A Thin Line between us

CHAPTER 8

SIDNEY'S POV

"P-Papa...papa...papa...!!!"

isang malakas na sigaw ko nang magising ako, same dream again, palagi kong napapanaginipan si papa at ang eksenang iyon sa buhay ko na pilit kong kinalilimutan.

They always advised me to move on, but how? Should I move on at the days where the last part of my life na naalala ko si Papa, oo masakit ang nangyari sa akin sa araw na iyon but that was the last that I am with him.

He died on that accident so no choice but I need to live with my mother, a mother that I never been closed with.

My other relatives told me how cruel and cold my mother is and they are all correct.

All my cousins live with here at kalian lang ako napunta sa poder niya, on that moment I stepped into her lair, that change my life forever. My life has already been predicted by her, even the boyfriend I have, the company I owned, hindi madaling maging anak ng isang tycoon, a female billionaire chairman.

I am now on my way to the office preparing for the Candy magazine project when the IT management sends me a CCTV footage, yes, I ask them to give me report every day, all the CCTV footage specialy if there is any kind of strange act within my company or vicinity.

Halos man laki ang mata ko seeing this two employee of mine na naglalampungan, ewan ko ba pero kumukulo ang dugo seeing this kind of act sa opisina ko pa talaga! Mahalaga sa akin ang professionalism, I have goals why I need to make my company always at its best kaya once may mga ganitong ganap sa aking opisina ay hindi ko talaga pinapayagan!

Nagsend ako agad ng last minute announcement sa GC namin, at alam ko naman na kayang-kaya nilang mag-maaga lalo at ganitong kumukulo ang dugo ko sa kanila!

Nang makarating ako, I am surprised na lahat naman pala sila eh makakarating talaga, I didn't give any hint what is the meeting all about but I am aware na alam nilang hindi maganda ang sasabihin ko at mangyayari ngayon.

Pagpasok ko agad sa meeting hall ay naroon na agad sila and so I start the talk right away, wala akong pakialam sa rason nila or kung ano man, my rules is my rules, they were being oriented about it yet hindi pa rin nila sinunod!

I said what I need to say kaya naman wala na akong pakialam sa kanila and just head out of the meeting hall. I walk straight to my office sabay upo sa swivel chair ko when I received an email from Candy Magazine.

We have the schedule na for the meeting as we will propose our theme and advertising ideas for them.

Lumabas ako ng office to look for Monica but they told me na nasa baba siya near the stockroom so I head my way there, pababa ako ng hagdan when I saw her like daydreaming alone, seriously, sometimes I find her weird but...she is somehow adorable...

I was about to approach her nang bigla siyang humarap kaya naman she again trip herself, alam ko naman na nagulat ko nanaman siya so I quickly move and catch her, my hand holds the back of her head, ewan ko ba pero I kind of scared that she might going to hit her head sa edge ng hagdan.

At that moment, we meet each other's eyes, I didn't know she this kind of beautiful eyes and lips, I feel attached na ewan though the last time I check I never had this kind of attachment to anyone.

Hindi ko na inintindi ang biglaang naramdaman ko but to just pull my hand away from her head nang biglang masabit ang bracelet ko.

Seriously, this bracelet eh regalo pa sa akin ni Papa! The value of this bracelet is million! Oo pinakamahal na natanggap kong birthday gift though hindi lang naman dahil sa presyo kaya importante ito sa akin but because this is from my Dad!

Nagpupumiglas siya so I get nervous na baga maputol which is hindi ko mapapayagan! Bahala siya sa buhay niya but I will save my bracelet than her hair na tutubo rin naman!

Mabilis ko siyang hinatak hanggang sa desk sabay hablot ko ng guting and is about to cut her hair nang magreklamo siya sa akin at para pa kaming naghilaan but luckily kusang natanggal ang bracelet ko sa buhok niya.

Sobra-sobrang pag-aalala ko kaya naman agad ko na siyang lalayasan na lang and just explain about the Candy Magazine sched once kumalma na rin ako but she suddenly hold my arm na nagpahinto sa akin so I ask her.

"What!?"

Iritang tanong ko sa kaniya which is never pa ang kahit na sinong hawakan ang kamay ko nang ganon but her. Then she speaks.

"It is easy to say sorry ma'am, nasaktan din ako lalo sa pananabunot niyo at pagtangkang paggupit ng buhok ko"

Sa sinabi niya ay halos hindi ako makapaniwalang may lakas ng loob siyang sabihin sa akin yan so I answer her.

"Wow, you really have the nerve to say that huh? You think I will—"

Sabi ko pero she cut me na nakapagpatulala sa akin.

"—you said we are family here, and it is not hard to say sorry to your family, sana hindi iyon excuse lang for terminating them...sorry for almost breaking your expensive bracelet, see I can say sorry, pero if hindi mo kaya ma'am I guess I can understand that not everyone can apologize...excuse me po"

She said that seriously stops me, ewan ko pero para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig, naiinis ako sa katapangan niyang wala sa lugar but...her courage is really something, napa-cross arms ako while looking at her na nagawa pang mag-walk out sa akin na usually ako ang gumagawa.

Napapabuntong hininga at taas kilay na babalik sana ako sa office ko when Pam texted me na nasa malapit na resto raw siya so she wants to meet me.

Pam is one of my circles of friends since high school, she has her own business and a little busy with her love life so it is rare na magkita kami. I quickly head to the resto sa baba ng building ko and there she is waiting.

"Wow, always look stunning as ever ah!"

"I bet you are not here just to admire me right?"

"Nako, ang taray pa rin talaga, oo naman noh! Hindi naman ako pupunta here to waste your time na ayaw na ayaw mo!"

"So ano ba kasi ang pinunta mo rito?"

"Well, may another business akong magbubukas, sana naman makapunta ka sa opening ng new café shop ko, diyan lang naman sa malapit eh"

"Titignan ko, is that all?"

"Fine! Iyong dalawa nagyaya para mamaya ng dinner same place and time"

"I will think about it"

"Okay yehey!"

Sagot niya na ikinataka ko naman.

"Happy much?"

"Oo naman, eh kilala kita Sid, usually what you say is an opposite of what you want, meaning pupunta ka and you are excited to meet the two again! Tama hindi ba?"

Sa sinabi niya ay hindi ako makapagsalita, well not most of the time ganon ako but there are circumstances I guess...

"Bahala ka na! I will just give you a call, I need to go"

Sabi ko naman sabay lakad ko paalis sa table namin, I am about to go back to the office nang makatanggap ako ng tawag mula sa secretary ni Mommy.

"Yes?"

"Hello Miss, your mother is expecting you to have dinner with her sa mansion po"

"When?"

"Tomorrow po Miss"

"What is that dinner for?"

Tanong ko na alam ko naman na I shouldn't ask her that question pero wala lang, gusto ko lang magtanong, baka sakaling masagot niya.

"Sorry Miss but I am not informed about it, I was only commanded to remind you about the dinner tomorrow"

"Okay like what can I expect..."

Sabi ko sabay pagbaba ko ng tawag and just about to head my way back to the office nang mapalingon ako sa isang food stall, it has fruit shake drinks and a chocolate cookies.

I am now in cross arms looking straight at the food stall while thinking of that weird but fair idea.