Stonehearts 8: Peridot

Sixteen

Sabi ni kakabahan ka lang kapag hindi ka sigurado sa naging desisyon mo at sa mga kaakibat nitong pangyayari. 'Yong ginawa mo lang ng bara-bara at hindi pinagplanuhan.

That's why, I don't understand why I'm turning into a ball of trepidation. I've planned this. Ironed this one through and through. There's no creases, no ridges, no grooves. But why is it that whenever I look at Kiel, everything I've known seems strange and unfamiliar?

Bakit parang natatakot ako na shit, baka nga ma-in love ako sa taong ito?

Hindi kami nagkapag-usap ng masinsinan pagkatapos niyang sabihin sa'kin ang lahat ng 'yon dahil nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula sa kumpanya nila at pinapabalik siya agad.

He reluctantly left. And by reluctantly I mean, him melting me with three more of his fiery kisses before he was able to exit my office.

The next day, I didn't see him or heard from him. I was starting to think that he had a change of mind and decided to make a run to the hills. And damn, because there's this sharp pain in my chest the whole morning his presence was not in any way noticeable.

Ilang beses ko pa ngang tinangkaang tawagan siya kaso may parte ng utak ko ang nagsasabi huwag na. At kung bigla niyang naisipang 'wag na magparamdam, bakit naman ako maghahabol ng paliwanag?

By two in the afternoon, I was nose deep into my work, trying to not let my mind wander to these unanswered questions regarding his sudden retreat even though he was deadly determined yesterday.

But all of my stupid and crazy notions were doused away when Yan knocked on my office and informed me that I have a flower delivery.

Nang una hindi ko pa na-gets. Akala ko sinasabihan niya ako na may delivery kami ng bulaklak sa shop, na pinagtakahan ko sapagkat alam naman niya ang gagawin sa mga 'yon.

Hanggang sa itinulak niya para palawakin ang uwang ng pinto ko at pinapasok ang tatlong lalaking may bibit ng malalaking bouquet ng Lavenders. It took them five rounds of coming in and out of my office until my space was brimming with pale lilac to deep royal purple flowers, their sweet, calming scent exploding to my senses. Hindi ko na kailangang manghula kung sino ang nabigay.

"Ate Dothy!" Impit na tili ni Yan na may nangungusap na mga mata. I maintained a stoic face, but the truth is my heart is slamming hard and all I want to do is shriek because the feeling in my chest is too much to bear.

"Kay Sir Kiel galing ito, ano?" Hindi niya mapigilang magtanong.

Umiling lang ako, "Magtrabaho ka na, Marian." Saka ko pinirmahan ang papel na inabot sa'kin ng isa mga nag-deliver. May inabot din silang green na envelope bago tuluyang umalis.

Once Yan gave up and granted me privacy, the tides of this foreign feeling all but smothered me whole. I was beaming at nowhere. I took everything in. It felt dangerous yet so. . . right.

Binaliktad ko ang sobre at may isang salitang nakasulat doon.

BABY

I shook my head, the smile I have grew wider. I flip the triangular head and pried the lighter green scented paper inside.

DAY ONE was written on top of it. I skimmed down and read the note in full.

ARE YOU ALREADY IN LOVE WITH ME? TICK ONE.
o   YES
o   NO

I throw my head back and laughed, totally forgetting why I felt like shit since yesterday. I grabbed my phone and without any reticence, I dialed his number.