Behind Her Innocence (Hughes Series)

Chapter 38: Heavy Feeling

Gwen's POV

"Hello?"

I was busy doing my paperworks in the office when Aaron called me.

"Gwen."

Nilipat ko ang telepono sa kabilang tenga ko saka umupo sa swivel chair. "Yes?"

"Can we meet?"

Natigilan ako ng ilang segundo. I didn't expect that. Well, maybe he was just going to talk to me about Rosetta. It had been a week na kasi na hindi sila nagkikitang mag-ama. I was just trying to save him from dad's rant. Galit si dad sa nangyari no'ng dinner last week, so if pagpilitan naming magkita parin sila ni Rosetta while dad's mad, baka kung ano pang gawin nito para hindi sila magkitang mag-ama. I told him to let the issue cool down first saka babalik sa normal ang pagkikita nila ni Rosetta. He agreed to it. Ilang beses narin kasi siyang nag-sorry kay dad but dad just wouldn't budge in.

"Gwen, are you still there?"

Natauhan ako and shook my head as I answered, "Ahm, yeah. I'm still here. Sorry. What were you asking?"

"I am hoping if you can meet me today."

"Ngayon na? I am working." I tried to sound normal even though my mind was exaggerating the possibilities of why he was asking me to meet him.

"Sana. But I can wait until you're available."

Tiningnan ko ang mga papeles na kailangan kong tapusin. Hindi pa naman kailangan ang mga ito bukas, diba? It could wait, I think.

"Sure. Saan tayo magkikita?"

"Wherever you feel comfortable. You want us to meet in a restaurant?"

Napaisip ako. If sa restaurant, baka may makakakita sa amin for it was a public place. I didn't want that. Lalo na kung kaming dalawa lang. It should be somewhere private where no eyes could see us together.

"Let's meet at school. Isa pa, it's just a few minutes away from here."

"Why there?"

"You know, there's a private place in there and it's safer. Ayokong makita tayo magkasama sakaka gagawing issue na naman at kumalat."

"Okay. I'll see you there."

"I'll be there in an hour."

Nagpaalam na siya at nagpatuloy na ako sa ginagawa ko. After an hour, I called it a day and stormed out of my office. I drove my car to the university where we used to go to college.

Hindi na kailangan ng ID because they still had my identity in their system kaya madali akong nakapasok. Besides, my dad was a sponsor in here. I went straight to the place where Aaron was. It was a place where we used to meet back then. Hindi naman tago ang lugar na ito pero bihira lang kasi may pumupunta dito kasi malayo na sa mga classrooms.

I saw Aaron waiting for me. He smiled but I wandered my eyes first to see the entire place. It still looked the same. Liningon ko siya tapos tuluyan ng humarap sa kanya. "Anong pag-uusapan natin?"

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to buy you food first or a drink?"

"Ayoko baka lasunin mo pa ako." It was meant to be a joke.

"Kung gagawin ko yun, hindi lason ang ilalagoy ko kundi gayuma." He laughed like it was so funny. Well, not for me.

Napatikhim ako at alam ko na narinig niya.

"Sorry if you didn't like that joke." Tumikhim siya saka inayos ang polo. "Gwen." Sumeryoso na siya this time. "I know this may seem too fast for you but for me, I have been waiting for this. Ilang gabi na akong hindi makatulog dahil laman ka lagi ng isip ko. I can't wait to tell you how much I love you, Gwen. All these years, ikaw parin ang gusto ko. You are always in my heart. I know it's been awhile but, I am still hoping you feel the same way."