The two days leave make me have time to find a better and a cozy condo. Dinahilan ko ang hindi pagkakaintindihan namin ni Allison para payagan na akong umalis ni Dad sa bahay at buti naman pumayag na.
"This way ma'am " sabi ng attendant para makita ko ang buong condo na inirecommend ni Tita Tracy. Kaibigan niya raw ang may-ari nito. Sumakay kami ng lift. The floor is on fifteen. Nang bumukas ito ay isang malawak na hallway ang bumungad sa amin. Modern style condo. Sa pinakadulo kami pumunta at nilagay ang passcode para mabuksan ng attendant ang pinto. It's high-tech safe lock so makakasigurong safe ang lugar na ito.
Nang makita ko ang loob hindi ko maiwasang hindi mamangha. The white and black paint is dominating the whole place. . Three rooms including the guest room and the gym. Hindi masyadong malaki pero hindi din masyadong maliit. It's enough for me. The big flat screen TV in a mini sala. The kitchen and dining area.
"I want it " tanging nasabi ko.
Nung weekend ay lumipat na ako ng condo. Umiyak pa nga ang kambal dahil aalis na ako pero tatlumpong minuto lang naman ang layo sa bahay namin. Kaya bibisita nalang sila kung kailan nila gusto.
"Hello! Zailer, napatawag ka? " sabay sagot ng phone at nagpunas ng pawis. I'm doing some basic training in the gym when Zailer called.
"I called because you didn't answer Yessha call and she's bothering me about it. Why you didn't answer her? " I rolled my eyes as I heard her.
"Don't bother by it Zailer. Gusto ko lang talagang wag sagutin dahil mang-iinis lang iyon. "
Palibhasa kasi hindi ko kayang babaan ng tawag si Zailer kaya ginugulo ni Yessha. Palagi kasing tumatawag imbes na inaasikaso ang buhay niya.
"I heard your on a condo. How are you by the way? "
"Yeah!! I'm okay thank you "
The call lasted for a minute until she turned it off. I call Yessha after dahil nangungulit at kaya pala dahil birthday niya next week and she plan to celebrate it on her club. I guessed we just misses our usual work. We're so busy on those times and we don't have time for anything but we are here now retiring at a young age. Well! except for Lopez she's dedicated. She have changed of plan.
It's weekend and I'm on my sala scrolling on the internet and shopping while the TV's on when I received a notification on my phone.
To: Sarriene
See the news, now.
From: Yessha
I'm curious that why I changed the channel to a news channel. And I'm shocked upon listening unto it.
"LEE AND MENDOZA: OFF ENGAGEMENT "
What is the meaning of that. Hindi na tuloy ang kasal. Masaya ba ako? I maybe hate no lesser than hate Allison but I can't laugh at other's misery because I know what it feels. To be left behind but then, I don't know what is the feeling of being left by a fiance.
Napasinghap ako ng maalala ang huling mensahe ni Skyler sa akin. He's telling me that his fixing something. Is this what he meant. I was still processing it when Dad called me.
"Hello Daddy" sagot ko kahit malayo parin ang isip ko.
"Sarriene, you're not going to work under Lee anymore "
What the hell? I'm fired?
"What do you mean Dad? Is it about the off engagement. Are the two families are now cutting their partnership "
"Of course, no. We decided to be partners in business. I still want to run our business on my own. I already learn that marriage for convenience doesn't work at all. That's why? I need you to help me on it to work and stay at it is without sacrificing anyone "
"Okay. I understand. I will pass my resignation tomorrow. Bye Dad! "
I'm exhausted because I know Allison will not stay silent on this. I know her. Marrying for convenience doesn't work to anyone. Maybe, there's some but there's a lot who don't actually work. I still believe that you should marry because you love the person without expecting a return, a heartfelt genuinely care for a person is something treasurable and should cherish.
It's my last day at work and I just finish everything and pass my resignation and bid my goodbyes for my workmates. Nakasalubong ko si Skyler Yuan sa lobby, he didn't smile at me so I didn't. He just look at me calm and blank. Nasa sasakyan na ako at nakahawak ang kamay sa manobela habang pinagmamasdan ang lugar kung saan may natutunan din ako kahit papano.
"Thanks for the memories " saad ko bago pinaandar ang makina. Nasa daan ako ng may napansing nakasunod. It's a familiar car.
"Skyler " tumingin ako sa side mirror para kumpirmahin. Siya nga.
Baka naman pareho kami ng daan. Hindi ko nalang pinagtuonan ng pansin hangga't makarating ako sa condominium tower. Nag park ako sa ground-floor at binati ang guard bago dumiretso sa lift. Malapit ng sumara ng may kamay ang pumigil para tuluyan itong sumara. And guess what? Who else then, it's Skyler. Nagkatinginan kami na parang hindi namin kilala ang isa't isa. I avoided his gaze and fixed my eyes on my front. Pinindot ko ang 15 button. When it's 15th floor already I hesitated to go out without saying something or a goodbye maybe, for all we know he's my boss. But my ego telling me to go out without saying anything so I did. But when I was on my way to my unit he followed. I just let him pero malapit na ako sa unit ko, nakasunod parin siya.
I was about to ask him why he's following me when he advances his step and open the door in front of mine.
What the hell? Is he living here. Are we magkapitbahay?
He was about to open the door when I call him.
"Wait, Do you live here? "ani ko habang nakatingin sa pinto niya at sa pinto ko.
"Yeah! Why? " he said like its nothing to him. He look at me like his annoyed of my presence. But there is mischievous smile on his lips.
"So, we are neighbors? " ani ko. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay ng tingnan niya ako ng parang wala lang sa kaniya.
"Parang ganun na nga. "anito at walang paalam na pumasok sa unit nito.
Damn! Why I am assuming that he's following me. The hell are you Sarriene. You assuming pretty lady. Nahiya ako sa iniisip ko kaya pumasok narin ako unit ko. Parang nawalan ako ng lakas nang nalaman kung magkapitbahay kami. I can't sleep throughout the night so I decided to go to my mini gym to relax my mind so I could sleep.
YOU ARE READING
A Soldier's Misery
RandomToday's misery, tomorrow's clarity. Accept the misery to love it's beauty. This story is between Sarriene Gail Mendoza a classy soldier and Skyler Yuan Lee.
