Dress Me Up Or Dress Me Down

XII

"What are you doing here?" bungad sa akin ni Kalmin nang pumasok ako sa meeting room ng MX. I decided to give them a little treat as a sign of gratitude to them. All of the guys were there.

"I just want to thank you guys for taking care of me yesterday," sagot ko sa kaniya. I made a quick scan of the room; Axel was sitting next in between Xanthus and Kaden. He was looking at me with a blank expression on his face. "I hope you guys enjoy this."

I got them my favourite cake from Conti's.

"I love Mango Bravo! Thanks, Tori!" Kaden said and beamed in delight.

Kakain na sana sila nang pigilan ni Leal ang lahat. "Get some damn forks and plates, guys."

"Why? Eh tayo tayo lang naman ang kakain?" Caleb asked, biting the plastic fork.

Leal gave him a sharp look. "Tori's with us, remember?"

"Don't mind me guys, kumain na ako." I said as I waved my hand.

Lumapit sa akin si Xanthus at binigyan ako ng plastic fork. "Do the honors, Tori."

"Okay lang talaga. I bought the cake for you guys."

"Kukuha ka ng cake or susubuan kita. It's your choice, Tori," Caleb warned.

"Fine. I'll just take one bite, okay? I need to work." Pagsuko ko. Kumuha ako ng isang maliit na part na cake at kinain ito.

Naramdaman ko na may ipinahid na malamig si Kaden sa ilong ko.

"Don't play with food, Kaden!" pag-saway ni Leal kay Kaden. Pinahiran niya ako ng icing sa ilong. I remembered the first time I met Leal. I actually thought that he's like a shy kid, but as days passed and I spent more time with them I eventually discovered that he's like a nagging mom.

I wiped the icing off of my nose and licked my finger clean. "It's okay, Leal."

"Damn, Tori, I never knew that you're this freaky." Kazi said before eating the cake.

I raised my brow at him. "Is that a compliment?"

"Yeah. If that's how you want to take it." He said and shrugged as he took another bite of the cake.

The guys ate all the cake in one sitting. Kazi and Kalmin ate the most while Axel barely even moved from his seat.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo mula sa aking pagkakaupo. Agad akong inalalayan ni Kalmin.

"I'll get going. See you guys, later." Pagpapaalam ko sa kanila.

"Ihahatid ko muna si Tori, you guys clean up and then we'll proceed to where we left off." He instructed as he naturally took my hand and put it on his arm.

"Thanks, Kal." I said and smiled genuinely at him. I've come to realize that Kalmin has this innate characteristic of taking care of people.

Inihatid niya ako sa third floor kung saan ang headquarters namin.

"Hindi ka na dapat pumasok muna. Your foot might swell." Sabi niya habang mabilis na tinignan ang paa ko. "And why are you wearing those shoes? Dapat nag-tsinelas ka na lang,"

"Para kang tatay ko." Natatawang sabi ko sa kaniya.

"It's because you don't know how to take care yourself." He said as he playfully ruffled my hair, making my insides feel a little queasy.

Excuse me? I've been independent for three years and I'm perfectly fine.

We were still standing there when Frances stepped out from the door and greeted us with a fake smile plastered on her face.