Fidelity

61st

Let him in

"She's already with someone.. and even if she's not, nothing could ever happen between us. She's not my type,"

I went from being confused to why he's telling me all these to being completely curious. Might as well enjoy the gossip while he's being generous with it. Napanguso ako.

"How could she not be your type?" I crossed my arms and inquisitively raised my brow. "Everyone knows that you've always had the biggest crush on her,"

Natigilan siya at tila hindi inaasahang marinig iyon sa akin.

"That's ancient history. I only have one type now and she's not it. Not Adea, not anyone else. My preference has been consistent ever since I found my type.. My real type.." he looked away when our gazes met. "And it's never gonna change.."

Unti-unting kumalas ang pagkakakrus ng braso ko nang mapagtantong masyado siyang seryoso. He really took my question seriously! Where's the fun in that?

Naputol doon ang usapan namin nang lumabas si Elcid para tawagin kami. Magbibigay na raw ng message sa bagong kasal.

Davion and I didn't talk about what happened again even when he offered to give me a ride home. Nabanggit niya ring muli ang tungkol sa vegan car interiors na available na for display sa workplace niya. Muling nabuhay ang interes ko doon nang imbitahan niya kong tignan ang mga sample sa libreng oras ko.

Kaya naman naisipan kong pumunta sa location nila sa araw na hindi ko kailangang pumunta sa opisina namin para magtrabaho. I brought my car so I could also have it checked for compatibility. Hindi ko na rin sinabi kay Davion na ngayon ang punta ko. Sabi niya naman ay pwede akong pumunta kahit kailan ko gusto.

"I'm here for Davion.." wika ko sa staff na bumati at sumalubong sa akin mula sa Admin Building kung saan ako tinuro ng guard.

"Naku nasa warehouse po Ma'am.." tukoy niya sa mistulang planta sa likod ng Main Building kung nasaan kami. "Upo po muna kayo, Ma'am, tatawagin ko lang po si Sir.."

"It's fine.. I'll go with you.." suhestiyon ko.

The aerial view of the warehouse is probably in the shape of U. May bukod na daanan para sa kaliwa, kanan, at gitnang bahagi. The staff brought me to the left wing.

Abala ang mga laborers pagpasok namin. I halted on my step, not wanting to cause any disruption in their work if I come any closer. Ang kasama kong staff ay dumiretso sa isa sa mga sasakyang tila work-in-progress. Mayroong isang abala sa nakabukas na hood, isa sa interior, at isa sa ilalim.

The platform with wheels which the one beneath the car was lying on rolled out. Napanganga ako nang makita ang pagbangon ni Davion mula roon.

His eyes immediately found mine. Nilagay niya ang hawak na gamit sa toolbox bago tumayo. Nilapitan niya ang lalaking nasa harap ng hood at may sinabi rito bago nagtungo sakin.

Napakurap ako habang papalapit siya. He looks so madungis with all those black marks on his arms and even on his face but I couldn't keep my eyes off of him.

"Can you wait for me in my office? I'll just clean up for a bit," was what he told me.

It was my first time seeing him in his element, this element. I've seen him bake and that's one thing, but this is like another dimension— a whole new other. All I could do was nod at him.

Malinis na siya nang balikan ako at dalhin sa showroom. Ni hindi ko na nagalaw ang sinerve na snacks ng assistant niyang si Erol dahil hindi naman siya nagtagal sa paglilinis. They showed me all the leather-free interiors and I couldn't shut up about how hip they all are!

Nahirapan akong pumili ng isa lang kaya't nanghingi na rin ng opinyon nila sa kung ano ang babagay sa sasakyan ko. Nagulat pa ko nang ipaiwan na ang sasakyan ko para agad na raw masimulan. I do have another car at home but it's a van so it's not like I can use it for my day-to-day activities!

Iyon ang sinabi ko kay Davion nang mapag-isa kaming dalawa.

"I'll be driving you to your errands everyday habang nandito ang sasakyan mo," aniya na parang wala lang.

Nalaglag ang panga ko. I told him I don't want to inconvenience him and that I can manage taking cabs until they finish customizing my car.

"You're our client so it's fine.." aniya. "Just think of it as part of our services,"

"Ganun ba 'yon? Hindi ba kayo lugi diyan?"

"No..." he said as if he was thinking of something. "You're the.. pioneer customer for the vegan interior so you get special treatment,"

"Pioneer customer? Is that even a thing?" naguguluhang tanong ko. "May ganun ba?"

Palagay ko'y pinagtitripan niya na lang ako kaya't mas lalo akong nagduda. Panay naman ang pagja-justify niya roon hanggang sa paghatid niya sakin pauwi. I get that he was just trying to be nice and I appreciate that. But I feel like I'm always on the receiving end.

Habang nagtatanggal ng seatbelt ay naalala ko ang black pepper tofu recipe na sinubukan ko kaninang umaga. I cooked a lot more than what I can eat but couldn't share it to anyone in the neighborhood who's vegan.

Davion looks pretty surprised when I asked him if he would like some but he was even more surprised when I offered to let him in while I pack it. Kaysa naman kasi tumunganga lang siya sa sasakyan! Alangan namang pag-hintayin ko lang siya sa labas na parang delivery guy na nag-aabang sa customer habang kumukuha ng pambayad!

"Naparami kasi ang luto ko kanina kaya may sobra pa.." wika ko habang kumukuha ng tupperware sa cupboard. "Masasayang lang din kasi kung walang ibang kakain."

I started putting a generous amount of the dish into the container. Si Davion ay nakatayo sa harap ko at nanonood na para bang may kamasid-masid sa ginagawa ko. I expected him to roam around while I do this but he's watching and standing there like I'm doing something worthwhile!

His gaze is starting to get the best of me hence the crease that was forming on my forehead. Nanigas ako nang maramdaman ang paglapat ng kamay niya sa buhok ko at ang maingat na paglipat niya nito mula sa harap ng balikat ko papunta sa likod.

He looks pretty stunned too, when he realized what he just did.

"T-they were getting into the food.. I'm sorry.." he quickly reasoned out as his ears turned into a shade of red.