Whisper of the Heart

Chapter 7

Wyatt had been restless for days, unable to shake the uncomfortable feeling that Chloe was changing right before his eyes. Her recent wardrobe choices caught him off guard—fitted blouses, skirts that hugged her curves, and tops that showed just a hint more skin than usual. It wasn't that he thought she looked bad. Far from it. He knew Chloe was attractive, but lately, the way people in the office had been looking at her was getting to him. Some admired her openly, but others, well, let's just say their stares felt less like compliments and more like undressing her with their eyes. And Wyatt hated it.

Evan was the perfect example. He'd barely noticed Chloe before, but suddenly, Evan was all smiles and winks whenever she was around. Wyatt knew Evan's type, and Chloe wasn't meant to be just a passing interest. She deserved better than being ogled at by guys like him.

He kept asking himself: why the sudden change? Was she trying to get someone's attention? The thought nagged at him. Had Chloe's feelings changed? Did she... have feelings for him? Wyatt quickly brushed it off, why would she? He'd never given her any reason to see him as anything more than a friend. It didn't make sense. And yet, here he was, irritated at the thought of any other guy in the office looking at her like that.

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Ngunit sa totoo lang, mas gusto niya yung dating Chloe. 'Yung Chloe na hindi kailangang pag-usapan sa opisina, yung Chloe na tahimik lang at hindi ang pinagtitinginan ng iba.

Finally, unable to ignore it any longer, Wyatt called Chloe into his office. She walked in with her usual bright smile, clutching her tablet, looking as professional as always, but he couldn't help but notice the way her skirt hugged her waist.

"Chlo," Wyatt began, trying to sound casual, pero seryoso ang ekspresyon niya. "Gusto ko lang sanang pag-usapan natin ang tungkol sa mga suot mo... recently."

Chloe's smile faded a bit, pero sinubukan pa rin niyang itago ang kirot na naramdaman niya. "Oh?" she asked, keeping her voice light kahit pa nagsisimula nang bumigat ang dibdib niya.

"Yeah, it's just, hindi naman sa hindi ka maganda," Wyatt said awkwardly, clearly trying to find the right words. "You look... you look great, but... baka lang kasi hindi na bagay sa office environment," he continued, scratching his neck. "I mean, mas gusto ko siguro 'yung dati mong style. Parang... mas ikaw 'yun."

Parang sinabuyan ng malamig na tubig si Chloe. Mas gusto ni Wyatt ang dati niyang style? Hindi ba niya nakikita na ito nga ang paraan niya para ipakita na isa siyang babae, hindi lang ang best friend niya or "one of the guys"? Kumuha siya ng lakas para ngumiti, kahit ramdam na ramdam niya ang pagkirot ng puso niya. For a second, her eyes showed the pain, but she laughed lightly, masking it.

"Ah, so... ayaw mo pala," she said, trying to joke, kahit pa nasasaktan na siya. Nahalata ni Wyatt ang lungkot sa mata niya, even if only for a split second, but Chloe was quick to hide it.

"It's just..." Wyatt sighed, frustrated. "Ayoko lang na maging uncomfortable ka, Chlo. Alam mo naman 'tong mga lalaki dito, 'di ba? Hindi lahat marunong rumespeto. Ayokong... ayokong tingnan ka nila ng gan'yan."

Chloe nodded, trying her best to maintain a cheerful expression, kahit na parang tinapakan ang puso niya. "No problem, Wyatt! Excuse me,  marami pa akong trabaho natatapusin," she said, plastering on a smile bago siya tumalikod at naglakad palabas ng office. Hindi niya inisip na ganoon kabigat ang mararamdaman niya. Parang unti-unti siyang nawawala sa paningin ni Wyatt habang pinipilit niyang ilapit ang sarili.

As soon as she reached her desk, Chloe took a deep breath, hoping to compose herself. "One day," she whispered to herself. "One day, Wyatt... you'll see me."

Later that day, Wyatt found himself thinking about his conversation with Chloe, trying to justify his irritation, pero ang totoo, naguguluhan siya. Napansin niyang naging mas atensyonado ang mga tao kay Chloe, lalo na si Evan, na minsang sinubukang magtanong tungkol sa kanya. Evan had started making casual remarks, teasing Wyatt about his "sexy assistant," and Wyatt couldn't shake off the strange irritation he felt. Bakit nga ba siya affected?

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Ngunit sa totoo lang, mas gusto niya yung dating Chloe. 'Yung Chloe na hindi kailangang pag-usapan sa opisina, yung Chloe na tahimik lang at hindi ang pinagtitinginan ng iba.

Habang nakaupo sa mesa niya, Chloe was trying her best to focus, pero patuloy na sumasagi sa isip niya ang mga sinabi ni Wyatt kanina. Ayaw daw niya ang mga bagong damit ni Chloe, gusto niya yung dating Chloe, yung hindi kailanman naging dahilan ng mga tingin o usapan ng ibang tao sa opisina. 'Yung Chloe na "kaibigan lang," na palaging nandiyan lang sa tabi niya. Pakiramdam ni Chloe, kahit anong effort ang gawin niya para makita siya ni Wyatt bilang isang babae, tila lagi siyang nababaliwala. She could never be more than just the friend. Someone to lean on, yes, pero never someone to love.

Bakit nga ba gano'n? Inisip niya si Ava, si Ava na palaging naka-revealing clothes, isang confident, unapologetic woman. Si Ava na madalas naka-dress o blouse na may mababang neckline, at si Wyatt? Tanggap lang niya. Walang kahit anong reklamo, walang pagtutol. Si Ava na sinasabihan niyang maganda siya sa kahit anong suot, kahit pa mas daring pa. Pero bakit sa kanya? Bakit sa kanya, na halos konting confidence lang ang nahanap niya sa mga bagong damit na suot, bigla siyang pinagsasabihan?

Masakit. Pakiramdam ni Chloe ay hindi lang siya basta kaibigan para kay Wyatt—parang may harang na hindi niya matagos, kahit anong effort pa ang gawin niya. Naiinis siya sa sarili niya, na kahit anong effort ang gawin para maging katulad ni Ava, lagi siyang masusuklian ng pagdedma at malamig na pagtutol mula kay Wyatt.

"Bakit siya pwede, tapos ako... bawal?" she whispered, eyes misting over as she looked down at her desk. Hindi niya mapigilan ang sakit na bumabalot sa puso niya. Sinubukan niyang gayahin ang confidence ni Ava, subukang ipakita kay Wyatt na isa siyang babae, pero parang hindi pa rin siya sapat.

Napayuko siya, pilit na itinatago ang kirot na sumisiksik sa dibdib niya. "Bakit si Ava pwede niyang mahalin ng ganon, tapos ako hindi man lang makita bilang babae?" She let out a shaky breath, trying to compose herself. Pero kahit anong gawin niya, naiiyak pa rin siya sa isipin. Parang hindi siya nababagay sa mundo ni Wyatt, kahit pa sobrang gusto niyang maging parte nito.

Kahit gaano pa katagal, she wondered if she would ever be enough for him.

**********************Please don't forget to vote, comment and share*********************