Her Unrequited Love

KABANATA 3

Sobrang saya ng puso ni Leah nang siya ay natulog sa gabing iyon. She didn't expect to get a message from Raziel! He's normally not that type of person to message someone when it's not purely business or work. Mukhang tumalab ata siguro sa lalaki ang kaniyang palihim na pang-aakit. Because of this outcome, it makes her want to seduce him more.

Kinabukasan, nang siya ay pumasok sa kompanya, kaunti pa lamang ang mga tao. She already expected it since she's way too early. Alas sais pa lang pero nandito na siya. She's an early bird kaya gano'n. Ayaw niyang ma late sa trabaho or hindi kaya dumating ng hindi maaga dahil pakiramdam niya ay hindi magiging maayos ang kaniyang mood sa buong araw. Getting to work early is a good way of starting a day.

"Good morning Leah! Ang fresh natin ngayon ah?" nakangising wika ng kaniyang kaibigan na si Paulo na nag t-trabaho rin dito sa kompanya ni Raziel. His grinning and teasing face would have annoyed her already but since she's in a good mood because of what happened last night, she smiled at her friend.

"Good morning!" she greeted back. Namutla ang buong mukha ni Paulo na para bang hindi ito makapaniwala sa kaniyang narinig. Umakto ito na parang may nakitang isang tao na patay na sana pero bigla na lang nabuhay at nagpakita. Itinaas nito ang nanginginig na kamay at tinuro siya habang tinatakpan ang bibig nito gamit ang palad.

"S-sino ka? A-asan ang kaibigan ko?" he asked, trembling. Mas lalo siyang napangisi dahil sa tanong nito. Ang lalaki ang palaging nang t-trip sa kaniya pero ngayon, parang may tumutulak sa kaniya na ibalik ang mga pang t-trip na ginawa nito. Just thinking about all the things he has done before to her, it makes her blood boil.

"She's dead already. It's me who replaced her," she replied in a nonchalant manner and shrugged her shoulders. Base pa lamang sa tono ng kaniyang boses at sa mga salita na kaniyang ginamit, sigurado na hindi maniniwala ang kaniyang kaibigan sa kaniya. Like hello, sino ba namang tanga ang maniniwala sa ganoon 'di ba?

Pero natigilan na lang si Leah nang mas lalong namutla ang buong mukha ni Paulo. Nawala ang ngisi sa kaniyang labi at napatitig na lang sa kaibigan. His whole body trembled even more. His pupils were also moving. Napakagat na lang siya sa kaniyang pang-ibabang labi.

What the hell? It's a joke and he seriously believes that? This idiot!

"I-ibalik mo ang kaibigan ko," nanginginig na dagdag pa nito at kinuha ang ballpen na nakasabit sa suot nitong puting polo. Her friend then pointed the ball pen at her as if he's ready to fight with her. Napairap na lang si Leah sa kawalan. Alam niyang tanga ang kaniyang kaibigan pero hindi niya alam na ganito pala iyon kalala.

Gusto niya tuloy itong murahin pero dahil ayaw niyang masira ang mood niya, kinalma na lang ni Leah ang sarili. Her boss, Raziel sending her a good night message only happens once in a blue moon. That's why she doesn't want to destroy this mood of her just because of her stupid friend.

"I'm just kidding, Paul. You're too serious." Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Paulo at may kung anong nagningning doon. Pagkaraan ay mahigpit siya nitong niyakap na para bang hindi sila nagkita sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Hinayaan na lang ni Leah ang tangang kaibigan.

"Wah! Akala ko totoo na!" Paulo cried out and hugged her even more. Halos hindi na siya makahinga sa sobrang higpit nang pagkakayakap nito sa kaniya. Pinilit ni Leah ang sarili na itulak ito pero sadyang mas malakas ang lalaki sa kaniya. Hindi pa rin siya makawala kahit na kanina pa niya ito tinutulak.

Just then, Leah couldn't help but think of how the hell did they become friends? She used to be a loner because all she did was to study aside from stalking Raziel. Natagpuan na lang niya ang kaniyang sarili na naging kaibigan ang lalaki. Paulo is not that smart but he's really good at sports. She even thought he might be a pro in the future but unfortunately, this idiot decided to work in the same field as her.

Mukhang sila atang dalawa ang tanga. May magandang kinabukasan ang naghihintay sa kanila pero hito sila ngayon. Pinili ang mag trabaho sa kumpanya ni Raziel. This idiot Paulo seems to like Raziel too since he followed her here. But Raziel is hers, there's no way he'll let her friend get Raziel–

"What are you two doing?"

Mabilis pa sa cheetah na humiwalay si Leah at si Paulo sa isa't isa nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. That deep and chilly voice that makes one's body hairs raise, Leah already knows who that person was.

"S-sir R-raziel…"

"G-good morning sir…"

Hindi alam ni Leah ang gagawin. Titingnan ba niya ang lalaki sa mga mata o manatiling nakayuko. She just can't move her head. Especially now that she felt like her whole face was burning. Memories from last night came flooding inside her mind. Making her heart pounded in an undeniably fast rate and making her feel flustered.

The ever confident and unbothered Leah suddenly became like this because of a man. It's ridiculous but what can she do? Sobrang lalim ng tama ni Raziel sa kaniya na maging siya ay hindi makapaniwala dahil doon. That's why she needs to make Raziel like her. Para naman fair 'di ba?

"I'm asking you, what are you two doing earlier?" Napaigtad si Leah at mabilis na napatingin kay Raziel. Kaagad na sumalubong sa kaniya ang nakakunot nitong guwapong mukha. Leah suddenly felt like taking a picture of Raziel being like this. He looks like he is sulking or something. It's adorable.

Leah cleared her throat and answered,

"A-ah nothing sir…" Pagkatapos ay siniko niya ang tagiliran ni Paulo. The man jumped a bit and immediately spoke.

"Y-yes sir! It's nothing…" he also spoke nervously as her signal. Imbes na mawala ang nakakunot na mukha ni Raziel, mas lalo lang ata iyong dumilim at nalukot. Napaawang na lang ang kaniyang bibig.

What the, why does he look mad?

"Whatever," iyon lang ang naging sagot ni Raziel at tumalikod na. Namilog ang mga mata ni Leah at hindi makapaniwala na tumingin sa papalayong likod ng lalaki. Nang matauhan siya ay kaagad na tumakbo siya para sundan ang papalayong bulto ng kaniyang boss, pero bago pa man siya tuluyan makahakbang ay may pumigil sa kaniya.

"Hey! Let go!" Leah grumbled unhappily and tried pulling her hand from Paulo's grip. The man sighed heavily before letting her go. Mabilis na kinuha ni Leah ang pagkakataon na iyon para sundan si Raziel. Bago pa man niya tuluyang maiwan si Paulo ay narinig niya itong nagsalita.

"I really can't win when it comes to him huh?"

Sobrang tahimik ng buong office ni Raziel. Hindi alam ni Leah kung nakailang ulit na ba siya nagpahid ng kaniyang pawis sa noo. Ilang beses na rin siya napapalunok nang wala sa oras. Simula noong nangyari kanina ay naging ganito na si Raziel. Sobrang lamig at dilim ng guwapong mukha nito habang nagbabasa ng reports.

Nang hindi na niya nakayanan pa ay inipon ni Leah ang lahat ng lakas loob na meron siya at binuka ang kaniyang labi para magsalita.

"S-sir… is something bothering you?" she asked, a bit nervous and worried at the same time. Kanina pa kasi nakatitig si Raziel sa report na hawak-hawak nito. It's a five page report. Kung tutuusin ay mabilis lang iyon basahin pero mag t-trenta minutos na lang pero hindi pa tapos ang lalaki. Sumasakit na rin ang kaniyang mga binti kakatayo. Gusto na niyang bumalik sa kaniyang table.

Raziel froze and glanced at her. His lips bobbled up and down. Looking at his expression, he looks like he was really bothered by something. Binitawan ni Raziel ang hawak na papel at seryoso ang mga mata na tiningnan siya.

"Are you and that guy in a relationship?" Raziel muttered in a serious tone. It was so serious to the point that Leah couldn't help but feel dazed for a moment. Her jaw dropped a bit.

"Huh?" was all she could say. Hindi siya makapaniwala na itatanong ni Raziel ang bagay na iyon sa kaniya. Mukhang natauhan ang lalaki sa sinabi nito at mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin. From this distance, kitang-kita ni Leah kung paano namula ang tainga ni Raziel na mas lalong nagpagulantang sa kaniyang mundo.

Emotions she hadn't met before started going around crazy inside her chest. Hindi maipaliwanag ni Leah kung ano ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. It feels so unknown but at the same time comforting. Leah sucked her lower lip gently.

What's this? Why is he asking such a thing? Is he really that bothered because he saw me and Paulo hugged earlier?

Leah asked herself. Pinigilan niya ang sarili na kiligin. So tama talaga ang kaniyang hinala kanina na ang dahilan kung bakit naging ganito ang kaniyang boss na si Raziel ay dahil sa nakita nito kanina. Gosh, is he perhaps jealous?

Leah wanted to giggle so bad but chose not to. Pero kahit na anong pigil niya, hindi pa rin niya maiwasan ngumisi na parang isang tanga dahil sa sobrang kilig na nararamdaman. Tumikhim bigla si R-raziel kaya pansamantalang nakalimutan niya ang kilig sa kaniyang puso.

"F-forget it and continue your work." Napanguso na lang siya nang bumalik na naman sa dati si Raziel. Para hindi masayang ang kilig na kaniyang nararamdaman ngayon at mas lalong maging tagumpay ang kaniyang plano, she smiled mischievously.

"We're not in a relationship if that's bothering you, sir. We're just friends," diniin talaga niya ang pagkakabigkas sa salitang friends para dama ng kaniyang amo. His eyes grew wide as if he was surprised about it. Pagkaraan ay bumalik ulit sa dati pero hindi kagaya kanina, his eyes right now held both relief and contentment.

Mas lalong lumakas ang t***k ng kaniyang puso dahil doon. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly and only stared at Raziel's handsome face. The relief expression he showed earlier was something else. Sa tagal-tagal na niyang kasama ang lalaki, ngayon lang niya nakita ito na gumawa ng ganoong klase ng ekspresyon.

"Really? That's good. I don't plan on having a secretary who's in a relationship with someone," he said arrogantly. Napahagikhik na lang si Leah. Raziel is really complicated but at the same damn amusing. Kahit kailan ay hinding-hindi ata siya malulungkot kapag ang lalaki ang kasama.

And what the heck does he mean about that? Parang hindi isang CEO ang nagsalita. Is there even a rule like that? It doesn't make sense. But then, she'll just assume that Raziel is jealous.

Ah, he's really too hard to understand but then, he's just so good to be true. It's as if he was written by a woman.

As if wanting to lighten the atmosphere more, Leah began walking away. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang nagbabagang mga titig ni Raziel sa kaniya pero hindi siya lumingon. Binuksan niya ang malaking pinto ng office nito at bago pa man siya tuluyang umalis, lumingon muna siya sa lalaki.

"Don't worry sir, sayo lang po ako," nakangisi niyang deklara at mabilis na sinarado ang pinto. Pagkaraan ay napasandal na lang siya sa nakasaradong pinto at napadaosdos ng upo. Leah slowly raised her trembling hand and clenched her chest.

Dang it. Mamatay ata ako dahil sa heart attack.

After that scene, balik na ulit sa dati ang buhay ni Leah. She became busy again because of work and she temporarily forgot about Raziel. Later that lunch, Raziel called for her.

"Sir, you call for me?" Raziel, who was looking outside the glass window, turned around and looked at her. Napahawak na lang si Leah sa lamesa na kaniyang katabi nang mangatog ang kaniyang mga binti dahil sa kakaibang titig ng lalaki. .

"Yes, I want you to help me with something," seryosong ani nito at tinuro ang magulong necktie nito. Napangiti na lang si Leah at walang salita na lumapit kay Raziel.

Raziel is born with everything. He's good in everything he does but with an exception of something. Hindi ito marunong magkabit ng necktie. Iwan niya ba kung bakit. Ilang beses na rin niya tinuruan ang lalaki pero hindi talaga nito makuha. Hanggang sa sumuko na lang siya.

"You're good at everything yet you suck at doing this. You should learn this you know?" Leah mumbled with a huge grin on her face. Suplado lamang na nag-iwas ng tingin ang lalaki. Hindi iyon pinansin ni Leah at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa. They're so close, but at the same time felt so far away.

"You're here. Why should I bother?" he asked with his left brow raising. It made Leah frozen for a moment. Later on, she smiled while letting out a sigh.

"You want me to tie your necktie for you forever? Baka magsawa ka sa mukha ko?" mapaglarong wika niya. Raziel snorted.

"As if that will happen."

Napatitig na lang si Leah sa mukha ni Raziel. Her heart was pounding so loud and constricting so hard. She doesn't know what to do with her feelings anymore. She feels like Raziel is making her full even more.

If that's what he wants, then, she'll fall for him even more deeper.