FACADE

Chapter FIFTEEN

[Cassidy's POV]

The first day of practice has finally ended. Since it was a private practice, in the end I decided na wag na lang tumuloy sa office. So, nautusan ako ni Elynna bumili ng pagkain. Hindi pa ako binayaran, akala mo walang milyon sa banko.

It was already 10 in the evening, nagsabi na ako kay Klein na hindi ako sasabay sa kanila palabas ng building. I have something important to do. 

Pinatay ko ang ilaw sa loob ng office at lumabas na, hindi naman ako natatakot since bukas pa ang mga ilaw sa hallway. May mga guards din each floor.

Makapagcheck nga ng phone. Baka may sinabi sila Klein sa gc ng play.

"Wala naman…" puro reminders lang for next practice, at chat ni Berlin na nagsasabi na mauna na sila with group picture. Hindi rin nila kasabay si Klein at si Akoz sa picture? 

Pagkabukas ng elevator ay agad akong lumabas at naglalakad nang nagmamadali. May familiar na lalaki akong nakita sa labas ng building. Sabi na eh, good thing umuwi ako ng ganitong oras. He is standing near the entrance door, nasa labas na rin ang kotse niya. So, probably he waited first at the parking lot.

"Yohan…" I called his name. Yohan turned around and he smiled the moment he met me. I sighed, I really don't know how to explain such things but…

Yohan is actually my suitor. He is the one who consistently invites me on dates, Yohan Vaun Zafiro the next successor of Hakin University.

He is a good-looking man, an intelligent, helpful, caring, and rich. Nasa kanya na nga lahat. Pero I can't say yes to this guy. He is mischievous and I knew it. May nature rin siya as womanizer or chick boy. Kahit hindi naman niya sabihin iyon, napabackground check ko na siya sa family detective namin. So, while courting me; he had flings with several women. Diba, ang saya?

It's been a year since he confessed, and every month lagi ko na lang required ireject siya. Ayokong umasa siya dahil una, wala naman siya mapapala sakin. Ikalawa, hindi ko siya magugustuhan.

"Hi Cass, long time no see." Liar, we just met last week. I scoffed after he said that. "We just met last week." Sagot ko.

"I missed you." Yohan whispered. I breathed deeply, as soon as possible I want to be honest with him. Pero lagi niya sinasabi na hindi siya susuko hanggat di ako nagkakagusto sa iba.

What if kung mayroon na?

"Yohan, will you please stop? Pumayag lang ako noong una because you have an important party. Ngayon, I think you should stop pestering me. Hindi nga kita gusto." Madiin na sabi ko. Ngumiti si Yohan at nakapamulsa. Diba, chill lang siya. Pwede naman kasi siya magpalit anytime.

"One year pa lang naman ako nanliligaw ah. I told you I can wait. Titigil lang ako kung may nagugustuhan ka na, or hanggang sa ako na yung magustuhan mo." Yohan opened his car's door. "Sakay na, I will take you to your home. Late na oh, kanina nakauwi mga kaibigan mo."

Kainis. He is stressing me for real.

Since it's 10 in the evening, ayoko naman magpaka brave woman. I hopped in. Baka tulog na nga driver namin, ayokong istorbohin para lang magpasundo.

"Let's go, I'm tired. I don't have any plans to eat." Yohan chuckled. He knows what I am talking about, kadalasan kasi he will bring me to restaurant bago ihatid. Pero hindi siya pushy, pag ayaw edi don't. Pwera lang sa usaping ganito. 

I met Yohan sa isang fashion show, I was freshie and he was Grade 12 that time. Pareho kaming invited ng designer since he is a great friend of our dads. Pumayag ako, because it's all about money. Pumayag si Yohan, so he can meet girls to flirt with. 

Then, that's it. After ng tatlong dinner invitation ay umamin siya at nanligaw. I can't say no that time, which sana pala ginawa ko na. Yohan's father and my dad are business partners. So, we often meet. 

Walang idea ang mga kaibigan ko about Yohan. The moment na si Elynna naman ang tumingin kay Yohan at nalaman nila kung gaano ka-playful ito, baka nakurot na ako. Hanggat maari, we want each of us to have an ideal relationship.

"So, Akoz which is my best friend said kilala ka niya." Napalingon ako sa kanya. He knew Akoz?!

"You're friends with him?" I asked, I was flabbergasted. Yohan nodded and smiled. Tinuro niya ang jacket na nasa backseat. 

"Hindi ko siya na kwento sa'yo before. But yep, we are bestfriends since bata pa lang kami. Nakita kasi kita na kasama siya in our first day." 

"I didn't know you're friends with an angel.."

"Right." He quickly agreed. Napalingon ako sa kaniya and he is smiling from ear to ear. He seems like he is happy talking about Akoz.

"Hindi ko rin ineexpect. But here we are. We rely on each other very much. He is timid, he is sensitive but he is a warm person. So, I hope you girls will take care of him." 

They have a strong bond of relationship. 

I knew it. 

But what if…

Nevermind

"Of course, we will. He is our only boy." I promised and smiled.

[Akoz' POV]

It was already 10 in the evening, and while walking on my way to the parking lot. Klein called me. Nakita nya raw ako mag-isang lumabas sa room, kaya sasabay na rin siya. So here we are, enjoying the night view of Hakin University.

"Bakit pala di ka sumabay kila Berlin?" I asked her to break the silence. Naglalakad na kaming dalawa sa catwalk, ang way bago makapunta sa parking lot.

"Hmmm. May ginawa lang ako sa kabilang building. Something very important." Klein answered while texting on her phone. "Nasa bahay na nga si Berlin, sumabay kay Sakura ata ito." 

"I see." 

Wala na akong masabi. Nagpapanic na ako deep inside. Kung nakikita ito ni Yohan, malamang stressed na naman siya. Gusto ko pa makausap si Klein bago kami pumunta ng parking lot. Ang ganda ng gabi ngayon oh.

Aaaaaah. 

Paano ba? 

"Ang ganda talaga dito sa catwalk. Look! Ang ganda ng mga puno!" Klein exclaimed with an excitement. She is raising her head up high to look at those trees na nakapaligid sa catwalk.

That's true, ang ganda nga ng mga puno.

Pero mas maganda ang nakikita ko ngayon.

I can't help but to smile while staring at her. She looks like a child while smiling and staring at those trees. Kumukuha pa nga siya ng pictures, ilalagay niya raw sa i********:.

I am the happiest man just by looking at her.

And I am enjoying it, to the fullest.

"Ang ganda diba?" Tanong ni Klein sabay titingin sa akin.

Oops.

Agad akong nag-angat ng ulo bago niya mahuling sa kanya ako nakatitig. Tumango-tango na lang ako habang nakatingala para tingnan ang mga puno.

"Tama ka, maganda nga." 

Naglakad na kami papuntang parking lot. Pero bago ako sumakay sa kotse ay tumingin muna ako sa kanya. Ngumiti naman siya at nagpaalam, sabay sakay sa isang red na Mazda, na may driver na babae. Ngayon ko lang nakita ang sasakyan na iyon.

Baka siguro kaibigan niya rin.