In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 42

"I think we need to talk. May I ask for a few minutes of your time, MS. DEI?"

RJ can barely contain the frustration he is feeling at the way Dei is behaving today. He enjoyed her company last night and was hoping that they could have a good conversation going again during the shoot with his grandparents. She was friendly with him when they greeted each other earlier but her treatment of him seemed to change after his grandmother's joke about him marrying her.

"Hindi kaya naoffend sya sa biro ni lola? Si Lola naman kasi ang kulit! Pero bakit ba ako nabobother ng ganito?" He asked himself as they walk a short distance away from the others in the garden so they can talk privately.

"What do we need to talk about, Sir RJ? I'm sorry but I really need to transfer these photos to my laptop before lunch..." She tried to explain but RJ cut her off.

"I know you said that you are not angry or anything but I just can't shake off this feeling that there's really something off here..." He started but she also cut him off .

"Sir RJ, I already told you wala tayong problema, di ba? I just don't like mixing work with socializing..." She reasoned out again.

RJ narrowed down his eyes at her. She is avoiding his direct gaze, her hands are alternately playing with the strap of the camera and she keeps on shifting her weight from one foot to another.

"Sinungaling..."

"Excuse me?!" She asked incredulously.

"I can tell by your body language that you are not being completely honest with me right now..."He said while staring at her face closely.

"What?! Ano expert ka rin sa body language aside from being the owner of this resort?!" She retorted.

RJ took a step closer to her. She tried to step away from him but she tripped instead on a garden decor behind her. RJ instinctively reached out and pulled her arms to prevent her from completely falling. But the angle of her fall caused her to twist her ankle.

"Aray!" She cried out as they both tried to balance themselves while she held on to his arm for support.

"Hey, easy! Okay ka lang? Here, let me help you. Dito tayo sa may bench." He instructed her as they gingerly walked together towards the nearby bench.

RJ assisted her in sitting down and immediately knelt down in front of her to inspect her injured foot. He moved it from side to side carefully as he asked her if she felt any searing pain. She shook her head no.

"Okay, mukhang wala namang dislocation or tear. You just need to rest it for a bit. Pwede ring pakuha tayo ng cold compress..."He said. He was about to call out to one of his staff but Dei stopped him instead then stared at him in confusion. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Kanina expert on body language lang at entrepreneur ngayon naman parang doktor na rin. Ano ka ba talaga?" She asked him. He smiled as he look up at her.

"Ahh, the truth is I have a degree in Psychology and a Med student at present. I work at the same hospital where Doc Kris works aside from managing this resort." He explained softly as he slowly moved to sit down beside her on the bench.

"Whoah! Di ka naman masyadong busy. Work, studies, business...and here I thought hectic na ang schedule ko." She commented, chuckling. He laughed as well.

"Hindi naman. Gusto ko lang talaga ang ginagawa ko at kinakaya naman but I always make it a point to always try to balance everything." He explained casually.

"Paano mo ginagawa yun? May superpowers ka ba? " She joked. He shook his head as he chuckled.

"I know what you are doing, Dei. Pero I'm sorry di ka pa rin lusot sa tanong ko: Bakit ka umiiwas kanina? Naoffend ka ba sa biro ni Lola Linda? Sorry. Makulit lang talaga si Lola..."He answered while awkwardly scratching his ear which he is sure has turned red in embarrassment.

Unexpectedly, she also blushed and avoided his eyes again which puzzled him further.

"Parang ang init na ng araw, noh? Dun muna tayo sa may lilim at sayang konting puti sa balat ko." She answered. He laughed out at her blatant attempt to divert his attention from the question.

"Dei, di ko na kailangan ang degree ko para masabi na iniiba mo ang usapan. Pero sige, I can sense that you don't really want to talk about it so I will let you off the hook for now. Pero can I ask you a big favor?" He asked tentatively. He suddenly felt uncomfortable especially with how she looked at him suspiciously.

"Teka lang! Anong favor muna yan? Depende syempre sa klase ng favor..." She cautiously stated. He laughed self-consciously at that.

"Ahm...Lola Linda really took a liking to you and asked me to invite you for lunch sa bahay. You can bring someone with you. I also invited Paolo but he said he needed to leave for some errands and will not be back until later this afternoon...p-pero okay lang if you are not available. I know it's short notice and alam ko namang busy kayo sa shoot..." He hastily added.

RJ noticed her start to smile but it suddenly turned into a frown which made him uneasy. She then glanced at the other members of her team who are still busy setting up their next lay-out. RJ could almost hear the conflicting thoughts running through her pretty head at the moment.

"Hey! Don't worry about it. It's okay to say no. I can tell lola na sobrang busy kayo sa shoot..." He assured her with a touch to her arm.

"No! I mean I'm okay with lunch at your house. I will just ask Val to accompany me. Daanan lang muna natin sya on our way?" She asked tentatively. He could not control the smile that almost threatened to split his face at her answer.

"Sure! Let's go? Kaya mo na bang maglakad?" He asked her with concern as he assisted her in standing up from the bench.

"Yes, I'm good. Tapilok lang to. Di na masakit..." She answered as she walked slowly ahead of him. He just followed her quietly. When they got back to the group, he just stood a short distance away to wait for her as she talk to her friend and her team. His mind is already thinking ahead to what his lola will do once they get to the house.

"Hay, ano na naman kaya ang binabalak ni lola at ininvite si Dei for lunch? Magbehave sana this time sina lola. Baka maturn-off na ng tuluyan si Dei sa amin pag nagkataon. Pero teka, lunch lang naman to. Kung saan na naman nakarating ang isip ko!" He reprimanded himself silently. He was in the middle of his quiet self-lecture when Dei snapped her fingers at him to get his attention.

"Huy! Okay ka lang? Sabi ko tara na. Di daw pwede si Val kasi may aayusin pa sila for the lay-out so tayo na lang daw. Pinasasabi nya sorry daw." Dei explained then looked down at her shoes.

"Oh, It's okay. Medyo may iniisip lang. Pasensya na talaga mukhang bad timing pa ang lunch invite ni lola sa iyo. Pero kung di talaga makakaistorbo sa work mo, let's go?" He asked softly. She just gave him a shy smile, nodded then started walking. He pointed her to the direction of their house and they walked towards the stone pathway  side by side in silence.

"Hay, bakit ba ako kinakabahan?! Hindi ito date! Kumalma ka, RJ!"