One Last Time

Kabanata XIII: MY VALENTINE

My Valentine.

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LULUGO-LUGO akong umupo sa kawayang upuan pagpasok ko sa kubo. Kadarating ko lang dito sa site. I was 2 hours late at nagpaalam naman ako kay Architect Fiah. Hindi kasi talaga maganda ang pakiramdam ko pagkagising kanina.

After several meetings and discussions with Mrs. Valerio and the engineering team led by Levi's team, the construction project finally started.

Humikab ako pero mabilis ding napatikom ng bibig nang may pumasok na isang worker.

"Mukhang puyat na puyat kayo, Ma'am," anito.

I smiled. "May mga tinapos pa kasi akong trabaho kagabi kaya dis oras na ako nakatulog."

Napuyat ako kagabi dahil tinulungan ko si Architect Fiah na i-revise ang layout design dahil may gustong ipadagdag si Mrs. Valerio.

"Ah, ganun po ba," ani ng worker habang nagsasalin ng tubig sa hawak nitong malaking tumbler mula sa water dispenser.

"Magpahinga din kayo niyan, baka mag-alala si 'Neer Deogracias niyan kapag nagkasakit kayo."

My lips immediately curled into a wide grin. I liked what he said.

Nagpaalam na sa'kin ang worker pagkatapos nitong makakuha ng tubig para sa mga kasamahan nito kaya naiwan ulit akong mag-isa sa kubo.

I winced when I felt the throbbing pain in my head again.

"Why the hell are you so damn hurt?!" Hinawakan ko ang ulo kong parang binibiyak sa sakit at dumukdok sa mahabang lamesa.

"Damn it!" I couldn't help but curse in pain until I heard his serious tone.

"This is not a sleeping quarter, Yturralde."

I lifted my head to see him. Nakita ko siyang kapapasok lang ng kubo at may hawak na layout plan.

The pain kept throbbing in my head while sweat began forming on my forehead, but I still managed to flash a silly grin. "Good morning, Loves," I greeted.

He furrowed his brow. "This is not a good time to be joking around."

I let out a chuckle when I saw how his handsome face frowned. Nagiging paborito ko na yata ang ekspresyon niyang iyon.

"Stop staring. Hindi ko gusto na parang hinuhubaran mo ako sa isip mo." His serious voice scolded as he made his way to the bamboo table.

He stood on the other side of the table, directly facing me. Meanwhile, I just watched him with admiration shining in my eyes as he laid out the layout plan on the table. He's only wearing a plain black shirt, so I can clearly see the muscles in his arms tightening as he does it.

"Help me with this, Yturralde," he said seriously, his eyes focused on the plan laid out in front of him.

Tumayo na ako. "Wait. I don't think I can-" kaagad akong napakapit sa gilid ng lamesa nang biglang manlabo ang paningin ko. I'm feeling a spinning sensation at parang hinahalukay ang sikmura ko.

He looked up at me. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," iling ko saka dumiretso nang tayo.

He gazed at me blankly before he returned his eyes to the layout plan. "Come closer, I need you to explain this," kaswal na sabi niya habang nakaturo at nakatitig sa bandang gilid ng layout.

Marahan akong umikot sa lamesa at tumabi sa kanya. I could smell his perfume pero wala doon ang focus ko.

"Where?" My eyes searched for what he was pointing at.