9: Eyeglasses
1327 Words
Thea was checking her bag when someone faked a cough. It’s only few minutes before 8 A.M. Papunta na kasi siya ng opisina.
“Vance?” Nagtataka niyang sambit nang makita kung sino ang tumikhim.
“Good morning!” Nakangiti nitong bati. Nakatayo ito sa tabi ng sports car nito.
“Muntik na naman pala akong ma-late.” Dugtong nito na ipinagtaka niya.
“What do you mean?” She asked with a creased forehead.
“Coding ang sasakyan mo ‘di ba? I came here to fetch you.”
Saglit siyang natigilan. Akala niya ay sasabihin nitong napadaan lang at nakita siya. Now, he’s telling it straight.
Sinadya siya talaga nitong sunduin?
She’s not naïve. The flowers from yesterday really meant something.
“Are you advancing on me?” Her heart raced as she uttered her own question.
It beats faster when Vance smiled.
“What do you mean by advancing?” He asked with a grin. He removed his eyeglasses and stared at her.
“Like flirting?” Napalunok siya sa naging tugon. Vance looked at her pretty amused.
“Flirting? No.” He shook his head. Mas lalo na namang tumibok ang puso niya nang ngumiti ito ng nakakaloko.
Bakit ba sobrang guwapo nito kahit mapang-asar ang ngiti?
“But I will be glad to show you my own definition of flirting.” He said with a wide grin. Iniumang nito ang kamay para hapitin siya pero umatras siya. Akmang sasalagin niya ang kamay nito nang tumawa ito ng malakas.
“Relax, I won’t touch you.” He said chuckling. Pinamulahan pa siya.
Masyado ba siyang naging defensive? Mukha naman talagang lalapitan siya.
“Let’s go?” Anyaya nito at umikot pa para pagbuksan siya ng pinto ng sasakyan.
She inhaled deeply and didn’t make any step.
“Why are you being nice? Why did you give me flowers? Are you courting me?” Salubong ang kilay niyang tanong sa binata.
“Courting?” Parang nabitin pa sa ere ang reaksyon nito. Saglit itong natigilan. She waited for him to speak. Then, he smiled widely.
“Is that how courting is? Hindi ko kasi alam.” He smiled wryly. He leaned on the opened car door and stared at her.
Siya naman ang natigilan sa pahayag ng binata. Hindi siya nakasagot agad.
“I don’t usually give flowers to women.” He added.
The remark rendered her speechless and it made her heart restless, too.
“Women usually offer they flowers to me.” He added with a mischievous grin.
Pakiramdam niya ay nag-preno pa ang t***k ng puso niya.
“Bastos ka talaga!” Hindi niya napigilang sambitin na ikinatawa nito ng malakas.
Vance will always be Vance. May bahid talaga ng kamanyakan ang katawan.
“I was just kidding.” Sambit nito nang makahuma mula sa pagtawa. She can’t help but roll her eyes on him but he only chuckled at her gesture.
“Tara na?” Seryoso nitong saad matapos ang ilang saglit. He put his eyeglasses back.
Huminga na lang siya malalim bago naglakad papunta sa nakabukas na pintuan ng sasakyan. Nakangiti naman nitong isinara pagkaupo niya.
She waited for him to sit on the driver’s side.
“Huwag mo na ‘tong isuot.” Tinanggal niya ang suot nitong eyeglasses bago pa man nito andarin ang sasakyan.
“Pareho naman nating alam na walang grado ‘yang mga mata mo.” She muttered smirking at him. Napatitig naman ito sa kanya bago ngumiti ng matamis.
“Well, I am using those eyeglasses so women won’t fall in-love with my green eyes.” Nakangisi nitong sambit. Tumitig ito sa kanya ng mataman.
Shit.
He may be right. Nakaka-inlove nga yata talaga ang mga berde nitong mga mata. She can’t avert her gaze even if her brain wants to. Her heartbeats started racing again.
“But since you are the only woman here, I will allow you to take it off. You are free to fall in-love with me.” Seryoso nitong sambit bago humarap sa kalsada at tuluyang inandar ang sasakyan.
Shit.
Kulang na lang ay saluhin niya ang puso na parang tuluyan nang nalaglag mula sa dibdib niya.
She had to stop herself from breathing heavily especially that the man is only a few inches away driving.
______
She expected the silence during their entire trip to the VLF building. Ayaw niyang magsalita at hindi rin nagsasalita ang lalaking kasama. Gano’n yata talaga ang personalidad nito. He’d talk a lot then he’d be silent and leaves you wondering.
Kipkip ang bag at hawak pa rin niya ang eyeglasses nang papasok na sila sa opisina.
“Vance,” tawag niya rito nang makapasok na sila at akmang didiretso na ito sa sariling table.
“E-eyeglasses mo.” Nahihiya niyang iniabot ang eyeglasses sa binata.
Vance’s eyes were glued on his eyeglasses. He didn’t move to receive it.
Her heart skipped a beat when his green eyes met hers. He wasn’t smiling.
“Keep it. Ibalik mo na lang kung ayaw mo talagang ma-inlove sa akin.” He said before turning away. She was left dumbfounded.
Agad na tinungo ng binata ang desk nito at binasa ang nakapatong na dokumento. Ilang segundo siyang nakatulala rito bago nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na humakbang patungo sa sariling mesa.
Mas lalong lumakas ang t***k ng puso niya nang makita ang palumpon ng paborito niyang bulaklak sa table.
She glanced at Vance. His eyes are still on the documents. Tahimik siyang umupo sa swivel chair.
Keep it. Ibalik mo na lang kung ayaw mo talagang ma-inlove sa akin.
His voice echoed on her ears as she stared at his eyeglasses and the flowers on the table. Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto siyang nakatitig doon. Natauhan lamang siya nang maramdamang tumayo ang binata at tinungo ang pinto.
“Vance.” She called out. Tumingin naman ito sa kanya.
Shit.
Why can’t her heart stop beating that fast?
Agad siyang lumapit sa binata at iniabot ang eyeglasses nito. His forehead creased. She inhaled deeply as he stared at it.
“So, you don’t want to fall in love with me?” His voice sounds disappointed and dejected.
Hindi niya alam kung bakit bigla siyang nainis sa sarili dahil sa nakitang reaksyon ng binata.
Keep it. Ibalik mo na lang kung ayaw mo talagang ma-inlove sa akin.
She momentarily closed her eyes to stop that echoing remark on her head.
“Lalabas ka ‘di ba?” she forced a smile. Tumango naman ito. His expression didn’t change.
“Baka makita ng ibang mga babae ‘yang mga mata mo. Bawal silang ma-inlove sa ‘yo, remember?” nakangiti niyang dagdag.
She saw how his expression turned into a wide smile.
“Yeah,” napapatango nitong tugon. Inabot nito ang eyeglasses at tumitig sa kanya ng diretso.
“Bawal ka ring ma-inlove sa iba.” Dugtong nito.
She wasn’t able to say anything.
BUT that wasn’t the reason why she stilled. Mabilis kasi itong lumapit sa kanya at biglang humalik sa mga labi niya. Mabilis ding lumayo ang binata at tinungo ang pinto nang walang ibang salita.
It was a ONE-SECOND kiss but it totally made her static and speechless.
She felt like everything around her disappeared. The only thing that lingered was the feel of his soft kiss and his sweet manly scent.
Though it was abrupt, she didn’t feel aggravated.
Walang parte ng katawan nila ang nagdikit maliban sa kanilang mga labi at hindi niya inasahang gano’n kalakas ang epekto ng isang segundong iyon.
She felt like her entire being flushed. She had to stop herself from touching her own lips.
What the heck just happened?
- Writer
