Poisonous Love (Keanna & Gavin Story)

Chapter 25

I caught Gavin murdering his phone as he typed in with a lot of pressure from his thumb fingers. When he took a glance at me as I was approaching, he immediately kept his phone inside his pocket. Nilingon niya ako at mabilis na pinasadahan ng tingin ang aking bag na dala bago nanatili ang kanyang tingin sa aking mukha.

"You got everything you need?" he asked.

I silently recited everything I brought with me in my mind, just to be sure.

"Yes, Sir," I politely answered.

Gavin licked his lips and it slightly parted like he had something to say. In the end, he just kept the words to himself, but I heard him let out a soft whisper of curse before started marching towards the elevator.

He looked uneasy and irritated while we waited for the lift to arrive on our floor. Maybe he's frustrated with the short notice meeting like I was.

Gaya ng dati, naghihintay na ang magarang sasakyan ni Gavin sa driveway. This time, the valet didn't open the door for me. Si Gavin na ang gumawa noon para sa akin bago siya umikot at sumakay sa driver's seat.

No time was wasted as Gavin stepped on the gas to accelarate the car with the right amount of speed. However, even though he looked serious, he couldn't focus mainly on the road. I saw him checking his phone from time to time. Siguro ay may hinihintay siyang tawag o text. Kung hindi naman ay baka nang dahil sa aming kikitain na investor.

A sudden irritation bottled up inside me. Naisip ko na hindi man lang sila muna dumaan sa akin. My job was to arrange and plot Gavin's schedule. That includes his meetings!

Sa totoo lang ay wala naman talaga akong ginagawa lalo na kapag nasa opisina lamang. To kill time, I would just read the notes that Donato jotted down whe he was still Gavin's secretary. Wala man lang tumatawag sa akin para magset ng meeting o appointment kay Gavin. Hindi ko pa siya nasasamahan sa maayos na meetings na may magagawa talaga ako.

"Bakit pala hindi muna ako tinawagan ng investor na kikitain natin ngayon?" tanong ko kay Gavin nang hindi ko na mapigilan ang iritasyon na aking nararamdaman.

Looks like Gavin wasn't expecting that I will ask him a question with a casual tone. Nakalimutan ko nang bigyan siya ng pag-galang dahil sa inis.

He cleared his throat, and I saw him tensed up. "He had my personal number," he answered. "Hindi na niya siguro naisip na dumaan muna sa sekretary ko. And besides, it's an urgent meeting."

Tumango-tango na lamang ako at hindi na nagsalita pa. I tried to calm myself down with Gavin's answer that somehow had a valid reason. Baka sabihin niya pa ay ang OA ko dahil mas iritado pa ako sa nangyayari kaysa sa kanya. I was just his secretary, anyway.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay nakarating na kami sa lugar kung saan kikitain ang nasabing investor. It was a famous Italian restaurant which houses the best pasta dish, according to their tagline.

"Table for how many, Sir?" the staff asked Gavin with a pleasant smile on his face.

"I have a reservation under the name, Gavin Alcantara," Gavin simply answered with an authorative voice.

Kapag nagiging ganoon ang boses ni Gavin ay para bang gusto mong sundin ang lahat ng inuutos niya sa'yo. Kaya naman nang nagkukumahog ang waiter na ihatid kami sa aming lamesa ay hindi na ako nagulat.

The waiter led us to a 4-seater table. Gavin naturally pulled out a chair for me. I didn't dwell too much on that chevalier act because I knew he's naturally a gentleman. I saw how he took care of Stephanie during the party. He held her waist and let her twine her arm on his for support. He also pulled out a chair for her that time when I sat on my own. Not that I needed him to do that for me.

I wanted to comfort myself with these kinds of thoughts even though it's making me feel slightly bitter. I just really needed to prevent myself from flying so high by assuming too much with his actions.

We were served by a new waiter named Noah. He introduced himself with an Italian greeting before pouring out iced water on the glass.

While we were being served, Gavin's phone rang, and he looked slightly relieved when he answered the call.

"Yes, Mr. Huang?" he formally spoke.

Napakunot ang aking noo. I suddenly became attentive with the call he received. Kung puwede ko lang madinig ang sinasabi nang nasa kabilang linya ay baka ginawa ko na.

"Oh..." Biglang bumagsak ang tono ng boses ni Gavin. "It's okay, sir. No problem. Yes, thank you. Take care Mr. Huang. Very well..."

Hindi nakatakas ang pagbubuntong hininga ni Gavin nang matapos ang tawag. Inilapag niya ang kanyang cellphone sa lamesa at uminom ng tubig.

"Sino 'yon?" kaswal kong tanong.

"That's Mr. Huang," he answered, and I waited for him to further elaborate the man he talked to. "He's the investor we're supposed to meet. He can't come anymore. Nagkaroon siya ng emergency bigla."

Mas lalong kumulo ang dugo ko sa narinig. Gusto kong manapak sa gigil. Madaling-madali siya pagkatapos ay hindi naman pala tutuloy. Sana ay sinugurado niya muna. Nasayang lang ang oras naming dalawa ni Gavin. Hindi ko pa naubos ang pagkain ko kanina.

"Let's just order our food since we're already here," sabi na lang ni Gavin at saka nagtawag ng waiter para magbigay sa amin ng menu.

Kahit na medyo gutom ako medyo nawalan ako ng gana dahil sa nangyari. Baka sa oras na talagang kikitain na naming ang Mr. Huang na ay hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mairapan siya. I just really hoped that the emergency he's talking about could be really considered as an emergency.

Akala ko ay nawalan na ako talaga ng gana pero nang nakita ko ang mga pagkain sa menu ay muli akong nakaramdam ng sigla sa katawan. My tongue was rejoicing for the food that it will taste. Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng pagkain.

"Order anything you want," Gavin told me. "It'll be my treat."

Muli akong nag-angat ng tingin kay Gavin at saka ngumiti sa kanya. He looked stunned for a second, but he finally managed to return my smile.

Parang may mainit na kamay na humaplos sa aking puso dahil sa kanyang simpleng pagsukli sa aking ngiti. There was a sudden slideshow of his images smiling at me inside my mind. The way he smiled at me right now resembled his smiles when we were still together before. It was the kind of smile that brings peace and calmness to my soul.

Even though his features looked slightly rough now, I liked how the softness of his smile remained.

When I heard my heart started pounding so hard, I dropped my eyes on the menu.

Naglagay nga ako ng linya para hindi lumagpas at mahulog sa bangin, ngunit ako naman ang naghuhukay ng panibagong kahuhulugan sa aking puwesto. Nakakatakot dahil baka kapag nahulog ako ay hindi ko na alam kung saan ako pupulutin. Baka hindi ko na rin magawang buuin ang sarili ko pagkatapos no'n.

"Nakapili ka na ba?" tanong niya sa akin matapos nang ilang minutong pamimili ng pagkain sa menu.

Tumango ako at pinalapit na niya sa amin ang waiter para sabihin ang aming order. I ordered their bestselling pasta dish and calamares.

"Iyon lang ba ang gusto mo?" paninigurado niya sa akin.

Kahit na may iilan pa akong pagkain na natipuhan ay tumango na lang ako bilang sagot. Kahit kaya ko pang kumain ay mabubusog na naman ako ng mga pagkaing inorder ko.

Nanliit ang mga mata ni Gavin sa akin. Mukhang hindi siya naniniwala sa ginawa kong pagtango. Muli niyang pinasadahan ng tingin ang menu para magdagdag ng tatlo pang putahe na lahat ay nakapagpatakam sa akin kanina.

I almost forgot that he knew how big my appetite was. He also knew what satisfies my taste buds. Ilang beses kaming nagfoodtrip no'n sa mga food park at restaurants. Bahagya lang akong nagulat dahil hanggang ngayon ay tanda niya pa rin ang mga bagay na dapat ay nakalimutan na niya.

"Gavin? Keanna?"

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Gavin sa pamilyar na taong lumapit sa aming dalawa. When I took a closer look, my eyes slightly widened. It's Professor Tactay!

How could I ever forget her? She's the reason why Gavin took interest in me when she let him read my case staudy about Qantara. She even asked Gavin to return my work to me personally.

May sinabi siya sa kanyang kasamang lalaki bago mas lalong lumpait sa amin. Napatayo kaming dalawa ni Gavin upang batiin siya ng maayos.

"It's been almost two years since I saw you both," she told us with a huge smile on her face. "Who would've thought that I'd see you two here?"

"May kikitain lang po kami dapat dito," nakangiting sabi ni Gavin.

Professor Tactay smiled. "Hmmm... Let me guess," she said meaningfully. "Kikitain niyo ba ang wedding organizer ninyong dalawa at aayusin na ang kasal ninyo?"

Sa sobrang pagkabigla sa kanyang naisip na dahilan ay hindi agad ako nakaprotesta at mukhang ganoon din si Gavin. Nagpatuloy si Professor Tactay dahil walang nakapagsalita sa amin ni Gavin para itanggi ang kanyang iniisip.

"Naalala ko pa noon..." she started reminiscing. "Manghang-mangha si Gavin habang binabasa ang gawa mo. He even volunteered to return your case study because he wanted to meet you as well."

Sinulyapan ko si Gavin na ngayon ay nahihiyang ngumiti kay Professor Tactay habang ako ay unti-unting naliwanagan.

Hindi siya inutusan ni Professor Tactay noon. Siya ang nagkusang-loob na ibalik sa akin ang case study ko.

I didn't know what to feel with the sudden revelation. Even if it wasn't a big one, it still contributed a change to our story. It was a very light twist.

"And then kumalat na lang sa campus na naging kayo na matapos ng iilang buwan," pagpapatuloy ni Professor Tactay. "Nakakatuwa lang dahil hanggang ngayon ay kayo pa ring dalawa. I suddenly felt like a cupid."

I didn't want to burst her happy bubble, but I also didn't want her to misunderstand anything.

"Uh... Professor Tactay..." pagtawag ko sa kanyang atensyon.

Pati si Gavin ay napalingon sa akin dahil sa aking pagsasalita.

"Yes, hija?" Malambing ang ngiti sa akin ni Professor Tactay nang lingunin ako.

"Pasensya na po pero matagal na po kaming wala ni Gavin," pag-amin ko at nakita kong unti-unting naglaho ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. "Nagta-trabaho lang po sa kanya ngayon. I'm currently his secretary and we were supposed to meet an investor."

She look shock and disappointed at the same time. Agad ding nagbago ang kanyang ekspresyon at kita kong napalitan ito ng hiya. I could tell that she was embarrassed for thinking about those things she assumed.

"Ohhh... I'm sorry..." agad niyang paghingi ng paumanhin. "Kung ano-ano na ang nasabi ko. Pasensya na."

I smiled and shook my head to assure her that it's okay. "Okay lang po," sabi ko. "Wala na po 'yon sa akin."

In my peripheral vison I saw Gavin turned to me. I didn't dare returning his stare. I remained looking at Professor Tactay who, once again expressed her apologies.

"Oh, sige na at baka masyado na akong nakakaabala sa inyong dalawa. My husband's also waiting for me in our table," siya ay nagpaalam na matapos nang sandalin awkward na kwentuhan.

Bumalik kami sa pagkakaupo ni Gavin nang makaalis na si Professor Tactay. Saktong dumating naman ang aming mga inorder ns pagkain. Our table was almost full with different dishes we ordered. Kung titignan mo ay parang hindi lang dalawang tao ang kakain lalo na't medyo marami rin ang serving ng mga pagkain.

There was an undoubtedly change in atmosphere as it became heavier. I already expected this coming the moment our past was recalled.

Tahimik kaming dalawa nang nagsimulang kumain. Hindi nga lang ako makakain ng maayos lalo na nang madinig ko ang kanyang mabibigat na paghinga. Pakiramdam ko ay nahihirapan din akong huminga.

Kahit alam kong hindi maganda ang desisyon ay nangahas pa rin akong mag-angat ng tingin sa kanya na agad kong pinagsisihan nang makita ko siyang nakatitig lamang sa kanyang pagkain at hindi pa kumikilos para damputin ang mga kubyertos. Ang kamay na humahaplos kanina ay unti-unting nilamutak ang aking puso.

I stopped breathing for a moment when he suddenly locked his gaze on me. I was caught off guard that I couldn't turn away from his yes. His eyes were filled with emotions that I was so scared to name and enumerate.

Pakiramdam ko'y kapag hinayaan ko ang sarili kong pangalanan ang mga iyon ay katapusan ko na. Baka hindi ko na ituloy ang hukay na ginagawa ko at hahayaan ko na lang ang saili kong lumagpasa sa linya at mahulog sa bangin na kinakatakutan ko.

"Kumain ka na," iyon na lang ang tangi kong nasabi at saka ibinagsak muli ang tingin sa pagkain.