Waiting For You

Chapter 12

“Chloe, pwede ba kitang ligawan?” This question echoed in her ears as if she is hearing things wrong. He was looking at her and she is also looking back at him.

“Ligawan? Bakit may ginawa ka bang kalokohan? At kailangan mo ako ligawan?” Chloe finally recovering and trying to figure out what he really meant

“No, I didn’t do anything. At gusto kita ligawan as in a man woos a woman. Hindi ligaw dahil may kailangan ako o atraso ako” Spencer explaining his side

Chloe was silent for a while before giving him an awkward smile “Mr. Spencer James Davino, ano na naman trip to?” She asked in an accusing tone

Spencer sighed because she seems not to get his point at all. “Chloe, walang tripping na nangyayari dito, I am dead serious.” Spencer trying to convince her

“Pero bakit?” She asked innocently

“Kailangan ba ng bakit kung bakit gusto ligawan ng isang lalaki ang babae?” He countered back

“Oo?” She hesitantly answered

“Fine , if  you want a reason I’ll give you one.” He paused and stood up from his seat and bent down to her sitting height almost kneeling

“Chloe, gusto kita ligawan dahil gusto kita, I admire you, I like you, I am in love with you”  He enumerated it one by one no more chickening out.

“Spencer, kung ano man tong laro na ginagawa mo please stop it” Chloe starting not to like what’s going on

Well he was expecting this kind of scenario but surprisingly he felt the urge to continue on. “Sabi ko nga sayo I’m not playing a game, I’m serious. Gusto mo bang lumuhod pa ako to show my intentions? Which I am almost doing right now”

“Kung di ka pa titigil uuwi na ako” Chloe said, grabbing her bag and stood up from her seat

“Wait” Spencer immediately stood up and stopped her from going by grabbing her wrist “Hindi mo pa sinasagot yun tanong ko hindi pa tayo pwede umalis”

“Kung ayaw mo umuwi, uuwi ako magisa!” At this point she was getting agitated so she wasted no time and walked towards the door.

Ngumiti naman si Spencer and followed her from behind. Chloe stopped walking when she realized where they were. Nasa tuktok lang naman sila ng Tagaytay and it’s almost 9pm. Where the hell is she going to get a car to go home.

“Malamig dito sa kotse na tayo” Marahan niya etong hinila sa braso. Pero ng ayaw nito sumama ay nauna na siyang pumasok sa kotse.

 “Chloe, magkakasakit ka dyan sumakay ka na dito. If you insist on going home by yourself, payagan mo lang ako ihatid ka sa sakayan dahil wala ng sasakyan ng ganitong oras dito” He tried convincing her and this time she obliged

Nangiti na naman si Spencer when Chloe was settled on his car na hindi naman nakaligtas kay Chloe. “Ano nginigiti ngiti mo dyan? Ihatid mo ako sa sakayan sa baba I’m going home by myself” Mataray na utos ni Chloe

“Why am I smiling?” He repeated her question before answering it “Kasi I just know you too well. “ He simply answered.  Nangiti siya dahil di talaga siya nagkakamali sa pagkakakilala kay Chloe.  Alam niyang pag ipipilit niya lang kay Chloe ang gusto niya ay walang mangyayari sa usapan nila. If he will continue to push her she would just push him back but too bad for her he just knows how to turn things right.

Di naman naging malayo ang sakayan mula sa restaurant. Pagkarating sa station ay agad na bumaba si Chloe pero agad din naman siya hinabol ni Spencer at nilipat sa driver’s seat.

 “Take the car, ako na ang magcocommute. Sabi mo gusto mo umuwi magisa, then please do” Mabilis niyang sabi ata agad na tumakbo sa bus na malapit ng umalis

Akala ni Chloe binibiro lang siya ni Spencer pero umandar na ang bus at walang Spencer na bumaba. Agad agad siyang sumakay at sinundan ang bus.

 “Chloe, don’t call me your driving focus ka lang dyan. See you later”  Sagot ni Spencer sa cellphone niyang kanina pa nagriring.

“Kainis talaga tong taong to, ano naman gusto niya palabasin ngayon? Kinakawawa ko siya?” Inis naman na kausap ni Chloe sa sarili.

Sumunod lang si Chloe sa likod ng bus. Tumigil ang bus sa isang gasolinahan kaya pasimpleng itinabi niya rin ang sasakyan.Bumaba rin siya para bumili ng tubig sa convenience store. Nagulat siya pag labas niya ay prenteng nakasandal lang si Spencer sa hood ng sasakyan.

“Naiwan ka na ng bus mo” Masungit niyang sabi at dumerecho sa kotse pero hinawakan ni Spencer ang handle ng pintuan.

“Two reasons why I rode on that bus instead of letting you do. Una, para mauna ka na sa bahay at di ka na masyado mapuyat at pangalawa to keep you safe.” He started explaining “Pero when you kept on driving behind that bus I know that will not happen at pangalawa bakit mo kailangan bumili ng tubig sa lugar na to?” He continued pointing to the place they were. Yes it was fully lighted pero walang masyadong tao, at higit sa lahat walang babae na magisa.

She stayed quiet for a while thinking of the right answer.“Di ko kasi sigurado ang daan palabas ng bayan..” Sagot niya sa unang tanong “at bigla ako nauhaw bawal na ba bumili ng tubig ngayon?”

“Tingin mo ba hahayaan kita magdrive magisa if hindi ako sigurado kung alam mo ang daan? We have been here nth times its either you drive or I drive.” He quickly countered that question.  “May stock tayo ng unopend mineral water sa kotse, nakalimutan mo na din?” He asked her as if challenging her to find the right answer

“Pagod na ako ikaw na magdrive” she gave up and gave him the key. “Magtatanong kung pwede manligaw tapos bigla mangiiwan sa ere tsk..” Inis naman na bulong niya

Pagkasakay niya sa sasakyan ay agad nagpaliwanag si Spencer “Hindi kita iniwan sa ere, ayaw ko lang na magcommute ka pauwi because it’s just too unsafe for you to stay on a public vehicle on this time of the day.”

Nagulat naman siya because she was not expecting that he heard what she said. Sasagot palang sana siya when he spoke again “And maybe yes you driving alone is not too safe as well but atleast safer than the bus.”

“So you just decided to just join me again?” Pilit na hindi pinapahalat ang gulat sa  dahil para bang basang basa siya ni Spencer di pa nga siya nagsasalita

“Andito ka na rin naman, you gave me this opportunity” He smiled at her

“It was coincidence” She tried lying

“NOPE, it was not” Spencer giving emphasis on his first word “So ibigsabihin ba nito pumapayag ka na?”

“Na ano?” She asked

“Na ligawan kita. I know you are freaking out right now, or else I won’t bring you this far dahil alam kong pag saan lang kita sa Manila dalhin kanina mo pa ako nawalk-outan and worse maybe locked me out of the house” Nakuha niya pang magbiro

“But again for the nth time I’m really serious about this Chloe. I like you not as your friend, not as your bestfriend but as a woman. Just like my dad loves my mom.  Forget that we are married for a while, and let me prove to you that I can be your man.” He tried to sound not too cheesy

Also for the nth time that night Chloe seems to run out of words to say. Parang nakutuban niya na posibleng mangyari to pero hindi niya inexpect na gagawin talaga ni Spencer. Fiendship versus romantic relationship the forever dilemma.  “Spencer, I really don’t know. Alam mo bakit? Isa ka lang sa iilan mga tao na meron ako. At ayaw ko itake ang risk na if ever na pati ikaw mawala sa akin” She answered honestly

“Wala pa nga? Mawawala na agad?” He asked smiling

“Puro ka naman kasi biro! Kung seryoso ka mas seryoso naman ako. Kaya ayaw ko.” She answered

“But your action tells otherwise, you care for me” He declared

“Of course I care for you, dati pa naman yun. There’s nothing wrong for caring for a friend” She quickly defended herself

“Alam mo yun din ang akala ko dati”  He said and winked on her “Actually alam ko din naman na di mo ako bibigyan ng matinong sagot. So I guess that means ako na ang bahala diba?”

Magrereklamo palang sana siya naunahan na naman siya “Totoo naman diba? you didn’t said yes, but you also didn’t turn me down. If I would be too assuming I’ll assume that your silence meant yes”

“Bahala ka na nga dyan”  She said frowning and crossed her arms

“Tara uwi na tayo” Pagtatapos niya sa usapan nakuha na naman niya kung ano ang sagot na gusto niyang makuha.

Lumipas ang weekend nila like it was just an ordinary weekend for them. Di na ulit pa nabanggit ang napagusapan, halos wala rin naman nagbago. At kahit papaano narelieved naman si Chloe dun.

She was doing her Monday paperworks when her cellphone suddenly ring. Akala niya nun una si Spencer ang tumatawag pero si Janelle lang pala.

“Girl! Kamusta naman ang date mo nun Friday?” She excitedly asked but with a hint na may alam siya

“Don’t mention that”  She answered shaking her head

“Ikaw ah di ka nagkwekwento! Kung di pa nabanggit ni Ricky sa akin di ko pa alam!” May tampo sa boses ng kaibigan

“Tssss as if hindi mo alam tungkol dun” Kontra niya

“Hindi naman talaga noh, bro code daw yun kaya ayaw niya sabihin sa akin. So ano sinabi mo sa kanya? Pumayag ka ba?” Panguusisa ni Janelle

“Wala hindi ko alam, wala akong sinagot sa kanya, then he conclude na siya na daw ang bahala” She didn’t bother hiding the details

“Woah! Hindi mo binasted?” Natatawa niyang tanong “so alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin nun?”

“Ano?” She impatiently asked

“Your bestfriend s***h husband is in love with you” She stated word by word

“As if I don’t know that by now” Chloe answered sarcastically

“Parang hindi ka masaya? Eh diba parang kelan lang…?” But she was cut off by Chloe immediately

“Shhhh wag mo na palakakihin, nagfrefreak out na nga ako eh” Chloe complained

“Why freak out? Just go with the flow. Problema sayo girl pagdating sa mga romantic relationships masyado kang nega. Wala pa ngang nangyayari puro what ifs ka na.  To think Spencer is willing to take the risk knowing your allergic to these kinds of relationships means a big thing. Sa lahat ng lalaki si Spencer lang ang totoong nakakakilala sayo” She tried encouraging her to take the risk

“Pero paano kung hindi magwork out? Paano kung magaway lang kami? Or maghiwalay lang kami?” She blurted out her questions

“Chloe, negativities. Shake those bad vibes away and take the risk. Tsaka ano ka ba liligawan ka pa lang ang layo layo na agad ng iniisip mo? Ikaw ah, napaghahalataan” Janelle continued teasing her

After that she heard a knock on her door kaya nagpaalam na rin siya. She was expecting her secretary but no it wasn’t her it was him.

“Chloe, mind if pumasok ako?” He asked for her permission

“Nasa loob ka na kaya” Sarcastic niyang sagot

He laughed at his own silliness “I was trying to call you but your line was busy so pinuntahan na lang kita”

“So what are you going to tell me na mukhang napakaimportante na hindi makapaghintay?” Tanong niya

“The board members wants you to attend the board meetings effective next meeting.” He casually announced

“Huh? bakit? Di ba napagusapan na yun?” Tanong ni Chloe

“Nagbago na siguro isip nila, they want you to be there”  He continued explanining. Initially Chloe was allowed not to join the meetings dahil wala ito sa mga plano niya. Wala siya balak maging ganun ka “bigtime” as she calls it kaya nga she always stay low profile

“Wala naman ako magagawa diba?” She sighed and asked him and he just received a nod as an answer

“Sabihin mo sa kanila see you in the next meeting” She sarcastically said

“Makakarating” He answered then they laugh.

“Hmm Spencer…about dun pala sa Friday..” She tried opening the topic

“What about that?”  Tila naexcite ang kausap sa isasagot niya

“Sige payag na ako” Nahihiya niyang sagot.

“Really??!” tuwang tuwa naman si Spencer dun. “Thank you Chloe for the chance!” he added

“As if pag hindi ako pumayag hindi mo gagawin” Banat niya pabalik

“Well maybe pero it’s better this way and since we are going to do this right” Inabot niya ang kanang kamay ni Chloe

“Teka ano ginagawa mo?” Mahinang pumiglas si Chloe pero di siya binitawan. Tinanggal ni Spencer ang singsing sa daliri niya.

“Kailan ka pa nakakita na nagliligawan na may singsing na agad? I’ll keep yours and you’ll keep mine that way we are still reminded.  This time we’ll try to do things step by step” Agad niya rin paliwanag sa ginagawa.

“Ang lakas din talaga ng trip mo noh?” Chloe told him teasingly

Kinuha niya ang isang necklace chain mula sa bulsa at isinuot ang singsing sa loob. Una niyang sinuot sa sarili ang necklace at sinunod kay Chloe.

“Teka ako na”  Pigil naman ni Chloe sa kanya. He didn’t listen and put it on her.

“Salamat, prepared ka ah” Pangaasar pa ni Chloe

“Sabi mo nga kanina with or without your consent I know what I am doing” He answered  “Sige mauna na ako may meeting pa ako

Bago siya tuluyan lumabas may pahabol pa siya “By the way the next board meeting is three weeks from now, so I guess you can conclude that this visit is not really that necessary pero gusto lang talaga kita makita at puntahan” He finished that statement with a wave and a wink.