Can I Have You? gxg (Short Story)

Part 2- Insider

Note: Isabel Lobo on the multimedia box.

***

I felt the electricity as our hands touched.

I was mesmerized.

"Isabel... Isabel... " Tanya wake me up from my daydream.

Natauhan ako bigla. I looked down on our hands. I was still holding her. I quickly took away my hand from her.

"S-sorry." I apologized.

She just nod.

"By the way Tanya, what was the favor you're talking about lately?" Cristina said, not knowing I was still staring at her.

"Ganito yun. My friend Isa needs your help. Di naman to big problem eh. She just need to finish her novel by next week. Erhh.. Maybe she needs advice from you. Or you could help her. Bago lang kasi siya. And this is her first job." Tanya's talumpati.

"Sure." Sabi niya ng walang pag-aalinlangan. And then she look at me. "I'll call you pag meron akong free time." And by that, her phone rings.

"Hello?... Yes.... Yeah... We were about to conduct  a meeting a while ago... Uhuh..." Pagdaldal niya sa phone.

"See? Ganyan siya kabilis kausap." Tanya. Feeling proud of herself.

"Yeah you win. Let's go at humanda ka sakin paglabas." Mahina kong sabi sa kanya.

Hihilahin ko na sana siya palabas but Cristina called me.

"Isabel?" sabi niya habang nasa tenga pa rin niya ang phone.

"Yes po?"

"Iwan mo yung number mo." She said handling me a small notebook and ballpen.

*****

"Araaaaay!" Napaigtad si Tanya sa pingot ko.

"Tama lang yan sayo."

"Bakit ba? Tinulungan ka na nga eh." Sabi nya habang himas-himas ang tenga niyang pulang-pula.

"Oo nga. Pero nakakahiya yung ginawa mo." Sabi ko.

"Anong nakakahiya dun. Hiningan lang naman kita ng tulong ah."

"Salamat hah. Supervisor yun Tanya. Para mo na rin sinabeng hindi ako magaling."

"Hindi ganun yon. Nahihirapan ka diba? Sabi mo."

"Hay naku. Salamat sa concern mo." Sarkastiko kong sagot.

"Walang anuman." Sabi niya habang plastik na nakangiti.

"Ang ingay niyo ha! Natutulog ako eh." Reklamo ni Ana na natutulog sa couch ng sala kung san kami nag-uusap ni Tanya.

"Hoy Anabelle Dolores Segunda kung gusto mo matulog dun ka sa bahay mo." Si Tanya. Na kunyari ay galit.

"Eto naman di mabiro. Sige mag-usap lang kayo diyan. Di naman kayo nakakaabala sakin eh."

"Bute naman. Kung ayaw mong

mapalabas dito sa bahay ko."

"Oo na kagandahan!"

Natawa na lang ako sa kanila.

"Siya nga pala Isa, tumawag na ba sayo si Cristina?" Si Tanya.

I remembered her again.

"Nope." Sabi ko sabay tingin sa screen ng phone ko.

"Oohhkay." May pagdududa sa tono niya.

"O baket? Ba't ganyan yung tingin mo?"

"Walaaahh.."