Silver Lining (Serendipity: Book 2)

14 | Night Out and Night In

Chapter 14: Night Out and Night In

JERIC'S POV -

JERIC: Ruesse, we need to talk.

I can tell by the way she looked at me na kinabahan sya sa sinabi ko.

RUE: Most conversations starting with that sentence end horribly, you know.

JERIC: I know. Pero kailangan talaga nating mag-usap. Is it okay with you kung pumunta muna tayo sa restaurant ko?

RUE: Sure. No problem.

It feels like a short a drive from the studio to the restaurant. Parang limang beses lang akong nag-inhale and exhale. WTF. Unti-unti na akong kinabahan. Pagbaba namin ng sasakyan at pagpasok sa restaurant, agad kaming binati ng waiters/waitresses ko.

JERIC: Do you want a coffee?

RUE: Do you want me to be more nervous than I already am?

Okay. Good point. Mabuti na din yung wala syang ipambubuhos sakin, just in case.

JERIC: Anything you want to eat then?

RUE: No. Let's just talk.

I lead her to my office. I saw her reaction when I didn't sit next to her, rather I sat on the sofa across her. Bakit bigla yatang natuyo yung lalamunan ko? My breathing became uneven and my hands are sweating.

RUE: What do we need to talk about? And please be straight to the point, Jeric. I don't like wasting time.

Napalunok ako. Sobrang kinakabahan at ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Pang-finals game yung kaba ko. Mentally, I'm praying ... na sana lamunin na ako ng lupa ngayon din.

Paano ko ba 'to sisimulan???

JERIC: Rue, you're a great girl -

RUE: Don't start complimenting me. Pwede bang sabihin mo na lang kung ano yung kailangan mong sabihin sakin? Wag ka ng magpaligoy-ligoy pa.

Ang hirap naman nito. It won't be the first time that I broke someone's heart but that doesn't mean it's easy. Her face stiffened. It was the first time that I saw her look at me that way. Yan tuloy! Lalo akong kinabahan.

JERIC: (yumuko) I think we should stop seeing each other.

RUE: W - why?

Nakayuko pa rin ako at hindi ako makatingin sa kanya. Matagal din kaming nabalot ng katahimikan dahil walang makapagsalita sa amin hanggang sa narinig ko yung mga hikbi ng iyak nya.

JERIC: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ruesse.

RUE: Si ... si Wensh pa rin ba?

I looked at her with a confused and shocked expression on my face.

JERIC: Ho --- how?

RUE: You think I didn't know? Jeric, I do my own research. It's not like you're a very private person. You're a basketball player and a public figure. Her name is all over your restaurant and you think I wouldn't notice the name of her photography studio? Really, Jeric? I'm not that dumb.

Napayuko na lang ako at binaling ang tingin sa sahig. I can't even speak. I don't know what I was supposed to say.

RUE: Minahal mo ba ko? Kahit konti? Kahit sandali lang?

JERIC: I ... I ... uhm ... Rue, I -

RUE: Stop. I already found the answer in your hesitation.