Chasing in the Wild (University Series #3)

36

"He didn't say what kind of ring. Ang sabi niya lang ay singsing. Basta singsing!" 

I was complaining to Ida about the ring. It was already Friday. Ngayon lang kami nagkita ulit noong pinuntahan niya 'ko sa office ko. Sevi didn't give any more context about the gift. Ring lang! Tapos wala na! What? Was it a game, huh? Hulaan ba 'to? 

"You're expecting na engagement ring?" Ida laughed at me. 

"Well, what else?!" I rolled my eyes while reading something on my laptop. Hindi rin naman ako makapag-focus sa trabaho ko. 

"So 'yong ring na bigay sa 'yo ni Austin, you're expecting din na engagement ring 'yon?" Ida raised a brow.

"Of course not!" My brows furrowed, looking disgusted. 

"See?! Malay mo for fashion lang or something. Don't expect too much! Besides, hindi pa nga kayo nagkakabalikan. Why would he immediately ask you to marry him?" Ida sipped on her tea. "I mean, I know you would say yes agad but-"

"Hey, stop judging me!" I pouted. 

She was right, though! Ganoon ako karupok kay Sevi! I mean, there was no point in playing hard-to-get. I didn't like wasting time. I was a businesswoman, and I valued time the most, but Ida was also right on the part that Sevi and I were still... adjusting. Hindi na kami 'yong noon. A lot had changed. 

"Elyse, here's your lunch." Austin went inside my office, holding two containers. Si Alice ang nagbibigay sa 'kin no'n dati pero ngayon, si Austin na ang kumukuha sa lobby. 

Ida glanced at him and raised a brow. Inismiran siya ni Austin at nilagay ang containers sa table ko. He even opened them for me para sabihing kumain na 'ko kaagad. I closed my laptop and got my utensils out of the drawer. Nakita ko bigla roon ang velvet box kaya kinuha ko 'yon at nilapag sa harapan niya. 

"Why?" Austin's brows furrowed.

"I'm sorry, I can't take this." I gave him a small smile. "I don't want others to get the wrong idea-"

"What is the wrong idea, Elyse?" He was slowly getting mad. "I gave it to you as a gift. Who cares about what others would think? Kung iisipin nila na magka-relasyon tayo, wala naman akong pakialam-"

"But I care," I cut him off. "Because this is not good for me." 

"Why is it not good for you?" he complained. "I am the son of the Chairman. You're the C.E.O. We run the company together. Wala namang mawawala sa 'yo, ah. You're single, right?" He sounded hopeful. 

"I... Uh." I bit my lower lip. I didn't know how to answer that. "Yes, I am, but-" 

"Then I can still court you." Austin shrugged and slid the velvet box back to me. "It's yours. You can wear it or not, but it's yours. Don't give it back to me."