Accidentally in Love

Chapter 3

February 14, 2017, Manila

Nakabusangot akong lumabas ng office habang dala-dala yung bulaklak, teddy bear, at chocolates na pinadala sa akin ni Sir Mark. As much as I would like to leave it in the office or to throw it away, hindi ko rin naman magawa. May konsensya pa rin naman ako kahit na papaano. Ang hindi ko lang talaga kasi maintindihan is bakit kailangang ako pa ang magdala nito? He knew where Althea lived. E di sana, siya na lang ang nagdala nitong mga 'to. Nagmukha pa tuloy akong umasa dahil sa mga 'to.

As I waited for the car that I booked through Grab, which was super duper expensive at this time, I couldn't help but look back at the times when Jenny said na may gusto sa akin si Sir Mark. Well, it's been going on for a few weeks or maybe months now. Lagi namin siyang napapansin na nakatingin sa akin or nagpapaikot-ikot malapit sa department namin. Was it all just because of this? Para lang ba talaga utusan akong magdala ng mga regalo in the guise na sa akin siya may gusto? Grabe naman yung determination niya kung ganoon.

"Thea!" I heard someone call my name and so I faced towards that direction. To my surprise, it was Sir Dexter with no other than Sir Mark. Sir Dexter is our department head. I knew he was friends with Sir Mark since they were in the same college barkada but I didn't know they would still be together by this time. Wala ba silang mga date or something?

"Yes po, Sir?"

"May lakad ka ba today? Come join us. We should celebrate Single Awareness Day," he said which got me confused. Single Awareness Day? E di ba something 'tong si Sir Mark si Althea kaya nga pinadala niya pa sa akin 'tong mga regalo?

"Uhh, hindi na po. I still have to deliver these po. Saka parating na rin po yung sundo ko," sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sinabi kong may sundo ako kahit na ang totoo, si Kuya Grab lang naman ang hinihintay ko. Well, based sa picture, maitsura naman kasi yung driver. I guess I have to go and lie to them to save me from further humiliation, right?

Bago pa dumating si Kuya Grab, I sent him a message asking if he could open the door for me and act like he's apologetic dahil sa late siya. I knew I was asking too much pero kailangan ko namang i-redeem ang sarili ko pagkatapos ng nangyari kanina. When I looked at Sir Mark, it's as if he wasn't too pleased with whatever's happening. Pero ewan ko. Siya nga 'tong unang naging paasa, e! Not that I was really expecting him to suddenly give these gifts to me. Hay, ewan!

"Oh, boyfriend mo ba yung susundo sa 'yo? Sorry, akala ko single ka rin. Mark was--"

"Dex," Sir Mark sternly said as if warning Sir Dexter. It was as if may sasabihin dapat si Sir Dexter about Sir Mark and it was too obvious na ayaw niyang ipaalam 'yon sa akin.

Before I could even answer Sir Dexter's question, dumating na si Kuya Grab. He got off the car and apologized for being late like what I asked him to do. He then got the flowers, chocolate, and teddy bear from me and placed them at the back seat.

"Let's go?" Kuya Grab asked. He was doing a damn good job so far. I might give him a tip na lang later because of this.

"Sige po, Sir, una na po ako," I told them then I gave them a small smile.

"Sige, ingat, Thea. See you tomorrow!" Sir Dexter said then he waved. Sir Mark, on the other hand, was poker faced. I just shrugged all my thoughts away and walked towards the passenger seat. Kuya Grab opened the door for me like I asked and when I went in, he immediately closed and door and went straight to the driver's seat.

Whew. One problem down. Another one to go.

***

By the time that I reached our house, tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Kuya Grab. Alam kong kating-kati na siya to ask what on earth happened at why I asked him for such favors pero buti na lang hindi siya nagtanong. I just apologized for the absurd requests and gave him a tip just like what I had in mind pero hindi 'yon tinanggap ni Kuya. Sabi niya regalo niya na lang daw sa akin since Valentine's Day naman daw. Since hindi talaga ako mapalagay na ginawa niya 'yon for free, I gave him one of the chocolate bars na binigay sa akin ni Jenny kanina.