ML Story (iM eLove)

41

We ate at Aries' favorite Italian restaurant. Napapansin ko rin ang panaka nakang pagsulyap niya sa akin kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Chinicheck ko lang baka matumba ka nalang dyan sa inuupuan mo" he grinned. Pinunasan niya ang bibig niya bago inabot ang wine at sumimsim. Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa akin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at inirapan.

"Okay lang ako Aries. Magkwento ka nalang sa business trip mo sa Cebu" paglilihis ko ng usapan.

"It went fine." he shrugged. I thought he going to stop there but I saw some spark in his eyes that catches my attention. "But I guess I found a perfect spot to build maybe a branch of our restaurant Bri"

I saw a glint of happiness in his face while telling me his plan. Tumango ako at ngumiti. I am so proud of Aries, he grew up as a fine man. I let him continue to speak.

"The place,,, it's perfect. It's near some tourist spot. It's not well established though but I know let's say after five years it'll be a busy street just like here." he looked around the street through the glass wall.

One thing I like about Aries was his dedication. He was so passionate and focused on what he really wants. He was planning to build a restaurant, actually dalawa sila ni Vince. At nauumpisan na rin ang main branch nila sa Makati. We were so excited about it, especially si Shane na mahilig kumain. She has a lot of her own version of plans kahit hindi naman siya yung magpapatayo.

"Anong sabi ni Vince?" tanong ko sa kanya. Sumimsim ako sa pineapple juice ko bago ibinalik ang buong atensyon sa kanya.

"I send him a pic of the place, he's fine with it but of course we still have to personally check it" he played his steak with his fork before putting it in his mouth.

"So kailan kayo pupunta don?" tanong ko sa kanya. Abala ako pamimili ng mushrooms sa kanakain ko para ilagay sa gilid ng plato ko.

"Pag magiging successful yung main branch sa Makati. Yun agad yung ipaprioty namin. I heard there are also alot of businessman planning to buy that place. Maybe just like me they can see the potential of the area. The local government were also already starting to build community facilities nearby, so it wasn't that remote anymore."

Nakakatuwa dahil makikita mo talaga ang na seryoso si Aries sa pagplano ng restaurant nila. Hindi niya alintana na magdaldal sa harap ko. Tahimik si Aries pero pagdating sa mga gusto niya sasabihin niya halos lahat ng naiisip niya sa akin. Not in a way na nagyayabang, he's just like an adorable kid excitedly telling me his favorite cartoon.

"Of course magiging successful yung main. Pinaghirap niyo ya ni Vince e. You both deserve it." I cheered him.

"With all your help and support B, kayo nina Shane, hindi lang to dahil sa amin ni Vince" naiiling niyang tanggi. Napatawa na rin ako.

"Okay na ako don sa libreng foods sa grand opening" I joked. We both laughed at that.

"Anytime" he winked at me.

Nakangiti akong napabaling sa paligid. Saktong tumama ang mata ko sa pares na nakaupo sa kabilang gilid ng glass wall. Agad na nakilala ko ang babae kahit medyo na side view sa gawi namin.

Nabura ang ngiti sa labi ko ng tumama ang paningin namin ni Bryan, na parang kanina pa naghihintay na dumapo ang paningin ko sa kanya para samaan ako ng tingin. Siguro iniisip nito na baka malate na naman ako sa trabaho ko.

Well I still have thirty minutes to burn Mister!

At malapit lang itong restaurant sa kompanya na kahit maglakad ako mamaya ay makakaabot ako. I've already learned my lesson earlier. Ang sakit kaya ng binabato mong salita kanina! Amp.

Pasekreto ko siyang inirapan at binalik ang tingin sa pagkain. Nagulat ako ng dumukwang si Aries at pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ko gamit ang hinlalaki niya. Nakita ko ang pagbaling nito saglit sa gilid at bahagyang pagtaas ng labi niya bago uminom ng wine.

Nararamdaman ko pa rin ang tagos at masamang tingin sa akin nang nasa kabilang lamesa kahit hindi ako lumingon.

Bahala kang maduling! Tataposin ko yung kinakain ko. Mauna kang bumalik sa kompanya mo kong gusto mo!

Nagkwentuhan lang kami ni Aries during lunch before he drove me off to the company. Umeepekto na rin ang ininom kong gamot dahil medyo nawawala na yung sakit ng ulo ko.

If I won't work my ass today matatambakan ako ng mga papers at report na kailangan namin taposin. Medyo busy rin kasi ang kompanya since malapit na ang anniversary ng NZAJ. It's my first time to attend to the big event of the company.

Mabilis na lumipas ang araw at gaya ng sabi ko ay busy ang kompanya. Ang dami naming tinapos na reports, minsan nag oovertime pa kami. I always end up taking out foods on my way home.

Hindi na rin ako nagulat ng isang gabing sumulpot si Bryan sa condo para doon matulog. Kong abala kami what more pa kaya ang big bosses. Tuwing magkakasalubong kami sa kompanya, I would greet him just like an obedient employee to the boss. Ganun naman talaga dapat diba? He would just staring blankly at me, unresponsive. Minsan hindi pa niya ako tinataponan nang tingin. Kaya kadalasan ay lumilihis ako ng daan para hindi kami magkasalubong.

Hindi porket may past kami I would treat myself special. Damn! Baka nga wala na sakanya yun.

It happened so fast, it was just like a dream, a one week romance. Kung iisipin parang hindi makatutuhanan, may ganon ba yon? Isang linggo? Seriously.

I'm wondering if he already moved on. I rolled my eyes. Silly Brianna, of course yes! he already have a girlfriend. He already got ahold of his goals. Kunting tulak nalang siya na rin ang sasalo ng posisyon ng ama niya.

I tiredly leaned on the cold wall of the elevator and waited to go up on my floor. It's already 8 pm. Overtime kami ngayon.

"Hi" I shifted my gaze to the guy I am with inside the elevator.
..

Napansin ko naman siya pagpasok pero wala ako sa mood dahil sa pagod, I didn't even smiled or acknowledge his presence earlier kahit siya yung humarang ng papasarang elevator para makapasok ako. He smiled at me a little, he's good looking, and oh! he's cute with his dimple on his left cheek when he smiles.

"Hi" I smiled awkwardly.

"I'm Third" he offered his hand shyly. I looked at it before looking back at his face. Mukhang harmless naman.

"Brianna" tinanggap ko ang kamay niya. Just right on time the elevator stopped when he let go of my hand.

.

"You look.... tired" nahihiya niyang pagpuna. He put his hand to the elevator door to stop it from closing again.

"Yeah, work" tumango naman siya.

"Hope to see you again next time" he scratched his nape a little, blushing a little. So cute!

I chuckled a bit. "See you around"

-----------------------------------------------------------------🖋