CORDIVILLA: Breathless

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Mabilis ang ginawa kong pagpapaalam sa opisina. Somehow, my heart is beating strangely because of the sudden encounter. Nang makababa ulit ako sa lobby ay naroon pa rin siya at naghihintay. I'm still dwelling on the thought of how am I supposed to treat him or is it even significant right now.

"I'm sorry for the disturbance, but this is really urgent. I need to talk to you." He said way to serious that I don't know what to reply.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniyang sinabi. I don't need confirmation to approve that this is Stanford's brother. Sobra mang nagtataka kung bakit biglaan ang pagpapakita niya sa akin at ang kagustuhang makausap ako, mas lalo lamang nagliyab ang pagtatakang iyon dahil sa sinabi niya.

Sa tuwing tinititigan ko ang mukha niya ay nakikita ko roon ang anino ni Stan. It's like they are cut from the same paper. At sa tingin ko'y gano'n nga.

"Uhm... it's... okay." Huminga ako ng malalim at umiwas ng tingin.

Tinanaw ko ang Café na madalas kong binibisita na nasa loob mismo ng building. Muli ko siyang binalingan at parang nakuha naman niya agad ang ibig kong sabihin.

"D-doon na tayo mag-usap." I said and lead him to the Café.

Tahimik siyang sumunod. I still don't know how to act yet around him but I decided to just go with the flow since this is a shock for me! Pagkaupo pa lang namin ay kaagad nang lumapit ang isang waitress.

"Uhm... do you want something?" Nag-aalangan kong tanong at sumulyap sa kaniya.

Seryoso niya lang akong tiningan bago bumaling sa waitress na namamanghang nakatitig sa kaniya. Ipinatong niya ang kamay sa lamesa, revealing his toned muscles on the short sleeves of his shirt. Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil may naalala ako ro'n.

"Just black coffee," he said in his low baritone.

Sinabi ko rin ang order ko sa naghihintay na waitress bago kami nito iniwan. Nang kaming dalawa na lamang ay natahimik na ako. Ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin at naiilang ako dahil do'n.

"You must be wondering why I am here or who I am, even." Pauna niyang sinabi.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at sinalubong ang kaniyang tingin. If Stan has those dark cerulean eyes, his brother possesses lighter ones. Mas mahaba ng kaunti ang buhok niya kay Stan at mas bata tingnan ang isang 'to.

"I am your boyfriend's brother. I am Christian Verdejas and Stanford Verdejas is my older brother." He said and clicked his neck. "This is our first meeting and I'm sure you're surprised why I am here."

Hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita. I just can't find the right words to say. Watching him, talk seriously in front of me, is making me uncomfortable. Nakakapagtaka naman talaga ang biglaan niyang pagpapakita sa akin at gusto pa akong makausap sa parang sobrang importanteng bagay.

I sighed and nodded at him, unable to say anything. He folded his hands on top of the table and stared at me darkly.

"I am going directly to the point, Ms. Cordivilla. I am here because I want you to know what's happening since I believe you have something to do with it." He said that caught my breath.

What's happening? And I'm involved without my knowledge? Enlighten me!

"First, my brother violated a minor protocol of his work. Ms. Cordivilla, are you aware that my brother is an exclusive agent of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States of America?" Diretsong tanong niya sa akin.

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. My heart thumped and I feel like there's a lump in my throat. Alam ko ang bagay na 'yon! Dahil sinabi na mismo sa akin ni Stan, but coming from his brother, it sounds scary!