Always the Best Friend, Never the Girlfriend

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12

"James?!" I screamed. Literal na sumigaw ako. Bakit siya nandito? At dito pa talaga sa loob ng office bakit hindi nalang niya ako hinintay sa cafe! Baka lalo ako mapasama sa boss ko nito.

"Ssssh!" He hushed. Slowly, he removed his baseball cap and rearranged his messy hair. "Wag ka ngang sumigaw! Hahaha nakakatawa ka talaga Erin!"

"Anong nakakatawang pinagsasabi mo?!" I grabbed his wrist and pulled him outside the office door. "Pag nakita tayo ng boss ko, deads na ako. Wala na akong trabaho! Doon ka muna sa cafe sa baba!"

He resisted my force to pull him and pulled me stronger instead. I ended up crushing into his chest. "Anong boss? Makinig ka nga Erin..."

I blushed. Para naman akong butiki dito sa dibdib niya nakadikit. Parang ang sarap ramdamin yung dibdib niya eh. Hindi ako nakagalaw o nakasalita kasi hawak niya ang mga braso ko at para akong niyayakap sa pwesto namin.

"My family owns this cafe." He said bluntly.

This time, nagkaroon na ako ng lakas para lumayo sakanya at itulak siya. "Ha?! Joke ka! Tatawa na ako. Ha-ha-ha!" I faked a laugh. "Bumaba na tayo bago pa tayo mahuli. Halika na." I didn't even wait for his response and walked out of the door then down the stairs. Sira na ata ulo nito ni James, ang tapang para umakyat sa office at i-joke pa yun. Buti walang security na nakakita kundi lagot talaga ako.

"Good afternoon Sir James..." I heard my co-waitress giggled as she walked passed me. Whaaaat? I looked back and saw her giving James a flirty smile.

"Good afternoon too, Jen." James replied. Wow, he even knew my co-waitress' name.

OMG. This is not happening.

"Erin, let's talk." James grabbed my elbow and dragged me back again to the office.

I saw Jen's eyes got bigger and her mouth dropped open as we entered the office again. Then I heard James closed and locked the door.

So what is this?

"Seriously, James? Ikaw ba ang amo ko?" I blurted out.

"Technically," He sighed. "Yes."

I stared at him in disbelief. "I can't believe this. Bakit di mo sinabi nung binigyan kita ng calling card? Wow, cool. Hiyang hiya naman tuloy ako sa sarili ko baka pinagtatawanan mo ko noon kasi sinabi ko pang bibigyan mo ako ng discount!" I laughed at myself.

"Ako talaga ang nagpapatakbo nitong town branch. Kasi malapit lang 'to sa condo at sa school natin." He removed his jacket and laid it down the table. "Yung parents ko ang sa main branch. Kaya nga minsan lang din ako makadalaw dahil sa studies, mahirap pagsabayin ang dalawang magkaibang bagay..."

I collapsed on the sofa near the door. "Whew, grabe akala ko papatalsikin na ako sa trabaho! Madami pa naman akong babayaran this week! Buti ikaw pala ang boss ko!" I smiled at him. "Balik na ako sa work ah, baka walang naka-pwesto sa cashier eh..."

"No, please stay..." He pleaded. "Ang manager muna ang tatao sa cashier. I really need to talk to you NOW."

I blinked. Bakit parang may kaba at alinlangan sa boses niya? Ano naman kaya ang sasabihin niya at gaano ba yun kaimportante? I patiently waited for his reply.

"Kindly consider the favor I'm asking you for the past few days." He walked up to me and held my hand. Wow, may pa-sweet pa. "Be my date on the acquaintance party. Alam mo namang, kailangan ng date dun. Or else, irereto ako sa ibang rich girls ng party."

"Edi mabuti para may ma-meet kang pwede mong maging future girlfriend." I answered confused.

"That's not the point." He sighed. "My ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend are there. Hindi ako pwede magmukhang loser. Please come with me! Kahit as a date lang, or as a friend. Please..."

I withdrew my hand from his grasp, "James... What's the point? Kaya nga tinawag na ex kasi past mo na siya. Wag mo na siya intindihin. Let her be happy and free. Mukhang naka-move on narin siya. Wag ka masyado mag isip, ang isipin mo ay yung present." At ako yun?

"At ikaw yun." He voiced out my thoughts.

"At ako yun." I repeated blankly. "Waaaaa mali, mali. Ano ka ba!" I wiped my hands over and over my face. Argh, ano bang nasabi ko. Nakakahiya! Ano ba yan!

"Please... Kailangan kong maghiganti at ipakitang happy din ako, Erin." He held my hand again. Warm talaga ng kamay niya. "She cheated on me. She entertained her present boyfriend then dumped me afterwards. Sobrang sakit, Erin, ma-two time. More than 1 month na pero di parin ako maka-get-over. At inaasar niya ako lagi pag nakikita ko silang sweet sa school. Ang sakit na ipagpalit ka sa iba. At sa dati ko pang kaibigan..."

"Hay nako James, old school naman yang problema mo." I rolled my eyes. E parang pareho lang naman kami ng pinagdadaanan pero di naman ako kasing desperado ni James. "Mamaya na yang party at di ako prepared. Damit, sapatos, make-up. wala. Mapapahiya ka lang pag ako ang sinama mo."

"Hindi nga... Wag mo na problemahin yun! Everything's on me!" James clapped his hands and pulled out his cellphone from his pocket then dialled a number. "Hello? Yup, ako nga... The thing I asked you earlier? It's on... I'll be there in a few minutes with her. Do everything okay? Yup... I'll leave everything to you... Okay... Bye!" He ended the call with a smirk.

"Ano yun?" I asked wondering, "I didn't say yes!"

"Now I've just heard you actually say YES!" He joked.

"Wag mo nga akong pinagloloko. Seryoso, ayoko!"

But it's too late. He pulled my hand as we dashed down the stairs. I almost tripped when I saw the faces of my co-workers around me. Everyone looked surprised and the girls looked envious of me. I caught my manager's eye while he's doing my job from the cashier and he simply winked at me. Parang kakuntsaba ata ni James si manager! Parang natutuwa pa siya na tinatakas ako ng boss namin sa oras ng trabaho!

We exited the busy cafe and he lead me inside his parked car outside. Hindi ko alam na may kotse si James. I didn't even asked before. I always thought sa condo malapit sa school siya nakatira. Hindi niya parin binitiwan ang kamay ko and he looks very happy. Bakit parang ako lang ang hindi enjoy?  Ang weird naman kasi niya. Medyo di pa nag-sink in sakin ang mga nangyayari. Sumusunod lang ako kung saan niya ako dalhin.

He opened the door for me. Ang gentleman naman niya. I entered his black car and waited for him to get into the driver's seat. As he locked the door, he asked me, "Are you ready, Cinderella?"

"Ang corny." I laughed a bit and stared seriously at his eyes while smiling.

Will tonight be my Cinderella night?

First time kong makasakay sa kotse ng kaibigan. Wala naman kasing kotse yung tatlong ugok na yun. Ayaw daw sila pagdalhin ng parents nila baka dahil lagi lang sila maglakwatsa. At wala naman akong girl friends sa school kasi majority sakanila ay may sariling kotse at driver. 

Ang bango ng freshener ni James dito, the smell of lavender, very relaxing. 

"Just wait and see. Di mo pagsisisihang sumama ka sakin." He smiled his naughty boy smile and winked. "Off we go, Cinderella Erin!"

He started the engine and the car dashed quickly leaving a puff of smoke behind.

Wait, did we just disappear like what happens when you do magic?

I guess I'm hallucinating right now. Is everything for real?