A string of fate

31

"Pauwi na ako, okay? I'll be there tomorrow." Sabi ko kay Jaymie sa kabilang linya. I just finished packing some stuff and I'm ready to go.

"Okay. You should really be there. Ace have a big announcement."

Sinuot ko ang bag na dadalhin ko at isang beses pang tiningnan ang unit bago tuluyan nading lumabas. I locked the door and walk straight to the elevator.

"What? She's getting married too?" Narinig kong natawa ang pinsan ko nang sabihin ko 'yon. Matagal nadin si Ace at Carlo. She's one of the expected person in our family who will get married first.

"I hope so. Let's see tomorrow."

Lumabas ako ng elevator at sumalubong sa akin ang tahimik na basement. I saw a familiar staff and I just smiled to her. Papunta na ako sa sasakyan nang may sumagi sa akin at mabilis akong napalingon doon. Pinulot ko ang nalaglag kong car keys at nag angat ng tingin sa babae.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

Hindi ako nakasagot agad at diretso kong tiningnan ang babaeng nasa harap ko. Napansin ko ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo nya habang diretso din ang tingin sa akin. Mabilis ko syang nakilala kahit ngayon ko lang sya nakita sa personal. Of course. Paanong hindi ko sya makikilala? The idea of her used to haunt me years ago.

"Uh, yeah. I'm.. okay." Sagot ko at napansin kong tuluyan na syang natigilan.

"You're Chelseah, right?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nagulat akong malaman na kilala nya ako. The idea of her being Primo's ex-girlfriend screams so much power but she remains silent. She's not like Shai that showed up before. No trace of her when I was still with Primo. That's why I didn't know that there was "she" in the picture. The first and last time I stalked her before is enough for me to know that she's living her life away from Primo. I don't hear anything about her until I came back. Kung bakit maingay ang pangalan nya ngayon ay hindi ko alam. Unless Primo is lying when he said that they're not together.

"Maxine.."

I didn't pretend that I don't know her. Sa kung paano nya ako tingnan ngayon ay alam kong alam nya na kilala ko sya.

"I always want to see and talk to you. I just don't know how or I don't know if I should in the first place."

Napakunot ng noo ko. "Why do you want to talk to me?"

Hindi ko nadin napigilan ang sarili kong magtanong. I hate the fact that I'm giving a damn. I should be out of this. I shouldn't care about her and Primo. We don't have business to discuss even though we're both connected to one person.