The Way To His Heart (The Starving Squad #3)

Chapter 22: Gamble

Kinabukasan, panay ang tukso kay Mona sa bakeshop. Everyone keeps giving her weird smiles.

"Musta date, Boss?" tanong ni Ralph. "Sino'ng nag-overnight?"

"Ayiiiiee!" Tinusok-tusok ni Tess ang tagiliran niya. "Both ba, Boss?"

"Wala!" She pursed her lips and slapped Tess' hand. "Tigilan nyo 'kong dalawa, ha! Babawasan ko sweldo nyo, sige!"

The two didn't take her threat seriously. Pero tumigil naman ang mga ito nang hindi na niya pansinin. Unfortunately, the peace was short lived. Maya-maya, humahangos paakyat ng hagdanan si Annie.

"Boss! Si Prince Charming Number 1, nasa ibaba! May flowers ulit!" anunsyo nito.

"Aba, masugid!" natatawang kumento ni Tatay Ben.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Sino?" Hindi naman sya na-inform na may label na pala sina Felix at Baste. Hindi siya sigurado kung sino ang number 1 at kung sino ang number 2.

"'Yong palaging nakangiti!"

"Ah." Pasimple niyang sinuklay ang buhok. May harina pa yata siya sa mukha. Kanina pa siya subsob sa paggagawa ng mixture. "May dumi ba ako sa mukha?" tanong niya sa mga kasama.

"Maganda ka pa rin, Boss!"

Inayos niya ang tali ng buhok at hindi na lang pinansin ang panunudyo ng mga kasama. Pababa na siya ng hagdanan nang humirit si Ralph ng, "Boss, kung may dala syang pagkain para sa 'min, pakisabi thank you in advance!"

--

She found Felix talking to some of her staffs. Mukhang close na ito sa mga empleyado niya. She knew they like him. He's fun and loud and always smiling. Madalas pa itong bumisita and the last time that he did, may dala itong pagkain para sa lahat.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. He's already perfect. Unfortunately, the circumstances aren't.

Tinapik ito ng isa niyang empleyado at tumuro sa gawi niya. Felix turned to her direction. Their eyes met. And for a split second, she felt the air in her lungs get sucked out by his stare.

She tried to play it cool, pretended that she wasn't affected by his smile, but he knew better. He knew exactly how he affects her, because maybe it's the same for him. She knew well enough what a man in love looks like.

Felix has that look. But instead of feeling happy because the man she loves loves her too, she found the feeling too painful to handle.

"Hi," Felix greeted. Sa pagmumuni-muni niya, hindi niya napansing nakalapit na pala ito sa kanya. He's holding a bunch of flowers and a box of expensive chocolates.

"Hello." Tumuro siya sa mga tsokolate at bulaklak. "Ang layo pa ng Valentine's, a."

"It's never too early to give these." Iniabot nito sa kanya ang mga hawak. "Busy ka?"

"Sobra. Actually, I have to get back upstairs. Daming order, e."

She wasn't lying this time. Marami talagang orders. Nilunod niya ang sarili sa orders para magmukhang busy at para may excuse para hindi siya nito maayang lumabas.

"Kumain ka na?"

"Breakfast? Yeah. I had an early start this morning."

"Ah." Nagpamulsa ito. "Are you too busy to eat lunch with me."

She smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Beh."

"Anong oras ka matatapos mamayang gabi?"

"Hindi ko pa alam, e. But I'm sure I'll be too tired by then. Sorry."