The Way I Do

Chapter 39

Natigilan silang lahat nang makita si Ruffa na naroon.

"Tita..." Bulong ni Julie nang makita ang tiyahin niya. "Who told you we were here?"

Napatingin pa siya sa paligid dahil baka may mga espiya pala sa paligid. Namely si Gabbi or si Donny. Or baka si Maqui.

Ruffa seemed to notice what she was doing though.

Kaya naman agad din itong nagsalita.

"I was waiting for you here. May I sit?"

Naramdaman ni Julie na hinahawakan ni Elmo ang kamay niya. Somehow she felt a little less tense because of that.

Hindi na din naman matatakasan ang lahat ng ito.

Napatingin pa siya kay James na pinagmamasdan din si Ruffa.

Mas kawawa nga ito dahil hindi ito sanay sa mga tao sa paligid. Di gaya niya na naroon si Elmo at Ruffa. At least James has Nadine.

Napatingin pa si Ruffa sa paligid.

Bago ibinalik ang tingin kay James. Napasinghap ito at napatakip sa bibig.

"You look so much like her."

"My mom?" James whispered.

Natigilan si Julie. She was too busy thinking about herself that she didn't even think about how James must be feeling.

Gaya niya ay sigurado siyang kung ano ano din ang naiisip nito.

Napatingin ulit si Ruffa sa paligid. They looked so far from each other.

Sa sobrang laki kasi ng furniture sa lobby lounge ay muhka silang magkakaaway.

Elmo cleared his throat. "Why don't we go to a nearby cafe? I'm sure mas madali tayo na makakapagusap doon."

Nagkatinginan muna sila lahat bago sabay sabay din naman na tumango.

Tumayo na sila at sabay sabay na tumayo mula doon.

Kinausap muna ni James ang manager sa may lobby lounge dahil bibigyan daw siya ng talent fee kaya naman dumeretso na sila Julie sa may entrance.

It was awfully quiet.

And painfully awkward.

Naguusap si Nadine at si Ruffa kaya naman libre si Elmo kay Julie.

He made her face him.

Hinaplos haplos ng lalaki ang braso niya para siya ay pakalmahin.

"Moo if you're not ready you tell me okay? Pwede naman sa ibang araw pagusapan ang laaht ng ito." Ani Elmo. "You've had a lot to process in one day."

Julie smiled as she reached and kissed his lips softly. "Thank you Moo pero kung papataglin ko pa mas lalo lang ako mapapaisip."

Elmo smiled back softly and nodded his head. "Okay. I'll be here." He said and leaned in to kiss her again.

"Ehem."

They pulled away when they saw James approaching as he was walking out of the hotel.

Elmo smirked at James. May rapport naman na sila eh.

"Is this how you are as a brother?" He smirked.

"Moo." Saway pa ni Julie pero ngumisi lang naman si Elmo.

"Ah you're here. Shall we?" Ani Ruffa sa kanila.

Julie could tell that the older woman really wanted to settle things.

And siya mismo gusto na din.

Things weren't going to be so easy after everything.

There was also a matter of talking to Michael and the twins.