Freedom and the Beast

Twelve

Chapter 12

THE SITUATION WAS so awkward between the three of us. I was sitting on the sofa and Domino was beside me. He just took Iren's seat when Iren stood up to get our food from the cafeteria staff. I sighed heavily as I watched him distribute the packed lunch that he brought for himself and for me.

"I didn't know you're coming kaya nag-order na kami ni Iren ng lunch namin sa ibaba," I explained when he threw a glare at Iren and to the packed lunch that he was carrying.

"He can have all of those," he said dismissively. Napaawang ang mga labi ko. "I brought us lunch."

Tinignan ko si Iren. Nilapag niya ang dalawang packed lunch sa ibabaw ng mesa. Tig-isa kami roon. He also ordered iced tea for us.

"Here you go, Princess," he said and gave me my utensils. Naupo na si Iren sa tapat ko. Nakita ko ang pagdilim ng mukha ni Domini sa tabi ko. "Mainit pa 'yan. Kaluluto lang daw nila."

I smiled genuinely at him. "Thank you so much, Iren."

I opened the lunch pack. I was so ready to eat when I heard Domino faked a cough beside me. Maging si Iren ay natigilan din sa pagsubo ng pagkain at nagtatakang tumingin sa kanya.

"What?" I asked him.

"You're really going to eat that?" he asked and looked at my food like he's going to pick it up any moment and throw it in the trash. "Is that even safe?"

I looked at him, feeling insulted. "Of course it is!" I've been eating the food being prepared in ASDG for three years. Three damn years and I couldn't be more healthier! Ano'ng tingin niya sa pagkain sa kumpanya namin? Marumi? May lason?

"I brought lasagna," he said like it could make me jump in joy.

"Well, thank you for that, Engineer. You can share your lasagna with Iren," I suggested.

Iren smiled happily. "Can I, Engineer?"

"No," Domino's stone-hard reply shattered Iren's smile.

I glared at him. "Ang damot mo naman."

Masungit siyang bumaling sa akin. "I brought it for you, Princess. And your right-hand man here is already eating. He doesn't need my lasagna."

"Iren is not my right-hand man, Engineer Salvacion. He's my partner," I snapped at him. "And if you're being rude to him, you are free to leave my office and never come back again. Hindi ko kailangan ng taong pupunta rito para lang insultuhin ang ibang taong kasama ko."

I glared at him for as long as I could. Domino doesn't seem to understand why was I being mad at him because he was just looking at me like I was bullying him and embarrassing him in front of Iren. Well, news flash to him, he was the one bullying the other guy. Iren didn't do anything for Domino to treat him badly. He's actually trying his best to get along with him. Si Domino itong parang bata na gustong itaboy si Iren paalis sa harapan naming dalawa.

"Why are you mad at me so sudden?" he asked, brows furrowed. I pursed my lips bago pa ako makapagsabi ng hindi kaaya-ayang mga salita.

"Uh, it's okay, Freeda. Ito na lang ang kakainin ko. Masarap naman," sabi ni Iren na mukhang nararamdaman na rin ang matinding tensyon sa pagitan namin ni Domino.

I peeled my eyes off of Domino and turned my attention to Iren. I smiled at him apologetically before offering him my own food.

"You should try this. This is my usual order kapag tinatamad akong kumain sa labas." I leaned over the table and gave some of my vegetable to him. "Don't worry. It's clean."