Zaldivar Series #1: Weaving Lies and Chaos

Kabanata 12

"Even the name?" I tilted my head. 

Chaos, who's sitting on a couch in front of me, firmly shook his head. "Almost. Just sounds like the same. But not totally." 

The side of my lips rose for a smirk. 

"Kamukhang kamukha mo talaga si Ma'am Rieselle." Noon ko lang muling naalala si Clarita nang umupo siya sa aking tabi. "You two can pass as twins! Naku! Kung nandito lang si Ma'am. Right, Sir?" she even asked for Chaos's approval.

I crossed my legs and shifted my seat while eyeing Chaos. 

"They're actually..." He stared back at me, tila nakikipaglaban sa aking mga titig. "Different."

I let out a mocking breath. "Of course we are." I smirked as a thought crossed my mind. Marahan akong napailing. "Shall we start?" 

Hindi pa man nakakasagot ang dalawa ay tumayo na ako. I walked towards my table and opened the drawers for my measuring tape. 

Bumalik ako sa kinaroroonan ng dalawa at naabutang nakatayo na si Chaos habang nasa akin na naman ang mga mata. 

What's wrong with him?

I started getting his measurements. And I'm behind him, measuring his shoulders' width when Clarita gasped. Sa lakas noon, nakuha niya ang atensyon namin ni Chaos.

"Huh? Ano 'to?!" She's frowning while looking at her phone. Napatingin siya sa amin ni Chaos, para bang nag-aalinlangan pa. Matapos ay tumayo siya bago binigyan ng mabilis na sulyap ang hawak na phone.

"Marcia!" 

Ibinaba ko ang kamay na nasa balikat ni Chaos. "What?!" I asked, equal to her almost shrieking tone. 

She stride near us. "Baka ikaw 'to?" She handed me her phone. Naroon ang post sa social media na ipinakita sa akin ni Flavio kanina. 

"W–what are you talking about?" maang ko. I mean that's me but... "P–probably. I heard Rieselle's not into..." I nibbled my lower lips when Chaos frowned at me. "I mean... Ms. Serrano seems not used to those places. Kaya... baka ako nga 'yung nasa picture."

"What was that?" Chaos's voice was hoarse as he turned to Rita.

"Sir, t–there's a..." Clarita trailed off. Hindi alam kung paano itutuloy ang sasabihin kaya't ipinakita na lang niya kay Chaos ang kanyang telepono.

Kunot ang noong tinitigan iyon ni Chaos, igting ang panga bago kinuha sa bulsa ang sariling phone. "I'll call my fiancee."

Agarang namilog ang aking mga mata. Why would he call her? "You'll call who?"

"Hey, y–you wha—" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin dahil sa pagtunog ng aking phone. 

Fucking shit.

Chaos is looking at me while his phone is in his ear, waiting for his fiancee to answer but because my phone started ringing, his attention is on me.

Even Clarita turned to our direction because of the sudden ringing of my phone. I instantly fished my phone from my pocket while trying to calm myself. Mabilis ko iyong sinulyapan ngunit agad ko rin pasimpleng inilayo sa mga mata ni Chaos. He'll surely recognize my phone. 

I cleared my throat and calmly faced the two. "I'll just answer this. I'll be back in a few minutes," paalam ko bago lumabas ng aking opisina.

Dire-diretso ang lakad ko palabas ng boutique. And the moment I went out, I cleared my throat and that's when I answered Chaos's call. 

"Hon!" I merrily greeted. I opened Flavio's car and sat on the driver's seat. 

Sandali pa siyang walang imik sa kabilang linya bago tuluyang sumagot. "Where are you? Have you seen—"