Because I Don't Love You

Chapter 25

Kalila's POV:

Mas marami pa yata ang lagok ko ng alak kaysa sa iilang minuto na nakalipas mula nung dumating si Patrick dito kina Bea. I discretely take glances towards him and Mireille. She seemed to be a lot more cheerful than usual. I can't help but feel something stir up inside me, parang biglang nagkulang ng hangin sa palagid at unti-unti nang humirap ang paghinga ko.. but I did my best to keep it away by drinking.

Being the hostess as she is, Bea is there to entertain Patrick along with our other officemates. Mukhang kilala na ng iba sa kanila si Patrick. Makikita mo kung gaano ka-friendly si Patrick sa mga tao kahit na kaka-kilala niya pa lang.

Saglit na iginala ko ang mga mata ko sa paligid at ang karamihan sa mga babae kong officemate ay nakatingin sa direksyon nina Patrick. Cute na cute sila at hindi maalis ang tignin sa tila pinaghalong cute and mischievous aura ng lalaki. He seems not too soft, and not too strong either. Para siyang nasa midline ng tro-tropahin at jo-jowain.

While a lot of people seem interested at Patrick...

..I only have my eyes para dun sa babaeng katabi niya.

Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pag-inom habang iginagala ang tingin sa paligid. Mas maigi na rin siguro na medyo ilayo-layo ko rin ang atensyon ko sa kanilang dalawa. Even though I try to be discrete as possible, it's still awkward to take short glances to them from time to time.

I shift my eyes from my drink, to the people singing and dancing, and minsan.. sa bar counter, kung nasaan si Via. Habang umiinom ay saglit ko rin siyang natitignan. She will sometimes look at Patrick and Mireille's direction. Pero nakakapagtaka na rin na pagkatapos nun ay mapapatingin din siya sa akin. Nakaka-ilang tuloy dahil mahuhuli niya ako na nakatingin sa kanya. Pero she seems unbothered by it and continues to look at nowhere as she drinks.

Unti-unti na kong nakakaramdam ng hilo kaya naisip ko na pumunta na muna ng comfort room para maghilamos at ayusin ang itsura ko. Ibinaba ko ang hawak kong baso at dahan-dahang tumayo patungo sa kinaroroonan ng banyo. Located ang comfort room nina Bea around sa kitchen area at medyo malayo sa living room.

Tahimik lang ako na naglalakad at malapit na ko sa pintuan ng cr nang napabalikwas ako sa taong bigla-biglang tumatayo sa harapan ko.

"Yes..?", I asked with a slight crease in my forehead. I gave a half smile while I try to look not tipsy as possible. But the truth is.. I am so confused and quite surprised as of the moment. 

"Patrick, right?", I sluggishly say as I struggle to keep my eyes open. 

He nodded and smiled a little. He was narrowing his eyes as it seems that he was observing my current state. 

He tilted his head on the side, opening his mouth a bit but closing it once more. Mukhang may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya lang matuloy-tuloy kung ano man ito. 

"Umm..", he spoke after a little while. "Are you okay? Miss..?", he asked genuinely while he crosses his arms over his chest.

Medyo nagtaka naman ako sa pagtatanong niya out of nowhere."Kalila", sagot ko sa kanya. "Yes. I am okay. Thanks for asking", I smiled a little.

His expression had changed a little and he has now a playful smirk in his face.  Hindi ko alam kung naitatago ko pa ba ang pagtataka sa mga inaakto niya pero pinili ko na lang munang tumahimik para abangan ang mga susunod niyang sasabihin. 

"Kalila.. right", he was slowly nodding with a satisfied smile as if he was correct about something.

He seemed to notice that I was a little confused at his actions so he suddenly spoke up. "Okay, I just want to ask you some.. things. I hope it's okay?", his smirk had turned into a grin as he pleads.