Winter In Summer

CHAPTER 8

When I received the text from Missy, feel ko I hate myself for being jealous to her. Mali ba yon? Is it wrong to feel jealous to your bestfriend? Sa sobrang pagod ko kakaisip, nakatulog ako.

Another day, new process. I woke up early para hindi ko kasabay si Zimram, I was shocked na maaga niya ako hinintay sa labas. Napaiwas ako sa titig niya balak ko sanang iwasan o lampasan siya ngunit parang ang bastos naman noon.

"Di ako sasabay starting today, I didn't use my car in awhile", I casually said.

Nangunot ang kanyang noo sa pag babago ng aking pakikitungo sakanya.

"Do we have a problem, Rose? Iniiwasan mo ba ako?", he said.

I didn't know na mahulaan niya agad ang nangyayari ngayon. "There's no problem, busy lang".

Napasinghap siya sa rason ko, "Really?"

"Is it big deal ba? What, do you need the address of Missy?", hindi ko alam bakit brining up ko si Missy. Napaawang ang kanyang bunganga para bang sinasabi 'what's the connect?'.

"I'll go na", I said coldly. Pag andar ko sa aking sasakyan nakikita ko sa mirror si  ZImram na nakatingin sa sasakyan kong paalis.

Yes, I've decided this way, bago ako matuluyang mahulog sa kanya I want to keep my track on him. Ayokong lampasan ang linya sa pag kakaibigan and I won't afford to disappoint Missy. For pete's sake my bestfriend likes the same person as mine, such an ironic. Kahit dito lang ako babawi kay Missy giving her a comfort people for her. She deserves the best.

And maybe their right, I'm incompetent, I hate taking risks.

Pagdating ko sa KALA co. akala ko andon si Missy, that's weird first time niyang hindi niya ako bisitahin. Linabas ko ang aking phone at tinawagan ito.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Naphine?", Missy's secretary answered. I feel something weird. Bakit ang secretary niya ang sumagot sa tawag ko.

"SI Missy?", I asked.

"She's busy po, atm. She also said sorry for not visiting you today, it's very urgent daw po", she said.

Inend ko ang call.

What was that? "Rain! ", I called her out.

Luumapit siya sa akin, "Give me all the work to do.", I said. Her eyes went big because maybe this is the first I asked for work. Everything is first time.

"Are you sure po?", di paring makapaniwalang tanong niya. I just stared at her with the menacing look I'm not kidding.

Mabilis niya kinuha ang mga trabaho, unti unting napupuno ang aking table ng mga papeles.

After that day, hindi na nagtatagpo ang landas namin ni Zimram. 2 weeks was so long to me. I'm regretting my decision already, okay na sa akin na malapit kami sa isa't isa, na kahit friends lang but the thought of him and Missy together para akong binabalutan ng insecurities. This fact that having insecurities because of her, naguiguilty ako.

Papunta ako ngayon sa isang cafe for coffee but it surprised me. Infront of me two familiar faces, Missy and Zimram they are having a coffee. Parang nasaksak ng ilang needle yung puso ko. I was just there staring at them like a happy couple. Ito ba ang pinagkaka abalahan ng dalawang to? Kaya ba hindi kami nagkikita? Dito busy si Missy? Dating? Unti unti akong umalis doon.

Nagtrabaho lang ako, I didn't eat nawalan ako ng gana. What a hypocrite self, sabi ko kaya ko, okay lang...

Pagkatapos ng trabaho, dumiretsyo na ako pauwi. Nagulat ako pag kapasok ko sa elevator nasa loob si Zimram. The atmosphere was awkward. I can feel  his cold eyes over me because my body shivered. Buti nalang ilang segundo lang kami nasa elevator. Nauna akong lumakad sakanya. When I felt he pulled me.

"Rose...", malambing niyang tawag sa akin.

My heart was beating fast. Ang bilis, halo halong emosyon.

"Zimram", nahihirapan kong sabi.

Pinaharap niya ako sakanya. He looked at me coldly but something I can't read in his eyes.

Tumikhim siya, "Now, tell me... When will you stop avoiding me?"

Hindi ko alam anong sasabihin ko. In the first place, why the heck did I avoid him? Para kay Missy? Fuck that! Let's be real here, I'm scared to be hurt. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin sakanya.

"Kamusta kayo ni Missy?", hilaw ang aking ngiti.

"Missy again? The last time I checked yan rin ang huling pangalan narinig ko bago mo akong iwasan ng tuluyan", that hit me.

"I'm busy, let me go", hirap kong tinatanggal ang kamay ko na hawak niya at pinakawalan niya ako.

"Busy of what? Scarlet Rose Naphine", pagkabigkas ng buong pangalan ko, I was stunned.

"The lazy business woman", he added. Nainis ako ako sa sinabi niya. Is that the title I built for?

"And so?", I stand with my principles. I am a strong woman, bakit ako mag papakababa dahil lang dito.

He stepped forward. Naging malapit kami. Hindi ako nag patinag, matapang kong sinalubong ang kanyang mga malamig na mata. Ngunit napababa nanaman ang aking tingin sa aking mga sapatos, kinakain ako ako ng insecurities. MIssy is entitled at ako? Tamad.

"Chin up, Rose", he said soflty. Inangat ko ang aking ulo. Napalibot kami ng lamig.

Yumuko siya upang mapantayan ang aking mata. "Now tell me, Rose. Why does my FRIEND avoids me suddenly?".

My eyebrows furrowed noong narinig kong inemphasize niya yung word na firend. "I'm not your friend", mariin kong sabi noong na alala ko yung record.

"Hmmm...", his facial reaction became calmer. "Yeah, you're not my friend."

He suddenly hugged me, I could smell his scent sticking to my nose. "Damn, babe you made me sick for 2 weeks", he said while caressing my hair. I was just stilled in that position. Tinulak ko siya ng maalala ko si Missy. "You have Missy, Zimram. Stop hitting on me".

"We are not dating, Rose", he assured me.

May sasabihin pa sana ako pero biglang tumawag si Missy. Nanlaki ang aking mata dahil sa kaba. Mariin kong tinignan si Zimram. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! My gift is already infront of you. Please fix what your problem is. I hope hindi ako yan, I swear girl, we never dated.", Nagulat ako sa tawag ni Missy. I checked my phone. August 8, sa sobrang dami kong naiisip hindi ko namalayan na birthday ko pala.

Lumapit sa akin si Zimram, he held my hands. "I hated you to be my friend because the days we spent together was a rest for me. You got my heart's attention."

He looked emotionally into my eyes. The cold in his eyes melted!

"Happy Birthday, Rose", he kissed my forehead again.

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-WINTER IN SUMMER-