Chapter 6
1222 Words
I was still groggy when I hit snooze on my alarm the following morning. Kyle did surprise me with that text. It was very forward yet passive. I don't know if I would be doing myself a huge favor if I go, because damn it, I really, really want to say yes to that invitation.
But what about moving on?
I thought about consulting Dawn with this. Pero alam kong isa lang ang sasabihin niya. Masasampal na niya talaga ako kapag nagpatuloy pa ako sa kahibangan ko na ito.
I grudgingly left my bed and took a slighlt longer time in the sbower than my normal routine. I was kinda hoping that the cold morning water may straighten my thinking.
It was already seven in the morning when I hurry downstairs. Mama already made me toasts and a freshly cup of brewed coffee which is set beside my packed lunch.
She was by the stove, casually talking to papa on the phone.
"Good morning, papa!" I cheerfully greeted, sneaking behind mama. "Or should I say good evening?" I continued, seeing that ut's already dark in the US.
Papa let out a laugh but was cut short when he started coughing. My mother handed me her phone and readied myself to give my father some lecturing.
"Papa, I told you. You should stop the smoking." I did my best scowling face in the hopes of scaring him.
"You know, when you do that face, my love, it looks like I'm staring at my own reflection." Well, I am the spiting image of my father.
I giggle with his reply, but I quickly recovered my footing, "But I'm serious papa. Medyo lumalala na 'yang ubo mo. Wala ka pa man din kasama diyan."
"I'm okay, my love. Ubo lang ito."
Muli akong napa-iling. "Mama pagsabihan mo nga itong best friend mo. Napaka-tigas ng ulo." Sabay abot ko kay mama ng phone.
I sat by the dinning and helped myself with my breakfast.
"Nang mag-asawa nga kami hindi ko siya napahintong manigarilyo, ngayon pa kayang balik best friends kami?" I heard my mother saying followed by another round of their laughter.
My mother set her phone down by the divider on top of the kitchen sink and continued talking to my father about an article she read. I silently watched them in amusement. I still find it incredible that even after all the divorce drama, they still ended up with no bad blood towards each other.
They are really just meant to be best friends. Swerte daw lang talaga sila dahil nagkaroon sila ng anak.
I was in my car, headed towards the office, when I remebered about the text that bombarded my thoughts last night.
Taking advantage over the red stop light, I reached for my phone and read Kyle's message again.
"Re-reply-an ko ba?"
I was still contemplaiting when the light turned green. I guess, I still have the 10-minutes drive to the office for me to think this one through.
When I reached my usual parking, I fished out my phone and started typing my reply.
Me: Hi, Kyle. Really sorry for replying just now. But anyway, is it okay if I ask what our agenda might be?"
Reply bubbles immediately appeared on my screen, telling me that he had been anticipating my text.
Kyle: I kinda need of your help with something.
Me: Something?
Kyle: I can explain more if we meet?
I looked at my screen. Bakit at saan niya kailangan ng tulong ko? I feel something about this. Pero, sh!t. Ang rupok ko pagdating sa taong ito.
Me: Okay then. What time do you suggest?
Kyle: Does lunch sound good? We can eat at the Japanese restaurant near your office.
Me: Okay. See you.
Kyle: Thanks, Clo. See you.
Do I say, 'you're welcome'?
My phone and I got into a staring contest before I dropped it back to my bag and let my head fall on my steering wheel.
"Jhauztine Chloe, hindi ka na talaga natuto!" Sambit ko.
Dawn's really going to kill me for this.
I stayed inside my car for a moment before I mustered enough strength to go to the office.
Good thing, I got very busy with all the projects I was assigned with. With Kuya Warren still hospitalized, some of us we're re-assigned and transfered to other projects.
Though the Architecture department took the most blow, other sectors weren't actually safe from the sudden event. My team isn't an exemption.
Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na kung hindi dahil dito, hindi kami ulit magkikita ni Kyle. Siguro hanggang ngayon, hinahangaan ko pa rin siya sa malayo. Hindi ko nga lang masabi kung may maidulot ba sa'king maganda ang lahat. Ever since our 're-meeting' - as he would term it - I've been crying a lot.
My thoughts were disturbed when my phone lit up, displaying Kyle's name again.
Kyle: Already here, Clo. See you.
I checked my watch and and it's still ten minutes before twelve. I stretched my limbs and decided to call it an early lunch.
Nagulat naman ang mga katrabaho ko nang sinabing kong hindi ako sasabay sa kanila. Naisip ko na rin ang pinabaon ni mama kaso hindi ko talaga matanggihan ang isang pagkakataon na 'to.
Alam kong malaki ang chance na iiyak na naman ako at masasaktan, pero hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit sige pa rin ako nang sige.
The restaurant was jampacked when I arrived. I surveyed the place and saw Kyle waving at me when he spotted me by the entrance.
Ngayon at nangyayari na nga ito, bigla akong kinabahan. I didn't really give this moment much of a thought except now. We're meeting, and about to discuss a non-work-related topic.
Dumagundong ang puso ko sa dibdib ko habang namamawis ang mga palad ko. I knew I was walking my normal pace, but it felt like an eternity when I reached the table he reserved.
"Hello." he greeted, one of his dimples taking surface. I gulped and forced myself not to concentrate there.
"Hi." I croaked.
His smile widened before he stood up and pulled a chair for me.
"Gusto mo bang mag-order na muna tayo?" tanong niya pero umiling ako.
Hindi ko na kaya pang patagalin pa ito. My anxiety is fast consuming my insides, making my stomach knot.
"What is it that you wanted help with, Kyle?"
He scratched the back of his head, his face a shade of light pink. He looked away, staring at something before he cleared his throat.
"Last time, when we had the talk about my personal life. It's really cool how you got around everything I said to you. Na-realized ko na magaling kang mag-advice. And . . ahh. ."
Please, don't tell me this is what I think it is. I closed my eyes briefly. I should have listened to Dawn on my shoulder when it shouted for me not to meet him.
"And I-I need your help. .sa sitwasyon namin ni Reena. I don't know anything about this because I never felt this way towards any woman beside her. That is. .kung okay lang sa'yo?"
Help.
He needed my help.
But what about me? Who's going to help me when I begin to sink deeper into this crazy unreciprocated attraction?
- Writer
