"W-What did you just say?"  He caught me off guard with what he said. I am looking at him with wide eyes! I mean, maybe I am hearing things?  "Why? you think my proposal is ridiculous?" Elouise turned to me.  Ridiculous my ass. Sinong nagsabi? wala naman akong sinabi. Ang sarap kaya sa pandinig ng sinabi niya to the point na hindi na ako nakapag react ng maayos.   "Ano nga ulit sinabi mo?"   "I don't want to repeat it again, it's embarrassing." I saw his ears turned red.   Tinaasan ko siya ng dalawang kilay. "So you are saying that I am an embarassment?" I joked.   He frowned. "What? No." Tiningnan niya ako ng masama. "I know you heard it. What I just say is just a.." Hindi niya matuloy

"Uh, hello." I said awkwardly.  Shit. I suddenly got nervous. Hindi naman nasabi ni Elouise na may darating siyang bisita. Lumingon siya sa akin habang nagtatanggal ng sapatos si Nica. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Elouise Paz, you're dead meat.   He look at me innocently. Inirapan ko siya para ipakitang naiinis ako. Sana sinabi niya ng maaga na may bisita s'ya para binitbit ko rin sila Eris at Kim dito!   "I'm sorry.." Biglang sabi ni Nica. "Amnnv b I interrupting something?" Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa ni Elouise. Yes, girl. You are obviously interrupting our dinner. I chose to keep it in. I am not that rude to say that to her face. I was just so startled to see her. And, what's with her and Elouise' doorbell?   Nginitian ko siya. "No, wala naman." Gumilid ako para malaki ang dadaanan n

"Anong sabi?" Eris asked curiously. Sumunod pala siya sa amin. Tumigil na ang tunog ng door bell. I felt really sad to find him feeling sorry to me for the sake of her. Well in fact, he didn't do anything wrong. I just noticed, I am being unreasonable now. He's just being nice to his friend— colleague. But Nica did this to me, my alter ego said. And he really believed that it was my fault.   "Should I talk to him now or tomorrow?" Tiningnan ko silang dalawa.  Nagkatinginan rin sila sa tanong ko. "I think you should talk to him right now. Masamang pinapatagal ang away and besides, wala naman siya sa scene na nabuhusan ka ng bagong kulo'ng tubig.." Kim spoke. "And he tend to believe what you said on the spot kesa alamin pa ang totoong nangyari kasi, you have his full trust so he believed what you said." She sort it out calmly. I admire Kim for not being rash for circ

"Thank you, ingat ka!"     "You too. Kumain ka na."       Kumaway ako kay Elouise bago sumara 'yung elevator. Hinatid niya lang talaga 'yung lunch ko at kailangan n'yang bumalik agad kasi marami pa daw s'yang naiwang trabaho sa opisina.       "Iyan ang when." Sabi ni Lane nang magkasalubong ko ulit siya habang papunta na ako sa opisina ni Eris, dala ang lunch box na bigay ni Elouise.       "Wala pa rin bang lalaki na pasok d'yan sa standards mo?" Tanong ko sakaniya.     Nagkibit-balikat lang siya. "Nako, hindi mo sure."      I looked at her warily. "Seriously, sino?" Her answer is neutral. Ayaw pa sabihin sa akin, parang others!       "Wala nga! sige na kumain kana do'n." Pagtatabo

I got choked by her sudden question! Bwiset talaga 'tong mga ito. "A-Ano ba namang tanong iyan?!" Umubo-ubo ako, with a look of disbelief in my face. Kim pushed back her hair while waiting for my answer, seated on the sofa. Her eyes were telling that she's eager for my response. "Curious lang kami. Ano ka ba, 'wag kang Kill joy!" Umirap si Eris, pinipilit akong sumagot sa walang kwenta niyang tanong. It's not something to brag about! Her famn question is ridiculous to answer! What the hell! "H'wag mo siyang pilitin sumagot, gaga." Saway ni Kim kay Eris. "It is a private matter, gunggong ka." Nag-thumbs up ako ng palihim kay Kim, tinanguan niya ako pabalik. "Oo nga, there's a line, o." Segunda ko pa. I made a face. Nanliit ang mga mata ni Eris. "Hhmm, base sa itsura ng mukha mo, you guys didn't do the nasty pa.." Her brows shot up and down again, feeling like a detective. "Just make outs, am I right?" I frowned. What the heck? How the hell did she get that answer just from lo