When Two Hearts Meet

CHAPTER 6

WEEKEND. SATURDAY. SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.

Naubusan na ng stock ng grocery si Leigh kaya naman naisipan niyang mag-grocery. Paglabas niya ng apartment, eksakto namang kalalabas lang din ng boss niya mula sa apartment nito. At mukhang may pupuntahan ito. But her boss isn’t wearing formal attire, just casual clothes.

Pareho pa silang natigilan nang magkaharap silang dalawa.

“Going out?” Mikael asked.

Tumango si Leigh saka pasimpleng pinagmasdan ang boss niya. Mukhang hindi na ito katulad ng mga nakaraang araw na wala sa mood. Laging bad mood. Laging nakakunot ang nuo at mukahng naiinis.

“Okay na po kayo, sir? Ilang araw rin po na wala kayo sa mood.” Aniya sa binata.

Mikael gave Leigh a small smile. “Medyo okay na.”

Napatango si Leigh saka naglakad patungo sa elevator. Sumabay naman si Mikael sa dalaga.

“Leigh?”

“Sir?”

They both entered the elevator.

Leigh pushed the first-floor button of the elevator and looked at her boss.

“Can you call me by my name, kapag nasa labas na tayo ng opisina. Hindi naman nalalayo ang edad nating dalawa. I’m just a year older than you.” Ani Mikael. Hoping that Leigh will agree.

Umiling si Leigh. “That would be awkward, sir.”

“It’s not.” Sabi ni Mikael.

“Sa ‘yo, sir. Pero sa akin awkward ‘yon. I can’t just call you by your name. You are my boss, and I am your employee.” Ani Leigh.

“Pero nasa labas na tayo ng opisina.” Giit ni Mikael. He let out a small sigh.

“Even so.”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Mikael. “Okay. Kung ano ang gusto mo. But removed the ‘po’. Hindi pa naman ako ganun katanda. I’m just twenty-eight for your information.” Aniya.

Ngumiti naman si Leigh ng tipid saka tumango.

“So, saan ka pupunta?” tanong ni Mikael.

“Maggo-grocery ako. Naubusan na ako ng stock.” Sagot ni Leigh habang nakatingin sa screen ng cellphone. She was reading a report. Pero kahit may binabasa siyang report, tinanong niya ang boss niya. “Ikaw, sir? May ka-date kayo?” tudyo niya. She glanced at her boss with a teasing smile on her lips.

Napailing si Mikael. “Wala akong ide-date. I’m going to buy my groceries.” Wika niya saka sumandal sa dingding ng elevator. “Your boyfriend is coming with you?” he asked. Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili na magtanong habang nakatingin kay Leigh na nakatingin naman sa cellphone nito at may binabasa. She was chatting too, so he assumed that Leigh was chatting with her boyfriend. She even smiled happily.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Mikael.

“No.” Tugon ni Leigh. Though hindi niya alam kung saan nanggaling ang boyfriend na sinasabi ng boss niya. Hinayaan na lamang niya itong isipin nito na may boyfriend siya. It was one of her defense mechanisms to get away from men.

“Then let’s go to the supermarket together. Sumabay ka na sa sasakyan ko.” Mikael volunteered.

Leigh smiled and looked at her boss. She nodded. “Thank you, Sir. Sasamantalahin ko na. Mahal ang pamasahe ngayon.”

Natawa ng mahina si Mikael. “Ibabawas ko ‘yon sa sweldo mo baka akala mo.” Biro niya.

Ngumiti si Leigh saka sinakyan ang biro ng boss niya. “Kayo ba, sir? Baka naman pwedeng huwag na. Kailangan ko ng pera, eh. Ang mahal pa ng mga bilihin ngayon.”

Mikael chuckled and shook his head.

Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator. Lumabas silang dalawa saka pumunta ng parking lot. Sumakay silang dalawa sa kotse.

“Let’s go.” Sabi ni Mikael saka pinaandar ang makina ng kotse.

He drove the car to the nearest supermarket. While they were on their way, they were both quiet, but Mikael wanted to have a conversation with Leigh. Binuksan niya ang ilang topic na pwede nilang mapag-usapan. They just randomly talked about their work, life, and family.

“So, you have a sibling?”

Tumango si Leigh. “He is three years older than me. How about you, sir? How many siblings do you have?”

“Three.” Tugon niya. “I am the eldest. Then kambal na lalaki at babae ang sumunod sa akin. Ang babae ang bunso namin. My younger brother was busy doing his own thing. My sister was busy with her training. Siya kasi ang magma-manage sa family business namin sa Italy. Well, hindi ko alam. Ayaw niya sa Italy, eh. Wala raw siyang kasama doon.” Napailing si Mikael. Hindi niya kasi minsan maintindihan ang gusto ng kambal. “Then may auntie ako na kaedad ko lang. Half-sister siya ng dad ko pero tinuring na naming kapatid.”

Leigh remembered the photo in her boss’ office. “Looks like you were close to your family, sir.”

Ngumiti si Mikael saka sumulyap kay Leigh. “Oo naman. My parents love us equally. Kung ano ang ibibigay nila sa akin ibibigay rin nila sa mga kapatid ko.”

Leigh smiled, remembering her parents. Her parents were childish, but even they were already old, they still loved each other. And now, they were both traveling around the world after retiring from their work. Hinayaan naman niya kung anong gustong gawin ng mga ito dahil doon naman sila masaya.

“How about you? Your parents?”

Leigh sighed. “I loved my parents, but they argued like kids sometimes. Kaya naman hinahayaan kong… I mean I let them be childish.”

Napatango si Mikael. “You’re close to your parents, I see.” Aniya.

Tipid lang na ngumiti si Leigh saka tumingin sa harapan.

Nang makarating sila sa supermarket, kumuha sila ng tig-isang push cart. Malamang magkaiba naman sila ng mga bibilhin kaya nagkahiwalay sila pero napagkasunduan nilang dalawa na magkita pagkatapos ng isang oras.

“Okay,” Leigh replied and pushed her cart towards the fruit section. Hindi nakaligtas sa kaniya ang ilang pamilyar na mukha na nasa loob ng supermarket. Nang makita siya ng mga itong nakatingin sa kanila, nagsi-iwas ang mga ito ng tingin saka umiwas ng daan.

Leigh could only shake her head. Nagpatuloy na lamang siya sa pamimili saka hinayaan ang mga taong nakita niya sa loob ng supermarket. Kinuha na niya ang lahat ng mga kakailanganin niya. Siguradong matagal na naman bago siya makapag-grocery lalo na at minsan ay tinatamaan siya ng katamaran.

Nang mabili niya ang lahat ng kailangan niyang bilhin, pumunta na siya sa cashier. Nandoon na ang boss niya at kasalukuyang nagbabayad. Then napansin niya ang ilang kababaihan na parang kinikilig habang nakatingin sa boss niya.

Leigh chuckled.

Hindi naman niya masisisi ang mga ito dahil kahit saang anggulong tignan, gwapo ang boss niya. Yep, nagwapuhan rin naman siya rito kaya naiintindihan niya ang mga babaeng nakatingin rito. It’s like they wanted to have a piece of him.

“I’ll come back to help you.” Sabi ni Mikael nang matapos maikarton ang mga pinamili niya.

Leigh smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

Lumabas si Mikael dala ang mga pinamili. Inilagay niya ito sa back compartment ng kotse niya ang pinamili niya saka niya ito isinara. Babalik na sana siya sa loob ng supermarket upang tulungan si Leigh sa mga pinamili nito nang mapansin niya ang papel na nakaipit sa windshield ng sasakyan niya. Kinuha niya ang papel saka binasa ang nakasulat.

‘Since you knew about us, then you have to die.’

Mikael just sighed and crumpled the paper. Itinapon niya ito sa basurahan saka tinawagan si Dylan.

“Hindi pa ako tapos – “

“Check my car if they put a bug or if they put something in. I just received a death threat just now. I’m at the supermarket.” Kaswal niyang sabi na para bang normal lang ang nangyari.

“Okay. I’m on it.” Sabi ni Dylan.

Narinig na lang ni Mikael ang pagtipa nito sa keyboard ng laptop nito.

“Are you okay?” tanong ni Dylan.

“I’m fine.” Tugon ni Mikael saka pinatay ang tawag at pumasok sa loob ng supermarket. He was on his way to Leigh when he noticed several people looking at Leigh. Those people were looking at Leigh. Sandali niyang tinignan ang mga ito at nang mapansin siya ng isa, kaagad nitong hinila ang kasama nito saka sila umalis.

Mikael got worried so he quickly walked towards Leigh. Eksakto naman na naikarton na ang mga pinamili nito.

“Let’s go?”

Tumango si Leigh kaya lumabas na sila ng supermarket dala ang pinamili ng dalaga.

Mikael acted normally as he walked beside Leigh. Then he received a message from Dylan.

‘No bugs. It’s clean.’

“Get in.”

Tumango si Leigh.

Inilagay ni Mikael ang mga pinamili ni Leigh sa back compartment ng kotse. Then he closed the compartment and went inside the driver's seat. He put on his seatbelt saka tinignan ang suot na relo. “Kumain muna tayo ng lunch. Don’t worry, it’s my treat.”

Nang hindi marinig ni Mikael ang sagot ni Leigh, tumingin siya rito. Leigh was looking at him and her eyes said that she was reluctant. Mikael realized why Leigh was reluctant. “Don’t worry, it’s just a casual lunch. Walang ibang ibig sabihin ‘yon.” Though I was hoping I knew it was impossible because you already had a boyfriend. “You can call your boyfriend para makapagpaalam ka.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Leigh. “Boyfriend?” she chuckled. Hindi na niya talaga napigilan ang sarili na tumawa.

“Why are you laughing?” tanong ni Mikael saka pinaandar ang makina ng kotse.

Umiling si Leigh. “Sir, noon niyo pa ‘yan sinasabi. I just couldn’t correct you because I might can’t stop myself from laughing. Wala akong boyfriend.”

Mikael’s face lit up. “Really?”

Tumango si Leigh. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Pinatay ni Mikael ang makina ng kotse. “But I heard you. You’re talking with someone. You called the caller ‘baby’.”

Hindi napigilan ni Leigh ang sarili na tumawa. “Oh, that’s my son.” Sabi ni Leigh.

Mikael was surprised to hear that Leigh already had a son. “Married?”

Umiling si Leigh. “Single mother.”

Mikael felt sympathy for Leigh. “It must be hard to raise your kid alone.” Aniya. He started the car and maneuvered it out of the parking lot of the supermarket.

Ngumiti si Leigh. “Hindi naman, Sir. May mga katulong naman ako sa pagpapalaki ng anak ko. Actually, he’s five.”

Napatango si Mikael saka pinaharurot ang kotse nang makarating sila sa highway. “Where do you want to eat?”

“Anywhere. Just not expensive.”

Ngumiti si Mikael. “I know a place.”