Love For Sale Book 1 (Self-published)

CH 31: Favorite Record

"Please say yes, Mrs. Berenguer..." Barry said. He sounded hopeful yet I couldn't bring myself to believe that he fell for me just like that.

I sighed. "Barry kasi medyo imposible—"

"Wala talaga?" he asked.

"Ha?"

"Wala kang nararamdaman para sa akin? Sabagay hindi naman natin 'yun pwedeng ipilit..."

"Ganito kasi 'yun—"

"Claire, h'wag mo nang itutuloy kung tatanggihan mo lang ulit ako. Hindi na kakayanin ng dignidad ko bilang lalaki. Hindi na kaya ng puso kong marinig kung bakit ayaw mo ako, kasi nakailang beses na, eh. Nasasaktan din naman ako. Kalimutan na lang natin 'yung mga sinabi ko and let's just pretend that I did not confess my feelings to you for the nth time."

"Barry..."

"Halika na..."

He did not take my hand in his and we quietly walked side by side.

"Mag-yo-yoghurt ka pa ba?" I asked because his silence was making me feel uncomfortable.

"Hindi na," he replied quietly.

"So, babalik na tayo sa parking?"

He nodded.

I followed him to the building's exit and into the elevator that brought us to the parking area.

Hindi man n'ya ako iniimik pero ipinagbukas pa rin n'ya ako ng pinto ng sasakyan at lalo naman akong nakonsensya.

"Seat belt," he said and only turned the engine on after I've buckled mine into place.

Talagang hindi na n'ya ako kikibuin?

I glanced briefly at his profile as he steered us out of the parking lot. I was startled when he suddenly stepped on the brakes.

"Shit."

"Ano?" I asked.

"Nakalimutan natin 'yung mga bags mo," he replied maneuvering the car back to park. "Balikan ko, h'wag ka nang sumama, ako na ang kukuha."

"Kaya mo bang bitbitin lahat 'yun?"

"Oo naman. I'll leave the key with you because the car alarm reacts when the engine is on and it's not able to detect the key."

"Okay."

"Lock the doors," he said before he stepped out of the car then sprinted towards the entrance.

I was watching him until he disappeared into the elevator and nearly had a heart attack when something started ringing.

"Ano ba naman 'yan!" I said out loud before picking up the phone that was lying on Barry's seat. "Ay, hala nakalimutan n'ya 'yung telepono n'ya. Naku, Mommy pa n'ya ang tumatawag."

I was tempted to follow Barry inside the mall. Pero, naisip ko na mabilis lang naman si Barry kaya mag-aaksaya lang ako ng pagod kung ihahatid ko pa sa kanya ang telepono n'ya.

Ibinaba ko uli ang cellphone n'ya sa upuan.

Hintay-hintay lang po, babalik naman po kaagad ang anak n'yo...

'Yun nga lang ay hindi na huminto sa kakatawag ang Mommy ni Barry at medyo natulili na ako sa walang kamatayan pagtunog ng telepono n'ya.

"Ano ba naman 'to, saan ba silent nito...?" I picked his phone up. "Baka ito—oh, my God!"

"Barry?" I heard his mother say. "Barry, can you hear me?"

Antanga mo, Claire, bakit mo kasi pinakialaman? Nasagot mo tuloy 'yung tawag ng Mommy ng boss mo!