SALIGIA SERIES #1: SUPERVIA

XVII

From: Emir
You think you'll have a free sched this weekend? Let's eat somewhere nice.

I couldn't help but nimble on my thumb's fingertips as I read her text message. Iniisip kung may schedule ba ako sa darating na Sabado o Linggo.

"You'll have another schedule this 16th. Iyong sports brand. Be sure to stick to your diet and work-outs, Selene. Are you listening to me?!" Agad kong pinatay ang phone nang marinig ang inis na sigaw ni Ivah. Her dark eyes look at me with irritation at unti-unti iyong bumaba sa phone ko. I immediately throw my phone on my hand bag sa takot na baka kunin niya iyon.

Nang ilipat ang tingin kay George ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. Tila takot na madamay sa inis ni Ivah.

"I'm listening, Ivah! Why are you so on edge this past few days?" Pag-iiba ko ng topic na ikinairap lang ng mata niya. She looks back at the series of contract in front of here. Alam ko ay tumanggap siya ng iilang projects dahil mas gumaan ang schedule ko this next months. After the run-way show in Paris as parang kalahati ng trabaho ko ang natapos.

"I want you to check all this projects, Selene. Tell me if ayos sayo na tanggapin ang mga ito. I already review some of the projects and I'm good with it." Tuloy-tuloy niyang saad at isinara na ang mga folders sa harapan niya.

"Oh! I'm good with any projects, Ivah but is my schedule this weekend free? I want to unwind lang, you know?" I said sweetly at her with a smile on my face. Sinuklian niya lang iyon ng kunot niyang noo at nanliliit na mga mata nang muli siyang bumaling sa gawi ko. She looks at George na bahagyang napatalon sa kinatatayuan sa gulat at agad na pinag-pipindot ang iPad na hawak para tignan ang schedule ko.

"M-May morning meeting lang po sa company sa Saturday morning, Ms. Ivah." Natatarantang saad ni George.

Ivah looks back at me with her still questioning eyes at tila nag-aantay ng explanation sa akin kung saan ako pupunta. I just shrug at her at muling kinuha ang phone ko para mag-reply na kay Emir.

To: Emir
I have an early sched on Saturday. Where are we going to eat? I have a shoot on the 16th. I can't gain weight.

I didn't even think twice as I hit send. Nang ibaba ang phone at nakita ko ang patuloy na pagtitig sa akin ni Ivah na agad kong ikinairap. She shake her head as if finally realizing what is happening. Hindi ko naman na iyon pinansin at hinayaan na siyang bumalik sa iilan pang paalala sa mga susunod kong schedules.

After that encounter on the beach and the 'talk' on my bedroom ay halos araw-araw na ngang nagte-text sa akin si Emir. On my empty days, she would always pester me to have coffee or eat somewhere. Kung puno naman ang schedule ko ay pumupunta siya sa bahay (even past midnight as she insist) para paglutuan ako at siguraduhing hindi ako matutulog ng gutom.

Para na nga niyang kwarto ang isang guest room ko dahil doon siya lagi natutulog. Even with all the banats that she would sleep beside me, ay isinasantabi ko lamang iyon. I couldn't even function properly in her arms, makakatulog kaya ako ng katabi siya? I doubt!

Regarding her last question that night, if she's going to court me or are we in a sort of a relationship already. Matapos kong manahimik ng halos ilang minuto, siya na mismo ang nag-urong ng tanong.

"Let's answer that for some other time." Exactly her words.

Bago niya ako tuluyang pakawalan at hayaan ng makapagpahinga. Though, I didn't really get an ounce of sleep that night kakaisip sa nangyari buong gabi. While she slept so soundly on my guest room na tila walang nangyari!

That girl and her nerve of steel, indeed!

"That's all for today. Let's have dinner outside." Ivah said as she concluded the short meeting that we had.