Love Me Harder (Contract Series #2)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"Thank you." I don't know how many times I said that to him. But I just want him to know that I appreciate his little gesture.

I may look nonchalant because of my facial expression but I know how to feel. I have emotions, too. Tao rin ako!

"Enough with your thank you's. That's nothing," umiwas siya ng tingin. He scratches the back of his nape and we continue to walked passed the closed store stalls inside.

Hindi ko parin makalimutan yung ginawa niya ngayong araw. He made efforts to celebrate my birthday. Maybe for him that was nothing but it means a lot to me.

Parang feeling ko nagkaroon ako bigla ng utang na loob sa kanya. And it bothers me off. Because growing up, everytime someone do good things on me, there's always a guilt to payback to their good deeds even though they didn't say it directly.

"You want ice cream?" tanong niya nang madaanan namin yung nag-iisang stall ng yogurt ice cream na bukas, kung saan pwede ka pumili ng variety of fruits na ilalagay sa ibabaw kasama ng sweet syrup na iba't-iba din ang flavor.

Kumain na 'ko ng ice cream kanina bago kami pumunta dito.

Iiling sana ko bilang tugon ngunit bago ko pa man magawa 'yon ay pumunta na siya doon para bumili. Kaya wala na rin akong nagawa kung hindi mapatingin na lang din doon sa food stalls habang ginagawa nila yung order ni Aldrin.

I chose strawberry, grapes, mango, kiwi for my fruit toppings and a caramel syrup with crunch ball while strawberry, mango, dragon fruit with nocilla hazelnut and oreo crumbs on top for Aldrin.

I handed him over my payment but he refused to accept it which expected of him.

"It's on me," sabi niya habang binibigay sa'kin yung pera pabalik.

Dahil ayokong maging dahilan 'yon ng bangayan namin, kinuha ko na. I'll send it over to his bank account. Hindi ko naman siya sugar daddy para gastusan niya ako.

Kapag kakuha namin ng order namin ay naglakad na kami palabas. The staffs of this mall greeted us goodbye and thank you when we reached the entrance of this mall. Tipid na nginitian lang sila ni Aldrin.

One thing I noticed about him, he started to socialize to others. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na hindi siya marunong makisama sa iba pero napapansin ko na ginagawa niya yung makakaya niya para mag-respond ng hindi galit o iritable.

One more thing, marunong na siyang ngumiti. Not the usual arrogant and heartless boss na kilala ng lahat. I always heard that side comment to other employees but I won't told him that.

Dala yung yogurt ice cream namin, naglakad kami palabas. Bakas na ang lalim ng gabi, mga bituin sa kalawakan at ang katahimikan ng lugar. We decided to sit on the wooden bench while my eyes were fix on my ice cream cup.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa na nakaupo doon habang pinagmamasdan ang mga patay sindi na ilaw sa paligid. Walang gustong magsalita. Walang gustong gumawa ng ingay.

Iniwas ko ang tuhod ko ng aksidenteng nadikit 'yon sa tuhod niya. He just give me a glare but he turn aside and act like nothing happened. I don't know how to start another conversation, it seems awkward for me.

"Hindi ka ba busy?" tanong ko. Hindi na ako nakatiis na magsalita at basagin ang katahimikan. "Wala kang appointment?"

Umiling siya. "Busy. But I need to take a break too. Kailangan ko rin huminga."

Natahimik ako sa sagot niya.

He was right. Tao din naman siya at napapagod. Just like a normal being, he need to paused and rest when he was tired.