Head Over Heels For Ezzio (Villaverde Series #1)

Chapter 27

Paris

I stopped asking Ezzio for lunch, eventually. Bukod sa napaka time-consuming ng paghihintay sa kanya, naisip ko rin na mukhang isang malaking abala lang 'yon. It's too much of a distraction. And it was somewhat annoying. Of course, I didn't want to be labelled as 'the annoying courter'. Baka mas ma-bad shot lang ako kay Ezzio. Yeah. This was really happening. Talagang lubos ko nang sineseryoso ang panliligaw sa kanya. It sounded so unnatural and desperate, but at this point, I didn't care.

Anyways, that was pretty much it. Tumigil ako sa pangungulit kay Ezzio roon sa labas ng opisina niya. Sa halip ay napagdesisyonan kong hatiran na lang siya ng pagkain dahil mas mainam 'yon. And so, whenever it was lunchtime, I went to their company just to drop off the food. Iniiwan ko lang kay Arianne ang pagkain, pagkatapos ay siya na ang bahalang nagbibigay sa boss niya. I'd been doing that for about a week now. Today was no different.

"Hello, Arie," I greeted while walking towards Arianne. I made up a nickname for her. She said it was okay. But I don't think she already considered me as a friend, though. Nevertheless, I considered her as mine. Low key. Besides, ang bait niya rin talaga sa'kin. Hmm. Ireto ko kaya 'to kay Mico?

"Hello po, Ms. Paris," bati niya pabalik habang nakangiti. Nang tuluyang huminto sa harap niya ay maingat kong ipinatong sa desk ang dala-dala kong pagkain.

"Gaya ng dati, ipinagluto na rin kita. Para hindi ka na gumastos pa roon sa labas," I said. S'yempre, parang ang sama naman kung si Ezzio lang ang binibigyan ko kaya ipinapagluto ko na rin si Arianne. Isa pa, baka dahil dito ay ilakad niya na ako kay Ezzio. Well, clearly, it's not my intention. But I'd like to think of it as a potential advantage.

Binigyan niya ulit ako ng matamis na ngiti habang namumula ng kaunti ang kanyang magkabilang pisngi.

"Naku, nakakahiya na po talaga sa inyo, Miss."

"Ano ka ba! Ayos lang sa'kin 'to kaya 'wag ka na'ng mahiya pa," giit ko bago liningon ang pintuan ng opisina ni Ezzio. My lips protruded. "Is he here?"

Baka kasi umalis nanaman 'yon. Gaya na lang noong nakaraang araw.

I fixed my eyes at her again and saw her nod.

"Opo. Hindi naman po hectic ang schedule niya today. Talagang marami lang siyang paperworks."

Medyo naawa tuloy ako. Bakit ba parang wala man lang siyang day off? Baka pinapagod niya rin ng lubos ang sarili niya kagaya noon? 'Yon nga lang, hindi na sa football. Sa trabaho na.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago naisipan muling magtanong. "Uhm, Arie,"

I contemplated while she looked at me, waiting. I winced a little, finally deciding to go for it.

"T-Tinatanggap niya ba 'to?" I asked, referring to the food I brought. I was just wondering. I'd been doing this for a week and I just wanted to know if he was actually... giving them a try.

Arianne's expression immediately changed. She looked sorry. I could only nod slowly because I instantly got what she meant. I honestly didn't know what to say. I was feeling down- the exact same feeling I knew I'd felt before.

A memory crossed my mind. 'Yung panahong nagbigay ako ng lunchbox kay Ezzio sa football field pero tapos na pala siyang kumain. Rejection. Yes. That's how I felt.

It was like that all over again.

Ngumiti sa akin si Arie. I knew she was trying to make me feel better somehow. "Hayaan mo, Ms. Paris. Malay natin, baka sa susunod, tanggapin niya na."