The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 15

“HAZE, for you.”

Natigilan bigla si Haze nang humarang sa harapan niya si Jade saka may inaabot itong bulaklak. They were on the lobby of the building and some of their co-employees saw them. Hindi naging komportable si Haze lalo na at nakakakuha siya ng atensiyon ng ibang tao.

“Jade, stop this. Sinabi ko na sa ‘yo. Hindi kita gusto.” Sabi ni Haze saka nilagpasan si Jade.

“I won’t give up!”

Hindi na pinansin ni Haze si Jade. Tumakbo siya patungong elevator at natigilan siya nang makita si Nicolo na nasa loob ng elevator.

“He’s pursuing you?” Nicolo asked. He was annoyed. Nasa boses nito na hindi nito gusto ang nangyayari.

Tumango si Haze. “I don’t like him. I already refused him many times but he was persistent.”

Namulsa si Nicolo saka sumandal sa dingding ng elevator. “Do you want him to stop pestering you?” he asked.

Tumingin si Haze kay Nicolo. “Do you have a way?”

“I have a way but you might become uncomfortable. I noticed that you were distancing yourself from men. My idea might make you feel uncomfortable so it’s useless,” sabi ni Nicolo habang nakatingin sa mata ni Haze.

Hindi kaya ni Haze ang makipagtitigan kay Nicolo kaya naman nag-iwas siya ng tingin. “Anong bang iniisip mo?” tanong niya.

Nicolo looked at Haze. Hindi niya naintindihan ang sinabi nito. “What did you say? Just English. I can’t understand your language.”

Haze glanced at Nicolo. “I was asking what idea you have in mind?”

“Do you want to hear it?” tanong naman ni Nicolo.

Tumango si Haze.

“I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Haze at bumilis ang t***k ng kaniyang puso. “B-boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” Nicolo nodded. “If you want that man to stop pestering you, you should show him something… I mean an action that would stop him from pestering you. Well, that’s only my idea. The decision is yours.”

Bago pa man makasagot si Haze, bumukas na ang elevator saka naunang lumabas si Nicolo. Sunod naman na lumabas si Haze. Then Nicolo suddenly stopped walking. Muntikang bumangga si Haze sa likuran ni Nicolo dahil sa biglaan nitong pagtigil sa paglalakad mabuti na lamang at nakita niyang tumigil ito.

Humarap si Nicolo. “Give me your phone.”

Wala sa sariling ibinigay ni Haze ang cellphone niya kay Nicolo. Iniisip niya pa rin kasi ang sinabi ni Nicolo. Hindi naman niya inaasahan na ganun ang naisip nitong ideya. Why would Nicolo thought of that idea? Is he planning something?

“Your phone.” Inilahad ni Nicolo ang kamay.

Napakurap si Haze saka napatingin kay Nicolo. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak nitong cellphone. “What did you do to my phone?” nagtatakang tanong niya sa binata.

“I added my phone number.” Ngumiti si Nicolo. “If you have decided, then call me. Let’s go.”

Magkasabay silang naglakad patungo sa department nila. Nagbaba na lamang si Haze ng tingin nang makita niyang napatingin sa kaniya ang mga kasamahan nila sa loob ng Accounting Department mas lalo na si Janine. Malamang nagtataka ang mga ito kung bakit sila magkasama ni Nicolo na pumasok. At siguradong siya na naman ang magiging sentro ng tsismiss sa department nila.

"What's with you and the Assistant CFO?” Janine asked when they were at the cafeteria and eating lunch.

“Wala,” sagot ni Haze dahil ‘yon naman ang totoo. Wala namang namamagitan sa kanila.

“Asus.” Umingos si Janine. “Maniwala naman sa ‘yo. Ikaw ngayon ang sentro ng usapan dito sa kumpanya natin.”

Haze sighed. “I don’t care. Sanay na ako.”

“What’s the score between you and Jade?” Janine asked. “I know you don’t like him. I heard he was pursuing you persistently. Alam mo kung manunulat lamang ako nakagawa na ako ng kwento dahil sa mga tsismis na naririnig ko.”

Umikot ang mata ni Haze. Tinignan niya ang kaibigan. “Alam mo ikaw ang chismosa mo. That’s a bad habit, Janine.” Aniya.

Janine also rolled her eyes. “Haze, ang mga tsismis ang lumalapit sa akin. Hindi ako ang lumalapit sa kanila.”

Napailing na lamang si Haze sa nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Habang kumakain ang magkaibigan, lumapit naman sa kanila ang isang empleyada na naka-assign sa HR Department.

“Nililigawan ka ba ni Jade?” Deretso at mataray na tanong ng babae kay Haze.

Haze looked at the woman and read her name on her ID. Hindi siya sumagot saka nagsubo ng pagkain.

“I heard he was pursuing you. Layuan mo siya kundi hindi mo magugustuhan ang gagawin ko sa ‘yo,” banta ng babae kay Haze.

Parehong natigilan si Haze at Janine. Janine was about to retaliate for Haze but she gave her a subtle look.

Haze smiled at Janine and looked at Kylie calmly. “Don’t worry, I don’t like Jade. You can have him. Pwede mo siyang isaksak sa baga mo.”

“Kung hindi mo siya gusto bakit ka niya nililigawan?” halata sa boses ni Kylie na hindi nito gusto si Haze dahil sa taray ng kaniyang pananalita.

“I already refused him. If you want an answer, go and ask him.” Sabi ni Haze at uminom ng tubig.

Nagdabog ang babae saka umalis.

Napailing naman si Janine. “Narinig kong siya ang nagkakagusto kay Jade dito sa kumpanya. And she’s been pestering Jade but Jade ignored him. Kaya malamang mainit ang ulo niya sa ‘yo.”

“Wala akong pakialam sa kaniya.”

Janine thumbs up. “Yeah, ignore those kinds of people.” Ngumiti siya. “But I think you and the Assistant CFO are a good match.” She winked teasingly at her friend.

Natigilan si Haze saka tinignan ng masama ang kaibigan.

Janine chuckled. “Alright, I’ll stop.” Napailing siya saka napansin ang Assistant CFO. Kasalukuyan itong naghahanap ng mauupuan. Tinignan niya ang kaibigan saka nakaisip siya ng kalokohan. “Sir Nicolo!” tawag niya saka ito kinawayan.

Lumaki ang mata ni Haze. “Why did you call him?”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Janine. “Trip ko lang.”

Haze let out a sigh.

Nicolo walked towards Haze and Janine. He smiled at Haze. “Can I sit beside you?”

Mabilis na kinuha ni Janine ang bag na nakalagay sa katabing upuan ni Haze.

Pinandilatan naman ni Haze ang kaibigan. Painosente lang naman siyang nginitian ni Janine. Halatang may binabalak ang kaibigan sa klase ng ngiti nito. Tinignan niya si Nicolo saka tinanguan. "Umupo ka na."

"Ah?"

"I mean, you can sit down." Haze forced a smile. Nakakalimutan niyang hindi pala nakakaintindi si Nicolo ng tagalog.

“Sir Nicolo, you should learn Filipino words. Even if you can’t speak our language at least you can understand them.” Sabi ni Janine.

Tumango naman si Nicolo. “You do have a point. Sometimes, I heard our office mates talking but I did not know what were they talking about. I know that they were talking about me because they were looking at me.”

Natawa ng mahina si Janine. “You don’t have to worry about that. They are probably talking about you because you are handsome.”

“Ah?”

Sinipa ni Haze si Janine para tumigil ito.

“Ito naman. Bakit masama bang sabihin ‘yong totoo?’

Napailing na lamang si Haze. She looked at Nicolo. “Don’t mind her. She’s just spouting nonsense.”

Nicolo just smiled and started eating.

Naunang umalis si Janine pagkatapos nitong kumain dahil may gagawin pa raw ito. Pero alam ni Haze na gumagawa lamang ito ng rason. Pansin niya ang nanunudyong ngiti sa labi ng kaibigan kaya alam niyang wala naman talaga itong gagawin.

“Haze?”

“Hmm?”

“Have you thought about it?” Nicolo asked. Hoping that he wouldn’t be disappointed by Haze’s answer.

“Though about what?”

“About what I have said this morning? Have you decided?”

Natahimik si Haze. “I…” Nagbaba siya ng tingin. “I don’t know.”

Nicolo nodded saka tipid na ngumiti. “I understand. If you need help, just call me. I’ll be there to help you.”

Haze stared at Nicolo. Nakangiti ito pero nakikita naman niya ang lungkot na nasa likod ng ngiti nito. He was good at masking his emotions. She thought. “Why are you doing this? You’re nice to me. Even when we first met, you’ve been nice to me.”

Nicolo showed a gentle smile to Haze. “Why can’t I be nice to you?”

Haze stared at the empty plate in front of her. “Honestly, I was worried of your kindness.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Nicolo. “Why are you worried?”

“I am worried that…” you were like other people. Showing kindness at first but in the end, they were evil. She thought. “Nothing,” Haze shook her head. She’s afraid that she might offend Nicolo if she says those words to him.

“Haze.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re too reserved. I can’t read what you were thinking. I know you have something in your past that made you a reserved person. I am not saying that you should trust me. But can you at least let me be your friend?”

“Friend?”

Tumango si Nicolo. “Yeah, let’s be friends. You know what, you should come out of your comfort zone, Haze. I am not saying, you will do it one day but slowly. In this way, you will become more independent, brave, and confident in yourself.”

“Are you encouraging me?”

Ngumiti si Nicolo at tumango. “Yeah, I am encouraging you. Forgive me by my words but being reserved would make you exhausted.”

“But I am comfortable with it.”

“But you’re sad when you’re alone, right?” Nicolo asked and he pointed the right thing.

Indeed, Haze felt sad when she’s alone. Nagbaba siya ng tingin saka tumango. “You’re right.” She sighed.

“But I don’t blame you. I know you’re trying to protect yourself.”

He can really read me. Haze thought as she looked at Nicolo. He was the first one who could tell me where I was coming from. I think he was really a good person.

Haze smiled. “We can be friends.”

“Really?”

Hindi alam ni Haze kung guni-guni niya lamang ang nakita niya pero parang nakita niya na kumislap ang mata ni Nicolo nang sabihin na niya pwede silang maging magkaibigan.

“Yeah, friends,” Haze said.

Nicolo smiled.

While Nicolo and Haze were talking, someone was looking at them. It was Jade and he was furious seeing Haze talking with another man.