She's So Extra (Kiligserye Book1) | ✅

Chapter 27

Itinulak ko pabalik ng elevator si Chuck na gusto pa sanang bumaba sa floor namin, "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

He shrugged na parang it's no big deal and said, "Wala lang. I just wanted to ask if you wanted to watch a movie with me."

Nilagay ko ang mga kamay ko sa bewang ko, "Talaga? Pupuntahan mo ako sa office ko para imbitahin akong manood ng sine? Baliw ka na ba?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, "I don't see what the big deal is."

Parang may namumuong sakit ng ulo sa noo ko kaya hinaplos haplos ko yun habang nire-regulate ang breathing ko. Pag dilat ko nakatingin sa akin si Chuck at nakangiti, bakit ba ang gwapo nitong kumag na to.

Binaba nya ang mga kamay nya at humawak sa handrails sa likod nya sabay ngiti sa akin, "I also wanted to tell you how impressive you were earlier."

Napakunot yung noo ko, "Ano? Anong impressive? Saan?"

He smiled, "Yung meeting kanina? I've never seen you take charge like that. You looked different and I liked it. I wouldn't mind reporting to you if it meant you'd boss me around like that everyday."

Hindi ko napigilan napahawak ako sa nagdidingas kong mga pisngi.

Hinampas ko ang braso nyang matigas, "Huy. Nakakailan ka na ngayong linggo ha." Binilang ko sa mga daliri ko ang 'offenses' nya, "May pa-bulaklak, may pa-lunch, may pa-tawag, pa-text, pa-email..." ginaya ko ang pose nya, "Anong bang gusto mo talaga? May makahuli sa atin?"

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator sa likod ko at bigla akong napapunta sa kanto ng elevator opposite Chuck. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita kong mga hindi naming kakilala ang mga taong sumakay. Umurong si Chuck para tabihan ako dahil halos mapuno ang elevator na napansin kong ngayon pa lang bababa, aba paakyat pala ang takbo namin kanina di ko namalayan.

Nagkkwentuhan ang mga taong sakay ng elevator at nakatingin lang ako sa display ng floor sa elevator nang may naramdaman akong may kumakalabit sa kamay kong nakakapit sa handrails sa likod ko.

Tiningnan ko sya ng masama pero no reaction ang mukha nya, hinampas ko yung kamay nya sa likod ko pero imbes na bawiin nya yung kamay nya he took that opportunity para hawakan ang kamay ko at ipag-entwine ang mga daliri namin.

Taragis na lalaki to, kinikilig ako eh hayup.

Napailing ng lang ako at kahit di sya nakatingin sakin nakita nya siguro sa periphery nya because he gave my hand a soft squeeze.

Pinisil ko lang rin ang kamay nya in response.

Narakating kami sa lobby naglabasan na karamihan sa mga tao at ayaw pa rin bitiwan ni Chuck ang kamay ko, pinipilit kong pabitawan sa kanya pero malakas sya syempre. Lima na lang kaming natira sa elevator, may tatlong lalaki pa na malamang papunta rin sa basement parking.

Pagdating namin sa parking ayaw pa rin bitiwan ni Chuck ang kamay ko so hinayaan ko na lang sya pero he sees my expression kaya he lets go pero he stands in front of me and says, "Look, I think I've made myself quite clear on what I want us to become, but I respect your decision to wait whether or not I agree on why you're waiting."

Sasabat na sana ako pero he put his index finger up at nagsalita sya ulet, "I know why you want to wait but I don't agree with it pero I respect your decision."

He sighs then continues, "But you have to understand that I am trying to be the good guy and wait for the girl I like. But you have to give me something."

Tumaas ang mga kilay ko in surprise, anong give him something? Yun? Hello, ayaw ko nga. Nakita nya ang pagpapalit ng reaction ng mukha ko kaya natawa sya, "I'm not asking for that! Dumi ng utak mo."

I scoff, "Hoy, anong madumi dun? Bakit alam mo ba kung anong iniisip ko? Asyumero."

He laughs, "You didn't need words your face said it all."

I crossed my arms over my chest, "So ano? Napapagod ka na mag-antay ganun? Hindi ka pa nga nanliligaw ng legal e nagrereklamo ka na."

He mimics my position and he challenges, "Ah ganun? So do you want me to pursue you for real? As in ligawan ka? Because I have to tell you there's no ligaw that's done in secret. I have to tell people that I like you and win you over with gifts, I will visit your house, I will fetch you everyday and bring you home every day rin. I will visit your office when I want to see you because I can do that – I want to do that."

Tinaas ko bigla yung dalawa kong kamay, "Hep hep hep, time first. Wala naman akong sinabing ganun e."

He laughs, "So what were you saying?"

Huminga ako ng malalim, "You're putting me in a very bad position. I don't want to hurt anybody, especially not her, she's so nice."

Hindi ko na kailangang sabihin kung sino pero I have a feeling he knows who I'm talking about.

He nods, "Like I said, I understand. But if she's as nice as you think she is then she would understand too."

I'm so lucky naiintindihan nya ang kalagayan ko pero naiintidihan ko rin kung bakit gusto nyang mag-decide rin ako, I feel like I'm sacrificing my happiness for someone else. I deserve to be happy rin naman diba? And this guy right here is my happiness – whether I want to admit it or not. So I decide that I can be happy when I want to be happy and I want Chuck to be happy too.

Sabi ng puso ko dugudug dugudug, "chuck", "chuck" ganun, pero ang utak ko sinisigawan ako ng "marupok ka Olga, marupok ka!".

So naturally sundin ko yung dugudug dugudug. Mas maigi nang maging marupok kesa malungkot diba?

I bite my lip and put my hands on his crossed arms, "Okay."

He uncrosses his arms pero nilagay nya lang sa magkabilang side nya, "What do you mean 'okay'?"

Hinawakan ko ang mga kamay nya at pinag-entwine ang fingers namin, nakatingin ako sa mga kamay namin nang sabihin kong, "I want to be happy and you make me happy. I feel like I deserve some happiness rin naman." I look up at him and see the triumph in his eyes so nilinaw ko, "But we can't flaunt it sa office, I'm good knowing that at the end of every day I'm going to see you, I'll feel better knowing I get to hold these hands, and that I get to spend time with the guy that makes me smile pero I can't do that knowing I'm hurting someone else in the process."

I look at him pleading, "You have to promise you'll understand. This is not forever pero it has to be a secret for now."

He touches my cheek, "So does this mean you're my girlfriend?"

Hinampas ko yung kamay nya, "Pwede bang date date muna? Maka-girlfriend ka naman agad."

He smiles that laglag-panty smile, "You're just delaying the inevitable."

I roll my eyes, "Walang basagan ng trip, basta, promise muna."

He nods, "I promise."

I don't think I'll ever forget that moment when I realize this shift in our relationship that I have acknowledged that this person means more to me than most. That there's a really big chance that I get my heart broken again, that this insanity they call love will be temporary and that he will leave. But then there's the hope that this guy is the one who'll make my temporary insanity permanent.