sige. Timing na din siguro na patapos na si Ken sa rounds niya."

I was in the middle of my charting when suddenly the telephone rang. Mabilis ko iyon binalingan, but my workmate gestured me na siya na kang daw sasagot. Kaya tumango ako.

Tatapusin ko na lang tong iba para mamaya kaunti nalang iyong susulatin ko. It's already late for God's sake at hindi pa ako nakapag lunch.

"Nurse Koleen. Doc. Rodrigues is looking for you." Bumaling ang nurse sakin.

And I halted in an instant sa ginawa ko. Ramdam ko ang bilis ng pag pintig ng puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Mabilis niyang inilahad sakin iyong telepono at kinuha ko naman 'yon.

{Hello? Koleen. See me here in my office.} His manly voice greeted me before ending the call.

Mabilis kong inayos iyong sarili ko at umakyat na sa sinabing floor. When the elevator slide open hindi kalayuan nakita ko si Zaiden he's talking on some Doctors. But when he saw me he dismissed them all.

He called me ng liliko sana ako para maupo sa isang couch akala niya siguro iiwasan ko naman siya.

"Zai—"

"Let's talk about it inside." He said and made his way to his office.

I just stood in my place. Nag aalinlangan kung sasama ba ako sa kaniya o hindi. I licked my lips and gulped.

Okay Koleen. Kalma.

I saw a ghost smile on his face kahit iyong titig niya sakin ay mukhang makakapatay.

"I won't do anything. Let's talk here inside I don't want people to assume that there's something between us. Believe me it's just a kind—" Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at mabilis ng pumasok ng makitang walang tao naman ditong nakatingin.

"Here. I don't need your money. Sayo na iyong cupcake." I said as I stretched my arm to give him the money.

He just looked at me. Matagal siyang nakatitig sakin. If I din't cleared my throat. Hindi pa siya dadating sa katinuan.

"That so kind of you." He just said. Mukhang may sasabihin pa sana when his door open.

"Zai here's—" Napabaling ako. Gano'on nalang ang pag-awang ng labi ni Ryle when he saw me inside Zaiden's office.

Nakatunganga lang siya sakin. Para bang hindi makapaniwala sa nakita. Kaya ako nalang ang unang nag iwas ng tingin.

I cleared my throat. "I have to go. Excuse me."