Chased by El Lewis Vesper Esquivel

Chapter 30

"Dinner?"

I stopped what I was doing when I heard him beside me. Napatingin ako sa kanya ng tuluyan.

Unti-unti ay tumango ako, then he started closing his laptop too.

"I'm gonna have my dinner too." He naturally stated while cleaning his table.

Okay...I gathered all my things and stood up. Hindi ko na siya binalingan pero kaagad kong naramdaman ang presensya niya sa aking likod.

I was even quite taken aback when he opened the glass door for me.

"Thank you." Mahina kong pasasalamat. Bigla-bigla akong nakaramdam ng hiya.

I walked first and still, his presence is so evident behind because I could just feel his intense stare at my back, bigla tuloy akong napaayos ng lakad at tayo.

Mag tatake out na lang ako at kakain na ako sa villa. I chose a table near the entrance and I thought he would choose a different table when he boldly sat right in front of me.

Then he started browsing the menu as if I wasn't right in front of him. Napaawang ang mga labi ko habang pinagmamasdan siya. This is still fine right?

"Good eve, Ma'am, Sir! What's your order po?"

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa menu na nasa harapan ko at kaagad ko itong binuklat.

"I'll have garlic butter steak bites and red wine." He then started ordering his food.

I continued browsing the pages when I found mine. His phone then started ringing and so I looked at him. He was hesitant to answer it but eventually he looked at me.

"I'll just answer this." Then he walked out of the resto. Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako, mas mabuti na rin para mas makahinga naman ako ng maluwag. His presence is suffocating me.

"Ummm...I'll have ceasar salad and pan seared steak. Take out please."

"Okay Ma'am. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Muling nabalik ang tingin ko sa menu at sinarado na ito. Napabuntong hininga ako, the atmosphere is getting awkward and I could feel it on my bones.

I looked back at him and he was still on the phone, pero kaagad rin akong umiwas ng tingin ng mapatingin siya sa banda ko.

My cheeks suddenly heated up kaya naman pagtalikod ko ay kaagad kong pinaypayan ang sarili ko. I don't think I'm gonna be able to survive interacting with him the next time. 

"Sorry for that." Kaagad niyang sambit pagkabalik nito sa kanyang upuan.

I nodded at him even though he didn't need to say sorry.

I saw the waiter start making his way towards us and saw the paper bag of my order while the other waiter had El's order in a tray.

"Here is your order, Ma'am, and here is yours, Sir."

Kaagad kong kinuha ang akin at binigay ang card ko. I paid for mine at kaagad rin itong nabalik sa akin, pagkatapos ay umalis na ang dalawang waiters.

I looked at him as he eyed the paperbag in the table with furrowed brows, dali-dali ko naman itong kinuha at tumayo na.

"Mauna na ako." Paalam ko.

He remained looking at the paper bag that I was holding, then he suddenly let out small curses to himself.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "May problema ba?"

I saw his eyes sharpen as he looked up to me, pero maya-maya pa ay napabuntong hininga siya.

"Nothing...have a good night." He sounded so disappointed with something.

Tumango muli ako. "Have a good night too."