Sarang

Chapter 31

"Sia..." he said. "I like you."

I didn't know how I reacted. Nakalimutan ko atang huminga sa mga oras na 'yon nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya.

"Huh?" I asked, still confused. I understand what he said pero hindi ko pa rin masyadong nakuha. "You what?"

"I like you," he seriously said. "And I'm asking your thoughts about that."

"Uh," I said. "Like what?"

He laugh a little. "Bakit? Okay lang ba?"

"Ha?"

Doon na siya tuluyang natawa. "Wow, I just confessed my feelings for you. Tapos ganiyan?"

"Why do you like me?" I asked him.

"Hindi ko alam," sagot niya. "It just happens. Isang araw, alam ko nalang na may gusto na ako sa 'yo."

"Are you really serious?" paniniguro ko. "Well, thank you... if you like me. But I suggest you to please... stop," nakangiting sabi ko.

"What do you mean?" medyo gulat na tanong niya.

"That's not a good idea," I directly said. "It's not... it's no good."

"Paano mo nasabi? Are you saying you're declining my confession?"

"Hindi. I am giving you advice on what you should do," I said. "Because it won't work. That won't work, Asher."

"Okay, stop," natatawang sabi niya. "Let's sleep now, it's getting late."

"Yeah," natatawang sabi ko. "See you tomorrow," I said as I walk him outside the house.

"See you," nakangiting sabi niya. "I'm serious on what I said earlier."

Pagkaalis niya ay dumeretso kaagad ako sa kusina to drink water. Pagkaharap ko, nabulunan pa ako nang bigla kong makita si Aeris na nakapamaywang na nakatingin sa akin.

"Problem?" tanong niya, nakataas pa ang isang kilay.

"Wala," I lied. "Why are you still awake?"

"Feeling ko kasi may sasabihin ka, eh. Pinapadalo ko lang buhay mo," nakangising sabi niya.

"Ano namang sasabihin ko sa 'yo?" mataray na tanong ko pabalik.

"Okay," sabi niya. I sighed as a sign of defeat at agad na tinawag muli siya nang akmang aalis na siya.

"He said he likes me," wala sa sariling sabi ko. "I told him not to continue liking me."

"Ohh," she said, forming an 'o' on his lips. "And then what?"

"Tama naman hindi ba? Liking me is not a good idea. At hindi ko ineexpect na aamin siya."

"You don't like him?" she asked.

"I don't..." natigilan ako bago tinikom muli ang bibig ko. "Do I?"

"Hay nako," sabi niya. "Ewan ko. Halata namang oo. Pero tama naman, liking you is not a good idea. Kasi masasaktan lang kayong dalawa."

"I know right."

"Well, don't you want to risk everything for love?"

"Risk what? I am very willing to risk everything but not for love," seryosong sabi ko. "It is not for me. And if... if he really have feelings for me to the point that he wants to have a relationship, I will decline it right away."

"Hindi mo sigurado," nakangiting sabi niya. "Sinabi ko na rin yan sa sarili ko. But look what happened? I am suffering now... at hindi ako natutuwa."

"But still, I'll try to not do it. I'll say no."

"Ikaw ang bahala. I've seen this also before and I didn't liked the outcome," she gave a sweet smile. "I'll help you."

"No," matigas pa ring sabi ko. "Hindi mangyayari 'yon. I won't let him suffer nang dahil lang sa akin."

"Let's sleep then!" sigaw niya. She gave me a kiss sa cheeks which is weird pero hinayaan ko nalang siya.

The next day, I became busy dahil ang dami kong kailangang aralin sa company. Aeris became my PA, secretary, manager, at kung ano pa. She became an all-rounder just like Kaito before.

And speaking of Kaito, he's been texting me since yesterday but I didn't bother to reply.

Kaito:

I saw you kanina. You look good with your outfit. Boss Madam ang datingan naks

Kaito:

Kamusta ang first day? Stress ka ba kaagad? Nagtatanong pa rin si Aeris sa akin at umaalalay pa naman ako.

Kaito:

Galit ka ba sakin?

Kaito:

Lilibre kita kapag nagkita ulit tayo. Kinakamusta ka rin sakin ni mama

Kaito:

Hoy pangit hahahah

I was so stress the whole day. Hindi pa nakakatuwa na sunod-sunod ang mga papers na kailangan kong i-review at i-approve.

"Kumain ka na muna," Asher told me pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Wala na akong oras kumain dahil kailangan na ng approval ko before 4 pm. It's already 1:30.

"Let me help—"

"It's fine," putol sa kaniya bago ngumiti. I am also using this as an excuse para hindi ko siya makausap.

"Hey, do you want a—"

"No," pagtanggi ko kaagad. Napansin ko ang tinginan nilang dalawa ni Aeris pero hindi ko na pinansin. I need to double time.

Hanggang sa mga sumunod na araw ay ganon pa rin ang eksena namin. He's telling me to eat or something pero I'm always declining.

"Huy grabe, walang balak makipag-usap?" natatawang tanong ni Aeris.

"I'm busy," pagrarason ko.

"Tapos nagagawang mong sumagot sa akin samantalang sa kaniya tango at iling lang?"

"I told you, I'm busy," ulit ko.

"Okay, bahala ka," sabi niya.

He continued offering me foods the next following days pero katulad nang dati, tumatanggi ako. Sinusubukan kong umiwas dahil baka ma-realize niya na na-coconfuse lang siya sa nararamdaman niya dahil lagi kaming magkasama.

Pagod na pagod akong bumaba ng kotse. He didn't come sa company kanina which made me breathe a little as a sign of relief.

"Can we talk?"

Bahagya akong nagulat nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa harapan ko.

"Can we? Siguro naman hindi ka na busy?" nakangiting tanong niya.

"Uh," I looked away, trying to find an excuse pero sa huli ay tumango nalang din ako. "Anong pag-uusapan? I need to rest, marami pa akong gagawin bukas."

"You're avoiding me," he stated. "I'm sure you are."

"I'm not," sabi ko. "Busy lang ako that's why I can't talk to you."

"Hindi, eh," sabi niya. "You are really avoiding me."

"Hindi—"

"Kuya Asher!"

Natigilan kaming dalawa nang biglang lumabas si Ami. "Hi, Ate! Hi, Kuya! Kanina pa kita hinihintay!"

"Sorry, hinintay ko Ate mo sa labas, eh."

Bahagya siyang umupo para buhatin si Ami. "Pasok na tayo. Magpapahinga na si Ate kasi pagod siya."

"Kain na tayo, Ate!" he giggled. Ngumiti ako sa at bahagyang tumango. "Sabi mo po kahapon may ibibigay ka kay Ate? Nabigay mo na po ba?"

Sabay kaming napatingin tatlo kay Ami kaya bahagya siyang nahiya at yumuko.

"Nandito ka kahapon?" I asked him.

"Opo. Lagi po siyang nandito para samahan ako," si Ami ang sumagot which made me shock even more.

"Kaya ba paalis-alis ka rin?" I asked.

"Uh," nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Oo, wala rin kasing maiiwan dito para samahan siya."

"Okay," I replied.

Nagtama ang tingin naming dalawa ni Aeris pero agad ding nag-iwas nang makita ang reaksyon ko.

Nang matapos kumain ay nagpaalam na akong aakyat na pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makaakyat ay may kamay nang humawak sa akin para pigilan ako.

"I'm sorry. If you want me to take back what I said, I will. Just don't... ignore me please."

Taka ko siyang nilingon dahil sa sinabi niya. "I like you. Seryoso ako ro'n. But I am willing to take it back kung 'yon lang 'yong way para mag-usap na ulit tayo. I can take it back but I won't stop myself from liking you."

I was just looking at him... not talking nor trying to think of anything to reply. I have no words.

"Good night."

That's it. That's what I replied after minutes of exchanging eye contact with him. I gave him a sweet smile before grabbing my hand back and walk towards my room.

"You're in trouble, Sia. You really are," pagkausap ko sa sarili ko. Pagkaharap ko sa kama ko ay nagulat ako nang makita ko si Rose na seryosong nakatingin sa akin.

"Hello, long time no see," she giggled.

"What are you doing here all of a sudden?" mataray na tanong ko sa kaniya.

"I'm so proud of you," natatawang sabi niya.

"Okay?" nawe-weirduhang sagot ko. "Love, huh," sabi niya bago ngumisi.

"What again?"

"I heard he confessed," she said. "And you're avoiding him until now. Afraid of the consequences, huh?"

"Don't talk to me," I said seriously as I remove my cardigan. "I don't to talk about it."

"Okay, then," sumusuko nang sabi niya. "But if you someone to ask for some advice—"

"I don't need anyone's advice, so please. Magsama nga kayo ni Aeris sa baba. At bakit ka nandito? Who gave you the right to enter my room?"

"Me," natatawang sagot. "I gave myself the right to do so."

"Shut up and get out."

The next day, I was still busy with my full pack schedule kaya hindi ko na namalayan na gabi nanaman until it became my routine for almost three months.

"Rest na, Madam. Masyado mo na pong cinareer ang trabaho mo," natatawang sabi ni Aeris habang naglalapag ng hot choco sa table ko.

"You're free until next week kasi you finished everything so fast. Hayok na hayok sa trabaho?" biro niya pa.

I rolled my eyes. "Ayokong maghabol ng mga gagawin. And my work is not a joke. I'm not a student na pwedeng makiusap kapag hindi ko nagawa ang isang project."

"Okay, anyways, Asher gave this to you. Sabi niya drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated."

Muli ay napairap ako. Asher didn't stop sending me foods such as snack, kinakain ko naman iyon dahil sayang at masarap. The only thing he stop doing is going here to say that we should talk.

He would text me pero not like before na minu-minuto. If it's my work time, he won't send me any message.

"What's the news about the orphanage I told you yesterday?" I asked her.

"Hmmm, inaasikaso na. Oo nga pala, narinig ni Ami ang tungkol doon. Gusto niya sanang sumama bukas. And sabi ko, he should ask for your permission first lalo na at maraming tao. Delikado."

"I'll go with him," simpleng sagot ko. "Invite Asher to come with us."

"Hay nako," bumuntong-hininga siya. "Hindi palang kasi kausapin, eh halata namang miss na miss na niya 'yong tao."

"Excuse me? You're saying something?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko.

"Wala. Sabi ko busy ako kaya ikaw nalang ang mag-text sa kaniya."

"Mas marami pa akong trabaho kaysa sa 'yo."

"Wow!" hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya. "Excuse me? Para sabihin ko sa 'yo, lahat ng ginagawa mo dumadaan muna sa akin kaya huwag mong isumbat sa akin yan 'no!"

"Whatever," I told her before picking up my phone to message Asher, just like what she told me.

Me:

Orphanage tomorrow. I'll send you right away the address. Sumama ka sa amin.

After sending it, inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko para makapag-ayos na ako at makauwi. Kahit na umuwi ako ag marami pa rin akong irereview which is making ne more frustrated. Wala na akong oras sa sarili ko.

"Uuwi ka na?" Aeris asked me and I nodded. "Okay, wait. I'll call your driver."

"Okay."

I stayed up late that night pero sinikap ko pa rin magmukhang may mahabang tulog dahil sa lakad namin. Hindi sumabay sa amin si Asher pero halos sabay lang din kaming nakarating.

"Kuya Asher!" Ami run towards him when he saw him walking near us. Iniwas ko na lamang ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nakinig sa sinasabi ni Aeris kay Sister.

"This is my boss, Sister. Siya po 'yong—"

"Miss Markle! It was really nice meeting you. Ang totoo nga po, tuwang-tuwa po ang mga bata ng marinig ang pangalan mo. Idolo ka po kasi ng mga kabataan rito at halos karamihan sa kanila ay gustong maging katulad mo."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang i-rereact o isasagot ko sa sinabi niya kaya imbes na magsalita ay ngumiti na lamang ako at nagpasalamat.

After talking, some of my employees began to arrange everything. Mula sa mga ipapamigay at maging na rin sa pagkain.

Nagbigay lang din ako ng speech ko nago tuluyang nagsimula ang program. Nakakataba lang ng puso kasi lahat sila nakatingin sa akin habang nakangiti. Hindi ko tuloy naiwasang hindi ngumiti, nawawala lamang tuwing nahuhuli ko si Asher na nakatingin sa akin.

"Ate, kain ka na po," Ami told me. Kanina pa kasi ako tawa ng tawa habang nanonood sa laro ng mga bata.

"Yes, love. I'll eat later," sagot ko sa kaniya pero imbes na tumango at umalis ay inabot niya sa akin 'yong pagkain ko.

"Bawal po malipasan ng gutom. Magagalit po ako tsaka si Kuya Asher."

"Huh?" natatawang tanong ko bago pasimpleng tumingin kay Asher na ngayon ay abala sa pakikipagkulitan sa iba pang mga bata.

"Kain ka na po. Juice po o tubig?"

"Water will do," nakangiting sagot ko. Umalis siya saglit at pagbalik ay may dala-dala ng isang bottle of water.

"Thanks, Ami," I thanked him.

"Welcome!"

That day was so fun. Kahit na napagod ako dahil sa huli ay nahila ako ng mga bata para makipaglaro sa kanila. I didn't want to join at first pero nang sabay-sabay silang nagsabi ng please ay pumayag na lamang ako.

Just thank God I didn't wore a heels.

"You want to eat something?" Asher asked me. We came home together since may kailangang ihatid 'yong driver ko, my employees.

"I'm fine," sabi ko sa kaniya. "And hey, I'm sorry if..."

"It's fine," putol niya rin sa akin. Lumapit siya sa akin bago umupo sa tabi ko. "Take your time. Hindi ako nagmamadali. I'm waiting until you accept my feelings and let me love you. For real. Walang halong pag-disagree mo."

"I'm sorry," I told him again. "And about that thing... I need to organize my thoughts and take time to figure out how I feel."