One Last Time

Kabanata XXX: A DATE

A Date.

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MABILIS NA TUMAYO si Manong guard sa front desk nang makitang papalabas ako ng building.

“Uuwi na ho kayo, ma'am?” nakangiting tanong niya. Lalapitan na sana niya ako para ipagbukas ako ng pinto, pero sinenyasan ko siya na huwag na.

Ngumiti ako kay Manong guard nang umupo na lang siya ulit. “Magpapahangin lang muna ako sa labas. Hindi pa ako uuwi,” sagot ko sa tanong niya kanina.

“Ganun ho ba...” aniya na muli kong nginitian bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng building.

5:25 PM na. Umuwi na sila Rae at Ms. Aya, pati na ang ibang mga kasama ko, pero nandito pa rin ako sa building namin. I’ll be working overtime to finish up a few revised layout plans na ipapakita ko sa kliyente bukas.

I continued walking. I’m about to head towards the smoking area when I spotted this very familiar gray BMW M5 parked in front of our building, which made me gasp and pause in my tracks!

After that night last week...what is he doing here?! Is he here for that thing?! I’m freaking out internally while looking at him leaning against the closed driver’s seat door.

Hindi pa ako nakakahuma nang lumingon siya sa direksyon ko, kaya ang balak kong paglihis at magpanggap na hindi siya nakita ay hindi natuloy!

A smile played on his lips as soon as our eyes connected. He immediately left the side of his car and started walking towards me without taking his eyes off me!

Napalunok ako at mahigpit na napahawak sa walking stick ko. Gustong-gusto kong mag-alis ng tingin sa kanya, pero parang may magnet ang mga mata niyang nakatitig sa’kin at pinipigilan akong iwasan ang mga ‘yon.

I was forced to watch him approaching me when my heart started beating crazily!

Darn it! Mariin akong nagpinid-labi. I firmly quelled my heart that is rebelling against me and set it on the right path again! Just because I still have feelings for him doesn't mean I should entertain them. Hindi ko na dapat ito maramdaman!

It took a few minutes for him to finally stop in front of me and engulf me in his cologne. Doon ko rin lalong napansin na basa ang buhok niyang malapit sa pawisan niyang noo.

“Sorry kung ngayon lang kita napuntahan. Naging abala kasi ako sa site…maraming buhos,” paliwanag niyang hindi ko naman hiningi.

I just showed him my calm expression. Ngumiti naman siya sa’kin.

“Pauwi ka na?” he asked out of nowhere.

Kaswal ko siyang inilingan. "Not yet. I'm working overtime tonight. Lumabas lang ako para magpahangin at..." My brows furrowed a little unconsciously. I'm not sure why I hesitated. I cleared my throat, pushing that thought aside, and then gave him a casual look.

"What brings you here, Engr. Deogracias?" I asked casually.

He took his time before answering. He gazed at my face for a long time before opening his mouth. "I'm here about what I asked you that night. Nothing changed. I still want it, Keira."

His words got me speechless. Mariin na rin sana akong napapikit ngayon kung hindi ko lang siya kaharap. Hindi na kasi siya nagparamdam pagkatapos ng ginawa ko ng gabing 'yon, so I assumed he got mad or offended, which honestly worked in my favor. At least I could move on from him peacefully. But turns out, my assumption only lasted a week, because he's here now asking about it again!

"I want-"

Not wanting him to finish, I cleared my throat loudly. Bahagyang nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya, nagpapahiwatig ng pagka-offend, but I ignored it at tipid siyang nginitian.