Part-time Boyfriend

Chapter 4

Chapter 4Ghost of the Past

"Good morning Lex." Napahinto ako sa tapat ng pinto dahil sa narinig na boses. "Rylex is quite long, so I'll just call you Lex," nakangiti niyang dugtong.

I was expecting that she'll show up today, but not as early as now, and not right inside my classroom. Nakaupo siya sa silyang katabi ng upuan ko hawak ang isang styro cup.

"I'm not sure if you just forgot or you really intended to not leave even a single contact information." Nakatayo na ko sa harapan niya.

Bigla na lang siyang umalis kagabi. Wala siyang iniwang kahit anong impormasyon tungkol sa sarili maliban sa mga salitang, 'Don't find me, I'll find you'.

"Hindi lang ikaw ang pwedeng magpaka misteryoso 'no," sagot niya pagkatapos inuman ang hawak na cup at iabot sakin. "Here's your coffee. Personally delivered." I took it from her and drank it. "Masarap 'yan, kasing sarap ko." Mula sa gilid ng cup na iniinuman ay nakita ko pa siyang kumindat.

So she has this side to her. All along I thought that she's the serious and quiet type. That's the impression I got whenever I saw her standing by F.U's gate.

"You accepted my proposal, does that mean tapos na ang usapan n'yo ni Sabrina Dela Cerna?" Nakapangalumbaba niyang tanong na sinundan niya ng dalawa pang tanong. "Why end it so soon? Takot kang mabugbog ulit?"

"I can take on Sabrina's ex any day, it's her I'm concerned about." Sabrina looks tough but her heart isn't. She's too fragile. I don't want to see her cry because of me again. "By the way, thank you for that time." Sigurado akong siya ang sumigaw noon. I saw amusement in the eyes of the woman in front of me. "Enough about my previous engagement. I'd like to know at least the name of my new employer."

"It's Magnolia."

"Magnolia the ice cream?" seryoso kong tanong.

"No the flower, but I prefer you call me Maggie."

"Maggie the noodle?"

"No, Maggie your new girlfriend starting today," binigyang-diin niya ang sinabi ng nakangisi. Tahimik na kong naupo at pagkalipas ng ilang sandaling katahimikan ay narinig ko ulit siyang magsalita. "Wala ka ng ibang itatanong?"

"I respect my employer's privacy."

She crossed her arms and just stared at me smiling after hearing me answer. Unti-unti ng nagsisipagdatingan ang mga kaklase ko pero imbes na lumabas ay lumipat lang sa bakanteng upuan na nasa likuran ko si Maggie. Hindi rin siya natinag nang pumasok ang Propesor at nagturo. The whole time I felt her gazing at me from the back.

Lumipas ang mga araw na palaging gano'n lang ang nangyayari. Lagi ko siyang naaabutan tuwing umaga sa classroom ko na naghihintay at may dalang kape para sakin. Kapag bakante naman ang oras ko ay sa library o 'di kaya ay sa mall kami nagpapalipas ng oras.

She doesn't demand me to do anything. She just sits beside me and talk about all the things she wants to talk about, but I never heard her talk about herself even once. Hindi ko rin ginagawa sa kanya ang mga bagay na ginagawa ko para sa mga normal kong kliyente, maliban sa ilang pagkakataong hinahawakan ko ang kamay niya kapag inaalalayan at iginigiya siya.

She told me to just be myself, so that's what I'm doing. She also didn't mention that there's a time limit to the task she wants me to do.

"It's already been a week," komento niya bago isubo ang sandwich na hawak. "Ang bilis lumipas ng oras 'no?"

Maingay sa school cafeteria pero malinaw pa rin naming naririnig ang isa't isa. "Yeah it is, but I never saw you leave my side the whole six hours," makahulugan kong saad.