Saving Harper

Ganti

"Oh." Yun lang yung reaction ni Julian. It looked like he didn't really know na I'm supposed to have a boyfriend. Which was weird because if he talked to my mom to find me, it should have come up during the conversation. But maybe he just asked where I was.

I was frowning. But I found myself already nodding slowly, agreeing to what Xavier said.

Just when I thought I was in the clear with this whole pretending thing, nandito nanaman ako. Right where I started. I was burying myself deeper and deeper instead of trying to get over all my confusing feelings towards Xavier and to also try to get my shit together so I can go back to just working peacefully.

"Well I guess madami ka pang ginagawa? But I want to ask you out to dinner. Tonight maybe? I can pick you up here if you want." Julian asked.

I quickly glanced at Xavier.

"Comeon, it's just dinner. Pagbigyan mo nako kasi ngayon nalang ulit ako umuwi." Julian said almost pleadingly. Napasimangot sa kanya si Xavier as if nagtataka kung bakit biglang nagmamakaawa sakin si Julian.

"Umm. Xavier and I have plans tonight." I said that very slowly like I wasn't even sure. Because I wasn't sure if I really wanted to eat with any of them tonight. I want to just sleep off all these complications.

It was easier to say that Xavier and I have plans because I can just tell Xavier na what I just really want to do is go home and sleep.

"Well, your boyfriend can join us. If he wants to." He looked at Xavier. I shook my head at Xavier trying to tell him na wag but he wasn't looking at me. He was sizing up Julian.

"Yeah why not." Xavier shrugged.

Okay from not wanting to dine with any of them, I end up having to do it with both.

"Kayo nalang kaya kumaing dalawa?" I exhaustingly said to Xavier as soon as Julian was out of my door.

I placed the flowers he gave me sa coffee table. We just agreed to meet Julian at some restaurant in BGC after work since may mga gagawin din sya.

"Di ko sya type." Xavier said flatly as I walked back sa desk ko. Iniiwasan ko yung couch kasi pag dun ako umupo makakatulog talaga ako.

"I guess we just need to get this over with." I said. I was feeling really really sleepy and 2pm pa lang. I don't think I'll survive this dinner.

Xavier took the paper bag that Julian gave me that I placed on my desk and peeked inside. "Huh. I was right." 

Napasimangot ako sa sinasabi nya. "You were right about what?"

He took out the box of perfume. It was Daisy by Marc Jacobs. It's what I'm using since college pa lang. And Julian remembered that.

"I knew it. Eto yung amoy mo." Apparently alam din ni Xavier. "How exactly did you know that? Do you go around smelling women's necks?" Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay.

Natawa sya. "That's a good idea."

"Well don't let me stop you." I said nonchalantly.

I tried my hardest to not picture Xavier smelling some girl's neck. STOP TORTURING YOURSELF, HARPER. And wala kang pakielam if he does it. I stopped my imagination from running wildly.