"May I order the designer?"
Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang narinig ang pamilyar na boses ng lalaking 'yon. Napangiti ako nang nakita siya. Hindi nga ako nagkamali.
"Hash!"
Mabuti nalang at may istanteng nakapagitan sa amin. Baka hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong yakapin siya kapag nagkataon.
Nilibot niya ang mga mata sa loob ng shop ko. I simply eyed him giving attention to my designs. Hashim was smiling when he turned his eyes on me. His eyes shone and glistened with bliss.
"I didn't know that you carried out my suggestions," manghang usal niya habang walang sawa na pinagmamasdan ang interior design ng shop nang nakapamulsa.
"Siempre naman, Engineer Nezcuda." Ngumiti ako saka tinigil ang paglista ng mga online orders. I went to him. "Wala namang masama. Maganda rin pala ang pre-Spanish interior." Mula sa carpet hanggang sa wall frame ay sinunod ko 'yong suggestions niya. But the content of my shop was modern.
"This wasn't what I expected it to be."
My chin turmoiled. "Bakit? Hindi ba maganda?" The insecurity wasn't hidden just how I tried it to be.
"Nope." He caught my eyes and showed his not so deep but attractive dimple just beside the left corner of his lips. "It exceeds my expectation."
"Talaga?"
Tumango siya. "Yup!"
My smile widened. I could feel my eyes twinkled. "I didn't expect you here. Ano nga pala ang ginagawa mo rito? I thought you're still battling with your hangover by now."
"I didn't drink enough to burn my liver. I went to sleep right after you go home." I frowned and walked to the glass shelf.
"Bakit naman? Hindi ka ba nag-enjoy?" I checked the invoices sent by our suppliers that were on top of the shelf.
"Sabi mo magpahinga na ako. Sayang naman kung hindi kita susundin tapos hindi kita hinatid."
"You're crazy, don't you know that?" Ginawa kong kaswal ang sinabi ko pero sa loob ay lumundag sa tuwa ang puso ko. Baliw talaga ang lalaking 'to. Ginawang literal ang sinabi ko kagabi. "So, anong connect ng pagpunta mo nga rito?"
Kinuha ko ang isang record book para alamin ang schedule ng mga supply deliveries. Ugh! Nakalimutan kong sabihin kay Jersey na ma-dedelay pala ang supply ng lumber.
"I'm here to ask you out for lunch."
Natigil ako sa akmang pagkuha ng ballpen dahil sa narinig. Nakakunot ang noo na nilingon ko siya.
"Ang aga mo naman mananghalian," usal ko saka sinulyapan ang suot kong relo. It's still 11:00 in the morning.
"I know. I just came early to make sure you're still not having your lunch."
"Sigurista ka. Bagay sa'yo maging businessman. Hindi engineer," biro ko saka minarkahan ng pula ang schedule ng J & J Lumber bilang sign na delayed ang delivery nito.
"You think so?"
"Hmm," I hummed while looking down on the record book. Nag-angat ako ng tingin saka tinawag si Jersey.
"Bakit, Hari?" Agad siyang sumulpot. 20 years old lang siya. Mas matanda ako ng 8 years. But I wanted her to address me with my name than other formal addresses. Nakakabata kapag pangalan ko.
"Inform lang kita na ma-dedelay ang supplier natin sa mga tabla. Tumawag na sakin kanina si Mister Manansala. Ngayon ko lang naalala. And, aalis ako ngayon. Take care of the shop."
BINABASA MO ANG
BDSM SOCIETY: Convicted To You
Romance"Go on, whip me...until you came." "I won't be gentle, Hari." "Be harsh to me, then." When giving your everything for the one you loved, Hari was downright wrong for thinking that it will be enough to make her loved one stay. After all the sacrifice...