The Scent of You [Under Revision]

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 18

Echarri pulls Rosie to a file storage room where papers are everywhere in four corners of the room. He frees her after making sure the door is locked.

"Bakit tayo narito, Sir? At bakit tayo nagtatago?" Naguguluhan si Rosie sa inaasta ng kaniyang amo. "Ayaw mo 'ko sumama kay Hudson, pero bakit? Ano'ng rason?"

Dalawang kamay ang nakahawak sa batok ni Echarri, hindi niya alam ang isasagot sa mga tanong na 'yon. Dahil ba siya lang dapat ang gusto ni Rosie? Ngunit mayroon ba siyang karapatan gayong harap-harapan niyang inayawan ang dalaga?

The anger of Rosie suddenly boiled up in him because of his extreme silence. Hinatak-hatak siya nito pagkatapos mananahimik lang? Ano kaya 'yon?

She exhales and holds the doorknob. "Maiwan ko na po kayong mag isa." Pinihit nito ang pinto kaso ayaw bumukas no'n kahit anong lakas ng kaniyang pihit.

Maski si Echarri ay sumubok din ngunit bigo. Luck is not in their favor; they were trapped inside the 'cannot be easily noticed' room.

They check their phones— no service. They're doomed.

"Bakit mo pa kasi ako hinila rito kung wala ka rin naman sasabihin? Tingnan mo tuloy ang nangyari!" Nawala ang pagiging pormal ni Rosie sa amo.

She's done with him.

However, Echarri finds it amusing, his secretary's informal voice. No 'po' and no 'Sir'. It makes him smile instead of feeling disrespected.

"I need to hear more of that," he said, thrilled.

"More of what?" Hindi matapos tapos na angil ni Rosie rito.

He chuckles, "more of you talking informally to me." Seeing her disappointed frowned face is new to him. Nasanay kasi siya na palaging nakangiti si Rosie.

She rolls her eye unconsciously. Echarri sees it, so he playfully pinches her nose when Rosie least expects it.

Napatitig ang dalaga sa kaniyang amo na hindi yata alam ang ibig sabihin ng ginagawa. Humakbang siya palayo.

Kailangan ng distansya kung ayaw ni Rosie ng disgrasya. Ngayon pa na nasa wisyo si Echarri at hindi lasing.

At aba nga naman, humakbang palapit ang binata sa kaniyang tabi. Mapanukso pa nitong kinulong sa isang sulok ang dalaga na napasandal tuloy sa pader.

It was supposed to be a joke for Echarri. However, with them so near, he finds himself admiring the beauty of Rosie. She is extra beautiful today for her own sake.

He tucks the hair blinding her eyes behind her ear. "Guess what?" he asked with romantic eyes and a romantic voice. "Kissing you right now is the only thing I can think of," he blurted out.

Parang nahulog sa bangin sa gulat si Rosie. Pinagtitripan ba siya nito? Matapos nitong pandirian ang halik ng dalaga?

Kumalma si Rosie kahit sobrang hirap, kahit kulang na lang sumabog ang kaniyang puso sa lakas ng kabog no'n. She remained impassive.

"Kiss? Kiskis mo sa pader," sarkastikong bigkas nito at tinulak ang amo palayo.

"I'm deadass about kissing you... at least I notified you." Echarri holds her pushing hand and deadass kisses her.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Rosie nang dumampi ang labi ng amo sa kaniyang labi. She should be happy; he's willfully kissing her for crying out loud. She is being kissed out of the shadow.

It's the moment she has been dreaming about for years.

But she pushes him away, as strong as she could. Now that she finally realizes her worth, hindi niya p'wedeng hayaan ulit ang sarili na maging other woman kanino man.