Wedding Ditcher

EIGHTEEN

Alas singko ng hapon nang makabalik ako sa opisina. Naabutan ko si Maddy na nagliligpit ng mga gamit niya.

"Here." nilapag ko sa mesa yung Cafe Bombon na pinabili niya. "Sorry natagalan."

Tumigil siya saglit at hinarap ako. "Where have you been? Seriously Ever, you have not done a single work today."

It was one heck of a long afternoon for me if only she knew.

"Saan ka galing at sino na naman yung kasama mo?"

I hated those kind of questions. "I had a short meeting with Jasper."

Quickly, her annoyed expression turned blank. Like I said something wrong. Her sudden change of mood disturbed me.

"Are you okay?" I was about to tap her shoulder when she took a step back. "Maddy?"

"Huh?" anong nangyari sa kanya? "Oo naman. I mean great... I'm fine." mabilis niyang tinapos ang niligpit niya na gamit. "I should go. See you tomorrow."

I followed her as she took big steps away from me. She didn't even wait for my reply. She's not making eye contact. She seems to avoid it and I know something is wrong.

And it all started when I mentioned his name.

I'll confront her some other time.

Pinihit ko ang pinto ng aking opisina saka pumasok at naglakad patungo sa mesa ko. Nilagay ko muna ang aking bag at umupo sa swivel chair.

Papers arranged neatly are on my table. Wala akong ginalaw kanina pa. Kumuha ako ng isang folder at binasa iyon.

Nakatatlong folder pa lang ako nang tumunog ang telepono sa aking opisina. Agad ko itong sinagot at boses ni manang ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Lia hija."

"Manang napatawag po kayo?" tanong ko habang nagbabasa sa hawak kong folder.

"May hihingin sana ako. Si Norman kasi nand'yan pa, hinihintay ang papa mo at itong si Griffin mamayang alas sais pa raw uuwi, e hindi naman pwedeng iwan ni Norman ang papa mo, kaya pwede bang isabay mo na lang sa pag uwi?"

Bumukas ang pinto at lumabas doon si Kieffer.

Immediately, my mood earlier resurfaced.

"Okay lang ba Lia? Hindi ka naman palaging busy dahil tamad kang magtrabaho e."

Isa pa 'tong si manang. "Why can't Deacon do it anyway?"

"Palaging busy tulad ng ama mo."

"Malaki na po 'yon alam na nun paano umuwi." iritado kong sagot.

"Lia ngayon lang naman 'to."

I sighed. "Fine." agad kong binaba ang tawag.

Pwede naman siyang mag taxi. Nakakainis! Dagdagan pa nitong lalake sa aking harap.

"Naparito ka." matalim ko siyang tinitigan at binalik ang atensyon sa mga papeles sa aking harap.

He sat on the side of my table with his arms crossed across his chest. I can't help but look at those muscles.

Crap.

I should be annoyed, really.

"Let's have dinner."

I figured I still have tons of question kaya pumayag ako sa alok niya.

"Okay."

Hinablot ko ang bag ko at nilagpasan siya. We were silent inside the elevator. Nang bumukas iyon, agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.