The Way To His Heart (The Starving Squad #3)

Chapter 14: A Broken Heart

Masama ba ang maging oportunista? Kasi ganoon ang pakiramdam ni Mona. Pakiramdam niya, nananamantala siya. She knew that Andrea and Felix were on a break, but he comes back to his girlfriend after a few days.

Can that be called love? Can someone love without being loyal?

Because of what she learned last night, she decided to stay away from Felix. Makikipagkita na lamang siya rito kung kasama ang barkada. She feels bad for Andrea. Kahit pa sabihing naging baliw-baliwan ito kay Felix, siguro naman ay may maganda itong rason.

And if Felix was truly fed up already, then he would break up with her for good. Hindi 'yong kapag nahihirapan ito sa relasyon, saka ito aalis. At kapag gusto na nitong bumalik, babalik ito na parang walang nangyari.

Babae rin siya. Ayaw niyang maranasan niya iyon.

Kaya kahit gusto pa niya itong maka-date nang maraming beses, sinabihan na muna niya itong pag-isipang maigi kung ano ang plano nito sa buhay. She told him to sort things out with Andrea and to think about marrying her. Halos sampung taon na rin ang dalawa, kahit pa sabihing on and off. Any girl who's in a relationship for that long would surely want marriage.

Tuloy, wala siyang ganang bumangon kinabukasan. Tinatamad din siyang magtrabaho. There's nothing to look forward to at the end of the day, so she has no motivation to even start it.

But she has to work. May cake pa siyang tatrabahuhin. The engagement cake for a client is only halfway done. Tatapusin niya mamaya. Sana ganahan siya.

--

Mona tried on concentrating with work, pushing Felix out of her mind whenever he pops back in. Kapansin-pansin ang pananamlay niya dahil maya't mayang may nagtatanong sa kanya kung ayos lang ba siya.

"Pagod lang ako."

"Pagod?" A hint of mischief flashed in Ralph's eyes. "Bakit pagod, Boss? May activity sa gabi?"

Sinabuyan niya ito ng harina. "Tigilan mo 'ko, Ralph."

Kumapit si Tess sa braso ng boyfriend nito at saka nakangising idinagdag, "Dapat kasi, Boss, may interval. Hindi pwede 'yong gabi-gabi."

She sighed exasperatedly and looked at Tatay Ben for help.

Tumawa ito. "Kailangan mo ng energy drink, 'Nak?"

"Grabe talaga kayo! Babawasan ko mga sweldo nyo!" pananakot niya. Walang naniwala sa kanya. Kaya iniba na lang niya ang usapan. "'Yong nagpagawa ba ng engagement cake, tumawag na?"

"Hindi pa yata. Anong oras ba kukunin 'yong cake?"

"Teka, itatanong ko."

She went down to the front of the store to ask her manager, who manages the orders, about the time the cake should be picked up. Pagkakataon na rin para makaalis siya sa work room. Masyado kasing tsismoso ang mga kasama niya.

"Alas dos daw," sagot nito. "May 3 hours pa."

"Ah. Okay. Tawagan mo na lang. Sabihin mo ready na 'yong cake, kung gusto nyang kunin nang mas maaga."

"Sige."

Since ayaw niyang bumalik agad sa itaas, hinintay niya hanggang sa kumonekta ang tawag, pero hindi iyon nangyari.

"Baka busy," sabi na lamang niya bago bumalik sa itaas. Anyway, it's still early. The customer has plenty of time to pick his cake. Magpu-propose kasi ito sa girlfriend nito mamayang gabi. It's his girlfriend's birthday. Invited ang pamilya at mga kaibigan ng babae.

Mabuti na lamang at mas pinili ng customer na kunin mismo ang cake. Hindi na niya kailangang mag-deliver. She hates engagements and weddings. Nakaka-bitter kasi... lalo na kapag mas bata pa sa kanya 'yong ikakasal.