The Man I Chose To Let Go (Under Editing)

Chapter 1: Resign

October 2021

Kanina pa nakatitig si Amanda sa harapan ng computer at paulit-ulit binabasa ang sinulat na resignation letter.

Yep. She is resigning.

"Wow, resignation pa rin?" Nanlaki ang mata niya at agad na hinarap ang kaibigan na si Vicky at hinampas ito, "Aray ko, bakit ba?"

"Huwag ka ngang maingay!" She closed the tab and just returned to her work. Jusko, desktop ba ito o cork board? Ang daming sticky note na nakapop-out sa screen! "Baka may makarinig sa 'yo!"

"Sus, kung magreresign ka sana noon pa. Puro ka lang naman porma, 2020 mo pa gusto magresign pero nandito ka pa rin? Hindi umubra pandemic sa 'yo?"

"Loka, kailangan ko ng trabaho. Hindi naman pwedeng umalis, mahirap maghanap ng trabaho last year." Marami ngang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa lockdown, tapos siya magreresign? She doesn't have that kind of luxury.

Isa siya sa mapalad dahil hindi sila pinabayaan ni Fred. They still got their salary and even provided groceries with vitamins every quarter.

Sino ba naman ang aalis, hindi ba?

"So, ngayon sure na iyan?" Pangangasar nito sa kanya, "Kaya mo ng iwan si Sir Eric?" That was Fred's professional nickname. Siya lang ang nakakatawag ng Fred dito, he didn't correct her so it's kind of stuck.

But during 2018, when she addressed him as Eric, nagtaka ito. He wanted to be Fred even if it's only in private because he felt that he was a normal man. Kaya kapag kasama siya sa conferences nito, Fred ang tawag niya lalo na kapag wala silang kasama.

"Nandiyan naman na si Camilla." Yep, Fred's new best friend. Nakilala nila ito last year. She's really nice, kaya hindi rin malabo na magustuhan ito ni Fred.

"Uyy, selos."

Napapaltak siya, "Tumigil ka nga, Vicky "

"Kay Sabrina nga nakaya mo. Ito pa?" Napailing na lang siya. Sabrina is a different story, she was already in his life when she came. Iba si Camilla, siya naman ang nauna pero ito ang unang lumagpas sa kaibigan. Wait, what? Napailing na lang siya.

"This is different, Vicky"

"Hindi mo talaga inamin kay Sir Eric iyang feelings mo?" Usisa pa nito. Nope, she did not and will not ever confess this feeling she has for him. It won't do her good. Gusto niya pa rin maging parte ng buhay nito kahit na hindi na siya nito sekretarya. She wants him to be a friend that she can invite during important season in her life.

Kung aamin siya, sasayangin niya lang iyon. So, huwag na. Hindi na mahalaga.

"Vicks, if you don't shut up about that feelings. Ako magbubusal sa bibig mo," Tumawa naman ito sa sinabi niya! Tigan mo, nananadya rin talaga.

"Oo na, uuwi na ako. Ikaw ba?"

"Tapusin ko lang ito." She said, "Hindi pa rin umuuwi iyong isa. Baka kailangan pa ng tulong."

Umismid naman ito, "Hindi ako aware na matryr ka na pala, friend. Anyway, sige na. Ingat ka paguwi!"

She looked at her watch and saw that it's almost 6:30 PM. Sinilip niya ang opisina ni Fred at nakitang malalim ang iniisip nito.

"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" He went back to her senses when she asked. Tumuwid ang upo at inayos ang salamin sa mata, "Tara na?"

He sighed and looked at his watch, "Oh shit. Baka naghihintay na si Camilla." Agad itong nagmadali sa pagaayos ng gamit, "C-Can you call her for me?"

"Sure, anong sasabihin ko?"

"Na malapit na tayo." He said, "Palabas na kamo ng school."

Tumango siya pero agad na napatigil, "Wait, what do you mean 'tayo'?"