Austen-Henderson Series 5: ENCHANTED BY MR. DEAN

EBMD 24

FB: Tinea Garcia

EBMD 24

"You okay?" I saw Ruie when I turned my head at my side.

Tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya. I offered the seat beside me. Mag-isa lamang akong nagmeryenda dito sa canteen. Zol and Dindin attended a meeting, while it took me almost two hours assisting those agencies conducting a job fair.

Nagkibit balikat lamang ako. I sipped on my smoothie. Tinanaw ko ang mga estudyanteng dumaraan sa labas ng canteen.

I wonder why Tiago Lance would always shift the topic when I'm inquiring about his family, or about Mirabella. May dapat ba akong malaman? He doesn't want to talk about it.

He really seems so off lately.

"You've been drinking your smoothie for quite long now. Just so you know Barbie, it's already empty."

"Oh." As a cue, napasilip ako sa smoothie na patuloy kong sinisipsip and realized Ruie was right. It is empty.

I sighed. "You want another drink?" Umiling ako at matipid na ngumiti sa kanya.

"Come on. Tell me things that were bothering you." I gazed at him as his tone sounds really persuasive.

Do I look really upset?

Nilaro at iniikot ikot ko ang hawak na smoothie sa aking palad bago marahang sumulyap pabalik sa kanya. "Do you happened to know a certain M-Mirabella?"

Umiling siya. "Is that name somewhat related to Tiago?"

Tumango ako sa kanya. I'm really bothered about Mirabella. The way Tiago Lance calls her name sounded so dearly. He loves Mirabella, and Mirabella stills affect Tiago Lance in any way.

"Tiago and I have been friends for more than 3 years and so, but I never got the chance to know his past. He never shares."

"However, there were times I see him holding a picture. It was a picture of him with a woman. I wonder if that's Mirabella."

Lumunok ako nang maisip ang litratong tinutukoy ni Ruie. I saw that one too. On his room. Pati iyong isang bagay na iyon ay nakita ko din.

Why Tiago Lance is so sensitive when it comes to Mirabella? Anong meron sa kanya?

"Hey. Cheer up. Whatever it is that is bothering you, I'm sure Tiago wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

Tumango ako. Sana nga.

"Don't overthink too much. Tiago Lance likes you. You're very important to him." Masuyong tinapik ni Ruie ang balikat ko. I responded with a smile.

TIAGO LANCE were fully concentrated on his laptop when I sat beside him. His eyes looks so heavy and tired and yet he still works.

"TL..." Umusog ako sa tabi niya at pinagmasdan siya ng malapitan. Alas otso na ng gabi ay panay pa din ang pagtipa niya sa keyboard.

Hindi pa kami kumakain dahil naging abala na siya sa laptop niya pagkadating namin dito sa bahay niya.

Bumili na lamang kami ng pagkain sa fast food chain. I prepared the table for our dinner.

"Tama na muna iyan. Kain na tayo." Masuyo kong bulong sa kanya. Mas lalo akong lumapit sa kanya at sinilip na din ang ginagawa niya. I can see he's responding to an email.

"Saglit lang." When I saw the word send as he hit that, kaagad akong lumusot sa pagitan ng mga braso niyang nakalagay sa laptop.

"Stop there. I know you'll open another message. Iyang sandali mo matatagalan pa. Kanina ka pa saglit ng saglit diyan eh." Lumabi ako sa kanya.