"Ma'am, they're waiting in the boardroom."
It's been two months since I came home from London. Grabeng trabaho ang naghihintay sa akin pagkauwi ko. Wala man lang pa welcome back party. Grabe!
"Okay. I'll be there in 5 minutes."
Tumango ang sekretarya ko bago lumabas at sinara ang pinto. Humarap ako sa salamin at nag-ayos ng sarili ko. I put on a red lipstick and tied my bronde hair in a high ponytail. Bronde is a mixture of brown and blonde hair color. I wore my black heels which made me a lot taller. I took my bag and left my office.
"Good morning." I greeted them as soon as I enter the board room. Ang kaninang maingay na mga tao ay naging tahimik nang pumasok ako. Tumayo sila at binati ako pabalik. "You may now sit. Since everyone is here, let's start."
The presenter stood in front and started discussing the agendas for today's meeting. He opened the projector and presented HGC's performance and growth for the past months. He also presented some goals that should be targeted for this year.
"Any questions?" I shifted my gaze to the people inside the boardroom.
I looked at all of them but no one asked anything so we've decided to end the meeting. I thanked the presenter before I left the boardroom and went back to my office.
I sat on my swivel chair and my gaze went to a picture frame that is placed on top of my desk. It was a picture of me and Zach way back high school. Graduation day. He was smiling widely while doing a peace sign while I stuck my out and winked at the camera.
I felt my lips formed a small smile as I touched our photo but that smile faded as I remember the headline. He's already with someone else. He fulfill his promise but not to me. Well, I guess promises are really meant to be broken.
"Come in!"
I shouted as I heard a knock on my office door. The door opened and I saw Yen, my secretary, peeked out.
"Ma'am, dumating na po 'yung bag na inorder niyo last week." sambit niya.
My eyes widened a bit upon hearing what she said. Ngayon na agad 'yon? Ang bilis, a! Tumango ako bago tumayo para kuhain ang order ko. Pumirma muna ako sa isang papel na binigay sa akin bago umalis ang nagdeliver.
"Ay, Yen, kailan daw dadating yung perfume na inorder ko from Givenchy?" tanong ko sa sekretarya ko.
"Uh, 3 days from now daw po, Ma'am." sambit niya habang nags-scroll sa phone niya.
"Okay. Thank you!" I said before going back to my office.
Saktong pagka-upo ko ay nakita kong may tumatawag sa cellphone ko. It was Dylan.
"Sup?" bungad ko pagkasagot ng tawag niya.
[Nothing. Hindi ako makatulog, e.] he said in a low voice.
"And so? Paki-alam ko kung hindi ka makatulog?"
[Is it the time of the month? Sungit mo, a? Feeling ko miss mo lang si Ezekiel kaya ka ganiyan.] pang-aasar niya.
"Tumawag ka lang ba para sirain ang araw ko, Dela Fuente?" may bahid ng irita ang boses ko pero hindi naman talaga ako naiirita.
[Geez. I just want to say that maybe I'll come home this weekend. Patapos na din naman yung project natin dito. You don't have to miss me anymore.] he said and chuckled a bit.
"Asa ka naman. Pero hindi nga, uuwi ka na?"
[Oo nga. Paulit-ulit? Anyway, how's the two of you? Did you already had your heart to heart talk?] he asked which made me rolled my eyes.
"No. Masiyado akong busy para kausapin siya." I reasoned out.
[Busy my ass. Kung gusto niyong magka-usap, gagawa at gagawa kayo ng paraan para mag-usap. Tigil niyo 'yang mga ganyan ninyo. You're not a teenager anymore.] sermon niya.
"You're sounding like a grandfather preaching his grandchildren." I said ang let out a small laugh.
[O, nakakatawa 'yon?] he asked with a serious tone.
"Kinda." I said while typing something on my laptop. "Get some sleep. You need energy for tomorrow. I bet it's already 3 in the morning there."
[It is.] he replied and I heard him yawned. [I'll go to sleep. Catch you next week, Ma'am. Take care.]
"Sleep tight, Engineer. Bye." I said and ended the call.
Pagsapit ng 7 pm ay inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko at nagbihis dahil may pupuntahan pa ako. Nag-aaya kasi sila Rachel na magkita-kita kami sa isang bar sa Makati para sa mini-reunion daw. I changed my clothes into a black top paired with brown leather pants. I stood up in front of the mirror and fixed myself. I wore my black boots before I took my bags and keys and left the company.
I drove to Novaliches to pick up Rae. Dito kasi siya nagsite visit kanina so we agreed to meet in Starbucks in SM Novaliches. I parked my car before I took my bag and went inside the mall. Agad kong hinanap ang Starbucks sa loob ng mall. Muntik pa nga akong maligaw. Pagpasok ko sa loob ay agad kong nakita si Rae na naka-upo sa bandang dulo at nagcecellphone ito. Ang ganda niya, ha.
I walked towards her direction and stood in front of her. She was busy typing something on her phone at hindi niya napansin na nandito na ako.
"Hi-"
"Ay kike!" I heard her said which made me laughed a bit. "Iya!" I was shocked a bit when I heard her screamed. She hugged me tight so I had to bend a bit since I'm a bit taller than her. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too, babe." I said before we sat down. "Are we going na ba or you'll order pa?"
"Gora na tayo. Iinom din naman tayo mamaya, e." sambit niya bago kinuha ang bag niya at iginaya ako palabas ng Starbucks.
Habang naglalakad kami palabas ng mall ay puro kwento 'tong si Rae sa mga ganap sa buhay niya na siya namang pinapakinggan ko. Bahagya akong nagulat nang malaman na sila na pala ni Ivan. Almost 4 years na daw. Mabuti naman at tinablan na nang katapangan ang lalaking 'yon.
"Ay, shutangina. Lamborghini." she exaggerated as soon as we reached the parking. I just shook my head while smIling a bit.
"Seatbelt, please." I commanded.
"Yes, Engin- Ma'am! Ano ba naman kasi 'yan, engineer na CEO pa! Hindi ko tuloy alam itatawag ko sa'yo." reklamo niya.
"Iya will be fine. Saka we're not at work so why bother about formalities?"
"Magrereklamo na sana ako na puro ka english pero naalala kong galing ka nga palang London."
I chuckled before started driving. After sometime, Rae asked if she could connect her phone for some music and I just nodded. Medyo natagalan lang dahil hindi pa connected ang phone pa sa bluetooth ng sasakyan ko.
"Kita ko yung mga posters mo sa Shangri-La no'ng nakaraan, ang ganda mo do'n." puri niya. "Model ka na din ba?"
My brows shot up a bit with a sudden realization. Naalala kong may branches nga pala ng Goodnight Glam dito sa Pilipinas at nabanggit noon ni Tita Davina na ilalagay din ang pictures ko dito. Goodnight Glam is one of the biggest lingerie companies in the world kaya medyo nagulat ako dahil ako ng ginawa nilang model dahil pupwede naman silang kumuha ng ibang mga models do'n. Pero ayos na din yon dahil kahit papaano ay naranasan kong maaging model like what my mom wants noong nabubuhay pa siya.
"Nope. One time contract lang yung pinirmahan ko. Right after the shoot, tapos na din ang trabaho ko." I answered before turning the steering wheel of my car.
"Bagay sa'yo maging model kung sakali." saad ni Rae.
"I get that compliment a lot but thank you." I glanced at her for a moment and smiled.
"Pero madaming makaaagaw yung bebe mo kapag nagkataon." sambit niya na napagtahimik sa akin dahil naaalala ko naman siya.
I gulped. "How are you and Ivan?" I changed the topic.
"We're good. Nagulat ako after graduation, umamin siya, e. Pinagbigyan ko nang manligaw kasi wala din naman akong mapapala do'n sa crush kong Lasallian." tuloy tuloy na sambit niya.
"It's been years but I had no idea who that guy is."
"Ay hindi ko pa ba nasabi sa'yo?" medyo gulat na tanong niya. "Si Romano!"
I glanced at her upon mentioning my friend's name. Cairo is... never mind. All this time si Cairo pala ang tinutukoy ni Rae na crush niya na taga La Salle.
"Kayo ba? Kamusta kayo nung hottie mong jowa? Nakita ko siya one time sa isang ground breaking, ang pogi niya lalo. I would definitely kneel for him."
I chuckled softly. "We're...good. But we're not together anymore."
I heard her gasped and I felt her stares at me. "Hala weh? Kailan pa?"
"Before I moved to London." I replied.
"So you're separated for like... 3 years now?" I nodded. "Ayos lang 'yan. Single pa din naman yata si Architect kaya baka may chance ka pa don."
Before, yes. But now? I don't have any chances.
Natigil ang usapan namin nang makarating na kami ng car park. Hindi kasi pwedeng magpark sa harap mismo ng bar kaya dito ako nagpark sa Salcedo. Pagkababa ay nahagip ng paningin ko ang isang pamilyar na sasakyan pero hindi ko nalang gaanong inisip dahil madami namang ganoong klaseng sasakyan sa Pilipinas.
God, Aliah! Get a grip!
Rae clinged her arms at mine before walking towards the bar. Di kagaya ng ibang bar, walang gaanong ingay dito maliban sa ingay ng mga nag-iinuman, siyempre. Hatak hatak ako ni Rae paakyat sa second floor ng bar. Sa second floor makikita ang mga couches at tables na pang-maramihan. Kita din ang city lights dahil nga gabi na.
"Aliah!"
Kumaway ako sa isa sa mga blockmate ko noong college nang tawagin ako nito. Kumaway din sa akin si Ivan pero agad na dumiretso sa kasintahan na nasa tabi ko. I had to look away when I saw them kissed because I felt jealous. A bit.
"Fresh from London 'yan, oh!" kantyaw ni Ivan.
"Tanga, last week pa ako umuwi." sambit ko bago naupo sa tabi ni Rae.
"Hindi ba pupunta si Dylan?" tanong ni Jasmine.
"Sa weekends pa siya uuwi. Tinatapos niya lang yung naiwang project sa London."
"Ito naman si Dylan agad ang hanap. 'Wag mong hanapin 'yon dahil wala namang pake sa'yo 'yon." sabat ni Tristan.
"Alam mo Gregorio manahimik ka nalang. Makapagsalita ka diyan akala mo naman hindi ka nireject ni Aliah noon." anas ng babae.
I just chuckled and shook my head a bit. Umamin kasi sa'kin noon si Tristan na gusto niya ako pero may boyfriend ako that time. No hard feelings dahil naging close din naman kami kahit nireject ko siya no'n. Nagbiro pa nga na kung sakali man daw na saktan ako ng boyfriend ko ay hindi siya magdadalawang isip na agawin ako. That guy, really.
"Past is past, Dorothea. Tunog 6 years old na bungi ampota."
"Kapal mo, Gregorio. Tunog 68 years old na lolo." bawi ni Jasmine bago tumungga ng alak.
Napuno nang tawanan ang lamesa namin dahil sa dalawang 'to. Nagkaroon pa kami ng kwentuhan about sa mga prof at mga kaklase namin na kinainisan namin noong college. Iyong totoo, reunion ba talaga 'to o labasan ng sama ng loob.
"Halos buong klase noong college may gusto kay Aliah, e." sabat ni Kyle. "Oo, pati ako."
I almost choked on my drink when I heard Kyle. Tahimik kasi 'to noong college kaya hindi ko naisip na may gusto pala sa'kin 'to. Wow, what a confession.
"Pati yung ibang taga room 428 saka 431 may crush din sa kanya. I mean, sino ba namang hindi? Kahit ako maging lalaki, ligawan ko 'yan, e."
"Pero taga Adamson ang nanalo. Sorry kayo." sabat ni Rae.
Maya-maya ay narinig kong tumunog ang phone ko kaya kinuha ko iyon mula sa bag ko. Just in time!
"Dylan's calling." I announced.
"O, Dorothea, ikalma mo."
"Tangina mo, Gregorio."
I answered the call and faced the camera to the people I'm with. Lahat sila ay kumaway kaway sa camera.
"Wow. Having a party, huh?"
"Reunion!"
"Dylan, crush ka daw ni Dorothea!" sigaw ni Tristan dahilan para batukan siya ng malakas ni Jasmine.
I heard Dylan's laugh on the other line. "Yeah, I know. I'm not into relationships right now but thank you for liking me."
"Boom, basted on the spot!" pang-aasar ni Tristan.
"Mabuti nalang talaga hindi naging kayo ni Aliah dahil kung hindi, kawawa si Aliah. Sa ganyang itsura mo hindi nila iisiping jowa ka niya. Iisipin nila hardinero ka o di kaya bodyguard."
"Share mo lang?"
"They're already on their mid-20's but they're still acting like kids." rinig kong saad ni Dylan sa kabilang linya.
Maya-maya ay nagulat ako nang maglapag ng mga alak ang waiter sa lamesa namin. Tatlong bote ng Johnny Walker, tatlong bote din ng Bacardi at dalawang bote ng Hennessy. Hindi ako mahilig sa hard drinks pero ayaw ko namang maging KJ kaya uminom na ako. Lilimitahan ko lang dahil baka hindi ako makauwi mamaya.
"Para sa ekonomiya!" sambit ni Lester at inangat ang baso niya.
"Para sa ekonomiya!" sigaw namin at pinagdikit ang mga baso namin bago tinungga ang mga laman no'n.
"Hey, woman. Your alcohol tolerance is as low as my grade in college so drink responsibly, please." rinig kong sambit ni Dylan sa telepono.
"What?! It's just my... fourth shot!"
"Fifth." he corrected. So, he was watching me the whole time, huh?
"Thought you're working?"
"Lunch break."
"Then eat."
"I'm eating while watching you drink your fucking shot."
"No need. I can handle myself." I said before drinking another shot.
"Really? Remember when you said you can still walk after drinking so hard and ended up almost falling on the dance floor at the bar back here in London?"
"That was a year ago! Malakas na ako ngayon!"
"Melekes ne eke ngeyen." he mocked me and I saw rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I have to go. I have some work to do. Call me when you got home, woman."
"Okay! Bye!" I said and even waved at the camera.
Matapos ang ilang sandali ay naramdaman kong hindi ko na kayang uminom kaya nagpa-alam na ako sa kanila na uuwi na ako. Tumayo si Ivan at nagpresentang ihahatid ako sa parking at pumayag nalang ako.
"Sigurado ka pang kaya mong mag-drive? Pwede naman kitang ihatid tapos babalikan ko nalang si Rae. Mamaya pa naman kami uuwi, e." suwestiyon ni Ivan.
Umiling-iling ako. "Hindi na. Kaya ko namang magdrive." pangungumbinsi ko sa kanya.
"Sige. Ingat ka ha? Tawagan mo si Rae kapag nakauwi ka na."
"I will." sagot ko at bahagyang ngumiti bago sumakay sa sasakyan ko at nag-drive paalis.
Habang nagdadrive ako ay biglang tumunog ang phone ko at kita kong tumatawag si Rae. Nilagay ko ang phone ko sa phone holder ng sasakyan bago sinagot ang tawag niya.
"Yes?
[Bakit hindi ka nagpahatid kay Ivan? Lasing ka na kayang gaga ka!] sermon niya.
"Hindi ako lasing! I can still drive ano ka ba. Also, malapit lang yung condo namin dito kaya kayang-kaya kong magdrive."
[Nako, Aliah Margaret, sinasabi ko sa'yo ha! Kapag ikaw talaga-] she's starting to sound like a mother preaching her kids. Bigla ko tuloy naalala si Mommy.
"I'm fine. I'll call you later when I got home. Love you." sambit ko at agad na pinatay ang tawag.
Paniguradong binubungangaan na ni Rae si Ivan ngayon. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang matawa sa naiisip ko. Habang nagmamaneho ay napansin kong may nakasunod sa akin na isang itim na sasakyan. Kanina pa 'to, ah! Tinapakan ko ang gas ng sasakyan ko at mabilis na nagmananeho pero agad ko ding binagalan nang makitang huminto sa tapat ng isang convenience store ang sasakyan. Akala ko kasi ay sinusundan ako, e.
Pinark ko ang sasakyan ko sa parking bago pumasok sa loob ng building. Binili ni Mommy ang property na 'to few years back kaya hindi na ako nahirapan pang maghanap ng condominiums na pagsstay-an ko. I took my access card before entering my unit and locked it.
I took off my shoes and throw my bag on the couch before heading straight to the bathroom and took a shower. I stayed in the bathtub for a few minutes to relax. I brushed my teeth and gargle some mouthwash before I went to my bedroom.
After dressing up, I took my phone as I heard it beeped and I saw Zane calling.
"Yes?"
[Hi Liah! Musta ka na? Nakauwi ka na pala?]
"Yeah. Last week lang. I'm fine. You?"
[Fine na hindi. Isipin mo nalang.] sagot niya at bahagya pang natawa. Gago talaga. [Ayos lang din si Zach. Medyo busy lang kasi inaayos yung-]
"I know. I heard." I cut him off.
Hindi naman sa nabibitter ako pero ayaw ko lang talagang makarinig ng kahit ano tungkol sa relationship niya sa ibang babae o kahit ano tungkol sa kanya.
"It's her birthday next week." I changed the topic.
He became silent for a while before responding. [Alam ko. Hindi ko naman kinalimutan.]
"If you don't mind me asking pero... mahal mo pa din?" maingat na tanong ko.
I heard him released a heavy sigh. [That... thing that happened... those words that she threw upon me... changes nothing in the way I love her. She did hurt me... but I guess I deserved it at some point...] he said with pain evident on his voice.
"If ever ba na bumalik siya... tatanggapin mo pa din?"
[Siya lang naman ang babaeng gusto kong mahalin, e. Kahit saktan pa niya ako ng paulit-ulit, wala na akong pakialam. Kung hindi siya ang para sa'kin, mas mabuti pang 'wag nalang akong mag-asawa.] aniya at bahagyang natawa.
Their break-up was quite unexpected dahil noong pag-alis ko ay ayos na ayos pa naman sila. Bigla ko nalang nalaman na wala na sila noong tumawag sa akin si Celine. Well, shits happen. Yung sa amin naman ni Zach, hindi ko din ineexpect na magkakahiwalay kami at... mapupunta sa iba.
[Pucha, bakit ba napunta sa ganito yung usapan natin?] sambit ni Zane na nagpabalik sa akin sa wisyo. [Feeling ko pagod ka na. Tulog ka na, Liah. See you soon!]
"Yeah, okay. See you soon. Bye!" I said before ending the call.
Tinapon ko ang cellphone ko at binagsak ang sarili sa kama. Pinagmasdan ko ang kwintas na binigay niya sa akin pati na din ang singsing. Memories of him saying all his promises to me flashed back to my mind.
I scoffed. "Sayo lang ako... pero nasa iba ka na ngayon."
He promised me that he will always be mine. He said that he will never not love me. He even promised that when I come back, we'll get married. But all of those promises broke because of that one article. That headline... it stuck on my mind to the point that I don't want to see nor hear anything about him because the pain is still here. Ang sakit pa din.
"Mahal kita... pero ayaw ko na." bulong ko.
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