Chasing Love

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

I knocked on Dad's office thrice before twisting the doorknob.

"Sir Ortiz." I then lifted my head up and saw Crime.

"Yes, Maia?" Dad said.

I tore my eyes off of him and placed the folder infront of Daddy. Tumikhim pa ako at sumulyap kay Crime. Is he checking me out?

"Okay na to. Thank you."

"Thank you, Sir." I smiled at Dad and secretly winked at Crime.

I walked back to my desk and started doing my work. Napasinghap pa ako ng kumirot ang puson ko, tangina kasi pangatlong araw palang pero ang sakit pa din ng puson ko.

Noong maglunch ay nilapitan ko agad si Crime para katukin ang lamesa nya. I smiled when he look at me.

"Lunch?" Yumuko pa ako. "Promise, lunch lang talaga."

I saw him close his laptop kaya nagngiting tagumpay ako sa kanya. Nauna akong maglakad sa elevator at sumunod sya.

"How's Nami?"

"She doing fine. And she's asking for you."

"Bakit di mo sinasabi sa akin?"

"I just said that you're busy." Kibit balikat pa nito.

Ngumuso ako. Huminto na ang elevator kaya lumabas na kami. We entered the restaurant near our building. Humawak ako sa braso nya, tinaasan nya lang ako ng kilay.

Pareho lang kaming tahimik nang makakain na kaming dalawa. But as I've said, hindi ko pa din talaga mapigilang landiin sya.

My phone rang as soon as we entered the elevator again.

"Dustin? Hi." Sinulyapan ko pa si Crime.

[Hi. I hope I'm not disturbing something.]

Umiling ako. "Not at all. Why?"

[Naalala ko, birthday mo na pala this friday. Any plans?]

"Usual siguro."

[Right. Gift?]

"I'm too old for some birthday gift, Dustin."

[How 'bout we ate dinner tomorrow night?]

Pagsulyap ko uli kay Crime halos matumba ako dahil mariin syang nakatitig sa akin.

[Maia?]

"Uhm, s-sure."

[Alright, thank you, Maia.]

"Okay." I licked my lips and ended the call.

"Birthday mo?" Biglang tanong nya.

"Ha? Ah, yes sa friday."

He curtly nodded and looked away. Umayos naman ako ng tayo bago ko narinig na tumunog na ang elevator.

"Maia?"

I stopped and looked at him.

"Do you have plans?"

Umiling ako. "Dati, I will rent the whole high end bar and get wasted. Pero ngayon, gusto ko maiba. Hiking or something?"

He narrowed his eyes on me.

"I mean, you don't care but I'm just sharing." I fixed my hair. "Anyway, balik na ko sa work."

Tumalikod na ako agad sa kanya at umupo sa upuan ko. I was biting my lower lip. Syempre, gusto ko syang imbitahin na samahan ako of what. Pero ugh, just stop it Maia!

Maaga akong umuwi dahil super sakit ng puson ko. Buti nga nakapagdrive pa ako dahil halos umiyak na ako sa sakit. I hate my monthly period. Humiga agad ako sa kama ko nang makapagpalit ako ng pads.