Code 365 Project Memory

Datum 23 : Good Intentions

Emotions began to burn inside my chest. Isang bahagi ng aking sarili ang humihiyaw ang poot, samantalang ang isa ay kalmadong nagsusumao ng pagpapatawad.

"Ilevy.. are you—"

Pagpukaw niya ng aking natigilang atensyon. Mabilis akong napaharap sakanya as I try to cover up my emotional confusion.

"You don't have to, Howard. Sanay ako sa mga bagay na iyan. I like my coffee black, just like my soul. These things keep me up on life." I said as I stared through him.

Nasilayan kong kumunot ang kanyang noo as he then approached in front of me.

"To be bitter like a coffee, huh? Then why didn't you drink that?" Taas kilay niyang sambit as he pointed his fingers towards the coffee cup on my hand.

"Because it has milk." I replied.

"And it made the coffee lighter in color and less bitter. Just like moving on. Hindi mo matatamasa ang tamis ng buhay kung hindi mo titikman ang kung anong nakatuon sa iyong harapan. Let your past make you better, not bitter. I too, have to be better."

Natigilan ako sakanyang mga sinabi as he then approached me and took the cup from my hands. I watched him took a sip and returned back the said cup on my hands.

"If you think na lalasunin kita sa kape na yan, better think again. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iyong nakaraan, but.."

Napaharap siya saakin at tinitigan ako ng taimtim.

"Let's move on together, Ielvy." He said as he then drew a smile on his lips. With his final glance ay agad siyang napatalikod at nagsimula nang maglakad palayo saakin.

I just stood there, frozen as I watch him fade towards the end of the silent hallways.

Howard's Point Of View

Agad na inalis ng aking mga malalamig na palad ang mga namuong butil ng mga pawis saaking noo. Bigla akong napatigil saaking paglalakad at walang atubiling niluwagan ang kurbata saaking uniporme.

"Shit" ang tanging salitang kumawala saaking bibig sa sobrang tensyon saaking mga tuhod. Damn. I've never felt such anxiety in front a girl ever in my life.

Sanay akong pinapaligiran ng iilang mga babae, but hindi ko lubos na maitindihan kung bakit nangangatog ang aking mga tuhod sa tuwing nakikita ko siya.

Kumawala ang isang mabigat na buntong hininga. Well atleast kahit papano ay nasabi ko ang gusto kong sabihin sakanya.

Medyo nagmukhang awkward lang kanina. But well..

Napapikit ako at agad namang tumayo ng tuwid. Nang bigla kong maramdaman ang pag vibrate ng aking phone mula saaking bulsa.

Madali kong kinuha ang aking earpiece at agad na sinagot ang nasabing tawag.

"Good morning Admiral." I greeted upon hearing her voice as I walk on the hallways patungo sa study quarters.

Agad akong natigilan nang marinig ang kanyang pahayag mula sa kabilang linya. Bakit sa ganitong oras pa?

"No problem, Admiral. I'll be there." I respectfully said as I heard her line dropping.

I found myself yawning while walking. Please. It's already 4am and wala pa akong kahit anong disenteng tulog na nakukuha ever since na pinagawa ni Admiral saakin ang kanyang report patungkol tatlong yun.

Ni hindi na nga rin ako naka attend nung nasabing emergency meeting nung isang araw nang dahil sa report na ito.

And she wants to see the report and the document file on my tab at the middle of dawn. Wala bang ka-antok-antok sa katawan si Admiral?