CHAINED

Chapter 33: Shelter

Shelter

It was only five in the afternoon at mangilan-ngipan lang ang customers dahil kadalasan ay gabi talaga dumadagsa ang customers sa resto bar. Bukas lang ang resto bar sa umaaga sa tuwing weekends. And weekdays, it only opens at night.

I'm done with my shift at paalis na sana ako upang kunin ang mga gamit sa staff room nang pumasok ang isang delivery guy, hawak ang isang bouquet ng pulang mga rosas.

"Nandito po ba si Ms. Maya Navarro?" Anunsiyo ng delivery guy.

"Oh yes that's me!" Maya yelled and excitedly took the flowers. Everyone in the resto were watching as the delivery man took a photo of her holding the bouquet. Im assuming as proof of delivery.

Maya is full smile as she took her flowers back behind the bar. Lumapit dito si Betty, isa sa mga staff.

"May manliligaw ka?" Tanong ni Betty na hindi na napihilang maki-usyoso.

"Oo, matagal na noh'. I told him not to send anything here at work kasi nakakahiya pero hindi nakikinig sa akin." Sagot ni Maya na nilalaro pa ang buhok nito sa sobrang kilig.

Because I was curios as well, nilapitan ko ang nga ito. "Looks lovely."

"I know. Smells good too." At inamoy-amoy pa nga nito ang mga bulaklak. As far as I know, roses doesn't really smell anything.

"Tell me about this guy." Pag-usisa ni Betty.

"He's cute and he's tall and he's a gentleman." Maya replied dreamily, clutching the bouquet against her chest.

"Ipakilala mo naman iyan sa amin, Maya." Lumapit sa amin si Robb.

"Huwag kayong mag-alala. Makikilala niyo din siya."

From the corner of the room, Wayne was glaring at the bouquet in Maya's hand. Beside him is Tim with and Grayson with amused looks. Hindi ko marinig ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito pero mukhang inaasar ng mga ito si Wayne. Akmang tatayo sana ito pero pinigilan ito ni Tim at Grayson.

Pagpasok ko ng staff room ay nakasunod pala sa akin si Maya. Ipinatong nito ang mga bulaklak sa gilid mesa at umupo sa sofa.

"So who's the guy?" Tanong ko na inaayos ang mga gamit.

"No one."

"Ha? Sinong nagbigay niyan sayo?" Iniba ko ang tanong, sakaling masagot nito ng maayos.

"Ako. I sent myself flowers." She replied proudly. It took me a second to realize what is happening and then I burst out laughing.

"No you didn't." I managed to say between laughs.

"Kasi naman iyang kaibigan mo napaka-torpe eh." Reklamo nito na ang tinutukoy ay si Wayne. "I know he likes me and I like him too! Siya lang naman ang hinihintay ko eh!"

Mas lalong kumakas ang tawa ko. Everybody is aware they like each other aside from Wayne who's still in denial of his feelings towards Maya.

"Ewan ko nalang kung hindi siya magselos diyan sa imaginary manliligaw ko." Nakangising sambit nito.

"You're evil." I laughed remembering how much Wayne was glaring at the flowers earlier. "Why don't you make the first move at umamin sa kanya?"

"No way in hell I'm gonna do that. Aba, kahit ganito ako, dalagang Pilipina parin ako noh'. He's the guy, he should take initiative if he likes me. All I'm doing is giving him a little push."

Maya-maya ay pumasok si Wayne sa staff room.

"I can't wait for you to meet him Kisha. He's really nice." Pag-iiba ni Maya sa usapan na halatang pinariringgan si Wayne.