Lethal Attachment

Chapter 27

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Chapter 27
Peace

"Pasensya na po talaga, Aling Brenda, kung biglaan po iyong desisyon ko na lumipat," nahihiya kong paghingi ng paumanhin.

I considered this place as my hometown in Metro Manila, and this apartment was my home. I've been living here for almost six years. Ngayon, kailangan ko itong iwanan para lumipat sa condo unit na bigay sa akin ng Sarto. It felt like I was leaving Bela Isla once again for a new unfamiliar place.

"Nako, hija! Ayos lang 'yon," natatawa niyang sabi. "Sa susunod na Linggo ka pa naman magsisimulang maglipat, 'di ba?"

"Opo..." sagot ko.

Aling Brenda was a kind landlord too. She's not that strict when collecting our monthly rate. Madalas nga ay pinagbibigyan niya iyong kapitbahay ko na halos kalahati na ng buwan bago makapagbayad ng renta. She told us that she's been there too. Alam niya kung gaano kahirap.

Hindi lang ito ang apartment compound na naipagawa niya kaya marami-rami rin ang kinokolekta niyang renta buwan-buwan. She's one of the individuals who strived and worked hard from rags to riches.

I wanted to be like her someday. Para kahit papaano ay maipagmalaki ko man lang ang sarili ko sa iba.

"Oh, sige na't inihatid ko lang sa'yo itong regalo ko bago ka umalis dahil tatlong linggo akong mawawala," sabi niya at inilapag ang paper bag na dala. "Sana ay magamit mo 'yan sa bago mong titirahan at maraming salamat sa ilang taon mong pagtira rito."

"Thank you rin po, Aling Brenda."

I slightly got emotional because of her very kind heart. Naalala ko tuloy sa kanya si Tita Bella. And I know she treats her people well too. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit mas lalong lumago ang negosyo niya kasabay nang mas lalong pag-angat ng Sarto.

After the quick visit of my landlord, I didn't waste more time. Mabilis akong umalis patungo sa aking trabaho. Mabuti na lang at mayroon pa akong treinta minutos na natitira.

I was just on time when I arrived for work. I went to my office and checked the iPad first thing, just in case one of his schedules slipped my mind. It's a good thing that he didn't have any meetings nor appointments scheduled for this day, but for sure, it's gonna be another boring day in the office.

I started searching for interesting files to read in the cabinets. Hindi ko naman ipagkakailang nag-eenjoy rin akong magbasa. I was very much interested about Sarto's journey. Kahit pa noong nag-aaral pa ako ay talagang interesado na ako sa Sarto. That's why I dreamt of working here.

While I was engrossed in reading the files, my phone beeped for a message I just received. It's from Emma.

From: Emma
Gonna be around your office later. Want to grab lunch together?

It was a pretty good timing of Emma to ask me out for lunch. I wanted to confide in her about my fight with Walter.

Pagkauwi ko no'ng isang gabi ay umasa pa akong pupunta siya sa aking apartment upang humingi ng tawad kahit papaano dahil sa masasakit na salitang kanyang binitawan ngunit walang Walter na dumating. Kahit text o tawag ay wala rin akong natanggap.

Drew texted me and asked if I was already home, though. I replied that I got home safely right away. Para hindi na siya mag-alala sa akin.

Maraming gumambala sa aking isipan noong isang gabi at halos hindi na ako makatulog. Dalawang oras lang ata ako natulog at bumangon din ako agad. Kaya kagabi ay maaga akong inantok.

Thoughts about Rojan and Walter kept on running around my mind. Ni hindi ko na nga alam kung ano ang uunahin kong isipin sa dalawa. Walter's words wounded my heart, while the sadness in Rojan's eyes made it bleed.