Programmed Wife

Chapter 6

"Lies, statements that are false. Said to often mislead people from knowing the truth, a very bad thing," these were the couple of thoughts running around inside Leyla's brain. Since the moment that she met this girl named Shiela, hindi na mawala sa isip niya na walang kahit anong totoo ang lumalabas mula sa kan' yang bibig.

"Her speech patterns changed drastically, her confidence was gone before I dug out the real score between her and the CEO. She suddenly became anxious and very sweaty. That's actually very pathetic, a liar," she thought to herself as she watched Shiela make the coffee.

Nanginginig and kamay niya habang hinahalo ang mainit na inumin sa tasa. She turned to watch the two other girls who are giggling on the side.

"They look like they're enjoying this," Leyla is quietly analyzing the two. She watched them whisper in each other's ear then giggle. Their eyes looked like they were judging something. "They genuinely want to know if the two have a relationship, they show signs of curiousness, interesting."

Leyla fixed her hair when Ana turned to glance at her, hiding the fact that she's been studying their every look and movement. Slowly, she can read how these girls really think based on their reactions alone. Nakita na naman niya kung paano natawa ang dalawa dahil sa mahinang pagmumura ni Shiela.

"Hmm, that's sad. They are waiting for her to show her true color. Seems like, they were just waiting for her to fail. Her friends hate her," she thought to herself. "Well, based on how she treated someone like me, I can't actually blame them. Pretty reasonable."

"The coffee is done, you can take it, go."

"Hmm, her voice trembled a lot, she's breaking," natatawa na siya sa naiisip. Kahit na mabuti ang kalooban ni Leyla, minsan talaga hindi niya maiwasan na gamitin ang mataba niyang utak para pahirapan ang mga tao na alam niyang gusto siyang ipahamak. Sa ngayon, ramdam niya na gustong- gusto siyang maliitin ni Shiela. And no, she will never let that happen.

She's really nice, kind, and polite. But she was never a pushover.

Shiela forcefully slide the cup of coffee on the table towards Leyla. Kulang nalang ay tumapon ang napakainit na kape sa braso niya na nakapatong sa lamesa. She rolled her eyes, as if trying her absolute best to stop her self from cursing out loud. Pilya rin si Leyla, ngayon na sa tingin niya ay unti- unti na niyang nasisira ang imahe na gustong ipakita sa kan' ya nitong babae, lalo pa niyang pipilitin na mas masunod siya, at mawalan na ng pag- asang makabawi si Shiela.

"No Miss Shiela, I do not dare offend the CEO. Sino ba naman ako 'di ba? Paano ko ibibigay sa kan' ya yang kape eh napakatagal na ng nakalipas, baka magalit na siya. Please, help me out with this one, also it can be a chance to clear out the air between us."

"Oo nga naman Shiela, bilisan mo na. Sigurado matutuwa si Mr. Rui kapag ikaw ang naghatid niyan sa kan'ya," Ana smiled.

"She's a little mean," isip ni Leyla. Hindi nakaligtas ang pasimpleng pagtawa ng dalawa, "They're using this chance to get back at her, funny. I like them."

"Bakit ka ngumingiti?" pa-sigaw na tanong ni Shiela sa kan' ya.

"Hmm? Natutuwa lang ako na mabubura na ang confusion sa ating dalawa, hindi ba maganda naman 'yon? And hindi na rin magagalit sa akin si Mr. Andrews. Is it so wrong to smile?"

Walang ibang magawa si Shiela kung hindi sumakay nalang sa kung ano ang nangyayari. She did not expect this to happen, hindi niya naman inakala na hindi pala madaling sindakin itong bagong dating. Nanlalaban, hindi natatakot, at mas malakas pa ang loob sa kan' ya. Finally, someone that can face her. Someone that is not afraid of her, she established the idea that Leyla is her enemy.

Leyla knocked at the door thinking at how she can possibly turn things even better for her, she slowly opened it and she saw Rui sitting quietly at his desk. Hindi siya nilingon. Nagbigay siya ng daan para sa pagpasok ni Shiela.

Dahan-dahan ang naging paglalakad ni Shiela para i-abot ang kape sa binata. His eyebrows furrowed when he realized that some other girl is giving him his coffee. Bago pa makapagsalita si Shiela, kaagad na sumigaw si Rui.

"What the f*ck are you trying to do?" he anxiously asked. Quickly, he pulled his hands and tuck them on his arms.

Leyla's brows furrowed, "His fingers started trembling, he's fidgeting and he can't sit straight or look at her. He's very uncomfortable," she thought.

Dahil sa kaalaman ni Leyla na pagbabasa ng expresyon at mga kilos, ngayon ay malinaw sa kan'ya na kung ano man ang sitwasyon ngayon, hindi gusto ni Rui ang nangyayari.

"Miss Shiela, thank you for the coffee," lumingon si Shiela para panlakihan siya ng mata sabay lingon ulit kay Mr. Andrews para magpaganda.

"Sir, pasensya ka na. Si Miss, uhm... nagpatulong ang bago nin'yong secretary."

"Miss Shiela, please."

Nang pasimpleng naglakad papalapit pa kay Rui ang nagmamagandang babae. Lumapit na si Leyla para harangin ito sa paglapit. Alam ngayon, Shiela is somehow a danger to Rui. She can see how intense his reaction is, she needs to be gone soon. Nakikita niya ang inis sa mga mata ng lalaki.

"Leave!"

Halos mapatakbo na sa takot si Shiela sa malakas na pagsigaw ni Rui. Nilampasan niya ang dalawang babae sa labas ng office na pinipigilan na hindi matawa dahil sa narinig.

Inside the office, Mr. Andrews pulled his tie a bit, allowing himself to breath a bit better.

"Mr. Andrews, I'm very sorry. She was getting jealous and I don't want her to misunderstand things," she said, trying to check for his reaction. Mukhang tama nga ang mga naging hula niya dahil biglang nagdilim ang mukha ni Rui.

"Who the f*ck is she?" he angrily asked.

"He's using his anger to mask out his real emotion. This is new, I don't know what he's going through right now, but it is something very deep and maybe I can help him. Not directly, but at least a little bit," she thought to herself while tending to Rui.

Leyla took the coffee mug on his table, "She said she's your girlfriend and I let her make it. I am very sorry Sir, let me make another cup. It will take me less time this time," she smiled realizing that he stopped tapping his foot. Looks like he's not anxious while looking at her directly.

Paglabas na paglabas ni Leyla office, mabilis na tinawag ni Rui ang kaibigan.

"Albert, come to my office quickly."

Albert came running in his office in an instant.

"Mr. Andrews? Did something happen?"

"That secretary girl just brought the girl named Shiela to give me my coffee!"

Kaagad niyang nilapitan si Rui with pure concern in his eyes. He leaned closer to check if he's hyperventilating, but as he was closely checking, he can't help but notice, Rui's acting normal.

"Shiela went in?" Rui nodded.

"Did she get close to you? Paano? Saan banda?" hinawak- hawakan ni Albert si Rui at tinignan ang ibat- ibang parte ng katawan nito.

"She stood beside me. Ano sa tingin mo? Mula sa pintuan, ihahagis niya sa akin 'yong kape? Are you drunk?"

"Teka nga, I don't get it! What? How?"

"The girl stepped in and stood in between us," said Rui. He looked shocked, staring blankly at the keyboard in front of him.

"Leyla? She did not affect you? "

Rui shook his head, "She calmed me down."

Imposible para sa kan' ya ang lahat ng nangyayari sa ngayon. He's whole life there are only a few woman that he can have a close contact with. The women that he trusts the most, his mother and her friends who he grew up admiring.

As if on queue, Leyla showed up with with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa biglaang pagharap ng dalawang lalaki sa loob ng office. She looked behind her back to check if there's anything important or interesting over there, but there is non.

"Uhm, Sir?" she called, showing the cup of coffee. Albert signaled her to come in, so she did.

Hindi pa rin nawawala ang tingin ni ng matipunong lalaki sa kan'ya. Parang inaaral ang mukha at ang buong pagkatao ng dalaga.

As she was about to put the cup of hot coffee on his table, he placed his hand on top of the table, getting closer to her hand. Quickly, she moved away and left the cup on the table.

"Sir, babalik na po ako sa labas. Tawagin niyo lang po ako if you need anything."

Leyla bowed down a little.

Rui watched Leyla turn around to leave. He tried to get closer to her and he was totally fine, this is new to him.

"Wait," he said in a deep voice. She stopped to look at him with a wide smile on her face.

"Sir?"

"Can you bring that magazine over here?" he asked while pointing at the magazine on the table. Leyla smiled, she quickly did what she was asked to.

She didn't think anything of it and was about to leave the magazine on his table but she did not expect what he did next.

Rui reached out to touch her hand slightly before he grabbed the magazine off her hand.

Nagulat si Leyla sa ginawa niya pero mas nagulat siya sa biglang pagtitinginan ng dalawang lalaki. They both have their mouth wide open, Albert even gasped dramatically.

Leyla quietly left the room to give the two some space. To her, they looked like two inventors that just found out the solution on their stuck invention, a clear sign that they have a lot to talk about, and she doesn't need to be there. They look like they're going to freak out at any moment.

"What the f*ck Albert, did you see that?" Albert gasped once again.

"You touched her!"

"I did! I touched her!"

"Okay Boss, that sounded so inappropriate, don't say that out loud."

"F*ck off, don't you understand how huge this is for me! I can't calm down."

Albert laughed before tapping him at the shoulder.

"Pero paano nangyari 'yon? Walang kahit anong reaction?"

"I have no idea, I feel nothing."

"Was it because she's pretty?"

"F*ck off."

"Ah, sorry I got too excited."

Sumama ang tingin ni Rui. Sumandal siya sa upuan habang naka-cross and mga kamay. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang naging takbo ng reasoning ni Albert. Pero kung siya ang tatanungin, wala siyang masasagot na dahilan. Hindi rin niya alam kung bakit.

"Was it because she's pretty?" he asked while biting his lips.

"Kita mo na, kanina lang-"

"Shut up," he threw Albert a very judging look. Nagpatuloy siya sa pag-iisip habang kagat ang kan'yang labi.

"Was I too distracted because she's too pretty?"

"Uhm, you said that out loud Mr. Andrews. Am I supposed to comment on that I pretend that I heard nothing."

Rui bit his lips so hard that it almost bled, out of anger, he raised his middle finger and pointed it towards Albert's ear.

Naka- awang ang bibig ni Albert na hinihintay ang susunod na pambabara ni Rui. Hindi na nito maitago ang pagmangha sa pamumula ng pisngi ng madalas ay walang emosyon niyang kaibigan.

"Delete your f*cking huge ears."

"Oh, got it."