A WEEK HAD PASSED, but Aiden seems to be still bothered by the fact that Michelle sacrificing her free time for Isaiah. He wouldn't deny that he felt bitter about it - especially since, he had hidden feelings for Michelle. But now, Michelle had been staying inside of his office because of work. Work, it's always been because of work.
Dahil tapos naman na siya sa pagsa-sign ng mga suggested operations at paghanap ng bagong resources for an upcoming project.
He watched her as she put a lot of focus into typing down his schedule for tomorrow; his chin rested on top of his knuckles as his elbow and his other arm rested on his well-organized desk.
"You seem bored enough to make you show it on your face."
Awtomatikong napakurap si Aiden sa naging lintaya ni Michelle. He was confused why she noticed him. He thought that she was too focused to notice it. But then again, he remembered na si Michelle pala 'to.
"Weird, right?" tanong ni Aiden na merong ngiti. He fixed how he seated; slumping his back at the backrest of the swivel chair while crossing his arms. "Kapag marami akong trabaho, I complain. Pero kapag wala na, I also complain," saad niya habang para bang idinuduyan ang sarili gamit ang kaniyang upuan.
"Masyado ka lang nasanay na mostly of your time you work until you drop-dead tired," pagsisimula ni Michelle na may ngiti. She copied how he leaned back but, the difference is, she was sitting on a good-for-three sofa and she closed her eyes that were protected by her custom-made anti-radiation glasses.
Aiden raised a brow while still staring at her.
"You're not talking about yourself, aren't you?"
"Did I say I wasn't?" Michelle retort, opening her right eye as it got accompanied with a somewhat innocent smile.
Aiden could only do is shrug his shoulders since he thinks Michelle got a point. He looked at her for a few seconds before breathing out.
Not wanting to see her reaction, tinuon niya ang kaniyang atensyon sa ballpen na nakapatong sa lamesa saka ito kinuha at pinaikot sa kaniyang mga daliri.
"Now, that we are about to finish...you're going to meet Ruiz after this, right?" He said, carefully as if he says one wrong word, he will be doomed. Hindi man niya makita ang reaksyon ni Michelle, ramdam naman niya ang mga mata nitong ino-obserbahan siyan. Knowing that he had her full attention, he inhaled - quite deeply that cause his jaw to be slightly clenched.
"Isaiah?" ulit ni Michelle sa pangalan ni Isaiah na merong pagtataka sa kaniyang tono dahil sa biglaang pagbanggit ni Aiden sa pangalan ng binata.
Dahil sa narinig na pagtataka, Aiden finally pushes himself to look at Michelle - but now, with the same confusion as her.
Michelle can't read where the conversation will go. She can't also read the new atmosphere surrounding them - mostly around Aiden.
"Bakit natin pag-uusapan ang isang taong wala naman dito sa loob ng opisina?" she asked with a raised brow. Since she finished the last part of her work, she removed her glasses and gently places it down to the coffee table.
Aiden blinked. "I...I just asked since a week ago, you're busy mentoring Ruiz."
This time, Michelle turns to blink her eyes. "Isang linggo pa lang?"
"Pa lang?" pag-uulit ni Aiden.
"Isaiah is a fast learner," pagpupuri ni Michelle. She matched her compliment with a proud smile. "Akala ko tinuturuan ko na siya for the past few weeks," dagdag niya.
The man of the two could only stare. Hindi niya alam kung makakaramdam ba siya ng ginhawa o selos. She looked so happy and the fact he wasn't the reason bugs him.
"You two became close," saad niya na kaniyang sinamahan na isang pilit na ngiti.
Agad na napansin ni Michelle na kakaiba ang ngiti ni Aiden. She was about to open her mouth and asked about when out of nowhere, the double door burst open - startling the two.
"Hey, dude! Don't tell me you have forgotten about the party?"
Looking at the new person's grinning face, Aiden didn't even stop himself to let out a heavy sigh while shaking his head. Seeing one of his friends burst through his office, uninvited. He can feel himself getting a headache. He raised a hand to massage his temple when he felt it throb.
"Vester, try to knock on the door first," he said, hoarsely.
Michelle immediately stands while she tears her eyes away from Sylvester and puts them in Aiden's direction.
"You're going to a party with that state?" she asked, almost hissing.
Aiden froze at her sudden change of tone, but it seems didn't affect Sylvester - he hide it well.
"Fancy meeting you again, Michelle!" he greeted, walking towards Michelle - still grinning while being under an intense gaze.
Tumititig lang si Michelle kay Sylvester - na nakangiti pa rin sa kaniya. Nang makita sa kulay tsokolateng mga mata nito ang determinsyon na masama si Aiden sa lakad nila, ibinaling na lamang niya ang kaniyang atensyon kay Aiden na nakasandal ulit sa backrest ng swivel chair nito.
"Are you sure you're going even you're tired?" tanong ni Michelle habang nakataas ang parehong kilay na nagpapahiwatig na kaniyang pag-aalala sa kalagayan ni Aiden.
Sylvester - who looks like a bystander out of the three, watching in pure amusement as the two start their eye contact. Sensing that there's no end to it, he clapped his hands - three times.
"Maybe we should get going, bro?" he asked after earning both of their attentions.
Tumuon ang tingin ni Aiden kay Michelle. Nang mapansin na medyo kalmado na ang ekspresyon nito ay ibinalik niyang muli ang atensyon kay Sylvester bago tumayo sa kaniyang kinauupuan.
He grabbed his jacket that was left hanging in a hanging rack that is placed on the edge of his office desk.
"Uuwi ka na ba?" tanong ni Aiden kay Michelle habang nilulusot ang isa sa kaniyang braso sa manggas ng kaniyang suit jacket.
Tumango naman si Michelle bilang tugon. "I already done writing your schedule for tomorrow. Isi-send ko na lang sa 'yo through email 'yong mga impotante.
Aiden nods his head before looking at Sylvester and pats his shoulder.
"Let's go, bud. Nakakasiguro akong naiinip na ang iba," aniya na sinabayan ng isang nakakalokong ngiti dahilan para makatanggap siya ng isang malakas na tawa kay Sylvester.
"Pabayaan mo silang maghintay," aniya bago tanguan si Aiden at Michelle. Nagpapahiwatig ng pagyayaya niya sa dalawa na lumabas na sa opisina.
Nagkasulyapan muna sina Aiden at Michelle bago kinuha ni Michelle ang kaniyang mga gamit.
"Ladies first?" ngiting naging saad ni Sylvester habang hinahawakan ang nakabukas na na pinto - inaalok si Michelle na maunang maglakad.
Michelle can't help, but shake her head with a smile on her lips before she muttered a 'thank you' and step outside of the office.
Nang makarating sa parking lot, huminto si Michelle sa pagbukas ng pinto ng kaniyang kotse at tumingin kila Aiden at Sylvester sa kabilang gilid ng kaniyang sasakyan.
"Enjoy your night, boys!" she shouted - loud enough for the gentlemen to hear, causing them to look at her as she gave them a before nodding at them as a form of goodbye.
"Drive safe, Michelle!"
"You too!"
Matapos makitang makapasok si Michelle sa kotse nito ay nagkatinginan sina Aiden at Sylvester bago isang malakas na busina upang maging dahilan ng patingin nila sa saksakyan ni Michelle na palagpas na sa kanila.
Awtomatiko silang kumaway para magpaalam kay Michelle habang siya ay tuluyang minaneho ang sasakyan palabas ng parking lot.
Nang mawala sa kanilang line of sight ang sasakyan ni Michelle ay agad na umikot si Sylvester upang harapin si Aiden na merong malawak na ngiti na para bang ito ay nasasabik.
Ignoring his smile, Aiden press the sound button before the unlock button on his car key - na kinuha niya sa bulsa ng kaniyang trousers. Ito ay lumikha na ingay habang ang mga ilaw ng kaniyang sasakyan ay magsisindihan. At bago pa man magsalita si Sylvester ay agad na siyang nagtungo sa kabilang pinto ng kotse; binuksan ito at pumasok.
"Hey, Aiden," tawag ni Sylvester habang napasok sa loob ng kotse.
"What?"
Sylvester stares at him, still smiling. Parang hindi nga ito napapagod kakangiti e.
"Are you in a relationship with your secretary?"
Awtomatikong napaubo si Aiden nang mamali siya ng paghigop ng hangin. He coughed, violently while hearing the sinister laugh coming from Sylvester himself.
"Damn you," matigas na bulong ni Aiden bago ito sundan ng isang pag-ubo.
"Hindi ko naman kasalanan na grabe ang tensyon sa pagitan ninyong dalawa. I also thought you two are already married," pagpapaliwanag niya. Ngunit hindi 'yon nakatulong sa pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ni Aiden.
Sylvester put a hand on his well-shaved chin - grabbing it and acting like he was thinking, seriously. "What if talagang kinasal kayo? Magiging under ka rin ba katulad sa nangyayari kanina?" tanong niya. Ngunit ang tingin niya ay nasa labas ng windscreen. "You look like a deer in a headlight!" halakhak niya.
Sinamaan niya muli ito ng tingin. Ngunit wala na ang init at para bang nagpapahiwatig na lang ito ng babala.
Confusingly, hindi nagalit si Aiden. Napangiti pa nga siya dahil sa ideya. Married to Michelle? Being her husband? Her, getting anxiously worried for him? For Aiden, it's clearly not a bad idea.