Tell Me A Lie [R-18] [Completed]

3 - WHEN SHE WALKS

~ 3 ~
WHEN SHE WALKS

Limang minuto na lamang ang natitira bago matapos ang shift ni Iris nang sumulpot si Troy. Napahugot siya ng malalim na hininga nang makita ito. Troy was an undeniably handsome man. For Iris, he is actually the most handsome man on Earth. That's because she loves him so much.

Troy is a dark-haired guy with thick eyebrows that framed his piercing eyes. He stopped by the door with a clenched jaw. Saglit itong lumingon sa pinsang si Blake. They curtly nodded at each other. The two are related by blood but were never close to each other.

Iris acknowledged Troy's presence with a sweet, warm smile. "Sandali lang, hihintayin ko lang ang kapalit ko."

His mere presence was enough to change her mood. Mabilis na nawala ang kanyang inis kay Andrei nang makita ang dating nobyo. Napailing na lang siya sa sarili. It was totally ridiculous getting mad at another man when she already has Troy. Troy is the love of her life. What was she thinking?

Ngayon ay kasalanan pa niyang may nangyari sa kanila ng lalaking hindi niya kilala. Or maybe not? Malinaw sa pakikitungo ni Andrei sa kanya na hindi siya nito kilala. Baka guniguni niya lang ang lahat? Masamang panaginip, siguro? Sana.

But the ache on her body when she woke up was real, especially the burning sensation between her legs. Well, maybe that's just the side effect of her nightmare. That's what she desperately want to believe in.

Pilit na ngumiti si Troy. "Yeah, sure. Hihintayin na lang kita sa labas."

She was taken aback by his cold response. Kahit magandang ngiti ay ipinagkakait nito sa kanya. Does he really have to act like a jerk? Does he even have an idea how much she missed him?

Nagkunwari na lang siyang wala siyang napansin. Bumaling siya sa direksyon ng kanyang boss. Kasalukuyan pa rin itong nakikipag-usap kay Andrei na mukhang hindi naman nakikinig. He was directly staring at her with a knotted forehead. Iris turned away and it was just the time when her replacement co-worker arrived.

"Sir," tawag pansin niya sa kanyang amo. "Aalis na po ako," magalang niyang paalam.

"Ah, sige. Take care, Iris."

Nagpalit na si Iris ng damit bago puntahan si Troy sa labas. Dinala siya ng dating nobyo sa isang mamahaling restaurant. She wasn't sure if it was a sweet gesture but she loved it anyway. She and Troy, together in a fancy place... a date!

"So..." pangunguna niya. "Kamusta ka na?" Malapad siyang ngumiti. Sinusubukan niyang pagaanin ang tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa pero mukhang hindi gumagana iyon sa kasama.

"I'm okay." He sighed impatiently. "Look, Iris. I don't want to make this long. If closure is what you want, then this is it. I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. But whatever was between us, it's over."

"Bakit, Troy?" Her voice was a little shaky. His words cut through her like a knife. "Ano ang nagbago? Ano'ng nangyari sa US na nagpabago ng tingin mo sa akin? What changed?!"

"It's not what you think, Iris. Ako ang problema, hindi ikaw. Gusto talaga kita at totoong minahal kita. But things are different now. We can't go back to what we were before. I can't go back... I'm sorry."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Iris sa salitang 'minahal'. Past tense. Ibig sabihin tapos na.

"Hindi na ako puwedeng makipagbalikan sa'yo.

"Bakit gan'yan kadali para sa'yo na tapusin ito? Ano, sinawaan ka na sa akin ganoon ba?" Humampas ang kamay niya sa mesa. Unti-unti na ring tumataas ang tono ng kanyang boses, dahilan para mapalingon ang ibang customers sa direksyon nila. "Dahil ba sa bago mong babae? Mas masarap ba siyang kasama? How is she better than me? How?!"