The Spaces In Between

[3] The Proposal

I smirked a little. “I don’t think so.”

Seconds later ay may tumama na sa’king Winnie the Pooh na stuff toy, na sinundan ng isang makapal na bundle ng handouts. “What’s with that smirk, Scheherazade? Anong ginawa sa’yo nina Andreau?” agad niya akong nilapitan at chineck ang katawan ko. “Did they.. defile you?” she asked me, looking mortified and silly at the same time. Kung anu-ano na sinabi niya, rape kit, fertilization, blastocyst, unwanted pregnancy…

Instead of freaking out with her, I laughed. “Kalma lang, girl! I’m okay! Hindi ako dinefile or something!”

“Eh ba’t ngiting tagumpay yang ngiti mo? Anong meron?” sobrang nafufrustrate na siya sa’kin. This is good!

Umayos muna ako ng upo sa kama ko at nagtali ng buhok bago sumagot. “Chill lang! We just.. talked.”

“About what?”

“Whoa. Don’t be too eager! Kalma lang!”

Kesh’s eyes grew wide in frustration. “Tangina naman, Pascual! Almost 8 hours kang kasama nina Andreau at Roldan, ni hindi ka sumasagot sa mga tawag at text ko tapos sasabihan mo akong kumalma lang!? Alam mo namang ang daming nangyaya—“

“Kinausap lang nila ako for a project! Kalma nga lang, okay! Hindi kami pumunta sa kung saan!”

Natigilan si Kesh dun, at obviously kumalma siya. “What? Project? For what?”

Ako rin nga, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nangyari kanina.

xxxx

Flashback

 

“Zade Pascual, right?”

“B-bakit?”

May instances pala talaga na saglit kang makakalimot pag nginitian ka ng isang tao. That happened to me when Andreau Cortez smiled at me. Andreau Cortez smiled at me. Yes, his smile was so surreal that it bears repeating.

 “Uhmm.. Zade? Are you okay?”

Shit, nakakahiya! Medyo napatagal ata ang pagtitig ko sa kanya! “Y-yeah,” I stupidly stammered. Nakakainis naman oh!

He was about to say something nang lumapit si Sir TJ sa’kin, obviously gustong makisali at maki-agaw ng limelight. “Mr. Cortez! Is there any problem?” he asked, then briefly turned to me and whispered, “Ano na namang ginawa mo?”

“Si—“

“Everything’s fine,” Andreau answered, flashing his Cortez Charm Smile. Shocks, ba’t ganun. Nakakakilig na ewan! “She didn’t do anything wrong. Uhmm.. patapos na ba ang shift ni Zade?”

Napalitan ng kaba ang kilig ko. Bakit niya tinatanong? Is this a joke? Shit, nasaan na ba si Kesh? Ba’t bigla siyang nawala? Hindi ko na narinig ang sagot ni Sir TJ, basta tinulak na lang niya ako palayo sa counter. “Sir! What are you doing!?” I protested hastily. “Anong meron?”

Andreau suddenly beside me at inalalayan ako. He lightly gripped my arm. Gosh, what’s happening to me? Kaya ba ako ganito makareact kasi sobrang gwapo niya? “Hey, no need to push her,” sabi niya kay Sir TJ. “Hindi ka naman ba busy, Zade? Gusto lang kasi kitang kausapin.”

Napatingin ako sa may entrance ng café, si Kuya Rico nagulat din sa nangyayari. No sight of Roldan and Kesh. Nasaan sila?

“Uh.. wait lang ha,” I replied, holding up my hand. Hindi na ako makahinga, swear. He’s smiling at me for no reason. Nakakainis, anong akala niya sa’kin, madadaan niya sa ngiting yan? You’ve got to be kidding me! Well.. he looked so damn attractive in that blue long sleeves and dark washed jeans. And bagay sa kanya yung five o’clock shadow niya ha! “Ano ba ‘tong pag-uusapan natin? Is this really important?”