The Mayor's Paragon

14

"ARE you done going through the documents?"

I cleared my throat before nodding even though he was not looking at me.

"There are only six documents left. I'm going to read the rest at home," saad ko sa kaniya.

He nods while still signing the papers I gave him a while ago. "Okay."

Pinaglaruan ko ang aking mga daliri bago tumitig sa kaniya. Kinakabahan akong magpaalam kahit na wala namang dahilan para kabahan ako. I shifted my weight into my feet alternately, nervousness evident with my behavior.

"Tell me," diretsong saad niya bago nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

I almost forgot how to breathe when he directly looked into my eyes. Fuck those green eyes.

"I . . . uhm . . . P-Pwede ba akong umuwi nang maaga ngayon?" kinakabahang tanong ko sa kaniya.

Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagtaas ng kaniyang kilay sa sinabi ko. The corner of his lips slightly twitched which made me think that he will not allow it.

"This is the first time you ask me for that," he uttered, completely stunned.

Napalunok ako ng wala sa oras. "Uh, well . . ."

"Hmm . . ." He looked back at the document he was reading a while ago. "What? Are you going somewhere?" he asked before flipping the page and reading the next page before signing.

I bit my lower lip and hid my trembling hands on my back. Halos hindi ko pa maibuka ang bibig ko para sumagot sa kaniya pero maya-maya ay narinig ko na lang ang sarili kong boses.

"May date kasi kami ni Jhaaja. Gusto ko muna sana mag-ayos bago pumunta sa date namin."

Mabuti na lang at hindi ako nautal noong sinabi ko iyon. That would be weird and I know he'll catch me if that happened. I want to push this plan of mine. I want to see his reaction. I want to get a reaction from him.

Bigla na lang siyang huminto sa pagpipirma at nakita ko ang pagkunot ng kaniyang noo bago nag-angat ng tingin sa akin na para bang hindi makapaniwala sa kaniyang narinig.

"With who?" he asked. His voice was laced with something I could not decipher.

"Uhm . . . si Jhaaja. Si Governor," halos nakangiwi kong sambit sa kaniya.

Kinabahan na ako ng tuluyan noong nakita kong mas lalong tumaas ang kaniyang kilay.

"Pardon? He agreed to have a date with you?"

"Y-Yeah," I answered nervously.

"Why?" tanong niya.

"Ha? Anong 'why'?" tanong ko pabalik sa kaniya.

"You just met him and you'll date him immediately?"

"Iyon naman ang punto ng date hindi ba? Ang mas lalo siyang kilalanin?"

I almost lost my senses when he suddenly yanked his sleeves towards his elbows, showing his strong arms ready to headlock me.

"Do you like him?" he asked seriously which caught me off guard.

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa tanong niya. "Ha?"

"Why? You look so surprised?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

I immediately collected myself. Tumikhim ako bago sumagot sa kaniya. "I am attracted to him. I'm interested." I lied.

His eyes slightly squinted while looking at me. Napalunok ako sa klase ng tingin na binibigay niya sa akin. It was something that I couldn't read. I couldn't read his thoughts and that's scary. He just looked at me for a moment before bringing his attention back to the papers.