Habang abalang naglalaro si Seb, napansin niyang kararating lang ni Emma, buhat-buhat ang mga pinamili nito.
"Ems! Ems! Dito ka muna," tawag ni Seb, hindi man lang nilingon si Emma habang tuloy sa paglalaro. "Natatae na ako."
"Hah?" Napakunot-noo si Emma.
"Dali!"
Bago pa siya makatanggi, inabot na ni Seb ang controller sa kanya at agad na tumakbo papunta sa banyo. Walang nagawa si Emma kundi umupo at ipagpatuloy ang laro.
Napailing siya. Anong klaseng emergency 'to?
Umupo si Bobby sa kabilang dulo ng sofa, pinapanood siyang maglaro. Saglit siyang tumahimik, tila pinagmamasdan kung paano gumagalaw ang mga daliri ni Emma sa controller.
"By the way, paano mo nakilala si Jake?" tanong ni Bobby nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa screen.
"Nagkakilala kami noong college," sagot ni Emma habang abala sa laro. "Parehas kaming part-timer sa isang shop noon."
"Pero hindi ko alam na ikaw pala ang tito niya," dugtong niya. "Paano kayo naging mag-tito? Hindi ba magkalapit lang ang edad ninyo?"
Bobby smirked. "Says the person who has a nephew older than her."
Natigilan si Emma bago tumawa. "Oo nga pala. Pareho lang pala tayo."
Maya-maya, bumalik si Seb at agad na kinuha ang controller mula kay Emma. Kinuha naman ni Bobby ang isang controller at naglaro silang dalawa ni Seb.
"Bumili nga pala ako ng grapes. Gusto niyo?" alok ni Emma habang inaayos ang mga pinamili.
"Ako," sagot ni Bobby, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa laro, abala sa pakikipagsabayan kay Seb.
Tumayo si Emma, binuksan ang supot ng ubas, nilinisan ito sa tubig, at nilagay sa isang bowl. Kumuha siya ng isa at tinikman, napangiti nang malasahan ang tamis.
Pagbalik niya sa sala, naupo siya sa tabi ni Bobby at kumuha ng isa pang ubas. Sa halip na ilapag ito sa mesa, inilahad niya ito sa lalaki.
Natigilan si Bobby, hindi agad isinubo ang prutas.
Ginalaw pa ni Emma ang kanyang kamay, hindi napansing ang kanyang daliri ay bahagyang dumaplis sa baba ni Bobby.
Nang hindi ito agad kumilos, inangat niya nang kaunti ang prutas, hinihintay siyang kunin ito. Bobby exhaled, barely audible, bago niya tuluyang isinubo ang ubas, ang init ng hininga niya dumaan saglit sa balat ni Emma
"Matamis, 'di ba?" Emma grinned.
Tumango lang si Bobby, pero sa loob-loob niya, naguguluhan siya.
Any other time, he would've drawn the line. Physical closeness was something he only allowed in a relationship. Pero bakit kay Emma, hindi lang siya pumayag, parang gusto pa niyang hayaan?
He glanced at her. Wala namang kahit anong pag-aalinlangan sa kilos niya, casually watching Seb play, unaware of how she was affecting him.
Wala namang malisya kay Emma. It was just her being her. And yet, something about this moment stayed with him, lingering longer than it should.
Napailing si Bobby. Maybe he was just overthinking.
"Gusto mo pa?" Emma asked, holding up another grape.
Bobby smirked, masking his thoughts. "Hmm, baka masanay ako niyan."
Emma laughed. "Okay lang! Marami pa namang ubas. Sayang 'pag hindi kinain."
Wala talaga sa kanya. Walang malisya. Exhaling, Bobby shook his head and went with the flow, accepting the grape she offered once more.
Pagkatapos naglaro nung dalawa ay inayos ni Emma sa table iyong mga binili niyang pagkain at umupo silang tatlo sa table.
"'Di ba kumain na kayo. Wala bang katapusan yang bunganga mo?" biro ni Seb dahil kumakain ulit si Emma.
Emma scoffed, sabay subo ng isang piraso ng tinapay. "Bakit? Ako naman bumili."
Napatawa si Bobby at Seb.
"Oo nga pala," sagot ni Seb, kunwaring napaisip. "Sorry naman!"
Habang kumakain sila at nagku-kwentuhan ay tumayo si Emma para kumuha ng tubig.
"Pakuha ng tubig," ani Seb at tumango si Emma.
Nagpuno siya ng dalawang baso ng tubig at binigay sa dalawa bago siya bumalik para kumuha ng kanya.
Pagka-upo niya sa tabi ni Bobby, nagpatuloy siya sa pagkain, pero napansin niyang nag-alinlangan itong hawakan ang baso ng tubig. Nakita niya kung paano sandaling tumigil si Bobby, tila iniisip kung pupunasan muna ang kamay bago humawak sa baso.
Bobby flexed his fingers slightly, brow furrowing in quiet hesitation. Pero bago pa siya makagalaw, Emma had already reached for a tissue.
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Bobby, at pinunasan ito nang walang pag-aalinlangan.
Bobby stiffened. Hindi sa hindi niya gusto pero hindi niya iyon inasahan. His first instinct was to pull away, pero hindi niya nagawa. Her touch was light, casual, and over in just a few seconds. Parang wala lang kay Emma.
Pero bakit parang hindi lang basta wala para sa kanya?
His jaw tensed slightly as he watched her go back to her seat like nothing happened. Emma, as always, was effortless, no hesitation, no second thoughts. Samantalang siya, eto, biglang hindi alam kung bakit nananatili sa isip niya ang simpleng kilos na 'yon.
Maybe it was nothing.
Or maybe... he was just starting to notice things he shouldn't.
The meal continued with light conversation, and eventually, Emma excused herself to head home. Seb, on the other hand, decided to stay behind, planning to sleep over at his friend's house.
The night passed quietly, and before they knew it, morning had arrived.
Pagdating sa opisina, abala si Emma sa pagsisimula ng trabaho, iniinom ang kanyang kape habang inaayos ang mga dokumento sa mesa. Ilang sandali lang, lumapit si Kyle at inilapag ang isang rolled-up blueprint sa harap niya.
"Emma, paabot nito kay Bobby," aniya, placing the document on her desk. "Kailangan niya itong i-review before the final presentation. Make sure he goes through all the revisions."
Kinuha niya ang blueprint at tumango. "Noted, Sir."
With that, she stood up, fixed her blazer, and made her way toward Bobby's office, unaware of the unexpected encounter waiting for her inside.
Pagkapasok ni Emma sa opisina ni Bobby, hindi niya agad napansin na may kasama ito. She was about to greet him casually when she stopped mid-step, her breath hitching.
Jake.
Nakatayo ito sa harap ni Bobby, at kahit walang malinaw na tensyon sa itsura ng dalawa, ramdam ito sa hangin. Si Bobby, kalmado pero kontrolado ang ekspresyon.
Si Jake naman ay nakapasok ang mga kamay sa bulsa at bahagyang nakasimangot.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it," sagot ni Jake, tila naiinis pero hindi rin makasagot nang diretso. "Hindi ko lang talaga naasikaso. Pero Tito, hindi naman gano'n kalala, 'di ba?"
Napakagat-labi si Emma, biglang nakaramdam ng kaba.
Dahan-dahan siyang umatras, pilit na iniiwasan ang eksena. Pero bago pa siya makalabas, lumingon si Jake at diretsong tumingin sa kanya.
"Oh, speaking of. Ikaw pala nagsumbong, ha?" sabi nito, may bahagyang ngiti sa labi.
Nanlaki ang mata ni Emma.
"H-Ha? Anong nagsumbong?" Pilit siyang ngumiti, kunwaring walang alam sa sinasabi nito.
Jake tilted his head, smirking. "Don't lie."
Napalunok si Emma. Bakit parang siya pa ang kinakabahan? She could tell Jake wasn't really angry, but there was something in his teasing tone that made her uneasy.
Dahan-dahang lumapit si Emma, pilit pinapakalma ang sarili. Pero hindi niya napigilan ang mapapwesto malapit kay Bobby… just in case.
Jake took a step closer, smirking. "Tsk, tsk. Hindi ko in-expect 'to sa'yo, Emma. The betrayal."
Emma panicked.
Bago pa niya maproseso, mabilis siyang nagpunta sa likod ni Bobby, mahigpit na kumapit sa braso nito nung una, pero sa kaba, napakapit na sa bewang nito.
Bobby tensed.
Emma was practically pressed against his back, clutching onto him like he was her lifeline.
Jake raised a brow, arms crossed. "Wow. Talagang diyan ka pa nagtago."
Emma peeked from behind Bobby’s shoulder, forcing a nervous smile. "Hindi ko sinasadya. Nagulat lang ako nung nalaman kong magkamag-anak pala kayo."
Jake smirked. "Mmm. Sure."
"It was an honest mistake," sagot niya, pero hindi siya tinantanan ng tingin ni Jake.
"Mag-tiyuhin pala kayo. Ang tagal na nating magkakilala, pero ngayon ko lang nalaman ‘yon," dagdag niya, pilit na binabago ang usapan. Pero kahit pa casual ang tono niya, nanatili pa rin siya sa likod ni Bobby, halos nakakapit pa rin dito habang sumisilip sa balikat niya.
Jake scoffed. "Ngayon ko nga lang din nalaman na mas matagal na pala kayong magkakilala. At hindi ko rin malalaman 'yon if you actually knew how to keep a secret."
"Hindi ko nga sinasadya! Nagkwento lang ako!" depensa ni Emma bago inis na tiningnan si Bobby.
"Bakit mo sinabi? Sinabi kong huwag mong sabihin, 'di ba?" reklamo niya, halatang naiinis din.
"Aha! So kinakutsaba mo rin pala ang Tito ko!" singit ni Jake, agad na nakahanap ng bagong pang-aasar.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Anong 'kinakutsaba'? Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo," sagot niya, bahagyang tumataas na rin ang boses sa inis.
Then, as if realizing something, she suddenly grinned. "Ikaw nga itong kung ano-ano ang sinasabi sa Tito mo, kesyo may secret relationship siya at mmfff!"
Hindi naituloy ni Emma ang sasabihin dahil agad tinakpan ni Jake ang bibig nito.
Bobby raised a brow, crossing his arms. "Secret relationship?"
Mabilis na tumawa si Jake, halatang kinakabahan. "Wala akong sinabing gano'n!"
Sinulyapan niya si Emma nang may babala, pero ang sagot lang nito ay isang pilyang ngiti, bakas ang pang-aasar sa mga mata.
Bobby’s jaw clenched. He didn’t understand why it unsettled him, the way Emma and Jake interacted, how easily she let him invade her space. He looked away, trying to ignore it… but before he knew it, his hand had already reached for Emma’s arm, pulling her toward him.
Emma didn’t resist. Instinctively, she held onto Bobby’s arm, as if seeking protection because knowing Jake, he’d find another way to tease her if she gave him the chance.
Jake, of course, didn't let it slide. He smirked. "Guilty ka kasi kaya ka nagtatago."
Emma shot him a glare. "Excuse me? I'm not hiding."
"Pero guilty," natatawang dagdag ni Jake, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Binelatan lang ni Emma ang kaibigan, pero hindi pa rin niya binitiwan si Bobby. It wasn't even intentional at this point, it just felt natural to stay close.
Bobby, on the other hand, remained still. He felt her fingers gripping onto his sleeve, the way she leaned ever so slightly toward him. It was such a small thing. Wala naman dapat ibig sabihin. And yet, it latched onto something deep in his chest, something unsettling.
His jaw tightened, and he let out a quiet breath.
"Enough," Bobby muttered, though even he wasn't sure kung para ba talaga iyon sa kanila o sa sarili niya.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the tension creeping up his spine. The two were stressing him out, along with this unfamiliar feeling that had been messing with him lately. He already has has a headache since this morning and the two are not helping.
Exhaling, he shifted his focus. "Ria, didn't you come here for something?"
"Oo nga pala!" Emma's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered. Agad niyang inabot kay Bobby ang blueprint na ipinadala ni Kyle.
Jake, however, wasn't about to let that slide.
"Ria?!" His brows shot up in exaggerated shock. "Tangina, kailan pa naging Ria ang pangalan mo?"
Jake crossed his arms, his smirk growing. "Ano 'to, pet name? May hindi ba ako alam dito?"
Bobby, unfazed, simply took the blueprint and started reviewing it, his eyes scanning the details as if he wasn't paying attention to the childish argument beside him.
"Anong pet name?!" Emma shot back, crossing her arms in defense. "Tanga! Ria kasi Maria ang second name ko. Ang tanga lang."
Jake snorted. "Sure, sure. Rason pa more."
Emma groaned, throwing her hands up. "Talk to the hand! Wag kang epal!"
"Wag kang epal," panggagaya ni Jake, his tone exaggerated, just to annoy her even more.
Emma narrowed her eyes and took a step forward, ready to smack him, but before she could get any closer, Bobby finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.
"Alis."
Bobby suddenly turned away, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he let out a deep, raspy cough.
Jake instantly recognized that tone. Alam niyang hindi na iyon pang-aasar lang. Bobby was done. He didn't even bother arguing. Instead, he grabbed Emma's arm and quickly pulled her toward the door before either of them could regret pushing Bobby too far.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m22vhfuXk
