Love For Sale Book 1 (Self-published)

CH 8: Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?

Hindi ako tanga at pakiramdam ko ay alam ko na kung ano ang pabor na gusto n'yang hingin sa akin. I immediately wanted to say no. But, I was curious and that curiosity made me follow him to his car.

Barry opened the door for me and I muttered my thanks.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked as soon as we were both seated.

"Oo," I replied trying my hardest not to fidget.

The truth was, I wasn't comfortable. I hated that I was in an enclosed space with a stranger.

"Let me turn the engine on para makapag-aircon tayo."

"Hindi na. Buksan mo na lang ang mga bintana. Magsasayang ka pa ng gas."

"Okay,"he replied turning the engine on for a second so he could roll the windows down. "Okay na?"

"Yes. Salamat."

"Siguro naman hindi ka na takot n'yan kasi bukas na ang mga bintana?"

"Hindi naman sa gan'un."

"Okay lang naman. Naiintindihan ko."

"Okay..."

"Good..." he mumbled nodding.

"Okay lang ba kung Barry na lang ang itawag ko sa'yo? Kasi nakakailang kung nandito tayo sa loob ng sasakyan mo at tatawagin pa rin kitang OM. That would make me feel as if you are still my superior when here you are asking me for a favor."

He laughed softly. "Yes, just call me Barry. Is it okay if I call you Claire or you'd rather be addressed as Ms. de los Santos?"

"Claire is fine."

"Good..." He smiled before he leaned back against his seat. "I love mornings. There's just something so peaceful about them kahit ba lahat ng tao ay nagmamadali."

"Hm..."

"Malapit lang ba bahay mo rito? Kasi nangako ako na ihahatid kita, 'di ba?"

"Dalawang sakay."

"Medyo malayo nga. Hindi ka ba natatakot magbiyahe tuwing gabi kapag pumapasok ka ng opisina—"

"Ano bang pag-uusapan natin?" I asked cutting him off. I knew that he was dilly-dallying and I was getting exasperated. "Kasi masyado kang interesado tungkol sa pag-ko-commute ko. Mamaya mag-pa-drawing ka pa ng mapa kung saan ako nakatira."

He laughed. "Nagmamadali ka ba?"

"Ikaw ba hindi?"

"Ang suplada mo talaga."

"Yes. And I am extremely impatient, so please, can we get to the point?"

"As you see, I have an ex..."

"So, I've heard. Anong kinalaman ko sa ex mo?"

"Wala. I just want to give you an idea about what I have in mind. My ex and I broke up a few months ago—"

"Ang tanong, alam ba ng ex mo na ex mo na s'ya? Baka kasi para sa'yo ay hiwalay na kayo, 'yun pala para sa kanya ay kayo pa rin."

"She does. Pormal naman ang break-up. It's not as if I just left."

"Sure ka? Kasi kung ang pagbabasehan ay 'yung ipinaglalaban ni TL Annie ay mukhang ikaw lang ang nakakaalam ng hiwagang 'yan tungkol sa hiwalayan n'yo."

"Alam n'ya. Pwede ba namang maghiwalay kayo ng isang tao 'tapos hindi alam ng taong 'yun?"

"Aba, pwede naman. Classic example, 'yang ex mo."

He laughed. "May punto ka. Pero, may choice ba naman ang isang tao kapag inayawan mo na s'ya? Wala. Wala s'yang choice kundi tanggapin 'yun."

"Sabi nino? Here you are driven to talk me as if I give a damn about you and your ex simply because you have an ex who hasn't accepted the idea that you two have broken up. Tama ba?"