Getting Away with Gluttony

Kabanata 14

Umakyat kami sa ilang baitang na hagdan papasok sa lobby ng building at dumiretso sa elevator. His office is on the 5th floor.
Binabati siya ng lahat ng nakakasalubong niya.

"Don't tell me, you'll follow me up to my office?"

"Okay. I won't tell you." Saad ko na pumwesto pa din sa tabi niya habang lulan ng elevator.

"You're creeping me out. What is this all about?"

"Can you at least trust me? I'm doing this for you."

"I didn't ask you to."

"Tawag dito, kusang loob. You'll thank me someday."

"You want my attention?"

Umiling ako. "Crush lang kita pero di ako trying hard at obssess."

"Anong binabalak mo? Bakit lapit ka ng lapit?"

"Pag lapit ng lapit may balak na agad? Baka pwedeng may sasabihin lang?"

We've reached the 5th floor. The whole floor is his office. He was greeted by his secretary who look at me like I'm kind of an alien invading the planet earth, an alien who held his boss captive.

Lumapit ito na tila nagtatanong ang mga mata kay Saul. Sinenyasan lang niya itong bumalik sa pwesto nito.

"Will you listen to me first?"
Pumasok kami sa opisina niyang nababalutan ng maroon carpet from floor to wall.

The other side of the wall near his big table at the back of his swivel chair is a floor to ceiling glass. Kitang-kita ang kabuuan ng academy plus the tall green tress na nakakalat sa buong vicinity ng campus.

"5 minutes. Speak."

Napanguso ako sa sinabi niya. His businessman side is really serious. Nonetheless, type ko pa din. There's really something in him na mapapangiti na lang ako kapag tinititigan ko siya.

"Stop staring. You're too obvious." Sita niya.

Alanganin akong ngumiti sa kanya. Sorry na. Wala eh. Naa-amaze lang talaga ako sa kanya.

"Pwedeng umupo muna? Napagod akong maglakad." Ako na nag-initiative na maupo sa sofa katapat ng sofa na inokupa niya.

"I have a lot of things to do. Make it fast."

Hay, ang hirap naman sumegway.

"You look handsome in your black suit, but you should try gray or navy blue, perhaps? I suggest, huwag mo ng isuot, tanggalin mo pag nagdrive ka mamaya."

"I look better without anything. Gusto mong makita?"

Hala. Bold! Tikom ang labing mabilis akong umiling.
He looked serious but his eyes seems not. Parang inaasar lang niya ako.

"Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin, Ser."
Binigyang-diin ko yong last word para masabi kong seryosong usapan ito kaya huwag niya akong lalandiin. I mean bibiruin.

Next time na lang. Char!

"3 minutes."

"Kasi ano..." Tumingin ako sa mga mata niya.

"Ano kasi..."
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.
"Mahabang kuwento-"

"I don't have all the time in the world." Hindi naman siya mukhang naiinis na.
Actually, he's patient enough to let me in his office. He can easily throw me out but he didn't.