Love Me Again

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Are you sure he's alone inside?" paninigurado ni Carson.

Mabuti nang masiguro nya dahil ayaw na nyang maulit ang nangyari. The last time she went inside his office, she witnessed a scandal. Hindi na nya kakayanin kapag naulit pa uli iyon.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you, Anj."

Lumakad na ang dalaga papunta sa familiar na hallway habang sinusuklay ang wavy na buhok. Binilisan nya lang ang paliligo kanina para makapagblower pa sya. Hindi na nya nagawang ayusin pa ang buhok kaya hinayaan na lang nya iyong nakalugay. Since it was Saturday at biglaan din ang meeting, casual clothes lang ang isinuot nya. It was a plain white dress shirt tucked inside her black jeans. Pero dahil meeting pa rin iyon sa client, she decided to wear a 4-inch black.

Tatlong marahang katok ang ginawa ng dalaga nang makarating sya sa tapat nang pintuan bago nya iyon tuluyang binuksan. Agad na nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya si Theo nang makitang sumilip sya sa opisina nito.

"Come in." He said.

Marahang pumasok si Carson habang lumilinga sa paligid. Hindi nya maiwasang hindi mapraning na baka may kasama pala ito sa office nito.

"What are you doing there?" kunot noong tanong ni Theo.

Doon napatingin ang dalaga sa lalaki. "Ha?"

Theo gestured the chair across his desk telling her to sit down.

Hindi sya nito binitawan nang tingin kahit noong naglakad na ang dalaga palapit sa mahogany desk nito. Naroon na naman tuloy sa dibdib ni Carson ang kakaibang feeling na hindi nya maipaliwanag.

Tahimik na umupo doon ang dalaga saka nagdekwatro matapos ipatong ang bag sa katapat na silya. Lihim nyang pinagmasdan si Theo. It was her second time to see him in casual clothes. He was wearing a simple grey V-neck shirt. Humahakab sa matipunong dibdib nito ang tshirt. Sayang lang at hanggang doon lang ang abot ng tingin ng dalaga dahil nakaupo ito.

"Sorry for the very short notice. I understand it's the weekend and you might have plans."

Umiling si Carson at ngumiti. "It's fine. Sanay naman ako sa mga urgent meetings kahit weekend. Your EA told me about the samples I sent you. May problema ba?"

Tulad ng naalala nya, all the products were in perfect condition. Never naman silang nagpadala ng may damage kahit sabihing samples iyon.

"Wala naman. That's not actually the reason why I called you."

Napakunot noo si Carson sa narinig pero hindi nagtanong.

"My mom asked for your number."

"Ang mommy mo?" nagtatakang ulit nya. "Bakit?"

"She wants to invite you next weekend at home. Dinner. I just want to let you know before she calls you today."

Tumango-tango si Carson. Iyon lang naman pala ang sasabihin, pinapunta pa sya nito sa opisina. Pwede naman syang i-text na lang.

"You see, you don't really have to go. I understand you're busy and I already told mom about it. But she's very persistent sometimes." Paliwanag ng binata habang nasa computer ang mga mata. "Just don't be shy to decline."

Napahalukipkip si Carson at tinitigan ang kaharap. "You don't want me to come?" she asked.

Napatingin sa kanya si Theo. Gaya ng normal, blanko sa emosyon ang mga mata nito.

"I didn't say that."

"Pero ganoon na rin ang ibig mong sabihin sa mommy mo."

Pinakatitigan sya nito. "Why, do you want to come?"

Carson shrugged. "Why not? I won't ever say 'no' to food."

Napailing na lang si Theo na ikinangiti ng malapad ng dalaga. Of course, she knows he doesn't want her to come pero hindi nya alam kung bakit ba aliw na aliw syang nakikita na naiinis ito. Oh well, serves him right. Quits na sila dahil pinapunta din naman sya nito doon nang wala naman importanteng dahilan.

Dinampot na nya ang bag na ikinaangat ng tingin ni Theo.

"You're leaving?"

She nodded. "Mukhang tapos na rin naman tayong mag-usap. I better go."

"Home?"

Umiling si Carson saka tumayo. "Dadaan muna ako sa office sandali. I need to check on some things."

Tumayo na din ang binata at dinampot ang cellphone.

"Let's go."

"Ha?"

Nauna nang naglakad si Theo palabas.

"I'll go with you." Sagot nito nang nasa hallway na sila.

Mas lalo lang naguluhan si Carson at napakamot sa ulo.

"Bakit?"

"I'm actually planning to visit your office one of these days, but I thought why not do it today. I do that to my suppliers to make sure that the quality of the products reaches the standard qualifications."