The Last Teardrop (TS3)

Chapter 24

"After this we'll stroll around the resort. Do you want to swim?" Asher asked while we were taking our breakfast in the restaurant.

I've been silent since he told me his feelings earlier. Nakaligo at nakapagpalit na kami ng damit pero heto at hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong ire-react ko. Mukhang wala rin naman sa kanya kahit hindi ako sumagot.

"You should eat more, Sam. We'll have lots of activities to do for today. Sulitin natin ang dalawang araw mong bakasyon."

My forehead slowly creased when his words registered in my mind.

"Bakasyon? This isn't a vacation for me, Ash. We're here for your furnitures, right?"

His lips parted a bit and that's when I noticed the guilt slowly drawing on his face especially when his eyes started blinking for a couple of times. Hindi na siya makatingin sa akin habang binabalatan ang sugpo sa plato ko.

"Don't tell me you lied about the furnitures?" I looked around as if trying to find the space where he needs it. "Where's the new building that you said needing furnitures inside? And the lobby..." bumagal ang pagsasalita ko nang maalala kung gaano kaganda at kaayos ang lobby ng hotel niya. Bakit hindi ko agad napansin 'yun noong dumating kami kahapon?

I closed my lips in a thin grim line, trying to control myself. My sharp eyes then darted at him, who silently continued peeling the tiger shrimp for me. He's acting like he isn't hearing anything while my blood was starting to boil because of him.

"You lied." I stated a matter of fact.

Hindi ko nga lang magawang magalit nang tuluyan dahil sa itsura niya. He's cutely pouting his lips while doing his thing. Namumungay ang mga mata at kung pwedeng umiyak, baka ginawa na niya. Parang batang pinagagalitan dahil nahuling gumawa ng kalokohan.

"Why did you lie, Asher? I rushed my work good for two days para samahan ka rito kasi sabi mo kailangan mo ng tulong ko. I even left Juliana alone in the company and made up lies para lang payagan niya akong mag-leave. Do you understand what I left in Manila just to be with you here?"

I was waiting for him to answer pero mukhang wala talaga siyang balak kausapin ako. Pinanuod ko siyang tahimik lang na nagbabalat ng sugpo. When he's done, he reached for the tissue and cleaned his hands before lifting my plate to give it to me.

"Kumain ka na." He sounded so serious while putting my plate in front of me. He even put fried rice and sunny side up egg on it before he got food for him.

My eyes lingered at him for a couple of minutes. I don't know why I'm liking different versions of him. I just like it when he's makulit, mapang-asar, mad, childish and now being this serious. He can be anything but he still looks good at it.

"I'm sorry for lying." Natigil ako sa pagdampot ng knife at fork nang magsalita siya ulit. He's now looking at me with his guilty yet determined eyes. "I just thought that I need to do that so you'd come with me. Alam ko kasing hindi ka sasama kapag sinabi kong magbabakasyon tayo."

"Because I have lots of things to do in the company, Ash. Alam mo naman 'yun 'di ba?"

"And you need some time to rest. I understand your concern for your dad and your sister but you also need to consider yourself." He paused and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry that I resorted to luring you into this. I just want you to relax a bit. You're too stressed-out for the past weeks and I'm just concerned for your health. You've been overworking yourself. Loosen a little, Sam. Just enjoy and relax for two days then I'll bring you back to that hell of company after."