All Jokes Aside (Imperfect Series #3)

Chapter 19

The clank of the plate and spoon and the humming and moaning sound made by Hyunjin were the only noise colliding inside of the kitchen. Tinuro niya ang malapit ng maubos na scallop curry, lukot na lukot ang noo at minsan ay umiiling. Napapayuko lang ako habang nakangisi.

"I know regret I hired a chef to cook my meals everyday if I'm here in Gwangju. You're so talented, Miss Salamara."

"But I'm not a chef. You just made a bad decision by hiring me as your cook the first meeting. You're just confused what you'd do to me. You and your bossy manager."

Nilunok niya muna ang kanin bago sumagot. May paghanga niya akong tinignan. "You have a smart, straightforward, and bad mouth, Salamara."

Tinikom ko ang bibig ko dahil minsan kapag napapalapit ako sa isang tao ay sumusobra ang bibig ko. When introverts found someone and became so comfortable with, kept words from their mouths bloomed and they'd talk like forever. Sa sobrang attach ko sa loob ng apartment ko at walang kausap ay nagiging madaldal ako kapag mayroong nakakausap. Nasusukat naman ang pagiging madaldal ko pero may limitation din ako, of course I set boundaries every where I go just to protect my feelings.

Panay ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa orasan sa phone niya nang buksan niya ito. Gusto kong umalis pero hindi ko maitayo ang mga paa ko, parang may bumubulong din sakin na huwag munang umuwi at manatili lang muna sa loob ng bahay ni Hyunjin hanggang sa siya ang kusang magsabi na umuwi na ako. I couldn't do that, though. Parang sinasamantala ko ang pagiging mabuti niya sakin kahit pa man minsan ay para siyang bulkan na handang sumabog anytime.

Hindi ako pwedeng manatili kaya naman ay kahit naninigas ang tuhod ko ay pinilit kong tumayo. Tiningala ako ni Hyunjin na tapos ng kumain. "You're going home?" he asked nonchalantly.

I nodded and spread a faint smile. "Yep I need to, I still have to..." I paused, thinking what'd I do at home. "To clean my apartment. I only have a day day off that's why I need to go back there." I added.

"Oh, then be safe back home but I'd like to drive home, is that okay with you?"

Very okay.

I nodded but I hid a smile behind my amused look. I would completely shattered if I refused his offer. "But is it okay to you to drive? You know some people might notice you driving, your cars are not shaded dark, enough to hide your face."

He brought the dirty dishes on the sink, he washed his hand and got a tissue paper to wipe his hands dry. "I have my Rover. It's the only tinted and bulletproof car I own. You don't have to worry about me being catch by some people. You wait in the garage, I'll just get the key." he said and left me the kitchen.

Tinignan ko ang mga hugasin na naiwan. Gusto kong hugasan yun pero hinayaan ko nalang. If he wanted to learn to wash dishes then that's a good new hobby. Pumunta ako sa garage at hinintay si Hyunjin Nam na sumunod sakin. Hindi lang ako naghintay ng tatlong minuto dahil bumalik agad siya na bago ang suot na slides, the slides that three times expensive than my outfits. Hinanap ni Hyunjin ang Range Rover na sinasabi niya.

Napaawang ang labi ko nang makita kong may bagong pinasok siya sa koleksyon niya sa mga sasakyan. Malapit ng mapuno ang garahe niya sa dami ng sasakyan na tinapon sa garahe niya.

"Hop in, Miss Salamara." Hyunjin announced.

Pumasok ako sa front seat at umupo agad. Bumungad agad sakin ang bango ng sasakyan. It's smelled earthy and had a twinge of sea air. Siguro ay galing sa pabango ni Hyunjin ang naamoy ko sa loob ng sasakyan niya. Kinuha ko ang seatbelt at kinabit yun sakin then he started the ignition. The car groaned like a beast ready to get the hell out of the cave. I bit the back of my chin. I never thought, I never hella though I would ride in a beasty and expensive vehicle like Hyunjin Nam's newest Range Rover.