"Welcome on board Kar Kradle, Brennon," Lambert, one of my business partners, had said extending his hand towards me.
"Thank you," I had answered shaking his hand.
"S'ya nga pala, this is Dina, she's my secretary. Single rin 'yan katulad mo."
"Hindi ako naghahanap ng girlfriend, pera ang hanap ko," I had replied laughing.
But Dina was persistent. Unlike my other girlfriends, she did the wooing.
"O, Dina, bakit ka nandito? Wala ka bang pasok?"
"Eh, biglang na-miss kita kaya hindi na ako pumasok."
"Ano ba naman 'yan, baka maniwala na ako sa mga pambobola mo, ha."
"Bakit ba kasi hindi ka maniwala, Bren? Desidido at pursigido ako sa'yo."
When Dina and I became a couple, I thought that we would last – she was clingy, she was so into me, and it seemed as if her world revolved around me. On our third month together, she told me that the reason why she pursued me was to get over an ex.
"I promise, I am over him now, Bren. And I am sorry because I wasn't truthful in the beginning."
"Di, I will be honest with you, ayoko ng hindi seryosong relasyon. Kung ang rason bakit tayo naging tayo ay dahil malungkot ka pa rin dahil sa paghihiwalay ninyo ng ex mo, I can be your friend. Hindi naman natin kailangang pumasok sa isang relasyon—"
"N'ung una, naglalaro lang ako," she had confided. "N'ung una sa sobrang suplado mo kasi ay na-challenge ako. Pakiramdam ko kasi you don't find me attractive that's why I did everything to get your attention."
"Wait—"
"Saglit lang, Bren, hayaan mo muna akong magsalita, please. Please..."
"Okay."
"But, the more I got to spend company with you, the more I realized just how great a guy you are. Ikaw lang yata ang lalaking nakilala ko na n'ung nalasing ako ay kinumutan lang ako ng jacket ay hindi ako tsinansingan," she had told me laughing softly. "Ikaw lang din 'yung lalaking nakilala ko na kahit nagpakita na ako ng motibo ay todo-iwas imbes na pumatol."
"Should I be flattered?" I had asked in confusion. "That I did not take advantage of you as you had expected kaya ako ang naisipan mong paglaruan? I don't know where this conversation is going but I think you know what I went through with my past relationships. At sa totoo lang ay ayoko nang mag-aksaya ng oras—"
"Makinig ka muna kasi..."
I had sighed. "Fine."
"I am falling for you, Bren. That's the truth. Just like you, hindi rin maganda ang karanasan ko sa past relationships ko. Kaya nga gusto kong maging maayos itong sa atin, eh. Pagod na kasi akong masaktan..."
The relationship with Dina lasted for almost a year – the longest one I've had after Brooke. And just when I was beginning to get comfortable with the idea that she might be the one, she screwed it all up.
"Uy, Bren, kadarating mo lang? How was your visit to Japan? Did you get the deal?"
"I have met with them and submitted my proposal to be their sole distributor pero, mukhang malabo. Naghahanap sila ng kumpanya na mas matagal na raw sa business. 'Tsaka masyado raw varied 'yung businesses ko, they are looking for someone na talagang tututok lang doon sa produkto nila."
"Ahh, sayang..."
"Si Dina pala? Is she still here? I called her phone pero hindi s'ya sumasagot. And her sister said nandito nga raw s'ya."
Chapter 5: Abstract
Start from the beginning
