ROOM 38 (GxG) | ONGOING

~•Chapter 27•~

IT’S already 10 PM when I checked the time since the wedding started at exactly 2 PM earlier.

I enjoyed being here which caused me to forget about the time.

Tumayo ako at saka isinabit sa balikat ang white hobo bag na dala ko. Sabay akong nilingon nina Aris at Amalia kaya tipid ko silang nginitian.

“It’s already 10 PM, I should go home now, magdri-drive pa ‘ko.” pagpapaalam ko.

“Why won’t you just finish the event? It will be ended by 11, though.” suhestiyon ni Amalia.

I shook my head. “I still have work tomorrow,”

“Then, at least inform your boss that you’ll be late tomorrow.” suhestiyon naman ni Aris.

“You can stay at my condo unit, though. It’s already late and it’s dangerous for you to drive at this hour.” si Amalia.

“I can’t. Wala akong dalang damit at hindi ko rin naman dala ang uniform ko.” tugon ko sa kaniyang suhestiyon.

Amalia pouted. “Well, then, if that’s the case, at least inform us when you get home safely. Okay?”

I nodded while smiling.

“Alright. Mag-iingat kayo pauwi, kayo na ang bahala magsabi kay Ciela and message ko na lang din siya mamaya.”

“Okay! Mag-iingat ka rin lalo na sa pag-drive.” saad ni Amalia.

“You sure you can drive home safely?” wika naman ni Aris na may halong pag-aalangan.

“Of course. Is… there any problem?”

Aris sighed. “I… can drive you home, only if you want to.” kibit-balikat niyang sabi.

Her words did not register in my head immediately.

How can she talk to me so casually like this? Like, there’s nothing that happened years ago.

Hindi pa nga ako nakaka-recover mula sa pagkagulat ko nang makita ko siya ulit tapos ngayon dadagdag na naman ang mga katanungan sa isip ko.

I stood up straight and slightly tilted my chin up.

“Thank you, but I can handle it myself,” bumuwelo na ‘ko paalis at ngumiti sa kanilang dalawa. “Mauna na ‘ko, ingat kayo pauwi.” ang huling sinabi ko bago tumalikod at mabilis na naglakad palabas ng venue.

Lakad-takbo akong nagtungo sa kotse ko at dali-dali ring pumasok. Inilapag ko sa passenger’s seat ang bag ko at saka ako napadukmo sa steering wheel.

Napabuntonghininga ako at hinawakan ang dibdib kong malakas ang kabog.

Nang mahimasmasan ay binuksan ko na rin agad ang makina ng kotse at pagkatapos ay nagmaneho na pabalik sa amin.

***

DAYS has passed, mas maaga akong gumising ngayon dahil hindi ako pwedeng ma-late. Miss L will be conducting a meeting at exactly 8 AM para sa gagawing interior designing, so technically, Aris is also included in this meeting along with the executive department and stakeholders.