T O R N

57

Lisa's POV

Pagkatapos ng gym session namin ni Kai, pareho kaming gutom na gutom kaya nagyaya siya na mag-almusal sa isang café malapit lang sa gym. Pagod na ako, pero hindi ko matanggihan si Kai—lalo na't bihira na kaming magkaroon ng ganitong bonding moments.

Pagdating namin sa café, umorder si Kai ng black coffee at sandwich habang ako naman ay oatmeal at smoothie.

"Lisa, okay lang ba that I invited Jennie?" casual niyang sabi habang nag-aayos ng mga gamit sa table.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Jennie? Ahm.. yeah sure?"

Hindi ko na nagawang makatanggi pa.

"Does she know I'm with you?" tanong ko.

"Nope. But I know it's fine with her. Dati naman kayong colleagues, right?" sagot niya, masiglang ngumiti.

Gusto kong magprotesta, pero paano? Kai looked so excited na makasama kami ni Jennie. Kaya napilitan akong tumango at ngumiti nang pilit.

Habang hinihintay namin siya, napuno ng casual na kwentuhan ang table namin. Kai talked about his work, travels, at kung paano niya gustong bumuo ng mas magandang future kasama si Jennie. Nakikinig lang ako, pero ang utak ko, naguguluhan.

"By the way, you and Jennie used to be colleagues right, so what kind? Never ba kayong naging close? Like medyo matagal rin kayong nagkasama diba?" he curiously asked.

Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko. Hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihing we were not just colleagues. That we were more than what he thinks we were. I cannot tell him that we used to love each other.

"We're not really close. Casual. She's masungit e"

Kai laughed. "That's so true! I remember when she first came in Prague, she's not talking to anyone. Nakikipag-usap lang yan kapag work related. Parang laging galit kasi sa mundo e" 

"Really?" tanong ko. Jennie was never like that. 

Actually, isa siya sa pinaka approachable na architect sa work. Everybody loves her, kasi aside from being a brilliant architect, she also has a lovely personality. Nalungkot ako sa narinig ko. Maybe she changed because of what happened to us.

"Buti naging close kayo?" tanong ko.

He smiled widely. "You know me naman Lisa. Kapag gusto ko ang isang babae, I will do anything para mapalapit sa kanya" 

I heaved a deep sigh. "Kai, don't get me wrong, but seryoso ka ba kay Jennie? This is a harmless question, don't get offended please" 

Ngumiti ulit siya. "I know what you're thinking. I used to be playful but that was before Lis. When I met Jennie, I know she's the one na ihaharap ko sa altar. Wala Lis, iba pala talaga kapag tinamaan ka" 

I clenched my jaw at pinilit ngumiti. Kai was serious and he was never like this to any girls she used to date before. 

Napuno kami ng katahimikan then the bell in the cafe door chimed, nakita kong pumasok si Jennie. She looked stunning as always, kahit naka-simpleng  damit lang siya. Nang makita niya kami, nag-iba ang expression ng mukha niya.

"Babe! Dito tayo!" sigaw ni Kai, sabay kaway.

"Hi," bati niya, pero halatang may awkwardness.

Tumayo si Kai at hinalikan siya sa pisngi, sabay  hila sa upuan para sa kanya. Napansin ko ang kaunting hesitation niya bago siya umupo.

"Thanks," sagot ni Jennie habang umiiwas ng tingin sa akin.

Naging napaka-awkward ng atmosphere habang kumakain kami. Kai, na oblivious sa lahat ng tension, kept the conversation alive, pero alam kong ramdam din niya na tahimik kami ni Jennie.