Seeking Gaston Lynx Esquivel

Chapter 49

"Ada! Dalian mo!" I heard Ina as she stood in my office door.

I looked at her at maging siya ay may hawak na dalawang kape at dalawang paper bag.

"Here, this is for you. Kinuhanan na kita." She smiled widely at me at kaagad ko naman itong tinanggap.

"Birthday pala ni Gaston ngayon, tsaka sagot rin ni Sir ang lunch at dinner natin." Humagikgik siya sa harapan ko.

"Konting ngiti naman dyan!" Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata habang nakatingin lang ako sa kanya.

"Thank you for this." I casually said then entered the office.

Maging ang mga kasama ko sa opisina ay may kanya-kanyang hawak na inumin at pagkain.

I felt Ina's presence behind me.

Linapag ko ang mga gamit ko sa lamesa at kaagad naman ulit siyang kumuha ng bakanteng upuan para tumabi sa akin.

"Na greet mo na ba siya, ha?" She smiled at me meaningfully.

I sat on my swivel chair and fixed my things.

"Pustahan tayo, dumalaw ulit siya kagabi, no?" She whispered it to me.

Kaagad naman akong napatigil sa ginagawa at napatulala sa kawalan. Because what we did inside my apartment....was beyond...hindi ko ulit maiwasang mapalunok ng malalim ng naglakbay ang isipan ko sa mga nangyari kagabi.

"May nangyari?!" Ina looked at me with a wide eye and raised her tone too.

I looked at her piercingly, but she only looked at me critically.

"Hmmm, may nangyari nga… what is it, Ada Carmella?" Naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin.

I looked at her and then looked at my black monitor. Should I say it to her? I was curious about some things and she could definitely help me, but wasn't it too personal?

"Wala. Walang nangyari." Umiwas ako ng tingin kahit alam kong nahuli na niya ako.

She knows me too well. Kaya kahit simpleng iwas ko lamang ng tingin at pagkatulala ko lang ay may alam na siya.

"Sinabi niyang manliligaw ulit siya? Huh? Naghalikan kayo? Nagpahalik ka? O yakapan lang? Alin doon, Ada?" She asked me critically like she was a mother, trying to corner her teenage daughter.

I almost gasped at her questions. Napatulala ako sa kanya. Just how? How could she deduct things that easily? Was I that obvious?

"It's in your expression, Ada. You are not just aware of it but I could...see...you...clearly." She whispered again like a villain in a movie.

Kaagad akong napatayo. I need to go the restroom, bago pa niya ako mapaamin. I walked out and I still felt her presence behind me.

"Woah...may nangyari nga talaga…" I heard her murmured behind me.

Pumasok ako sa restroom at dumiretso sa isang cubicle. Wala akong nadatnan na tao sa loob, and I could clearly see Ina's sandals below my door.

"Hmmm...may nararamdaman ka pa rin sa kanya? How about your Auntie and Uncle, at paano si Calyx?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

I did my business at huminga muna ng malalim bago pinihit ang pinto. I guessed I have no choice.

Lumabas ako at pumunta sa sink para maghugas. Muli siyang naglakad palapit sa akin.

"He said that he will court me again." I tried saying it as casually as possible while washing my hands.

Akala ko mag rereact ulit siya pero wala akong narinig na singhap o reaksyon sa kanya. I looked at her through the mirror and instead, she looked at me with concern.