Waiting For You

Chapter 13

 Isang linggo pagkatapos magtapa ni Spencer kay Chloe ay hindi na naman nila ito napagusapan ulit ika nga nila action speak louder than words, bakit kailangan pa nila pagusapan.

“Teka teka, ano yan nakikita kong bagong kwintas mo?” Turo ni Janelle

“Ito?” Hawak ni Chloe sa kwintas “Singsing ni Spencer?” Alanganin niyang sagot

“Alam kong wedding ring yan ng asawa mo, bakit nasayo?” Curious na tanong ni Janelle

“Ewan ko sa pakulo ng taong yun. Kalimutan daw muna namen ang tungkol dito?” She recalled what he had explained about that set-up

“So gusto niya magmukha muna kayong single ulit?” Janelle asked raising an eyebrow and Chloe nodded while taking a sip from her juice

“Kasi?” Janelle asking her for more details

“Maybe he wants to do it the right way?” Patanong na sagot ni Chloe

“Right way? Eh mukhang paatras kayo?” Tanong ulit ni Janelle at nginitian lang siya ni Chloe.

“Ikaw babae ka marami ka pang utang na kwento sa akin ah. Ano na ba talaga?” Pangiintriga ni Janelle

“Secret”Chloe gaving her the most controversial answer of all time.

Sa kabilang banda naman kakatapos lang ng lakad ni Spencer at Ricky.

“Wait are you serious? You mean gusto mong kalmutan niya na kasal na kayo?” tila Tila gulat na tanong ni Ricky

“Yup!” with emphasis “Ayaw ko na isipin niya na pinpressure ko siya sa panliligaw ko dahil kahit anong mangyari kami na rin naman “technically”” With matching quote and unquote sign pa gamit ang kamay

“Hindi ba yun naman talaga?”Nanlolokong tanong ni Ricky

“Sira ka ba! Inaayos ko na nga to eh. We started with the wrong foot well maybe its time to fix it” Explain naman ni Spencer

“So ang peg niyo is wedding first fall in love later?” Natatawang tanong ni Ricky “Ay wait kay Chloe lang pala yun kasi sayo matagal ng falling in love” Pangaasar sa kanya ni Ricky

“ikaw talaga kahit kelan napakahelpful mo” Napailing na reklamo ni Spencer then pushing the button of the remote of his car at pumasok sa driver’s seat

“Pero pare eto seryoso, hindi ka ba natatakot na maunahan ka ng iba? Ngayon aakalahin ng lahat na single si Chloe?” Tanong ni Ricky holding on to the door of his car.

“Sasakay ka ba o iiwan na kita? Naghihintay na si Chloe at si Janelle” Pagiiba niya sa usapan. Agad agad naman sumakay si Ricky, when he was settled on his seat Spencer answered his previous question “Tulad nga ng sabi mo, bakit ako matatakot eh kasal na nga kami” Spencer smirked

“Kita mo to! Sabi ko na nga ba eh!” Akusa naman ni Ricky and they just laugh together after that.

After almost a month everything seems to move smoothly for them. For the others wala naman sila halos nakikitang iba sa kinikilos ng dalawa. Parang normal lang, but as for the two of them may mga bagay sila na hinahayaan nalang mangyari na dati rati naman ay iniiwasan nila. Chloe in a way is starting to open up for him and Spencer on the other hand is doing his best to make her fully trust him not as only a friend.

Kakatapos lang ni Chloe magrounds kaya kakapasok lang niya ng office. Hindi naman nakalampas sa kanya ang malaking ngiti sa sekretarya niya

“What is it now?” She quickly asked as if alam niya na meron na naman kung ano sa office niya

“Ma’am andyan po si Sir Spencer sa loob, medyo kanina pa po siya” Atubiling sabi ng sekretarya

Napabuntong hininga nalang din si Chloe. Ganito na ang naging panibagong set up niya, minsan papasok siya na naging flower shop sa dami ng bulaklak at snack barsa dami ng pagkain na dinadala sa kanya.

“Spencer” he called out to him na kasaulukuyan nakaupo sa upuan niya and doing something on her desktop computer “Anong ginagawa mo dyan?”

“Andito ka na pala. Halika dito!” He excitedly ask her to come over

“Ano ba meron dyan?” Tanong niya pero agad din naman lumapit.

Pagkalapit niya ay binigyan lang ito ng mabilis na halik sa pisngi and smiled on her “your password is too easy babe” Waved on her then left the office

“Speennncceeeerrrrrrrr!!” reklamo niya pero mabilis itong nakatakbo

Agad niyang hinila ang upuan niya para umupo at para tignan kung ano ang ginawa ni Spencer sa computer niya.  Pero bago niya pa mapansin kung ano ang ginawa niya ay nadistract agad siya. Kung nabuksan niya ang computer niya ibigsabihin alam niya ang password. Agad niya etong tinawagan.

“Paano mo hinack ang computer ko?” Agaran niyang tanong

“Hindi ko hinack ang pc mo nahulaan ko lang ang password mo, ang dali lang kaya” He confidently said kahit over the phone lang alam ni Chloe na ngumingiti si Spencer

“Are you sure hindi mo to hinack? Kasi kung oo ibigsabihin mabilis lang pala to ihack? Tapos pwede manakaw files ko? Tapos tapos..”tuloy tuloy niyang reklamo at salaysay

“Wait wait Chloe. Hindi kita hinack..your password is just too easy…hmmmm 773623752637”  He recited her not so easy password

The other line just went off.  “Nakakahiya grabeee” Chloe holding her face to cover her blush. After about 5 minutes Spencer was already on her door.

“What happened bakit biglang naputol ang linya?” He asked a hint of playfulness on his tone.

“Ano ginagawa mo dito?” Hindi niya inaasaahan ang biglang susugod sa office niya

“Well hindi natapos usapan natin eh..so ano kumbinsido ka na bang mabilis lang ang password mo?” Patuloy na pangaasar niya

She was giving him a look like “Paano naging madali yun eh puro numbers” Pero alam niya din naman ang dahilan paano niya eto nahulaan.

“How many times did you try to unlock my computer?” Tanong niya

“Marami rami din. Pero nakuha ko din siya after several tries sabi nga nila the most complicated ones are the most simple.”  Spencer stating a very contradicting statement

“Ewan ko sayo papalitan ko nalang nga” Chloe frowned at inirapan pa siya

“Ano ipapalit mo? 1437736237?”Spencer still teasing her

“Grrr..umalis ka na nga dito” Naiinis pa rin si Chloe medyo nahihiya din dahil nabuking siya nito

He was smiling from ear to ear seeing her in her state. “Dibale ishare ko na lang din password ko sayo para fair naman. Tandaan mo mabuti ang password ko ah…14324563” At sinabayan pa ito ng isang kindat

“Wala ka bang kailangan gawin? Sige na ok na. Ikaw lang naman ata ang feel na mabilis lang ang password ko” Finally surrendering  and Spencer just laugh

“Yeah, don’t worry ako lang makakabukas ng pc mo”He half assured her half joking with her

“By the way ano ba kailangan mo sa computer ko?” Patay malisya naman tanong ni Chloe

“Hindi mo pa ba nakikita?” Nagtataka naman niyang tanong at umiling si Chloe

“Well that’s for you to find out. Sige na Chloe, marami pa ako kailangan gawin eh. Remember may meeting tayo mamaya ah.” Paalala na rin ni Spencer

Nailing nalang si Chloe sa ginawa ni Spencer. Para siyang bigla naging teenager na sa mga simpleng bagay ay napapangiti siya. Si Spencer naman para bang bigla naging happy go lucky. Pero since she was reminded of the meeting isinantabi niya muna ang kanyang “love life” and started focusing on the paperworks in front of her.

5 pm ang meeting nila at quarter to 5 na ng magkasalubong sila ni Spencer sa labas ng conference room,. Chloe was pacing outside the hall. Holding on to her stomach as if she is having a stomach ache

“OH Chloe bakti hindi ka pa pumasok? Tsaka ok ka lang ba?” Salubong ni Spencer

“Medyo kumikirot lang tyan ko. Siguro kinakabahan lang ako” Mabilis naman na sagot ni Chloe

“Sigurado kang kinakabahan ka lang? Hindi kaya? Alam mo na?” Spencer joking her

“Sira ka talaga. Sumakit lang naman to nun malapit na magmeeting eh.” Explain naman ni Chloe

“Sige sabi mo eh. Ayaw mo pa pumasok?” Tanong naman ni Spencer nang mapansin niya halos kumpleto na lahat ng tao sa loob/

“Hinihintay na kita. Alam mo na, mainit ata ulo sa akin nga mga nasa loob” Alanganin hirit ni Chloe. Well not everyone but some board members felt that there was a “special” treatment for her because she was not attending the meeting but instead it was always her dad who was their for her position. Wala naman talaga masama dun dahil unlike kay Daddy Mike hindi pa naman completely na turnover ng daddy niya sa kanya ang mga shares so technically daddy niya pa rin naman ang board member.

“Chloe, Spencer!” Tawag ni Daddy Kenneth sa kanila namukhang kakarating lang din.

“Dad!” Lapit naman ni Chloe at humalik sa daddy niya

“Akala ko di ka pa rin sisipot eh, it’s about time Chloe, aba’t gusto ko na magretire tulad ni Pareng Mike at ng makapamasyal na rin kami ng mommy mo” Daddy Kenneth joking and giving Spencer at tap on the shoulder

Sumimangot naman si Chloe ng kaunti pero yumakap pa rin sa daddy niya “Dad naman eh, pero sige na para sa inyo ni mommy”

“Tara na?” Yaya ng daddy nila sa kanila. Magkakasunod sila na pumasok as expected sila na lang ang hinihintay for the meeting. May tatlong agenda ang meeting nila for that day and for the first two si Spencer ang assigned para magproceed. He prepared his slides and explained professionally his report. He got everyone’s attention and towards the end he also got the approval of the board.

“Thank you po, so for the last part of the meeting may I ask Mr. Kenneth Veluz to proceed?” Tawag naman ni Spencer sa father-in-law niya.

Umupo naman si Spencer sa tabi niya. Her dad was presenting some charts that she understood dahil yun ang pinagaralan niya kaninang hapon.  Habang pilit niya na makapagfocus sa meeting despite the pain she was feeling nadistract siya ng kunin ni Spencer ang inumin niya at ininom. He just drank on her cup infront of all the board members. Sinaway niya naman ito sa pamamagitan ng mahinang paghampas sa kanya

“Nauhaw ako eh sorry”  Bulong naman ni Spencer sa kanya with a cheeky smile

“Pwede ka naman humingi ng bago” Bulong pabalik ni Chloe

“Ok lang naman, hindi ko naman inubos konti lang ininom ko” Explain naman ni Spencer pretending that he doesn’t know why she reacted that way

“Nakakahiya kaya!!” Mahinang reklamo ni Chloe

“Anong nakakahiya dun?” Pangaasar niya

“Ehem, so what do you think?” natigil ang asaran nila ng mapansin na nakatingin na pala lahat ng tao sa loob ng kwarto  

“Yes sir I agree with what Mr. Dominguez suggested. Medyo malaki ang magiging impact ng pagbubukas ng bagong mall within a few kilometer radius around us. So even though this kind of promotion will cost us some amount of money I think it would be all worth it. Rather than save up for this promotion and lose bigger towards the end.” Spencer answered confidently which left Chloe on a moment of awe. Di niya itatanggi na nadistract siya at di niya narinig ang huling napagusapan.

Their meeting lasted for around 15 more minutes before they wrap things up. “Spencer, the Southeast Asian summit for outlet mall industry would be held this year in a resort in Laguna. We were given 4 slots for this sino ang balak mo papuntahin besides you?” Singit ni Ms. Reyes head of the HR department.

“I’ll be going with Chloe and for the other two kayo na bahala magassign walang kaso sa amin yun” Spencer answering her question and she quickly acknowledged  that. Then they finally wrapped things up. Well sabi nga nila last in last out. Only the three of them were left inside the room.

“So Chloe, mauna na ako ah. And next time hindi na ako ang tatayo sa harap you will be the one to do that understand?” Daddy Kenneth on a semi-authorative tone. “And Chloe next time don’t space out”

Spencer laughed a bit on that last statement of her father-in-law si Chloe naman ay nagblush ng husto. Nagpaalam na ang daddy niya at hinatid nila ito hanggang sa elevator. Nang makasiguradong silang dalawa nalang ang natira sa floor ay kinurot ni Chloe si Spencer sa tagiliran.

“Aray ko naman Chloe”  Reklamo ni Spencer kay Chloe at umatras ng konti

“Eh ikaw kaya may kasalanan kung bakit ako muntik mayari kanina sa meeting!” Inis na sabi ni Chloe sa kanya “Ang sama na nga ng pakiramdam ko” Simangot niyang sabi

“Sorry, ikaw naman kasi grabe kung makareact..” Mahinang sagot ni Spencer

“Eh kasi naman..” Nailing nalang si Chloe “Table manners lang naman kasi..”

“Hayaan mo sila lahat sila may mga asawa, napagdaanan din nila yun stage na yun” Spencer consoling her

“Ang alin? Ang uminom sa baso ng hindi kanya?” Mataray na tanong ni Chloe

“Nope, ang humanap ng paraan to get a kiss” Spencer answered and winked on her. He knows what’s coming next kaya nakaiwas kaagad siya.

“ahala ka na nga diyan, uuwi na ako” Inis a sabi ni Chloe at sumakay sa elevator na kakabukas lang

“Wait lang Chloe” Natatawang sunod naman ni Spencer sa loob.

After that they went home together, nagyaya pa sana si Spencer na magdinner but Chloe passed saying she’s not hungry and her stomach is not feeling that well.

“Are you sure ok ka lang?” Spencer asked with concern

“Ok lang ako, it might be just the time of the month or may nakain lang ako di maganda” She forced a smile for him.

“Sige, just call me if you need anything” sagot naman ni Spencer. Pagakayat ni Chloe sa kwarto ay derecho na siya sa kama. Si Spencer naman ay tumingin sa ref kung ano ang pwede iluto or kainin. Nagliligpit siya ng pinagkainan niya ng may marinig siya malakas na pagbagsak ng pinto at parang may tumatakbo.

“Chloe?” tawag niya naman kay Chloe. Pero ng wala siyang marinig na sagot ay inakyat niya na ito. Nasalubong niya si Chloe na kakalabas lang galing CR.

“What happened?” tanong ni Spencer pero umiling lang si Chloe not wanting to answer him. “Bakit ka tumatakbo? Tsaka wait bakit ang putla mo?” Nagsimula na naman magpanic si Spencer

Chloe gave her a faint smile before rushing again to the cr after feeling sick again. Sinundan naman siya ni Spencer and comforted her. She flushed the toilet and washed herself before turning to face him.

“Bakit ka sumunod dito? Lumabas ka nga” Tulak ni Chloe sa kanya palabas ng banyo pero pinigilan siya ni Spencer by holding on to her arms.

“ou’re sick,ano ba kinain mo kanina?” Tanong niya di alintana na pinapaalis siya ni Chloe sa banyo

“Ok lang ako. Baka nga may masama lang ako nakain. Nailabas ko na rin siguro I’ll be fine.” Chloe assuring him

“Teka Chloe nilalagnat ka, ang init mo” Nramdaman niya nun hinawakan niya to.

Hindi na naman siya sumagot of course she knows that. Kanina palang sa meeting bukod sa masakit ang tyan niya ay masakit din ang ulo niya. Magreraact palang sana si Chloe ng bigla siyang binuhat ni Spencer bridal style papasok sa kwarto niya.

“Lalabas lang ako saglit. Bibili ako ng gamot I’ll be fast please stay put” uthorative nitong utos sa kanya and she just nodded not wanting to worry him more.

He quickly drive to the nearest drugstore bought some medicines and some hydration drinks. Habang nagdridrive siya pauwi panay ang ring ng cellphone niya. It was from his secretary.

“Sir! Buti naman po sumagot na kayo. May emergency tayo!” May panic sa boses nito

“What emergency?” apakunot naman noo ni Spencer

“Inuulan po ng reklamo ang isa sa mga stall natin sa food court. They are being charged with contaminated food.  A lot of customers who had ate their meal there are diagnosed with food poisioning.” Explain ng secretary niya

“Sh*t” Napamura si Spencer dahil sa nangyari pero dahil naalala niya si Chloe Text me the details pupunta ako dyan in a while may aasikasuhin lang ako saglit” Spencer calmly instructed and accelerated his speed.