At Last, Him

Chapter 14: Surprise

The studio was buzzing with the kind of energy that made work feel like play. I was at my desk, finally engrossed in something manageable: our new residential project. Sobrang laking ginhawa na lang na hindi muna ako kailangan on-site, lalo na't may propped-up ankle ako under my desk.

Lunchtime rolled around, and I was having fun with Apinya and Ar. Marco, laughing about something silly, nang may marinig akong pamilyar na boses.

"Shan!"

Lumingon ako agad, and there he was—Cam! Hindi ako makapaniwala. In seconds, he was crossing the studio and wrapping me up in a hug. I laughed, the shock turning quickly into happiness, and hugged him back tightly, completely caught off guard.

"Cam! You didn't tell me you were coming!" sabi ko, humihiwalay na may malaking ngiti. "I thought you were still busy back home."

"Yeah, I wanted to surprise you. So, kung sinabi ko sa 'yo 'yong surprise, hindi na 'yon surprise," pamimilosopo niya. Kahit kailan talaga 'tong lalaking 'to.

I was about to tell him about my project, eager to catch up, when my eyes shifted over his shoulder. There, by the door, was East, lunch bag in hand, looking as though he'd just walked in on something he wasn't supposed to see. He didn't make any move to come closer, his gaze fixed on me and Cam.

I pulled back from Cam, and for a second, the joy I'd felt was tinged with something else. Guilt, maybe? Sinubukan kong makuha ang atensyon ni East, pero umiwas siya ng tingin, ang kanyang mukha ay hindi mabasa habang nag-aalangan siya sa pintuan.

"Saglit lang, Cam," I told Cam, giving him an apologetic smile. He nodded, probably sensing that something had shifted.

I walked over to East, who was still hovering by the entrance. "Hey," I said softly, noticing his grip tighten on the bag he was holding.

"Hey," he said, a hint of a smile forming on his lips, though his eyes betrayed him. "I, uh... I brought you lunch."

"Thank you. That was... really thoughtful." I reached out, hoping he'd hand it over. But instead, he hesitated, his gaze drifting back to where Cam was still waiting at my desk.

"Kaibigan mo?" tanong niya, sinisikap na magmukhang kaswal, pero may pahiwatig sa tono niya.

"Yeah, Cam. He surprised me—flew all the way out here just to visit," I replied, feeling an odd need to explain myself.

Tumango si East nang dahan-dahan. "Looks like you were happy to see him."

Sinubukan kong basahin ang ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha, pero nailipat na niya ang tingin sa sahig. "I was," I admitted softly, though I wanted to add, but I didn't know you were coming either, East.

There was a pause, the silence feeling heavier than it should. Finally, East handed me the lunch bag, his hand lingering just a little too long as he passed it over.

"Well, enjoy lunch," he said, his voice tight. "I'll... let you get back to your friend."

My chest felt tight, and I found myself reaching out before I could think twice. "East... wait."

He stopped, glancing back at me, his expression guarded.

I took a breath, trying to bridge the gap that had suddenly appeared between us. "Thank you for this. Really. It means a lot."

Sa isang sandali, akala ko nakita ko ang isang kisap ng kung ano—marahil ginhawa, marahil init—sa kanyang mga mata. Ngunit tumango lang siya, ang kanyang tingin ay muling lumipat kay Cam bago siya nag-alok ng maliit, magalang na ngiti.